COURTROOM SKETCHES

Erica Lagan has hit rock bottom in her quest for a successful art career. Her loft is littered with unfinished, unsold paintings and sculptures. Her landlord is readying eviction against her for being three months behind in the rent. Her fortunes shift when her friend Katelyn, a reporter at Global News Network (GNN), offers her the job of sketch artist at the high-profile trial of ex-president Roland J. Dixon. It’s hardly the break Erica was hoping for, but she has little choice when her landlord comes banging on the door. It’s a test for Erica in more ways than one as the reclusive artist suffers from prosopagnosia, otherwise known as “face blindness." The assignment forces her to re-examine her relationship with her ailing father Eddie, who himself was once a famous sketch artist many years earlier, but now lies in a nursing home with dementia. The trial is a media circus with the notorious Dixon the ring master. A media mogul and disgraced politician, he inspires his followers to commit bold acts of disobedience in his name as he arrogantly proclaims his innocence. Erica settles in and meets fellow sketch artists Reese and Vicky. She struggles to keep up with the seasoned pros as charges are read against Dixon. But when a crazed Dixon supporter takes ADA Blevins hostage, Erica’s fears are channeled into a laser-like focus, compelling her to capture the scene. This dedication only infuriates the assailant, whose rage toward her distracts him and allows security to take him down without anyone getting hurt. In that moment, Erica’s face blindness disappears, and she finishes an impressive sketch of the incident which goes viral and brings her instant fame. She is courted by veteran detective Frank Morrow, her old college crush Nate, now the head of GNN News, and even Dixon himself. But as she turns out eye popping sketches on a daily basis, she inadvertently draws the unwanted attention a mysterious stalker, who may or may not be the notorious “South Shore Slayer”, a serial killer who has murdered some 11 young prostitutes who were part of an underground sex club called the “Nite Owls”. When she comes home after a gallery show of her works, she discovers an intruder has defaced an old courtroom sketch of her father’s, which depicted the trial of infamous mobster Carmine Torrelli. Eddie had gained the adoration of Torrelli for his courtroom depictions and witnessed the mafia don’s brutal murder 20 years ago. Now, faces Eddie once captured have been cut out of the sketch and a cryptic message added which reopens old wounds. As past and present collide, it's become all too personal for Erica. As she begins a romance with Detective Morrow, she is confronted by a masked knife wielding assailant, who warns her he will be watching her every move and mentions her father. Traumatized, her face blindness is once again triggered which jeopardizes her ability to sketch faces and to recognize anyone she passes on the street. When those captured in the Torrelli Trial sketch begin turning up dead with cutouts of their faces pinned to the bodies, Erica realizes she’s trapped in the twisted game of a sociopath who views murder as the ultimate homage. Erica must reconnect with her ailing father, re-examine her own troubled past, and learn the truth about the Nite Owl Club before she trusts the wrong man in her life and succumbs to her darkest fears. A timid artist. A brazen killer. The trials of the century. At the heart of it all, a deadly game of show and tell. COURTROOM SKETCHES In a world where perception is reality, guilt is in the eye of the beholder... and a picture is worth a thousand fears. Copyright 2024 by Brefni O'Rourke. All Rights Reserved. *********************************The REVIEWS are in on COURTROOM SKETCHES******************************************* “The script is very vivid and visual. The themes of appearance and authenticity are well served by the subject matter of drawing and artists. Erica is an interesting and multi layered protagonist who we come to understand and whose plight concerns us as an audience. The story moves very quickly indeed. The pacing is tight and concise as would befit a serial killer thriller with psychological overtones. The structure of the story is concise and allows for the suspense to be doled out effectively. You created some striking scenes... (The main character’s medical problem) is an effective storytelling device because it allows an impressionistic paranoia to pervade stretches of the film that works well, like early Polanski psycho horror films. Your plotting folded a lot of storylines and characters into the central narrative well while still moving quickly but not overwhelming the audience with plot. The use of flashbacks is sparing but works well to illuminate the backstory so central to the present. The sense of misdirection among character interactions is used well to build suspense in the first and second acts. Each interaction rachets up the suspense and maintaining a dark and frantic tone consistently. I liked the courtroom scenes a lot. The controlled chaos of the media circus and the crowds is well presented and adds a lot of snap and energy to the first half of the script. The rich descriptions of action and emotional reaction are novelistic without dragging the momentum of the story. The strong details of the mise en scene are palpable on the page. That worldbuilding is made accessible through the emotional throughline of Erica's arc from a lonely reclusive failure living in