The Writers

Betsy Morris and I met, when I optioned she and co-writer Brian Beatty's script, LAST CALL AT MURRAY'S. Although the project ultimately didn't get made, we forged a friendship and I read several more of her screenplays. When it came time to pull this story together and give it heart, Betsy was first in my mind. Fortunately for our schedules, she was available and the rest is history.

Now we're embarking on a new journey, creating more of a skeleton for a group of great improv actors to sink their teeth in to. Here's a little more about the story:

At her best friend’s urging, Erin, a single girl, attends her friend’s Halloween party—hoping, as always, to find her perfect mate. But when she arrives, she discovers nearly everyone else there is part of a couple, OR she’s already dated them. But the worst part? The host has invited her old boyfriend in hopes of reuniting them.

As Erin spends the night avoiding her ex and the few other undesirable guys in attendance, she interacts with a colorful assortment of party goes—each with their own issues. Most interesting is a nice looking guy dressed up as a homeless man. Chatting to him, for the first time in a long time, Erin feels a spark of potential.

As the night goes on and more facades are broken down, the single girl discovers that everything she thought about each of the couples isn’t quite true. The happiest couple, after enough drinks, quickly break down to the point of near death. The worst couple there, bickers to no end but as the party winds down, are just as solid as ever. A lesbian couple turns out to be the most well adjusted people at the party and apparently the only ones the hosts’ surly teenage daughter can stand.

But the biggest shock is that the educated, gentle homeless man, actually IS homeless…he wandered in with a secret agenda and when his identity is revealed, the party goers mob against him. Erin finds herself standing up for him, in front of all these so-called friends. In a move based in hope more than love, she chooses to leave the party with him.

The Story & Its Creators

Every story has a moment that inspires it, as does our newest comedy, HALLOWEEN PARTY. Mark Cardone, my muse and extraordinary producing partner, and I host our own party every year. We have plenty of moments of inspiration to draw from, trust me!

After many brainstorming sessions and story conceptualization, we decided we would produce this picture through Runaway Productions and I would make it my feature writing and directorial debut.

We added our good friend and producer, Sandy Robinson to our team as the story started to take shape. One thing led to another and we brought on board, Betsy Morris (TEN INCH HERO) to co-write with me.

As it turns out, our story has morphed into a great little project with a real statement to make. Its characters are unique, fun and revealing in more ways than one. There are those that come pretending to be something they're not ,and those that come pretending to be who they actually are.

It's the story of a girl looking for love on the most deceptive night of the year, but ultimately it's a breakdown of the masks we wear and labels we put on people.