A struggling actress becomes entangled in an abusive relationship with her idol at a cult-like New York theatre company. 

FEMALE VANTAGE POINT

As writers and creators, it is important to us that all heads of department be women, as this is a thriller about gender politics which requires a distinctly female voice. Our lead producer, director, and head writer are all female. 

Hollywood idealizes victimhood. The narratives of manipulation and abuse in popular media, often characterize women as “perfect victims.” Ironically reinforcing the very narrative they intend to criticize (women as helpless, innocent, powerless naïf). 

What if it's more complicated than that? What if the woman has some agency but thinks that she is going to be alright because she's smart, savvy, educated and bold? It could never happen to me, right? 

We have written a story that plumbs the depths of the intricacies of gaslighting and, in it, Myna often makes selfish decisions or treads through grey areas in ways that further her own destruction. She is, as people are, imperfect. She is hesitant to speak up, afraid she will be blamed, convinced her own flaws mean she is responsible for her abuse. 

THE STORY

The Den is a feature length screenplay, and we are producing a short as a proof of concept.

On the eve of her 30th birthday, Myna O’Neill, an ambitious New York stage actress, attends a life-altering performance at the legendary Den Theatre—her favorite company, one renowned for producing dark, edgy new plays. Later that night, she infiltrates the theater, and finds herself in a chance encounter with Jamie (powerful, charismatic actor and artistic director). Through a delicate dance of deceit and attraction, Myna finds herself cast opposite him, in the role of her dreams.

As rehearsals progress, reality and fiction blur, and Myna and Jamie’s relationship morphs from mentor-student into something much more sinister. Entangled in a perilous off-stage affair, and together searching for the rawest, most truthful performance, their relationship begins to mirror the one they share onstage, where what was once choreographed violence and intimacy becomes so much more than real.

Is Jamie grooming Myna for success or something darker? Is the theatre company a Bacchic blood cult looking for a sacrifice? As he systematically dismantles her boundaries, Myna's only remaining move is to beat him at his own game. …And she may be better at it then he could have ever anticipated… 

This slightly surreal American Nightmare explores the following questions: In the world of make-believe, where does imagination end and reality begin? What does a taste of artistic greatness cost? To defeat a monster must you become one? And as The Den Theatre's own motto taunts "What Does The Truth Require"? We aim to ask more questions than we answer, and to wrestle with our idea of "the truth" - what it means in art and in life.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

The Den fictionalizes true events that transpired behind the scenes of PROFILES THEATRE in Chicago. A theatre in which Kelsey Ann, our head writer, (Hi, it's me talking here...!) worked for several years. The drama and abuse, onstage and off-- was real. For years, dark, mysterious whispers about this place had percolated through Chicago’s theatre scene, all swirling in particular around one man: co-owner, artistic director, and towering actor. I enrolled in his advanced scene-study class and, ostensibly for my talent and passion, was plucked from among my peers. Privately, he asked me to become an intern, gave me special responsibilities, and promised special consideration for roles. I became a part of "the family".  Even so, the rumors continued to ooze, "Don't work there. It's not a good environment for women." Everytime I'd feel unsettled. But in a field in which actresses are often pitted against each other, and there seems to be so few scraps to go around-- I felt... lucky. Eventually the hair on the back of my neck would lie back down. After all.. nothing's ever happened to me. Finally he offered me a leading role — a promiscuous nanny who initiates an affair with her employer, played by the man who’d become my hero. Then, I received a disturbing phone call: a woman—a trusted teacher—in tears, pleading. I was urged to decline, to never work with this man. For once, I listened. 

I didn't know it then, but our idol had been conducting illicit, violent sexual relationships with actresses (some as young as 18) for his entire 25-year career at the theatre. He would select a talented young woman, cast her opposite him and begin a meticulous process of isolation, degradation and emotional abuse that would blur the lines between their relationship and the one onstage. Reality became malleable. These women—some of whom I knew— became his playthings, over whom he’d dangle the old refrain: “I'll make sure you never work again.” 

I thought I was smarter than this—more aware. I’d seen these productions, considered them brilliant. Despite the warnings, I never let myself suspect him; I had failed to see what was going on in plain sight. More chilling still, I didn’t see that I myself was being groomed, the water at my knees and quickly rising.

VISUAL STYLE

The Den is a raw, hard-hitting psychosexual thriller that threatens to swallow the viewer whole. 

Set mostly in a black box theatre, we imagine the film to be visually sinister and muscular, with bold saturated color, and a cast of diverse and chaotic characters. For the brutality of abuse to be deeply felt, we endeavor to move beyond the strictly literal and enter into the world of the mythic. The ancient origins of story. The Greek. The Bacchinalian. 

Following our heroine through the rich and distinct subculture of theatre artists in grungy pre-#metoo New York, we see the theatre through an eery lens. One that offers no easy answers. Intense. Gripping. Relentless. Bare-knuckles. The same qualities we loved at the Profiles Theatre, flipped on its head.

Our visual language will echo the confusion and misdirection manipulators use to ensnare their quarry. Highlighting the instability of memory and the off-balance way it feels to be gaslit. The sacred, subterranean world of The Den's black box theatre contrasts jarringly with the harsh electric buzz of Manhattan outside. We envision a soundscape that feels religious: rhythmic, pulsating instrumentals. 

WHY NOW?

We want this cautionary tale to reach its audience in time to make a difference. As the world continues to reckon with its complicity in patriarchal power structures, we can make and support stories that challenge that narrative. Good stories. Entertaining stories. Complex, horrifying, female driven stories.

(Suspiria, Luca Guadagnino, 2018)

The Den deals with sexual and emotional abuse, domestic violence, mental health challenges, and abuses of power in the workplace. Our hope is that after watching this film, you feel a little less alone. 

WHY SUPPORT?

With the impact of the deadly Coronavirus, it's no secret that this is a challenging time for creatives. Especially for those on the ground floor, forging a path of their own. Your contribution will go toward supporting these artists. On a practical level, it could mean pay, food, and rent for a professional otherwise out of work. This pandemic threw a wrench in production plans all across the globe. But we are committed to telling this story- with the right strategies, testing, and COVID-safe protocols in place. We hold the safety of our cast and crew as the highest priority. 

(Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky)

There are a lot of causes to which you can give your hard earned money. But we believe that one of them, is story. At a time like this, stories are what bind us. Your pledge of support would mean bringing this important story to life. A story inspired by the real experiences of real women whose pain and suffering at Profiles Theatre, was kept in the shadows. You'd be bringing it to the light.