shame to a more assertive and confident woman at the center of traumatic events... The dialogue moves quickly enough and lays out the plot... (the reveal of the killer) is effective. His menace through the script is efficiently evoked and add to the dramatic stakes... " ******* “First of all, it's always a pleasure to read the work of others who write in a similar wheelhouse to myself so thanks for the opportunity. I read this in one sitting... At first glance the writer knows what they are definitely doing with the medium genre and format. It's a relatively easy read which is super important, lots of white space, clear concise scene descriptions, decent length, its doesn't drag, those are very important signs to readers and executives that the writer can write concisely. I can honestly say this was one of the best scripts I've read on Coverfly. Probably overall the best prose scene descriptions in any script I have read so far, I was impressed at the word economy, the word choices and smithing, clearly considered in depth, the writer had my attention from page one. The courtroom scene dialogues seemed well researched which added a level of realism and believability to the story, so too did some of the crime scene interactions. The script has a solid narrative structure and included most elements of the thriller genre with strong pacing throughout and with enough characters to feed the reader red herrings and leave us guessing as to who the culprit or culprits will be. Also a strong twist near the end in the third act. Loved that realization on page 50 where a few of the pieces of the puzzle are put together. There were elements of the psychological thriller, the crime thriller to though, it's got a very strong conspiracy thriller feel to it with the way it ends and some of the characters and their status and occupations in the world of the story, where the story starts off with either a minor meaningless crime or a high-profile murder, then someone related to the criminal blamed or the uncovered victim notices some odd discrepancies in the official story and digs deeper. Before the protagonist(s) realize(s) it, they are caught in a multi-layered plot that involves possibly EVERYONE, especially those who are tasked with the official investigation... meaning that the hero/heroine can't go to the cops... or the press... or that janitor in the hallway they just passed who looks a little too much like the guy who'd been shadowing them the last day or so... Easily could see this playing on one of the many streaming platforms... your scene descriptions were amazing... Some fantastic writing here... thank you for the opportunity to read your work, I'd love to see this made one day, keep writing!” ******** "Courtroom Sketches is a captivating screenplay that follows the journey of Erica Lagan, a talented sketch artist who becomes embroiled in a high-profile murder trial. As she captures the details of the courtroom drama with her pencil, she uncovers a dangerous secret that puts her own life at risk. Amidst the tense atmosphere of the trial and the shadows of a mysterious figure, Erica must confront her own inner fears and search for the truth, navigating a treacherous path where justice and danger intertwine. Along the way, she uncovers a personal connection to the case that forces her to confront the ghosts of her past.... Unique Hook: The combination of courtroom drama, psychological thriller, and crime mystery genres creates a unique and engaging story... The use of courtroom sketches as a narrative device and the exploration of the art world add a distinctive and visually interesting element to the story.... The screenplay for 'COURTROOM SKETCHES' has a strong foundation, effectively engaging the audience with its intriguing mystery, well-developed characters, and high-stakes setting. The screenplay's strengths lie in its ability to build tension and suspense, create relatable and compelling characters, and introduce elements of mystery and intrigue... This screenplay demonstrates a strong command of suspense and tension, with well-written dialogue, atmospheric descriptions, and major plot twists. While emotional impact and character development can be further improved, the overall quality of the screenplay is exceptional, with engaging and suspenseful scenes that keep the audience hooked. The story effectively combines elements of crime, mystery, and thriller genres, and raises the stakes with shocking revelations and intense moments. With a few adjustments, this screenplay has the potential to be an outstanding and memorable piece of storytelling... The screenplay's plot is a strength, with consistently high ratings and effective use of suspense, tension, and mystery to drive the story forward. The protagonist faces multiple conflicts and storylines that intersect and build upon each other to create a complex and engaging plot... The screenplay features well-defined characters with clear motivations and conflicts, making for a compelling and engaging narrative. The protagonist, Erica Lagan, showcases compelling growth and development throughout the story... The screenplay demonstrates a strong ability to create and maintain high conflict levels throughout the story, effectively driving the plot forward and engaging the audience. The multi-layered conflicts, intense scenes, and suspenseful confrontations contribute to the overall strength of the narrative." **************************************************************************************************