Zoe Milenkovic, Writer 

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2024, American Film Institute, Screenwriting Award

Project Type: Feature 

Genre: Historical, Drama, Comedy

Length: 108 pages 

Field of Science: Astronomy

Stage: Development 

Synopsis: 

A historical dramedy set in Prague, in the early 17th century– the last year of TYCHO BRAHE’S life.

JOHANNES KEPLER is a humble math teacher who theorizes about the cosmos, but lacks the data and resources. He gets wrapped up in an apprenticeship with Tycho, a larger-than-life Danish royal who has the means but not the mathematical skill to back it up.

Johannes and Tycho strike up an agreement, Tycho will provide access to his DATA, if Johannes writes a defense of a geocentric, “Tychonic” model of the solar system (which Johannes knows is wrong).

The data being so lucrative to exploring Johannes’s own theories, he takes the job. Thus begins his journey into the sideways world of Tycho. Royalty, wealth, enemies, and yes-men. Tycho sports a golden prosthetic nose which he changes out for each extravagant dinner party, he has a pet moose, and a penchant for wine and strange elixirs.

As the men grow closer, their relationship becomes more twisted. Steeped in jealousy and EGO. Johannes, now stuck under the strict control of a narcissistic royal, must find a way out. Will he stoop to Tycho’s level? Or do something even worse?