OUT of BODY

Trent Garver has just accepted his new job as branch manager of Rockridge Federal Savings. It's a career milestone and yet, also a deeply personal one. Four years earlier, in the lobby of the same bank, Trent's father, Officer Cal Garver, in attempting to thwart a robbery by an elite crew of thieves, found himself fatally shot in the back by a ruthless, ski masked thug. But the day of cruelty was not over yet for Trent, as the getaway driver then ran down his young son Tyler while trying to make a hasty escape, sending the boy into a long-term coma. Trent, now married to Greta, a nurse on duty at the hospital where Tyler was admitted, still works with his ex-wife Jen, a teller at the bank. Trent has genuine doubts as to whether his son will ever wake up, but Jen keeps the faith, holding vigil by her boy’s bedside even as the bills mount, and all medical reports indicate imminent brain death. Trent’s spiritual self has never been deader and more cynical as he starts his first day as manager. But he’s about to get an enormous wake up call and be jolted out of his comfort zone. When the same cadre of crooks strike again, Trent attempts to hit the panic alarm button but finds himself knocked unconscious and lies sprawled out on the floor of his office. Outside, FBI Agents Giles and Voss team with SWAT Commander Nate Swindell to cordon off the scene and open up negotiations. With Jen held hostage, the brazen bandits set about accessing the vault, effortlessly securing several bags of cash, but when two of the crooks curiously begin digging into the basement of the bank, it becomes clear they have more in their sights than just money. As the bank used to be a church many years earlier, rumors of hidden esoteric relics salted away by a rogue priest have abounded. Trent wakes up, attempts to confront the robbers, but is astounded to find that no one seems to see him, or acknowledge him. When security guard Jody Meeks is shot while resisting, Trent realizes he's not a participant of the physical plane any longer as Bishop, one of the brutal thugs walks right through him. Trent, in astral form, is whisked back to his office, where he sees his own felled body, lying helplessly sprawled out with a traumatic brain injury. He soon realizes he can go anywhere, see anything, including the ghost of his dead father, Cal, who tells him he must reach out to his estranged ghost hunter/con man brother and use this unique opportunity. Trent has little time to act as soon a trio of dark astral entities make their presence known and force him into action. Trent reluctantly teams with his ne'er do well brother Gary to communicate key information on the hostage takers to Swindell, Giles, and Voss, which leads to an impromptu breach of the bank's lobby and a startling revelation. But when Trent learns the true identity of the crew and their ultimate goal, he will be taken on a soul-wrenching journey that will make him question everything he truly believes about life and death. Trent must harness his newfound powers on the astral plane, and risk both body and soul, in order to defeat the elite unit of thieves, malicious astral beings, and duplicitous loved ones in his midst, to rescue the hostages, and save the day. OUT of BODY Experience counts for everything. Copyright 2022 by Brefni O'Rourke. All Rights Reserved. *********************The REVIEWS are in on OUT OF BODY********************** "The concept for OUT OF BODY is unique. I read a lot of heist scripts and watch a lot of heist movies and I have never come across a heist film where the protagonist is having an out of body experience. So, kudos to the writer for coming up with a very fresh take on a genre that has been around for a hundred years or more. The concept works well and when there is a generational element to it, it makes it stronger, bringing Trent and Cal back into contact and eventually there are a few tenders moments.... The idea of using chess pieces for the characters is also a fresh take on the heist gang members and makes them more memorable. This was a nice touch. The plot is set up quickly and then brief intro sequence of the tragedy affecting the family is handled in a fast-paced manner. From there the plot quickly gets into main narrative of the heist, which again makes the read relatively fast and easy to follow. It was a nice touch to have the brother as a reality TV showman who can actually make contact with Trent. This could be developed further at the beginning as it would provide a lighthearted break in events before they get dark when the heist goes wrong, and people start to die. The writer has done a nice job with the use of astral planes and their knowledge of this subject matter comes across in the narrative. Dialogue is generally good, there are nice interactions between the main characters and some of the exposition needs to explain the mechanics of the police, FBI and SWAT team protocols come across as authentic and believable. Themes of greed, retribution and sacrifice are also handled well... Thanks for letting me read this. I haven't come across a unique take on the heist genre like this before.” ************************ “There's a lot to like in the script... IMAGERY: Cool opening image... this script does some sophisticated and interesting things with imagery... where Trent is floating through the helicopter... a really nice sequence. A total change of pace from a routine bank robbery. Depending on the direction, I could see it being madcap, or serene...there's even a religious element here, Trent ascending into Heaven. It's very cool... COOL STUFF: Even though I had some issues with Wraith and the gang, once they start kicking ass, snatching cops' firearms, swallowing souls and what-not, it's very cool. The pan-religious elements are interesting too—chakras, ankhs, Christian symbols.... WRITING STYLE: minimalist and confident. I give notes on 3-5 scripts a week and it's refreshing to see that. Character introductions don't have all those "voicey," unfilmable descriptions that are so en vogue these days, which is also refreshing. CREDIBILITY: It feels like you have some experience/knowledge of law enforcement, because the cops talk and act like cops. Details like the type of weapons/equipment/helicopters make the script more realistic and believable.” ******************************************** "It's basically astral plane Die Hard... (Your logline) immediately stood out to