A Gentleman Drunk an edgy inspirational drama

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A Gentleman Drunk - an edgy inspirational drama

• 2008 Screenwriting Expo - Golden Pitch
• November 14-16, 2008
• Los Angeles, CA

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Based on a True Life Story
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Readers Reviews

• I want to extend a belated thanks for sending me
  your book and I have just finished reading it. 
  You certainly have had your share of trials and I
  applaud all your efforts and successes.  You've
  obviously come so far and meeting you, I'd have
  never guessed you'd been through such hard times.
• Thanks for your story - it helped me
• Just wanted to let you know I was so deeply
  touched by your generosity. I couldn't put your
  book down. It inspired me so much and gave me
  hope for a better today.
• Great book! From the minute I started reading it
  I was engrossed and couldnt put it down. You
  were frank, open and honest. I appreciate you
  sharing it with me. Ill gladly recommend it to
  friends and family.
• Jeffrey shows that alcoholism transcends social,
  financial and racial differences. Though we have
  vastly different backgrounds, I was riveted by
  our similarities after alcohol took controleven
  to our difficulty accepting the only true source
  of help.
• Jeffreys frank and honest discussions of his own
  (and my own) shortcomings is refreshing compared
  to todays psychobabble approach to everything.
  If youre looking for truth about alcoholism, I
  recommend A Gentleman Drunk.

• Jeffrey has written an autobiographical story
  about how his life has changed since he faced the
  issues of sobriety. The book reads like an inside
  diary frank, truthful, and tell all. I could not
  put the book down as it explains how Jeffrey
  achieved sobriety. In fact, I had to re-read many
  parts as it was a very emotional read.
• It was a good read. I really respect the action
  part of your program. No one can accuse you of
  all talk and no walk.
• I just finished reading A Gentleman Drunk. It is
  very good and once I started I didnt want to
  stop. Your book kept my undivided attention!
• Jeff, Ive read the whole thing twice. My wife
  has read it, as well as my sister in law who is
  managing editor of an influential current affairs
  magazine here in Canada. All we can say is thank
  you so much for sharing your experience. I am
  proud that you let me glimpse at this gem of self
  description and journal of healing.
• Youre telling every alcoholics story.

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Logline

• After a drunken auto accident leaves a man
  hovering between life and death, he is forced to
  retrace the major turning points, which led him
  to this moment. Just when we believe alls lost
  and our hero will die unredeemed in the original
  auto accident, we realize the entire film has
  been a first hand account told to an
  international gathering of Alcoholics Anonymous
  by the man, himself, now recovered.

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The Story (1 of 4)

• We open with Jeffrey, 52, a very successful Wall
  Street financial genius, driving a beat-up Chevy
  Vega in a New York City downpour. Drunk, he
  frantically searches for his wife, Toby, 35, a
  New York City dancer and actress who leaves him
  at a party.
• As he runs a red light, he skids through a snowy
  intersection and crashes. Lying still on cold
  December pavement, spectators and paramedics
  surround the well-dressed businessman mumbling
  the only word he can muster, Scotch.
• As he prepares for his death, he recalls
  significant events in his life which parade
  before him like a comic strip running on auto
  pilot. Jeffrey no longer functions as his brain
  slips into delirium and he cannot remember his
  name.

• Jeffrey recalls important snapshots of his youth
  his bris, his father scouring the daily business
  journals to find good deals, his heart-pounding
  journeys on the school bus in which the bullies
  beat him up. He makes us laugh when he re-enacts
  his yearly Tug of War match with God. Constant
  throughout the story is his love for cookies.
• We advance to the 60s as Jeffrey plays a worn-out
  Spinet. Although Jeffrey is only 12 years old, he
  has masterfully learned the art of composing and
  performing.
• Throughout his youth, he constantly sneaks into
  his fathers liquor cabinet, learning quickly to
  replace alcohol with water. Not knowing who to
  blame, his parents fire maid after maid.

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The Story (2 of 4)

• Frequently sneaking out onto the roof at night,
  he develops a love for talking to the Stars while
  drinking to avoid the reality that abuses him.
• As Jeffrey is finally arrested by the local
  police for trespassing on his neighbors property,
  his father blames Jeffreys mother, who tries to
  kill herself with an overdose of sleeping pills.
• After 18 years of dealing with his dysfunctional
  family, Jeffrey goes off to college and develops
  a knack for using comedy to entertain others.
  Through a series of snapshots we see Jeffrey in
  his most awkward moments usually at the off
  campus frat house, including a secret ritual
  hazing ceremony tying all of the naked freshmen
  together with only a string on their private
  parts.

