Pieces of April: The Shooting Script

Written over a period of three years, picked upand shut down three times before it wasfinally "greenlit," Pieces of April became aSundance Film Festival 2003 favorite, capturingthe attention of critics, festival moviegoers, and arecord sale to distributor United Artists. Markingthe directorial debut of Oscar®-nominatedscreenwriter and novelist Peter Hedges, the moviestars Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson, and DerekLuke, with Sean Hayes and Oliver Platt.

A poignant and funny film about a day in thelife of a family trying to create new memoriesand make peace with the old, the acclaimed,independent film was shot in 16 days, mainly inNew York City's Lower East Side. The story centerson 21-year-old April Burns, who has neverbeen on good terms with her mother and is convincedby her boyfriend to host the familyThanksgiving dinner. While April discovers heroven is broken and seeks neighbors to help, theBurns family drives toward the city recountingApril's failures. Although his wife persists inundermining his plans, April's father is determinedto create a bonding experience for thefamily, including April's perfect-daughter sister,younger brother, and forgetful grandmother.

In the esteemed Newmarket ShootingScript® Series format, Hedges includes an introductionand scene notes, written exclusively forthis edition, as well as the complete shootingscript, his original opening of the screenplay, stills,and cast and crew credits. Also featured is aninsightful conversation with Hedges on his acting,playwriting, and film career.