Sullivan vs Sullivan
Logline
This is the story about Sean who innocently marries a woman who becomes temporarily disabled and the unbelievable divorce that follows.
Genre
Biographical
Short Summary
The story outlines my marriage with Wendy up front. It became a diary for me every time I went to court to tell the incredible corruption involved with my case.
My story ends up in the appellate court in NJ during Covid. A last order from the Judge was so unbelievable that it sent shock waves through my family and I.
Setting
New Jersey
Based on a True Story
Yes
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain
Plot - Other Elements
Meaningful Message
Mature Audience Themes
Information not completed
Main Character Details
Name: Sean Sullivan
Age: 46
Gender: Male
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Modest,Obedient,Empathetic,Engaging,Faithful,Gracious,Strong Moral Code,Lone Wolf
Additional Character Details
Name: Wendy Sullivan
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Role: Antagonist
Key Traits: Clumsy,Complex,Crazy,Skillful
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Development Pitch
There are so many divorce stories like Marriage Story that was a big winner at the Oscars last year. In my real life story all along I said there is some force stopping me from getting out of this divorce. I thought my ex-wife's attorney was crooked but I had no idea. Now she is her own federal civil right case that the news has surprised the entire local community. It's a divorce case that pushed me to my limits emotionally and made me continue to reinvent myself over and over to accommodate the slave like conditions that were put onto me.
Genre
DRAMA
Brief
When the marriage starts to collapse, and the couple Sean and Wendy start facing many problems, they decide to divorce. What follows is a story of uncountable visits to the courtroom and a stressing fight for money.
Overall Rating
FAIR
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: FAIR
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: FAIR
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: GOOD
Premise: FAIR
Structure: GOOD
Theme: FAIR
Accuracy of Book Profile
It does because it's autobiographical, and the author has his own point of view of the story.
Draw of Story
Nothing really. It's the diary a man wrote about his divorce process. The details can be interesting, but the overall case is not intriguing.
Possible Drawbacks
Too many details of the case that end up sounding repetitive.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
It shows the stress caused by a divorce process when it ends up in the courtrooms. It's a very contemporary theme that can draw some attention.
Fanbase Potential
I don't think so.
Awards Potential
Only if the visuals improve the experience, if the acting and the directing help to elevate the story.
Envisioned Budget
LOW BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
MARRIAGE STORY - THE STORY OF A COUPLE THAT USED TO LOVE EACH OTHER, THAT ENDS UP FIGHTING IN COURT BECAUSE OF THEIR LAWYERS. DIVORCE CORP - A DOCUMENTARY THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW WASTEFUL FAMILY COURTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE.
What’s New About the Story
It's written as a diary, so it could work as an interesting storytelling if used this way.
Lead Characters
There's nothing much to say. The author spends too much time talking about the process itself that we cannot know much about the characters. Since it's autobiographical, the way the protagonist presents the other characters can be not accurate.
Uniqueness of Story
Not a rare gem. It could intensify the drama to become stronger.
Possible Formats
TV Series - Limited Run / Mini-Series, Unscripted
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
It has no writing style. It's just a sequence of facts and memories, so it would need a good screenwriter to put all the information together interestingly. There's no accurate characterization since the author is the protagonist (and he presents the other characters based on his own thoughts), so the team would have to go after the real characters to better understand and present them. The doc would need a good production company, good actors, an experienced director, and a creative storyteller to turn it into something commercially interesting. Pace and structure are good, since it's told chronologically (otherwise, it could feel confusing), and if the screenwriter uses the diary as a way to structure the doc, it could elevate the narrative. The theme and premise are fair. There are tones of other divorce cases worldwide, so it needs to find a specific theme, and develop the premise to turn into a remarkable story.