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Saturday 27 December 2014

'Very Strange Things' - Further progress on Pilot redraft for Cast Readthrough (27/12/2014)

Another week, another update on the demo cast recording of my pilot script. My collaborator, Keith Matthews, is now getting started on changing up the third act to suit the audio-drama nature of the recording. Naturally, progress is weighed down by the business of the store during the post-Christmas sales period, but it´s nothing to get too agitated over, and with the end in sight, it shan´t be long before Town of Miracles takes flight.

I´m only getting more and more excited, dear readers!

Saturday 20 December 2014

'Very Strange Things' - Mini-update on Pilot redraft for Cast Readthrough (20/12/2014)

As you know, there will be a demo cast reading/recording of the pilot script, and Keith Matthews is working on a more theatre-friendly version of the script to work better for the readthrough, rewriting the action lines of the teleplay to be shorter, and serve more to just establish a scene for the actors to then work off of.

So far, he's about half way through the pilot script. Naturally, progress has been affected by the business of the store during the Xmas period, so this is isn't quite zooming along, but still, so far, so good, and I eagerly await the end product.

Saturday 13 December 2014

'Very Strange Things' - Drafting narration for Cast Readthrough of Pilot (13/12/2014)

As I've said before, there will be a demo cast reading/recording of the pilot script, The Town of Miracles, courtesy of my good friend/co-worker, theatre veteran Keith Matthews. Right now, with the main cast assembled (more on that in the future, so stay tuned...), Keith is working on a more theatre-friendly version of the script to work better for the readthrough, as well as for the audio recording.

This is mainly in rewriting the action lines of the teleplay to be shorter, and serve more to just establish a scene for the actors to then work off of, and not be as actively running or potentially intrusive as in the actual TV version of it. Below is a photo of what's been drummed up thus far (bearing in mind how busy the store is right now because, well, 'tis xmas). The reading is, as I've stated before, due to take place sometime after the holiday period (circa New Year or early January) to enable both time for rehearsals, so there will be more updates on this in the coming weeks as the drafts progress and the rehearsals begin. So, have fingers crossed for the very, very best!


Tuesday 9 December 2014

'Very Strange Things' - 'Town of Miracles' concept art for 'Dan Clancy' (9/12/2014)

Some more concept sketches courtesy of the dear Mr Ceranic of the show's leading man, Dan. This was also, alongside the previous bit involving Risa,  the same piece I gave to Keith for the demo readthrough coming in the near future.
(c) Luke Ceranic 2014.

Saturday 6 December 2014

'Very Strange Things' - 'Town of Miracles' concept art for 'Risa Velton' (6/12/2014)

Some more concept sketches courtesy of the dear Mr Ceranic of the show's leading lady, Risa. This was also the same piece I gave to my collaborator Keith for the big demo readthrough.




(c) Luke Ceranic 2014.

Wednesday 3 December 2014

'Very Strange Things' - 'Town of Miracles' concept art for 'The Angel' and 'The Plague Doctor' (3/12/2014)

Courtesy once again of Mr Ceranic, here are some concept sketches relating to two other key characters in the pilot script for the series, Town of Miracles.

In Drawing A) we have the mysterious 'Angel' who performs the titular miracles, as well as somewhat inaccurate concept art of the episode's antagonist, 'The Plague Doctor', here as a more literal mad physician. This was down to a slight miscommunication in what he thought I meant by plague doctor. In Drawing B), now we have more fitting artwork of 'The Plague Doctor', here with a distinctly Burton/DelToro-esque spin on him.



(c) Luke Ceranic 2014.

Monday 1 December 2014

'Very Strange Things' - 'Town of Miracles' Pilot script preview (1/12/2014)

What follows down below, dear reader, is the first ten minutes i.e. the First Act of the 'V.S.T' pilot, dubbed The Town Of Miracles, now in its fourth draft (ninth if you count the old Black Bells version of the pilot as well, which I discussed in the entry on the show's origins). 

Naturally, the blog isn't quite formatted the same as my script writing software, so please excuse the odd formatting, and hope you get a good gauge of what sort of adventures our duo will be in for.

Enjoy!
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VERY STRANGE THINGS

      PILOT: THE TOWN OF MIRACLES


TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. CHILDREN'S WARD - DAY

At the far end of a Children's ward in a hospital, marked by the cartoons on the wall and colourful curtains, a family grieves. AN ELDERLY DOCTOR, a pudgy wolf, departs somberly, leaving two parents, a MOTHER and FATHER lion, mid 30s, dour and mournful over their young SON, no more than about 8, pale and thin in the bed.

MOTHER

Oh, angel...

SON

Mum... the hurting's stopping...

FATHER

Heh. Even now, you're still a little soldier, aren't you?

This attempt at humour soon has the Father on the verge of tears, even more so than his wife, who grips her Son's wispy hand in hers.

MOTHER

Oh angel, please don't go! Mummy wants you to stay so bad! Please...

