"Playing Annie" - Follow the Creation of this Feature Film

Trinidad where the most beautiful people live

2006-11-15T16:45:00.000-05:00

Trinidad Passion - The Fist

2005-12-24T00:59:00.000-05:00

When in Trinidad, I bought a book by local poet and Nobel Prize Winner for Literature, Derek Walcott. I think you'll understand why he won. Read this poem. Memorize it. Savour it.

The Fist

The fist clenched round my heart
Loosens a little , and I gasp
Brightness; but it tightens again . When have I ever not loved the pain of love? But this has moved
Past love to mania.This has the strong
Clench of the madman, this is gripping the ledge of unreason, before plunging howling into the abyss.
Hold hard then, heart . This way at least you live.

"Playing Annie" Finds a Second Investor

2005-12-24T00:51:00.000-05:00

We are extremely pleased to announced that we have a second investor, this time from Trinidad, who will invest seed money into the feature project, right at our current stage of writing the screenplay. A prominent business owner in Port of Spain just decided to give us double the amount of the first investor! Annie just came back from Trinidad, not empty handed. This enthusiastic businessman also offered to gather more potential investors for us, in order to make a larger presentation in January 2006.

The new year is very promising. Things are lining up quite well for "Playing Annie"...
Thank You everybody in Trinidad for your support!

Our Trip to Trinidad

2005-11-22T10:05:00.000-05:00

We just got back, Tazbaz and I, from Trinidad, meeting with investors, distributors, musicians, lawyers, music managers, bankers. We had a great time, very productive.

Things keep lining up for us in a magical way. Even my new phone number over there is just lined up, a numerology expert told me. She said you cannot get a number more lucky than the one I was given: 717-1777!

Will be back in the next couple days with sounds and images. What a blessed project and time! What an Island!

... Oh, and I forgot the most interesting thing... we visited the Island the week Trinidad's national football team ( soccer in North America) won their biggest game ever! 1-0 against Bahrain. Now they can go to the World Cup in Germany. It's the farthest any country of that size has ever been to in World Cup competitions. And, oh by coincidence, we were there to witness this unbelievable feat! Now I believe that "Playing Annie" will win at least an Oscar!

When your energy is all lined-up, things line-up for you!

PLAYING ANNIE - A First Step-by-Step Outline

2005-11-09T21:14:00.000-05:00

Note: A step outline is designed to reveal the plot of the story, the factual stepping stones that make the story progress from beginning to end. If you take the time and read between the lines, you will almost see and hear the whole movie in your mind.

The film opening scene:

Snipers aim at Annie

A large Middle Eastern city sitting between the magnificent blue Mediterranean ocean and eternal snow peaks…

Annie is a feisty 18 year-old school girl. She wants to leave her school, which became the target of kidnappers and snipers, terrorizing the city.

On the phone, her mom implores her to stay put, but Annie’s English teacher was kidnapped inside the school during the night. She can't stay, she wants to come home.

Her mother orders her to stay there until the army sends troops. Annie agrees. But after hanging up, she runs down the stairs and goes outside.

Downhill, the highway called "sniper alley" leads to her house. Many well positioned snipers take aim at drivers. It's 10 kilometers of Russian roulette. Many cars sit on the pavement, like metal coffins.

Annie gets in her Alfa Romeo, and starts the engine. She steps on the gas and takes off. Her school friends tell her to come back. She gets to the access ramp and sees in sight.
She passes one car that is stopped in the middle of the road. It is empty. Another car has crashed on the middle rail. Two bodies lay dead on the front seat.

Annie waltzes around other cars, a truck, a motorcyclist is lying in front of his motorcycle.
Suddenly, a bullet hits her windshield and smashes it. Annie screams and almost loses control.
Another bullet hits the lower part of the door, and her car starts making strange noises.
She hits the side of an abandoned car and spins around at a high speed.

The car stalls in the middle of the highway. Annie's trembling hand turns the key.
The engine roars back to life but Annie can't put the car in first gear. Another bullet whistles by.
Annie ducks down and puts the car in second gear. She releases the clutch and the steps on the gas. The front tire blows up. She hits a truck and stops.

Suddenly, a Mercedes pulls by her side. A young man opens his door. "Jump in!!" he screams.
A bullet hits his windshield too. Annie jumps in his car. The man jumps in and takes off.

Gaining speed, the young man turns to her and smiles. "Hi, remember me? Wael... during the manifestation?" Annie looks at him. "Yes Wael! What are you doing here? - I'm saving your life again! -I don't mind!" Annie says. Wael steals a kiss while a bullet shatters another window.
Flashback: in a riot, Wael and Annie are arrested. At a police station, he is beaten by policemen because he doesn't want to say his name. They learn that he is the son of the head of secret services; they release him and try to repair his bruised face . While leaving , he takes Annie with him, who admires his courage and rebellious spirit.

An intruder is in Annie's bungalow

In a nice Montreal suburban house, Annie is now 32,frantically scrubbing the faucets of her kitchen sink, with an small toothbrush. Listening to ballet music, she starts to dance like a ballerina, turning, jumping… She sees the silhouette of a man crossing the corridor, she stops dancing. She makes a few steps to check who is in the house, and slides on a wet portion of the floor. Her head hits the floor so hard that she loses consciousness.

Annie leaves her body

She begins an out-of-body experience. Below her, she sees herself lying on the ground, and the intruder, a tall slightly hunched-over man, comes near her and checks her pulse. He makes a big sigh of relief. He gently caresses her cheek.
During the process of leaving her physical reality, Annie discovers what is beyond death. She is transported to a huge place, where she feels total goodness, absolute love, and sees moments of her past on a screen too big to see the end of it. Flashbacks are vividly and rapidly produced in front of her:

Annie needs to get married

Annie is now 20, and, according to her father, she must get married, sooner than later.
She wants to marry her first love, Wael, the young man who saved her life on sniper highway. Annie is told by her father that Wael is not on his marrying list. He doesn't want the family to be related to the chief-of-the-secret-services’ son . Too dangerous for the family.

Top of his list is Tarek, a military man with a brilliant future, who just got back from an excellent school in the U.S., the CIA. Annie screams that she will never go out with him.

Annie discovers something about Tarek!

Annie and Tarek are in his car, he talks of their upcoming marriage ceremony , but Annie finds a blond hair on his forehead. He denies he is seeing another woman, but she decides to cancel the marriage

The intruder spies on Annie.

Meanwhile, in the Montreal bungalow, the intruder sifts though files, bank notes, looking for information. He finds Annie’s panties and takes one with him.

Annie chooses Samir, but...

Back in her memories, Annie sees a young man throw a chair at his teacher. This is Samir, and she introduces him to her father, who says "no" since he is not on his marrying list.
She runs away under the shelling of the city. She gives her dad an ultimatum: she will come back to the family only if she is allowed to marry Samir. The father reluctantly accepts. He warns her that Samir is up to no good neither.

Annie & Samir marry under bombs

The day of her marriage ceremony, the civil war has turned the city in chaos, and the newly weds have pray that they will survive the bombs falling all around them.

