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by Jeff Hopkins (Author)
Esteemed Irish film maker McCardle O'Hanlon turns his back on gritty films dealing with dysfunctional families, the drug culture, gun violence, and urban crime to accept an offer to direct a big budget period costume drama. The working title for this period film is 'The Prince' and deals with the truncated life of Prince Henry Frederick Stuart the eldest son and heir of James I of England.
Casting Director Susie Posey is assembling an international cast, but the key role of Prince Henry is proving problematical. Acting on the advice of long-time friend David Anderson, O'Hanlon watches Jayden Harnett play Richard II in a College production and is convinced he has found the young man to fill the part of Prince. The rest of the production team takes convincing.
Eighteen-year-old Jayden Harnett tries to balance his personal and family life against the prospects of a film career that are dangled before him. A casting anomaly causes Jayden to be reunited with his school friend, Robert Rousseau who is recruited to join the film production. Jayden's wide reading and research draws him closer to the long dead Prince and his friend, Robert.
When principal photography concludes, O'Hanlon does a first cut and despairs at the outcome. He calls upon his old friend David Anderson for advice and suggestions. Anderson is frank and forthright in his assessment and suggests the director make significant changes to the film. McCardle O'Hanlon and screenwriter, Sherwin Wood, rewrite aspects of the script and reshoot some vital scenes with a completely different focus. Anderson suggests one whole sequence, a requirement of the film's Producers, be dumped.
The film is prepared for a gala charity premiere two weeks prior to Christmas before a world-wide cinema release on Boxing Day. Unpredictable events change everything, and Jayden Harnett stuns his family, and his former drama master with a life changing decision.
