Pullen is an award-winning writer, director, and producer. His debut film The Ballerina, screened at Cannes, Toronto and AFM, and had its world premiere at the Orlando Film Festival where it was honored with accolades for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Screenplay. It is distributed worldwide by 101 Films. Pullen's other awards include the Jack Nicholson Directing Award, the Vera Hinckley-Mayhew Award for Dramatic Writing, the David Library American Experience Award for Dramatic Writing, and the Questors Award for Dramatic Writing (Dame Judi Dench, patron). He is a two-time Nicholl semi-finalist and a Kairos Prize finalist. He has optioned original material to and written on assignment for Hawk Koch (Paramount), Susan Sarandon, Keri Selig (Kopelson, Bel Air), Jim Jacks and Sean Daniel (Alphaville, Paramount), Ray Wagner (MGM), Robin Guthrie (Paramount), and Sonny Skyhawk (Amerind).
Story
logline
When a losing high school football coach gets an improbable shot at redemption by taking over the floundering BYU football program, he revolutionizes the game with his unconventional passing strategy and transforms his players' lives with his integrity and compassion.
Synopsis
The story follows LaVell Edwards, head football coach at Brigham Young University, as he leads the BYU Cougars on an improbable run to the 1984 national championship.
As a kid, LaVell loved football with an unquenchable passion. But his preacher-father's stern admonition, 'People are more important than football' always sticks in his head, as does living in his father's formidable shadow.
After eight losing seasons as a high school coach, LaVell catches a lucky break when he is signed as an assistant coach at BYU. In no time, he wins the respect and affection of the players and becomes someone they can turn to in times of personal struggle. In fact, the players come to love their coach so much that when the head coach is fired, they passionately petition the university president (Dallin Oaks) to put Edwards in the top spot.
Call it inspiration or desperation, Oaks names Edwards the new head coach over a lackluster program that has not had a winning season in 30 years. He installs a passing offense, which is unheard of at the time, and faces skepticism from all sides.
Edwards builds his program brick by brick, recruiting overlooked players, emphasizing discipline and character, and promoting an atmosphere of camaraderie, God and family. Spiritual growth takes priority over winning and individual worth trumps athletic glory.
From this untraditional coaching method (and to the astonishment of the national football community) some of the best players the NCAA has ever seen emerge: Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Glen Kozlowski, Gifford Nielson, along with two of the best NFL coaches in pro history: Super Bowl winners Andy Reid and Mike Holmgren.
After early struggles and sacrifices too numerous to count, Edwards' teams start winning games and gaining national attention. The wins stack up and the national title might actually be within reach. But one thing after another seems to knock Edwards off his intended path: Personal tragedy, player morale, team trauma, honor code violations, all get in the way of the perfect season LaVell seeks.
And just when it looks like the stars may finally align, Lavell’s world is turned upside down when he is offered the head coach position with the Detroit Lions for big money and even bigger career potential. LaVell is about to accept Detroit's offer, when the team rallies together and begs him to stay just one more year, promising him the elusive national championship. Ultimately, it is this profound love for their coach that gives the players the heart, determination and sheer grit to drive the Cougars to an improbable championship season.
True to their word, the players deliver LaVell an incomprehsible 13-0 record that fall, securing a berth in the national championship game against the powerhouse Michigan Wolverines. In a dramatic finish sportswriters raved as "nothing short of a miracle," BYU makes a stunning comeback drive in the fourth quarter, climaxing in a final spectacular touchdown with just seconds left on the clock to win the national title and enshrine BYU in college football history.
With the wall-to-wall football action of Any Given Sunday, the charm of Rudy and Hoosiers, and the never-give-up grit of Invincible, Forward Pass is a spill-your-popcorn, cheer-till-your-throat-hurts, gridiron movie for the ages.