Annie discovers Calypso music

At the bungalow, Annie's brother, Raed, is parking his car in the driveway, playing loud Caribbean music. He gets out of the car while his wife stays inside, listening to the music. The intruder manages to leave the house unnoticed. Raed finds Annie lying on the kitchen floor, still unconscious, but dreaming . He tries to wake her up. He calls 911.

Annie is a 9 year-old ballerina

In her dream, Annie is now 9 years old. She is a dressed as a ballerina and performs a dance on a stage. The theater is packed with parents and friends. After the show, a teacher tells her parents that she is the school's best dancer, and that she wants to take her to France, to a special school, where they teach academics and dance. But her father says that she won't leave Lebanon and will stop going to dance classes right away, breaking Annie's heart .

Annie wants to live for the music

The "movie" of the memories are finished. The huge space fills with millions of butterflies. She hears an increasingly loud steel-pan music, it is festive and rhythmic, it's Calypso music, the same as the music coming from Raed's car! To her, it seems to be coming from a tunnel of light. The music makes her smile and she flies into the tunnel, back towards physical life, followed by thousands of butterflies.

Annie comes back to life

At the bungalow, she wakes up with her brother Raed and 2 ambulance workers at her side. She loves the music that is playing. He tells her it's Soca music from Trinidad, where he’s going to attend the Carnival in two weeks. As she is put in the ambulance, she tells him she wants to go with him to Trinidad, to the Carnival, and dance as a big butterfly. Raed laughs and reminds her she fell on her head.

ANNIE'S GOAL

She will go to Trinidad and Tobago, dress as a giant butterfly and dance to heavenly steelpan music. Because of her out-of-body experience, she senses that here is no such thing as death. She feels enlightened. She understands that she hasn't been herself since she stopped dancing at 9.

Annie's husband, Samir, hates Calypso music

The days that follow her fall and escape to the non-physical reality open her eyes. When she listens to Calypso music, she is in a happy place, but her husband can't stand the music. He breaks her music records.

Samir turns Annie into a servant

Her husband is obsessed by being served by her. He throws fits when she buys tomatoes, or if he finds some dust on the dinner table. He tells her that if she leaves for Trinidad, he will change the locks. Her 2 kids, an 11 year-old boy and an 8 year-old daughter, are what keeps her in the marriage. She is afraid of losing them if she goes to Trinidad.

Annie falls in love

One night, she manages to "escape" her house with her brother Raed, his wife, and her younger sister Rosha. They end up at Chez Alexandre, a French bistro that has a downstairs disco, where they play Caribbean music. As she is heading back to the house, Annie notices Ian, a Montreal businessman born in Scotland. Annie walks up to him and introduces herself, in front of her flabbergasted sister and brother. Ian and Annie dance together to Caribbean music, even if Ian can only do a Scottish dance. They also share their marriage misfortunes. As they part, Annie tells him that she comes every Saturday to Alexandre's. Ian steals a kiss from her, and gives her the code to his voicemail, so that they can communicate safely. On their way back, Annie gets a bad look from her brother Raed.

Annie finds hope in the music

Annie finds relief from her sufocating husband in the car, while listening to her Caribbean music. She listens to Ian's passionate messages as well as his wife and business messages. They are looking forward to seeing each other at Alexandre's.

Annie feels stalked

She sells her wedding jewels in order to buy her plane tickets to Trinidad. She feels as if someone is following her. She remembers the impression of seeing an intruder in her house, and asks her sister Rosha if she is going crazy . She is rooting for Annie and tells her to leave her husband for good. But Annie shows she is not ready to do that.

Annie and Ian solidify their relationship

Ian gives Annie a message to meet him at a home appliance store, where he needs to buy a new refrigerator. They kiss passionately for the first time. They find a huge freezer, and they both get in... They come out almost undressed. Annie has never lived such intense passion. She will miss him in Trinidad, but she wants to ask her husband one last time if he cares to come with her to Trinidad. Ian is shaken by her willingness to go with her husband. He tells her he can't come, for business reasons. While this is happening, we see that someone is following Annie.

Annie asks Samir one last time

After Annie prepared a full meal with no garlic, no tomatoes in order to please her husband, she asks him if he wants to come with her to Trinidad's Carnival . Her parents can take care of the kids. Without saying a word, he lifts the dinner table and throws all the food on the floor. "You cut my appetite" he answers back to her.

Annie has a pleasant surprise at the airport

Annie arrives at the airport and meets with her little sister Rosha, her brother Raed, his wife France. To everybody surprise, someone else is waiting for her: Ian. Annie jumps of joy but contains her emotions as to not reveal her affair with Ian to her disapproving brother. Her sister tells Raed to cheer up.

On the airplane, the stalker is ...

As the joyous band walks towards the end of the airplane, we notice a familiar face hiding behind sunglasses and a hat: Tarek! The military man who was Annie's fiancé back in Lebanon, and who she refused to marry 2 days before their wedding because she found the blonde hair on him.

Annie discovers a butterfly

As the group walks through Trinidad's airport terminal, Annie discovers a series of spectacular carnival costumes. One is a huge butterfly outfit, with wings fifteen feet tall! Despite a guard warning not to touch it, she not only touches it, but she puts herself in it when he walks away. She notices the creator's name, "Peter Minshall". As the guard returns to their area, Annie gets stuck in the outfit. Tarek, the stalker, distracts the guard by asking him a question. The butterfly's wings fall down, the installation threatens to collapse! Ian, Raed and Rosha help her out of the outfit. Tarek manages to walk away, but Annie notices his hunched-over silhouette. She tells Ian, and she runs to reach him, but Raed vanishes without a trace.

Annie meets the Shark Exterminator

At the hotel's bar, on the beach, Annie and her gang order some drinks. When Annie makes a compliment to the bar tender who posts pictures of scantily-clad women behind his bar, France, her brother’s wife, criticizes Annie for being too overtly sexual. But a nearby customer, Django, a tough-looking handsome black man, buys her a bottle of rum to salute her stance on the goodness of beauty. He quickly mingles with the group, revealing to them that he is a shark exterminator, and that he rents his boat to tourists. Ian rents his boat right away. Annie asks him where she could meet with Peter Minshall, the butterfly's creator. Django tells her that Peter is a friend of his.

Annie and Ian make love on the beach, sorta...

Ian takes Annie for a walk on the beach, late in the night. They find a hammock near a house. They both lie in it and try to make love. After an awkward and intense foreplay, Annie tells Ian to wear a condom, since she doesn't take the pill. Ian doesn't have any, and they end up contemplating the stars, until a old cranky man comes with a shotgun to expel them from his property.

Annie surprises her group

As Raed, France, Ian and Rosha board the shark exterminator boat, Annie and Django stay on shore. As the boat leaves, Annie tells them that she will meet with Peter Minchall, thanks to Django, who will drive her there. She sends kisses to Ian. He ironically tells her to be careful with sharks.

Annie rides in Django's Jeep

Django drives Annie through the streets of the city. He tells her that Peter and him go way back. Annie relates him of her out-of-body experience, with the flashbacks, the music and the butterflies. Django tells her he had the same kind of experience when he was bitten by a shark and had lost a lot of blood. He was drowning but he was rescued by a mermaid… sort of speak.

Annie meets the costume creator and the choreographer

Annie and Django arrive at the costume workshop. Django introduces her to Peter Minshall, one of the world's top costume designer for Carnivals. She sees for herself the costumes : they represent the forces of good and evil, of bondage and freedom, relating to the history of slavery and liberation of the blacks in Trinidad. Annie weeps when she sees a dozen of butterflies outfits. Annie can't believe that they are the ones she saw while she was "dead".

Then Django introduces her to the dancers, who are rehearsing for the competition. That's where Annie realizes that the choreographer IS Django himself, when he tells everybody that she will be part of the band. Some members frown or complain that she is coming 2 days before the show. But he tells them that she has dancing experience and that all will be fine and dandy. Annie is taken by surprise and first resists, but quickly agrees to plunge in the adventure. She tries on a butterfly costume and just manages to stay on her feet, let alone dance with the music.

On the boat, Annie's brother doesn't appreciate Ian

Ian, Raed, France and Rosha are all drinking while trying to catch sharks. It's clear to Ian that he is not welcomed by Raed, who suspects him to be his sister's lover. She should be with her husband, he thinks, even though he knows how Samir can be angry sometimes. When Raed asks Ian if he is her lover, Ian tells the whole group that they are lovers, as Rosha catches a fish. Everybody rush to her rescue. As the fish is brought on board, she hopes it's a premonition to her catching a rich man. But it's not a shark, it's only a small fish, gasping for oxygen. They all feel pity and Rosha and Ian throw the fish back to the sea.

At the workshop, Annie finishes dancing

Annie is struggling to dance in sync with the other 30 dancers, while wearing a huge butterfly costume. The session finishes and a female dancer comes to Django to complain that he is ruining their chances of winning the Carnival contest because of his infatuation with her. Django defends his choice, and tells her that they still have tomorrow to practice the routine. Annie feels she is right and decides to quit. She realizes that she does not have the stamina for wearing a big costume and perform a hectic dance. Django reassures her, she does have what it takes, and even more. Annie tells him that she will go back to Canada on the next flight. She starts walking back to the hotel alone.

The shark exterminator boat returns

When the fishing boat returns, Ian and Raed are looking for Annie: Ian, who wants to make love to her, and Raed, who wants to scold her.

Tarek makes a move…

As Annie walks down the hill, a 4 by 4 stops next to her. The driver comes out. It’s Tarek! The stalker who caused her to fall and be knocked out at the beginning of the story! Tarek says he is with friends to attend the Carnival, his third year in a row. She is happy to see him and she accepts to have a ride from him. Django sees her climbing in the SUV from a distance . Tarek is evasive when asked about his past 10 years, he quit the military to start his own private bodyguard company. He stops at a gas station , and Annie recognizes his typical way of walking, slightly hunched over. Then suddenly, she remembers the silhouette of the man at the airport and at her house when she fell unconscious, he was also typically bent over! She realizes that Tarek was the intruder! When he comes back in the car, she confronts him, he denies, just like he denied sleeping with another woman 2 days before their wedding . "You haven't changed one bit in 10 years!" Annie leaves the car, and Tarek bangs his head on the steering wheel.

Raed confronts Annie

Annie arrives at the hotel and finds her brother Raed and his wife France, waiting for her in the lobby. Raed, drunk from his boat trip, wants Annie to go back to Montreal , back to her husband, to her kids. In the elevator, among a large family, drunken Raed tells her that it's not acceptable to cheat on her husband like that, she should have married Tarek, instead of being a total immoral dishonorable slut. Annie calls him a loser, is wasting his musical career in order to fulfill his wife desires... Raed warns her that he will call their father but Annie says she'll do it herself.

Annie calls her father

Annie finds Ian in their bedroom, and jumps on the phone. She calls up her father and tells him everything: she met the love of her life, and it's not her husband, and she will dance as a butterfly in a carnival. She hangs up.

Annie's father worries

Trying to make sense of what he just heard in the middle of the night, Omar calls Samir, who confirms that Annie is in Trinidad, but he didn't know that she was with a lover! The father, angry, calls him all sorts of names and tells him that they have to do something .

At last, the conditions are right for the love birds...

Ian wants her to stay with him from now on. They start to engage in preliminaries, and Annie asks to put the condom on. Ian admits he forgot, with the boat trip and being drunk, but not to worry, he knows when to withdraw, on time. He's never had condoms and his wife doesn't take the pill, and she hasn't gotten pregnant for years. They engage in love making, but... Unfortunately , Ian didn't withdraw on time. Ian smiles and tells her that he wants a child from her anyway . Annie feels violated and tries to hit Ian in the balls, and rip his head off with a chandelier. Ian keeps apologizing and leaves the room. Annie goes on the balcony, closes her eyes and jumps off. While falling, butterfly wings spring out of her and she starts flying over the ocean. She opens her eyes and notices the dozens of butterflies attracted by the light in her room. Ian knocks at the door, she opens her eyes and tells him to sleep on the couch. "I love you", he says, "I love you too" she answers back.

Annie's father and husband are on the plane

On an airplane , Samir, Annie's husband, and her father, are side by side. The father complains that he was never able to control his daughter, and that's why it was a mistake to marry him. He knew from the beginning that Samir could not make her happy, because he was not on his list. He tells Samir that Tarek was on his list. "Great choice !" Samir answers, " Tarek dropped the military to become a mercenary!"

Annie doesn't give up

While Ian is windsurfing, Annie is rehearsing the dance routine with her band. Django is very happy to see her back. The costume creator makes some changes to her huge butterfly outfit and she is able to move around more freely. She stays on sync with the other dancers, and Django tells her that she is amazing.

Look who's here!

Annie's father and husband confront Annie during the rehearsal, embarrassing her. Her father orders her to go back to Montreal with her husband . She refuses and tells them to leave her alone. Samir finds her butterfly outfit ridiculous . She yanks him with a wing, and the other. The other members of the band become angry hearing that reflection . Django restarts the music, pumps up the volume , and the band begins to dance their routine around them. Annie joins them, dancing full throttle. Nobody can hear what Annie's father and brother are saying, and they leave defeated, for the moment. After the routine, Django gives Annie a big hug.

Ian surprises Annie

Ian shows up with flowers at the workshop, as Annie removes her costume. Ian tries to apologize, but Annie worries that she’s pregnant. He tells her that he found his soul mate in her, and that he will take care of the baby alone if she wants to be free. Annie gets in Django's car, and leaves Ian and his flowers . In the car, Django laughs. "what ? " Annie is smiling with him. "I got an idea, for the choreography."

Annie is in deep ...

Django's car is stuck behind a SUV. Suddenly , Tarek appears and opens Annie's door, pointing a gun at Django. He apologizes and tells Annie to follow him. He needs to borrow her for a while because he's going crazy. Tarek shoots in Django's tires, and takes Annie in his SUV. He handcuffs her to the door, inside the car. He asks her if she has heard of the Stockholm syndrome. "The hostages fall in love with their kidnappers".

He drives on a small rugged rode outside the city . "One thing I've learned in the military is that action speaks louder than anything else, and with you, I've figured it out. A woman like you needs big actions. I will liberate you, Annie"

In the meantime, Django comes back running to his workshops and finds a heart broken Ian. Django tells them that Tarek kidnapped Annie. They call the police.

