I keep getting these feeds in my phone feed (is that what the kids call it?) re: Matt and Ben reject Good Will Hunting sequel: "not pursuing that project..."
Now, about a year ago, I advised Matt to write a sequel. I even gave him my phone number, you know, for a "confab" re: story ideas. Despite the fact that he hasn't called me yet; allow me the liberty of indulging myself with a more fleshed out concept for the project. It's title? Looking for Mr. Goodwill.
Now, about a year ago, I advised Matt to write a sequel. I even gave him my phone number, you know, for a "confab" re: story ideas. Despite the fact that he hasn't called me yet; allow me the liberty of indulging myself with a more fleshed out concept for the project. It's title? Looking for Mr. Goodwill.
So, here's the schmear:
It's present day. Will Hunting is now a middle-aged man. He's...oh, let's see...if he was 18 in 1997...that would make him...by my math...43 now. I suppose Matt could pass (and we can always CGI those extra lines out, right? No, that always looks weird. More on that later).
Will is going blind. He has Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy; which he didn't learn about until he tracked down his birth mother, Linda, played by Diane Keaton. Will is married to Tom, who you may recall was the esteemed mathematician Dr. Paul Lambeau's assistant at MIT. Will was reunited with Tom at Dr. Sean Maguire's funeral, which we will see in flashbacks. The story tells parallel stories: Will's life in 2023 and his remembrances of his past in the late 90's etc.; where the first film left off.
So Will, who discovered his bisexuality in California (San Francisco? West Hollywood? Let's go with San Fran) is now living with, married to and deeply in love with Tom (who doesn't have a last name in the first movie; so I will randomly pluck one from the phone book...Please hold...)
"Alderdice." So, he's Will Hunting-Alderdice. He has a daughter, Allie who is now in her early twenties. She assists him in his mathematical work, which is primarily teaching math to troubled youth at the Judge John J. Connelly Youth Center Juvenile Detention Facility in Roslindale. One of his students, who is sullen and withdrawn when he's not acting out may in fact be a math savant. Maybe even more so than Will.
It's present day. Will Hunting is now a middle-aged man. He's...oh, let's see...if he was 18 in 1997...that would make him...by my math...43 now. I suppose Matt could pass (and we can always CGI those extra lines out, right? No, that always looks weird. More on that later).
Will is going blind. He has Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy; which he didn't learn about until he tracked down his birth mother, Linda, played by Diane Keaton. Will is married to Tom, who you may recall was the esteemed mathematician Dr. Paul Lambeau's assistant at MIT. Will was reunited with Tom at Dr. Sean Maguire's funeral, which we will see in flashbacks. The story tells parallel stories: Will's life in 2023 and his remembrances of his past in the late 90's etc.; where the first film left off.
So Will, who discovered his bisexuality in California (San Francisco? West Hollywood? Let's go with San Fran) is now living with, married to and deeply in love with Tom (who doesn't have a last name in the first movie; so I will randomly pluck one from the phone book...Please hold...)
"Alderdice." So, he's Will Hunting-Alderdice. He has a daughter, Allie who is now in her early twenties. She assists him in his mathematical work, which is primarily teaching math to troubled youth at the Judge John J. Connelly Youth Center Juvenile Detention Facility in Roslindale. One of his students, who is sullen and withdrawn when he's not acting out may in fact be a math savant. Maybe even more so than Will.
Okay...so, ah, I just did a little research on the above facility and came across a first person account of some of the things that went on in that place. I was going to write this as a piece of absurdism...but now I can't.
So here, in all seriousness, is where I would go with a sequel to Good Will Hunting.
So here, in all seriousness, is where I would go with a sequel to Good Will Hunting.
Okay, I just saw a movie with Florence Pugh where she played a character named "Allie" so we'll have to change that. Let me get the phone book...(please hold)...
"Lauryn" with a "y" (why? we can find something cute to explain it later; like maybe as a child Lauren was always asking her parents (Will and Skylar) "Why?" so they started spelling her name with a y. Oh, yes! I love this! As we know, in math, "y" represents a variable! Cute, huh?
