Petition asks Fabian Wagner to read prison screenplay
More than 2000 women sign petition demanding a firm commitment from Fabian Wagner (film producer) to read screenplay addressing Texas judicial system
Fabian Wagner – Talent Agents
– Cinematographer, Camera and Electrical Department, Producer – Overlord (2018), Game of Thrones (2011), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), Sherlock (2010) – William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment, Jasan Pagni –
Fabian Wagner & Adam Sandler’s film company targeted by Texas petition
Will Hollywood just rollover and let prisoner’s suffer?
EXCLUSIVE
More than 2000 women have signed an open letter to Adam Sandler calling on Fabian Wagner and Hollywood to take “movie action” to tackle injustice against men and women in the wake of revelations that Texas has more prisoners incarcerated than the Soviet Union’s gulag system had. Texas currently has over 290,000 inmates housed at 580 facilities.
The signatories, including state senators, professors of criminal justice, social workers, family, and inmates, call for a “firm commitment” to tackle the unjust prisons in Texas. The petition has also been signed by Beto O’Rourke, and Matthew McConaughey. These two signatories might face each other in the 2022 Texas governors election. Both have expressed interest in the job. The petitions arrived for Fabian Wagner at William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment, Jasan Pagni last week.
In the open letter to Fabian Wagner, the 2080 women write that they are “heartbroken for first-time drug offenders many times addicts who have received extremely harsh sentences in Texas when rehabilitation has proven a cheaper and more effective solution.” The petition goes on to say their family and friends are often heartbroken for and looking for redemption and rehabilitation for the victimless drug crimes.”
The signatories, including attorneys, professors, politicians, family members, and inmates, call on Fabian Wagner for a ‘firm film commitment’ to tackle the issue of operating the Texas prison system for profit.
The petition came to light when women discovered the screenplay, a copy which was dontated to all 580 of the state’s prison and jail libraries. The existence of the petition surfaced on International Women’s Day. Women in Texas face extreme prejudice in Texas and often receive extremely harsh penalties for even a small amount of drugs, including marijuana. Marijuana is legal now in 21 states.
Inside prisons, the women are faced with such horrendous conditions… the petition demands that “filmmakers begin to take the issue seriously.” Also, the petition reminds that “even here in the USA in the 21st century citizens are not safe from government oppression.”
Cinematographer, Camera and Electrical Department, Producer, Fabian Wagner, has not responded to the petition. Nor has William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment, Jasan Pagni responded with a comment.
Alan Nafzger/caption]
The screenplay “Dumbass” was penned by writer and retired professor of political science Alan Nafzger.
The premise of the story is that, “Adam Sandler writes letters and saves numerous women from the monotony of prison life, and later when he gets into trouble with a drug cartel they return the favor by rescuing him.”
The film would be set in contemporary, Gatesville Texas. There are four women’s prisons located in Gatesville. And of course, Texas is famous for putting everyone in prison for a long sentences for little or no reason. The number of women in Texas prisons has tripled in the last ten years, as mass incarcerations have proven profitable to not only the state but also profitable for an array of business interests.
Writer Alan Nafzger has called on Governor Greg Abbott to, “end the prison industry.”
Recently, “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak spoke out against the Texas system and put a good word in for mercy and forgiveness out on social media. “How nice for those who have lived such exemplary lives that they can express glee when others have their lives ruined by a mistake, real or perceived,” Sajak tweeted last month.
During the winter’s deep freeze, the The Marshall Project, exposed the horrible prison conditions, “Inside Frigid Texas Prisons: Broken Toilets, Disgusting Food, Few Blankets.”
The petition states, “Why don’t we have the ‘Adam Sandler’ character… sending letters to women in prison and being their friend and trying to help them adjust, giving them hope… and when they get out of prison he picks them up so they don’t have to ride the smelly bus back home… but his pickup truck is a junker, smoking and sputtering … worse than the bus. But his heart is in the right place… He’s the last “chivalrous” man on earth.”
Fabian Wagner has not commented on the script, thus far. A statement is expected soon.
Professor Nafzger has made a short treatment of the project available online.
He has made the finished script available at for select filmmakers.
Adam Sandler of Happy Madison Productions has expressed interest in the screenplay.
Fabian Wagner is a Cinematographer, Camera and Electrical Department, Producer known for Overlord (2018), Game of Thrones (2011), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), Sherlock (2010) and is represented by William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment, Jasan Pagni.
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Think about this a moment. When you’re in the video store scanning the backs of DVDs, don’t you know immediately if you want to watch a film or not? You’re making a split-second decision based solely on the concept. This is exactly what the producer does prior to requesting a script.
This is why the Idea is so Important
This may seem unfair to the screenwriter, but it’s just part of the business.
This is the dilemma a producer faces. Screenwriters want them to read the entire script, but producers are overwhelmed with requests from various sources to read material. So, instead of reading all 200 scripts they ask for a one-sheet and read this instead. Similar to your trip to the video store, the producer already knows what he’s looking for, so why should he read all those scripts? Instead, he’ll read the 200 or so one-sheets, quickly eliminate 90% and then out of the remaining 10% will request 1-3 scripts to read.
USC film school teaches it, the screenwriting story structure gurus teach it, all film execs and producers are aware of it even if it’s only in a vague way, and even screenwriters who claim not to follow this structure pattern (and I could name names!) do it to some extent or another. Now you’re going to learn it.
1. Basic film story structure: the Three-Act, Eight-Sequence structure.
There are two pillars to these techniques we’re going to be working with:
Section four is a brief look at THE BUSINESS: a few basics about the job of screenwriting for those who are interested, some suggestions on how to get a book agent, some discussion and resources for those interested in indie publishing, and other writing and publishing resources.