Assisted Living Pitch Presentation Written by Ben Giroux and - - PDF document

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Nov 11, 2023 260 likes •406 views

Assisted Living Pitch Presentation Written by Ben Giroux and Juliana Tyson Log-line Under the nose of strict, prison-like management, a rebellious, free-spirited caregiver and her neurotic partner-in-crime secretly help the residents of an

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Pitch Presentation

Written by Ben Giroux and Juliana Tyson

Assisted Living

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Log-line

Under the nose of strict, prison-like management, a rebellious, free-spirited caregiver and her neurotic partner-in-crime secretly help the residents of an Arizona Assisted Living facility re- discover their youth before it's too late.

Brief Overview

Death is a part of life. The last part. As we inch closer to that final curtain call, there’s a lot to look forward to: stale oatmeal, beige walls, sponge baths, uncontrollable bowel movements, and listening to your roommate babble about penguins. Tucson’s Sunny Smiles Assisted Living Community lives up to that promise: growing old leaves you weathered, wrinkled, and -- in many cases -- forgotten. With an ever-depleting budget, a drill-sergeant ex-nun running the facility like a military dictatorship, and a run-down building dwarfed by the bigger, shinier facility down the street, it’s no wonder there are more residents checking out of Sunny Smiles than there are checking in. In spite of it all, Amy Jo Carter and Elliot Kabranski, two caregivers from opposite sides of the tracks, are on a mission to give the old, the sick, and the dying the greatest adventures of their lives. Hell-bent on fulfilling life-long “bucket list” dreams for the elderly, free-spirited Amy Jo strong- arms the neurotic and comically timid Elliot into endless schemes. Risking their jobs, the law, and even their safety, these two renegade co-workers pioneer a motley crew of unconventional, big-hearted caregivers to orchestrate elaborate, secretive plans. Along their journey, Amy Jo and Elliot begin to see the lines blur -- just who is assisting who with the living? Death is a part of life. And until that day arrives, life at Sunny Smiles Assisted Living -- when no-body's looking -- is going to be one big fuckin’ party.

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

~Mark Twain“

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Characters

Our wise, weathered, omniscient narrator. Walter, a senior resident in the facility, is paralyzed and unable to communicate due to a severe stroke. While Walter can’t audibly talk to any

ther character, he eloquently speaks to the viewing audience

through voice-over. Walter is our window into the world. A wry, clever, insightful old man, Walter is both painfully funny and tormented by his inability to communicate his reflections and observations. As a younger man, Walter took pride in cooking and managing a successful grocery store. Now, his meals are fed to him in a painful twist of irony. The outside world treats Walter as if he’s an infant, unaware of all that still goes on inside his head. Sadly, the most insightful man in the room sits locked behind a motionless, crooked body. A free-spirited, rebellious caregiver who’s vibrant personality instantly lights up any room. She’s unpolished, stubborn as hell, and has a heart of gold. Raised by her non-biological grandfather in Louisiana, Amy Jo developed a unique and special bond with the elderly. Amy Jo is hell-bent on ensuring the seniors in her care have the greatest adventures of their lives before it’s too late. She’s blinded by her own mission, sometimes in spite of better

judgement. Funny, selfless, and wearing her emotions on her

sleeve, Amy Jo needs the facility as much as it needs her -- she has nothing to go back to. Walter Green (70s, African-American) Amy Jo Carter (late 20s, Southern, Caucasian) Juliana Tyson Bill Cosby

SLIDE 4 A tightly wound, obsessively organized caregiver who colors inside the lines. Elliot is everything Amy Jo isn’t -- he’s an avid follower of rules and can’t comprehend life without structure and safety pamphlets. Afraid of everything, Elliot is both mesmerized by Amy Jo’s free- spirited charisma and completely frustrated with it. As a kid, Elliot witnessed his best friend drown after sneaking into a gated

