WEEPERS
GENRE
MYSTERY SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Core Theme
COMING OF AGE; OVERCOMING EVIL
TIME PERIOD
1940s & '50s
COMPARABLE TITLES
GOODFELLAS; STAND BY ME; THE OUTSIDERS; UNCUT GEMS; THE IRISHMAN; ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA
CHARACTER LIST
ANGELO: 13. LEAD. BRAVE AND SELFLESS.
NUNZIO: 51. HEAD OF A CRIME FAMILY IN THE AREA, GODFATHER TO ANNA, ANGELO'S MOTHER.
FATHER JOE: 52. PRIEST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO’S GOOD FRIENDS WITH NUNZIO AND LOOKS OUT FOR ANGELO AND HIS MOTHER.
ANNA: 30S. ANGELO’S MOTHER WHO TAKES CARE OF HIM, HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, AND HIS AGORAPHOBIC UNCLE.
TATE: 14. ANGELO’S LOYAL BEST FRIEND, ALSO A MEMBER OF THE WEEPERS.
MAC: 30S. ANGELO’S MISSING (PRESUMED DEAD) FATHER, LARGELY RAISED BY FATHER JOE.
Logline
The 1957 murder of an undercover cop in a NYC housing project has unexpected ties to the disappearance of a father walking home in those same projects with his six-year-old son, Angelo, on Christmas Eve six-years before. Angelo, now 13, witnessed the killing and the killers know he saw them.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54,13-17,55+
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
The Lower East Side of New York City in 1957
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: with a Publisher
Publisher: Henschell House
Year Published: 2015
Starting Description
The Two Bridges neighborhood of Manhattan’s Lower East Side is the setting for Weepers. In the 1950s, “Two Bridges” defined the slums moldering between the Manhattan Bridge to the north and the Brooklyn Bridge to the south.
Ending Description
The events forge a union between a priest, a Mafia boss, a detective, and Angelo, a gang member. We learn, if you drop a rock into the East River, the ripples will go to Italy. In the end, Weepers shows us that the courage of the underdog, despite fear and moral ambiguity, will conquer intimidation
Group Specific
While this is fiction it is based on several true events on the LES in the Al Smith projects, Little Italy, involving street gangs in the 1950s, Mafia, the Catholic Church, and Jr. High School.
Hard Copy Available
Yes
ISBN
978159595-390-9
Mature Audience Themes
Language/Profanity
Plot - Other Elements
Coming of Age,Meaningful Message,Twist,Happy Ending
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain,Internal Journey/Rebirth
Main Character Details
Name: Angelo Pastamadeo, Nunzio Sabino, Father Joe Bonifacio, NYPD Detective Hartz
Age: Angelo 13; Nunzio 51; Father Joe 52; Detective Hartz 32
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Complex,Confident,Decisive,Villainous,Uneducated,Religious,Skillful,Engaging,Empathetic,Flexible,Heroic,Leader,Underdog,Funny
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Genre
THRILLER, DRAMA
Brief
Six years ago, a boy's father went missing on Christmas Eve. At 13, he's focused on protecting his family and his friends, who he inspires to start their own gang to compete with the others in their neighborhood. When he accidentally witnesses the murder of an undercover cop while committing his own crimes, he becomes embroiled in a mystery much larger than him which ties back to his father's own disappearance. Bringing together two priests, a mob boss, a NYPD detective, and the boys' gang of fellow teenagers, he learns what kind of man he wants to be while facing his fears and standing by his principles.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: FAIR
Characterization: EXCELLENT
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: FAIR
Premise: GOOD
Structure: FAIR
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
The book profile mostly reflects the book correctly, but the logline and character details could be clearer. The book is also probably slightly more male-leaning with a 25+ age demographic.
Draw of Story
Mac’s disappearance is a fantastic way to start the story, and it’s an immediate hook in for the audience. It’s frightening and suspenseful, and the unsolved nature makes it all the more compelling. Angelo has been shaped by this night, and everyone around him knows it.