CASTING
CHARACTER BIO: LAVELL EDWARDS
LaVell Edwards was just an obscure Utah farm boy who dared to believe, to rise above the crowd, to inspire and lead his teams to achieve what nobody else thought possible. And in doing so, he rose to national prominence and changed the course of football history. Although a modest man who often shunned the limelight, his story is nevertheless larger than life. And such a character calls for a leading man who can carry a story of this magnitude. What's more, the action-packed football element of the story raises it from the level of a simple character-driven movie to one of huge crowds, complex sports stunts, multi-camera operations, aerial cinematography, period costumes, and significant CGI elements. So, the movie's production budget will demand an actor of star stature to give the film the recognition, marketability and box office performance commensurate with that budget, driving the project to reach its revenue goals. Below you will find the short wish lists of actors and actresses the producers envision for Forward Pass. These are our first round draft choices, if you will.
CASTING STRATEGY: LAVELL EDWARDS
MARK WAHLBERG The Family Plan, Me Time, Father Stu, Infinite, Daddy's Home, Joe Bell, Daddy's Home 2, Ted, Ted 2, Lone Survivor, Two Guns, The Fighter, Invincible (B.O. $5.4B)
MATT DAMON Air, Oppenheimer, The Last Duel, Stillwater, Ford v Ferrari, Downsizing, The Martian, Suburbicon, Interstellar, Jason Bourne, The Monuments Men, True Grit (B.O. $5.6B)
TOM CRUISE Top Gun: Maverick, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, American Made, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Edge of Tomorrow, Oblivion, The Last Samurai, Jerry Maguire (B.O. $10.5B)
MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY The Gentlemen, White Boy Rick, Gold, Interstellar, The Wolf of Wall Street, Dallas Buyers Club, Mud, The Lincoln Lawyer, We Are Marshall (B.O. $2.2B)
BRAD PITT Babylon, Bullet Train, Ad Astra, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, War Machine, The Big Short, Fury, World War Z, Moneyball, Tree of Life, Inglourious Basterds (B.O. $5.1B)
ADAM SANDLER Hustle, Murder Mystery 2, Uncut Gems, The Week Of, Sandy Wexler, The Do Over, The Cobbler, Blended, Reign Over Me, Spanglish, Bedtime Stories (B.O. $3B)
CHRIS PRATT Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, The Super Marios Bros. Movie, Thor: Love and Thunder, Jurassic World Dominion, The Tomorrow War, Avengers: Endgame, Passengers (B.O. $5.6B)
CHRIS PINE Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, All The Old Knives, The Contractor, Outlaw King, Star Trek Beyond, Hell or High Water, The Finest Hours, People Like Us (B.O. $2.2B)
CHARACTER BIO: PATTI EDWARDS
Born and raised in the Wyoming mountains, Patti Edwards was the daughter of a gas station owner and a member of a prominent family. She dreamed of nothing more than a simple life, raising a family and enjoying small town life. But when she went off to college, everything changed. She met LaVell Edwards, a handsome linesman on the football team. They were married and soon began their family. For years, Patti secretly hoped that her husband would give up his football pipedream and settle into a more stable job. Eventually, however, Patti caught the vision of how football is far more than just a game. She got behind her husband with fervor, becoming his greatest support, mother of the team, player matchmaker, and the Cougars' greatest cheerleader. Throughout her life, Patti could often be heard saying of her family, "We're building for the eternities." For Patti, family went far behond her husband and three children, it included every single one of the thousands of football players who came through the BYU program over the course of three decades.
