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The cartoonist, Harvey Pekar, supported himself by working as a clerk at a veterans hospital, while making a now famous underground comic strip. The story of his life was told in the well-rated 2003 movie, American Splendor, starring Paul Giamatti. Draft a treatment for a prequel.
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Creating a draft treatment for a prequel to "American Splendor," focusing on Harvey Pekar's early life and his beginnings as a cartoonist, sounds like a fascinating project. Here's a basic outline to get started:
Title: "Before Splendor: The Harvey Pekar Story"
Genre: Biographical Drama
Logline:
This prequel to "American Splendor" delves into the formative years of Harvey Pekar, chronicling his early struggles, quirky obsessions, and the genesis of his groundbreaking underground comic strip.
Synopsis:
Set in Cleveland, Ohio, during the 1950s and 1960s, "Before Splendor" follows young Harvey Pekar, a son of Polish immigrants, through his formative years. The story captures his early exposure to jazz, literature, and the struggles of working-class life.
Harvey, an awkward yet observant young man, navigates his mundane job as a clerk at a veterans hospital while nurturing a growing passion for comic books and jazz. His unique perspective on the ordinariness of life starts to take shape, fueled by his interactions with eccentric colleagues, friends, and the bustling streets of Cleveland.
The narrative explores Harvey's early relationships, including his first marriage, laying the groundwork for his character development. His love for comic books intensifies, and he begins to see them as a medium for telling the kinds of stories he wants to tell—realistic, unvarnished tales of everyday life.
A chance meeting with Robert Crumb, a fellow comic book enthusiast, ignites Harvey's ambition to create his own comic strip. The prequel culminates with the inception of "American Splendor," marking the beginning of Harvey's journey as a cult comic book hero.
Character Arc:
Harvey Pekar's journey in the prequel is one of self-discovery and creative awakening. He starts as a disillusioned everyman, seeking purpose and meaning in a mundane world. His experiences, both humorous and heartrending, gradually shape his artistic voice, leading to the realization that his ordinary life can be extraordinary material for storytelling.
Tone:
The film maintains a balance between humor and drama, reflecting the duality of Harvey's life—its mundanity and its richness. The tone is gritty, authentic, and steeped in the atmosphere of mid-20th-century Cleveland.
Visual Style:
The visual style should mirror the raw and unpolished aesthetic of Pekar's comics. A mix of live-action and occasional comic-style animations can be used to illustrate Harvey's inner thoughts and creative process.
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This draft treatment sets the stage for a film that explores the lesser-known chapter of Harvey Pekar's life, leading up to the creation of "American Splendor." The prequel would offer insight into the origins of Pekar's unique voice and his contribution to the world of underground comics.
