One of my dad's favorite sayings about Las Vegas is, "They didn't build those big casinos from our winnings." I don't like to gamble; it must be the accountant in me. The odds are not in my favor. The most I've ever done is put a few coins in a slot machine with predictable results - I didn't win.
But as part of my screenwriting training, I wanted to do the opposite of the recommendation "write what you know." Could I learn something from a book, then write about it? A true screenwriter can be told a pitch - somebody else's dream and story and then craft a movie or TV pilot. I want to be able to do that. How hard could it be to write about blackjack - a game I've never played?
I had seen my husband and best friend play blackjack In Las Vegas, and one time, my best friend, Laura, called me over and handed me a pile of chips and said, "Don't give these back to me, no matter how much I beg." I thought, "What a weird game." I bought a book about blackjack and learned about card counting and the basic strategy.
My screenplay, Last Hand, was born. I entered it in Nicholls and was a Quarter Finalist, but since then, I've done a lot of rewrites to focus on the emotional issue of the special relationship between a father and daughter. I shaved off twenty pages to make it a better financial risk, removing the water skiing scenes. I made my main character Cherokee and changed her name from Madison to Kimi - which means secret in Cherokee. My story has lots of secrets. The reviews have been good, and I'm a Quarter Finalist in a 2023 contest.
"Last Hand" is a well-crafted story that features strong character development, a clear plot direction, and relatable themes. The film does an excellent job of balancing its multiple storylines, while also maintaining a consistent tone and pace throughout.
One of the strengths of the film is its fully-realized characters. Her father, Flip, is a flawed character whose past mistakes continue to haunt him. The other characters in the film are also well-developed and add depth and nuance to the story. The film's plot is driven by clear goals and conflicts.
Overall, "Last Hand" is a strong character-driven drama that is sure to appeal to a wide audience. The film's themes of family, legacy, and addiction are universal and relatable, and its well-crafted plot and characters will keep viewers engaged from start to finish.
In some ways, I've been taking chances by trying various genres and formats. I've been asked, "Do you want to write sitcoms, novels, movies, or animation?" My answer is simple - yes! I love writing, I spend hours doing it every day. I go to bed at night thinking of my scripts and wake up excited to start writing. I am lucky because I type as fast as I think, and I have fantastic technology skills - so using screenwriting software is easy for me.
Most Vegas movies fare well - people enjoy watching films about their dreams of being a winner. In 2008 a movie came out, 21, about the MIT Blackjack Team that used scientific theory to make a bundle. It only cost $35 million and grossed $159 million. I hope someone will take a chance on my screenplay, Last Hand.
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