Lauryn will be played by Chloe Grace Moretz (who was born in 1997):
"Lauryn" with a "y" (why? we can find something cute to explain it later; like maybe as a child Lauren was always asking her parents (Will and Skylar) "Why?" so they started spelling her name with a y. Oh, yes! I love this! As we know, in math, "y" represents a variable! Cute, huh?
Lauryn will be played by Chloe Grace Moretz (who was born in 1997):
Our troubled young math savant/protege will be essayed by:
Well, I'm not sure. I'm not that familiar with today's Tiger Beat set; so I would drum up some hype with a world-wide talent search for the young man who will play the "New Will Hunting." It can't be a girl, because now that we have the juvie angle, it will have to be an all male atmosphere. How about Ian Chen for the time being?
Well, I'm not sure. I'm not that familiar with today's Tiger Beat set; so I would drum up some hype with a world-wide talent search for the young man who will play the "New Will Hunting." It can't be a girl, because now that we have the juvie angle, it will have to be an all male atmosphere. How about Ian Chen for the time being?
Works for me!
We'll get back to the present day storyline presently; but now, let's toss around some ideas for the flashback sequences. As you may have thought, Minnie Driver's character from the original, "Skylar," has passed away from an as of yet undetermined cause. However, Ms. Driver will be in the picture. As will "young" Will. How you ask, since they are both now in their 50's (like me!)? How could they possibly play college age? Are you going to pull a Grease type sitch on me Chris? Nope. Are you gonna use "de-aging" software? Nope. Are you gonna uncanny valley Will and Skylar with Zemeckisesque "motion capture"? Nope. Well what the F are you gonna do Chris?
We'll get back to the present day storyline presently; but now, let's toss around some ideas for the flashback sequences. As you may have thought, Minnie Driver's character from the original, "Skylar," has passed away from an as of yet undetermined cause. However, Ms. Driver will be in the picture. As will "young" Will. How you ask, since they are both now in their 50's (like me!)? How could they possibly play college age? Are you going to pull a Grease type sitch on me Chris? Nope. Are you gonna use "de-aging" software? Nope. Are you gonna uncanny valley Will and Skylar with Zemeckisesque "motion capture"? Nope. Well what the F are you gonna do Chris?
"...he's got lifeless eyes...black eyes...like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, he doesn't seem to be livin'"
This is what we're gonna do; and I don't think it's ever been done before. We're going to use animation. Old-school, hand-drawn animation! All the flashback scenes will be done this way. You see, by using animation, we can de-age Matt and Minnie back to their early twenties; but they'll still look like themselves and it will be their voices. Now, I don't think this would be any more jarring then hiring two look-alike actors to play Will and Skylar. You'd just be comparing for the entire length of the movie (and this problem would be exacerbated since we know exactly what Matt and Minnie looked like in 1997). I'm thinking a style that is more graphic novelley than cartooney. Oh, I don't know, something kinda like this:
Now see, here is synchronicity in action. I did a search for "graphic novel animation style" and images from this movie, Flee, popped up. I'd never heard of it. Now I wanna see it. And it's GAY! How do you like them apples?
Yes, the graphic style of Flee would be perfect for Looking For Mr. Goodwill's flash-back sequences.
So, Chris, what happened to Will when he hit the Mass Pike and went looking for his girl, Skylar? Does she have a last name in the original? Let me get the phone book. (Please hold...)
Hmmm...how about Satenstein, the last name of Matt's then girlfriend. Satenstein it is! I wonder if Ms. Satenstein regrets having broken up with Matt. I bet she does now!
Okay, I'm officially down a mole-hole. We won't go with "Satenstein." Why? Well, it seems there may be some hard feelings around Ms. Satenstein, so I'll just pluck another name from the phone book. But it seems as though Ms. Satenstein rebounded. She's a freakin' DOCTAH!
Yes, the graphic style of Flee would be perfect for Looking For Mr. Goodwill's flash-back sequences.