Annie finds a way to be free

Tarek's SUV is parked by a cliff. Annie is still handcuffed to the car. We hear steel-drum Calypso music coming from the outskirts of the city, as bands everywhere rehearse for the Carnival. Tarek’s goal is to be long enough with Annie so that she starts loving him. But instead of focusing on him, Annie shuts her eyes and starts imagining herself dancing with the entire group. It’s the ultimate freedom: deciding to be free in spirit. Tarek, annoyed by her lack of attention towards him, tries to get her attention. But Annie imagines the entire group of dancers dancing in front of the SUV, by the cliff. She becomes a real butterfly and rises above the earth. "POW!!!" Tarek just fired a shot and Annie comes out of her dream. But not impressed, she returns to her imaginary dance. There, she sees Tarek walking below and looking up at her. And he starts to dance as a classical ballet dancer, reminiscent of the hippopotamus dance in the movie Fantasia. He is not gracious, and ridiculous. She opens her eyes, and makes an offer to her captor: dance with me! Suspicious of her real intentions, Tarek nevertheless agrees.

Tarek handcuffs her to himself, and they start waltzing together. Annie gets on her pointed toes and asks him to make her turn. He tells her that he became her hostage the day she left him, and that the Stockholm syndrome was on him since then. She brings him dangerously close to the cliff, and he playfully tries to dance as a male ballet dancer. She can’t help it but laugh at him. "Shall we jump off the cliff?" he asks. "I’m not afraid, throw me if you want", she says. He stops dancing, looks down at the cliff. Just one step and it’s certain death. "I can fly", she tells him. He frees herself from the handcuffs. She kisses him. "I can tango", he replies, and, to her surprise, he tangoes with her all the way back to the SUV.

Annie arrives at the dance competition

Tarek drives Annie to the stadium, where the band is waiting its turn to perform in front of the crowd and judges. Django knew she would be back. She puts her butterfly outfit as Ian, her father, sister, brother and France arrive by her side, along with a few policemen, relieved to see her unhurt. She excuses herself, she needs to join the group on stage.

She starts dancing, and performs a frenetic dance where male and female butterflies flirt with each other, while scary bats attack them. At the end of the routine, Annie collapses to the ground. A crowd gathers around her; Ian and her relatives run to her. Django comes to her side, saying he is also a doctor. He looks at her eyes, and tells everybody that she is dead. He asks for an ambulance. He gives her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation procedure. She opens her eyes half way. "See, I told you I was a doctor!" Django tells everyone. We start suspecting that it’s a set-up between Django and Annie. She asks her distraught father to take care of her children for a while , because they love them; the father accepts. To her husband, she tells him she needs to be away, but she will come back, and Ian her lover, well, he can go out with her sister. Django accompanies her in the ambulance .

In the ambulance , Django tells her that a boat is waiting for them, as planned. She gets up from the gurney, and tells Django that she wants the ambulance stopped. She thanks him and decides she wants to dance in the streets, alone but with everybody, right in the middle of the carnival. Django opens the doors and Annie climbs down.

In what’s left of her butterfly outfit , she starts dancing on the street, and we lose her in the sea of dancers, all dancing to the heated beats of Caribbean music.

The End

Potential Tagline - Playing Annie

2005-10-29T15:32:00.000-04:00

After taking care of her husband, her lover, her kids and her father... Once a year, Annie takes a break at the carnaval .... except this year won't be the same! Her ex-fiancé is back with a desire and a vengeance! (Image of Tarek, the Military guy)

The First Investor's Check is in the Bank! Thank You!

2005-10-24T12:59:00.000-04:00

West Island Films is Born!

2005-10-17T22:24:00.000-04:00

More Good Financial News for "Playing Annie"

2005-10-16T11:52:00.000-04:00

We are thrilled to announce that we have found our first FINANCIAL ANGEL .

A Canadian businessman from Montreal has accepted to support the writing of the screenplay by investing an important sum.

After presenting him the story outline and the potential financial aspects of the project, he decided to become the first person to break the ice. As the project unfolds, he may consider increasing his investment in the project.

Annie and I will create a corporation which will own all the rights of the story. The company will be called West Island Films.

We are now looking forward to welcoming more investors into this project, and we are certain that we will make new exciting announcements in the near future.

Good News! A Note of Appreciation

2005-10-14T12:35:00.000-04:00

I just want to announce that good friends of mine who are very active in Hollywood confirmed their interest in reading the script when it is completed. Thousands of scripts are written all over the world, only a few are read by industry people. We are lucky to have their interest already, at this early stage of the project. I am in the process of trying to get their names put on this blog.

Thank You! Thank You very much!

Playing Annie's New Tagline

2005-10-12T21:41:00.000-04:00

It's at the Carnival that the masks fall

Annie Decides to Take the Highway: Sniper Highway

2005-10-06T12:49:00.000-04:00

Opening Credits...

In a Middle Eastern City

Annie is 18. She wants to leave her school, which is in the wrong side of town since the kidnappers and snipers have started terrorizing the city.

On the phone, her mom implores Annie to stay where she is, but Annie tells her that her English teacher was kidnapped inside the school during the night. She can't stay, she wants to come home.

Her mother orders her to stay there until the army sends troops. Annie tells her she'll stay then. But after hanging up, Annie runs down the stairs and goes outside.

Downhill, the highway leading to her house stretches for 20 kilometers, where many well positioned snipers take aim at drivers. Many cars sit on the pavement, like metal coffins.

Annie gets in her new Alfa Romeo, and starts the engine. She steps on the gas and takes off. Her school friends tell her to come back.

She gets to the access ramp and sees no one on the highway.

She passes one car that is stopped in the middle of the road. It is empty, but a dead man lays down on the ground a few yards down the highway. Another car has crashed on the middle rail. Two bodies are dead on the front seat.

Annie's valses around other cars, a truck, a motorcyclist is lying in front of his motocycle.

Suddenly, a bullet hits the windshield and and smashes it. Annie sreams and almost loses control of the car.

Another bullet hits the lower part of the door, and her car starts making a strange noises.

She hits the side of an abandonned car and loses control of the car. It spins round at a high speed.

The car stops in the middle of the highway. It's stalled. Annie's trembling hand turns the key.

The engine roars back to life but Annie can't put the car in first gear. The transmission was damaged by a bullet.

Another bullet whistles by.

Annie ducks down and puts the car in second gear. She releases the clutch and the steps on the gas.

The front tire blows up.

Suddenly, a Mercedes pulls next to her. A young man opens his door then the door on her passenger side. "Jump in!!" he screams.

A bullet hits his windshield too. Annie crawls onto the next seat, and jumps in the other car. The man jumps in and takes off.

Gaining speed, the young man turns to her and smiles. "Hi, remember me? Ronnie... during the manifestation?" Annie looks at him. "Yes Ronnie! What are you doing here?"

Short Flashback: Ronnie is the young man who was arrested with her during a manifestation 2 months earlier. He was being beatten by police because he didn't want to give them his name. Later they let him go when they learned that he was the son of the chief of the secret services.