pool. Still wrought with guilt, Elliot works at Sunny Smiles to

keep people from dying -- but he’d never admit to that out loud. Elliot often tries too hard, winding up on the opposite side of success -- dating domineering women, working humiliating side jobs, and even moving back in with his parents. Following Amy Jo’s imaginative schemes, Elliot is continually talked into stepping outside of his comfort zone and personal boundaries, consequences be damned. “Sister” Connie Holtzmiller, the new director of Sunny Smiles Assisted Living Facility, has a style of management that rivals militaristic dictators. An ex-nun and former warden of the Indiana State Women’s Penitentiary, Holtzmiller discourages all things ‘emotion’ and certainly hasn’t felt one in decades. Ironically, the warmest thing about Holtzmiller is her title “sister”; a label she insists on continuing despite giving up the nun’s habit long ago. Demons lurk beneath Holtzmiller’s gruff exterior -- her husband left years ago after discovering she was unable to bear

children. Holtzmiller desperately wanted a family she never got,

leaving her empty, pissed, and skeptical of true compassion. After the sudden and “disgraceful” death of Sunny Smiles’ previous director, Holtzmiller is brought in by the facility’s Board to “shape up the place,” aiming to restore order, financial stability, and a strict code of ethics. Elliot Kabranski (Late 20s, Caucasian) Connie Holtzmiller (60s, Caucasian) Anne Robinson Ben Giroux

SLIDE 5 A forgetful, eccentric senior resident of the facility. Mildred’s green spandex pants, oversized cat glasses, and frizzy hair fit in perfectly with the “unorthodox” vibe of Sunny Smiles. Always willing to help Amy Jo and Elliot with their schemes, Mildred is constantly falling asleep at the most inopportune

times. Though she unintentionally gets our heroes into trouble

time and time again, no one can fault her effort to help them. A nice guy with a warm smile, Kevin works at Sunny Smiles as the go-to Renaissance man. Chief among his responsibilities: Kevin serves as the facility’s “Chaplain hybrid Rabbi.” As a result of budget setbacks, Sunny Smiles can only afford

ne employee to perform last religious rites -- and Kevin is their

man. On busy days, Kevin may enter a room wearing a clerical collar,

nly to swap it for a yarmulke moments later.

Kevin is constantly reminded he shares his name with an iconic celebrity (no relation), often by grieving families asking: “Wait, weren’t you in that dancing movie?” Mildred Clemens (70s, Caucasian) Kevin Bacon (30s, Caucasian)“

A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.

~John Barrymore Shelley Long Alan Tudyk

SLIDE 6 Meticulous at his job, Perry is one of Sunny Smiles’ longest tenured employees. Incredibly well-intentioned and quick-witted, Perry mans the front desk of the facility. Recently, he’s taken to “borrowing” certain female clothing items from the facility’s residents. Nicknamed “Perrywinkle,” he is the heart and soul of Sunny Smiles’ positive attitude. Perry is loyal, thoughtful, and looks surprisingly stylish in lipstick. The granddaughter of Grace Lamden, a new resident at Sunny Smiles, Piper has become a frequent visitor of the facility. She’s

riginal, youthful, and pretty in a quirky kind of way. Elliot is

smitten with her on first glance -- but Piper isn’t looking for love in her grandmother’s assisted living facility. A talented musician and regular performer at The Watering Cactus Bar & Grill, Piper is a budding singer by night and a community college student by day. Elliot often hears her singing to Grace during visiting hours, but could lose his job if he ever made a move... Perry Wu (30s, Gay, Asian) Piper Carmichael (20s, Caucasian) Matt Moy

Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in life.

~Herbert Asquith“ Zooey Daschenel

SLIDE 7 The rugged head-bartender at The Watering Cactus, Charlie is

utgoing, attractive, and well-liked among bar patrons. Chief

among those patrons is Amy Jo, who often drags Elliot to “The Cactus” to concoct schemes. Subtle flirtation begins to build between Amy Jo and Charlie, leaving Elliot rolling his eyes and Amy Jo’s tom-boy instincts unsure of what to do next. Charlie’s father is on the Board at Royal Palms Senior Living, a gaudy assisted living facility down the street from Sunny Smiles and the one place Amy Jo loathes most on Earth. The smarmy, egocentric director of Sunny Smiles arch rival: Royal Palms Senior Living. Royal Palms is a ritzy, uber-expensive assisted living community located just down the street from Sunny Smiles. Clad with roman columns, waterfalls, and acres of lush grass, Royal Palms lets wealthy seniors bask in paradise on Earth. Chuck embodies Royal Palms perfectly: he’s shallow, competitive, and obsessed with showcasing his wealth. Underneath his mounds of money, no one can be sure if he even has a heart... Charlie Gowland (Late 30s, Caucasian) Chuck Henderson (40s, Caucasian) Chris O’Dowd

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.

