jona musa productions

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2007-09-25T20:45:00.004-04:00

We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams.
Wandering by lonely sea breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;
World losers and world forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world, forever, it seems.

(Arthur O'Shaugnessy)

Contact

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jona musa productions
email: jonamusaproductions(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lizbeth Finn-Arnold
email: lizfinnarnold(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sandra Longo
email: sclongo(at)usa(dot)net

About

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In March 2004, New Jersey filmmakers Sandra Longo and Lizbeth Finn-Arnold met in a coffee shop to talk about filmmaking and motherhood. From that spirited discussion, Sandy and Liz decided to pursue a joint project about the comic joys of motherhood. They optioned the exclusive rights to Andi Buchanan's book, Mother Shock: Loving Every (Other) Minute of It, and jona musa productions was born.

Sandy and Liz went on to develop Andi's material into an original TV show called Breeding Ground.

But their collaboration did not end there. Sandy and Liz currently have several other television and feature film screenplays in development.

In Development

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TELEVISION:

Wit's End (half-hour comedy)
Comedy is a seriously funny business.
A group of struggling comics inherit a vacant comedy club in the heart of New York City. Will the club help these aging comics finally achieve the fame, fortune, and love they seek? Or is it time for this crew to grow up, settle down, and pursue more "normal" endeavors?

Under the Same Roof (half-hour comedy)
Can you move on without moving out?
An unhappy husband and wife decide to legally separate, but think that living in the same house will allow them to maintain their comfortable financial status, while also avoiding a disruption in their children’s lives. But is it really possible to have separate lives under the same roof?

Ames Harbor (one-hour drama)
Every SMALL town harbors BIG secrets.
After spending time in prison, Patience Stanley returns to her hometown, Ames Harbor, hoping to rebuild her life as a licensed massage therapist. But Ames Harbor is a small town with small-minded residents, mainly concerned with protecting their own INTERESTS and their own SECRETS.

Breeding Ground (half-hour comedy)
An eclectic group of Manhattan moms lean on each other for friendship and support as they navigate the turbulent waters of motherhood and marriage. In the spirit of "Sex and the City," Breeding Ground is a provocative, intelligent, edgy, adult comedy that explores the modern mating habits of a new breed of women. Click here for synopsis, cast of characters, and episode guide.

FEATURE FILMS:

Relative Distance (drama)
How far should you go for family?
Rebecca Brennan begrudgingly embarks on a cross-country odyssey with her estranged alcoholic father in search of the half-sister she never knew existed. Along the way, Rebecca learns some hard truths about herself and gains some insight into her father's past.

Advanced to Second Round -- 2007 Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition (Only top 10-12% of 4000 scripts submitted made it to the distinguished Second Round)

The Grotto (drama)
Seeing is believing.
In the 1950s, a journalist investigates alleged miracles at an Iowa parish, and discovers The Grotto – a shrine built by the parish’s first priest as a place of spiritual contemplation, renewal, and ultimate healing. Based on a true story.

Old Bags (comedy)
In between playing canasta, planning fundraisers, and spoiling their grandchildren, a tight-knit group of feisty elderly women decide to take drastic measures when one of their husbands becomes increasingly mean and mentally unstable. But are these sweet old ladies -- with their bad knees, bland diets, and 8 o'clock bedtimes -- really capable of murder?

Breeding Ground

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LOGLINE:
An eclectic group of Manhattan moms lean on each other for support and friendship while navigating the turbulent waters of motherhood and marriage.

SYNOPSIS:
JOSIE BALDWIN is a married thirty-two-year-old editor who lives and works in Manhattan, and recently became a first-time mother. Pre-baby, Josie had never met a challenge that she couldn’t conquer. She was reading and writing by the time she was two; winning piano competitions by the time she was ten; and had a master’s degree by the time she was 22. Moreover, like many women of her generation, Josie believed that she “could have it all” and “do anything she wanted.”

However, that was before motherhood entered the equation. Life just got a lot more complex and complicated for Josie Baldwin. She quickly learns that managing a full-time career and taking care of a baby is not as easy as she assumed it would be. Josie is joined on her journey by her husband, BENJAMIN, who is himself overwhelmed with the competing demands of fatherhood, marriage, and his career.