Back on the Sniper Highway: Ronnie swirls at very high speed and brakes suddenly to avoid the snipper bullets. "See that's how you have to drive in this town". She smiles, and they manage to leave the highway of death, safely.

Suddenly, Annie appears lying in a bed, in full clothes, her eyes closed. She seems to be asleep. The phone starts to ring, and she doesn't wake up, doesn't move. Her face is emaciated.

New Elements to the Story - I love this.

2005-10-02T17:51:00.000-04:00

One day, alone in her bed, Annie - 32, so skinny you can see every bone of her body, and completely dehydrated – Annie dies of a heart attack. During the process of leaving her physical reality, she discovers what is beyond death. She is transported to a huge place, where she feels total goodness, absolute love, and sees moments of her past.

In a Middle Eastern city, beautifully sunny and peaceful, Annie, now at the tender age of 13, is offered by Mario - a kid from the boy’s school right next to her bus stop – to leave the city for the promised land of Hollywood! She tells him to leave her alone , but he insists so much that she pushes him in the street. The boy nearly gets run over by a car and she apologizes for almost killing him.

Annie is watching the memories as if she’s watching a movie but on a infinitely huge screen.
Annie is now 20, a beautiful mix of femininity and strength. Her mother tells her to get married, sooner than later. She is pressured to marry Henry, a young and touch military man. She finds just 2 days before the marriage that he has a few blond hairs on his head. He won’t admit that he sees another woman. She decides to cancel the marriage, leaving him publicly humiliated .

She is then presented another contender, the son of the chief of the country’s secret services. She refuses to marry him because she finds a man, more of her liking, a young rebelious student who is famous for throwing chairs at his professors.

The day of her marriage ceremony, a civil war begins and the newly weds have to run between the falling bombs around the church.

The "movie" of the memories seem to be over, and Annie looks everywhere. The huge space fills with butterflies. She loves butterflies. She turns around and sees the beautiful earth. She smiles and says "I want to go back".

A new image appears on the big infinite screen: it’s her, lying in bed, dead. Her husband is working as a Lexus car dealer. She sees him working hard in his office. He is a director. Annie sees herself being next to him during a big publicity stunt to launch a new model, with acrobats and contortionists. She is a spectator at the circus act for a brand new car, and suddenly, she see herself as an acrobat.
While spinning in the air she misses one step and crashes on the car.

With her 2 kids and husband eating alone at the diner table, she looks out her beautiful suburban house, not responding to the children’s calls for a short moment.

At a grocery store, she observes a few men doing their groceries. At a restaurant with friends, she falls head over heels for him. It’s like a lightning bolt . She manages to talk to him. He is a Scottish businessman, brilliant and vibrant, who just arrived in North America in order to re-energize his own struggling marriage.

At her house, Annie is at the dinner table with her family, but can’t eat anything.. Torn apart between her life as a dedicated wife and the passion she feels for Ian, she sinks nose first into a depression.

Annie leaves the huge room by flying with the millions of butterflies and a wakes up on her bed, feeling sick. She manages to crawl to the kitchen and eats whatever she can fin in the refrigerator, much like a starved animal.

Hence, she returns to her physical experience, transformed. She is not afraid of anything. Life is no more no less than a Divine Comedy. She is just determined to be true to herself.Knowing now that thoughts and matter are all forms of energy, she discovers an outlet for her new passion for life : Carnivals. One day, at a Trinidad Carnival, she gets acquainted with a black Trinidadian family who initiates her to intense dances that power up her energies to extreme hights, modifying her perception of reality in pure ecstacy, aided by the intense music of " Steel Drums ".

Annie decides that she wants to make the Carnival known to the world, she gives herself a mission, and she is determined to do whatever it takes to see it come true : make a documentary film about Trinidad’s Carnival, a celebration of life and freedom.The following year, Annie goes back to Trinidad with a camera, to film the Carnival, and show how her Trinidadian friends transform themselves for the event.

But on the first day, she believes she saw Ian, her Scottish Lover in Montreal. She goes searching for him, and she does indeed find him, in a perillious situation, running away from a mad man who attracted him into a trap. Annie discovers that the mad man is no one else than Henry, the military man who felf humiliated in front of the world when she refused to marry him 7 years earlier. He used Ian to get Annie.

Not afraid of anything, Annie takes upon herself to save Ian and herself from the raging Henry and his goons. She manages to disappear with him in the black neighboorhood, where friends help them escape. Hidden in a pick-up carrying steel drum and musicians, they cross town and manage to gain the ocean, where they find a boat. Feeling safe and relieved after the perillous chase on the island, Ian asks Annie to once and for all follow him to Holland, and start a new life.

But Henry gets on the boat, with his big guys, and tries to rape her. Ian is beaten to death. Annie remembers her near death experience and tells Henry, her raper, that she never will die, even he tries to kill her. A gust of wind suddenly violently pushes the sailboat to one side, and all the men fall in the water. She grabs Ian’s body and he manages to get back on the boat. The other men are left in the water as the sail boat speeds away.

In the morning, Ian wakes up, Annie is gone, so is the small boat.

She is back on the island, shooting the continuation of the Carnival, and having a great time with the people.

A Story by Alex Pierre and Annie Tazbaz - 2005 all rights reserved"Playing Annie" is a work of fiction. Any resemblance with individuals or a person is purely coincidental.

Salma Hayek - You Have the Right Stuff

2005-10-02T11:02:00.000-04:00

The following will prove beyound any doubt why Mrs. Hayek is going to play this role, why she will love this role. It will be one of her favorite parts, in her entire carreer. See what she is quoted for saying:

"I keep waiting to meet a man who has more balls than I do."
Because of her death experience, Annie is not afraid of dying anymore, she is therefore not afraid of living, FULLY.

"Everyone's afraid of doing something a bit risky. Everyone wants a $200 million hit and anything they think might get in the way of that kind of success is considered a liability."
This film is taking risks. A story of a Middle Eastern woman who travels the world and wants to be who she really is, free, without attachment. The world is ready for this story. Do you want to play Annie?

When Annie is on "the other side" and sees the "movie" of her life, she realizes she wants to become a film director. Are you ready for this?

"What worries me the most is that most men are so weak. Because of that they act like they don't care and like machos - because they are too fragile inside. They're scared of confrontation and afraid of so many things. And because of this they build up their life so they have to deal with their feelings as little as possible. I find feminine men unbelievably sexy. But most men are completely incapable of getting in touch with their feminine side. What am I supposed to talk about with a man who doesn't know what it's like to be a woman?"

To Salma's agent: Read the story outline, and call us.

Oh, I love the Beginning of "Playing Annie"

2005-10-02T10:56:00.000-04:00

How to Raise Private Money for Your Creative Project

2005-09-17T10:08:00.000-04:00

I intend to create a web site describing how you could raise private money for your creative project, be it a Circus, a Feature Film or a Puppet Show.

