Script File

Canary in a Coal Mine

When a young canary discovers the true purpose of canaries in a 1930s coal mine, he teams up with a boy miner to improve life for birds and boys alike.

  • Steven D'Arcangelo
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Genres:
    comedy, family, animation
  • Number of Pages:
    105
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Nicholl Fellowship

    Semi-finalist
  • Nicholl Fellowship

    Quarter-finalist
  • Austin Film Festival

    Second Rounder
Writer Biography - Steven D'Arcangelo

Steve is a screenwriter born and raised in Massachusetts, a wicked cool place. His screenplays have become Nicholl Fellowship Semi-Finalists and Austin Film Festival Second Rounders. They’ve been showcased on John August’s ScriptNotes podcast and Pilar Alessandra’s On The Page podcast, which featured Steve as a guest. Additionally, he’s pitched projects to Disney, DreamWorks and Sony Pictures Animation.

Steve is also a graphic designer, illustrator and filmmaker. He directed a live performance of his screenplay, Claus v Hollywood, at the DC Shorts Film Festival. That same script won him free use of a professional sound stage wherein he shot a film currently in post-production. Steve lives in Monrovia CA with 1 wife, 2 kids and 36,597 other residents.

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Writer Statement

INSPIRATION: I always loved the Police song Canary in a Coal Mine, but I never actually listened to the lyrics. Until one day. "Huh," I thought, "so that's what that song's about." Ten minutes later I happened to turn on the TV just as a Tweety bird cartoon began. Cue metaphoric light bulb over head -- "That's a movie!"