Mr. Holloway’s Toy Company, Pt. 2 – Genesis

So how did this project about a man named Mr. Holloway and toys originate? Those who know me will realize that I have no heavy involvement in toys (not the kind that Mr. Holloway makes, at any rate; stuffed animals, wooden toy soldiers, etc.) and I have never met anyone named Holloway in my life.

As far as how the script came about, it began several years ago when I was still in college, when I was enrolled in a script writing class. Our ultimate assignment in the semester was to write a one-act play based on the story structuring that we had learned in class. While many seemed to already have their ideas mapped out, I had a bit of a struggle coming up with mine.

My initial idea was to have a bar setting where many mythical, holiday season beings such as Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, etc. all got together to drink, get away from the work place, and discuss how misunderstood they were. Although it seemed like a funny idea, it was hard to find a universal meaning in the story.

Then I began to look at my own life experiences, and one event that I kept looking at was when I went to the Ukraine one summer to visit orphanages there. It was quite amazing, because as I observed the children there, the whole gamut of emotions could be accounted for: kindness, innocence, and playfulness from the younger children to the hardened, bitter, and conniving traits of the older children. What happened, I thought, as I saw the differences that were wedged between the old and the young? Were the older children once like the young? Were the young children destined to become like the older ones?

And then the answer came to me as it was our final day at the camp. A young girl by the name of Sasha came up to me, crying profusely, hugged me tightly, and begged us not to leave them. She was not the only one. It was really strange, because I didn’t ever recall someone wanting me to stay somewhere that much. Probably because if I ever left someone for whatever reason, they would have someone to fall back on for comfort. These children did not have that in any area of their life. Not the managers of the orphanage. Not the older children. No one.

It was that experience that made me realize that their story must be told. All of them. I do not want to give away the story in this blog, which is why I have a link to the screenplay on this site. But I will tell you this. Mr. Holloway makes toys for orphans. He does this because this is something he knows how to do, and it is the best way he can help them. I’ve written a story about orphans and the loneliness that many of them must endure. This is something I know how to do, and the best way I know how to give. Thank you, and enjoy the blogs, script, and film when it is released.

Peace.