ground upEarthTone Pictures & Jekyll Island Films

present

introductionThe story of “Ground Up” poses the question to us all: How far would you go?

In a time when the American dream seems to be slipping further away from the hands of the little man, and “Big Business” wants more for less, lines can become blurred. “Ground Up” brings you to that line and then way past what you would do, we hope.

The Horror/Slasher genre has long been devoid of any real deep thought. Andthat makes sense; the suspension of reality is part of the greatness of our trips to the theater. Every once and a while though, a story comes around that sticks with you for your walk out to the parking lot, even follows you home.

“Ground Up” is just that story.

synopsisAn economic crisis spanning the globe has become the new reality tightening thebelts of millions. Unemployment rates soar, as life savings are lost in the blink ofan eye, through crashing markets worldwide. Hard working citizens are wakingto find themselves without a job or a promise of a better tomorrow.

Sage Westborn is a simple man with a simple view of the world. His strong belief that hard work and an honest living would always prevail kept him grounded.With his lawn care business, which was passed down from his father, he has kept thetown of Brumsfield looking beautiful. “As long as the grass keeps growing, I’ll keepmowing,” was his refrain. And this worked for him. Too bad it couldn’t for everyone else.

When the realities of the town’s economy coincided with the arrival of “Big Business”in the form of a larger, cheaper competing landscaping company, it seemed as if Sagewould have to face those same realities. If only he had listened to the multitude ofvoices warning him to make plans for his future. That future was turning dim.

After staying out late drinking one night, he has a tragic accident. He then isfaced with the first of what will prove to be very important decisions: does heface the consequences of his actions? Or does he hide the evidence? Sometimesthe path of least resistance is the quickest way to the edge.

His choice, at least in short run, turns out to be quite the windfall. He is able to startregaining his business and even compete with his hated neighbor. All he needed todo is keep his secret, never the easiest thing. Sage will cross all boundaries of ethics,morality and his sanity to ensure that his house of cards do not come crashing down..

script sampleSAGE

I don’t know if your a man that takes pride in his lawn, but green grass has been growing in my family since

I remember. I grew up, living and breathing lawn fertilizer.

DELL(Sarcastic) That sounds unhealthy.

SAGE(Hands Dell the pamphlet) Well, I’m

still here. Look how good your lawn will look.

Both Sage and Dell look across the street.

SAGE (CONT’D)That could be your lawn. It’s just one example of what

Greener’n’Greener Lawn care can do for you.

Sage with a big salesman smile. Dell glances through the pamphlet. Sagewaits for an answer. Dell looks across the street. Sage thinks he’s got thisguy wrapped up.

DELLWhaddya got there? That looks like

Kentucky Blue Everest?

SAGEUh.. ..yeah.

DELLI really prefer the Sonoma Blue mix. It tends to germinate a bitquicker in the spring, takes winters like a champ. You know that

REAL good feeling of rich GREEN grass between your toes? Well there isn’t anything softer than that stuff.

Dell hands Sage back the pamphlet. Sage is caught off guard.

SAGEThanks for the tip.

DELLYeah no problem.

Just then a big company truck pulls in. The side reads: LONGSTREETLAWN CARE.

DELL (CONT’D)Sorry, should have stopped you earlier. A bit awkward I know,

but see I’m the Longstreet in Longstreet Lawn Care.

sage westbornSage is a hardworking, salt of the earth type man. Steeped in a belief that with hard work, sweat and elbow grease you can move the world. His world is; Brumsfield, his accounts, friends, wife and his future. Unfortunately, and maybe fortunately, for him, he is a bit narrow minded in his focus early in our story. His choices in life both, good and bad, willdefine his life and those around him. His madness, or cold calculated decisions, will leave all that touch his life perma-nently effected. Our hero/anti-hero leaves a lot to be desired, and a lot for us to empathize.

Following are possible types for Sage:

bree westbornBree was never the most popular girl, nor the least either. She was always loved, though. Absent a living family, she focuses solely upon marriage, their business, her framing hobby and a mind numbingly boring day job. She loves herman very much. Without Bree to look after him who knows where Sage would be. When he doesn’t know how to defend himself, which it seems as if he hasn’t since high school, she is the first there for him. He may not be her Prince Charming, but he is her love. There is a line she must draw. That line, surprisingly may do her in.

Following are possible types for Bree:

Matt Bomer Giovanni Ribisi Nick Wechsler Patrick Wilson

Shane West

Jessica Alba Meghan Markle Alexa Davolos Sarah Shahi

Eliza Dushku

dell longstreetDell is the owner of the competing “Longstreet Lawn Care,” a self started highly successful “Big Business.” He has come tothe town of Brumsfield to corner yet another market. He is a confidant family man who relishes in the fact that he is tall,dark and handsome, and that everyone knows it. He knows what he wants and he isn’t afraid to cross a line to get it. Aleader and motivator, Dell still seems like he could harbor a darker secret, but has it in control.

Following are possible types for Dell:

mary longstreetMary comes from money. She is the trophy wife and drop dead gorgeous mother. She seems sweet, friendly and genuine.She creates the image of the perfect family environment. It is apparent that she has gotten through much of her life basedon her looks but still has a deep seeded knack for self preservation. If her world is threatened, she won’t think twice to defend it, by any means necessary. Be weary, if that gorgeous smile starts to fade.

Following are possible types for Mary:

Orlando Bloom Josh Bowman Colin Farrell Gabriel Macht

Bailey Chase

Kaley Cuoco Diora Baird Brooklyn Decker Aly Michalka

Kate Beckinsale

clarissaClarissa is a waitress at bar Sage comes to frequent. Perhaps it was his rugged good looks, or maybe she was just looking forsomething interesting to happen in her otherwise dull world. She was a moth to a flame. Whatever the reason, she can’twait to show him her big surprise. Unfortunately, in the end, the surprise will be on her.

