Gay Weekend
Two wannabe filmmakers decide that writing something about “gay stuff” will lead them to fame and fortune in Hollywood.
Meet LAZER. He leaves in his friend’s Mom’s loft. Meet his friend, GOOSE. He lives in his Mom’s house. Where did they get nicknames like LAZER and GOOSE? They gave them to themselves because they thought they sounded cool. Who are LAZER and GOOSE? They are two aspiring, unemployed, 20-something, wannabe filmmakers who couldn’t live further away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, California.
One evening, GOOSE is awakened by LAZER with an idea that he believes will make them rich and famous beyond their wildest dreams. The concept is simple. Write a screenplay about something “gay” because “gay” always wins awards. GOOSE is immediately turned off and rejects the idea but after much thought decides it might lead to something. The next morning, he entertains the idea to LAZER, only to discover that LAZER has completely forgotten about the idea . That is, until LAZER, discovers it was his idea in the first place, and, therefore, very, very “genius”.
They set out to do research. The only problem is they are densely homophobic and don’t actually know anything about or anyone within the gay community. Easily distracted and discouraged, and very horny, they receive a call from a girl they refer to as FATTIE who invites them to her out-of-town parents' house for the weekend. They quickly abandon the “gay” screenplay idea and embark on a journey for what will become in their minds as a “Sex Weekend”. Their plans are quickly foiled by the appearances of boyfriends and "fugly" cousins. Later that same night, they return home. LAZER is sexually frustrated and GOOSE is worried he may have contracted an STD. They have no choice but to continue to work on the screenplay.
LAZER is convinced that GOOSE’S younger brother could be a closeted homosexual and hounds him to take him to a gay bar so he can conduct research for the script. The brother refuses but his friend, JULES, agrees to take them both to a bar she frequents with many of her gay males friends. LAZER convinces GOOSE that, due to his very full lips, he would be more attractive within the gay community and, therefore, should go “undercover”. For them, “undercover” is a skewed perspective of “metrosexual” attire. They leave with JULES for the club.
GOOSE and LAZER awaken to find themselves passed out inside and outside their vehicle with no remembrance of the night before, other than quick visions, of vampires and debauchery. They are both quickly convinced that they stumbled upon a vampire den, and were drugged in an attempt to erase their memories. GOOSE adds a vampire bite to his long list of things to worry about. LAZER wants to kills some vampires. They retrace their steps to discover that what they thought was a den for vampires was nothing more than a “goth” bar. Once again, they return home. GOOSE’S Mom has made cookies. LAZER is beyond sexually frustrated. GOOSE is convinced he has an STD.
GOOSE urges LAZER to go with him to a free clinic to check on whether or not he has an actual STD. While at the clinic they meet and somehow befriend, KYLE, a homosexual male in his mid-twenties. LAZER is put off by KYLE at first and distracts himself by hitting on girls in the waiting room of the clinic. GOOSE's informs him that the waiting room for an STD clinic is probably not the best place to meet girls. LAZER berates a female who rejected him. KYLE agrees to take them around and introduce them to the "gay stuff" they seek. LAZER doesn't realize he's gay until they leave the clinic.
That evening, GOOSE and LAZER go over to a party at KYLE'S house. Reluctantly, they have to meet and interact with many homosexual men. KYLE takes LAZER to the room. LAZER just keeps repeating he is into chicks. KYLE puts him at ease and they begin to go through his closet as KYLE teaches LAZER about fashion. Meanwhile, GOOSE, meets two girls at the party that he considers lesbians and embarasses himself by shouting, "Oh, you're fag hags!", after realizing they are straight. Some of the men get upset at the party and GOOSE is chased out. LAZER emerges from KYLE'S bedroom and meets the two girls who inform then of GOOSE's departure.
LAZER returns home to find GOOSE watching a movie. They both discuss that their screenplay was a horrible idea. They should actually write about something they know. So, they decide to write a script about them trying to write a script about "gay" stuff. They fight a lot over the title of the movie. LAZER thinks it should be called GAY WEEKEND. GOOSE says that doesn't make any sense. LAZER writes it anyways. He entitles it GAY WEEKEND.