So, Chris, what happened to Will when he hit the Mass Pike and went looking for his girl, Skylar? Does she have a last name in the original? Let me get the phone book. (Please hold...)
Hmmm...how about Satenstein, the last name of Matt's then girlfriend. Satenstein it is! I wonder if Ms. Satenstein regrets having broken up with Matt. I bet she does now!
Okay, I'm officially down a mole-hole. We won't go with "Satenstein." Why? Well, it seems there may be some hard feelings around Ms. Satenstein, so I'll just pluck another name from the phone book. But it seems as though Ms. Satenstein rebounded. She's a freakin' DOCTAH!
Okay, let me get that new name. Please hold...
"Shankman."
Skylar Shankman, has gone off to San Francisco to pursue her dreams of organic chemistry. She's taken a starting position in the Research and Development department of Ghirardelli Chocolate. She is on the cutting edge of cocoa chemistry and she's also pregnant. Guess who the father is?
I should probably see the movie again, if I'm going to write a sequel (although, I'm not going to write it...this is just an ideathon. Matt and Ben are going to write it and I will accept a finders fee for no less than A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS).
I'm reading Wikipedia's plot synopsis and relying on my memory. So, I'd forgotten that Will turned 21 at the end of the original, so that will give Matt a few years back (even though, it won't really matter due to the animation, which we've discussed). And if I recall, Will broke up with Skylar on not very good terms; so his trip to "California" may be all for naught as she probably has lost trust in him and that she would likely be pissed. But then, if she's carrying his baby, all may be forgiven.
So...logistics. How does Will know where in "California" Skylar is? I guess he'd go and ask her friends or try and reach her family in England. But since in the original, we see him heading off to "California," I think it's safe to assume Will has already figured out where she is. So, he would know the city and perhaps her place of work. So, we could start outside the chocolate factory (and remember, these scenes will be animated).
EXT. LOMBARD STREET -DAY
Will's Chevy is moving down the winding street in a rather stop and start fashion.
CUT TO:
INT. -CAR -DAY
Will is trying to read MAPQUEST directions as he simultaneously is attempting to keep the car from hitting the curbs.
WILL
Is this even a road? Where the hell is this factory? (Cars behind him start HONKING) GIMME A BREAK! I'M FROM BOSTON!
CUT TO:
INT. GHIRARDELLI CHOCOLATE FACTORY LOBBY -DAY
Will crosses the marble floor and comes to a reception desk. A RECEPTIONIST looks up.
RECEPTIONIST
Can I help you?
WILL
I wanted to leave something for one of your employees, a Miss Skylar Shankman...
RECEPTIONIST
Would you like me to call her office?
WILL
No...but just please make sure she gets these...
He hands the receptionist an envelope with Skylar's name on it. And a bag of Kraft caramels. She looks at Will quizzically.
RECEPTIONIST
You know this is a candy factory, right?
Will smiles and points at her and makes a CLICK-CLICK sound.
CUT TO:
EXT. YMCA HOTEL -DAY
Will parallel pahks and looks up at the sign.
WILL
The YMCA in San Francisco. What would they say back home?
He grabs his suitcase from the trunk and heads inside.
"Shankman."
Skylar Shankman, has gone off to San Francisco to pursue her dreams of organic chemistry. She's taken a starting position in the Research and Development department of Ghirardelli Chocolate. She is on the cutting edge of cocoa chemistry and she's also pregnant. Guess who the father is?
I should probably see the movie again, if I'm going to write a sequel (although, I'm not going to write it...this is just an ideathon. Matt and Ben are going to write it and I will accept a finders fee for no less than A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS).
I'm reading Wikipedia's plot synopsis and relying on my memory. So, I'd forgotten that Will turned 21 at the end of the original, so that will give Matt a few years back (even though, it won't really matter due to the animation, which we've discussed). And if I recall, Will broke up with Skylar on not very good terms; so his trip to "California" may be all for naught as she probably has lost trust in him and that she would likely be pissed. But then, if she's carrying his baby, all may be forgiven.