Following are possible types for Clarissa:

mr rimmerAs the financial godfather of the town, Harry Rimmer, finds himself in a higher position then the rest, both real and assumed. He has employed the Westborn’s for generations. This hasn’t excluded Sage from his never ending sales pitches. Sage finally acquiesces to the Harry’s haranguing. He hands him a handful of money, even though trusted community members warn against it. In the end, Harry gets what he deserves.

Following are possible types for Mr Rimmer:

Ashley Benson Selena Gomez Zoe Kravits Mircea Monroe

Emma Watson

James Cann Harvey Kietel Bill Murray Wes Studi

Bryan Cranston

themesGround Up moves through the Steps of Death in many ways–the death not of aperson, per say–but an ideal. The world Sage lives in is outdated. Attempting to livein the times his Father lived kept him warm at night like an old afghan. The realitiesof today bring him thru Denial and Isolation, Depression, Bargaining, Anger and finally Acceptance. We are told to remember that grieving is a personal process that has no time limit, nor one “Right” way to do it. We put that theory to the test.

Sage floats through life trying not to pay attention to the realities that confront him.Whether it be the bills he can’t pay, the financial news he turns away from or the pain hiswife is going through. Just so long as he has his tractor and fertilizer, the world is rosey.

When, inevitably, the time comes that his usual customers can’t keep affording to pay hisrate and his friends have to move to a smaller home. He only can find blame and depression. He turns outwardly upon them until he has no other way to look but inside.

His accident when drunk driving brings him to the first of his crossroads. In this timehe could do the “Right” thing. We find that the “Right” decision is not Sage’s forte.

toneTonally, we are looking to tell a multi-layered story of hope and struggle thatcomes out in the worst possible way. The tale begins with family and ends withfamily. It’s the choices we make in the in between which makes us what we are.Are those decisions made from experience or genes? Are they made from interactions or familiar ties? Are the triggers what end up making us who we areor is it predetermined? It is upon those questions that we embark on our story.

Past storytellers such as those in “The Shinning”, Orson Welles’ “The Trial”, theCohen Brothers’ movies or so many of the Rod Serling stories have brought tolight the inner struggles that we all deal with on an everyday level. The only difference in our lives and the stories we tell are that our conscious brings usback into the fold. The lines don’t get AS blurred because of our upbringing or perhaps a set of spiritual teaching, but what if they weren’t there for us?

Through the cinematography, careful selection and direction of actors and providingour artisans the proper environment to tell this story we strive to peel the onionback layer after layer. Of course, with every layer of the onion comes a few tears.

The Trial (1962)The Shining (1980)

Barton Fink (1991)American Beauty (1999)

tonal reference

comparative salesTitle Studio Gross Opening Dom Theaters Date Budget

House at the End of the Street Relativity 39,206,230.00 12,287,169.00 3083 2012 6,900,000.00

The Possession Ghost House 69,899,892.00 17,732,480.00 2816 2012 14,000,000.00

Cabin in the Woods Lionsgate 65,902,967.00 14,743,614.00 2811 2011 30,000,000.00

Sinister Alliance 47,917,444.00 12,923,624.00 2612 2012 3,000,000.00

Texas Chainsaw: The Beginning Newline 51,685,963.00 18,508,228.00 2820 2006 16,000,000.00

upcoming moviesTITLE DIRECTOR DATE PRODUCTION COMPANY

Cold Body Warm Heart Jonathan Levine 2013 Summit Entertainment

Stoker Chan Wook Pack 2013 Fox, Indian Paint Brush, Scott Free Production

Dark Skies Scott Charles Stewart 2013 Alliance

The Last Exorcism 2 Ed Gass Donnelly 2013 Arcade Pictures

Evil Dead Fede Alvarez 2013 Film District, Ghost House, Sony Entertainment

The Conjuring James Wan 2013 Evergreen, Newline,Safran

Insidious Chapter 2 James Wan 2013 Alliance, Blumhouse, Film District

Random Oliver Blackburn 2013 David Kirshner, La Sienaga, Electric City

script sampleShe shifts her weight, the stairs creak, so he turns to see her. She is frozenin fright. Lifting his bloody visor, He starts to explain proudly as if she justasked for an explanation.

SAGEThe remains of the dead! It’s all in the remains of the dead!

Her face does a complete change. A look of ‘Did I hear what I thought I justheard?’

SAGEI mean why hasn’t anyone thought of this before, the nutrients!

Oh my god the nutrients, living things are thriving with nutrients.

BREEWHAT, did you just say?

SAGEI know it sounds crazy, but this is what we have to do to survive.

BREEWhat, is all of this?

He hesitates. Then backpedals a bit.

SAGEJust relax.

BREEI can’t believe you Sage. Who are you? You’re sick. You need help.

SAGEHoney, you’re overreacting.

BREEWhat’s in the mix?

He puts his bloody hand on her belly.

SAGEYou want a baby. You want to start a family. This is the way.

Removes his hand, leaving a bloody print on her shirt.

BREEOne last time Sage, and so help me God, you had better tell me, what

(Beat) is in (Beat) that fertilizer?

“I think of horror films as art, as films of confrontation.

Films that make you confront aspects of your own life that are difficult to face.

Just because you’re making a horror film, doesn’t mean you can’t make an artful film.”

-David Cronenberg

A History of Violence, The Fly, The Dead Zone, Eastern Promises