A young man suffering from severe mental illness attempts suicide. His friends and family try to save him from his potential demise.

SYNOPSIS:

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GENERAL SYNOPSIS:

Thomas is running out of time. The demons in his head are catching up to him.

“The Group” (Brett, Paul, Jenny, and “The Robbins”) gather around Thomas to help him survive his day-to-day existence. But Thomas’ denial of his illness and opposition to treatment have made it virtually impossible for them to help him.

Love, hope, romance, survival, sacrifice, and a true desire to make mental pain go away are central themes in “Not About Me”.

Thomas wants to be “normal”. But what is normal? Perhaps Thomas has all the answers to these questions, but just doesn’t know it. Yet.

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CHARACTERS:

THOMAS:

Thomas sufferers from Bipolar I disorder as well as OCD. His extreme manic episodes make it very difficult for his loved ones to handle him and understand him. His history includes multiple suicide attempts and hospitalizations.

Thomas relies heavily on his brother, Brett but wants more than anything to live a “normal” life. He most especially does not want to return to the mental hospital he has been committed to many times.

Thomas drives the action of the story and whatever situation he gets himself into, his friends and family are along for the ride - and it’s not always an easy one.

Dream Actor: Timothée Chalamet

BRETT:

Brett is a Chef, Thomas’ brother, and close friends with Jenny and Paul.

After Thomas and Brett’s parents died when they were very young, Brett took over the parenting role for Thomas.

Brett is having a secret affair with Paul and feels a bit of jealousy towards Jenny due to her special connection with Thomas.

Brett’s savior complex leads him into situations where his actions may make his life and other character’s lives very difficult.

Dream Actor: Jonathan Groff

JENNY:

Jenny is a librarian and has a very special connection with Thomas.

She is Paul’s fiance and Brett’s friend through his friendship with Paul. She seems to understand Thomas’ condition on a very deep level and wants more than anything for Thomas to be OK, sometimes at a detriment to herself.

Her relationship with Paul is rocky. She loves him but feels that he is emotionally unavailable and she needs something more from him that he may not be able to give her.

Dream Actress: Lilly Collins

PAUL:

Paul is a cop, Jenny’s fiance, and is having a secret affair with Brett.

Paul does not seem to understand Thomas’ condition and believes that Thomas is holding Brett back from living a happy life.

He loves Jenny and Brett equally, but as his relationship with Jenny begins to unravel, he turns to Brett with the hopes of the two of them being together.

Paul is tough, but has a very soft, gentle side to him that comes out unexpectedly.

Dream Actor: J. R. Ramirez

"THE THERAPISTS" - "THE ROBBINS"

"The Robbins” are a therapy due that run a mental health clinic which Thomas visits frequently. They are husband and wife who care very deeply for Thomas and want him to succeed in life.

At first, Thomas does not fully trust the Robbin’s - seeing them as just more therapists he is being forced to talk to. But as time goes on, they become one of the most important figures in Thomas’ life.

“The Robbins” have a very unique look on life and bring out a side of Thomas that nobody else seems to be capable of. They are full of love, support, and encouragement.

Dream Actors: Peter McRobbie and Judy Dench

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PILOT SYNOPSIS:

During Thomas’ 21st birthday party, a manic episode reaches such a high that he attempts suicide. Flashback to four months prior, where the story begins.

Thomas is discharged from the hospital (a prior visit) - with the support of “The Robbins”. Paul learns that Brett lost his job at the restaurant and tells Brett he wants to take their romantic relationship to a new level.

Jenny and Paul share a romantic moment which is disrupted by a Paul accusing Jenny of only caring about Thomas and never giving him any concern. Paul punches a wall and Jenny screams while Thomas overhears.

Thomas tells Brett about the fight, and Brett confronts Paul. Paul asks Brett why he seems to only care about Thomas and not him. Brett reiterates that it will always be about Thomas and that Paul needs to accept that.

When Thomas runs away, Jenny finds him and they share a magical moment - talking about how Thomas can be anything he wants to be and isn’t controlled by the labels put upon him. They dream up fantasy worlds and challenge what the word “normal” means. Thomas tells Jenny he will do anything to not return to the hospital.

Hours later, Paul apologizes to Brett. He expresses how much he really does care about Thomas. Brett explains to Paul that Paul can’t be with both him and Jenny. Paul has to choose one of them, and soon.

Flash forward - day of the birthday party. We pick up right where the opening left off: Thomas’ suicide attempt. Thomas attempts to stab himself but Paul wrestles to knife out of Thomas’ hand. Blackout.

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THIS PILOT HAS NOT BEEN FILMED. YET.

"NOT ABOUT ME" - A NEW TV SERIES