The Legend of Swell Branch
Submision Type
book
Logline
The Reconstruction of the South was a horrible time for those homesteaded in the Southern Appalachians. Greedy ex-soldiers and rogue profiteers head south looking to gain from the weak. Buach Whelan, an Irish lad, trained as a warrior by the Cherokee, rises up to fight the madness.
Genre
Adventure,Historical Fiction
Short Summary
Buach Whelan returns home alone from a long hunt with his Cherokee brothers. He finds his home and farm have been taken by outlaw ex-soldiers. His dad murdered. He goes in calmly to introduce himself. Evaluates the situation. He finds they also have his sister as a hostage. He knows to be cautious.
Setting
Southern Appalachian Wilderness mid nineteenth century.
Based on a True Story
No
Plot - Premise
Internal Journey/Rebirth,Overcoming Monster/Villain,Rebellion Against 'The One',Tragedy
Plot - Other Elements
Coming of Age,Happy Ending,Meaningful Message,Philosophical Questions
Mature Audience Themes
Information not completed
Main Character Details
Name: Buach Whelan
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Adventurous,Badass,Aggressive,Charming,Complex,Confident,Decisive,Empathetic,Engaging,Faithful,Flexible,Gracious,Heroic,Honorable,Leader,Lone Wolf,Unapologetic,Strong Moral Code,Secretive,Romantic,Visionary,Funny,Skillful,Selfless,Blunt,Religious,Patriotic,Sexy,Obedient,Modest,Masculine
Additional Character Details
Name: Henri
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Role: Sidekick
Key Traits: Adventurous,Badass,Aggressive,Charming,Complex,Decisive,Empathetic,Engaging,Faithful,Gracious,Flexible,Heroic,Honorable,Leader,Lone Wolf,Unapologetic,Strong Moral Code,Secretive,Romantic,Funny,Skillful,Selfless,Blunt,Obedient,Modest,Masculine
Additional Character Details
Name: Miriam Sky Watcher
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Role: emotional
Key Traits: Adventurous,Badass,Charming,Complex,Confident,Empathetic,Engaging,Faithful,Flexible,Gracious,Heroic,Honorable,Leader,Lone Wolf,Unapologetic,Strong Moral Code,Secretive,Romantic,Funny,Skillful,Selfless,Religious,Sexy,Obedient,Modest
Additional Character Details
Name: Mary
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Role: sidekick
Key Traits: Adventurous,Aspiring,Charming,Complex,Confident,Decisive,Empathetic,Selfless,Religious,Sexy,Obedient,Modest,Engaging,Faithful,Gracious,Honorable,Unapologetic,Secretive,Romantic,Funny,Skillful,Outspoken
Genre
DRAMA, ACTION
Brief
Buach comes back to his homestead after the Civil War in the South to his father and sister. He must fight back against ex soldiers and opportunist who try to take land. He is aided from the local Cherokee Native Americans that he grew up with. Life changes as he loses and regains his home.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: FAIR
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: FAIR
Premise: GOOD
Structure: GOOD
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
Yes, the book profile accurately reflects the book.
Draw of Story
The style the story is written mimics the low country accent. It enables the readers to immediately be immersed in the world. It is written in the first person, giving Buach's perspective throughout. His simple outlook on the world sets the tone for the story.
Possible Drawbacks
The book focuses on the white , Christian settlers in the South. Their relationship with the Cherokee was important to their survival. It would more interesting to explore this more and make that the primary focus. There are so few stories about the Native American population that had been pushed off their lands by the government. It is mentioned in the story but from Buach's perspective.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The hook is that Buach fights against waves of disillusioned men trying to take spoils from the Civil War. They roam the southern states, taking from simple, hardworking people who have very little.
Fanbase Potential
This will not have a large fanbase. Western films have not had that much popularity lately. And with the need for more disenfranchised communities stories being told, this would represent an outdated story troupe.
Awards Potential
This does not have awards potential. The story is slow and the plot could be stronger. There is not much to distinguish from other dramatic Western films.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
DR. QUINN MEDICINE WOMAN, AUSTRALIA, TRUE GRIT, THE ASSASINATION OF JESSE JAMES
What’s New About the Story
The story has some original elements. There is a connection between Buach and the Cherokee. He speaks about the Spirit World and the Holy Spirit as if they are the same thing. The people did not clash with the Native Americans but meshed with them. The story would be more unique if the Native American perspective were more prominent. The white man perspective has been done many times before.
Lead Characters
The lead character stands out because he has a compassionate, caring personality. He is a misogynistic male character that is often seen in stories.
Uniqueness of Story
This a solid story. It could be improved by streamlining the plot and creating one antagonist in the story.
Possible Formats
Film - Studio, Film - Streaming, Film - Indie, TV Series - Cable, TV Series - Limited Run / Mini-Series, TV Series - Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
WORK IN PROGRESS
Justification
While the story has many positive points, it has room for improvement (see possible paths below). If you can't change the story at this point, my suggestion is using your notes as a guide to highlight the best aspects of it when taking the next steps, either putting a pitch page together, a treatment, or a presentation.
Tips for Improvement
The story has a chance to shed light on the plight of the Native Americans at the time. It is mentioned they had just been pushed off their land by Andrew Jackson. This would be a great opportunity to explore the Native American perspective. This would give more depth to the story and place importance on all the groups affected by the end of the Civil War.