Playing Annie - a New Story Outline

2005-09-13T15:48:00.000-04:00

PLAYING ANNIE

The Synopsis

Written by Alex Pierre and Annie Tazbaz

When at the tender age of 13, she is offered by Mario - a kid from the boy’s school right next to her bus stop – to leave Beyrouth and Lebanon for the promised land of Hollywood, Annie understands that she better beware of men!Annie is now 20, and in Lebanon, she must get married, sooner than later. She is set to marry Henry, a military official who already cheats on her and decides to cancel the marriage 1 day before the ceremony, leaving him humiliated . She is then thrown into the arms of another contender, the son of the chief of the country’s secret services. She refuses and finds a man of her liking, a young rebelious student who she marries in chaos, the day the " 100 day-war " bomardments begin.

Six years later, settled down in her Montreal suburban life – with husband, 2 kids, cars, pool and central vacuum cleaner – she falls head over heels for Ian, a Scottish businessman, brilliant and vibrant, who just arrived in Montreal in order to re-energize his own struggling marriage.

Torn apart between her life as a dedicated wife and the passion she feels for Ian, she sinks nose first into a depression. One day, she is found dead. Out of her physical reality, Annie discovers what is beyond death – total goodness, absolute love, and life. She decides to go back to Annie and continue her present life experience.

Hence, she returns to her physical experience, transformed. She is not afraid of anything. Life is no more no less than a Divine Comedy. She is just determined to be true to herself.Knowing now that thoughts and matter are all forms of energy, she discovers an outlet for her new passion for life : Carnavals. One day, at a Trinidad Carnaval, she gets acquainted with a black Trinidadian family who initiates her to intense dances that power up her energies to extreme hights, modifying her perception of reality in pure ecstacy, aided by the intense music of " Steel Drums ".

Annie decides that she wants to make the Carnaval known to the world, she gives herself a mission, and she is determined to do whatever it takes to see it come true : make a documentary about Trinidad’s Carnaval, a celebration of life and freedom.

The following year, Annie goes back to Trinidad with a camera, to film the Carnaval, and show how her Trinidadian friends transform themselves for the event. But on the first day, she believes she saw Ian, her Scottish Lover in Montreal. She goes searching for him, and she does indeed find him, in a perillious situation, running away from a mad man who attracted him into a trap. Annie discovers that the mad man is no one else than Henry, the military man who felf humiliated in front of the world when she refused to marry him 7 years earlier. He used Ian to get Annie.

Not afraid of anything, Annie takes upon herself to save Ian and herself from the raging Henry and his goons. She manages to disappear with him in the black neighboorhood, where friends help them escape. Hidden in a pick-up carrying steel drum and musicians, they cross town and manage to gain the ocean, where they find a boat.

Feeling safe and relieved after the perillous chase on the island, Ian asks Annie to once and for all follow him to Holland, and start a new life. But Henry gets on the boat, with his big guys, and tries to rape her. Ian is beaten to death. Annie remembers her near death experience and tells Henry, her raper, that she never will die, even he tries to kill her. A gust of wind suddenly violently pushes the sailboat to one side, and all the men fall in the water. She grabs Ian’s body and he manages to get back on the boat. The other men are left in the water as the sail boat speeds away.

In the morning, Ian wakes up, Annie is gone, so is the small boat.She is boarding an airplane, bare feet, bound for Montreal, a winter coat over her carnaval outfit. Annie has learned to follow her heart, and not answer to what people expect from her. She is not afraid of playing Annie, anymore.

A Story by Alex Pierre and Annie Tazbaz - 2005 all rights reserved"Playing Annie" is a work of fiction. Any resemblance with individuals or a person is purely coincidental.

I Think It Would Be Fun...

2005-09-11T23:11:00.000-04:00

"I think it would be fun to run a newspaper!" - Charles Foster Kane

"I think it would be fun to make a movie!" - Alex Pierre

"Playing Annie" - Exploring the First Trailer as it unfolds in front of me!

2005-09-09T10:49:00.000-04:00

Annie to her lover Ian: ...But there are no terrorists...it's a trap!...
The military man. I always loved you, you don't know how I always loved you.

Images of streets filled with people dancing in Trinidad's Carnaval.
VO: When a Carnaval turns into a survival game...
The Military Man: Let's have fun together. He starts drawing a tattoo by force on her belly.
Annie and Ian use Steel Pans to shield themselves from bullets. Poeple scream and panic, but Annie laughs as they run away: -Woah, I love the sound of this! Ian follows her: I can't believe your having fun! -Life supposed to be fun!

10 years before, Annie is with the young military man in his car: How come you have a blond hair on top of your dark hair? She picks up the blond hair front is forehead. -Forget the marriage! She wants to exit the car but he grabs her arm. -If you do that!

The military man's voice as he combs his hair in front of a mirror: she refused to marry me, in front of the entire nation, I was humiliated, my luck turned from bad... Now I'm going to get my luck back thanks to you...

VO: She avoided snipers, she survived the bombs during her marriage (bombs exploding around her dressed in a white wedding gown)... Vo: she married the best guy she could find (future husband throws a chair at the teacher in classroom)... she tought she was to live happily ever after, but she wasn't prepared for this! (we fly over Montreal suburb, North American city with thousands of houses and perfect pools). Annie appears behind a large patio window, bored to death, looking depressed...

More elements to come. This is fun.

Here Are Some Visual Elements: Now Imagine What a Great Production Designer can do with the Carnaval!

2005-09-08T15:13:00.000-04:00

A High Adventure Story That Is Taking a Turn?

2005-09-07T13:01:00.000-04:00

We were approaching Annie's goal this morning, as we were discussing the antagonistic forces against her.

Annie's interior goal is to be herself, free. But, since this is going to be a film, what will be her concrete goal? To be a Queen of the carnival within a band in competition for the best band of the year? To be a woman, part of a steel drum band? To make a film about the carnival?

I liked this last idea, because of the irony and to some extent the amount of satire with action films we can play with. What if she was determined to make a documentary about the carnival and its liberating force for blacks, women, or whoever is feeling in bondage. And bam! You have this military guy from Lebanon who she refused to marry just a few days before their wedding, humiliating him in front of the nation, who tracks her all the way from Montreal to Trinidad, and decides that he is going to enslave her one way or another?

And her escape from his grip will be the stuff of great action/adventure films!

And in the end, she makes her film.

A Note of Appreciation... For the Monsters!

2005-09-07T11:55:00.000-04:00

I'm taking a moment here to look around me and, knowing the power of appreciation, I decide to focus on what makes me smile.

The first thing that comes to mind is the decision that I took to stop working for compensation, and work directly on what I enjoy the most. Making films, as opposed to working and being compensated for the time spent on something that I didn't fully enjoyed.

Now, eventhough I spend most of my energy on this project, I never feel that I'm "working"! I'm having a blast! Immense appreciation for my determination, knowing that I have the powers of the Universe behind me. I'm who I'm really am, so to speak, a long lost kid who has found his home, finally, Cinema and Creation.

I appreciate that I have rediscovered other filmmakers. This summer, I spent a great deal of time watching films (catching up on what I had missed these past years and older films - Fight Club, Magnolia, Frida, Glengarry Glen Ross, Old Boy, City of God, etc.), and getting a clearer vision of what I like, and what I don't. The process is continuing. But I can say that I like films that leave me with hope. I love films that depict the incredible resources of human beings and the Universe. I don't like gruesome, in your face depictions of violence. They go against my grain, and to tell you the truth, I would see those on the news when I was watching them. The truth is in the emotion of characters, not the image itself. Show the emotion (or the lack of it) on a face, that's 10 times more powerful. So appreciation for more clarity with my craft. Immense improvement in the past months (thank you Tom Bauer for being an agent of that change).