So...logistics. How does Will know where in "California" Skylar is? I guess he'd go and ask her friends or try and reach her family in England. But since in the original, we see him heading off to "California," I think it's safe to assume Will has already figured out where she is. So, he would know the city and perhaps her place of work. So, we could start outside the chocolate factory (and remember, these scenes will be animated).
EXT. LOMBARD STREET -DAY
Will's Chevy is moving down the winding street in a rather stop and start fashion.
CUT TO:
INT. -CAR -DAY
Will is trying to read MAPQUEST directions as he simultaneously is attempting to keep the car from hitting the curbs.
WILL
Is this even a road? Where the hell is this factory? (Cars behind him start HONKING) GIMME A BREAK! I'M FROM BOSTON!
CUT TO:
INT. GHIRARDELLI CHOCOLATE FACTORY LOBBY -DAY
Will crosses the marble floor and comes to a reception desk. A RECEPTIONIST looks up.
RECEPTIONIST
Can I help you?
WILL
I wanted to leave something for one of your employees, a Miss Skylar Shankman...
RECEPTIONIST
Would you like me to call her office?
WILL
No...but just please make sure she gets these...
He hands the receptionist an envelope with Skylar's name on it. And a bag of Kraft caramels. She looks at Will quizzically.
RECEPTIONIST
You know this is a candy factory, right?
Will smiles and points at her and makes a CLICK-CLICK sound.
CUT TO:
EXT. YMCA HOTEL -DAY
Will parallel pahks and looks up at the sign.
WILL
The YMCA in San Francisco. What would they say back home?
He grabs his suitcase from the trunk and heads inside.
So, ah, I've been rethinking that last name "Shankman." Those double K's make it so hard edged, it's practically comical (although, let's face it, this entire idea is somewhat, shall we say, tongue in cheek. But, I think Skylar should have a prettier last name, or something that rolls off the tongue easier. How about "Landry"? Sure, let's go with that).
CUT TO:
INT. YMCA LOBBY FRONT DESK -DAY
Will is in the process of checking in. The CLERK, male, 30's is quite friendly and quite good looking.
CLERK
...Okay Mr. Hunting, I've got a room available on the twelfth floor, twelve-oh-nine. That's not too high up for you, is it?
WILL
Well that depends...
CLERK
On what?
WILL
If you have an elevator or not.
CLERK
(LAUGHS) Of course we do, Mr. Hunting! So, how long will you be staying with us?
WILL
You guys do monthly rates, right?
CLERK
Oh, yes. Yearly too.
WILL
Well, I hope I'm not here for that long...
CLERK
I do.
WILL
(Turning red) Let's just keep it open--ongoing for now...
CLERK
Let me get your key...
The clerk gets the room key and presses it into Will's palm.
CLERK
The elevator is right through there. Do you need help with your bag?
WILL
I'm good. Thanks a lot.
CLERK
My pleasure.
CUT TO:
INT. -ELEVATOR -DAY
Will enters the elevator and just as the doors are about to close, a YOUNG MAN, 20'S in a striped shirt runs across the lobby. He calls out to Will.
YOUNG MAN
Hold the elevator please!
Will holds the door and the young man enters. Out of breath, he puts his back against the wall.
WILL
What floor?
YOUNG MAN
Twelve, please.
WILL
That's where I'm going.
They ride up in silence for a few moments. The young man points at Will's shirt..
YOUNG MAN
The Cars. That's my favorite band.
WILL
Gotta love the Cars! (His "Cars" comes out "Cahhz").
YOUNG MAN
Ben Orr is my second cousin!
WILL
No kidding.
YOUNG MAN
You from Boston?
WILL
Is it that obvious?
YOUNG MAN
(LAUGHS) Well, I'm from Cleveland. We have an accent too.
WILL
Really? 'Cuz I'm not getting anything.
YOUNG MAN
How long you been in the city? Oh, did they tell you not to call it "San Fran"? Or "Frisco." It's "San Francisco" or "The City." That's it.
WILL
Who's "they"?
YOUNG MAN
Well, everybody.
