Lesson 8

[Nat Melvin]

Natalie’s Pitch Fest Pitch:

WIL: Just working on the assignment

Tell us your credibility.
Hi, my name is Natalie. I’m an optioned screenwriter with two projects in development.

2. Tell us your genre and title.
I have a YA Adventure/ Fantasy script titled “Stolen Senses”

3. What is your one or two-sentence hook?
"Stolen Senses" follows Sola, an orphan Hawaiian teen who inherits Zeus' power and inadvertently triggers an ancient curse, thrusting the divine and mortal realms into chaos. She must embark on a perilous journey through the worldwide mythology realms, forging alliances among warring pantheons of gods to restore balance and prevent the destruction of both realms.

4. Please give your one or two-sentence answer to each of these questions:

A. What is the budget range?
For the pilot episode: $5-6M.

B. What actors do you like for the lead roles?
Sola – Zendaya
Kama – Tony Cox
Hecate – Nicole Kidman
Anteros – Theo James
Ku – Dwayne Johnson
Hera – Elisabeth Moss
Zeus – Jason Momoa

C. Give me the acts of the story.

Teaser: Motivated by her quest to uncover the truth behind her mother's disappearance, Sola ventures into forbidden magic, leading her to an enigmatic encounter in the underworld.

Act 1: As the looming curse threatens both divine and mortal realms, Kahuna Uli warns Apollo against gifting Sola her mother's necklace, containing Zeus' stolen power. Disregarding the caution, Sola seizes the necklace, propelling herself to Mount Olympus.

Act 2: Tensions escalate as news of the curse spreads among the gods, sparking turmoil. Hecate plots to usurp Zeus, enlisting Anteros to allure Sola to Olympus. Meanwhile, Kahuna Uli dispatches Kama to safeguard Sola on the Hawaiki Island of Gods.

Act 3: Amid mounting tensions, Ku, the Hawaiian God of War, discovers Sola's pivotal role in preventing an impending conflict. Tasking Kama with eliminating her, Ku's actions set the stage for further strife. Anteros, employing his charms, complicates matters for Sola.

Act 4: With alliances shifting and betrayal lurking, Ku rallies the Elders for war against Zeus. Hecate and Hera seek powerful alliances while Sola, under Anteros' influence, inadvertently expels the gods' ancient artifacts, leaving them vulnerable to the encroaching curse.

Act 5: Uli unveils Sola's destiny and the dire consequences of wielding the necklace's power. Despite her efforts to rectify the chaos, Sola's actions only exacerbate the situation. Desperate, she harnesses the necklace's power, hurtling herself, Kama, and Anteros into an unknown mythical realm.

D. How does it end? (setup /payoff).
At the end of the pilot episode, Sola is propelled into her journey of self-discovery and the monumental task of uniting the warring pantheons of gods to restore balance to the divine and mortal realms.

[Renee Miller]

Renee’s Pitch Fest Pitch
What I learned doing this assignment is how to craft a quick pitch to pitch to producers that will engage them and hopefully request the script.
Credibility:
Hi, I’m Renee. I’m an optioned screenwriter specializing in female-driven stories.

Genre and Title:
I have a supernatural horror titled “Veil of Shadows.”

Hook: The dual mystery of the cult’s intentions and Veronica’s ancestral ties to it leads to a compelling blend of investigative drama and supernatural horror as Veronica races against time to thwart a prophecy poised to plunge the world into darkness.

Budget Range for the Pilot:
Between $1 and $5 million

Actors for the lead roles:
Veronica – Tatiana Maslany from Orphan Black
Samuel – Daniel Kaluuya from Get Out and Black Mirror
Father Malachi – Ian McShane from American’s Gods and Deadwood
Dr. Isabella Stone – Tandie Newton from Westworld and Line of Duty

Acts of the Pilot:
Teaser: Veronica’s mother is killed by members of the cult, who then kidnaps Veronica so they can sacrifice her and fulfill a prophecy to awaken the ancient deity, Aeloria.

Act 1: During an investigation of a corrupt CEO, Veronica discovers cryptic symbols in the CEO’s journal and the same symbols at her mother’s grave.

Act 2: Digging into the symbols and her murdered mother’s past, Veronica awakens ancient spirits of the ancient deity and sets the prophecy in motion.

Act 3: Veronica teams up with Dr. Isabella Stone, a disgraced archeologist and expert on symbols, to help her uncover the nature of the mysterious symbols.

Act 4: As Veronica continues to investigate the symbols, she discovers her name in an ancient tome and a picture of her mother and Father Malachi among a group of cult members.

Act 5: Veronica and Dr. Stone go to confront Father Malachi about the cult and his involvement in it. Before he can explain, Samuel, the current cult leader posing as a lost follower, is thrown, battered, and bruised from a car in front of Samuel’s house.

How does it end:
The pilot ends with Veronica, Father Malachi, and Dr. Isabella Stone bringing a battered and bruised Samuel into the house with more questions.

Credibility Questions:

Why this?
Supernatural horror continues to captivate audiences, craving stories that blend reality with the mystical, especially when tied to deep-seated familial and cultural myths.

Why now?
In an era where questioning reality and exploring one's roots has become more prevalent than ever, a series combining these themes with horror presents a timely exploration of fear, identity, and the supernatural.

Why me?
With a background in creating female-led narratives and being deeply intrigued by supernatural and horror themes, I bring a unique voice and perspective to breathe life into the eerie, mysterious world of "Veil of Shadows."
This series promises to entertain and challenge the viewer's perception of the supernatural and their connection to history and destiny.

[Jerry Robbins]

Jerry Robbins Pitch Fest Pitch
What I learned doing this assignment is that a pitch fest seems to have a lot more to say and know. This would probably be really hard, and I would have to keep notes in front of me at all times/
This is what AI come up with for the rest. Better than I can do.
Pitch: Robob Revolution
Brand: I’m a produced TV writer who specializes in science fiction.

Genre: Science Fiction
Title: Robob Revolution
High Concept: Robots with human brains (robobs) fight for equal rights in a world where humans are also integrating with AI.
Transformational Journey:

Alexia King: From corporate loyalist to questioning her role in a system exploiting robobs.
Cipher: From peaceful leader to potentially embracing radical tactics against human oppression. Major Story Hook: A murdered Robinia executive, a rogue scientist with a dark secret, and the truth behind the robob creation process threatens to ignite a full-scale war.
Comps: It’s Westworld meets Battlestar Galactica. Westworld explores the ethics of artificial consciousness, while Battlestar Galactica portrays a humanity fighting for survival against a robotic uprising. Robob Revolution takes both concepts one step further, with sentient robots demanding rights and humans grappling with merging with AI.

Why This?

Relevance: The rise of AI and automation fuels discussions about the future of work and human-machine interaction. This series explores these themes through a captivating narrative.
Unique Twist: While robots with human brains have been explored, Robob Revolution adds a layer of complexity with humans integrating with AI. This creates a unique perspective on the conflict and moral dilemmas.
Action & Emotion: The fight for rights fuels thrilling protests and potential violence, intertwined with the emotional journeys of Alexia and Cipher as they question their allegiances.
Why Now?

Technological Advancements: The rapid progress in AI makes the concept of sentient machines and human-machine integration more relevant than ever.
Societal Concerns: There’s growing public interest in the ethics of AI and its impact on humanity. This series taps into those concerns in a thought-provoking way.
Why Me?

Experience: As a produced sci-fi writer, I have a proven track record of crafting compelling stories within this genre.
Passion: I’m deeply invested in exploring the future of AI and its impact on human society.
This show has the potential to be an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of a future where the lines between human and machine blur, with high stakes and relatable characters.

• This reply was modified 12 months ago by  Jerry Robbins.

[Jeff Chase]

Jeffrey Alan Chase’s Pitch Fest Pitch

What I learned doing this assignment is how important it is to have and be able to lay out my hooks that will form the basis of my pitch.

1. Tell us your credibility:
Several screenplay contest placements
SAG-AFTRA actor on IMDB
Multiple Recommended scripts with professional coverage

2. Tell us your genre and title:
Christian Thriller
The Backpack

3. What is your one or two sentence hook?
What would you do if you discovered a backpack that had the power to save souls?

4. One or two sentence answer to each of these questions:
– What is the budget range?
I believe the budget to shoot the pilot should be in the $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 range.

– What actors do you like for the lead roles?
Henry Cavill for Jonah

– Give me the acts of the story.
Teaser: Set up Jonah getting hit by and IED, Abel being killed, Jonah charged with war crimes, Kane being possessed.
Act 1: Set up Jonah discovering the backpack, his issues and major conflict that he’s on the run.
Act 2: Jonah finds the backpack, saves the life of a woman with an item from it, meets trucker James who is affected by an item Jonah pulls from the backpack. Jonah meets traveling nurse Katherine.
Act 3: Katherine saves Jonah’s life, Jonah meets Gino/helps him with an item from the backpack to have the courage to dig up evidence on police corruption.
Act 4: We learn more about Kane who is hunting Jonah. We meet Jonah’s ex-wife and homeless center priest, Father Zeke and learn about their conflicts.
Act 5: Jonah is now determined to learn who created the backpack and why. He narrowly escapes Kane’s attempt on his life. Jonah is visited by an angel who sets him on his new path.