CASTING STRATEGY: PATTI EDWARDS
ELIZABETH BANKS The Beanie Bubble, Call Jane, The Hunger Games, Pitch Perfect, The Next Three Days, The Uninvited, Invincible (B.O. $7.1B)
DREW BARRYMORE The Stand In, Miss You Already, Blended, Big Miracle, Going the Distance, Everybody's Fine, He's Just Not That Into You (B.O. $1.2B)
REESE WITHERSPOON Your Place or Mine, Home Again, Hot Pursuit, The Good Lie, Wild, Devil's Knot, This Means War, The Morning Show, Water for Elephants (B.O. $2B)
JENNIFER GARNER Family Switch, The Adam Project, Yes Day, Peppermint, Nine Lives, Danny Collins, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (B.O. $1.6B)
CHARLIZE THERON Fast X, The School for Good and Evil, The Old Guard, Bombshell, Long Shot, Gringo, Tully, Atomic Blonde, Mad Max: Fury Road (B.O. $1.6B)
KATE WINSLET Lee, Ammonite, Blackbird, Wonder Wheel, The Mountain Between Us, The Dressmaker, A Little Chaos, Labor Day, Carnage, Revolutionary Road (B.O. $3.3B)
KATHERINE HEIGL Fear of Rain, Unforgettable, Jenny's Wedding, Home Sweet Hell, Jackie and Ryan, One for the Money, Life as We Know It (B.O. $1B)
KATE HUDSON A Little White Lie, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Music, Mother's Day, Good People, Something Borrowed, Fool's Gold (B.O. $631M)
DIRECTORS
DIRECTING STRATEGY
Forward Pass is a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat football movie with some of the greatest gridiron action ever seen on film. At the same time, the movie brings to vivid life the personal struggles of Coach Edwards, his wife, Patti, his kids and, of course, his players. This delicate balance between action and character requires the highly-honed skills of a great director. One who is an expert with the sports genre while also brilliantly painting with the nuanced colors of character and relationships. Below are just a few of Hollywood's finest who the producers think would spin the magic of this thrilling film into box office gold.
DIRECTOR POSSIBILITIES
RON HOWARD Cinderella Man, A Beautiful Mind, The Da Vinci Code, Rush, Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Missing, Ransom, Apollo 13, Far and Away, Backdraft (B.O. $4.3B)
PETER BERG Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom, Hancock, Battleship, Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon, Patriots Day, Mile 22, Spenser Confidential (B.O. $2.9B)
GARY ROSS Seabiscuit, The Hunger Games, Free State of Jones, Ocean's 8, Pleasantville (B.O. $3.5B)
JOHN LEE HANCOCK The Blind Side, The Rookie, The Alamo, Saving Mr. Banks, The Founder, The Highwaymen, Mr. Harrigan's Phone (B.O. $1.5B)
JAMES MANGOLD Ford v Ferrari, Logan, The Wolverine, Knight and Day, 3:10 to Yuma, Walk the Line, Girl, Interrupted, Kate and Leopold (B.O. $2.4B)
CLINT EASTWOOD Unforgiven, A Perfect World, The Bridges of Madison County, Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Invictus, American Sniper, Sully, The Mule (B.O. $2.4B)
GAVIN O'CONNOR Miracle, The Way Back, The Accountant, Jane Got a Gun, Warrior, Pride and Glory, Tumbleweeds (B.O. $1.6B)
BENNETT MILLER Moneyball, Foxcatcher, Capote, The Cruise (B.O. $180M)
COMP FILMS
Forward Pass combines elements from various sports dramas, biographical films, and inspirational stories. Here's a list of movies that share similarities with this project, along with their box office earnings and reasons for their inclusion. These films, like Forward Pass, blend the excitement of sports with deeper themes of personal growth, community, and overcoming adversity, making them resonate with audiences and achieve notable box office success.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (2004)
Director: Peter Berg; Writers: David Aaron Cohen, Peter Berg
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Tim McGraw
Tagline: Hope comes alive.
Plot: The story of the economically depressed town of Odessa, Texas and their heroic high school football team, The Permian High Panthers. Friday Night Lights captures the intense pressure of football in America, the personal struggles of players and coaches, and the community's involvement, mirroring Forward Pass'
exploration of the impact of football on players' lives and the broader community.
Box Office: $62M
RUDY (1993)
Director: David Anspaugh; Writer: Angelo Pizzo
Starring: Sean Astin, Ned Beatty, John Favreau
Tagline: Sometimes a winner is a dreamer who just won't quit.