Possible Drawbacks
The pace of the book is sometimes slow, and the storyline feels uneven as a consequence. A more straight forward story focused on fewer characters would help for both Angelo’s story and the overarching mystery plot to stand out better. Several characters’ perspectives are employed throughout, which almost tells the audience too much. We often know what almost everyone is thinking or feeling (or plotting), so the tension is lessened. There’s also a lot of exposition on the page, explaining things to the audience that they’d likely figure out otherwise.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
Angelo’s characterization in the book is stunning. It’s a perfect hook into the novel, and it would be just as great of a hook with the right casting in a film. This is the kind of role that could be a breakout for a young star, and there are plenty of meaty adult roles for older actors, too. The characters make this a draw for potential adaptation and eventual audiences alike, which is fantastic. The mystery element is also so strong.
Fanbase Potential
Absolutely this could have a large fanbase. This could be adapted into an award-winning feature.
Awards Potential
With the genre and realistic tone, it’s easy to see this having awards potential, from the cast to the crew involved.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
GOODFELLAS; STAND BY ME; THE OUTSIDERS; UNCUT GEMS; THE IRISHMAN; ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA
What’s New About the Story
The most unique aspect is the focus on children, especially with Angelo being the main character. The book otherwise can fall back on gangster story tropes with Uncle Nunzio and his activities. Focusing on the kids is when this book succeeds the most, such as Angelo being desperate to dance with Audrey. Sure there’s a lot of adult stuff going on his life, but at the end of the day he’s still just a boy who likes a girl — and that’s great. An adaptation would do well to keep the focus on the Weepers themselves as much as possible.
Lead Characters
The characters in the book are very well-drawn, and they all feel like real people, both in their dialogue and in how they react to the world around them. What’s more, they’re all memorable, something that can be difficult to achieve. It’s easy to see them translated onto the screen, especially Angelo. He’s a good kid, and even when he does bad things, he’s doing them for such sympathetic reasons that an audience would undoubtedly be on his side. He simply wants to protect the people he loves, no matter the cost to himself.
Uniqueness of Story
This is smartly kept from being a dime a dozen Mafia or gang story set in New York thanks to the main character being a child. Focusing on the kids’ gangs and interactions is clever, and well done besides. It makes this stand out, while still interweaving the more familiar genre standbys. The mystery of Mac’s disappearance is a great addition, too, and the way that story is revisited throughout.
Possible Formats
Film - Indie, Film - Streaming, TV Series - Limited Run / Mini-Series, TV Series - Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
CONSIDER
Justification
This could be adapted into a great character piece that still has a compelling story and a great mystery. All of the characters are vivid, and it’s a unique angle on a well-loved film genre. The fact that the author is familiar with this neighborhood really shines through, and there’s such a heart to the book that would show onscreen. It’s easy to picture a feature trailer either, that would set up the mystery as well as Angelo’s relationship with his friends. This is such a well rounded book that’s perfect for an adaptation.
Brief
Six years ago, a boy's father went missing on Christmas Eve. At 13, he's focused on protecting his family and his friends, who he inspires to start their own gang to compete with the others in their neighborhood. When he accidentally witnesses the murder of an undercover cop while committing his own crimes, he becomes embroiled in a mystery much larger than him.
What We Liked
The characters and their journeys are so strong, and they’re perfectly set up for an audience to love (or, in some cases, hate) them. Angelo is empathetic, and he’s always easy to root for. He’s the underdog, but he’s never alone. His friends and family are always there for him, which is heartening in what could be a darker story. With a hard-won positive ending that feels realistic, this story is really the complete package.
Film: This book is tailor-made to be a compelling entry in the well loved crime film genre. It brings a new twist in that Angelo is much younger than the average protagonist in a Mafia movie, making it feel fresh and accessible to a wider audience. These kinds of movies are produced every year, often to awards and great acclaim, and there’s bound to be a good deal of interest both on the industry side as well as the audience’s.
TV: It’s easy to imagine Angelo’s story expanded, as there are already several characters involved. The number of characters with their own specific and interesting subplots means there’s no shortage of routes to take and episodes to be had. The mystery of Angelo’s missing father as well as what he saw in the park could easily be drawn out for an entire first season, and a TV series could age alongside Angelo and those in his life.
