The U

Brad Catherman
4445 Northside Parkway, Suite 281 Atlanta, GA 30327
678-523-5839 (cell) 404-228-1897 (direct hardline)
mvertr@bellsouth.net

Project status and bio as of September 16, 2021

Total screenplay contest awards: 30

COMPLETED THEATRICAL SPEC SCREENPLAYS

Full Circle
Romantic dramedy about two thirty-something former college athletes who find love with one another after battling cancer, excelling at demanding jobs, and caring for their aging parents. The cancer cure sequences are autobiographical. Awards: Quarter-Finalist in the Filmmatic Comedy Screenplay Awards, Quarter-Finalist in the Atlanta Screenplay Contest, Quarter-Finalist in the Chicago Screenplay Awards Contest, Quarter-Finalist in the Creative World Awards, Official Selection in the UK London Film Festival, Official Selection in the International Film Festival of Wales, and Quarter-Finalist in the Austin Film Festival Screenplay Contest. Contest Judges compared the script to “You’ve Got Mail” and the “films of Nicholas Sparks.” And, “…the screenplay is likely to have significant commercial success.” WeScreenplay coverage analysis: “This script has a lighter hearted tone even for a movie that deals with cancer and the specter of death… it has a great ending… a true triumph.”

Marshal Dodge
An Old West Marshal comes out of retirement to seek revenge by chasing former outlaws who make alliances with the Kansas City Mafia in the “new” age of 1919. Flashbacks to late 1800s Wild West gunslingers and lawmen. An “Old West John Wayne lawman” meets “The Godfather.” Awards: Third Place in the Texas Cowpokes International Film Festival, Finalist in the Beverly Hills Film Festival Screenplay Competition, Finalist in the Sherman Oaks Film Festival Screenplay Contest, Semi-Finalist in the Southern California Screenplay Contest, Semi-Finalist in the Big Apple Film Festival Screenplay Competition, Quarter-Finalist in the International Screenwriters’ Association Historical Genre Competition, Quarter-Finalist in the Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition, Quarter-Finalist in the StoryPros International Screenwriting Contest, Quarter-Finalist in the Creative World Screenplay Awards, Official Selection in the UK London Film Festival, and “Hot 100” Award in the Capital Fund Screenplay Competition. Contest Judge quote: “The concept, the dialogue, and the anticipated commercial success are the strengths that could establish the script in the market… but what enhances its genuineness is the methodology of two parallel timelines and the depicted era.” WeScreenplay coverage analysis, yielding Plot and Overall Impression grades of “Excellent” with a Composite Rating of Consider: “There is a whole lot here to be excited about here in the Western genre that is given a bit of new life by way of telling two distinct stories in different times.”
North Wind
Viking Chieftain avenges the murder of his parents by an evil warlord, and later converts to Christianity through an enslaved monk. Endorsed by Dr. Ted Baehr, Chairman of the Christian Film and Television Board: “North Wind picks up where Braveheart left off – a haunting, powerful epic about personal freedom and eternal values.” WeScreenplay coverage analysis, yielding Concept grade of “Excellent” and this quote: “An epic faith story the kind that haven't been seen in a while, probably not since Darren Aronofsky's Noah or Martin Scorsese's Silence." Awards: Quarter-Finalist in The Writers Network Competition, and Quarter-Finalist in the Script2Comic Contest.

Wheels
Romantic comedy about an able-bodied hubcap tycoon who is sentenced to live for one year in a wheelchair for violating his city's handicapped parking ordinance; learns about love and the important things in life. Awards: Finalist Award winner at the New Century Writer Contest, Finalist at the Charleston International Film Festival Contest, Finalist at the American Screenwriters Association Contest, plus a Quarter-Finalist in The Writers Network Competition. The script is currently optioned by Huge Pictures (New York).

I Love You Mostest
Romantic comedy of three generations of a family as they go in search of their perfect loves, whether online or offline. Similar to “Must Love Dogs.” Awards: Quarter-Finalist in the Your Script Produced International Contest. WeScreenplay coverage analysis: “The plot has all of the ingredients for a cute and endearing Netflix rom-com a la Crazy Stupid Love or Maybe He’s Just Not That Into You.”

Scattered Seeds
True Civil War story of 400 Southern women and children shipped north by trains from Roswell, Georgia to work-camps, prisons, and unknown fate by Union General Sherman during the Atlanta Campaign. This is the untold “Schindler's List” of the Civil War. WeScreenplay coverage analysis: “Conceptually, this was an interesting script in that it focused on a Southern woman's perspective of the Civil War.” Awards: Quarter-Finalist in the Atlanta Screenplay Contest, a Top 100 Finalist in the International Screenwriters’ Association Genre Screenplay Competition, and Honorable Mention in the Skorpeonyx Screenplay Search Competition.

C.A.T.V.
Fictionalized murder mystery in city cable television franchise political fight in early 1980s. Undercover FBI agent goes vigilante. Based on fact and personal insider knowledge of cable TV industry. It’s “Wall Street” meets “Three Days of the Condor.” WeScreenplay coverage analysis: “It feels like a hybrid of two different types of films in Network and The Departed which is such a cool concept… exactly like the kind of story Scorsese loves to tell.”
Cambridge House (60-page short)
An innocent weekend family gathering quickly turns into a murder thriller. The Hitchcock-ending asks the audience to consider whether the story was real, or rather happened as a nightmare in the mind of the main character. WeScreenplay coverage analysis: “There’s great potential in the twist ending… the climax being the strongest part of the script… with particularly strong dialogue.”