• One night he loses his virginity in the front
  seat of a sports car, but as he does, the parking
  brake comes free and he crashes through the front
  window of the girls parents home.
• After graduating from school, Jeffrey winds up in
  New York City as a Wall Street hustler. Working
  frantically during the day to win clients, he
  often parties at night to meet women at bars.
• Living the good life Jeffrey continues to drink
  his way to success, even though his life is often
  marred by dramatic events including his friends
  death.
• Through a series of intertwined near misses,
  Jeffrey bumps into Toby, as she comes out of a
  Broadway theatre.

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The Story (3 of 4)

• Fate intervenes again as Jeffrey and Toby meet
  again at a social mixer arranged by Richie, a New
  City hustler who mixes trading stocks with
  arranging trips for single Jews to Club Med.
  Jeffrey, who begins to believe in love at first
  sight, cannot stop pursuing Toby. Hes in love
  and the courtship begins in an island paradise.
• As they leave the island, Jeffrey knows that Toby
  is meant for him. He is fascinated by her beauty,
  wit and Brooklyn attitude. On top of that her
  beautiful melodic voice nicely compliments his
  piano playing at local bars. We also witness
  Jeffreys unusual talent for turning peoples
  telephone numbers into music.

• During the day, Jeffrey throws himself into his
  work. Unfortunately, his drinking continues
  unabated and his personality slowly changes as
  the alcohol starts to poison his body. Late one
  night, Toby confronts him as she hails a cab.
  Running out of ideas in order to keep his
  marriage to Toby, he impulsively strikes her in
  the face.
• Doing anything to keep her, he borrows his
  friends car, a beat-up Chevy Vega, and
  frantically drives drunk down a New York City
  Avenue, looking for the cab in which Toby is
  trying to escape.
• Even in these desperate moments, Jeffrey still
  finds time to stop at a bar for a couple of
  doubles. With his inability to see clearly
  through the snow in his drunken state, he swerves
  from a delivery truck and crashes into the
  store-front window.

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The Story (4 of 4)

• As if God is watching over the two young New
  Yorkers, we see Toby running down the hallways of
  a New York City hospital, screaming for Jeffrey.
  She runs through the halls frantically searching
  until she runs into a doctor. She pulls out a
  picture from her wallet and shows it to the
  doctor.
• Finally connecting his erratic behavior to
  alcohol poisoning, Jeffrey, decides to go cold
  turkey and stops drinking.
• At a recovery meeting, we hear Jeffrey say,
  Statistically, most of us dont make it. The
  disease will get the majority of us. We dont
  realize how many people we hurt in the process.
  We hurt our wives, our girlfriends, our children,
  our business associates. I thought the world
  revolved around me. I was a selfish arrogant son
  of a bitch. I have no idea and cant explain
  why, to this day, Toby even stayed with me.

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Potential Actors To Play Jeffrey and Toby
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Potential Actors To Play Dad and Mom
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Alcoholic Movies Make Money

• From 1996 to 2004, 86 pictures costing more than
  50 million were released to the public by Buena
  Vista (Disney), 20th Century Fox, Universal,
  Dreamworks, Miramax and Sony.
• The highest ROI of 636 was reported by 20th
  Century Fox for Independence Day.
• The weighted average ROI for all 86 movies was
  194.
• As a genre, alcoholic related movies (costing
  anywhere from 10 million to 25 million to make)
  are fairly consistent at the box office.
• There is a strong following of alcoholics,
  addicts and family members who can relate to A
  Gentleman Drunk.

• When A Man Loves A Woman (2004) released by
  Buena Vista yielded 207. 28 Days (2003)
  released by Fox Searchlight reported 431.
• Leaving Las Vegas (1995) released by MGM and
  produced for the low cost of 5 million generated
  hundreds of millions of dollars for investors to
  produce a worldwide ROI of 386.
• Days of Wine Roses (1962) (with the classic
  Jack Lemmon scene in the Greenhouse) produced an
  Oscar win for Henry Mancini, and Oscar
  nominations for Jack Lemmon as Best Actor and Lee
  Remick for Best Actress.

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Contact

• Jeffrey Taylor4844 East Andora DriveScottsdale,
  AZ 85254(888) 494-2468 (toll-free)(602)
  494-1200 (work)[phone] (cell)(602)
  867-9382 (home)[phone] (fax)