The Vineyard
A four episode dramatic series
The Vineyard
A four episode dramatic series
Welcome to the "The Vineyard"
The Story
A middle-aged man struggles personally and financially after the dearth of his wife while tending his small vineyard in California, Friends urge him to sell the vineyard and move on. Instead he accepts help from a young “Dreamer” fighting to bring his deported mother home from Mexico while navigating the racism that threatens his own security. As these men work the vines in the magical little vineyard, they form an unlikely friendship that challenges each others’ belief in himself, the purpose of life and what lies beyond it and that gives each other hope for the future. But that hope is threatened by others who see the future differently and a lucrative offer to buy the vineyard that puts their friendship and futures on the line. The hard choices these men make teach them that we are all connected, that life is not random and that what we do in this life profoundly affects not just ourselves but the world around us.
Hello
Discover the magical realism of "The Vineyard"
In a small California vineyard, under pre-dawn winter moonlight, George prunes dormant vines that will return to life in spring. But will he feel that renewal? Three months since the death of his wife, Clair believed there was magic in the vineyard but lost in grief, George believes only one thing - he must push on.
Casting Ideas
What we're thinking...
Casting is an art. A good casting director is a valuable collaborator, unlocking ideas as well as doors to creative, narrative-advancing choices for every role. Below are character descriptions for the major roles in "The Vineyard." Following each are ideas for actors to play these roles. They are not definitive nor do they indicate interest by the actor. The goal is to help potential partners envision the story.
George Connor
52, graying, attractive. artisan vineyard and winery owner, former novelist, now a writing teacher, he is grieving and reclusive since the death of his wife,.trying to find himself in this new reality and to keep his vineyard going. (Ethan Hawke)
Reynario Alessandro Garcia
25, a wiry, intense “wunderkind” of vineyard management and winemaking, fighting to have his deported mother returned from Mexico. He must convince George to partner with him to sell grapes and make wine. He is desperately in love with Bobby Nixon. (Froy Gutierrez)
Bobby Nixon
25, as all-American as they get, he is the surviving younger son of strict religious parents, his brother, also his protector, having died in a ATV accident three years before. He loves Rey but fearful of his parents he's now engaged to his high school girlfriend, Katie. (Brandon Flynn, Leo Woodall)
Mike & Jan Nixon
50’s, Christian Fundamentalists, locally powerful owners of a large commercial vineyard that borders George's. They are Bobby's parents and have a vision for his future. (Paul Rudd & Robin Wright)
Clair Connor
Deceased wife of George, in life an artist and visionary and George’s co-adventurer, now an elusive apparition. (Andy McDowell)
Madeline Carter
Late 40's, beautiful, real estate agent who Megan introduces to George resulting in a passionate encounter and an offer on a condo. (Catherine Bell)
Oscar Flores
72, a “garagista” winemaker, maybe a shaman, maybe not, he’s a pony-tailed, tie-dyed, wine-stained eccentric loner who takes interest in George. (Martin Sheen, Danny Trejo)
Megan
70, suntanned, caftan-ed,former magazine editor and English Department Chair enjoying OC retirement, she’s George’s life-intervening mentor. (Judith Light, Helen Mirren)
Larry
75, Megan’s suntanned, silver-haired husband, former financial manager now enjoying OC retirement in Newport Beach with all that that entails. (George Hamilton)
Diana
45, Rey's mother, hard working, smart, politically active woman who is working to get back to her son in California after having been returned to Mexico for five years.
Isobel
35, a petite, energetic Latina immigration lawyer working Homeland Security to get Rey’s mother, deported for political activism, returned to the US. (Zoe Saldana)
Location
The main location for "The Vineyard" is this small ten acre vineyard surrounded by large commercial ones in Lockwood, California. It is owned and worked by the writer and his husband.
The house, as depicted in the screenplay.
The winery, as depicted in the screenplay.
The character of the vineyard itself changes mood and emotion with the season, as depicted in the screenplay. Here fiery...
...here ethereal...
...here ready for grapes to become wine.
Script, Synopsis, Budget & Schedule
We've done our homework!
A schedule and budget for "The Vineyard" are available to facilitate serious consideration of this project by viable collaborators. Compiled by producer Penny Styles we are happy to share this information along with the full four episode script by Vincent Sassone upon request. A twenty-page synopsis is also available. Use the "Contact Us" feature below to request this information.
Why "The Vineyard"
The world needs stories like this now.
Life has changed dramatically in the last several years. Politics divides us and while technology has given us great power it disconnect us from each other. "The Vineyard" is the story of the great power of nature to not only connect us to our world and each other but to what lies beyond this world and our participation in it. As George, the most disconnected of all, discovers when he opens his heart to this possibility, miracles are real.