Amidst this turmoil, the usually independent Josie uncharacteristically joins a mom’s group, humorously dubbed the “THE BREEDERS’ BRIGADE”. At first glance, Josie appears to have nothing in common with these diverse creatures: HANNAH (44) is the crunchy earth mama. DEBBIE (27) is the miserably reluctant mother of twins. TERRY (36) is the most untraditional mommy of all -- the gay father. RENEE (29) is the model of maternal perfection. In addition, VIV (30’s) is the sexy, single mom who lives her life on her own terms.

Despite their obvious differences, The Breeders’ Brigade members share the common bond of new parenthood. Their candid and uninhibited conversations in the park expose the dark, sexy, humorous, and often complex world of motherhood, where women struggle to nurture their babies, AND maintain their own identity, AND balance ambitions, careers, homes, marriages, and other relationships.

Breeding Ground is a provocative, intelligent, edgy, adult comedy that explores the modern mating habits of a species that desperately, and generally unsuccessfully, strives for “happily ever afters”. Breeding Ground is not a feel-good ode to sentimentalized motherhood or a sappy family sitcom. Because motherhood is a mature topic; rated R for raucous, raunchy, and REAL.

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Breeding Ground Cast of Characters

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JOSIE BALDWIN (early-30s) -- Josie is a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, an editor, a writer, a blogger, a pianist, and a hell of a “juggler” who lives and works in Philadelphia. Josie is an overachiever who excelled at school (received a masters by age 22) and trained at the Boston Conservatory as a classical pianist. But as a new mother, Josie no longer knows who she is or where she belongs. She has a lot to learn about motherhood.

BENJAMIN NUSSENBAUM (mid-30s) – Josie’s husband, Ben, is a second-year medical resident struggling to keep up with the competitive, younger residents at the prestigious University Hospital. Meanwhile, at home he is adjusting to first-time fatherhood and trying his best to be a sensitive, supportive, and model modern husband. He’s not always successful.

THE BREEDERS’ BRIGADE:

HANNAH RACHEL FINKELSTEIN (early-40s)– Founder of “The Breeders’ Brigade”, Hannah is a crunchy, earth mama who is outspoken, brash, and curses like a trucker. While taking a break from the world of academia, Hannah is focusing on raising her son, and making the world a better, safer, cleaner, less-Republican, and more spiritually-fulfilling place.

DEBBIE TRAVIS (mid-20s) -- Debbie is a struggling and overwhelmed stay-at-home mom to five-month-old twins, and step mom to two resentful and vindictive pre-teens. Once confident, sexy, andimpulsive, Debbie finds herself becoming the boring, nagging, bitchy, suspicious wife that she swore she would never become.

TERRY MAINES (mid-30s) -- Terry is a stay-at-home married dad, and happens to be gay. He has assumed full-time caretaking responsibilities for his adopted daughter, while he figures out what it is he really wants to be when he grows up. Terry appears to be “one of the girls”, yet he also possesses a decent amount of masculine tendencies, including his love of sports, his inability to remember details, his slovenly dressing habits, and his inattention to proper housekeeping.

RENEE BENNETT (late-20s) – Renee is African American, beautiful, and poised. She appears to be the role model for “natural” mothering. However, underneath her cool, calm exterior Renee is dealing with her own demons. She may appear to have it all – good looks, good job, good husband, good baby, and freaking excellent metabolism – but things are not always as they appear.

VIVIAN EDEN (late-30s) - Viv is a sexy, single mom, erotic novelist, and owner of a small sex boutique for women, called THE GARDEN OF EDEN. Smart and sophisticated, Viv has an eight-year-old daughter, yet generally is not interested in joining playgroups. Viv is strong,independent, and not afraid to take care of business -- any kind of business -- by herself.

Breeding Ground Episode Guide

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PILOT EPISODE -- Like A Virgin
With new beginnings, comes multiple climaxes.
While mourning her old identity and lost libido, Josie Baldwin navigates the turbulent waters of new motherhood. With assistance from an eclectic group of moms, her beloved husband, and an old philosophical mentor, Josie is able find her bearings, as well as rediscover her sexuality.