Plot: The life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite significant obstacles.
Rudy's underdog story of determination to play football for Notre Dame shares Forward Pass' theme of perseverance against the odds and the importance of believing in oneself.
Box Office: $23M
THE BLIND SIDE (2009)
Director: John Lee Hancock; Writer: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, Quinton Aaron
Tagline: If you die trying for something important, then you have both honor and courage.
Plot: The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.
Like Forward Pass, this film focuses on personal growth, the impact of a supportive environment, and the transformative power of sports and mentorship.
Box Office: $309M
INVINCIBLE (2006)
Director: Ericson Gore; Writer: Brad Gann
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks
Tagline: Dreams are not lived on the sidelines.
Plot: Lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan Vince Papale sees his wildest dreams come true when he becomes a member of the NFL team.
Vince Papale is an underdog who earns a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles, emphasizing themes of determination and achieving the impossible, akin to Forward Pass' portrayal of characters overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Box Office: $58M
ANY GIVEN SUNDAY (1999)
Director: Oliver Stone
Writer: John Logan, Oliver Stone
Starring: Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, James Woods, Jamie Foxx
Tagline: Life is a contact sport.
Plot: A behind-the-scenes look at the life-and-death struggles of modern-day gladiators and those who lead them.
Like Forward Pass, Any Given Sunday is packed with wall to wall football action while telling the personal stories of players and coaches, and reminding audiences about the power of competition and the glory of winning.
Box Office: $100M
REMEMBER THE TITANS (2002)
Director: Boaz Yakin; Writer: Gregory Allen Howard
Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst
Tagline: History is written by the winners.
Plot: A football team overcomes diversity when the school gets changed from an all-white school to an interracial school. Remember the Titans, like Forward Pass, focuses on overcoming adversity and uniting a team with diverse backgrounds to achieve success, emphasizing leadership and the power of sports to bring people together.
Box Office: $136M
WE ARE MARSHALL (2015)
Director: McG; Writer: Jamie Linden
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Ian McShane, Anthony Mackie
Tagline: Life is like football: it knocks you down, then expects you to get back up...and play till the whistle blows.
Plot: New coach Jack Lengyel arrives on the scene in March 1971, determined to rebuild Marshall's Thundering Herd and heal a grieving community in the process.
This film tells the true story of healing, community, and the unifying power of sports, resonating with the Forward Pass' themes of overcoming adversity and loss.
Box Office: $45M
AIR (2023)
Director: Ben Affleck
Writer: Alex Convery
Starring: Jason Bateman, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis
Tagline: Courting a legend. Inspired by the true events of how a shoe became "The Shoe". What they created, defined legendary.
Plot: Sonny Vaccaro and Nike pursue basketball rookie Michael Jordan, creating a partnership that revolutionizes the world of sports and contemporary culture.
This sports drama chronicles the impossible dreams of a shoe company and an unknown basketball hero. Similar in theme to Forward Pass, it shows the power of grit, determination and dedication.
Box Office: $90M
HUSTLE (2022)
Director: Jeremiah Zagar
Writer: Taylor Materne, Will Fetters
Starring: Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, Juancho Hernangomez
Tagline: Do you love this game? I mean, love it with your whole heart?
Plot: Stanley Sugerman, a jaded international scout for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, lives life on the road searching for future stars. Hustle recounts the story of a man with a dream. Some told him it was an impossible dream. But he pursued it anyway. With similar themes to Forward Pass, it showcases the power of determination, character and discipline.
Box Office: Unavailable (made for Netflix)
MONEYBALL (2011)
Director: Bennett Miller; Writer: Steven Zallian, Aaron Sorkin
Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Tagline: What Are You Really Worth?
Plot: Billy Beane and assistant general manager Peter Brand , faced with the franchise's limited budget for players, build a team of undervalued talent by taking a sophisticated sabermetric approach to scouting and analyzing players.