– How does it end? (setup / payoff).
Jonah is visited by an angel who lets him know God isn’t done with him.

[Phyllis Strong]

Phyllis’ Pitch Fest Pitch

I learned that a pitch is best when short and to the point, with answers prepped for likely questions.

Hi, I’m Phyllis Strong, a produced WGA television writer. Today I have a 1-hour Grounded Sci-Fi series called THE PRICE OF YOUTH. It’s a story that answers the question, what would happen if the rich and elderly could transfer their consciousness to hosts half their age?

Are there any questions?

The budget range will be on the lower to middle end of today’s episodic production budget.

For the tech mogul, Peter, I’m thinking of a Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) type, like Lewis Tan (Into the Badlands, Wu Assassins). For the neuroscientist, Diana, either Kylie Bunbury (The Pitch, When They See Us, Game Night) or Candice Patton (The Flash) would be great for the role.

In the pilot, in Act 1, we meet the four elderly test subjects, learning that one is dying and three are marginalized by old age. The test run is put on hold by tech mogul Peter’s Board of Directors.

In Act 2, Peter cleverly resurrects the project and the test subjects see their families, raising old wounds. A flaw is suppressed, the experiment goes forward, and the four awaken in brain-dead hosts.

In Act 3, newly young, they pursue their dreams under the cloud of a protest movement led by Peter’s estranged daughter. And Peter betrays his fellow test subject, ex-Senator Mark.

In Act 4, the flaw in the procedure emerges, as the test subjects become affected by their hosts’ primal emotions. Peter’s host was a domestic abuser and he’s inherited those violent urges.

In Act 5, Peter and fellow test subject, neuroscientist Diana, pursue the mystery of where these hosts actually came from. Meanwhile Mark, stung by Peter’s betrayal, becomes a mole for the military that is vying for control of this new tech.

The ending of the season will reveal that the hosts were part of a failed military experiment to create seasoned, combat-ready troops in young bodies.

From AI:

Comps: It is similar to “Black Mirror” but what makes it different is that it delves into the personal and ethical ramifications of futuristic technology on a more intimate scale.

Why this? This project explores the timeless desire for eternal youth and the ethical dilemmas surrounding advancements in technology, offering a thought-provoking narrative that challenges societal norms and examines the human condition.

Why now? With the rapid advancement of medical technology and growing concerns about aging and mortality, “The Price of Youth” taps into contemporary anxieties and explores the potential consequences of humanity’s quest for eternal life.

Why me? As a seasoned television writer specializing in science fiction, I bring a unique perspective and creative vision to “The Price of Youth,” ensuring a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of its central themes.

• This reply was modified 12 months ago by  Phyllis Strong.

[Sunil Pappu]

Sunil Pappu’s Pitch Fest Pitch

“What I learned is to create a short and clear pitch to hook producers in less than 2 minutes and get a script request for my project.”

Credibility: Hi, I’m Sunil Pappu, a screenwriter specialising in female-led thrillers and a series I co-wrote is in development for a network in the UK.

Genre: One-Hour Heist Thriller

Title: Hawala Ledger

Main Hook: Are we just one heist away from global financial chaos? Can a reluctant math genius become the ultimate thief and outsmart the world’s most secretive financial network to steal the algorithm hidden in an ancient ledger?

Pitch Fest Pitch:

Hi, I’m Sunil Pappu. I specialize in writing female-led thrillers and a series I co-wrote is in development for a TV network in the UK. My latest one-hour heist thriller is called HAWALA LEDGER. It’s about a reluctant math genius who becomes the ultimate thief and outsmarts the world’s most secretive financial network to steal the algorithm hidden in an ancient ledger, hauling us just one heist away from global financial chaos!

Questions:
• What is the budget range?
Mid-range about $15 – 20 million

• What actors do you like for the lead roles?
The role of Priya, the math genius, is a great role for an Indian actor like Shruti Haasan, maybe Reba Monica John known for her 2019 performance in Tamil film BIGIL.
And the role of Arjun the ex-RAW agent and heist leader, could be played by someone like Lakshya whose upcoming movie KILL is billed as the most violent action thriller ever on Indian screens.
Other roles of the heist team can be played by international actors who are mostly Asian or AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islanders).

