89 Seconds to Midnight

Script Title: 89 Seconds To Midnight

Logline: After the mysterious death of a beloved cultural icon, two high school seniors embark on a journey to save America from an evil scientist with a ketamine problem and a penchant for murder.

Artist Statement

When I create art, I create for anyone who is willing to engage in what I create. My works are an outward expression of my perspective on the world; they represent my hopes, fears, and questions about life. I’ve often dealt with the crushing weight of reality with comedy, and 89 Seconds to Midnight is no exception. 

The film’s underlying theme revolves around community and standing up in the face of challenges. Each character faces difficulties and must choose between doing what’s best for themselves or what’s best for everyone. These challenges involve both internal and external conflicts, as they have to wrestle with their role in society. 

The idea began as a bizarre (but very real) headline about the Duolingo Owl being killed by a Cybertruck, and grew into a political satire that attempts to shed light on the absurdity of our current predicament. We may laugh at a film where a government invades Antarctica to stop the spread of communism to the penguins, but when similar events occur in reality, how much laughing can we really do?

On that somber note, 89 Seconds to Midnight is also just a piece for me to come up with the weirdest subplots I can under the guise of writing a serious script. My biggest goal when writing was to really focus and hone my voice. I wanted to make something that people know I wrote, complete with jokes that could only make me laugh, characters only I can relate to, and ideas that only a stressed and tired college student can come up with. If you happen to laugh, or relate, or gain insight into the world because you read my script, that’s wonderful and I’m happy to share this with you!

Also, there is a fee to enjoy my work of $49.99, payable to my Venmo: @broughtonm. 

Perhaps the most challenging part of writing this was the fact that I’ve never written a script before. Of course, everyone has to start somewhere, but those first words were some of the hardest to write. But I am happy to have started, and I hope to never stop. I’ve had the opportunity to receive feedback from peers and have been able to develop my ability to write everything from dialogue to action. The script is not finished yet, but I plan on writing the full piece and potentially making it in the future. I’d love comments, feedback, and just to hear your thoughts!