Synopsis
A homeowner, his teenage son, their new gardener and a shocking discovery!
Our Review
The screen play of It's Open by Doug Maguire has strong elements of mystery, suspense, and intriguing characters, particularly Joey and Adam. The recurring "It's open" line and Joey's potential connection to Paula's death add a compelling twist. However, the pacing could be tightened, and Joey's motivations and Paula’s role clarified for greater impact. The tone shifts between humor and darkness but needs smoother transitions. Enhancing the ending with a stronger thematic or emotional conclusion could leave a lasting impression. With refinement, this could be an engaging and memorable piece.
Writer Biography - Doug Maguire
Doug Maguire was born on April 11th, 1973 in Hyannis, Massachusetts. After dropping out of Wentworth Institute of Technology, where he studied technical writing and electronic engineering, Maguire tried his hand at screenplays and making movies. While enrolled part-time at Emerson College in Boston, Maguire quietly made a name for himself as "the guy who can do it all" - write, direct, produce and edit - and by making it all come together on a shoestring budget. Most everything Maguire learned was picked up by reading indie filmmaking magazines, books by his favorite directors and paying close attention to every frame of his favorite movies, along with listening to the audio commentaries available on laser discs.
In 2011, Maguire began production on the very independent movie Bank Roll (2012) through his company, MagCo Entertainment. This little indie went on to receive a few accolades Maguire had hoped for, winning Best Dramatic Feature at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, along with the People's Choice Award, where audiences voted it the best in the fest of 2012. The movie also won for Best California Feature at the California Film Awards, was honored with an Award of Merit from The Indie Fest and Los Angeles Movie Awards topped it off with an Honorable Mention. Scott Bailey also picked up his first trophy for the character he played, winning Best Supporting Actor from HRIFF 2012 under Maguire's direction.
Almost 10 years after making indie movies on YouTube Channels, Maguire turned his focus again to writing and joined the FimFreeway/Coverfly communities. His first effort, "Ei8hty-Ei8ht" - a short screenplay set in Burbank and Glendale, California earned him over 20 independent film festival awards. "All film festivals closed that year due to a COVID-19 pandemic," he said. "Winners could not attend any of the events. It was a blow, but what really blows is I submitted a script to 88 film festivals and less than half accepted my work. It made me want to be better as a writer for the next project."
Maguire joined The HONR Network in 2016 to fight internet trolls and bullies with his mentor, Lenny Pozner, who lost a child in 2012 to gun violence at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
He has one son, Vincente Maguire.
Writer Statement
Thanks for giving this guy a shot at being involved with something great!
Credits
Doug Maguire
Writer
Bank Roll, Ei8hty-Ei8ht
Specifications
Project Type:
Short Script
Number of Pages:
15
Country of Origin:
United States
Language:
English
First-time Screenwriter:
No
Student Project:
No
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