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THE KIDNAP & RANSOM OF SAMUEL L. JACKSON

THE KIDNAP & RANSOM OF SAMUEL L. JACKSON
By Roger Lewis

GENRE: Other
LOGLINE:

Three angry African American actors take Samuel L. Jackson hostage, believing that he has monopolized the market for black males in feature films.  However, their desired plan to create acting opportunities for themselves backfires when the renowned actor’s kidnapping causes all of Hollywood to shut down.

SYNOPSIS:

CLARK SIMMONS is a Los Angeles African-American actor with problems booking steady work. Add in Clark’s troubles with his girlfriend DAISY and the untimely death of his mother and it’s easy to understand the struggling actor’s anger and depression. He’s ready to explode.

Enter: SAMUEL L. JACKSON, the accomplished African-American actor with the amazing domestic box office record of $4.5 billion in combined revenues – number one all time.

Clark meets Samuel L. Jackson at a special director’s film screening. During the Q&A session, Samuel L. Jackson flippantly answers Clark’s question and embarrasses him. Afterwards, Clark and fellow actor-friends, STEVEN and RON, run into the actor in the parking lot and get into an argument with the actor. Tensions rise and a scuffle ensues. The situation further escalates out of control when Samuel L. Jackson slips, hits his head, and gets knocked unconscious. Panicked, Clark, Steven, and Ron place the actor’s body in their car, driving off before anyone else notices.

Back at Clark’s apartment, the actors debate what to do next. When Samuel L. Jackson awakens, he is confused and shocked as to find that he is at Clark’s home. Still reeling from his fall and possible concussion, he threatens to call the police. The actors try to calm him down to no avail. He struggles to leave and the actors tie him to a chair so as to force him to listen to what has happened. Angry, Samuel L. Jackson spews out insults at Clark who loses it. He shouts back, threatens to kill him, and gags Samuel L. Jackson to stop his insults. Steven and Ron try to explain that it was all a mistake, explaining Clark’s behavior. They share how Hollywood has focused on Samuel L. Jackson at the expense of all other black male actors. When they remove the gag, Samuel L. Jackson starts up again. Frustrated, they replace the gag and move the bound actor to Clark’s closet. There they read iconic Samuel L. Jackson movie-lines back to him as to demonstrate their acting abilities and preach to him how they have been unjustly screwed by his widespread popularity. Finally, Clark comes up with a solution as the actors design and send a series of ransom notes to the LAPD from various terrorist organizations (i.e. al-Qaeda, Taliban, IRA, Kurdistan Freedom Fighters, MILF) with a list of demands that baffle the police and media.

Enter: QUENTIN TARANTINO, the celebrated “slash” Hollywood screenwriter-actor-director-cinematographer-producer known for his quirky off-screen personality and non-linear film style.

Quentin hears of the SAMUEL L. JACKSON kidnap and ransom as he returns to Los Angeles from France where he was in the finishing stages of production on INGLOROIUS BASTERDS. Concerned over his friend’s safety and also needing the actor to perform the voice over narration for his final film edit, Quentin contacts the local authorities. When he learns that a Philippine rebel organization, MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), is suspected of being involved in Sam's kidnapping, Quentin quickly forms a paramilitary team of actors JOHN TRAVOLTA, MICHAEL MADSEN, and TIM ROTH to rescue the abducted actor.

Tasha Lewis

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