The

MOFFATTS

Project

A Proposal by

Tim Sullivan

June 1999

1) Tone & Objectives

CLINT MOFFATT: "How can we keep up with ourselves?"

As stated in their press kit, the goal of the band is not for a short term quick hit, but for a long term career. Thus a Moffatts movie project could be the bridge between where the guys are now, and where they want to go; yet another stepping stone towards maturity and being taken seriously as artists and musicians.

BOB MOFFATT: "We want to evolve"

A Moffatts movie should advance and sophisticate the image of the band or else the critics will eviscerate all involved. This cannot be a 90 minute EPK or the public and critics will see through it and reject the film and the band with a vengeance. The film should be able to stand on its own, just like A HARD DAY 'S NIGHT. We, the filmmakers, cannot come off as hucksters for Capitol.

In that regard, we see a Moffatts movie as A HARD DAY 'S NIGHT for a new generation. A fun, fresh, irreverent musical adventure in which the storyline serves as the stage upon which the band offers comedic glimpses into the crazy, surreal world of young rock superstars, all the while serving as a clever satire on the current pop culture landscape.

DAVE MOFFATT: "You need to expand to get to the next level"

A sense of irony is a wonderful attribute. The guys should not be afraid of having a little fun with their image and the whole 'boy band'/'youth culture' concept. This will further endear them to their fans, and win the respect and support of any skeptics or detractors.

SCOTT MOFFATT: "We dream every night. There are so many things we want to accomplish, both inside the music industry and outside"

2) Concepts and Pitch

Chapter 1: A New Beginning introduced the band to the public. The second album is where it will really happen. Thus, if a movie is to tie in to the 2nd album, then it would make sense that the movie informs its content. That movie being..................

CHAPTER 2: FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

The Style: In the vein of 60's rock and roll comedies (think A HARD DAYS NIGHT and HELP! with a little bit of THE MONKEES thrown in!), FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH will be a kaleidoscope of music, imagery and storyline. Combining scripted scenes with pseudo documentary footage, the film will have a youthful, rebellious nature that breaks the conventions of "standard movie making".

The Pitch: In an attempt to fend off the physical maturity they fear will end their career, The Moffatts go in search of an ageless rock icon they believe holds the secret to the Fountain of Youth.

The Gist: Obviously The Moffatts' talent and success is not predicated by their youth. For comedic effect, however, we allow this dramatic liberty, just as we allow other liberties in depicting the Moffatts' life on the road. This is a fantasy, a satire on the youth and pop culture as well as the world of rock and roll. This is not meant to be taken literal.

The Story Line: On the eve of their first big world tour, The Moffatts make a starling discovery- they are not getting any younger! This revelation occurs when Clint, Dave and Bob catch older bro Scott shaving twice in the same month! Frantic their adoring public (not to mention their record label) might discard them once age sets in, the boys begin searching for ways to fend off the inevitable.

It's a definitely a challenge, especially considering the demands put upon the guys while on the road: Photo shoots to keep up with the fashion trends that seem to change daily..... irksome interviews with journalists unable to see past the 'boy band' image..... crazy fans who show up at the most inopportune times...... Everybody wants a piece of The Moffatts, a fact that pushes the guys even harder to find a solution to their problem!

Hope finally arrives in the form of rock icon Jackson Michaels, a super star from the 60's and a major influence on the band's music. After decades of seclusion, Jackson is making a comeback--- looking exactly as he did 30 years ago!! Convinced Jackson must hold the secret to the Fountain of Youth, the boys determine to meet up with their hero in any way possible.

This proves easier said than done. It's tough to get out from under the watchful eyes of management and chaperones! Humbled at every turn but on stage when they're rocking out in concert (even superstars have bed times and history lessons when they're 15 and 16 years old!), frustration ultimately paves the way for more drastic measures.

Hatching an elaborate plan, the triplets play upon their physical similarities allowing for Bob to sneak out and search for Jackson, who is making an appearance at a theme park not far from the band's current gig. Clint's masquerade as Bob inevitably backfires, as does Bob's backstage antics at Jackson 's show.

The guys are put on double secret probation. Life looks pretty grim. Even the day dreams that once fueled their fantasies (and provided the opportunity for musical interludes!) fail to cheer them up as they approach the last night of their tour.

