Synopsis/Details
In 1976, Fred Goldstein (30) is a young English teacher in the Philadelphia suburbs jaded with the system and doubting himself as an educator. The day after declaring to his wife Julie (30) this next year will be his last in a classroom, Fred is asked to take on a home instruction assignment for an ailing student. The student is Steven Estep, a thirteen-year-old, former basketball star, now suffering from a rare form of cancer.
Originally lured only by the prospect of earning some extra cash from the assignment, Fred soon becomes impressed with Steven’s confident attitude and passion for learning. As a final push to get something positive out of teaching, Fred resolves to make this time spent with Steven a special experience for him.
With Steven’s urging, Fred organizes several extraordinary activities for Steven including a call to the Director of the FBI, a celebrity basketball game and a botched attempt to interview Richard Nixon. Through this, Fred becomes closer to Steven than he ever expected.
Challenged by a limb amputation and deteriorating health, Steven begins to lose hope. Though his original reaction is to withdraw from Steven, Fred learns that he can connect with a student on a level he had previously never thought possible.
With Steven’s health failing and Fred’s career at a crossroad, Fred is forced to look at a deeper meaning of friendship and discovers new potential for reaching all his students.
Based on the true story.
All Accolades & Coverage
From Bedside finished in the Top 20% at the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting.
From Bedside finished in the TOP 15% at the Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition
Among the comments from Austin, "This script was almost perfect, the concept is great, the story is great. The characters exhibited change and they were not one dimensional. The dialogue was spot on and well thought out, just a great script overall."
"This script is very unique, the concept is great and perfect for a drama. It’s even more interesting because it’s based on a true story."
Pitch Deck available upon request.
Story & Logistics
Story Type:
Hero's Journey
Story Situation:
Erroneous judgment
Story Conclusion:
Bitter-sweet
Linear Structure:
Linear
Moral Affections:
Duty, Good Man, Innocence, Right, Virtue
Cast Size:
Several
Locations:
Few
Characters
Lead Role Ages:
Male Adult, Male Teenager
Hero Type:
Ordinary
Stock Character Types:
Girl next door, Wise fool
Advanced
Adaption:
Based on True Events
Subgenre:
Comedy, Disease/Disability, Drama, Family, Generation Gap, Life Story, Social Commentary, Teen/Teen Sex, Teen/Youth, Youth Culture
Action Elements:
Physical Stunts
Equality & Diversity:
Disability Focused, Disabled Protagonist
Life Topics:
Adolescence, Approaching Death, Coming of Age, Death, Mid-life Crisis/Middle Age, Middle school/Junior High, Puberty
Time Period:
The Seventies (1970–1979)
Country:
United States of America (USA)
Illness Topics:
Physical
Sport Topics:
Basketball
Relationship Topics:
Attachment, Bonding
Writer Style:
Billy Wilder
Austin Film Festival - Top 15%, Coverfly All-time Overall Top 25%, Nicholl Fellowship - Top 20%
