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a film by Wayne Schotten
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A Film by Wayne Schotten Story Synopsis by Pete Verral. CARL, in his mid 20s, is a talented, aspiring San Francisco filmmaker. One afternoon, while absorbed in recording sound effects along a narrow park trail, Carl accidentally bumps into an older man WAYNE who tumbles down a steep hill. Fearing the worst, This chance encounter of Carl and Wayne opens the story of two memorable individuals whose emotionally-charged relationship is as current as today's newspaper headlines. It's a timeless story of self discovery, redemption and ultimate tragedy. It turns out that Carl and Wayne's meeting is fortuitous, for Wayne, in his mid-50s, is an accomplished filmier. The two men quickly strike up a "teacher - apprentice" relationship that is grounded on a genuine respect for each other and a mutual need for a new friendship.
Carl's troubled past is suddenly revealed. Mac tells Carl that his juvenile record has finally been cleared as a member of a group of teenagers who beat up a gay man. With this weight lifted off his shoulders, Carl dives into his film work with Wayne. Carl also meets JAMES, a young commercial photographer, and a friend of Wayne's . Sharing mutual interests, they enjoy time together, but the possibility of a sexual relationship is left unclear. |
Life is going well for Carl. Then one day, the bottom falls out of his bright new world. Wayne reveals to Carl that a man in a personal photograph was his lover --killed in a brutal gay bashing. Stunned, Carl mumbles a few words and flees the studio. Among unshot scenes in Wayne's movie, are shots of the city's underbelly--the sordid life of prostitutes and drug dealers. To get these shots that are fraught with danger--especially for an older man like Wayne-- Carl enters this dark world and has some close scrapes while filming an odious pimp and a drug dealer who try to get his camera. Wayne and James uncover Carl's "act of redemption" and are worried for his safety. Meanwhile, |
THE KNIGHT in GLASS ARMOR
Carl anxiously scrambles down to the man lying motionless below. As Carl frantically checks the man for injuries, he abruptly sits up and laughs about the joke he's played on Carl.
Wayne, soft-spoken and philosophical,is working on a deeply personal film project "Parenthesis" which explores the nature of human relationships. Carl, impressed with Wayne's film knowledge and worldly outlook, eagerly helps out on his project. Wayne returns the favor with advice on a student film Carl is shooting. Like most young people, Carl has little money and visits his father MAC for a loan.
Carl continues to work with Wayne, but agonizes over whether to reveal his past record for fear of losing their friendship. To make matters worse, James finds the court letter expunging Carl's juvenile record and an explosive argument breaks out between them. Unable to endure his tortuous soul searching any longer, Carl tells Wayne of his past. Yet, certain of Wayne's rebuke, he bolts out of the studio before Wayne has a chance to react. Carl now retreats into his own world, avoiding any contact with Wayne or James. Still wracked with guilt, Carl comes up with a plan to "atone" himself in Wayne's eyes.
Carl innocently films a car with several DRUNKEN YOUNG MEN in the Castro district, a popular gay neighborhood. Out for a little "hell-raising" the young drunks think Carl deliberately filmed them. They hunt Carl down and start to give "the fag" a beating as Wayne and James arrive. The issue of ethical moral conduct is left unresolved in a troubling climax that reflects the shifting standards that continue to rend the fabric of our society.