• Happy Little Trees

  • Shawn Dwyer
  • Available
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • 2018
  • Black List
  • 85.8
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Market: Thu, 20 Sep 2018
AgentDavid Boxerbaum, Sara Nestor (Verve)
ManagerJeff Portnoy (Bellevue Productions)
The untold true story about the rivalry between painting gurus Bill Alexander and Bob Ross; after Alexander’s long-running show “The Magic of Oil Painting” was cancelled by PBS and replaced with Ross’s show “The Joy of Oil Painting,” Alexander accused the soft-spoken, afro’d Ross of stealing his act, inciting a bitter dispute that changed the lives of both men forever. AMADEUS set in the world of 1980s TV painting culture.
Bill Alexander struggles with the regression of his career and personal life as Bob Ross is at the beginning of his.
The true story of the rivalry between television personalities Bob Ross and Bill Alexander and the cut-throat world of television painting.
A television art teacher haunted by his childhood trauma attempts to save his career after being replaced.
Film
Television, Comedy, Drama, Period, Art, Inspirational, Alcohol, Behind The Scenes, Betrayal, Celebrity, Death, Friends/Friendship, Grief, Heartwarming, Teacher, True Story
110
PG-13
Medium
M
White / European
61
Average
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Judy, Rush, Ray, Rocketman
1927/1932- various days; 1982- a few months; 1992/1995- various days
50% in post-WWI East Prussian farmland, 50% in American suburbs (Costa Mesa, CA and Arlington, VA). Various scenes on film sets, homes, a law office, and restaurants.
It’s 1927 in post-war East Prussia, a young WILLIAM “BILL” ALEXANDER (12) plays with his brothers on what used to be farmland. They continue to roughhouse until they stumble upon decaying weapons. His little brother, FREDERICK (10), picks up an old hand grenade. As he’s about to throw it, it explodes in his hand and kills him instantly.

FLASHFORWARD to 1982 and BILL ALEXANDER (now in his 60’s) is having a flashback of the traumatic event while taping his television show, “The Magic of Oil Painting.” He comes to and finishes the taping but now everyone’s worried, especially his producer, DON GERDTS (30’s), and his wife and manager MARGERETE (50’s).

Bill is having another flashback during the taping of the season finale. Everyone’s even more worried about his mental state. But now a PBS executive, FAYE ANDERSON (late-30’s), is on the set to observe.

After finishing the taping, Bill and Margerete enter Don’s office to find Don and Faye already there. They break the news that the network is making significant changes and replacing Bill with a host who’s more of an “inspiration” for the show. Upon his disappointment, they offer Bill with being a mentor for...