DERBY
GENRE
YOUNG ADULT DRAMA EPIC
Core Theme
COMING OF AGE AND CHOOSING SIDES
TIME PERIOD
1960s & '70s
COMPARABLE TITLES
ON THE ROAD, EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!
CHARACTER LIST
MAC: 21. LEAD. A GOOD GUY LOOKING FOR LOVE AND OBSERVANT DURING TURBULENT TIMES.
WEBER: 21. MAC’S HEDONISTIC BEST FRIEND WHO CHALLENGES HIS IDEAS.
DAVE: 21. ANOTHER FRIEND WHO GIVES THEM A LIFT AND BETTING INSTRUCTIONS.
PEACE FEATHER: 20S. A HIPPIE WHOM MAC FINDS ANNOYING YET FASCINATING.
LAURA LAY: 20S-30S. A STRIPPER/PROSTITUTE WHOM MAC FALLS FOR.
JOEY: 20S-30S. A MENTALLY DISTURBED VIETNAM VET WHO INVADES MAC’S PSYCHE.
Logline
Mac and Weber every inch college slackers, hitchhike from Ohio University (Athens) to the Kentucky Derby in 1967. Their odyssey becomes a coming of age story set in the turmoil of the Vietnam Era and the Civil Rights movement.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Ohio, Kentucky
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Publisher: Create Space
Year Published: 2008
Starting Description
With final exams just a couple of weeks away Mac and Weber impulsively decide to hitchhike to the Kentucky Derby. Imagining riches betting on the horses their first ride is with a pot smoking friend who drives them to the edge of town.
Ending Description
Weber is beaten to death by cops. Mac returns to Athens traumatized and wastes the summer sitting by the train tracks. Fall comes. He joins the Army.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
Yes
ISBN
978-1-4349-9294-9
Mature Audience Themes
Extreme Violence
Plot - Other Elements
Coming of Age,Philosophical Questions
Plot - Premise
Internal Journey/Rebirth,Tragedy,Quest
Main Character Details
Name: Mac
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Narcisstic,Clumsy,Desperate,Insecure,Naive
Additional Character Details
Name: Weber
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Confident,Unapologetic,Badass,Narcisstic,Sarcastic,Masculine
Additional Character Details
Name: Peace Feather
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Underdog,Complex,Crazy,Engaging,Insecure,Secretive
Additional Character Details
Name: Lara Lay
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Role: emotional
Key Traits: Badass,Charming,Sexy,Blunt,Empathetic,Outspoken,Seductive
Development Pitch
KIRKUS REVIEW Mac and Weber are every inch the slackers everyone from their Ohio University fraternity expects. Their biggest concerns are the next party, the next conquest, the next gut-busting prank. And it’s in precisely this tradition that they embark on the classic hedonistic pastime of hitchhiking to the Kentucky Derby. But even on this kind of adventure, life catches up with the participants. They are tested, witnessing death, police brutality, and all manner of people at their worst. The specter of the war hangs over it all, as they encounter mentally ill veterans and see the consequences of the conflict much more closely than they had on their fraternity’s TV. For Mac, the trip is a quest for maturity and growth. The act of gaining it sets him on the beginning of an even more difficult path. The tale delivers wit and wisdom. It is a meandering and wild tale. The down-to-earth prose and the quality of the pacing give you the feel of something that the reader is hearing about at a bar from one of the regulars, an organic sensibility that is the book’s greatest strength. Mac’s introspection and self-loathing seem incredibly real and more personal than one might get from oral tales. His struggle with his lack of experience and cowardice is a frequent presence but not an overbearing one, giving the reader a sense of camaraderie with both him and Weber and a vested interest in how their saga ends. An entertaining romp with a complex emotional core
Genre
MATURE AUDIENCE, DRAMA, POLITICS, WAR
Brief
Two college students hitch a ride to the Kentucky Derby in the 60s. They meet all kinds of people, and the Vietnam war is a hot topic. On the way home, one of them is killed by a cop. His friend mourns him and joins the Army.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: FAIR
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: GOOD
Premise: GOOD
Structure: GOOD
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
It is accurate.