She can't restrain herself and bursts into sobbing. Seeing this, the Son weakly, shakily, stretches out his hand, and places it on his mother's arm. Noting this, she ceases her sobs and envelops him in a great big hug. The Father faintly, meekly smiles, a few tears streaming down his cheeks.

FATHER

My little soldier...

Just then, the heart monitor stops beeping, and instead becomes one long whine of white noise. The boy's arms loosen, and he slumps in his mother's arms. Her sobs resume as she slowly, gently, lays him back. Just then, as the Father finally is about to succumb to the tears too, he sees something in the distance; a sort of light. Vivid and golden. It draws closer to them. She tugs on his wife's arm:

FATHER

Annie...

Pulling back, rubbing the tears from her face, she too sees it;

MOTHER

It's... it's her.

As it draws closer, the light gives way to the form of an ANGEL; a vixen with long, blonde locks in a flowing robe, her wings grand. The Mother is at a loss for words as it approaches her son, and looks down on him, pityingly. Gracefully, she reaches out her hand, and touches the Boy's head. Slowly, the boy regains colour, his hands flickering back to life. The parents are utterly shocked.

SON

Uuugggghhhhh... Mum? Dad?

MOTHER

Oh, angel! My sweet, precious little angel!

She lunges, snaring her Son in her arm and pressing him close, tears of joy streaming down her face. The Father then hugs them both of them, sharing in her wife's relief. While the Angel vanishes in a flash of golden light, behind them, DOCTORS and NURSES pull back the curtains and observe the miracle, all completely stumped and baffled by the incredible sight before them.

CUE TITLES:

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE - day

Inside a train traveling through evening countryside, pulling along a little suitcase is a golden vixen, early 20s, with flame red hair, RISA VELTON, dressed casually. She looks down at her smartphone, reading over a message;

NEW ASSIGNMENT - MEET COLLABORATING AGENT on 7:45pm GNR Express. MALE, DARK HAIR, EARLY 30S, CARRIAGE 7.

Pocketing it, she scans the aisle for anyone matching that description, and casts upon several possible candidates.

DAN

You know, the whole 'standing still and glancing about' thing is kind of a dead give away of being a secret agent, love.

Perplexed by the remark, she turns to face its origin; a green fox, matching the description given to her, sat casually towards the front. He wears a long leather coat and a wide brim hat. This was DAN CLANCY.

DAN

Miss Velton, I infer?

RISA

Y-yes. (Clears throat) I was sent here to meet-

DAN

No offense, but just to get this out of the way, I stipulated I didn't want a partner on at least more than one occasion. Twenty, I think. Oh well, orders are orders I suppose.

Risa looks at him, both befuddled and somewhat indignant at his wisecrack, as she takes a seat opposite. He removes his hat and plops down by his side, quickly running a smoothing hand through his hair.

DAN

Dan Clancy's who I am, and I'll make the pleasantries short. Oh, and do cut the 'sirring', if you don't mind. It really gets grinding.

RISA

Look... sir. I don't wish to come off as insubordinate, but I can assure you, I am not some thick airhead out of the academy.

DAN

I'm not questioning your competence, love. I question your purpose.

Risa's cool demeanor begins to wear thin, and her tone gets a little more fiery.

RISA

Excuse me? Look, I didn't ask for this transfer, but I'll have you know, my track record-

DAN

Your old spy games aren't quite in the same league as The Bureau's work, are they now?

Though she is visibly getting irked, Risa regains some composure.

RISA

I know what you do is of a highly sensitive, and honestly, peculiar nature. Among the regular service, you lot are gossip-fuel.

DAN

Well, at least reputations are being maintained, I see. Do you believe what you've heard?

RISA

Very comic book-y, I found. All things weird and wonderful, right?

DAN

That may be the greatest understatement in the history of understatements, Miss Velton-

RISA

Look, if all you're going to do is play around, you might as well drop it and just call me Risa.

Dan mock-feigns hurt.

DAN

Ooh, fiesty. Well 'Risa', what we, or rather mainly I, to be more exact, do is dissect the kind of things that most people think  only lives within the plastic confines of a screen. You name it, I've probably seen it.

RISA

Oh yeah?

DAN

Try me.

RISA

Mutants?

DAN

Last Tuesday in Essex. In fact, they seem to be rather frequent.

RISA

Ghosts?

DAN

Vengeful couple in Cardiff. Big old insurance scam.

She playfully strokes her chin, and smirks, pondering a moment.

RISA

How about a great big jelly bean?

DAN

Not yet, but some spiked sugar in Kent did turn a few unfortunates into fire breathers, if that's any consolation. Ah, goody!

His attention diverts, off screen, to the snack trolley.

EXT. TRAIN - later

The train speeds past the underpass of an ancient stone bridge.

DAN (v.o)

So, Petersbrough. Quaint, quiet little town in mid England. Nothing unusual until about a month ago.

INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE - same time

Munching a sandwich, Dan throws the wrapping aside and continues. Risa nibbles on some cookies.

DAN

Young couple. Newlyweds in fact.

int. living room - night, flashback

We no briefly return to the scene, a darkened sitting room where there's a large, blackened hole in the wall and loose wires sparking.

DAN (v.o, cont'd)

Faulty wiring gets them electrocuted. Not exactly everyone's dream honeymoon.

Then, a group of PARAMEDICS, three bears in fact, rush into the room after busting the door down.

DAN (v.o, cont'd)

Then, just as the paramedics arrive on scene, what do you know?

RISA (V.O)

Something of excessive oddness, I guess?

The Paramedics look on, bewildered, as a golden light shines vibrantly before them. They almost back away in awe.

DAN (V.O, CONT'D)

Zingo! A living breathing angel, no less, appears and revives them. It's like the accident never happened.

END OF FLASHBACK:

EXT. TRAIN - same time

The train speeds on across a small river, the sun just about to set.

DAN (v.o)(cont'd)

Of course, doctors are baffled and it could've been chalked up as a hoax, but then our winged friend starts reappearing.

INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE - SAME TIME

Dan chews down the last bit of sandwich, brushing his lap.

DAN

Old grannies with bad hearts, sick children, even the odd dumb teen who thought of pulling some crazy move on his bike.

RISA

Each time when someone was facing death.

DAN

Tippity-top marks!

Risa is now even less amused.

RISA

You know, I can learn to live with freaks of nature, but patronizing me isn't going to earn you any favours.

Dan exaggeratedly feigns mock hurt in response.

DAN

Patronizing? Me? Never!

EXT. PETERSBROUGH TRAIN STATION - Night

Later on, now dark, the train slowly pulls into a quaint little country station, an old embossed sign proclaiming the town's name.

INT. PETERSBROUGH TRAIN STATION - same time

The train halts, and the passengers disembark, Dan and Risa being among them.

DAN

Anyway, now we go in, scope things out, and then see what exactly the real trouble is.

RISA

And said trouble will come up before too long, I assume?

Suddenly, they hear two car horns blare, and then a crash outside, followed by screams.

DAN

Oh, so you're psychic now, eh?

They rush outside, as do a number of the departing passengers.

EXT. PETERSBROUGH TRAIN STATION - same time

Outside, a Crowd builds up around a smoking pile from two crashed cars. Inside, they hear the moans and groans of pains of the DRIVERS inside.

CROWD PERSON #1

Somebody help them!

CROWD PERSON #2

Call an ambulance!

CROWD PERSON #3

Won't someone get them out?! They'll burn!

Arriving on the scene, Dan hands his hat to Risa, and runs over to the wreckage.

DAN

Everybody, stand back!

However, just as he reaches them, one of the bonnets explodes, engulfing the cars in a ball of fire, forcing him back.

DAN

Gah! Rats!

Just as he shakes it off, he spots something; the golden light from earlier, piercing through the orange flames. As it draws closer, the crowd begin to hush up and stare on in awe.

RISA

What....

Gradually, as it nears, the light dissipates, and the Angel is fully visible. Walking slowly, she drags the Drivers, a Badger and Wolf, from out of the wreckage, grimacing and coughing, yet utterly unscathed.

DAN

Well I'll be...

RISA

A miracle.

The Angel withdraws, allowing some of the crowd to draw in and check on the Drivers. Risa finally rejoins Dan's side, and they look on as the Angel clasps her hands, almost in  prayer, and vanishes in a flash of light. Recovering, Risa is bewildered, but Dan is intrigued.

RISA

That.... That-

DAN

Yes. Truly something is it not?

Just then, they hear a cold cackle overhead. They and the crowd turn in the direction  of it; from atop a tall statue is a tall, dark figure, wearing a blackened getup akin to a PLAGUE DOCTOR, the mask sporting ominous red eyes.

PLAGUE DOCTOR

Such ignorant misfortunates! Do you so pathetically think that such a great tiding has bestowed upon your paltry little town, without even the slightest sort of upset?

He raises up a hand high, red smoke begins to swirl around him as he walks on open air with total tranquility. Everyone is stunned, Dan only further intrigued.

RISA

What-How?

PLAGUE DOCTOR (CONT'D)

Be warned, the cosmological balance has been grossly unhinged! Till she is driven out, only total damnation awaits you!

He makes an aggressive swish, and every window nearby shatters, terrifying the crowd.

PLAGUE DOCTOR

Be warned!

Then, the swirling smoke envelops him, bursting into a great plume of fire. People down below shield their eyes, though Dan tries to peek through his fingers. However, as the fire disseminates, he sees nothing; the Plague Doctor has vanished. The duo, like the crowd, look on, perplexed.

RISA

Well, what a way to start, eh?

Dan's face narrows with a sort of determination.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT ONE

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