One evening, GOOSE is awakened by LAZER with an idea that he believes will make them rich and famous beyond their wildest dreams. The concept is simple. Write a screenplay about something “gay” because “gay” always wins awards. GOOSE is immediately turned off and rejects the idea but after much thought decides it might lead to something. The next morning, he entertains the idea to LAZER, only to discover that LAZER has completely forgotten about the idea . That is, until LAZER, discovers it was his idea in the first place, and, therefore, very, very “genius”.
They set out to do research. The only problem is they are densely homophobic and don’t actually know anything about or anyone within the gay community. Easily distracted and discouraged, and very horny, they receive a call from a girl they refer to as FATTIE who invites them to her out-of-town parents' house for the weekend. They quickly abandon the “gay” screenplay idea and embark on a journey for what will become in their minds as a “Sex Weekend”. Their plans are quickly foiled by the appearances of boyfriends and "fugly" cousins. Later that same night, they return home. LAZER is sexually frustrated and GOOSE is worried he may have contracted an STD. They have no choice but to continue to work on the screenplay.
LAZER is convinced that GOOSE’S younger brother could be a closeted homosexual and hounds him to take him to a gay bar so he can conduct research for the script. The brother refuses but his friend, JULES, agrees to take them both to a bar she frequents with many of her gay males friends. LAZER convinces GOOSE that, due to his very full lips, he would be more attractive within the gay community and, therefore, should go “undercover”. For them, “undercover” is a skewed perspective of “metrosexual” attire. They leave with JULES for the club.
GOOSE and LAZER awaken to find themselves passed out inside and outside their vehicle with no remembrance of the night before, other than quick visions, of vampires and debauchery. They are both quickly convinced that they stumbled upon a vampire den, and were drugged in an attempt to erase their memories. GOOSE adds a vampire bite to his long list of things to worry about. LAZER wants to kills some vampires. They retrace their steps to discover that what they thought was a den for vampires was nothing more than a “goth” bar. Once again, they return home. GOOSE’S Mom has made cookies. LAZER is beyond sexually frustrated. GOOSE is convinced he has an STD.
GOOSE urges LAZER to go with him to a free clinic to check on whether or not he has an actual STD. While at the clinic they meet and somehow befriend, KYLE, a homosexual male in his mid-twenties. LAZER is put off by KYLE at first and distracts himself by hitting on girls in the waiting room of the clinic. GOOSE's informs him that the waiting room for an STD clinic is probably not the best place to meet girls. LAZER berates a female who rejected him. KYLE agrees to take them around and introduce them to the "gay stuff" they seek. LAZER doesn't realize he's gay until they leave the clinic.
That evening, GOOSE and LAZER go over to a party at KYLE'S house. Reluctantly, they have to meet and interact with many homosexual men. KYLE takes LAZER to the room. LAZER just keeps repeating he is into chicks. KYLE puts him at ease and they begin to go through his closet as KYLE teaches LAZER about fashion. Meanwhile, GOOSE, meets two girls at the party that he considers lesbians and embarasses himself by shouting, "Oh, you're fag hags!", after realizing they are straight. Some of the men get upset at the party and GOOSE is chased out. LAZER emerges from KYLE'S bedroom and meets the two girls who inform then of GOOSE's departure.
LAZER returns home to find GOOSE watching a movie. They both discuss that their screenplay was a horrible idea. They should actually write about something they know. So, they decide to write a script about them trying to write a script about "gay" stuff. They fight a lot over the title of the movie. LAZER thinks it should be called GAY WEEKEND. GOOSE says that doesn't make any sense. LAZER writes it anyways. He entitles it GAY WEEKEND.
Comments (7)
Timothy Rousseau Hey Josh,
March 20, 2010don't listen to the critics, seen a dozen buddy movies and it's true, the formula does work, the schemer and the worrier make a hilarious yin yang of misadventures. BUT, i like the idea that they are more like one another. it gets boring watching one friend be a pussy and the other a douchebag, it's more interesting to see them reverse roles and even agree to the same schemes every once in a while. at least, it's different. i also like the title. didn't get it at first, but think about it, GAY WEEKEND.....that's ridiculous. anyway, good luck. work on the homophobic parts of it though, a little over the top.
