GOOD

ONES

By Kaliya WarreN

A hyper analytical young woman uses statistics to build professional and personal success. When she realizes that her formula has led her to the wrong men - she becomes determined to fall in love with the “right” kind of partner. One of the good ones.


THE FEEL

Aesthetically, the film evokes a bygone era of Hollywood romanticism and glamour.


Our lead, Sheila, serves as her own fairy godmother - transforming herself through logic and numbers. At the peak of her success, her style evokes the best of Dorothy Dandridge and Mariyln Monroe.


The music will be an eclectic mix of mid-century Doo-Wop, 70s Soul, and modern indie pop.



Get the vibe going by listening to “Why Don’t They Let Us Fall in Love” by The Ronettes



THE DIRECTOR

Kaliya Warren is an award-winning writer and director. She enjoys combining visual spectacle with well-drawn character studies. Most recently, Warren served as the Series BTS Director for Disney's OBI-WAN KENOBI, and as the cinematographer on HBO and Issa Rae’s feature doc, INSECURE: THE END.


Previously, she co-directed THE ROAD TO JUSTICE, which was commissioned for The Nation Magazine and premiered at HBO's Urbanworld Film Festival. Narratively, she was a Top-Five Finalist for Tribeca and AT&T’s Untold Stories competition, and her pitch for her feature EXPATRIATES received the $50k Fan Favorite Award. Her commercial clients have included Hulu, Vanity Fair, Delta Air Lines, and Facebook. Warren is a member of IATSE Local 600, International Cinematographers Guild.


DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

As a kid, I grew up on a diet of Disney renaissance films, John Hughes, and high-concept rom-coms. The male love interests in these films were always unattainable in some way. Maybe they were cooler, or from a different social class. Maybe they’re a player, or emotionally unavailable - or, a literal beast. As a result, the idea of “taming a bad boy” became the epitome of romance for 12 year old me.


Scientifically, this makes sense. Studies have shown that games with a 50% percent chance of reward - or, the highest level of uncertainty - create the biggest surge in dopamine levels. The idea of “winning” an unattainable suitor can create the high we think of as a spark, or infatuation.


However, as we become an adult - that level of uncertainty becomes highly unappealing. You want a real partner, an equal. Someone emotionally available, who doesn’t withhold. The problem...how do you undo a lifetime of wiring?


An inevitable part of this question becomes why and how you consider someone “unattainable.” If you’re placing someone on a pedestal - at what level do you see yourself? Throughout the script, both leads in Good Ones pursue partners they see as “out of their league.” As a result - they’re forced to examine how they truly feel about themselves.

Kaliya Warren

THE STORY

Sheila is an intense, incredibly smart kid.


She loves numbers. Building 3D charts out of legos. Reading about game theory before bed.


She decides that anything in the world can be explained by statistical analysis, and by the laws of supply and demand.


She tries to explain her findings to anyone who will listen. Her parents are wowed. Other kids? Less so.

Come middle school - the ultra cool, popular boys that she pines after? By numerical law, they're high worth, high demand individuals. Sheila concludes that unattainability = higher value.


How can she transform herself to attract guys like that?


She runs the numbers. What the most common factors that make someone desirable and cool? What colleges have the lowest female to male to ratio, to insure numerical favor?



By 29, Sheila has transformed herself into all the things she wants to be. A badass female sports agent, who uses analytics to scout the best up-and-comers. A woman who attracts the Casanovas of the world. Power-coupled up with the most sought after bachelors in town.



*To the right: real life sports power agent, Nicole Lynn.


It’s not all it's cracked up to be.


After one painful break-up with an asshole too many - Sheila resolves to only date "good guys." Partners who don't withhold. Love without power games.


Enter: Nel.


He’s perfect on paper. A sweet-hearted neuroscientist who’s crazy for her. The way she loves numers, he loves neurotransmitters.



But he lacks the confidence and swagger of the men she’s dated before. He feels like Sheila is out of his league. And she can’t generate the heat for him.


As their relationship progresses, Sheila questions what she truly needs in a partner.


Can she rewrite years of wiring, to find something different attractive?


She tries to build his confidence, in the way she built her own.

Just as Sheila accepts that she can live without a “spark” - their slow burn ignites.




Will that be enough?

THE PLAYERS

SHEILA

Sheila is a hyper analytical high achiever, in all realms of life. Social charm is a learned skill for her — but, she's learned it well. She's Cinderella'd herself into a glamorous high roller.

NEL

Nel is an earnest, highly intelligent neuroscientist. He grew up with same kind of intensity as Sheila, but never gained the same outer self-confidence. Think Henry Fonda’s energy in The Lady Eve. He could be a perfect match for Sheila — if only he believed it himself.

MUSICAL SEQUENCES

Sheila visualizes her romances through heightened dance sequences. An early relationship is pictured through then lens of a Fred and Ginger-esque, cat and mouse pursual. When she matches with Nel on an app, she imagines their courtship via early technicolor splendor.



As their relationship deepens, Nel shows Sheila the beauties of his scientific world. During a telescope date, they’re enveloped by the stars they’re gazing at. During a nighttime viewing of cell-pressed slides - they’re enwrapped by the neon visuals of the brain come to life.




SOUNDTRACK

A full taste of the eclectic, throwback feel we're going for.

PREVIOUS WORK

HULU | Key Art Campaign for TV Series REASONABLE DOUBT

Produced by Kerry Washington + Larry Wilmore

Disney+ | Excerpts from OBI-WAN KENOBI: A JEDI RETURNS Feature Documentary

Directing Reel | Full Website

THANK YOU