Paperboy by Todd Heilesen | Script Revolution

Paperboy

A teenage boy’s new job as a paperboy helps him overcome challenges at school and form a common bond with his father, who flashes back to his own humorous experiences as a paperboy in 1981.

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Page Count: 
101pp

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Age Rating:

Synopsis/Details: 

In PAPERBOY, Jack Winters works long hours to land the promotion of a lifetime, but at the expense of spending time with his fourteen-year-old son, Ben. With few interests beyond video games and sleep, Ben faces expulsion from high school due to bad behavior and poor grades. But that could change if Jack has his way. Jack encourages Ben to drop the game controller and become a paperboy, just as he had done over 40 years prior. A string of funny twists and turns ensue as Ben is faced with the challenges that come with delivering newspapers. Throughout the movie, Jack flashes back to his own experiences as a paperboy, offering a humorous look at what was hip in 1981.

PAPERBOY has mass appeal & profit potential, as both young and old can relate to this coming of age story and its focus on what used to be one of America’s most popular jobs, that of paperboy. The screenplay is set in Arizona, where the project may benefit from the new Arizona Film Tax Credit that took effect in January, 2023.

Following is a link to an audio performance of the screenplay: http://screenplayreadings.com/Paperboy-audio.mp3

Attached Talent: 

Actor Scott Christopher has expressed interest in being attached to this project in the role of Jack Winters. Scott was a paperboy himself and has appeared in dozens of television shows and films for the big and small screen, including on CBS, Hallmark, Lifetime, BYUtv, and the Disney Channel.

All Accolades & Coverage: 

Top 5 Finalist - 2022 Las Vegas International Film & Screenwriting Festival - Best Family Screenplay
Top 10 Finalist - 2020 Burbank International Film Festival - Best Original Screenplay
Quarterfinalist - 2020 Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition
Nominee - 2022 Canadian International Faith & Family Film Festival
Official Selection - 2022 Arizona Faith & Family Film Festival

Submitted: January 30, 2023
Last Updated: April 29, 2023

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The Writer: Todd Heilesen

Todd Heilesen is a screenwriter focused on family-friendly entertainment. His script PAPERBOY was a top 5 finalist for best family screenplay at the 2022 Las Vegas International Film & Screenwriting Festival, as well as a top ten finalist for best original screenplay at the 2020 Burbank International Film Festival. He has a BA Degree from Brigham Young University and an MBA in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Go to bio