1. Catskin
Catskin is an English fairy tale, collected in More English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs. The tale kicks off with a wealthy lord who wants a son to inherit all his land. When his wife gives birth to a daughter he refuses to lay eyes on the infant. The unwanted daughter turns fifteen and the lord is finally able to get rid of her by marrying her off to the first man who pops by, who just so happens to be a nasty old fella. The daughter confides in a local hen-wife who gives her the advice to make some difficult demands before she agrees to the wedding. These demands are: a coat of silver, a coat of beaten gold, a coat of feathers and a little cat fur number as well (don't tell PETA). Father and suitor provide these and to the daughter's distress: wedding bells commence. The daughter escapes just in time by putting on the catskin coat which lands her a safe job in the castle kitchen. One night a ball is held and Catskin is allowed to attend. She puts on a the silver coat and goes to the ball. A young lord falls madly in love with her but she runs away before he can find out who she really is. Another ball takes place, same thing but she wears the gold coat. Another ball takes place and she wears the feather coat. Only this time the lord follows her and finds out her true identity. They end up married and live happily ever after.
How To Make It Awesome: On the surface this story doesn't seem awesome at all. A chick runs away from home, puts on a bunch of coats and woos a guy. The film would have to emphasize her role as a runaway, trying to escape her cruel and abusive father. Let's make the father a man of considerable status: the head of a famous gangster mob, for example. Catskin's escape route is the anonymity of the big city where she gets a job working for some dictator chef who wants nothing more but to work her to the ground. Theres also the ever looming threat that shell be found, maybe someone in the kitchen discovers her secret identity. When she notices a young lord she decides he will provide her with the perfect safe haven. If she can marry him she'll have permanent protection from her father's crew. The film should depict her as an active pursuer rather than a passive wearer of coats.
Dream Team: Catskin: Jennifer Lawrence (think Hunger Games and Winter's Bone) Father: Nicolas Cage
Young Lord: Channing Tatum (think The Vow) Director: David Fincher (think The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo)