ACTION COMEDY- SCRIPT

1. 1
SYNOPSIS
SWITCHCRAFT
When tough cop Nick Mann is killed in the line-of-duty he’s so angry he won’t leave Earth until the perps
are busted. The only person who can see or hear Nick is rotund taxi driver Henry, so sarcastic ghostly
Nick “haunts” Henry into being his cowardly sidekick and – when necessary – actually possesses the
reluctant side-kick. The semi-supernatural duo takes on the most powerful gang in the city whose
Succubus leader – and her paranormal henchmen – dominate the underworld… uh, both underworlds.
A rooftop bare knuckle boxing match enables beautiful mob boss JONEEL HAMILTON to acquire a
hotel from her rival ZHEUNG HAN. There is something supernatural about Joneel… her reflection
exposes her to be more than one hundred years old.
Dopey rotund taxi driver HENRY DU bicycles to his job where fellow cabbies are split in their support
on Henry’s desire to woo his weekly fare, gorgeous GONG LI. Henry takes her to the airport, but is too
shy to express his feelings and lets her get away again.
NICK MANN appears to team with evil henchman LOUIS to put pressure on a local casino owner to sell
his business. When Louis gets abusive, Nick pulls him outside where Louis realizes Nick is an
undercover policeman who is trying to bust Louis’s boss…the very same Joneel Hamilton from the
opening.
Nick returns home to his girlfriend DEZZIE. He intends to propose marriage, but his pager beeps and he
leaves for a final attempt to bust Joneel. At the mob meeting, Nick is exposed and is shot. Wounded, he
is bumped by Henry’s cab and Henry deftly evades the villainous pursuit of Louis.
Nick returns to the police precinct and learns he is off the case; the reasons made clear when it is revealed
that Nick is dead! He is a ghost and no one can see or hear him. His extreme desire to bust Joneel and
Louis permit him to remain on this plane of existence, but how can he accomplish his duty?
Cowardly Henry is the only person who can see Nick who coerces Henry into the simple task of
delivering the evidence-filled tape recorder Nick had the night he died. But not before Henry performs
his bi-weekly drive for the object of his desire, Gong Li. Sardonic Nick teases Henry causing Henry to
fail in his wooing attempt.
In a saloon, Nick taunts Henry to help. One of Joneel’s henchman, COWBOY NESS, enters to force the
bar owner to give up his establishment – Joneel is acquiring properties all over town. Nick forces Henry
to fight Cowboy and Henry is victorious when Nick discovers he can “jump in and possess” Henry and
guide his limbs to fight skillfully!
Nick declares they are to be sidekicks to crumble Joneel’s corrupt organization. Henry wants nothing to
do with it. Nick “haunts” Henry into agreeing to infiltrate her mob.
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In order to attend the gala casino grand opening (where Joneel is stealing the establishment from its
owner), Nick helps Henry land Gong for his date; her beauty permitting Henry’s entrance into the sold-
out event.
With Nick’s “coaching,” Henry appears to be a real lady’s man, is seriously winning Gong’s heart, and
Henry has the romantic date of his life. However, it is interrupted by Nick demanding that Henry assist in
investigating Joneel who has a hostage forcing the owner to sign over the building. Henry and Nick must
free the hostage and steal Joneel’s lap top computer which contains evidence to arrest her. All goes well
until it is revealed that Joneel’s evil henchwoman (possessed Zheung Han from the opening) can see and
hit Nick! A hilarious fight ensues which includes Henry in a panda bear costume. Nick and Henry free
the hostage, grab the laptop, and defeat the villains.
Impressed, gorgeous Gong takes Henry home and she beds her panda hero. Nick is worried…his super-
hero skills may be no match for the villains…do they possess supernatural abilities, too?
Yes, they do. Joneel performs a spell enabling evil Louis to become a supernatural henchman who will
be able to defeat Nick by sending him to another plane of existence!
Nick coaches Henry into separating himself from Gong’s lovely arms. The dynamic duo heads to the
precinct where, alas, the Lieutenant will not accept the lap top as evidence and Henry makes the terrible
mistake of saying that Nick is still “alive.” This results in Henry being committed to the local wacky
ward where even the insane patients dislike nerdy Henry and tease him. While Henry is locked inside…
Nick is helpless and Joneel presses her evil plan and acquires several more properties.
When released, Henry spills the beans to his taxi boss, MOMMA MADISON. She not only believes
Henry’s weird story, she tells the tale of Joneel Hamilton which spans several decades; a flashback shows
that Joneel performs a malevolent ritual every fifty years enabling her to take possession of the bodies of
beautiful younger women and live indefinitely. Momma Madison herself was blinded fifty years ago
when witnessing the rite. Joneel requires ownership of several properties to do so and the next victim will
be Nick’s fiancé, Dezzie! Henry says he won’t help anymore until Momma Madison informs him that the
reason Henry is the only person who can see Nick is because Henry’s collision with wounded Nick is
Nick’s actual cause of death. Feeling guilty, Henry will help Nick.
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Henry helps Nick convince Dezzie that Nick is still “around.” Eventually, she believes them (unlike the
cops at the precinct) and is angry that Nick took so long to make his presence known and to give her the
engagement ring.