While focusing on baseball, this film's innovative approach to assembling a competitive team on a limited budget parallels Forward Pass' theme of overcoming institutional limitations through ingenuity.
Box Office: $110M
JERRY MAGUIRE (1994)
Director: Cameron Crowe; Writer: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renee Zellweger, Kelly Preston, Jerry O'Connell, Jay Mohr, Bonnie Hunt
Tagline: The journey is everything.
Plot: When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only client. Jerry MaGuire explores themes of love, famiily, relationships and character, all against a nail-biting backdrop of football. Like Forward Pass, this film packs a punch when determination meets opportunity, and when love brings meaning to it all.
Box Office: $273M
HOOSIERS (1986)
Director: David Anspaugh; Writer: Angelo Pizzo
Starring: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper
Tagline: They needed a second chance to finish first.
Plot: A failed college coach gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to direct the basketball program at a high school in a tiny Indiana town.
This classic sports film about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team winning the state championship mirrors Forward Pass' focus on underdog teams achieving greatness.
Box Office: $29M
COACH CARTER (2005)
Director: Thomas Carter; Writers: Mark Schwahn, John Gatins
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Channing Tatum, Rick Gonzalez
Tagline: It begins on the street. It ends here.
Plot: Ken Carter takes over the head coaching job for the Oilers basketball team at his old high school, having played on the team himself, earning unbeaten records.
Like Forward Pass, Coach Carter deals with a coach's efforts to instill discipline, respect, and academic excellence in his players, showing the role of a coach as a mentor beyond the game.
Box Office: $76M
MIRACLE (2005)
Director: Gavin O'Connor; Writers: Eric Guggenheim, Mike Rich
Starring: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich
Tagline: What America needed was a miracle. What it got was a hockey game.
Plot: As the U.S. hockey squad tries to overcome insurmountable odds and win the gold medal, the team becomes a microcosm for American patriotism during the Cold War.
Like Forward Pass, Miracle tells a story of teamwork, leadership, and the miraculous nature of sports achievements.
Box Office: $65M
COVERAGE
This coverage for Forward Pass was provided by Greenlight Coverage, Los Angeles, California.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: The screenplay does an excellent job of fleshing out its characters, particularly LaVell Edwards, showcasing his journey from a young boy to a revered football coach. His struggles, determination, and growth are well depicted, providing depth to his character. Supporting characters like Patti, his wife, and various team members also undergo significant development, showcasing their personal struggles, growth, and contributions to the overarching narrative.
PLOT CONSTRUCTION: The story is structured around LaVell Edwards' life and career, presenting a coherent narrative that spans several decades. The plot effectively intertwines personal and professional challenges, highlighting key moments that define Edwards' legacy.
DIALOGUE: Conversations between characters are generally natural and meaningful, contributing to character development and the progression of the plot. The dialogue effectively conveys the emotional states and motivations of the characters.
ORIGINALITY: While the narrative is based on the true story of LaVell Edwards, which inherently limits its originality, the screenplay presents a fresh perspective on the life of a football coach. The focus on personal growth, family, and the impact of a coach beyond the football field offers a unique angle. The story follows a tried-and-true trajectory paradigm seen in sports and biographical dramas, which maximizes audiences' emotional response.
EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT: The screenplay is extremely effective in evoking emotional responses, particularly through its exploration of themes like perseverance, family, and the transformative power of mentorship. Moments of triumph, loss, and personal struggle are well-crafted, resonating with the reader and creating a strong emotional connection to the characters and their journeys.
THEME AND MESSAGE: The underlying themes of dedication, the importance of character, and the impact one person can have on others are clear and impactful. The screenplay thoughtfully explores these themes through the lens of LaVell Edwards' life and career, delivering a powerful message about the value of perseverance, integrity, and compassion in leadership.
