*Bruce’s House: An Epic 80’s Heavy Metal Adventure*, a raucous coming-of-age comedy perfect for bygone nostalgic, music-driven slate. In early 1980s Minnesota, metalhead teens Bruce, Eric, Beaver and their crew of senior classmates scheme to crash a Mötley Crüe concert and throw the ultimate keggers, outsmarting their strict principal in a whirlwind of fake media passes, ill-fated “Spanish Fly” pills, and Van Halen-fueled chaos. Think *The Dirt* meets *American Pie* with the rebellious spirit of *Dazed and Confused*.
W
riter Statement:
Bruce’s House is a deeply personal letter to growing up in 1983 Minnesota — the mullets, the keggers, the backyard chaos, and the unbreakable bonds of the Class of ’84. Inspired by real friendships and the devastating loss of my friend Tim to leukemia, the script captures the wild, unfiltered joy and rebellion of teenage heavy metal life while quietly honoring the ones we lost too soon.
Over the past year, I’ve poured everything into refining this story, drawing from memories, music, and the people who lived it. Family and friends have responded with enthusiasm, encouraging me to share it with the world. I’m not a seasoned screenwriter, but I’m passionate about the authenticity of this world and open to collaboration and feedback that helps bring it to life.
Whether this becomes a feature film or remains a heartfelt tribute on the page, my goal is simple: to celebrate the music, the mischief, and the friendships that defined us — and to give Tim one more moment in the spotlight he deserved.
Biography
Eric D. Patton, a 1984 Lakeville High School graduate, grew up in the Twin Cities and served in the U.S. Air Force (1986–1990). He earned his degree from Mankato State University and owned a recruiting business for 25 years before semi-retiring five years ago to start a food truck and substitute teach. Married with four adult children, Eric began creative writing two years ago, channeling his 1980s Minnesota experiences into Bruce’s House, his first feature script.