Please Stand By (2017)

A young autistic woman runs away from her caregiver in an attempt to submit her 500-page manuscript to a "Star Trek" writing competition at Paramount Pictures.

Director:

Ben Lewin

Writers:

Michael Golamco (screenplay by), Michael Golamco (based on the play by)

Stars:

Dakota Fanning, Alice Eve, Toni Collette

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dakota Fanning	...	Wendy
Alice Eve	...	Audrey
Toni Collette	...	Scottie
Lexi Aaron	...	Self
Domonique Brown	...	Self (as Dominique 'Big D' Brown)
Brittanie Sanders	...	Self
Cindy Miyashiro	...	Self
Lara Lihiya	...	Madeline
Dan Cordell	...	Richard
Tony Revolori	...	Nemo
Blaster	...	Pete the Pup
Michael Stahl-David	...	Jack
Matt Corboy	...	TV Presenter
River Alexander	...	Sam
Matty Cardarople	...	Trivia Guy #1

Storyline

The world is a confusing place for Wendy Welcott, a fiercely independent and brilliant young woman with autism. Wendy longs to leave her group home and return to living with her sister's family and new baby girl. She is sure that in order to reunite with her family, all she needs to do is convince them of her newfound competence and abilities. As a lover of all things Star Trek, Wendy writes in her free time; so when she hears about a Star Trek screenplay competition, she seizes the opportunity to submit her 500-page script and prove her worth. However, her only problem: if she doesn't hand in her 500-page script to Paramount Pictures in person, she will miss the deadline. Wendy sneaks out of her group home and travels hundreds of miles outside her protective boundaries and refuses to allow anything to stop her from achieving her goals.

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Plot Keywords:

female protagonist | autism | trekkie | pet dog | writing a screenplay | 

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Taglines:

Boldly go.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name tags of Wendy's "Geek Squad" friends at the mall use the same font as the opening titles of Star Trek: The Original Series.

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Goofs

Paramount Studios employs a security staff with a well-guarded entrance, making this nearly impossible for Wendy to have just been able to walk onto the studio lot.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Wendy: [writing] Light. It can travel for millions of years before finally reaching its destination. It goes lonely and alone, hoping that it will reach someone. But what if it never arrives? What if it never finds a home? Because space is so vast, and time is so long, and out here, it's so easy... to get lost.

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Crazy Credits

During the closing credits, Wendy's small dog Pete finds his way back to her childhood home instead of the group home which she resided.

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Connections

References Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

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Soundtracks

So Goes My Dream
Written by Nadine Jansen
Performed by Don Cole
Courtesy of Fervor Records

User Reviews

Bitter-Sweet Good

I like Please Stand By a lot - especially the performance by Dakota Fanning as our autistic heroine is excellent. The story is here and there maybe a little too predictable and sugar candy but there is also a good shot of bitter-sweet pain. All in all a fine little flick that shows a little fairy tale embedded in every day life. My rate = 6 + 1 for Dakota's superb game.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Klingon

Release Date:

26 January 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Please Stand By

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,090, 28 January 2018

Gross USA:

$9,868

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$406,732

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allegiance Theater, 2929 Productions, Embankment Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1