Peenie-Wallie Proof of Concept

peenie-wallie: noun.  A firefly; specifically a luminescent click beetle of the largest Jamaican species.

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STORY:

 

After a young girl brings her pastor’s illegitimate son back to life in the placid parish of St. Ann, Jamaica, the church ostracizes her & her family from the greater community &, ultimately, one another.

 

Peenie-Wallie is a genre-bending feature film about the weaponization of faith in response to unexplainable magic. I aim to produce a robust tone-defining sizzle reel on location in Jamaica as proof of concept for the larger body of work.

 

WHY:

 

Why Jamaica? As a first-generation American raised by Jamaican parents, the lack of accurate depictions and inadequate representation of Jamaicans onscreen has always irritated me. Despite our far-reaching and globally beloved music, food, culture, and people, more often than not, we have been depicted more like caricatures than fully fleshed-out human beings. I've always wanted to showcase the talents of Jamaicans more in my work - giving them the opportunity to represent themselves in stories that toe the line between myth and legend.

 

Why this story? This story was bred out of my frustration with the dangerous and hypocritical nature of church politics as well as aspects of the Bible and island folklore that, as a child, frightened & piqued my curiosity in equal measure. Peenie-Wallie is the first feature I've ever written. It stretched me creatively and spiritually. Finishing the 1st draft gave me a sense of fulfillment that I haven't felt before or since. For that reason, I believe it deserves its chance in the sun.

 

Why a proof of concept instead of the actual feature? Well, investors LOVE them! They give donors an actual sense of tone, character dynamics, direction & scope which afford them the opportunity to feel confident enough to invest. Due to the international component of the film (which is important to me and integral to the authenticity of the story), I think doing one would help dispel some of the fear that may come with taking a chance on the feature financially (& I have to make the feature. I HAVE to).

 

CHARACTERS:

 

 

Jacinda "Peenie-Wallie" Manley is a little girl with healing abilities that defy logic, death, & unfortunately, grace. She's affectionately called Peenie-Wallie by her parents after the incredible swarm of fireflies that lit up their home on the night she was born.

 

 

 

Lennis Manley, Jacinda's mother, is a seamstress with a secret that tumbles out of the closet and frees her from the life she settled for after her family comes under the scrutiny of the community. an agreeable woman with a warrior spirit, Lennis' goal is to afford Jacinda the freedom she never had.

 

 

 

Simon Manley, Jacinda's father, is a successful fisherman and aspiring fisher's of men. He idolizes his pastor and prays for the chance to serve the church to rid his soul of the crippling weight of past transgressions.

 

 

 

Bibsy Clark, Lennis' b̶e̶s̶t̶ only friend, and the neighborhood gossip. Unbeknownst to those around her, she is struggling with heartbreak, rejection, and undiagnosed postpartum depression after giving birth to her first child, Devon, in her early 40s.

 

 

 

Devon Clark, Bibsy's 18-month-old son and only child. Even though he can't say it himself, everybody knows Jacinda Blue Manley is his favorite person in the entire world.

 

 

 

Pastor Constantine "Connie" Norman, a well-established man with shifty eyes. Known all over Jamaica for his fiery sermons about sin and somehow unscathed by his own. Manipulates his church flock and the Manley's into considering the unspeakable after Jacinda brings Devon, his illegitimate son, back from the dead.

 

*All of the main players may not appear in the Sizzle.

 

Peenie-Wallie is a period drama that takes place in 1968 with elements of mystical realism &horror. It has a majestic, moody & unnerving tone with historical homages & references. I intend to achieve this feeling with a finished product that incorporates the use of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEEDS:

Filmmaking isn't easy & bringing this to life abroad adds another layer of difficulty. Luckily, difficult isn't synonymous with impossible.

 

In the spirit of doing more with less, keeping the production as modest and bare-bones as possible while maintaining the integrity of the project has been my main goal. ✨

 

 

FUNDS WILL BE USED TO/FOR:

 

Thanks for believing in this story & my ability to tell it.

Love,

✨NEEN.