Petition asks Thesy Surface to read prison screenplay
More than 2000 women sign petition demanding a firm commitment from Thesy Surface (film producer) to read screenplay addressing Texas judicial system
Thesy Surface – Talent Agents
– Actress, Writer, Producer – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005), The Jackson 5… Million (2017), 86’d (2010) – Metropolitan Talent Agency, Tom Markley –
Thesy Surface & Adam Sandler’s film company targeted by Texas petition
Will Hollywood just rollover and let prisoner’s suffer?
EXCLUSIVE
More than 2000 women have signed an open letter to Adam Sandler calling on Thesy Surface and Hollywood to take “movie action” to tackle injustice against men and women in the wake of revelations that Texas has more prisoners incarcerated than the Soviet Union’s gulag system had. Texas currently has over 290,000 inmates housed at 580 facilities.
The signatories, including state senators, professors of criminal justice, social workers, family, and inmates, call for a “firm commitment” to tackle the unjust prisons in Texas. The petition has also been signed by Beto O’Rourke, and Matthew McConaughey. These two signatories might face each other in the 2022 Texas governors election. Both have expressed interest in the job. The petitions arrived for Thesy Surface at Metropolitan Talent Agency, Tom Markley last week.
In the open letter to Thesy Surface, the 2080 women write that they are “heartbroken for first-time drug offenders many times addicts who have received extremely harsh sentences in Texas when rehabilitation has proven a cheaper and more effective solution.” The petition goes on to say their family and friends are often heartbroken for and looking for redemption and rehabilitation for the victimless drug crimes.”
The signatories, including attorneys, professors, politicians, family members, and inmates, call on Thesy Surface for a ‘firm film commitment’ to tackle the issue of operating the Texas prison system for profit.
The petition came to light when women discovered the screenplay, a copy which was dontated to all 580 of the state’s prison and jail libraries. The existence of the petition surfaced on International Women’s Day. Women in Texas face extreme prejudice in Texas and often receive extremely harsh penalties for even a small amount of drugs, including marijuana. Marijuana is legal now in 21 states.
Inside prisons, the women are faced with such horrendous conditions… the petition demands that “filmmakers begin to take the issue seriously.” Also, the petition reminds that “even here in the USA in the 21st century citizens are not safe from government oppression.”
Actress, Writer, Producer, Thesy Surface, has not responded to the petition. Nor has Metropolitan Talent Agency, Tom Markley responded with a comment.
Alan Nafzger/caption]
The screenplay “Dumbass” was penned by writer and retired professor of political science Alan Nafzger.
The premise of the story is that, “Adam Sandler writes letters and saves numerous women from the monotony of prison life, and later when he gets into trouble with a drug cartel they return the favor by rescuing him.”
The film would be set in contemporary, Gatesville Texas. There are four women’s prisons located in Gatesville. And of course, Texas is famous for putting everyone in prison for a long sentences for little or no reason. The number of women in Texas prisons has tripled in the last ten years, as mass incarcerations have proven profitable to not only the state but also profitable for an array of business interests.
Writer Alan Nafzger has called on Governor Greg Abbott to, “end the prison industry.”
Recently, “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak spoke out against the Texas system and put a good word in for mercy and forgiveness out on social media. “How nice for those who have lived such exemplary lives that they can express glee when others have their lives ruined by a mistake, real or perceived,” Sajak tweeted last month.
During the winter’s deep freeze, the The Marshall Project, exposed the horrible prison conditions, “Inside Frigid Texas Prisons: Broken Toilets, Disgusting Food, Few Blankets.”
The petition states, “Why don’t we have the ‘Adam Sandler’ character… sending letters to women in prison and being their friend and trying to help them adjust, giving them hope… and when they get out of prison he picks them up so they don’t have to ride the smelly bus back home… but his pickup truck is a junker, smoking and sputtering … worse than the bus. But his heart is in the right place… He’s the last “chivalrous” man on earth.”
Thesy Surface has not commented on the script, thus far. A statement is expected soon.
Professor Nafzger has made a short treatment of the project available online.
He has made the finished script available at for select filmmakers.
Adam Sandler of Happy Madison Productions has expressed interest in the screenplay.
Thesy Surface is a Actress, Writer, Producer known for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005), The Jackson 5… Million (2017), 86’d (2010) and is represented by Metropolitan Talent Agency, Tom Markley.
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Suspense can be created by conflict, but there are other ways. The easiest way is to withhold information. I don’t know why writers feel compelled to answer every question a character asks another character. Leave it wide open. End a scene as soon as the question is asked and come back to it or answer it later – this technique is done in soap operas and they’ve been around for 30 years because they hold the audience in suspense as they wait for the question to be answered. There’s no rule when you have to end a scene…..show a bomb ticking, then go to something else. Leaving us hanging in suspense! Every scene should have suspense and don’t make the mistake of believing suspense is only for specific genres like thriller or horror. EVERY scene has suspense or it doesn’t work. And stop listening to gurus who tell the scene must have a beginning, middle and an end. Since when? Get in late – Get out early! Nothing’s more exciting than entering a room in the middle of a heated argument. Someone throws a plate and before it makes contact another scene starts!
SCENE SUSPENSE
Every scene in the entire screenplay, especially while dealing with the hero’s arc in Act II, should have subtext. The subtext should be either visual or via the dialogue. Subtext is nothing more than underlying meaning. Remember the relative who said you look great, have you lost weight? He’s really implying you were fat in the first place. He’s just not saying it directly. That’s called dialogue subtext. Let’s say you want to show a character is angry. Rather than having him blurt it out, have him slam a door shut or throw a plate. That’s visual subtext that shows anger! It’s that simple! If a scene doesn’t have subtext, layer it in.
SCENE SUBTEXT
· What and who is standing in his or her way?
And for extra credit:
· What is the CENTRAL QUESTION of the story?
· How does s/he PLAN to do it?