A new screenplay by James Lantz.

Log-line: A disabled twelve-year-old dealing with the death of his twin sister makes a new friend and, with him, attempts to track down a mythical Lake Champlain Monster known as "Champ."

“There would definitely be an audience for I Wanna Be Your Backpack, in line with E.T. and Stranger Things.

This is a strong premise that uses the frame of a creature feature to metaphorically speak to the experiences of two lonely young outsiders finding friendship in each other. The lead characters of Ohle and Knox are lovable and real, their mix between precociousness and naiveté helps to anchor the script’s POV and emotionally engages us from the start. Ohle in particular stands out as a character; his early confusion and processing of his sexuality and gender identity and his experience of disability are appropriately textured through the script without feeling heavy-handed.

Additionally, Ohle and Knox's dialogue, and the dialogue of the townspeople in general, is well-rendered, specific, and hilarious, reading like a cross between classic childhood adventure films like E.T. and more heightened small-town fare like Fargo or Twin Peaks. Great examples of the script's specific voice are whenever Ohle and Knox are discussing sex (obviously with no idea what they're talking about). Finally, the setting of 1990s Lake Champlain leaps off the page, creating an eerie, semi-folkloric quality to the story, while rooting it in a grounded and authentic sense of place.”

Script coverage, The Black List, Oct 2022

“Hilarious imagery and magical realism make this feel like a dark children's book”

Add’l script coverage, The Black List, Oct 2022

Below: select storyboards by Isaac Prevatt.