Appreciation for having met Annie. She is a sister to me. I wanted to tell stories through film, and look what I got, an infinite source of stories and characters in her person. Every time we meet, I have to pick up my pocket PC and start writing. Thank you Annie.

Appreciation for having written a 20 minute short film entitled "The Film of my Life".

I appreciate Tom Bauer tremendously for bringing forth Abraham, and Ester and Jerry Hicks. Thanks to their work, relentless, I can appease myself and start enjoying the process of being alive, focusing on emotions that give me more and more control of my life, and in the end, allow the Universe to assist me with all my desires.

I appreciate my former wife and my 3 kids, who give me the contrasts and challenges that make me progress towards who I really am.

I appreciate the notion that we are eternal beings. Yes, when you start thinking in those terms, the present moment becomes real, for real! Because things will never get done - there will always be something new, new desires, and more and more appreciation. Might as well enjoy the present moment.

Why are we needing great monsters in our stories? In a story, an antagonist, or antagonistic forces seem overwhelming in stopping the hero's quest. But his or her determination will make us, as viewers, discover who she or he really is. Good against Evil is simply that. They don't really objectively exist. Only from the standpoint of the hero's quest.

That old classical type of storytelling simply reproduces our own search for who we really are. The individuals who you let create mayhem in your life are there to make you look for who you really are, just as in stories. I think of Salieri in Amadeus. Somewhere, his quest for Mozart's destruction only lead to Mozart's shining genius.

Finally, I appreciate immensely this blog! It is a perfect tool for the unfolding of things. It's a story telling tool.

Thank you for being part of it.

The Last Act: Annie enjoys the Carnaval in Trinidad, until...

2005-09-06T18:34:00.000-04:00

These shots are just a taste of what we can do with the great visual elements provided by Carnavals such as Trinidad's. Should Annie have the concrete goal of being part of a steel drum band or to be part of a winning disguise?

What Genre Is "Playing Annie"? More thoughts...

2005-09-03T13:09:00.000-04:00

I was writing:

With my first feature film, "Playing Annie", we are in what ROBERT MCKEE calls "HIGH ADVENTURE", which is an Action/Adventure incorporating ideas such as destiny, hubris (with the military man's excessive pride) and spiritual awakening of who she really is (Educational Plot).

Just as in NORTH BY NORTHWEST, action, love and humor will play important roles because Annie will learn not to take herself too seriously, especially after the "NEAR DEATH" turning point. Have you ever imagined what would happen if you realized that you are eternal, that you never die? What can you be afraid of?

In the end, this film will "Feel Good" Why? Because, life is supposed to be Fun!

I'm adding this:

In a nutshell:
HIGH ADVENTURE/Educational Plot - for the action and the danger, the bombs, the snipers, chases, and self realization;
with undertones of COMEDY, because of Annie's increasing lightness of being;
of Woman's Drama (with her dilemmas with lovers and family); and painted over a backdrop of Historical Drama, with the direct effect of the "100th day" Lebanese War on her marriage, her life in North America and her presence within Trinidad's latent "civil war".

Nice cocktail, very nice cocktail indeed!

Mom, I found some water!

2005-09-03T11:18:00.000-04:00

In "Playing Annie", water, a tiny little source, will play a big role in Annie's life. In her young years, as a girl enjoying the mountain in Lebanon, and the lack of it later causing her death, and finally in Trinidad, water will offer a powerful moment, an image of well being.

I see a young girl's hand taking water from a natural source. She's only 4 or 5. At 30, her dehydration will cause her death experience. Surrounded by the ocean off the coast of Trinidad, she will appreciate nature's offering of well-being. Looking for who she really is, is to look for the source.

Looking for Mario Kassar while Incorporating

2005-09-02T11:13:00.000-04:00

A Note About Who Annie Is

2005-08-31T21:31:00.000-04:00

Have you ever met a woman for whom men are just drawn to?

She doesn't necessarily fit into the beauty canons of the day, she is not a "beaut� fatale", you see. But the moment she comes near you, she is the kind who will make you change your schedule in a second, if you think you stand a chance to see her once more.

That's what Annie is. Men just want her.

What Genre Is "Playing Annie"?

2005-08-31T17:19:00.000-04:00

With my first feature film, "Playing Annie", we are in what ROBERT MCKEE calls "HIGH ADVENTURE", which is an Action/Adventure incorporating ideas such as destiny, hubris (with the military man's excessive pride) and spiritual awakening of who she really is (Educational Plot).

Just as in NORTH BY NORTHWEST, action, love and humor will play important roles because Annie will learn not to take herself too seriously, especially after the "NEAR DEATH" turning point. Have you ever imagined what would happen if you realized that you are eternal, that you never die? What can you be afraid of?

In the end, this film will "Feel Good" Why? Because, life is supposed to be Fun!

What Is "Playing Annie" About?

2005-08-31T17:17:00.000-04:00

Playing Annie is about this woman from lebanon who has thought to play all these different roles for different people , and decides to play the role SHE wants for herself , and discovers who she really is.

Story: should we have a heavy in "Playing Annie"?

2005-08-30T17:09:00.000-04:00

Annie had an interesting idea the other day. Make the military-guy-would-be husband the Heavy. He is tough. Women are at his feet. He is used to having whatever he wants, rising in the military hierarchy.

He is humiliated by her because she pulled out of the marriage, 1 week before the wedding. If he always wanted her and felt humiliated, then he might have a good reason to try to get her while she is in Trinidad for the Carnaval.

Mayby he trails her in Montreal, where she lives with her husband, looking for the best way to get to her? He just tries to make her love him, but she gently refuses. He doesn't take a NO for an answer and ends up in Trinidad, confronting her, and trying to kill the love of her life - Ian, the Scottish Guy?

How does Dubai Fits In My First Feature Film?

2005-08-30T17:07:00.000-04:00

A free zone it is. The Planet's Klondike! I know that I will visit that Free Zone soon. Financing is on its way for my first feature film! I'll keep you posted.

An Angel Gave Me Salma Hayek's Agent Name

2005-08-30T17:05:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Helen, I got the agent's name, numbers and addresses. Now, it's a question of having him/her read the one page outline.

The Boyz are Back - What About My First Feature Film?

2005-08-24T15:26:00.000-04:00

Tom, and Stéphanie's Eyes for My First Feature Film

2005-08-23T17:33:00.000-04:00

Actresses Who Could Play Annie in My First Feature Film

2005-08-22T18:23:00.000-04:00

Salma Hayek
Jessica Alba
Shakira
Rachel Weisz
Monica Bellucci
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Penelope Cruz
Adriana Lima

Tell us your preferences, ideas for actresses.

An Anonymous Letter about the Feature Film Story

2005-08-22T18:06:00.000-04:00

I got an email from a woman, referring to Annie's story. It touched her and wanted to relate her story, anonymously.

"I like the story! Especially: Annie has learned to follow her heart, and not answer to what people expect from her. She is not afraid of playing Annie, anymore."