Episode 2 -- Disappearing Act
Want to see a magic trick? Have a baby, and instantly disappear!
A visit from an old friend, from her old life, leaves Josie feeling insignificant and non-existent. Hannah attends a university function and feels alienated from her peers. Renee’s super-nanny keeps everything running efficiently without her, making Renee feel invisible in her own house. Debbie is snubbed by the other soccer moms at her stepson’s soccer game. In making a scrapbook about Katelyn’s adoption, Terry fantasizes about Katelyn’s birth mother. Viv secretly blogs under a pseudonym (Sexymama), and Josie and her begin an online friendship.

Episode 3 – The Good Mother
What makes someone a Good Mother?
Josie struggles with breastfeeding, continuing through it, even though it is excruciatingly painful and difficult. Hannah and her militant breastfeeding friend make it even harder for Josie to consider giving up. Terry joins an adoption network and wonders if two dads will be enough for his daughter. Worn down trying to juggle work and motherhood, Renee looks to her doctor to prescribe a magic pill that will get her back in top form. Debbie’s stepkids make her feel like a bad mother, constantly comparing her to their own mom. Sexymama (Viv) advises Josie on “finding her own path.”

Episode 4 – Work in Progress
Nobody’s perfect; especially not mom.
See Josie work. See Josie work from home. See Josie realize that babies DO NOT belong at business meetings and that she is indeed an IDIOT. Debbie has a meltdown, and realizes she got herself in too deep, too fast. Terry feels like a failure next to Truman, but can’t decide what he wants to do with his life. Renee makes a minor mistake at work, and beats herself up about it. Hannah is the voice of reason, reminding the group to hang tough, and to forgive themselves for their imperfections.

Episode 5 -- I Feel Pretty
Mothers do not need to look like models to be model mothers.
After five months, Josie wants to lose the baby fat once and for all and fit into her skinny jeans. Viv convinces her, and hence the Brigade, to join a gym, with supervised day-care. Debbie gets a new tattoo to honor her twins. Renee begins re-decorating her home in order to surround herself with beauty. Viv complains about not being able to meet any normal guys, or ones who can see past her beautiful exterior. Terry obsesses about the large and unsightly birthmark on Katelyn’s back, and considers plastic surgery to remove it.

Episode 6 -- Opinions R Us
Too many moms – spoil the broth.
During the holidays, Josie’s mom and mother-in-law offer way too much unsolicited advice. Meanwhile, Josie is contacted by Philly Parent regarding her writing. Viv takes Hannah to look at potential space for her natural parenting bookstore/café. Renee is shocked when her mom confesses that she was hospitalized for depression shortly following Renee’s birth. Debbie gets unexpected advice from an unexpected place – Sam’s ex-wife. Josie finds out that Viv is the “Sexymama” blogger.

Episode 7 – Point of No Return
Life is just a series of random accidents, incidents, and events.
Under Viv’s expanding influence, and increasing unwanted pressure from Yip, Josie realizes that she wants to quit her job and start writing full-time. Debbie has an epiphany after her family is involved in a car accident. Renee is still in a funk, but is shocked and insulted when her mom suggests that she might be depressed. Terry decides to start taking night classes in massage therapy. And Hannah gets the flu and realizes that her husband and baby CAN survive without her.

Episode 8 -- Sweet Dreams Are Made of This
Life has worn everyone down.
Just when Josie decides to start “writing when the baby sleeps,” the baby decides to stop sleeping. Meanwhile, to celebrate their anniversary, Josie and Ben excitedly head out to a fancy hotel for their first night without the baby. Debbie passes out from dehydration at the gym, and begs the doctor to hospitalize her so she can get a break from her hectic life. Renee finds herself too exhausted to get out of bed. Raj lets Hannah know that he isn’t completely thrilled by her co-sleeping philosophy. With Truman working overnights, Terry suffers from bouts of insomnia. Viv’s daughter has her first slumber party, leaving Viv free to have her own “sleepover.”

Episode 9 -- Everytime You Go Away
There comes a time when every mommy has to cut the cord.
Josie begins leaving the baby with a babysitter for a couple mornings a week, and has a tougher time adjusting to freedom than she thought she would. In an unexpected turn of events, Josie meets Viv’s literary agent who encourages her to write a book about motherhood. Renee and James get away for a romantic weekend alone in Bermuda. Hannah is spending so much time attached to Nader, that she finds she can’t even go to the bathroom alone. Debbie fears that she’s becoming too clingy and needy, and is determined to find her old self-reliance. Terry has nightmares about Katelyn’s birth mom taking her away from him and Truman.