~Henry David Thoreau“ Danny Woodburn

SLIDE 8 Cesar works in Sunny Smiles’ cafeteria, serving food to residents as part of his community service and probation. Tattooed from head-to-toe, Cesar is quiet, disinterested, and anxious to serve his time and leave. That is, until Amy Jo and Elliot begin including him in their schemes. Cesar gradually emerges from his tough-guy exterior and becomes an instrumental teammate

n Amy Jo’s crack-squad of caretaker rebels.

Considered among residents to be the “godmother” of Sunny Smiles, Rosa is the longest tenured caretaker at the facility. Fiercely loyal to her residents, Rosa embodies all that is good in the human spirit. She’s spent her entire life caring for others, making very little money. As the legal guardian of her two grandchildren, Rosa is barely able to keep her own family afloat -- but you’ll never hear her complain. As Amy Jo and Elliot infuse adventure into the facility, Rosa is surprisingly eager to participate in any way she can. Elliot’s neurotic, over-bearing, Jewish mother. After Elliot’s last girlfriend nearly bankrupt him, he was forced to move back in with his folks. Judith loves Elliot dearly, but treats him like he’s in grade-school, packing his lunch daily for work. She stays at home, running her own garden gnome business: buying gnomes on eBay and reselling them to “customers” at her front door. Elliot’s father. Ruben Kabranski owns a local book shop. With the recent economic down-turn, Ruben has begun selling Ruben sandwiches in addition to books... in the same shop. While he’s surely breaking all kinds of building codes, he’s keeping his business afloat. Ruben loves his son, but he doesn’t understand Elliot’s job: “You have the rest of your life to be old, why be around it now?” Cesar Oliveres (Early 20s, Hispanic) Rosa Jimenez (Late 50s, Hispanic) Judith Kabranski (60s, Caucasian) Ruben Kabranski (60s, Caucasian)

Old age ain’t no place for sissies. ~Bette Davis“

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The Show

ASSISTED LIVING is an hour-long dark comedy television series. Detailing the lives of the staff and residents of an Arizona Assisted Living facility, the series intricately weaves both comedy and pathos together, addressing the universal truth of mortality head-on. Tackling issues of death, the definition of family, and fighting for what you believe in, the series aims to re-define what it means to grow old. A typical episode will focus on a single resident’s “bucket list” dream. Through present day situations and flashbacks to other eras, the resident’s lifelong ambitions will come to light. Under the rigid gaze of Director Holtzmiller, Amy Jo and Elliot will try to secretly outsmart the higher-ups and fulfill seemingly-impossible wishes, one resident at a time.

The Creators

Ben Giroux is a television and film actor best known for the recurring role of Donny Depeetro in Nickelodeon’s BUCKET & SKINNER’S EPIC ADVENTURES. He’s also the front funny-man for Build-a-Bear Workshop’s national commercials. Other notable guest-star and recurring credits include BONES (FOX), HOUSE (FOX), PSYCH (USA), HAPPILY DIVORCED (TV LAND), UNHITCHED (FOX), PAIR OF KINGS (DISNEY), THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL (CBS), DEATH VALLEY (MTV), THE FRESH BEAT BAND (NICK), THE ANNOYING ORANGE (Pilot), and the 2009 Disney feature film, SANTA BUDDIES where Giroux plays opposite Christopher Lloyd and Danny Woodburn. Juliana Long Tyson, daughter of celebrity actress Shelley Long, is a fresh, upcoming creative

force. A founding member of the Los Angeles-based Boom Kat Dance Company, Juliana has

an extensive background in professional theatre. Selected plays include DEAD END (Ahmanson Theatre), INVASION THE MUSICAL (Hudson Theatre), SCHOOL FOR SUCKERS (Lillian Theatre), THE CRUCIBLE (USC), and ANGELS IN AMERICA (USC). Notable television guest credits include PRIVILEGED (CW) and AWKWARD UNIVERSE (Pilot). Ben Giroux Juliana Tyson

