THE PRICE OF APPLAUSE © ™

Written by
Paul Lawrence Kitson

A former Broadway star, nearing fifty, fights for one last shot at the stage - not for glory, but to honor his late brother in a darkly humorous journey of resilience, reckoning, and mental survival.

Every year, over 525,000 people lose the battle in their heads.

This story spans over 30 years - a life lived both on and off the stage. A life divided into three acts: three versions of the same man - his childhood, his prime, and his reckoning. 

For many, the stage is a refuge, but it’s also a drug. It gives, and it takes. It’s the only place where some people feel truly alive - but it’s also where they disappear and hide. So, what happens when the act isn’t on stage? Mental health doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t just exist in dressing rooms or under bright lights. It affects performers, nurses, teachers, students, parents - people in every walk of life. The pressure to be "fine," to keep moving, to not show weakness - it’s universal. In theatre, it’s perhaps woven into the culture. The show must go on. No matter what’s happening behind the curtain. Pain, addiction, grief, loss - they all get buried under makeup, show tunes, and the act. An act, carefully kept just out of sight of the audience.

This film is a love letter to the stage and those who dedicate their lives to it, told from the perspective of someone who has lived it, not just imagined it. 

This is for those who have fought in silence.
For those we have lost.
For those still standing.
It’s time to see the ones who spend their lives making us feel.

Because sometimes, the most important performance of all isn’t the one on stage - but the one we give in life.

Biography, Drama, Comedy, Music,

Status: Shopping

MARATHON © ™

Written by (created by)
Paul Lawrence Kitson
From the battlefields of Athens 490 BC to the Olympiad of 1896 - he ran for love, not glory.

Marathon tells the epic true story of a poor Greek man whose only chance to win forbidden love lies in the first Olympic Marathon. His journey mirrors the legendary Pheidippides, whose defiant run in 490 BC forged a legacy of valor and endurance. With no coach, no training, and everything at stake, he must conquer the impossible—not for a medal, but to change his fate and alter the course of sporting history forever.

Biography, Sports Drama, Action, Adventure, History

Status: Optioned | Pre- Production

Copyright Reg: PAu 4-240-994

MARATHON: Running with Gods © ™

By Paul Lawrence Kitson

Inspired by the original screenplay (written and created by Paul Lawrence Kitson)

An epic trilogy that celebrates the spirit of ancient Greek heroes whose valor shaped the legends of yore and the modern Olympic ethos. This tale begins in 490 BC with the warrior Pheidippides, who, under the divine protection and inspiration of the goddess Athena, runs from the battlefield at Marathon to Athens. His heroic sprint, culminating in his last breath as he cries out “Nike! Nike!”—Victory!—not only secures his city’s freedom but also sows the seeds for future legends. These immortal words, symbolizing triumph, would millennia later inspire the naming of Nike, the iconic sports brand that embodies the spirit of victory and perseverance.

“Running with Gods” captures the essence of heroism, love, and legacy but also sets the stage for the next installment, promising readers a continued celebration of the Olympian spirit. With its anticipated release aligned with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, this epic tale is poised to ignite a new generation, securing its narrative in the annals of Olympic history.

Historical Fiction, Drama, Adventure, Sport

Status: Update - early 2025