OPPOSABLE THUMBS
Screenplay Information
Logline: An uninspired storyboard artist rockets into madness after involving himself in an abusive internet series starring a cast of pet monkeys.
Page Count: 119 Genres: Animation, Psychological Thriller Tone: Disturbing, Sardonic, Surreal
Expected Length: 2 hrs Comp: Mulholland Drive (2001) meets Perfect Blue (1997)
(Above) The Cast of Opposable Thumbs, Graphite on Paper, Digitally Comped
Human Characters
Ian Powell (lead, male, 30's):
A storyboard artist on sabbatical. Tired and bored, Ian is also a creative dreamer. Passionate about his craft, Ian puts up walls of delusion as soon as he dismantles them. Family often frightens him, and he feels his friend and coworker Greg is off on another planet when he phones him. With Jenny it's new, but he finds himself retreating into fantasy when things get too familiar.
Jenny Ciao (lead, female, 30's):
A dark horse with multiple personas. On the outside she's stand-offish with her dark eyeliner and graphic hoodies, but deep down she longs for connection. Since her father passed from a drug-overdose she's struggled to find it. She uses her late fathers' film equipment to make her own passion project, deep in her garage - with her new family of monkeys in front of the camera. It's called The Glass Boudoir: a 1920's period drama with horrors on and off-screen.
Monkey Characters
Carlos (Brown Macaque, Infant):
The youngest of the macaques, Carlos is often seen dressed as a little jester, both in-and-out of Jenny's show. He's Jenny's favorite. In the show he only "coos", but off-set he's super personable and go-with-the-flow. He's not one for confrontation, but his expression speaks volumes.
Ava (Albino Macaque, Infant):
Typically seen in a frilly dress or diaper and wraps around her hands. In Jenny's series she plays Sonya Ivanovna Popov, a young Russian serf caught in a love triangle. Off-set Ava is always a bit in-her-head. She's dissatisfied with her work and combats issues emotionally.
Kali (Albino Macaque, Infant):
Perhaps the cutest of the macaques - Kali plays Alisa Ivanovna Popov, Sonya's sister, in Jenny's show. A girl of strong faith, she condemns herself by having an affair with her sisters' betrothed. Off-set Kali's ego is apparent She's worked in the industry long enough and consistently shows up late.
Benji (Capuchin, Infant):
Per Jenny's words, a "funny one" - though being cooped up all day will make him go ballistic. In the show he plays Hans Barfuss: a German scientist working for the Russian Tsar. A secret lover to Sonya. As Hans, he's caught in a philosopher's dilemma - with bloodshed on his hands.
Dae (Baboon, Teen):
The eldest of Jenny's "children". Dae is consistently seen leering and screaming from her cage. In Jenny's show, Dae gives a gender-swapped performance as Nikolai Vikrovich Zametov, Sonya's betrothed and Alisa's secret lover. Heir to a gunpowder dynasty, Nikolai touts himself as a man of faith, but this is just a mask for more sinister intentions. Off-set Dae is critical of his castmates growing bad-attitudes.
(Above) The Monkey Cast of The Glass Boudoir, Graphite on Paper with Digital Collage
This project is currently seeking representation. If you are interested in reading the screenplay, please contact me at CoreyHouseholder.work@gmail.com.
Supporting Work
The following work was produced for a series of pitch decks for Opposable Thumbs. Some boarded sequences here were adapted directly from the screenplay. With a story as complex and genre-bending as this one, some images may be a little confusing without the synopsis. If you're interested in reading the synopsis or full screenplay, please inquiry through email (above).