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Television Influences Synopsis

Sunny Smiles Assisted Living Community isn’t the nicest senior home in town -- far from it -- but it’s bursting with character inside and out. Run-down, out-dated, and financially crippled, the facility is in dire straights as we open the series. We learn that Mr. Lemley, the facility’s disinterested director, is pronounced dead by erotic self- asphyxiation in a motel bedroom during a late night escapade with a prostitute. Mortified, the facility’s board of higher-ups -- a disorganized, semi-wealthy, multi-generational family -- have immediately hired a new director to “whip the facility into shape.” This mega make-over will be led by the newly hired “Sister” Connie Holtzmiller, a petite but terrifying ex-nun who will oversee every inch of Sunny Smiles with an iron fist.

Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.

~Jennifer Yane“

SLIDE 11 Our series heroes, the free-spirited Amy Jo Carter and the neurotic Elliot Kabranski, are blind- sided by the new prison-style leadership. As a quirky caretaker duo in the facility, Amy Jo and Elliot couldn’t be more opposite. Amy Jo’s immense fervor for life oozes from her personality, moving through the work-day with laughter, care-free confidence, and a wild passion. Elliot, on the other hand, eats anxiety pills for breakfast. Bound by rules and guidelines, he’s crippled by fears and doubts. When Holtzmiller takes Sunny Smiles by storm, Elliot remains cautiously optimistic, while Amy Jo immediately butts heads with the new sheriff in town. Holtzmiller enacts severe budget cuts, strict visiting hours, and an absurd “code of ethics” that transforms Sunny Smiles into a bizarre prison for the elderly. Even more alarming, a new glitzy facility has opened down the street: Royal Palms Senior Living. The roman columns, gushing waterfalls, and artful desert landscaping lend themselves to more of a palace than an

ld-age home. Wealthy seniors lounge poolside, basking in their golden years.

Back at Sunny Smiles, things looks bleak. A quick glance around the facility lobby elicits a pretty depressing image: aging seniors slumped over in wheelchairs, residents playing cards at rusty folding tables, and patients quietly awaiting their imminent deaths, yearning for better, younger times. Amy Jo realizes this is no way to finish life. Raised by her grandfather in Louisiana, Amy Jo had always been a champion for the elderly. It’s time to give the residents of Sunny Smiles purpose, happiness, and hope in their waning days. After repeated attempts, Amy Jo convinces Elliot to join her in a secret rebellion of the facility rules, systematically granting “bucket list” wishes to every resident of Sunny Smiles.

Old age puts more wrinkles in our minds than on our faces.

~Michel de Montaigne“

SLIDE 12 Their adventures will break rules, laws, morals, and plenty of dentures. When Elliot isn’t putting out Amy Jo fires, he’s got another problem on his hands: romance. As we open the series, we learn Elliot is stuck in a painfully unhealthy relationship. His girlfriend has a child from another relationship, and she uses Elliot more as a babysitter than a boyfriend. While he attempts to grow balls big enough to dump her, he becomes smitten with Piper Carmichael -- the granddaughter of a freshly-admitted Sunny Smiles resident. Amy Jo is no stranger to awkward flirting herself: a tom- boy in her youth, she typically scares men away with a reckless lack of elegance. Both Amy Jo and Elliot frequent the local dive bar: The Watering Cactus Bar and

Grill. There, they plot their latest and greatest “bucket-list” schemes. But the Watering Cactus

soon becomes more than a local hang-out: Amy Jo grows smitten with Charlie Gowland, the stud-muffin bartender. The attraction becomes mutual -- Charlie seems to be the only one who understands Amy Jo’s unrestrained exterior. But Amy Jo will soon face a dilemma: Charlie’s father is on the Board at Royal Palms. To Amy Jo, that facility may as well be the Anti-Christ. Back at Holtzmiller’s prison for the elderly, Amy Jo and Elliot gradually form an air-tight bond that strengthens with each scheme they narrowly pull-off. Through Seinfeldian-wit mixed with SIX FEET UNDER darkness, ASSISTED LIVING aims to shed new light on our own mortality. And above all else: what it means to truly live.

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You can’t turn back the clock. But you can wind it up again.

~Bonnie Prudden

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It takes a long time to become young.

~Pablo Picasso“