Draw of Story
The prospect of two young guys going on an adventure.
Possible Drawbacks
I didn’t put the book down.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The prospect of college kids getting into trouble on their adventure.
Fanbase Potential
It could have a decent fanbase or cult following depending of course on the quality of the adaptation, director, etc.
Awards Potential
There is enough gravitas in the story to attract good talent that may lead to awards.
Envisioned Budget
LOW BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!
What’s New About the Story
It’s unique for a road trip movie because of the volatile and dramatic period of history, but it would help if it didn’t end so abruptly on a huge character choice – Mac joining the army.
Lead Characters
They are very headstrong yet have many doubts about the world and their life choices. The Vietnam war is an enormous happening that they struggle with.
Uniqueness of Story
It could definitely use more specificity in the conversations between the lead characters - as well as the leads with the supporting characters - which would yield more conflict as well as clearer point of views since a lot is discussed that are major polarizing issues thanks to the time period.
Possible Formats
Film: Indie
Analyst Recommendation
WORK IN PROGRESS
Justification
Although there are a lot of interesting happenings, there isn’t enough dialogue that would help make the characters more robust and reveal more about them.
Tips for Improvement
A better understanding of the characters’ point of views. They don’t have to be as likeable as much as they need to be understood better.
Brief
Two college guys hitchhike to the Kentucky Derby in the 1960s. They encounter prostitutes, vets, hippies, cops, and soldiers - who all have different world views. They party a lot and have no luck at the race track. On the way home, Weber is killed by cops who assault them and Mac joins the Army.
What We Liked
The lead characters, Mac and Weber, are typical frat boys but during the Vietnam era.
They go on road trip and encounter all sorts of interesting characters, most of whom are polarized by the war which adds drama and sometimes a little humor. They get drunk a lot, chase girls, and argue with each other. It has a strong “need to know” draw – what will happen to these guys next? Mac is more level-headed and is in conflict with Weber’s bravado and worldview and is often in conflict with the other characters they encounter. There are a good amount of sexual situations which are always fascinating to see unfold. Their journey is an epic one, and one doesn’t see the end (Weber’s murder or Mac enlisting) coming. With more dialogue between the characters, it could make for a cool and interesting coming of age/road trip movie.
This is a poignant and tragic road trip movie. There are plenty of dramatic and bizarre situations and the characters the leads encounter are certainly interesting. The Vietnam war has polarized the nation and many of the supporting characters have been either directly affected, have stalwart opinions, or just ignore it. There is an unexpected ending for both leads that will shake viewers by its tragedy. The two leads would attract top talent and the supporting characters are also well written and could lure great actors. This could also be skewed as darkly comedic depending on the vision of the screenwriter and director.
Key points:
Road trip gone awry
Attractive people and sex
An exciting event (The Kentucky Derby)
A dramatic time in history (The Vietnam war)
Interesting characters
Synopsis
Mac and Wade are in college and go to the Kentucky Derby. They’re hitchhiking, which was much more prevalent in the 1960s. They encounter an argumentative couple who get killed on the road, a preacher, and a madam and her two prostitutes. Their car crashes into a cow and the prostitutes save them from being beat up by cops by using their professional skills.
Wade is a bit surly and Mac is often annoyed. They get to the derby and it’s full of students and hippies. Wade get very drunk while Mac deals with a girl who is the epitome of hippie. She tells him which horse will win and he scrambles to place a bet with the little money he has. He misses the race, but the horse the girl predicted did indeed win.
Mac and Wade decided it’s time to go home. They cash in a ticket from a friend back at school who picked the winning horse. They’re hitchhiking and encounter more unfriendly cops. Wade antagonizes the cops who beat them with batons until Mac hears Wades skull crack. Wade dies. Mac enlists in the army.