Cleaning Up
Musical comedy about a white yuppie entertainment lawyer who "discovers" unknown talented African-American singer followed by the special relationship which ensues. WeScreenplay coverage analysis: “This film has a proven market and immense potential to garner praises in the international festival circuit.”

Brothers' Brunch
Traces the 45-year relationship of two brothers through sports, marriage, births, deaths, adultery, embezzlement, alcoholism, illness, and love of family. WeScreenplay coverage analysis: “The concept is ambitious and intriguing that works quite well… dramatically compelling.”

Wings on High
Aging athlete gets a second chance to find peace late in life through help of an angel. WeScreenplay coverage analysis: “… a screenplay that many of us aging jocks can relate to, and a message about outside forces that guide our lives when we let them.”

Pixie (60-page treatment)
Female teen orphan blossoms to become an adult singing and acting star. WeScreenplay coverage analysis: “There's an often joy-filled, positive outlook in your storytelling that will fit well within the family-centric marketplace that you're aiming for.”

Winning More than The Game
Two rival youth basketball coaches struggle to balance winning a championship at all costs versus developing character in their young players. WeScreenplay coverage analysis: “…this is the type of epic (yet relatable) family feature content that will have a high chance of finding success in the marketplace.” Awards: Quarter-Finalist in the Houston International Film Festival Sports Script Championship Contest.

THEATRICAL SCREENPLAYS WRITTEN-FOR-HIRE: ACTIVE

Scarecrow
Action thriller as a high-tech business executive tortures and robs drug kingpins for excitement, wealth, and a "Robin Hood" complex until he is stopped by a beautiful and crafty woman who administers her own special form of revenge. WeScreenplay coverage analysis: “The deeper meaning of how a single-minded pursuit of revenge can cost the pursuer everything they could want, from friendships to jobs to relationships, comes through well.” Project is in development by Gloria Hankerson at Double Dutch Films (Atlanta).

The U
The miracle true story of the 1983 National Champion Miami Hurricanes football team. ESPN listed Miami’s Orange Bowl championship win as the second greatest in bowl history. WeScreenplay coverage analysis yielded a Composite Rating of Top 5% to Consider, with a Dialogue score of Top 1% Virtually Perfect. Awards: Quarter-Finalist in the Atlanta Screenplay Contest. Project is in development by Dundee Productions (Miami).

TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS: ACTIVE

“Untitled USU weekly series” – I created this weekly show for which I will receive credit as Producer. The backdrop for this based-on-fact storyline is the Uniformed Services University of The Health Sciences Medical School (USU) in Bethesda, Maryland in which faculty and staff are involved in the dual preparation of doctors and other medical personnel who also become active duty U.S. military officers upon graduation. I obtained special endorsements from both USU as well as the Department of Defense Entertainment Media Office at the Pentagon. The show will be distributed by CBS Studios with Jerry Bruckheimer Television as Executive Producer, and Picture It Productions serving as Producer, with Josh Reims as showrunner. The project has completed the pilot scripting phase.

DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTIONS: ACTIVE

Citizen Lappe (Faith to Freedom in Cold War Germany) – This one-hour docu-drama takes a look at the amazing journey of falsely accused spy Christian M. Lappe who escaped East Germany during the Cold War to make his way to the United States to achieve dual citizenship at age 76. I will act as Producer, with Emmy and Peabody Award recipient William VanDerKloot serving as the Executive Producer and Director. A budget of $300,000 has been established, and funding is being sought.

THEATRICAL SPEC SCREENPLAYS: BEING WRITTEN

Bloodlines - Modern-day Spanish bullfighting set against the historic bloodlines of world champion fighting bulls. Log line: a U.S. sportswriter learns the meaning of teamwork, family, courage, and honor while researching this subject in Spain for his magazine.

The Season - Based-on-fact coming-of-age story similar to "American Graffiti" and "The Lords of Discipline” set in mid-1970s all-boys ROTC military high school in Atlanta. Presents a Southern-informed view of youth athletics and rights-of-passage themes.

Same Time, Same Place - Romantic comedy about two married people, although not married to each other, who meet for one “honeymoon weekend” each year for decades. Similar to the stage play and film “Same Time, Next Year.”

Senior Summer Camp - Comedy about a young couple trying to save their failing summer camp business, only to be rescued by the expertise of the senior citizen campers whom they serve.

Father Jack - Based on fact, follows a Jesuit novice through his first two years in the priesthood, including ministering to inner-city drug gangs and Middle Eastern thugs.

Moving Day - Dramedy as three families face stress and joy as they move into each other’s houses on the same day while redefining the meaning of home.

THEATRICAL SCREENPLAYS WRITTEN-FOR-HIRE: CANCELED

Vengeance - Modern-day cowboy avenges the death of his brother whom was murdered by drug cartel. (Trident Entertainment)

Eye of Justice - CIA forensics specialist unlocks mystery of germ warfare conspiracy among international pharmaceutical companies. (Escandari Pictures)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Finalist, 2008 Georgia Author of the Year for humorous and inspirational Hollywood memoir entitled “Open-field Running: the adventure of selling a screenplay”

Education
• Emory University, B.S. Psychology, 1979
• St. Thomas University (Miami), M.S. Sports Administration, 1988

Professional positions include

• Executive Director, Athletes for a Better World (Atlanta headquarters). A non-profit which produces material on character development through sports, and awards the prestigious national Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup (www.abw.org)
• National Director of Sports & Entertainment Promotional Marketing for Turner Broadcasting (Atlanta headquarters)
• Southeast Account Executive, Home Box Office (Atlanta regional office)