Key points: Awards potential; Great characters to draw A-list talent; Familiar New York crime background with a twist; Engaging mystery ; Inspired by some true events and locations
Synopsis
On Christmas Eve 1951, ANGELO’s father MAC disappears into the night. Six years later, Angelo still lives in the New York City projects with his mother ANNA, as well as Mac’s brother JOHNNY, who’s been agoraphobic since returning from the war. Mac is presumed dead, and Angelo feels responsible for his family.
Angelo stands up for people when he can, like his best friend TATE. Young single mother Anna struggles with Angelo’s recklessness, and she confides in a local priest FATHER JOE. Joe practically raised Mac and Johnny, and he’s good friends with NUNZIO SABINO, a Mafia boss and Angelo’s mother's godfather. Angelo works for BOOKMAN’s deli. The man talked badly about his mother years ago, after Mac’s disappearance, and Angelo has regretted not standing up for her while planning his revenge. Unbeknownst to anyone, Angelo sets an explosion in the cellar of the shop. It’s much bigger than he expected, and it destroys the shop and injures him.
As he’s rushing home, he’s pulled into hiding by SAMMY, a homeless man. Sammy is wearing the shirt of the Satan’s Knights gang, a ruthless organization that Angelo has run foul of before. Sammy tells him they gave him this shirt, which says “Marty,” in exchange for his. Unbeknownst to either of them, Marty was an undercover cop the Knights killed. Angelo pays Sammy for hiding him, and Sammy gives him a coin he found in return. The coin is actually the saint medallion from the necklace that ERNESTO, a younger Knight, likes to show off. Angelo hangs onto it, knowing it will make Ernesto mad. Angelo pretends to get hit by a car to hide his wounds, but he ends up having to confess to his Uncle Nunzio so that Nunzio doesn’t go after anyone else for the crime. Nunzio is sympathetic as Angelo did it for the right reasons, but he encourages Angelo to come to him for help next time.
Angelo turns thirteen, and he, Tate, and their friends agree they should start a gang: The Reapers. The Knights are all on the hunt for Ernesto’s medallion since it ties them to Marty’s murder. Meanwhile Angelo views the Knights as responsible for Mac’s death, and he wants revenge on them. Father Joe starts to put together the pieces, and he tries to look out for Sammy since he knows something even if he doesn’t quite realize it. The Knights begin calling the Reapers the Weepers because Angelo tears up when he gets hit in the face by one of them. His Uncle Johnny encourages him to lean into the name instead of fighting it. Angelo overhears a plot by the Knights to attack Nunzio. Angelo races to tell Nunzio before anything can happen. The Knights are mad that now they have Nunzio against them, and they suspect that Angelo has the medallion. JIMMY fights Angelo on a rooftop, and Jimmy ends up falling to his death. This gains the Weepers and Angelo a dangerous reputation. Sammy winds up dead, and thanks to Angelo’s tip a DETECTIVE HARTZ who’s close with his family realizes the Knights are likely to blame for both him and Marty.
Hartz and Anna’s brother FRANK realize that a parolee, WILLIE MAX, was involved with Mac’s death. Frank interrogates Willie and learns that he and STAN were commissioned by the Knights to kill Mac. Father Joe, though, believes that Mac was left to die in the trunk, because no one actually saw Mac’s body. Frank kills Willie, and Joe goes to Italy to track down a lead on Mac. Mac has stayed away for six years to keep his family safe, but now that everyone involved is dead, he feels like he can return. Meanwhile the Weepers agree to play a playground game with the Knights, but the Knights instead use the opportunity to beat Angelo in return for Jimmy’s death. Nunzio’s men and Johnny’s army buddies step in just in time and kill two of the Knights attacking Angelo and his young friends. Nunzio gives the credit to the Weepers, though, so that Angelo is safer on the streets. Mac returns to New York, and Angelo cautiously accepts him back into his life.