SKINNY CITY
Logline
In 1977 a young boxer fleeing the mob joins the last great western rush and works the Alaska Pipeline project while healing his soul with the help of an Inuit girl who reveals to him the spirit of the earth.
Genre
Action,Adventure,Drama,Romance
Short Summary
Adrift, Charlie, amateur boxing champ, mourns his mom’s death and estranges dad joining the gambling underworld. Shame at dad’s work status and admiration of resource- extractive robber barons create Charlie’s reckless attitude. Defying orders to throw a bout, he flees to Oil-Rush Alaska.
Challenged by the cultural clash of Alaska’s pipeline, Charlie is transformed by the love of a young Inuit woman who shows him the truths and spiritual depths of the earth. After tragic events spur his awakening, Charlie’s past catches up with him for one final bout for the freedom of his soul.
Setting
Alaska Pipeline circa 1977
Based on a True Story
Yes
Plot - Premise
Internal Journey/Rebirth,Quest,Tragedy
Plot - Other Elements
Coming of Age,Meaningful Message,Philosophical Questions
Mature Audience Themes
Nudity
Main Character Details
Name: Charlie Kelly
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Adventurous,Aspiring,Aggressive,Complex,Greedy,Underdog,Desperate,Educated,Masculine,Secretive,Manipulative
Additional Character Details
Name: Nelle Holiday
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Role: Skeptic
Key Traits: Complex,Confident,Decisive,Empathetic,Engaging,Faithful,Gracious,Heroic,Educated,Honorable,Selfless,Outspoken,Visionary,Strong Moral Code,Unapologetic,Underdog
Additional Character Details
Name: Sam Holiday
Age: Late 50's
Gender: Male
Role: mentor
Key Traits: Complex,Confident,Empathetic,Faithful,Gracious,Leader,Underdog,Modest,Selfless,Strong Moral Code,Blunt,Unapologetic
Additional Character Details
Name: Kupaaq
Age: 80's
Gender: Male
Role: logical
Key Traits: Confident,Modest,Decisive,Empathetic,Faithful,Heroic,Honorable,Leader,Strong Moral Code,Unapologetic,Blunt,Religious
Development Pitch
Skinny City is a snapshot in time of our progression to the climate crisis as seen through the moral and spiritual journey of a young boxer who flees the Seattle mob to work on the Alaska Pipeline in the late 1970s. The tale has all the tropes of a brawling western as it depicts working life in the narrow temporary metropolis that hugs the pipeline route, and it shows an episode of the recurring cultural debasement that characterizes the American Story: predatory, extractive forces of capitalism exploit and destroy the pristine land of a spiritual indigenous people. Our hero sheds the mantle of greed and is transformed by the love of a young Inuit woman who shows him how his soul is connected to Nature.
Genre
ACTION, DRAMA
Brief
Charlie flees home and ends up in an oil rig town in Alaska in the 1970s. He learns how to truly grow up and be accountable with the help of this remote community. Charlie gains special attention and knowledge from his new girlfriend, an Inuit woman named Nelle. Charlie's life that he flees eventually catches up to him but with his new support he is able to survive.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: FAIR
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: FAIR
Premise: GOOD
Structure: FAIR
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
The script profile does reflect most aspects of the story although the development pitches focus on the Inuit rather than Charlie's story doesn't feel entirely accurate as the plot is centered around Charlie's internal conflict rather than the cultural preservation of the locals in the face of oil. By changing the development pitch to stay consistently about Charlie like the rest of the profile, it will be more cohesive as well as matching to the story.
Draw of Story
Once Charlie reaches Alaska, the story starts to become more clear in the direction of his transformation rather than the trajectory of his boxing training. The hook becomes clear before the end of the first act.
Possible Drawbacks
While a lot of the themes are noble and important, their delivery in the dialogue can sometimes sound unrealistic as it can lack subtext. The oil storyline and boxing subplot both seem slightly too unrelated to feel as if they are building towards the same climax. Adding more nuance to the dialogue regarding messages will help them be delivered more smoothly and setting up the connection between the subplots more clearly might help make the ideas seem more intertwined.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The hook is that Charlie is a boxing hopeful who runs away to Alaska and everything he thought he knew he has to relearn in order to survive the elements and the community.
Fanbase Potential
This could have a medium size fanbase of those seeking a unique and standalone drama.
Awards Potential
This is unlikely to have awards potential at present due to the scope and perspective of the themes addressed as well as the action genre in the latter acts.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
REVENGE, WIND RIVER, IQUALUT, FRONTIER, DEEPWATER HORIZON
What’s New About the Story
The originality stems from the oil rig culture and Inuit influence towards the protagonist's growth. Either incorporating the boxing more smoothly or expanding the two elements listed would help make the story maximize its setting's potential.
Lead Characters
Charlie is adaptable and defiant with a lot of hidden compassion. Nelle is weathered, peaceful and hopeful. Charlie's father is tough but surprisingly selfless.
Uniqueness of Story
The setting if very neat and the characters are likeable but the subplots could feel more cohesive to make the inner conflicts easier to track.
Possible Formats
Film
Analyst Recommendation
WORK IN PROGRESS
Justification
The dialogue could benefit from more subtext when addressing serious themes. The protagonist's subplots are not always clear to the main conflict connection. The structure such as the flashforwards do not always advance the plot.
Tips for Improvement
Due to the sheer multitude of important themes it may be better as an ensemble television show rather than just following a white protagonist in Alaska Oil Rush to properly develop all of the messages from the best perspective though nuanced dialogue. The frame narrative and future Charlie also don't seem to add to the story so could be removed to make room for other scenes developing characters.