The Woodsmen

Creator: James Pilott
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Age rating: 17 and older
Feeling his life slipping away, a young husband invites his wild college roommate on a camping trip to regain their former glory. However, his plans are complicated by angry rednecks, testosterone-crazed bucks and their own inner demons.
Project collaboration: Open
Full synopsis
Synopsis: ‘The Woodsmen’ is a bittersweet black comedy starring Gregory, a young groom with an increasingly sedentary home life. He is catapulted into the throes of a quarter-life crisis when his former college roommate, the rambunctious and unpredictable Seth, announces that he is having a baby. Feeling his life slipping away, Gregory convinces Seth to accompany him on a no-holds-barred camping trip, with a view to regaining some of their former glory.

However, things do not go to plan as Seth derails their itinerary with his increasingly erratic behavior. Despite Gregory's desperate exertions, they become hopelessly lost. Meanwhile, their respective wives spend time together, discussing their husbands and their shortcomings.

After two terrifying nights in the open, the boys begin to question their own happiness in their lives - Gregory reveals his jealousy of Seth's freewheeling lifestyle, while Seth admits his terrible behavior is all a futile attempt to escape what he sees as a confining and miserable marriage. They both come to the resolution that, should they ever escape the naked elements of the forest, they will make big changes in their lives.

Finally, they come across a lake, across which they see a distant figure. Desperately swimming across, they find a child - and a large summer camp. It turns out that they were on the grounds of Camp Silverback Springs the entire time, never more than a few yards from rescue in any direction.

On their arrival home, Gregory picks his wife up and swings her around, promising to never take her for granted again, while Seth and his wife head for a long-overdue but entirely amicable divorce. This new-age happy family goes off into the sunset together.

We end as we began, with Gregory sitting at his kitchen table - only this time; his distraction is not due to boredom. He is waiting for the results of his wife's pregnancy test.

Latest Work

  • Script 1 - James's Original Draft
    12/14/10
    Main1292383474._sx304_sy171_
    Creative Notes:
    Low-budget black comedy-drama - two principals, limited locations (mostly outdoors). Character-driven and high-concept.

    Perfect for independent studio or as a vehicle for named star(s).
    RTF