Jonathan Davenport Hey Joshua, thanks for my first (and so far only) review for "Revenge of the Jocks" : ) So now I owe you an honest review in return and here it is.
March 12, 2010I think you've got a decent premise. You've also got some funny situations. It's clear you've got a good sense of humor and I think you've got it in you to pull off a really crazy weekend-gone-way-wrong misadventure about these two idiots.
The problem for me is there never seems to be a point where the movie really "starts." I'm a "Save The Cat" guy. Think about what Blake Snyder calls "the promise of Premise." That's the fun and games that you, as a storyteller, are promising the audience they're going to get from your movie based on your logline and title. When I see the title "Gay Weekend" and read your logline, the movie that flashes in my head isn't the one that you're presenting here. Obviously, not everyone will have the same imagery in their noggins, but there's definitely going to be some overlap, and that's the movie you've got to sell me. That, or change your logline to something that better represents the story you're actually going to tell.
Are your situations potentially funny? Sure. But very little in the synopsis seems motivated by two wannabe filmmakers trying to write a gay-centric screenplay to win awards. These guys seem more motivated by wanting to get laid - which is fine, that's just not the premise I signed on for when I said "Two for Gay Weekend, please" - (I'm assuming I brought a friend.) I get that I'm supposed to think the movie I'm watching is the movie they wrote, but as it stands now, I don't believe these guys have the inclination to write anything...and that's a character motivation problem.
Focus your storytelling - make sure that every major event in your story is motivated in some way by your premise. Furthermore, make sure that every choice made by your characters is consistent with their motivations.
And speaking of characters, I think you may be in danger of Lazer and Goose being a little too similar and unlikable. It's fine to have one character be crass and unapologetic, but you can get a lot more mileage if you spin his counterpart equally in the other direction. If Lazer says "all women are bitches" and Goose doesn't disagree, now they're both unlikable and I don't care if they reach their goal or not. But if you have Goose disagree and call him on his attitude and embarrassed by him, now I understand that I'm supposed to relate to Goose and I can enjoy his successes while laughing at his friend's misfortune. It's really the Eric Cartman principle. As long as I don't feel like the storyteller agrees with what's going on, I can comfortably enjoy some dark humor.
Best of luck, man! I think once you decide exactly what kind of story you want to tell, it's gonna be a blast. Two stars for a good premise, one star for execution.
Jason Shiring The synopsis gave me a headache with all the CAPS. It does have a point though...gay movies win awards.
March 10, 2010Tyler Woolson I think this has great potential, I too got lost in the synopsis finding myself wanting more. The picking up chicks at the STD clinic had be laughing. Well done
March 9, 2010Jessica Thomas Not really my type of movie, although most people would probably find this really funny...reminds me a little of Superbad...my little brother would probably love this.
March 9, 2010Jeff Cantrell This is actually a really funny concept. I like in interaction between the two main characters and I wanted to read more. I got a little lost in the synopsis (with the pacing and the names in caps) but the set-up in the STD clinic had me laughing. Work on the typos...
March 9, 2010Ean Fainleog I disagree with the comments posted by Kellie. This pitch actually made me chuckle to myself and I rarely do so reading scripts. I appreciated his lack of concern for political correctness or even rationality for that matter. He wrote something comical with a perceived bias, intentional or not. Being an openly gay person, I found the synopsis VERY believable in terms of the interactions I have with my straight friends and I could easily see them conjuring up such ridiculous conclusions. Which is why I think this is so funny! If you have to ask why there was a random masturbating moment; then you don't know men. I myself would probably be entertained watching this little adventure unfold. I'm especially intrigued by the Kyle character and can only hope his development into the story can eventually grow into a stable friend for Lazer. My overall impression is that the script is good. Very easy to read but I would try to keep the script consistent with truisms that you know, and please use spell check in the future. Good luck.
March 9, 2010Mark Roberts So, in the interest of a little humor this morning, I decided to redact your review.
March 9, 2010"Being an openly gay person...there was a random masturbating moment...I myself would probably be entertained watching this little adventure unfold."