FORLORN HOPE

Talent. please submit through the SAG/AFTRA breakdowns

 BASED ON  TRUE STORIES.

FORLORN HOPE, a provocative ensemble drama about the mosaic of Los Angeles circa 2003, using a Los Angeles high school as its structure. Three female teachers, one Anglo, one Hispanic, one Asian American begin their careers teaching in a ghetto/barrio high school. CHARLIE'S ANGELS meets BOYZ IN THE HOOD meets DANGEROUS MINDS meets BLACKBOARD JUNGLE. It has no sexual situations, no rapes, no underage sex, no violence, no foul language.

Provocation through theme, character development and plot,  with  the added bonus of wondrous, complex roles for women and minorities.

It is the story of CLAI RE LAMBERT, the Anglo from Indiana, TESS KIM, the Asian American kicked out of her home for being too modern, and CARMEN CAMACHO, the Hispanic American, illegally here and trying to give back. It is the story of REGGIE, asked by his gang to kill his father because his father came out; NAPOLEON, the black gang leader who made the request, and wants to build hockey rinks for black kids in Watts; and the others, DANNY CAMACHO, the Hispanic Jimmy Cagney gangsta, RANDOLPH SCOTT, JAKE CAMERON, the millionaire, GOLDFARB, MANUELITO, LYMAN. As we developed this script, we learned that American youth, regardless of race, background, culture, class or creed have this in common -- recognition of, and respect for the truth. FORLORN HOPE is based on true stories, and diaries kept by co-author SUZAN SPANN, who taught biology in two inner city high schools.

COMMENTS FROM THE STREET, from inner city .teenagers who attended script readings

Oh this is good. I want to know what happens to Reggie and what is up with

asian female,17

Tess and  Danny. Very good script

 i just couldn't put it down. Does Reggie kill his father?  Does stuff like that really happen in bigger high schools? Anways, GREAT JOB

Heather, white 17

 

I have read the script and it is excellent. Wow!

Shannon Washington, 21, DECEASED, Afro-American

 

I finished reading the script and I think you are a genius!!!! This script is so real that it almost scared me at some points. Honestly it is reallllly good :)...
However I'm sooooo interested in what happens next! How can you do that to me! I'm sitting here like waiting to see what happens to Reggie- does he die, does he kill his father, what the heck happens!? O and do Tess and Danny ever hook up!? that's what it seems like is going to happen? And what about Claire and Cameron? Is Cameron really rich? Geez I just have all these questions!

hispanic teenager, 18

scan0013.jpg SUZAN SPANN 

Co-author and Creative Consultant, Suzan Spann is currently a biology teacher  at an economically disadvantaged inner city high school; FORLORN HOPE is based on her experiences, journals and diaries. Suzan, a former beauty queen and collegiate gymnast moved to Los Angeles when a knee injury prematurely ended her gymnastics career. She holds a BS degree from Indiana State University and a teaching credential from CSLA. Suzan co founded and runs UPSTAGE, a program of acting classes for children in the Los Angeles area.