The First Man
by Eugene O’Neill
THE BACKGROUND
Eugene O’Neill is one of America’s greatest and most established playwrights. His play ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night’ is universally regarded as the greatest American play of the 20th Century. ‘The First Man’ is one of his earlier and most creative works.
It’s a tale of male pride, family jealousy and maternal longing.
The cast of the film are all established actors from stage and screen, who are acquainted with the work of Eugene O’Neill. Many of them have recently played in the west end production of the play and are extremely excited to be a part of this production.
THE FILM
Set in the repressive world of 1920s mid-America, The First Man is a compelling tale of love, devotion, selfishness and the assurgency of the inner primeval male instinct.
It also explores themes such as the struggle to have children in later life that are even more relevant today and will resonate with modern audiences. This is why we feel translating this story to cinema is a must, and that the film will move and entertain, as well as be thought provoking.
THE STORY
Following the tragic death of their two young daughters, Martha and Curtis Jayson make a pact to never attempt to have more children. For ten years they immerse themselves into their work, conducting anthropological field trips around the world. But when they eventually return home to Connecticut, they find themselves suffocated by provincial life and the small-town attitudes of the Jayson family.
Vicious rumours, that Martha maybe having an affair with Curtis’s best friend Bigelow are rife within the Jayson family and on the eve of Martha’s 39th birthday, as Curtis plans to embark on their most ambitious expedition yet: an arduous five year mission to Outer Mongolia: to search for the origin of man known as ‘The Missing Link’ – Martha reveals she is about to have a baby.
Award Winning film Producer/Director Hardeep Giani and a team of UK based film-makers intend to produce an expert adaptation of the stage play, suitable for broadcast on television. Along with Anthony Biggs, Artistic Director of the Jermyn Street Theatre which brought this play to the UK, and a team including DOP Dave Symmons, Director Matt Pitts-Tucker and Editors Tracy Joss & Mike Steel – all industry professionals in television, assembled to produce this film to the highest quality.
The Teams last film ‘Rose, Mary and Time’ won over 45 awards and was shown in over 150 film festivals worldwide.