Sullen, the guys hit the stage. Could it be for the last time? Wait a minute! Looking out into the crowd the guys spot Jackson rocking out to their music. Pumped, the boys put on the best show of their lives. Afterwards, they rush backstage where lo and behold Jackson awaits to meet them.

Fumbling for the words, the boys ask Jackson his secret. What has kept him so freakin' young? Jackson can't believe the guys don't know. It's simple, really, and it's something they've had inside them all along--- Music!

And so with the secret of youth inside them, The Moffatts head towards their future, wiser, and yes, older; but unstoppable as long as they continue to rock and roll!

Miscellaneous Scenes and Ideas:

One of the themes that should be addressed is the notion that despite all the craziness, all the fame and glory, these guys are at heart normal kids; teenagers trying to find their way in the world just like any other teenager.

The perspective should always be from the band's point of view. It is the rest of the world that is whipped- not them!

The boys' dialogue should be real, based on the way they actually talk to each other. They bicker and bag on each other- but care when it counts.

The guys talk about the band Menudo and how the members got kicked out once they turned 17. This could lead into some funny bits where Clint, Dave and Bob contemplate getting rid of Scott and finding him a younger replacement.

As much as possible, it would be great to include situations that actually happened to the guys on the road, such as the story told in Teen People of a fan who caught them in their hotel room clad only in boxers- and started crying hysterically!

At certain points, the guys split up, allowing for each member to have his own 'adventure', his own individual moment in the spotlight.

We should have some fun with the whole teen idol concept; for example- A scene in which Scott is sitting on the beach with a girl, post concert. The scene is played ultra-serious, overly dramatic, parodying those great romantic moments of classic movies like " Casablanca ". Scott holds the girls hand, sullen and sincere, gesturing to the fame around him:

Scott: "Would you still love me if this all went away? "

The girl pouts, then ponders a bit before answering.

Girl: "Of course not, silly".

And with that she leaves poor Scott alone on the beach!

One musical vignette could involve a meeting in which the Suits are trying to decide the guys' new 'Image of the Week"..... "Okay, you did the country thing, now let's try this..." This leads into a song about the roots of rock and roll in which the guys envision themselves as various rock icons; For example, we see them in matching suits as The Beatles bowing on the Ed Sullivan show.... Surfing a la The Beach Boys.... Playing The Whisky in black leather just like Jim Morrison and The Doors..... grease painted up like KISS....New wave 80's romantics like Duran Duran.... tattooed all over like Motley Crue..... wearing only socks like The Chili Peppers... wearing blonde wigs like (don't even go there...) Hanson!

A scene in which the guys go shopping for clothes with a fashion consultant who informs them the clothes they are wearing are pathetically out of date, even though they just bought them the previous week!

A scene where a journalist gives the guys crap about the dreaded 'boy band " label that plays like Abbott and Costello's 'Who's on First' routine:

Dave: "We're not a boy band!"

Journalist: "You will admit that you are boys."

Bob: "Well, yeah...."

Journalist: "And you are a band"

Clint: "Ah, yeah........"

Journalist: "Then you're a boy band!"

Scott: "We're not a boy band!

A scene where the guys rush off stage after a show-- right into a mobile classroom where they must pass math and deal with their taskmaster teacher before being able to continue the tour!

A running gag in which an obsessed fan keeps showing up at the most inopportune times to cut off locks of the guys' hair.... rip off pieces of clothing... .... steal a tissue that contains one of the guys' nose honk, a 'treasure' that later shows up at a Moffatts Fan Club convention.

Scenes that have fun with various Moffatts promos: The Moffatts have to attend a BBQ at a contest winner's home- which turns out to be the family from hell! Or they play a High School which accidentally turns out to be a juvenile detention center whose inmates don't exactly fit The Moffatts fan demographic! Note: These types of 'pit stops' while they are on the road can allow the guys the opportunities to try and steal away and search for the Fountain of Youth, so to speak.... They also give the guys the chance for some love interests.... Perhaps all four guys fall for the same chick. You can have fun with the Triplets thing......Mistaken identity and all that!

As the guys are playing themselves-- but in a satirical way--- it might be good to have them literally look into the camera at times and address those in the audience: "Just for the record, for those of you out there unable to differentiate between our screen persona and who we really are, this is just a movie, we know there isn't a Fountain of Youth, we don't really have these kind of adventures..." Of course, scenes like this will be designed to only add to the satire and parody!