My true story: a man that I met 4 years ago and who I loved during my holliday in Turkey just sent me an email so that I could join him in Cuba. 4 years ago I was devastated when I learned that he was married. I'm flattered that he thought of me, but this time I had the courage to ask him if his wife liked the sun in Cuba. He answered me back: yes indeed, we already travelled Greece, Barbados, Los Angeles, 3 weeks with the same person, all the time...

I learn like Annie not to answer to what people expect from me.
I said NO THANK YOU to the invitation.
Ciao !

My addition to this letter: Annie would go see him, only if she felt like it, triumphantly selfishelly herself.

In Barbados for My First Feature Film

2005-08-22T17:54:00.000-04:00

View this Video

I was in Barbados this July. I played with my camera and simulated a pursuit - as if we were looking for someone. This could be a preview of Annie looking for Ian, when she thought she saw him (it might take a couple of minutes to download, pleae be patient ;-)

Playing Annie - The Story Outline of My First Feature Film

2005-08-18T18:42:00.000-04:00

When at the tender age of 13, she is offered by Mario - a kid from the boy’s school right next to her bus stop – to leave Beyrouth and Lebanon for the promised land of Hollywood, Annie understands that she better beware of boys!

Annie is now 20, and in Lebanon, she must get married, sooner than later. She is set to marry a military official who already cheats on her, then is thrown into the arms of the son of the chief of the country’s secret services. She refuses and finds a man of her liking, a young rebelious student who she marries in chaos, the day the " 100 day-war " bomardments begin.

Six years later, settled down in her Montreal suburban life – with husband, 2 kids, cars, pool and central vacuum cleaner – she falls head over heels for Ian, a Scottish businessman, brilliant and vibrant, who just arrived in Montreal in order to re-energize his own struggling marriage.

Torn apart between her life as a dedicated wife and the passion she feels for Ian, she sinks nose first into a depression. One day, she is found dead. Out of her physical reality, Annie discovers what is beyond death – total goodness, absolute love, and life.

Brought back to life , she returns to her physical experience, transformed. She is not afraid of anything. Life is no more no less than a Divine Comedy. She is just determined to be true to herself.

Knowing now that thoughts and matter are all forms of energy, she discovers an outlet for her new passion for life : Carnavals. One day, at a Trinidad Carnaval, one of the most ancient ones, she gets acquainted with a black Trinidadian family, who initiates her to intense dances that power up her energies to extreme hights, modifying her perception of reality in pure ecstacy, aided by the intense music of " Steel Drums ".

For several years, Annie goes back to Trinidad during the Carnalval, and lives great moments of joy and freedom, with her friends from the Island. One day, she believes she saw Ian. She goes searching for him, and she does find him, in a perillious situation, running away from Trinidad’s famous Kingpin, for a strange multinational espionnage story.

Not afraid of anything, Annie takes upon herself to save Ian from his pursuants. They learn that he was thrown into this dirty business as a way to get rid of him, in a double cross plot. Annie manages to disappear with him in the black neighboorhood, where friends help them escape. Hidden in a pick-up carrying steel drum and musicians, they cross town and manage to gain the ocean, where they find a boat.

During the night, Ian asks Annie to once and for all follow him to Holland, and start a new life. When he wakes up, Annie has disappeared.

She is boarding an airplane, bare feet, bound for Montreal, a winter coat over her carnaval outfit. Annie has learned to follow her heart, and not answer to what people expect from her. She is not afraid of playing Annie, anymore.

A Story by Alex Pierre and Annie Tazbaz - 2005 all rights reserved
"Playing Annie" is a work of fiction. Any resemblance with individuals or a person is purely coincidental.

Image stretched...

2005-08-18T09:45:00.000-04:00

Some videos were initially shot in 16:9-widescreen format, but YouTube, my host for videos, does not support the format, that's why some video images seem stretched a bit. I think it adds to the charm!

The Big Deal: Kids and my First Feature Film Project

2005-08-18T09:35:00.000-04:00

PLAYING ANNIE - JOUER ANNIE - This is the outline of the story, in its French version

2005-08-18T02:11:00.000-04:00

Lorsqu’à 13 ans, elle se fait offrir par le beau Mario, un garçon de l’école d’en face, de quitter Beyrouth et le Liban pour partir faire sa vie avec lui à Hollywood, Annie se dit qu’elle devra se méfier des garçons!

Elle a 20 ans, et la tradition au Liban dicte qu’elle doit se marier, et que le temps presse. On la pousse vers un mariage arrangé avec un militaire, puis avec le fils du chef des services secrets, mais réussit à éviter ces deux catastrophes . Elle jette son dévolue sur un jeune rebelle et se marie sous les bombes, le jour même des premiers bombardements de la « Guerre des 100 jours » de Beyrouth.

Six ans plus tard, bien installée dans sa vie de banlieue à Montréal – le mari, deux enfants, les voitures, la piscine… elle reçoit un choc amoureux en apercevant Ian, un homme d'affaire écossais, brillant, nouvellement arrivé a Montréal pour redonner un nouveau souffle à son propre mariage.

Déchirée entre sa vie d’épouse et de mère, et la passion qu'elle éprouve pour Ian, Annie sombre dans une profonde dépression. Un jour on la découvre morte. Hors de sa réalité physique, elle voit ce qu’il y a au-delà de la mort. Le bien-être total, l’amour absolu, et l’absence de mort.

Réanimée, elle est ressuscitée et retourne à la vie terrestre, transformée. Elle n’a plus peur de rien! Elle ne craint plus d’être purement et simplement elle-même.

Sachant que la vie et la matière sont toutes des formes d’énergie, elle découvre une sortie de secours émotive qui recharge ses « batteries » : les CARNAVALS. Elle fait la connaissance d’une famille noire trinidadienne qui l’initiera à des rites mystiques de danse-transe, et à la l’envoûtement des « Steal Drums ».

Pendans plusieurs années, Annie retourne à Trinidad, et vit des moments d’abandon et de liberté folle. Un jour, elle croit apercevoir Ian. Comme prise dans un vortex de désir et d’amour, elle part à sa recherche dans la nuit agitée de l’île, et retrouve Ian, en fuite, traqué et mis à mort par la pègre trinidadienne.

N’ayant plus peur de la mort, Annie aide Ian à éviter la gang de tueurs qui le poursuivent, pour un vol de documents ayant trait à la vente d’explosifs. Annie l’emmène dans le quartier noir où ses amis les aideront à se cacher. Cachés dans un camion transportant des musiciens de « Steal Drums », ils traversent la ville, et réussissent à gagner la mer, et trouvent un bateau.

Pendant une nuit d'abandon, Ian offre à Annie de le suivre en Écosse. À son réveil , elle n’est plus à ses côtés.

Elle monte à bord d’un avion, pieds nus, destination Montréal, un manteau d’hiver par-dessus son costume de carnaval. Annie a appris à faire confiance à son impulsion du moment, et non plus de répondre aux attentes des autres. Elle n’a plus peur de jouer le rôle qu’elle aime jouer, celui d’Annie. Pour le reste, l’Univers s’en charge.

How Am I Going To Do My First Feature Film?

2005-08-17T23:50:00.000-04:00