The Fighting First

An interwoven story of a young Army officer leading his men through the harrowing battles of WWII and his 14-year-old son, 32 years later, wrestling with understanding his ailing father's past and the changing world around him.

  • Alex Peter Stephens
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Number of Pages:
    130
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Quarterfinalist, StoryPros International Screenplay Contest 15th Annual - 2021
  • Los Angeles Film Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    January 19, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Hollywood Script Award
    H
    February 3, 2022
    Best Feature Screenplay
Writer Biography - Alex Peter Stephens

Born and raised outside of Boston, Alex Stephens started his professional life after college as a journalist and freelance writer. During his 30-year career as an admissions officer at a prestigious private school, he has taught classes in journalism, creative writing, and film. Several of his former students have gone on to successful careers in the TV, film, and journalism industries.

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Writer Statement

The Fighting First is the story of a young Army officer leading his men through the harrowing battles of WWII interwoven with the story of the soldier's 14-year-old son, 32 years later, wrestling with understanding his ailing father's past and the changing world around him.

This is the third screenplay I have written and one close to my heart. It is based on the true story of my father's actual experience in WWII, something he never talked about, and my own experience dealing with his death when I was 12. The battles depicted in the script are based on the actual written reports he filed as an officer as well as historical accounts of his unit.

I began writing in college and went on to a brief career in journalism before taking a job at a prep school where I taught classes in journalism, creative writing, and film, in addition to other roles. In the past, I wrote a novel that I workshopped at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference at Middlebury College in 2000 and also penned an original play that was produced at the school.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Please let me know if you would like to read the full screenplay and I’ll get you a copy immediately.