Post by tjaman on Sept 1, 2005 16:20:31 GMT -5
Clara Niedavaelos, 87, teaches violin lessons from her small rent-controlled apartment in New York.
One of her students, Carrie Ellen Fordham, 13, has a troubled home life and hates the violin, mostly because her mom is only sending her for lessons because she (her mom) is a drunk and is cheating on her husband, who himself works two jobs and is never home.
In her one hour a week with Clara, Carrie develops musical skills she never knew she even had, but the more interesting aspect of the story, in fact, is Clara, a sweet old widow who, as a young bride at the beginning of World War II, rescued her foreigner husband from a concentration camp (he'd been interred as an example to the rest of his crew) and escaped with him to France where they joined the Resistance.
As Carrie asks about some of the pieces cluttering Clara's apartment, a story of Clara's younger life emerges through adventurous flashbacks which begin and end with the camera pulling in on this or that item/photo/article.
The story that is never actually shared with Carrie until the very end of the series is the tiny scar on her lip, which I have no doubt she got making one last desperate and ultimately failed effort to save her husband from something or other (or indeed, was it failed?)
The story here is generational -- the value of the history and wisdom carried by our elders -- the reality that they did, some of them, indeed once have vibrant and exciting lives. It seeks an extrafamilial mentoring bond outside of a terrible home situation, and it provides a backdrop for a coming-of-age exploration for the young Carrie who comes to depend upon her weekly escape to Clara's home.
The storytelling would arc through the flashbacks -- Clara as a young woman with her adventurous life and all of the stress and drama she struggled through, contrasted with the quiet life she leads now. Other storylines include issues in Carrie's school and home life and how, as Clara becomes her mentor, she faces them with more confidence and energy.
Now. The important question:
Has this been done to death? Or should I honestly invest a few months working up something to submit to "Lifetime"?
Any reactions -- positive and especially negative/constructive criticism -- would be appreciated.
Thanks!
One of her students, Carrie Ellen Fordham, 13, has a troubled home life and hates the violin, mostly because her mom is only sending her for lessons because she (her mom) is a drunk and is cheating on her husband, who himself works two jobs and is never home.
In her one hour a week with Clara, Carrie develops musical skills she never knew she even had, but the more interesting aspect of the story, in fact, is Clara, a sweet old widow who, as a young bride at the beginning of World War II, rescued her foreigner husband from a concentration camp (he'd been interred as an example to the rest of his crew) and escaped with him to France where they joined the Resistance.
As Carrie asks about some of the pieces cluttering Clara's apartment, a story of Clara's younger life emerges through adventurous flashbacks which begin and end with the camera pulling in on this or that item/photo/article.
The story that is never actually shared with Carrie until the very end of the series is the tiny scar on her lip, which I have no doubt she got making one last desperate and ultimately failed effort to save her husband from something or other (or indeed, was it failed?)
The story here is generational -- the value of the history and wisdom carried by our elders -- the reality that they did, some of them, indeed once have vibrant and exciting lives. It seeks an extrafamilial mentoring bond outside of a terrible home situation, and it provides a backdrop for a coming-of-age exploration for the young Carrie who comes to depend upon her weekly escape to Clara's home.
The storytelling would arc through the flashbacks -- Clara as a young woman with her adventurous life and all of the stress and drama she struggled through, contrasted with the quiet life she leads now. Other storylines include issues in Carrie's school and home life and how, as Clara becomes her mentor, she faces them with more confidence and energy.
Now. The important question:
Has this been done to death? Or should I honestly invest a few months working up something to submit to "Lifetime"?
Any reactions -- positive and especially negative/constructive criticism -- would be appreciated.
Thanks!
