Get Real

"Get Real" is the comic fantasy of reality TV. Two overnight sensations, after 15 years, RICHARD ADAMS and BRIAN BARKLEY, attain their life goal – a hit TV show; based on a surrogate and the people she is having the baby for. For some; dreams are realized, hopes dashed and lessons learned. Over the years, the artist in Richard has become skeptical. In his late 30s, he’s still attractive with only a dash of grey to his dark features. But, his manic tendencies wear thin on his stoner writing partner, Brian, who feverishly chases the Hollywood dream. Brian doesn’t give a second thought to his age that weighs heavy like his weight along with his unrelenting receding hairline. Together they present their treatment to wild man/old school producer GERARD HOUSTON. At one time he worked at every major studio and partied with Coppola, Hopper and Fonda. Now, he’s tired, the weight of the world on his shoulders. But, he still exudes more machismo than Stallone and Schwarzenegger. Houston tackles their project along with his quirky production team. ANNIE LEE BRODY, an early thirties, middle-school teacher, becomes the quintessential darling that captures America’s heart while carrying the precious baby for the mid-west, corn-fed couple, DWIGHT and SALLY HUMPHREY. The couple have tried desperately to have a child, but it’s been determined that Sally cannot carry to term. The Humphreys are excited with the prospects of living their dream with Annie’s help. And, Dwight is twice as excited to live it on TV. The show starts off funny, innocent and little uncomfortable for the first three months with auditions, mourning sickness, name changes and room designs. Then things get a little weird. Annie displays erratic behavior after having the ultra sound. She goes from sweet/innocent to a confused and dismayed non-mother-to-be. She eventually erupts into a quasi-fetusnapper that leads everyone on a rip-roaring chase across state lines. A good portion of America cheers her on, driving the shows ratings through the roof. What begins like Raising Arizona drives right through the hell of Network and into a hilariously absurd Sugarland Express. This is a subversive and absurdly funny tale of tinsel town that holds up the middle finger to reality TV for all its exploitive efforts filtering into many daily lives. It also touches upon America’s unhealthy obsession with made-up celebrities and the hypocrisy that runs rampant in that industry, and the bottom-feeding lawyers that manage to place more spins than a professional basketball player. From outrageous auditions, the fascination of other people’s reality and to the thought-provoking finale that gives us hope with a love letter to humanity and the advice to Get Real.