"Pony Bush" Saves First-Time Writer Brandon Murphy

The Weinstein Company:: "Pony Bush" Saves First-Time Writer Brandon Murphy
In a real-life rags-to-riches scenario, Dimension Films has picked up "Pony Bush," a country-club comedy from first-time writer Brandon Murphy.

The story follows a deadbeat but lovable character named Chucky "The Poodle" Fife and his sidekick, Honey Comb Love, who turn the snobby Pony Bush club upside down. While Chucky teaches spoiled kids to lose with style, he competes for the heart of the club's heiress before her uptight fiancée gets a piece of her fortune.

Murphy is a waiter in Bisbee, Arizona, who has tinkered with writing. "Pony" was his first stab at a feature screenplay.

"I just qualified for poverty-level insurance the day before I sold the script because I don't make a lot of money at the restaurant, so this whole thing has been surreal," Murphy said.

He sent the script to the ex-girlfriend of his Tulane University roommate, who happened to be working at management/production company Benderspink.

Benderspink saw the potential and, over several months, helped develop the screenplay. Murphy then met with talent agency ICM, which sent the script out. It sold eight days later.

Murphy plans to move to Los Angeles next month to pursue filmmaking full-time.

Broken Lizard is in negotiations to produce the project, which as yet has no director attached.

Dimension declined comment.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter/Borys Kit