The U.S. Secretary of the Interior is vying to replace the ailing Vice President. Amid his quest to introduce himself to the American public via the national media, a number of bear fatalities occur at the parks he’s in charge of managing. The secretary must decide whether to pursue the VP slot or evacuate every National Park with a bear population
W
riter Statement:
My entire life I’ve been drawn to ‘characters.’ My next door neighbor in Florida was from Medford, MA and would talk to me about WWII and the tuxedo business like I was an adult (when I was 12). The Boston-accent cuss words fascinated me and I went through life seeking great conversations with people who I thought could be movie characters.
About a decade ago, I found myself working in a senior role at the US Department of the Interior in Washington. I was a nature-loving project manager beset by policy wonks and communications pros (psychotic and Twitter obsessed).
Almost every day felt like an ‘episode’ of some sort. I knew I had to come up with a way to show the world how a federal agency operates.
I came up with this idea about a series of bear attacks that occur on one day, across multiple time zones. I wanted to show how the Secretary’s (immediate) office would manage the crisis and I added a domestic struggle, a political conflict, and an interwoven spiritual hook via the tribal connection.
Landing somewhere between State & Main, The Little Hours, and Don’t Look Up – Bear Day is a totally original story told thru the perspective of a natural resource- loving, movie-obsessed observer of ‘characters.’
Biography
Marshall Critchfield is the author of two novels and co-writer of an independent film. He has worked in public affairs for more than twenty years.
After spending four years in a senior role at the U.S. Department of the Interior, he was inspired to write "Bear Day."
Mr. Critchfield holds a BA in Humanities and a Masters of Business Administration. He is passionate about family, films, and conservation.