Hey! I’m Justin and thanks for stopping by.
I wrote a screenplay called “Eros & Amara Sol.” It was inspired by the novel Emmanuelle, Plato’s Symposium and Cosmopolis by Stephen Toulmin. I’ve written a lot of drafts (about 30). It’s ready. I’m excited to put it on the screen.
I should say upfront it’s a piece of erotica.
What inspired me about the novel Emmanuelle was how artistically it portrayed sexuality. It’s a story of a woman’s sexual advancement told with literary skill, intelligence, beauty. At times it’s even philosophical. The vision behind this movie (and limited series) is to portray sexuality in a similarly artistic, positive way.
That’s how Cosmopolis and The Symposium are involved. Cosmopolis critiques how we sometimes see the body as something “dirty” that needs to be suppressed. Plato’s Symposium offers an alternative: physical desires or sex can be married with soul.
In fact, I used an ancient Greek myth called “Eros and Psyche” as the story line.
In that myth Eros, Aphrodite’s son, was the god of sex. Psyche, Greek for “soul,” was a princess whose beauty rivaled Aphrodite’s. Despite obstacles (namely Aphrodite), Eros and Psyche fall in love and marry.
The script is basically a modern re-telling of that classic story.
It’s a story about living life from the heart. About how sex and spirit aren’t opposed but intersect. And it critiques the modern agenda that sees body and soul as dichotomous with its social implications. So, the story explores instead the idea that body and soul can be married.
Again, thanks for stopping by! Feel free to contact me here or leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.
Oh, and below you’ll find stuff about the project:
I. Story
II. Cool things
III. Marketing stuff
IV. Next steps
I. STORY
Story. back to top
1. Log-Line:
A virginal 30-year-old woman with a fear of sex and self-esteem issues auditions for a hit erotic show in NYC—her last chance to fulfill her lifelong dream to dance on stage. Will she overcome her sex phobia and low self-esteem before the show’s jealous star crushes her dream and possibly her life in the process? (A one-page synopsis is over here only if you’d like.)
2. Genre:
A steamy romantic comedy. Based on a myth. With magical realism & dance.
- Myth (or fantasy). 🧝♀️🔮🐉
- Erotica. 👄
- Dance. 💃
- Comedy. 😂
- Love story. 💞
3. Comparison to Other Flicks: (Pics)
meets
4. Themes:
- Critique of modernity.
- Philosophy of sex. (Anti-Cartesian dualism)
- Follow the heart.
5. Story Material:
II. COOL STUFF
Nine cool things. back to top
1. Purpose: Critique Modernity. An Antidote (From Plato).
Critique of modernity: False dilemmas. Haves vs. have-nots. “Mind” vs. “body.” Superior vs. inferior. How we see the “comsos” affects our “polis” (society). Much of our social division we can trace back to an unspoken idea of “cosmos.”
Plato has a way out in his Symposium: our sex drive (which is physical) can lift us up to higher places. Sex isn’t merely physical. It’s imbued with something higher.
(Renaissance philosopher Montaigne had a similar idea. In fact, I got his phrase “marry body and soul” from him. It’s funny: we can trace the Cartesian dualism at the heart of modernity to Descartes opposing Montaigne.)
Aim of this project: challenge the idea body and soul are enemies. Bring it to light. Explore its social problems: Puritanism. Materialism. Capitalism. Offer another idea: marriage of body and soul. Or beauty. Beauty can light the spirit.
I also want to make this series/movie for those of us who feel sad (or lost) in our Cartesian-capitalist culture. I wanted this kind of “outlet” when I felt lost myself.
2. Movie AND Limited Series
Censored movie for theaters. Uncensored limited series to stream.
3. Retells the Myth “Eros & Psyche”
like Black Orpheus did for “Orpheus.”
4. A Philosophy of sex!
Clash of Plato, Christian view of sex, Marquis de Sade!
Photograph: Galleria Borghese
5. Weird worlds…
A capitalist dystopia. A socialist experiment. A Fountain of Youth?
6. An Original Portrayal of Sex
Real. Beautiful. Subjective. Female gaze. Explicit. (Kinda like the movie Short Bus.)
7. Something Couples Can Enjoy Together.
Really, anyone of any sexual persuasion can enjoy…
8. Original Combo of Genres:
Erotic. Dance. Romantic Comedy. Magical/Mythic.
9. Cool Feel:
- Edgy 😳🫦 (Pushes envelope)
- Non-Puritan 🥵 (Liberating feel)
- Aesthetic 👨🎨 (Hypnotic feel)
- Cinematography 🎥 (Photography, Costumes, Sets)
- Feast for the ears 🎶 (Great music)
- Magical 🧚♀️
- Fun 🤪
- Funny 😄
- Philosophic 🧐
- Range of emotions 🎭
III. MARKETING
Posters, Trailers & Reviews. back to top
1. Posters
Poster ideas. (Eye candy inspiration over here.)
2. Trailers
A. Trailer On Theme (2:25)
(NOTE: It’s supposed to be Amara’s voice. I did the voice-over.)
2-Minute Animatic (for Concept Trailer)
B. Trailer On Story (2:57)
C. Trailer On Genres (2:05)
Fantasy, erotic, dance, comedy, love story.
3. Fake Reviews
(To give a sense of what this project is about.)
A. Fake Review From
Cosmopolis Magazine
“Pushes the envelope. Audacious. Aesthetic. Critiques modernity. Challenges Puritanism AND Materialism!”
B. Fake Review From
Entertainment Now!
“Erotica with fantasy, dance, comedy, and romance? How weird!”
C. Fake Review From
Perennial Seller Watch Dog
“The greatest blue movie ever made! Great for lovers of philosophy, of the Classics, of edgy erotica, of dance, of Woody Allen, of cinema.”
D. Fake Review From
The Montaigne Post
“A story about the marriage of sex and soul. (And what happens when we follow the heart).”
I stole the phrase “marriage of body and soul” from Michel de Montaigne‘s essay “The Apology of Raymond Sebond” (his longest essay). Another relevant essay: “On Some Verses of Virgil.” Curious title for an essay on sex, I know.
***
A little Joseph Campbell on following the heart:
(Posters ideas, trailers, and where to watch the movie… in case you’re curious.)
IV. NEXT
Next steps… back to top
1. Other Links
Only if you’re curious, this page has stuff about characters, story-worlds, theme. This is Amara’s blog (where she shares her backstory).
2. Where to Watch
You can watch the series here and stream it elsewhere. I hope to release the movie version (based on the series) in theaters, too. (I admire Jon Reiss’s ideas how.)
3. Next
Feel free to leave your email below. Be part of this awesome project.
Eros & Amara Sol 