Joneel and Louis arrive to take Dezzie, but Nick holds them off long enough for Henry and Dezzie to get
away. The villains give chase and Henry’s cabbie buddies run interference in an acrobatic chase
sequence between Joneel’s limo and three taxi cabs. Joneel runs Momma Madison’s cab off the road and
Joneel grabs the taxi company’s roster. Now, she knows where Henry lives and goes there seeking
Dezzie. However, when the baddies arrive – and the good guys escape again – Joneel sees Henry’s photo
of his new girlfriend Gong and decides she is a more beautiful candidate for the re-possession ceremony
of the Serpent. Vain Dezzie is insulted by this. And Joneel kidnaps Gong.
Recently courageous Henry stashes Dezzie and wounded Nick near Nick’s actual gravestone. Henry tells
Nick that, thanks to Nick, Henry now has a real life and is willing to risk it to save his friend and his girl;
Nick is not permitted to go to the big fight because, if he is defeated, he will be sent to another plane of
existence.
Henry goes to Momma Madison to learn more information about the possible whereabouts of Joneel’s
forthcoming ritual and discovers the sacred center of the thirteen orbs is in the taxi garage itself!
Joneel and Louis crash in. They have Gong, begin the ritual, and kill Henry!
Henry’s ghost returns to the graveyard where thanks to Nick he was not afraid. Angry, Nick now flies to
save Gong. However, Nick is overwhelmed by Louis’s supernatural ability and all hope is lost until –
Momma Madison uses jumper cables and CPR to resurrect Henry!
Together, Henry and Nick defeat Joneel and Louis and save Gong and the taxi garage in an acrobatic and
aerobatic fight sequence which utilizes all the ghostly and auto mechanic abilities known to man and
specters.
Henry and Nick become local detectives. Invisible Nick is the best man at Henry’s wedding to Gong…
the guests see a ring magically levitate into Henry’s hands during the ceremony.
Henry and Ghostly Nick exploit their supernatural buddy cop relationship by opening their own detective
agency… a lot of justice can be served when your partner is invisible!
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4. 5
READERS REPORT
CONFIDENTIAL COVERAGE REPORT
TITLE: Switchcraft
SUBMITTED AS: Writing Sample ANALYST: Staff Reader
SUBMITTED BY: Confidential DATE:
FORM/LENGTH: Screenplay/95 pages LOCATION: Urban
CIRCA: Present
DRAFT: Unknown GENRE: Action Comedy
LOGLINE: When tough cop Nick is killed in the line-of-duty, the only person who can see or hear him is
cowardly taxi driver, Henry. Determined to bring the bad guys to justice, wise cracking Ghost Nick
“haunts” Henry into being his sidekick. Henry and Nick must face a powerful gang of criminals whose
dominance is made possible through their supernatural henchmen.
GENERAL COMMENTS: Hilarious storyline with plenty of fun tongue and cheek action. This script is
a clever merging of the wacky action comedy of Rush Hour with a supernatural twist of Ghostbusters.
ELEMENTS/NOTE: Moderate need for CGI special effects.
Excellent Good Fair Poor
PREMISE x
CHARACTERS x
PROJECT: RECOMMEND DIALOGUE x x
WRITER: RECOMMEND STORY LINE x
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5. 6
COMMENTS:
Overall, the script is a fantastically fun read and a good time all the way around. The storyline is
hilarious from beginning to end - a wacky marriage of a classic buddy cop action thriller with the
off the wall antics of a film such as Ghostbusters.
A tight pacing keeps the story moving forward like a rollercoaster so even the dramatic moments
maintain the momentum. The characters are well rounded and believably three-dimensional.
There are great leading roles for veteran comic actors or a vehicle for a hot new star on the rise.
The dialogue is snappy, witty and generally age appropriate for the entire family, which is vital in
the case of an off the wall comedy. The tongue and cheek action ensures that the moments where
gun fire and other physical violence erupts will not push this film into the dreaded box office
wrecking R rating realm.
The script might benefit from a minor dialogue punch. A little extra polish to the already hilarious
dialogue could be accomplished after casting so dialogue can be crafted to suit the comedic delivery
of a specific actor. This would easily make this script to a beautifully gleaming 10.
A suggestion regarding the rules as they apply to the supernatural elements: Early on, Ghost Nick
cannot manipulate the world around him – he cannot move, touch, or feel anything. As the story
moves into the second act, he can pick up objects and move them around at will. This can be
remedied with a brief orientation moment that helps Nick understand the rules as they apply to
him as a ghost.
This script deserves serious recommendation. It has all the makings of a successfully commercial
summer tent-pole action comedy. With proper casting this project has significant box office
potential. The writer is an excellent candidate for consideration of writing assignments or
rewriting duties for any screenplay that has comedy or big action elements.
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6. 7
CREATIVITY and COMMERCE
Award-winning writer Lawrence Riggins
(Serpent Rising, Replicant, Ironheart) is a
graduate of UCLA’s prestigious M.F.A.
screenwriting program, and returned to “the
greatest film school in the world” as a
Visiting Professor. As a producer, writer, and
director, Riggins carefully crafts stories and
films to appeal to the most lucrative markets
and creates profitable products at any budget.
He has sold more than a dozen screenplays
and has won more than thirty awards.
Switchcraft is his third collaboration with
David W. Smith.
Serpent Rising
(production still)
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7. 8
Prior to even beginning production, Replicant
garnered $20 Million in presales at the Cannes
film festival based solely on the screenplay and
star attachment.
Serpent Rising is in
post-production.
Ironheart was the final film by Enter the Dragon
director Robert Clouse. Revenue for Ironheart
exceeded 400% of its budget.
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