An ambitious young black woman combines her psychology degree with her love of fashion and hairstyling, and launches “The Lemon Tree”—a multi-ethnic salon and shrink’s office—set in the 90s.

First Episode Filmed. 2-Cam Script.

SYNOPSIS:

THE ADVANTAGE OF A SITCOM SET IN THE 90s?:

The FUTURE IS 100% KNOWABLE TO THE AUDIENCE BUT NOT TO THE CAST.

Completed First Episode Filmed +

13-week bible, character profile and first episode cast.

What makes "The Lemon Tree" perfect for today is:

• It's set in the 90s (1994 on) and offers storylines with 100% accurate predictions of the future
• No need to compensate for the events or circumstances facing present-day storylines
• In "The Lemon Tree", no issues are sacred, even in the pilot episode.

WE WERE AHEAD OF OUR TIME.

The Lemon Tree -- First Pilot Episode -A half-hour comedy series, created by Gene Cartwright, 1994. Gene is aPulitzer-nominated author, a screenwriter, inventor, former engineer and past Oprah guest author. https://GenecCartwrightBooks.c... —

The Lemon Tree was a real salon on Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia, CA.

In 1994, with no experience, the help of my best friend, Lance Brown, and armed only with an idea, a clunky home-style, S-VHS camcorder, and boundless determination, we set about to write, cast, produce, and direct a sitcom. In many ways, we benefitted from having no idea of how difficult this was supposed to be; and so it never seemed impossible. I'm told we were ahead of our time.

This was long before any such programs on TV or in films. The truth is, there still aren't, really.

Brief synopsis: The Lemon Tree is "A shrink's office inside a beauty salon." The Lemon Tree was once a real salon, located on Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia California. Black, white and Hispanic operators, who call themselves 'The Crew', staff our fictional LEMON TREE, with its eclectic clientele.

The Lemon Tree is more than a beauty salon—it’s a shrink's office within a salon. It's a social club, an information exchange (house of gossip)—nothing is off-limits; no subject and no one is sacred. Its patrons are young and old, and mostly—but not exclusively—female. They reflect the tenor and pulse of the neighborhood and society in every way. If it happens in real life, it happens at The Lemon Tree.

All these years ago, I was fortunate to have the indispensable assistance of my late, best friend, Lance Brown, and Kelly Choi—Gene's no-nonsense, chief assistant. We finalized a script for three episodes, created the so-called 13 episode "bible," ran Hollywood trade paper ads, cast, auditioned, rehearsed, and shot the first episode in one 19 hour shooting day.

One amazing cast member, Kate McIntyre, was a principal cast member who remains a friend to this day. Her friendship is one of the greatest results of this venture. Having no money, it wasn't hard figuring out what to pay some truly great actors and wonderful people: nothing. What we made clear was that, if the project was successful, they would reap the rewards.

What we did provide was a dream, and some great home-cooked food, catered by Lance's wife, Patricia. Oh, we also had no equipment, at least not the professional kind. I had a clunky, home-style, semi-pro Panasonic AG-400P Super-VHS camcorder (which I have in my old tech collection).

Lighting was purchased from "Home Depot," and we created reflectors using large picture frames covered in lamé fabric. Our location: the beauty salon, "The Lemon Tree" was owned by a wonderful friend, Clara Banks. When I told of her of my idea, she excitedly said yes, "use the place as you wish. Just clean up, and don't break anything," she smiled. All the heavily mirrored stations were kept in place, and were used to provide reflective angles while not reflecting our very "professional" lighting.

Still, we had challenges. A principal cast member had an afternoon flight home to Ohio that could not be missed. Her part was filmed out of sequence. Another "operator" could not come to the set until late, so I changed the script to reflect her being "late for work." We got it all done.

Although, the final production could have been more slick and polished, considering our home camcorder, Home Depot lights, and a crew made up of anyone standing around with a free hand, the impossible was made possible. We were forward-looking. Unfortunately, no one in Hollywood gave us a minute of "pitch" time, and no agent gave us the time of day. We did approach Fox Television on our own, but never heard back. That's Hollywood.

However, this experience remains foundational in our determination to not only revive this project. And we will. Giving up is never an option. With a growing body of work: twelve novels now, seven screenplays—more in progress, we are hoping to involve newly discovered talent, everyday people in the casting, financing, and production of this sitcom that is even more relevant today.

See Pilot Video Here on Stage 32 or:

THE LEMON TREE - SITCOM PILOT