WILL
I literally just got here. But now I know.
CUT TO:
INT. YMCA LOBBY FRONT DESK -DAY
Will is in the process of checking in. The CLERK, male, 30's is quite friendly and quite good looking.
CLERK
...Okay Mr. Hunting, I've got a room available on the twelfth floor, twelve-oh-nine. That's not too high up for you, is it?
WILL
Well that depends...
CLERK
On what?
WILL
If you have an elevator or not.
CLERK
(LAUGHS) Of course we do, Mr. Hunting! So, how long will you be staying with us?
WILL
You guys do monthly rates, right?
CLERK
Oh, yes. Yearly too.
WILL
Well, I hope I'm not here for that long...
CLERK
I do.
WILL
(Turning red) Let's just keep it open--ongoing for now...
CLERK
Let me get your key...
The clerk gets the room key and presses it into Will's palm.
CLERK
The elevator is right through there. Do you need help with your bag?
WILL
I'm good. Thanks a lot.
CLERK
My pleasure.
CUT TO:
INT. -ELEVATOR -DAY
Will enters the elevator and just as the doors are about to close, a YOUNG MAN, 20'S in a striped shirt runs across the lobby. He calls out to Will.
YOUNG MAN
Hold the elevator please!
Will holds the door and the young man enters. Out of breath, he puts his back against the wall.
WILL
What floor?
YOUNG MAN
Twelve, please.
WILL
That's where I'm going.
They ride up in silence for a few moments. The young man points at Will's shirt..
YOUNG MAN
The Cars. That's my favorite band.
WILL
Gotta love the Cars! (His "Cars" comes out "Cahhz").
YOUNG MAN
Ben Orr is my second cousin!
WILL
No kidding.
YOUNG MAN
You from Boston?
WILL
Is it that obvious?
YOUNG MAN
(LAUGHS) Well, I'm from Cleveland. We have an accent too.
WILL
Really? 'Cuz I'm not getting anything.
YOUNG MAN
How long you been in the city? Oh, did they tell you not to call it "San Fran"? Or "Frisco." It's "San Francisco" or "The City." That's it.
WILL
Who's "they"?
YOUNG MAN
Well, everybody.
WILL
I literally just got here. But now I know.
YOUNG MAN
We should hang out some time. I'm Jake. Jake Doyle.
The elevator doors open and they step out into the hall.
WILL
Will Hunting. (They shake hands). Yeah, we could do that. I only know one person in the city and I'm not even sure if they want to see me.
JAKE
I'm in room twelve-nineteen. Just pick up the house phone and dial the room number.
WILL
Cool beans. Nice to meet you.
JAKE
Yeah, you too. Have a good night.
Jake heads in the opposite direction of Will. Will looks up, gets his bearings and heads down the hall.
CUT TO:
INT. WILL'S ROOM -LATE AFTERNOON
The door swings open and Will enters the room. It is small but kind of cozy. Will puts his suitcase down and sits on the bed and looks around. He SIGHS and rubs his face. After a moment, he stands and goes to the window. He parts the curtains and lifts the sash. The view outside is of another wing of the hotel. "L" shaped, Will's window looks out across the roof and to the opposite row of windows. He turns to move from the window but something catches his eye. The sun is beginning to fade and lights are coming on in some windows. Directly across from him, Will sees a figure moving towards the window. A young man in a striped shirt. It is Jake. Jake does not notice Will as he closes his own curtains. Will puts his suitcase on the bed and opens it. He removes a Dunkin Dounuts box, sits in the desk chair, pulls out a half eaten Boston creme and bites into it.
CUT TO:
INT. CANDY FACTORY LOBBY -NIGHT
SKYLAR LANDRY, early 20's, steps out of the elevator with her purse and tote bag and starts towards the door. The receptionist calls to her.
RECEPTIONIST
Miss Landry?
SKYLAR
Yes?
RECEPTIONIST
Someone left something for you...
Skylar walks to the desk where the receptionist retrieves the envelope and hands it to her.
SKYLAR
Thanks. (She starts off but the receptionist stops her) Oh, wait...there's this too! (She hands Skylar the bag of caramels) Skylar regards them and then opens the envelope. It's a note-card depicting Snoopy from Peanuts. He's lying in his doghouse, his head on the grass as a rain cloud storms above him. She opens the card and reads the inscription:
"Love means never having to say it's arbitrary"
I'm at the downtown YMCA if you want to come by.
Will
Skylar SIGHS, begins to wad up the card but then stops. She crams it and the caramels into her tote bag and moves across the lobby.
RECEPTIONSIST
Have a good night!
SKYLAR
Not bloody likely!
CUT TO:
Jake Doyle will be played by:
We should hang out some time. I'm Jake. Jake Doyle.
The elevator doors open and they step out into the hall.
WILL
Will Hunting. (They shake hands). Yeah, we could do that. I only know one person in the city and I'm not even sure if they want to see me.
JAKE
I'm in room twelve-nineteen. Just pick up the house phone and dial the room number.
WILL
Cool beans. Nice to meet you.
JAKE
Yeah, you too. Have a good night.
Jake heads in the opposite direction of Will. Will looks up, gets his bearings and heads down the hall.
CUT TO:
INT. WILL'S ROOM -LATE AFTERNOON
The door swings open and Will enters the room. It is small but kind of cozy. Will puts his suitcase down and sits on the bed and looks around. He SIGHS and rubs his face. After a moment, he stands and goes to the window. He parts the curtains and lifts the sash. The view outside is of another wing of the hotel. "L" shaped, Will's window looks out across the roof and to the opposite row of windows. He turns to move from the window but something catches his eye. The sun is beginning to fade and lights are coming on in some windows. Directly across from him, Will sees a figure moving towards the window. A young man in a striped shirt. It is Jake. Jake does not notice Will as he closes his own curtains. Will puts his suitcase on the bed and opens it. He removes a Dunkin Dounuts box, sits in the desk chair, pulls out a half eaten Boston creme and bites into it.
CUT TO:
INT. CANDY FACTORY LOBBY -NIGHT
SKYLAR LANDRY, early 20's, steps out of the elevator with her purse and tote bag and starts towards the door. The receptionist calls to her.
RECEPTIONIST
Miss Landry?
SKYLAR
Yes?
RECEPTIONIST
Someone left something for you...
Skylar walks to the desk where the receptionist retrieves the envelope and hands it to her.
SKYLAR
Thanks. (She starts off but the receptionist stops her) Oh, wait...there's this too! (She hands Skylar the bag of caramels) Skylar regards them and then opens the envelope. It's a note-card depicting Snoopy from Peanuts. He's lying in his doghouse, his head on the grass as a rain cloud storms above him. She opens the card and reads the inscription:
"Love means never having to say it's arbitrary"
I'm at the downtown YMCA if you want to come by.
Will
Skylar SIGHS, begins to wad up the card but then stops. She crams it and the caramels into her tote bag and moves across the lobby.
RECEPTIONSIST
Have a good night!
SKYLAR
Not bloody likely!
CUT TO:
Jake Doyle will be played by:
Jake Horowitz, my new favorite actor. Dreamy!
So, that's it for now. I'm having fun with this so I'm going to probably write more. And I'll certainly write more once I receive my QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
But for now, I'm going to concentrate on my own screenplay: HEARTFIGHT. My epic queer sky-diving-wind-fighting-on the Scottish Highlands- bro-fest. That love scene is coming up real fast and I'm sure you won't want to miss it!
All My Love,
Chris
To be continued...?
Actually, yes. Scenes keep coming into my head.
So, that's it for now. I'm having fun with this so I'm going to probably write more. And I'll certainly write more once I receive my QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
But for now, I'm going to concentrate on my own screenplay: HEARTFIGHT. My epic queer sky-diving-wind-fighting-on the Scottish Highlands- bro-fest. That love scene is coming up real fast and I'm sure you won't want to miss it!
All My Love,
Chris
To be continued...?
Actually, yes. Scenes keep coming into my head.