Detroit Rounds
MUGS CAHILL
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LOGLINE
When three black veterans grieving the suicide of a friend gather with the dead man’s father, the four men must put aside inner turmoil to find in each other the hope and strength to fight another day.
SYNOPSIS
Detroit, 1976. A down on his luck former auto worker, grieving the suicide of his son on the anniversary of his death, invites the son’s three fellow Vietnam vets to watch the historic, final Ali-Norton fight. The night hangs heavy with the weight of the father’s bottled-up anguish, a make or break gambling debt, and a union strike looming in the morning that puts the guys’ jobs on the line. With each man agitated by his own inner turmoil, yet striving to maintain unity, the apartment becomes a powder keg on the brink of altercation as ferocious as the fight playing out in the ring.
In the buildup to the evening and during a crucial broadcast blackout during the fight, the men find respite as they break off into the familiar and the mundane. The neighborhood bar is owned by a female survivor of the ’67 riots, who soothes, scolds, and protects like an alpha lioness. A loyal clientele of veterans, the disabled and blue collar workers gather at her bar with a sense of acceptance and a sigh of relief.
In the bar, the apartment, and the factory break room, as recollections of tribulations and regrets unfold and current challenges are confronted, the characters are reminded that those shared experiences and unbreakable bonds provide the hope and strength needed to help each other to grieve, to comfort, and to carry on together.
LOOKBOOK
Mugs Cahill . Writer
One of the founding partners of Against Type Films LLC, the company in pre-production on the feature film Detroit Rounds, Mugs has been a finalist in Final Draft Big Break, The Writers Lab, Sundance YouTube New Voices, and Hollyshorts screenwriting competitions. Her writing has been workshopped at Stowe Story Labs, the Stowe Writer Retreat, and Rocaberti Writer Retreat/Spain. She’s presently a writer on the ISA Development Slate and a Sundance Collab Creator. After studying philosophy at Boston College, Mugs graduated from Trinity University with a B.A., Economics and has a post-graduate degree from Musician’s Institute. She lives in Los Angeles with her wife, producer Deidra Dwyer.
Noelle Hubbell . Producer
Starting her career in the industry at Panavision, Noelle transitioned to Production Coordinator on TV series including Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Superstore. She has produced several award-winning short films, and she most recently worked on the Olivia Wilde feature Don’t Worry Darling. Noelle is presently in production on the Kenya Barris reboot of Cheaper By the Dozen starring Gabrielle Union.
Deidra Dwyer . Supervising Producer
With a production career that started in set decorating across multiple media, Deidra spent the past 15 years in production accounting on TV series including Jimmy Kimmel Live, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Parenthood, and the soon to be released limited series Old Man, starring Jeff Bridges. Deidra produced the award-winning short film Contrition, and most recently worked on the Olivia Wilde feature Don’t Worry Darling.
Haskell V. Anderson . Executive Producer
An active member of the theatrical community, including the original stage production of Rounds for which he received the NAACP Image Award for best supporting actor. A veteran of numerous television and film productions, Haskell starred in the feature Kick Boxer which grossed more than $50 million. He recently starred in the award-winning short film Heartland from director Jahmil Eady, and is in production on the feature The Guillotine.
Julie Edwards . Associate Producer
With more than 20 years of marketing experience in brand management, product launch, public relations, new business development, and integrated marketing and sales, Julie has created successful campaigns and facilitated milestone achievements for companies including Walt Disney, Universal Studios, Nokia, and Brightline/Virgin Trains.
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