Brief

It's the 80s. Student Walter Gutten finds an unexplored niche in writing papers for classmates who can't write for themselves. His idea quickly takes form and grows while he still has to do this in secret. Will he outwit the system or be caught in the crossfire of the changing cultural and technological times?

What We Liked

The Paper Factory is a college drama that pays homage to the classics of the genre at the same time as presents a new and curious story: what if a student starts to offer his services as a papers writer for the classmates who can't do it for themselves. Can he help the other students without being caught by the university administration? Is this fighting the system or only cheating?

Film: The setting makes it a perfect homage to the classic college movies of the 80s. Walt's constant quest for a place for himself in the college while he is inducted into another world when he changes from the Business Major to the English's. The dynamics between the students and all Walt's family drama are the perfect backdrop to a fun movie about someone questioning a flawed system.

TV: Walter's trajectory starting his paper writing business is perfect for a multi-season procedural TV show. The new members' recruitment, the college administration's investigation about the case, this all can be developed during the seasons while the papers themselves are perfect to a "case of the week" structure of episodes, with the classes and the characters' relationship serving very well as a backdrop for the drama.

Key points:
1. The nostalgic effect;
2. Fun and diverse cast of characters;
3. Guy fighting the system while helping other people;
4. Low budget;
5. Has a lot of creative space for adaptations.

Synopsis

WALTER GUTTEN is a Business Major who isn't capable of having a good performance in his classes. While he and his friends are thinking about joining a Fraternity, he is having his fair share of problems with passing in some classes despite his efforts. At the same time, WALTER is worried about his parents. They're divorcing and not on good terms, so WALT sees his mom use him to have news about his father, who hasn't heard from him for a while.

WALTER's father shows up in his college apartment by surprise and reveals he now only will divorce from WALT's mom, but he'll also marry a younger woman who he met at work. He is also selling WALT's childhood home to buy an apartment for himself and his new wife. The icing on the cake comes when WALLY's father asks him to be his best man. WALTER refuses the invitation.

After the homecoming, WALTER still can't do well in his Business Major. This is so clear that DR. CORBETT, one of his professors, starts asking WALT about why he chose Business, with he at first saying he chose the graduation because of his father insisting on it. DR. CORBETT then calls WALTER a failure in Business and recommends a change to English Major because of the student's interest in literature and in how good he is writing.

WALT takes some time thinking about this suggestion and finally accepts doing this change. He quickly sees himself more and more involved in Literature classes and in poetry. His interest in poetry makes WALT curious about his roommate LEROI, who also writes verses, but as lyrics for music, but he takes a lot of time to finally show any work to a frustrated WALTER.

Soon after his induction to a Fraternity along with friends, is when WALTER starts to write papers for money. During this, he knows TARA, a girl from a Sorority with whom he starts to hang out and date. Don't take long for WALTER to begin thinking about expanding his paper-writing business. He soon gathers five other English majors (three boys and two girls) to help him in this job and in finding new clients. To further expand, WALT also starts to offer proofreading services to his classmates who can write a paper but are not confident enough about writing or the research itself. With his business growing, WALT also sees the first movements from people who don't agree with this. Certain day, going back to his Fraternity room after a class, WALTER finds "Confidence Man" written in capital letters on a notepad. He is being called a Con Man by other students.

Despite the people who oppose his project, WALTER keeps recruiting more and more people to help him with the paper's writing. One of these possible recruiters is HUNTER, someone who opposes the idea, but is very needed by WALLY. The insistence makes them fight and exchange harsh words. HUNTER turns in a suspect when, not long after this fight, the College board calls WALTER to explain his project with DR. CORBETT as a mediator, but also seen by WALT as an ally in that room. Given the space to explain himself, WALTER incites a discussion about how outdated the system is. But always refusing to admit his business even existed. The College board ends the meeting and calls another one to discuss WALT's punishment in the next few days.

WALTER breaks up with TARA on a Sunday morning. She can't accept this and he doesn't explain his reasons. This comes after he being sued by the College Board, needing to pay a large restitution to everyone who hired his services and his lawyers' invoices. Being expelled by the College and making his mom so disappointed that she stops speaking with him. WALT ends living with his father and trying to discover a way to pay for everything he needs to. But an inheritance from his recently deceased grandmother, mother of his father, surfaces as a Deus Ex Machina, as Walt himself recognizes.

About The Author

TOMA (Thomas J. MacDonald), of Richmond, Virginia, has been writing stories, poems, and composing songs and lyrics all his life. He has been featured and read on National Public Radio.