[Louann Fernald]

Louann Fernald – 10 Most Interesting Things

4. What I learned doing this assignment is, Hey, my script might not be that bad.

1. A. What is most unique about my villain and hero? Two villains and two hero’s.

The ‘heroine’s’ are two Playboy centerfolds, each with their own distinct personalities, immaturity, unrealistic expectations, flaws, surprisingly naive, propped up to represent sex goddesses to the public. The ‘villains,’ their husbands, are abusive, each in their own way. They are the poster children for toxic masculinity.

B. Major hook of my opening scene? It’s uniquely from the 70’s, a car show with two Playboy Playmates on a stage signing autographs for a crowd of adoring men bearing gifts to sacrifice on the alter of love. Back then, before porn and the Internet, Playmates commanded a huge following among men everywhere. The interplay between the two girls, who have just met, is the beginning of a true ‘Thelma & Louise’ style friendship.

C. Turning points? When both women realize they are trapped in an abusive marriage and decide to get out.

D. Emotional dilemma? 1. The morality of posing nude, and whether or not a ‘nice girl’ can do it without being judged. 2. Weighing the pros and cons of whether or not to stay in an imperfect marriage or get divorced.

E. Major twists? “Thelma & Louise” meets “Erin Brockavich”. A woman’s buddy film ends in tragedy, except that one woman survives. She goes on to become a lawyer who advocates for battered women.

F. Reversals? 1. The survivor’s husband, her ‘knight in shining armor’, a war hero, who she thinks is the love of her life and marries and has a kid with, turns out to be her worst nightmare. 2. She saves herself and finds redemption in a domestic violence shelter. Using what she learned from seeing her friend murdered by her husband when she tried to leave, she helps the other women in the shelter and finds her calling.

G. Character betrayals? 1. She’s been putting up with a battering husband because she’s trying to heal him from PTSD from hard combat. But she discovers he’s having an affair. 2. Her previous relationship ended when she found out her boyfriend was cheating on her while she was on the road.

H. Big surprises? 1. Playmate had super strict parents, and super nerdy growing up and bullied at school. 2. After being out meeting hoards of men all over the country, she reunites and marries her high school crush. 3. After Playboy and a fairy-tale marriage (until it wasn’t), she becomes an ordinary attorney fighting battles in court every day for the principal of the thing.

2. Any other things that would interest a producer?

– Based on the true life story of the writer.

– Feminist biopic framed against the 70’s when Disco was King. It’s “Thelma & Louise” meets “Erin Brockavich.”

– Insiders perspective of the world of Playboy, Hugh Hefner, and parties at the Mansion.

– The friendship between the two women is authentic and the beating heart of the film.

– Geographic locations are varied and fun, Florida to Chicago to L.A. to Hawaii with many stops in between.

– Takes on the bigger issue of domestic violence in this country.

[Louann Fernald]

Subject Line: Louann’s Marketable Components

4. What I learned from this assignment is: the intimidating task of “Pitching” can be broken down into a simple formula based upon 10 components of Marketability.

1. Logline: Young Hispanic woman from conservative family becomes Playboy Playmate in 1979, has special friendship with doomed Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten (“Star 80”), then goes on to become an attorney for battered women.

2. C. True. The story is based on real events, by someone with inside knowledge and life story rights.

2. F. Ultimate woman’s buddy film, two Playboy centerfolds transcend stereotypes. We get beneath the surface to see two innocent young women join forces to survive in a super sexualized highly charged man’s world.

2. G. Wide audience appeal. Appeals to both men and women, albeit for slightly different reasons. Resurrects fallen starlet Dorothy Stratten and presents her in a different light, through the eyes of her best girlfriend. Playboy is a worldwide brand, and many want to know more about Dorothy, who was on the fast track to becoming a movie star when she was killed at age 20, in 1980.

2. I. Similar to “Thelma and Louise,” and “Erin Brockavich.” The young women’s buddy journey ends in tragedy, but one survives, and becomes an attorney who fights for victims of domestic violence.

3. It’s “Thelma & Louise” meets “Erin Brockavich” in a true story told by the protagonist, revealing slain starlet of “Star 80” fame Dorothy Stratten– as who she really was, a fun-loving, ambitious, soulful, and brave young woman.

[Louann Fernald]

1. genre: Drama

title: Saving Roses

concept: former Playboy model struggles to find her purpose after her year in the spotlight, eventually settling on a career in family law following the murder of her best friend and her own experience with domestic violence. A honorable tribute to Dorothy Stratten, Playboy Playmate and rising star, 2/28/60-8/14/80.

2. This is a touching story with relevant and relatable themes. It’s a female buddy film in the mold of Thelma & Louise, timely enough for the ‘me too’ movement. The Playboy angle attracts men as well, but the character development is solid, making the young women universally relatable.

3. I would first target producers because I think this has potential as an A-list project with an international market.

4. What I learned today is how much more I need to learn about marketing my project.

[Louann Fernald]

Hi, my name is Louann “Tess” Fernald.

This is my first feature screenplay.

Having spent two years working on this script, I want to learn how to pitch it so it sells, instead of continuing to spin my wheels entering film contests.

I’m an attorney, mother of three kids and two dogs, and was a Playboy Playmate in the late 70’s.

[Louann Fernald]

I, Louann Fernald, agree to the terms of this release form.