Functionally Challenged

After a camping trip gone wrong, Ross Livston rushes his zombie-bitten son, Alex, back to their apartment and hides him. As the world reacts to the zombie apocalypse humanity was only prepared for ironically, Ross is determined he can keep Alex a secret until a cure is discovered. 

Needless to say, his life is no longer the same.

And over the course of the next week, it only gets more difficult thanks to nosy neighbors, a pregnant friend, a missing cat, a viral video of Alex, the return of his ex wife and the inevitable second outbreak.

Find out more: FCtheMovie.tumblr.com

After a year at film school, watching Tales From The Script (which is a collection of “war stories” from Hollywood writers) and working as a production assistant on film and television shows (including Mission Impossible 4, Rise Of The Apes, Final Destination 5, Once Upon A Time & Alcatraz), I’ve learned a lot about the behind the scenes of a film set that they don’t include in the “Behind The Scenes” DVD footage.

There’s actually a coined phrase among writers: The script may be gold, but you’re lucky if the film comes out copper. This is because everything is changed and altered to be more “marketable”. It’s simply because original ideas are a risk.

That’s why trailers, as a rule of thumb, always give away the top seven moments in the movie. That’s why you see so many romantic comedies, and why so many of them are the same. That’s why The Hangover 2 was just “do that same thing again, but raise the stakes”. That’s why every holiday is now getting a movie about it that attempts to get at least one or two stars for each demographic. That’s why when another country makes an awesome movie, there’s usually a mediocre American remake almost right away. I’m sure you can add more examples to this list yourself.

Walt Disney was a true artist that spent years doodling a little mouse named Mickey in his notepads. And for the duration of his life, a Disney movie was a stand out film. Now, a Disney movie is “What are these five talking puppies going to take up next?”. My guesses: Scuba Buddies, Summer Buddies and then Secret Shopper Buddies.

Another good example is Christopher Nolan. Sure he had to prove he’s a good story teller with an amazing Batman trilogy, but look at Inception. And just think, what is that God among men going to do next?

This blog is an introduction to me. Bret Jolliffe. The only Bret Jolliffe online, that I’m aware of. This guy:

It’s also an introduction to my original movie idea.

And yes, it’s a risk to support this.

But I promise that I’m an artist and that I am making this movie because it is something that I would love to see.

1. I’ve been working on the story since 2009.
2. It will be one of the first dramatic-comedy zombie movies.
3. I won’t accept funding from anyone who will compromise my creative vision.
4. It doesn’t ignore that zombies are a part of pop culture.
5. It has strong female characters.
6. Characters in the movie aren’t trying to be funny.
7. The soundtrack will be all brand new songs from talented indie bands.

If you’re interested in contributing, here’s a sweet opportunity.

Let’s get artwork circulating online to bring this some awareness.

Here’s what needs to be on the poster:

- FUNCTIONALLY CHALLENGED

- a BRET JOLLIFFE film

- @FCtheMovie

Here’s what would make the poster awesome:

- Any drawing, sketch, image or photograph of a father and son doing typical father and son activities… except the son is a zombie. (The appeal here is that it’s a human caught between fatherly love and not wanting to get bit around a groomed and showered standard zombie.)

It’s totally up to you on how you want to interpret this, and I encourage you to get creative and original with it.

Thanks for your help and support!