OVERALL: The screenplay presents a compelling and emotionally engaging narrative that effectively explores the life and legacy of LaVell Edwards. The strong character development, coherent plot construction, and clear thematic messages make it an exciting read. This screenplay has the potential to resonate deeply with audiences, offering both entertainment and inspiration.
PLOT ASSESSMENT:
Compelling underdog storyline about an unknown BYU team pursuing a national championship.
Lots of drama and adversity to overcome.
Interesting characters like LaVell, his family, the players, and coaches.
Good character arcs as they grow and change.
An inspirational coach in LaVell who deeply cares about his players on and off the field. His positive influence is a strong theme.
Exciting game sequences that build tension. The final championship game is quite thrilling.
CHARACTER ASSESSMENT: LAVELL EDWARDS
LaVell's dedication to his players is a significant strength, providing a strong emotional core to the narrative. His willingness to listen and offer guidance on personal matters makes him a relatable and admirable figure.
His innovative approach to football, particularly the implementation of a new passing offense, showcases his forward-thinking and problem-solving skills, adding an element of excitement and anticipation to the story.
LaVell's resilience in the face of adversity, including financial struggles and professional setbacks, is inspiring. It adds depth to his character and makes his journey more compelling.
Archetype: The Mentor
CHARACTER ASSESSMENT: JIM MCMAHON
The talented but controversial quarterback who struggles to earn the respect of his teammates. A key player on offense.
Jim McMahon's talent and skill as a quarterback are undeniable and contribute significantly to the team's offensive strategy. His ability to perform under pressure and make crucial plays adds depth to the narrative, showcasing the complexities of a gifted athlete facing personal and professional challenges.
McMahon's controversial nature adds a layer of conflict and drama to the story, providing opportunities for character development and interaction. This aspect of his character creates tension within the team dynamic, which is essential for driving the narrative forward and keeping the audience engaged.
Archetype: The Rebel
CHARACTER ASSESSMENT: STEVE YOUNG
The quarterback who replaces the injured starter and helps lead the team to victory. Despite limitations, he perseveres through hard work.
Steve Young's character is a compelling example of resilience and determination. His journey from a struggling quarterback to a key player in leading the team to victory serves as an inspiring subplot that enriches the narrative. His hard work and perseverance in the face of limitations and challenges effectively contribute to the theme of overcoming adversity. Additionally, his character development provides a satisfying arc that mirrors the team's overall journey to success.
Archetype: The Hero
CHARACTER ASSESSMENT: GLEN KOZLOWSKI
The star wide receiver who battles alcoholism. A top player on offense along with McMahon.
Glen Kozlowski's character adds a layer of complexity and realism to the story by addressing serious issues such as alcoholism. This not only humanizes him but also provides a narrative arc of personal struggle and potential redemption.
His role as a star wide receiver introduces a dynamic of high stakes and pressure, which can serve to heighten the drama and tension within the team's journey.
Kozlowski's interactions with other characters, especially in moments of vulnerability, contribute to the development of deeper relationships and camaraderie among the team members, enriching the story's emotional depth.
Archetype: The Hero
CHARACTER ASSESSMENT: LEON WHITE
The standout linebacker who excels on defense. Deals with family issues during the season.
Leon's character is well-developed in terms of his professional skills on the football field, showcasing his exceptional abilities as a linebacker. This aspect effectively contributes to the story by highlighting the challenges and pressures of collegiate sports.
His personal struggle with family issues, particularly his father's terminal illness, adds a significant layer of depth to his character. This storyline provides a compelling narrative arc that explores themes of family, responsibility, and personal growth.
Kozlowski's interactions with other characters, especially in moments of vulnerability, contribute to the development of deeper relationships and camaraderie among the team members, enriching the story's emotional depth.
Archetype: The Warrior
SCRIPT EXCERPT
Please see below a 12-page exerpt from Forward Pass, following the miraculous national championship game in San Diego and nail-biting climax of the screenplay.
