To those of you who don't know,
The Black List is a list of scripts and their authors that is compiled by a few people within the industry. This list shares the number of votes that certain executives at studios and production companies gave a particular script. The highest number of votes means that a great deal of top film executives really enjoyed the script.
This is almost a guaranteed fast-track to production. At least that's what happened with Kyle Killen's off-beat dramedy
The Beaver, which topped last year's
Black List with a hefty 67 Votes.
Synopsis
The Beaver is about a man named Walter Black who is on a slippery-slide to losing everything in his life. He has tried everything to get better - self-help books, motivational speakers, a therapist, even pills. Nothing seems to be helping him out of his funk and it is affecting his family life - at some point, his wife asks him to leave, his kids don't like him, and his work suffers. Walter is the President of a prominent toy manufacturing company but is about to lose his job because of this horrible depression.
On the verge of losing it all, Walter stumbles upon a small hand-puppet of a beaver lying in the garbage. He picks it up, puts it on his hand, and his entire world is changed forever.
The beaver on his hand begins to speak for him, saying the things he has always wanted to say, doing what he's always wanted to do and generally making his life better... or so we think.
This is one of those scripts that you just want to be amazing. As you continue on reading it you just are aching for it to continue being as awesome as the first 3/4ths. Unfortunately, this is one of those scripts that as you read on past that mark, it begins to slip and congeal.
It's an amazing premise, not one easily explained or sold, but it works so well in Walter's world. It's exciting to see and hear what the beaver has in store for him. It took me by surprise for a good portion of the read because I wanted to know what the beaver was going to say or do next. Is it Walter's subconscious coming out to play? or is this some freaky supernatural thing that Walter has no control over? The more you read the more you wonder.
It has a perfect mixture of pure dramatic elements mixed with sharp comedic moments.
A particularly good excerpt:
[scrippet]
EXT. DRIVEWAY/ INT. GARAGE - AFTERNOON
Meredith wheels into the driveway, opens the garage door.
As it rises she sees Henry, bent over a workbench surrounded by wood, sawdust, and tools.
When he sees her, he looks up, beaming. He seems like an entirely different kid.
As Merideth gets out he runs toward her.
HENRY
Mom, mom. You gotta see what we did! Come on!
She’s stunned by his excitement. He takes her hand, starts pulling.
MEREDITH
Okay, okay.
As he’s dragging her toward the workbench...
MEREDITH
Where is your father?
Henry doesn’t hear her. Instead, he picks up a simple, but impressive, wooden box. He hands it to her.
HENRY
You put your memory in it.
She looks it over, impressed, confused. It strikes her as a little nice to have come from her garage.
MEREDITH
Where did this come from?
HENRY
We made it.
MEREDITH
You and your dad?
HENRY
Me and The Beaver.
MEREDITH
The beaver?
Just then, Walter steps from the house into the garage, a smile as rare and bright as Henry’s on his face. He seems genuinely excited to see her.
But before he speaks, Walter raises his left hand revealing the beaver puppet.
The Beaver does the talking.
THE BEAVER
Hello, love. Was just about to call you. Any idea where Walter stuffed the power sander you gave him two Christmases ago?
Meredith is stunned into silence.
THE BEAVER
No? No trouble. We’ll make do.
(to Walter)
Giver her the thing.
Walter hands her a 3x5 sized card with a message printed on it. He then moves past her and joins Henry at the workbench.
Meredith looks at the card.
MEREDITH
(reading)
Hello. The person who handed you this card is under the care of a prescription puppet designed to-
(looking up at Walter)
Walter, what the hell is going on?
Walter and Henry begin sanding by hand.
THE BEAVER
Just some male bonding, love. The boy here practically demanded a gentlemen’s club, but I won him over with the promise of power tools.
Henry LAUGHS. Meredith can’t help but gape at the rare sound.
[/scrippet]
It gets really good around this part and continues to get better until the near end.
One of my main problems with the script was the storyline of Walter's son Porter. I couldn't quite figure it out. What was the purpose? Why was that storyline more important than Walter connecting with his wife or other people around him? Why make a good portion of the script about Porter's struggles when they are not directly relevant to the main struggle? Sure there's some real tender moments there at the end, but I don't necessarily think that I wanted that moment to be just with Walter and Porter. It seemed off.
The picture is in production, currently filming on location in New York with Jodie Foster as director. She will also be playing Meredith Black, Walter's wife. Mel Gibson is set to play Walter Black, an interesting choice. At first I didn't think it was a good fit, but the more I think of the character of Walter the more I think Gibson would be able to give an honest portrayal to the part.
Plus, his recent troubles might help give him the image that he needs to play such an off-balance character. (Not to say that Melly is off-balance himself, just saying that the current view of him is slightly towards the crazy side, so playing a crazed toy maker may be right up his alley.)
At one time Steve Carell was attached to play the leading role, but instead signed on to do
Date Night with
Shawn Levy. At another point Jim Carrey was attached to play the lead role. I think Carrey would have given a different vibe to the role, I like his acting, but I'm glad he's not playing this character.
Most definitely photoshopped.
Definitely not photoshopped - a pic from the set.
Title: The Beaver
Writer: Kyle Killen
Pages: 106 (undated draft)
Status: Currently Filming
Opinion: Good, with some reservations about the end.
Get on now, boy!