Episode 10 -- Biting Off More Than You Can Chew
You have to know your limitations.
Between editing, writing, blogging, mothering, and practicing for her first recital in three years, Josie is feeling so overwhelmed, that she begins to experience unexplained pains in her neck, jaw, and teeth. Unable to eat or keep anything down, Renee realizes that she may be pregnant. As inventory starts to arrive for her shop, Hannah goes on a junk food eating binge. Debbie and Sam go shopping for a sports car, but soon realize it isn’t a practical family car. Viv is pressured into “baking” for the PTA fund-raiser, and immediately regrets her involvement.

Episode 11 -- False Positive
If you get a second chance – take it.
Awakened in the middle of the night by a fire alarm, Josie and Ben contemplate whether waking a sleeping baby is worse than staying in a potentially burning building. Also, Josie has a pregnancy scare of her own. Renee has her ultrasound and learns that there might be something wrong with her baby. Todd has a panic attack before his first exam. Debbie suspects that Sam is cheating on her. Hannah loses her usual cool when her elderly widowed mother suffers a fall. Viv’s daughter begins asking her about sex, and about the identity of her father.

Episode 12 -- Band of Mothers
It is the battle scars of motherhood that bonds women together.
Josie attacks preparations for the baby’s much delayed christening/naming ceremony as if she were planning a military invasion. Meanwhile, she desperately tries to find time to work on the book proposal for her agent. As she ponders her place in the world, Josie suddenly feels a deeper connection with all of the women who have ever given birth or mothered a child. The Brigade celebrates a “Mom’s Night Out” with wine, food, laughter, and tears. They discuss the battles they have won, their humiliating defeats, and the wars that are yet to be fought.

** BEAT SHEETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EPISODES 2 – 6, UPON REQUEST.
Email: jonamusaproductions(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lizbeth Finn-Arnold

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Lizbeth is a freelance writer, blogger, and independent filmmaker. She earned a certificate in film from New York University and worked on several films produced by Kevin Smith's View Askew Productions. She acted as the Co-Coordinator for the NJ Filmmakers Group (a member salon of AIVF) and was a founding member of a local filmmaking co-op called Exit 131 Films.

She has written several original television pilots and TV spec scripts and has placed as a finalist in various writing contests.

Lizbeth recently completed a writing assignment for Discovery TV, and is currently editing a feature documentary about elderly female friendship called The Bluebelles.

Her freelance writing has appeared in print in Brain, Child, Pregnancy Magazine, Nurturing Magazine, and Welcome Home and online at Literary Mama, The Imperfect Parent, Alternet.org, and AOL's TV Squad.

Lizbeth was born and raised in Monmouth County, New Jersey, where she still resides with her husband and two children.

Sandra Longo

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In May 2004, Sandra completed production on her directorial debut, a feature length documentary entitled - What's So Funny? Since its world premiere at the prestigious Rhode Island International Film Festival in August 2004, the film has screened at numerous other festivals and won Best Feature Documentary at the Golden Colorado Film Festival in 2005.

In October 2006, Sandra completed her second documentary, Snake Hill. The film had its world premiere at the Palm Beach International Film Festival. Snake Hill tells the story of one man's heroic 22-year search for his grandfather's remains in a forgotten and abandoned cemetery beneath and beside the NJ Turnpike.

Sandra is currently in post-production on her third documentary called The BlueBelles. This film provides an intimate look at the friendships of an eclectic group of women who range in age from their mid-fifties to their early eighties.

In addition to co-founding jona musa productions, Sandra is also the founder of Chrysalis Productions, and co-founder of Like-Minded Entertainment.

Before becoming a documentary filmmaker, Sandra spent over a decade in the corporate world. She also worked for several years as a personal coach whose specialty was helping others to pursue their life's dreams. As a result, she felt compelled to pursue her own dream of becoming a filmmaker.

A native of the Midwest, Sandra has lived throughout the United States and Bermuda. She now resides near the Jersey Shore with her husband and two children.