me, which means we’re already off to a good start. I feel like from the logline I know what movie I’m getting into, and I’m also curious about it. How will this person use their “out of body” self to save the day? Let’s find out! The scene where we realize that Trent is a “spirit” is done really well. The way you’re playing with the audience's expectations is fun and surprising. I felt the surprise of learning Trent’s true nature along with Trent in a way that caught me off guard and made me really lean into the script. I can see this scene too, and I think visually you describe it very well. Also, the scene after this is a great change of pace. Trent floating up into the clouds uncontrollably feels like the perfect “fun and games” type execution of this idea. It also does a good job of showing me the rules and showing me Trent figuring out what’s going on. A poorly written version of this would have a long info dump from some guru or something where we learn what’s happened and what the rules of this world are. Not here. We’re shown it quickly and simply. Overall, the script is written pretty professionally. It seems like you have a good grip on character and voice. And I think the concept is interesting and the way you describe astral objects is vivid and cool. It really feels like a very trippy movie thrown into the middle of a heist flick. This might turn some people off, but for me personally, I found it interesting and inventive. It made me curious about who these people are, what they want, and how all this works. " *********************** "Firstly, your formatting is really great. It makes everything very easy to read and makes it easy to keep up with exactly what's happening, and who it's happening to. Your scene setting, also, is very good, making it very easy to visualize everything that's happening. I appreciated the way that you kept careful track of all your set-pieces, and it was easy to distinguish plot devices from one another in order to keep the story straight. With a story that takes the reader on quite a wild ride, it was nice to have these staples to hold onto, like a proverbial lighthouse in an otherwise insurmountable storm. Characters: Your characters mostly felt very diverse, in terms of strict behavior and who was who. There's a very rich cast, and while some writers tend to struggle with keeping all their ducks in a row, I feel like everyone got plenty of lines, and plenty of "screentime" in which to identify themselves and keep the story going. You can easily derive intent from your characters, as well, with each of them very clearly outlining who they are without stating it verbatim. Plot: The plot itself is interesting, and it's cool to see something like "remote viewing" used as a detection technique. I always love a good detective story, and having a 'detective' with enhanced abilities, while well-trodden ground, is generally fun to explore, and leaves the reader/watcher waiting for more, to see the limitations of this hero. Dialogue: Your dialogue is very perfunctory, which does a great job servicing the story, and allowing the action to breathe without being muddled by quasi-poetic phrases, and lilting monologues. Your characters say what they need to, WHEN they need to. Themes: Thematically, I love the idea of a good chase story, especially when coupled with main character who has a solid reason to hunt down these many leads." *************** "Overall, the screenplay of 'Out of Body' is a well-crafted and engaging work that effectively blends elements of horror, action, drama, and suspense. The intriguing mystery, well-developed characters, and visually striking action sequences elevate the screenplay.... the screenplay has strong potential to captivate the audience from start to finish. The unique exploration of astral projection and the supernatural realm adds a fresh and compelling element to the narrative, making 'Out of Body' a standout screenplay in this genre. The unique blend of supernatural elements, family drama, and thriller aspects make this screenplay appealing to a wide audience. The strong emotional core and relatable characters also add to its marketability. The screenplay explores themes of family, redemption, and forgiveness, which are universally relatable and have the potential to resonate with audiences. The supernatural elements add a unique hook that sets it apart from other family dramas. The screenplay features compelling characters and a gripping storyline, with a unique blend of genres that could appeal to a wide audience. The supernatural elements and relatable themes also make it a strong candidate for award nominations.... This screenplay is a highly engaging and suspenseful story with a unique supernatural twist, well-developed characters, and emotional stakes. The use of visual descriptions and sound cues enhances the overall impact, and the dialogue is engaging and reveals underlying tensions and character dynamics. However, there are opportunities to improve pacing in some scenes to create more tension and build-up, and to develop more complex subplots and character arcs to add depth to the story. Overall, the screenplay's strengths lie in its high level of tension and suspense, unique supernatural elements, and well-developed characters, making it a compelling and engaging read. This screenplay presents a unique and innovative concept by combining supernatural elements, such as astral projection, with traditional heist and hostage genres. The consistent use of chess piece helmets as recurring motifs adds depth and symbolism to the story. The psychological impact of past traumas is effectively conveyed through flashbacks, nightmares, and memories, building suspense and engaging the audience. Family secrets, hidden treasures, and personal connections create intriguing conflicts and mysteries, driving the narrative forward... The plot of the screenplay is well-developed and engaging, with a fast-paced narrative filled with twists and turns. The central conflict of the bank robbery and the protagonist's involvement create tension and suspense throughout the story. The use of flashbacks, supernatural elements, and unexpected revelations adds complexity and depth to the plot. The screenplay effectively establishes the stakes for the characters and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. *************************************************************************************************