A documentary filmmaker is offered a "foot in the door" opportunity to film behind the scenes footage of a collaberative effort by two of the most controversial filmmakers of all time. Ian films the media reports, tantrums of the directors, the protestors against controversial film, and egos of everyone involved. It can barely fit on the screen.

SYNOPSIS:

About 155 pages into this screenplay. Need to trim at least 30-40 pages. ACT 1 1. Ian Threthaway is a director who has the need to be an investigator. He makes documentaries about unpopular ‘issues’. 2. Ian and Sammi Banner, Ian’s girlfriend, reenact a job offer from Sam Matheson, a director’s assistant for David Eaton. Sam convinces Ian that making a documentary about an upcoming collaboration between two controversial directors (Nicholas Artskish and David Eaton) could be a great ‘foot in the door’ opportunity for him. 3. Ian is a fan of the directors, so he takes the opportunity. 4. Ian meets the directors and starts coordinating when he should come by their set to film behind the scenes footage. 5. Ian starts to get a little frustrated with the directors as they are giving him the run-around. The directors told Ian they would allow him to get some behind the scenes footage, but they went off to do interviews on TV shows/Internet. 6. Ian is curious about everyone’s viewpoint, so he asks Sam about interviewing MACF (Mothers Against Controversial Film). 7. Sam encourages Ian to interview MACF since Ian was unable to film any behind the scenes footage as the directors had promised. Sam tells Ian he will assist with gathering footage as well, and will attend both interviews with each director. 8. While Ian does the interview with MACF, the directors reveal the big news about their collaboration. Neither explains what the movie is about, but they hype it up to the point where it is talked about on a few entertainment news shows. 9. MACF statement is released to the news. They will protest the film if the directors continue to make it. 10. Ian is encouraged by Sam to start showing the false hype the directors are creating in his documentary. Ian sends some footage to MACF as they are probably wasting their time protesting the ‘film’. ACT 2 1. Ian goes to MACF to tell them that the directors are just trying to get attention. MACF doesn’t listen to Ian, and just edits Ian’s footage in a way so that it can still be used against the directors. 2. Sam believes that MACF and the directors are both just using each other for attention, so Sam convinces Ian to use the behind the scenes documentary as a way to showcase everyone’s true intentions. 3. Ian does not like what the documentary is turning into, but Sam tells Ian that people need to know the truth. Sam tells Ian that he was picked to document everything because he is unbiased. 4. Ian is convinced by Sam to talk with the actors/staff about what is going on. 5. Out of good intentions towards the actors, Ian tells them that there is not a real movie being made. 6. Ian, once again astonished by the reaction of people he is trying to help, notices the actors don’t really care. They are getting a paycheck. 7. MACF protests outside of the directors’ studio. The directors begin to piece together that someone close is providing the organization with footage. 8. Ian films an argument on set between the directors. Ian is backstabbed by Sam during the argument and revealed as someone who wants to take the directors down. 9. Ian is kicked out, loses his documentary privileges, and footage. Ian starts getting filmed by Sam, as Sam wants to now create a documentary about a failed documentarian. ACT 3 1. Ian is depressed as he realizes a documentary he worked very hard on just went down the drain. Ian cannot believe Sam’s betrayal. 2. Ian is planning on starting a new documentary, hoping to rejuvenate some his past energy. Sammi helps him through the frustration, and he apologizes if things were strange in the last few weeks. 3. Ian doesn’t mind not getting attention, but cannot deny the fact that Sam’s initial proposal was too enticing to pass up. 4. Ian starts getting filmed by Sam. He has to tell the truth about what was going on. 5. Ian goes to the directors (Sam present) and spills the beans about how he was manipulated. 6. Ian is satisfied that Sam was put to justice, and accepts the directors’ offer to be their new assistant. The directors decide that they will make a real movie. 7. Sam manages to keep all of Ian’s footage.

PUSHING THE LINE