Redefining LGBTQ+ storytelling through bold, cinematic narratives where love, power, and fate collide in a neo-noir landscape.
"More Going Down" – Awarded Stage 32 Double Recommend (Top 1%)
Dennis Manning crafts bold, cinematic noir where love is dangerous, power is seductive, and fate is inescapable. His work blends the grit of crime thrillers with the haunting depth of doomed romance, redefining LGBTQ+ storytelling for the modern era
Specialization in neo-noir crime thrillers with complex LGBTQ+ characters.
We are pleased to announce that on this round of Festigious, you won Screenplay of the Month, Best Thriller Screenplay and Best LGBTQ Screenplay for More Going Down. Congratulations on your continued success, and we hope to see it produced soon.
The Woman On The Bench
*A Greenlight Coverage Recommended Screenplay
"The Woman on the Bench" is an emotionally charged drama blending love, memory, and loss through the unique perspective of Margaret, an elderly woman lost in her memories. Set against the backdrop of a small town, the film intertwines her fading reality with those around her, creating a poignant reflection on aging, family, and acceptance. With elements of magical realism, the film explores universal themes of love, time, and the human condition. Think Still Alice meets The Glass Menagerie with a touch of Moonlight.
Logline & Synopsis
•An elderly woman, lost in the memories of her long-dead husband, sits on a park bench waiting for a bus that will never come. As her mind slips further into the past, the people around her struggle to accept the truth she refuses to face—that time is not waiting for her.
•Exceptionally effective emotional resonance. Moments of joy, sorrow, regret, hope, and closure evoke strong responses. The ending is profoundly moving
•The story explores Margaret's bittersweet world of memories, as well as the struggles of those around her like her frustrated son David who wants his mother back, the kind shopkeeper Mr. Thompson, his discontent wife Gina, and Margaret's lifelong friend Officer Dylan who is marrying his boyfriend, Marco. There are lighthearted moments when Margaret's fantasy world collides with reality, but also poignant scenes about the endurance of love and the resilience of the human spirit.
Themes
•Grief and Memory:
The heart of Margaret’s journey as she tries to live in a world where the past feels more real than the present.
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•Family and Acceptance:
David’s struggle to accept his mother’s decline, and the pain of watching her live in a world that no longer exists.
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•LGBTQ+ Acceptance:
Officer Dylan and Marco’s storyline shows love transcending societal norms, contrasting Margaret’s entrapment in the past.
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•Time and Reality:
The screenplay blurs the lines between past and present, questioning how much our memories shape our current reality.
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•Score – Original music and incorporation of Barry Manilow songs tie nicely into Margaret's memories and connection to her late husband Michael. The music enhances the emotional resonance.
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In the end, the film explores the complex tragedy of loving someone lost in their own mind while celebrating memories that sustain us and the ties that transcend our finite days on Earth. It is a story of family, community, and the things that matter most at life’s end.
The Main Characters
•Margaret: The aging woman who is the emotional center of the story, trapped between past and present. The central character, Margaret is caught between the past with her beloved husband Michael and the present. She frequently slips into her fantasy world, struggling to let go of her memories. Her journey is one of finding peace and readiness to move forward
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•Michael: Margaret’s long-deceased husband, who only appears to her. He is her tether to the past.
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•David: Margaret and Michael’s son, who struggles with the emotional burden of his mother’s decline. His arc involves learning to let go and understanding that his mother's peace is what truly matters.
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•Officer Dylan and Marco: A couple preparing for their wedding, their present-day love contrasts Margaret's lost romance.
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•Gina and Mr. Thompson: Minor characters in the restaurant scene who highlight societal discomfort around LGBTQ+ relationships. Gina struggles to view her own declining marriage.
Why Make This Film, Now?
The hook that sets "The Woman on the Bench" apart is its emotionally charged exploration of memory, love, and loss through the unique perspective of an elderly woman trapped in her past, while life around her continues to move forward. Here’s what makes it stand out:
•Blending Fantasy with Reality: The story weaves Margaret’s memories into the present, blurring the lines between past and present.
•Magical Realism Through Music and Flashbacks: Margaret’s connection to her past is enhanced by the use of music (Barry Manilow songs), creating a sensory, immersive experience for the audience.
•Emotional Power and Universality: The screenplay taps into deeply relatable themes of love, loss, and family, offering a poignant reflection on aging, the passage of time, and the resilience of the human spirit. Margaret’s journey resonates emotionally with audiences of all ages, as it speaks to the universal experience of watching a loved one slip away, both physically and mentally
The Woman on the Bench is a deeply emotional and poignant story that explores love, loss, and the unbreakable bond between past and present. With themes of family, memory, and acceptance, this screenplay offers a powerful, tear-jerking experience that will resonate with audiences of all backgrounds.
Now is the perfect time to bring this unique and heartfelt story to life. If you’re moved by Margaret’s journey or intrigued by the emotional depth of this project, I’d love to discuss the potential for collaboration.
The Woman on the Bench stands out due to its delicate blending of fantasy and reality, its emotional resonance, the juxtaposition of old and new relationships, and its deeply human exploration of how memory shapes identity. These elements provide a fresh and touching perspective on themes of love, loss, and the inevitability of time, making it a distinctive and poignant narrative that has strong appeal for production.
Let’s create something unforgettable together.