a Screenplay
Meet Miss Annie Oakley! I’ve completed a screenplay based on the true story of Annie’s years. She was indeed a spirited and talented woman in all respects, and she made a remarkable life for herself in a time when women in her profession were few and far between.
Before woman’s rights came about in the early part of the 20th-century, there was the late-19th century Annie Oakley, who, at the age of nine, having developed a skill coveted by men, establishes a nearly impossible goal to one day meet and speak with the Monarch of England, Queen Victoria. A week later, Annie’s mentoring father freezes to death in an early November blizzard. Lack of money forces Annie to be institutionalized within the confines of the Greenville County Infirmary. Within a month, Annie is confined for a two-year term to a horrific farm family forever locked in Annie’s memory as the “wolves.” At age eleven, she escapes her captors, establishes herself in a world dominated by men, and becomes a professional hunter. Several years later, in a Thanksgiving Day trapshooting contest, Annie meets, defeats, and eventually marries a professional marksman and impresario, Frank Butler. Throughout this screenplay’s chronicle, Annie subtly endeavors to bridge the gap between the sexes to afford the motto, Truth is equality. Coupled with Frank’s theatrical resourcefulness, she spurs herself onto the world’s stage, becoming America’s first female superstar and the greatest female marksman, Annie Oakley.
Logline: Possessing special skills, a 9-year-old Ohio farm girl journeys from a cruel childhood becomes the toast of European royalty, becoming America’s first female international superstar, accompanied by her best friend––her gun.
Genre: Drama; Adventure.
Set in North Star, Ohio, Annie’s father freezes to death in an early November blizzard; plummeting Annie’s fortunes into the dregs of humanity. Annie continues honing her rifle skills, sets a goal to one day meets the Monarch of England, Queen Victoria. Annie journeys through a difficult childhood, battling the elements, survives a two-year ordeal laboring for a maniacal family she would for the remainder of her life allude to as “the wolves.”
What does Annie want? In the nineteenth century era, even more so than today, within a frontier completely dominated by men, Annie creates her safety, security, and esteem needs. At age eleven, she becomes a professional hunter, demanding respect and to be paid like a man. At age fifteen, she is set to challenge impresario and professional marksman Frank Butler, in a Thanksgiving Day firearms contest. They meet, compete, later share a brief courtship, and marry. Annie impress to Frank, “truth is equality.” Driven, focused, galvanized, together the couple embraces vaudeville, the circus, and the Wild West Show audition. Thus, Annie’s created her entrance onto the world’s stage. They travel to England, perform at Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Command Performance, catapulting Annie into superstardom.
Oscar recipients, Barbara Streisand, Cate Blanchett, and Patricia Arquette, all at the Oscar podium, have lobbied for equality for women. Ladies, everywhere, “Annie Oakley” places the bullseye in your court!
Cinematic Teaser Trailer (63 seconds)