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“Livin’ On A Prayer” is a short subject film, and is shot in “mockumentary” style. It focuses on an 80’s cover band who believes, since 80’s retro will be the next big thing in modern popular culture, that they can parlay this fad into major success for themselves. Unfortunately, nothing ever seems to go right for them. It features a cast of wonderful improv actors playing “the band” and all of the trials and hilarious tribulations they encounter as they try to “make it” provide for non-stop laughs. As the plot unfolds, our heroes believe they’ve hit the big time when they’re asked to headline an “All ‘80’s Cruise”. Unfortunately, the band’s personal manager has made a serious blunder, and it's not discovered by the band until mere minutes before stage time!!! With a hysterical surprise ending that will have everyone rolling in the aisles, "Livin' On a Prayer" is sure to entertain young (new 80's fans) and old (people who were THERE!) alike! "LOAP" boasts amazing celebrity cameos by 80's icons Bruce Kulick (KISS), Lydia Cornell ("Too Close For Comfort") and Carmine Appice (legendary rock drummer)! A cross between "Spinal Tap," "The Real World," and "American Idol," "Livin' On a Prayer" will be hitting the film festival circuit this summer and fall! And watch for a downloadable version coming here soon for your video i-Pod! “Livin’ On A Prayer” (named after the #1 hit song by Bon Jovi from 1986) is produced and directed by Ken Dennis, former producer of Fox TV’s red-hot “Family Guy,” and was created and written by Wally Wingert. |
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CHARACTERS Butch Maguire Lead Singer A charming, driven dreamer, Butch Maguire is under the delusion that he can still make it big in the music industry. Refusing to cut his hair, Butch personifies 80's glam-rock with the force of a red Lucite guitar smashed on an amp. An unrepentant serial-dater, he can arrange a one-night stand faster than you can say “New Coke” - but Butch really lives for the gigs. The only things bigger than his hair are his dreams. He has named his mustache "Carmine" after his idol, legendary rock drummer Carmine Appice, who also sports a handlebar. CLICK HERE for more info about Butch! | |||||||||||
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| Kimba Weatherwax Keyboardist Kimba is a sexy wolf in sheep's clothing. She plays the part of the obligatory 80's rock bimbo onstage, but is sharp as press-on nails in real life. An only child to famous rocker parents, she had seen it all by the age of ten. Kimba started performing on stage with her iconic father as a kid. She spent most of her childhood on a tour bus surrounded by the biggest stars of the day: Cindy Lauper, Rick Springfield, Alf. It is her dad's house that the band lives in, unbeknownst to him. Her wit is biting and insightful. | |||||||||||
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| Antoine Berry Bass player Antoine is an effeminate black man who plays the band’s resident punker. His ambiguous sexuality keeps his friends more bewildered than Boy George making a restroom choice at an airport. Antoine is a nice guy underneath it all and is frequently the voice of reason in the group. Though he is completely bald, he glues on a “frohawk” for performances and can offer the best cockney snarl this side of Johnny Rotten. | |||||||||||
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| Len Donovan Lead Guitar Len begrudgingly plays the token new wave character although he loathes 80s music and everything that era’s pop culture represented. As the most musically educated and classically trained band member, he endures everything through his superiority complex. Married too many times to count and the alimony, child support, and back taxes to show for it, Len swallows his pride for every gig. |
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| C.C. Rodriguez Drummer This sexy, completely vacuous Latina bombshell is thrilled to be in the band as the leather-clad tough chick. Oblivious to her magnetism, she floats through life like a strip of sexual flypaper – cluelessly attracting an endless string of drooling men. Delightfully free of the ravages of intelligence, she speaks her singular mind impulsively without any pesky screening. Her naiveté and star-struck enthusiasm is set in stark contrast to Kimba’s world-weary ennui. | |||||||||||
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Charity Goldman Mullet, Inc. Manager As the manager of our band, Charity is forever cutting a deal. She constantly refers to "The Big Guy" (meaning the owner of Mullet, Inc. to whom she allegedly reports) but the truth is it's just a subterfuge. The band is unaware that she’s not only the wealthy creator/owner of the entire Mullet, Inc. franchise, but a very successful entertainment company as well. | ||||||||||
| No one would ever guess that this neurotic, babbling yenta in a rumpled skirt, is also an altruistic, philan-thropic member of society's elite. But the seedy side of managing an 80's rock band is so much more exciting than meeting the ladies for a game of canasta. ONE BIG DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY
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"LIVIN' ON A PRAYER" AS A TV
SERIES???
SAMPLE EPISODE IDEAS
The Tide is High: The
band is elated when Charity books the band on an all 80s cruise.
Unfortunately, the cruise isn't quite what it seems, and the surprise
ending is hilarious!
Money For Nothing: Len needs money so he secretly sells Butch’s 80s collectibles on E-Bay. Butch gets caught in a bidding war, unwittingly buying his own stuff. Can’t Fight the Feeling: Kimba buys pheromones to surreptitiously attract Butch, but they work on C.C. instead. Don't Dream It's Over: Butch borrows what he thinks are Kimba’s hair products, which cause his hair to fall out. As his mane dwindles, so does his singing ability. Who Can It Be Now?: The band encourages Antoine to try his hand at online dating so they can figure out his preference. Video
Killed the Radio Star: Butch finds an amateur sex video where one of the
subjects looks like him; and tries to discover the truth without his bandmates Rhythm of the Night: Len writes a melody and then hears it everywhere he goes - from window squeegees to police sirens - and thinks he's going crazy. Ship of Fools: A cruise ship carrying a 70s band has engine trouble and must evacuate onto the boat carrying Mullet, Inc., resulting in a pop-culture war for the affections of the ship’s passengers. Devil Inside: As a joke, the bandmates replace the tape in Butch's collectible Teddy Ruxpin to make him think it's possessed. But when Butch believes it does have supernatural powers, the band exploits this to get him to do their bidding. Every Dawg Has its A (flat): Antoine finds a strayLhasa Apsa and discovers it attacks when anyone strikes an A flat note. The band figures out how to exploit this response in their negotiations with Charity. Crazy For You: Kimba's psycho ex-boyfriend returns to pick up where they left off, but she's not interested. Unbeknownst to each other, Butch, Antoine and Len each develop independent schemes to pose as her husband. Cruel To Be Kind: A guy falls for C.C. at a gig, but their resulting date has him disappointed that, in real life, she's not the same tough, no-nonsense femme fatale she was on stage. He asks that she remain in character during their date. |
These are actual screenshots from the
forthcoming short film "Livin' On A Prayer!" More shots will be posted as
they are obtained. Here's a taste of what's in store...
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John
and Yoko. Whitney and Bobby. George Michael andthat other guy. There have
been many legendary rock couples. Butch and Kimba? Not so fast… Sexual chemistry
aside, there are easier things than working through a failed fling toward friendship.
Especially when you play in the same band. And live in the same house. And share
the same bathroom. And are not sure who has prettier hair. Mick Jagger once said
that he had a nightmare where he went to hell: he was in a band with the greatest
musicians who ever lived – and they were all doomed to play only Carpenters
songs. Welcome to Len Donovan’s life. It doesn’t faze the rest of the
band that he thinks he’s too good for 80s music; his sourness has its own
charm. If Antoine did nothing but keep the rest of the band guessing what’s
next, it would be a full time job. Prying is not as easy as it looks. But who
is more worth snooping on than a really, really good friend? In their onstage
personas, C.C. is leather to Kimba's lace. Their off-stage realities couldn't
be more reversed.
Former KISS
guitarist Bruce Kulick makes a cameo!
