Screenplays

Our Finest Hour

Written by Jonathan Turner Smith
Based on the Feature Film Broken Victory
Written by Greg Strom & Jonathan Turner Smith
Executive Produced by Carstens/Smith Productions and
David Carstens

In the not-too-distant future, A New World Order has been established. Although disease and wars are a thing of the past, Christianity has been outlawed. Churches have been closed and anyone found practicing this faith are arrested and labeled as traitors to the state. Mathew Taylor and his family, recently incarcerated and placed in one of the few remaining “Ghettos,” are given one last chance to denounce their faith and pay allegiance to the New World General. The weight of such a decision is nearly unbearable as they know that if they refuse to bend the knee, they will face a certain death.

Screenplay Honors & Awards

The Script Pages: 1-20

The Werewolf Chronicles

Conrad Pennington is a prolific horror writer whose current best sellers are the first two books in his “The Werewolf Chronicles,” featuring hero Joe Holland. Conrad has hinted that the third and last book in the series will reveal the true and only cure for lycanthropy. Of course, as he and everyone knows, werewolves are only part of a fictitious legend ... Or so Conrad has always believed... Until the very much alive Joe Holland shows up at his residence seeking the cure and informs Conrad that he is being hunted by a band of real werewolves whose only purpose is to murder Conrad and make sure his third book is never written.

Conrad is shocked to learn that what he writes actually becomes truth and the legend is real. And as he and civilization will soon learn, some legends should never see the light of day.

The Werewolf Chronicles 1st 4 Pages

Nathan

Screenplay by JP Christy, Fred Watkins, & Jonathan Turner Smith

Adapted from the stage play, Nathan, Written by John Lewis and Jonathan Turner Smith

It’s 1983 and as the Harrison Family celebrates the 31st birthday of their son Nathan, who has cerebral palsy, and is mentally challenged, long-buried tensions erupt as Nathan fights for independence and his family struggles to accept the man he has become.

Nathan is adapted from the two-act-play written by John Lewis and Jonathan Turner Smith. The play was originally performed in 1983 & 1984 at the Richmond Shephard Theatre Complex in Hollywood, California. Smith received a Drama-Logue Outstanding Performance Award for his portrayal of Nathan. The screenplay was written in 1991 by JP Christy, Fred Watkins, and Jonathan Turner Smith, and was to go into production with Mary Tyler More, Roy Scheider, Richard Thomas, and Bruce Davison, but the financing fell through, and the film was ultimately shelved. Only until recently have we been actively seeking to produce Nathan as a feature film. Nathan’s message of acceptance and courage, no matter one’s adversity, is as relevant today as it was in 1983.

Nathan Reviews

Greenlight Coverage

Character Development: 7/10 – The main characters like Nathan, Bobby, and the parents are well developed with depth. Some side characters could be more fleshed out.
Plot Construction: 8/10 – The story structure and narrative arcs are strong overall, with a compelling buildup of conflict that culminates in a pivotal reveal and resolution. Pacing falters slightly in the middle.
Dialogue: 8/10 – The conversations are mostly natural and move the story forward. Nathan’s dialogue effectively conveys his maturity level. Some exchanges feel a bit forced.
Originality: 8/10 – Fresh concept exploring cerebral palsy from an insightful perspective. The family drama setup has been done but this puts a compelling spin.
Emotional Engagement: 9/10 – The complex family dynamics and Nathan’s struggles evoke a strong emotional response. The reconciliation scene is very moving.
Theme and Message: 9/10 – The themes of prejudice, redemption, and accepting differences are clearly conveyed with impact. Ultimately uplifting.

Overall Rating: 8/10

In summary, this is a well-written, emotionally resonant screenplay tackling cerebral palsy in a unique way. The characters and relationships are strong with an engaging narrative. Some polishing of dialogue and pacing would make it even more compelling. But overall an original concept delivered effectively.

WE SCREENPLAY SCRIPT COVERAGE

NATHAN is a highly involving, keenly observant and sharply witty dramedy about a man living with Cerebral Palsy, and his family finally confronting their own complex feelings about him. The pilot delivers a highly engaging, funny and ultimately very moving story of Nathan coming to terms with his family on his birthday, and finally making them really see him for the man he is, while also finally expressing his true desire, which is to move out of Arondale to more independently live in a house with his brother Bobby. NATHAN is an impressively moving, witty and dramatically powerful portrayal of a man living with Cerebral Palsy, and the huge emotional breakthrough he has with his family at his birthday party.