• Give me the acts of the story.
Act 1 – Priya balances her life between caring for her ailing father and her university as a genius student in pattern recognition and cryptanalysis until her class project turns out to be a test for her recruitment to an unsanctioned intelligence operation and she is kidnapped to join a heist team let by her professor Arjun.
ACT 2 – Priya tries to gain the trust of her teammates who each have their secrets. As they plan a heist to steal a ledger from the Hawala network, a failed infiltration exposes a mole – Priya is the prime suspect!
ACT 3 – Priya wants to clear her name and goes solo to find proof of her predictions and records an alarming video call discussing a ledger sale, but RAW agents raid her house and interrogate her holding her father hostage in a safehouse. While she is rescued by Arjun the safehouse blows up killing her father. As she mourns his loss, Arjun reveals that he suspected her father was one of the architects of the Hawala network.
ACT 4 – Priya needs to steal the ledger to find the truth about her father and joins the team to stop the ledger sale but a terror attack on the Bombay Stock Exchange is used as a distraction and pits the heist team against the terrorists.
ACT 5 – Priya escapes with the ledger and the heist team rescues the hostages killing terrorists hired by the Hawala.
How does it end? (setup / payoff).
Cliffhanger – Priya unlocks a secret vault behind her father’s bookshelf which has the same symbol as the one on the ledger – that belongs to an ancient secret society that controls global wealth and power. At the secret society headquarters, Priya is being watched and her father is still alive!

• Credibility questions What have you done?
I’m a screenwriter with more than eight paid writing assignments in the last four years and a series pilot I co-wrote is in pre-production in the UK.

Comps: Hawala Ledger is "Money Heist meets Mr. Robot." It combines the intricate, high-stakes heist elements of "Money Heist" with the conspiracy-driven intrigue of "Mr. Robot" What makes it different is its focus on the ancient algorithm and the Hawala network, adding layers of mathematical genius and underground finance.

Why this? The concept of the Hawala network and its secretive nature offers a fresh and thrilling backdrop for a heist drama.

Why now? In an era where financial secrecy and global wealth disparity are hot topics, this series taps into current socio-economic tensions.

Why me? With a proven track record in writing female-led thrillers and a series pilot in pre-production, I bring the necessary expertise and unique perspective to this project.

Thank you for your time. I'm excited to bring "Hawala Ledger" to life and believe it will captivate audiences with its unique blend of heist thrills and intellectual intrigue.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by  Sunil Pappu.

[Art Blum]

I'm learning to look at my writing as a business, not just a hobby.
Hi, I’m Art Blum, an optioned TV writer and WGA member specializing in sci-fi and magical realism. I’m excited to share "Go Your Way In Safety," a one-hour TV pilot that combines the eerie supernatural elements of Stranger Things with the government conspiracy and alien mystery of The X-Files.
Pilot Overview:
Go Your Way In Safety follows 14-year-old Ryan Gordon, formerly known as Star Rover, a boy with the unique ability to channel both human and alien spirits. Ryan escaped from Hermes, a secret government agency, after witnessing the brutal murders of those he identified for them. Now, hiding under a new identity in a sleepy town, his façade shatters when Hermes makes contact with alien minds trapped in a dying realm. These beings crave human bodies, promising salvation in exchange for their own survival, and they need Ryan to transfer their spirits into human hosts.
Central Conflict:
Ryan faces a harrowing choice: help the aliens, who can potentially save the world with their advanced technology. But it would mean sacrificing his classmates and the children still trapped at Hermes. As he navigates this perilous path, Ryan must uncover the truth behind the aliens’ intentions. A cryptic medallion reveals a shocking twist: the spirits are not aliens but the souls of children killed by Hermes decades ago, sent into space to bridge the gap to alien civilizations. Now they’re returning.
Why This Series?
Go Your Way In Safety explores timely themes of exploitation, the cost of progress, and the blurred lines between good and evil. In an era where truth is often stranger than fiction, this series taps into our collective fascination with the unknown.
Why Now?
Our current climate of distrust and curiosity about the unseen world makes this series incredibly relevant. It challenges viewers to think deeply about the ethical implications of scientific advancement and the exploitation of the vulnerable.
Why Me?
As a writer drawn to the intersection of sci-fi and the human experience, I aim to create a world where everyone can find a place.
Budget Range:
Mid to high-budget, necessary for high-quality visual effects and a talented ensemble cast.
Potential Lead Actors:
Ian Foreman as Ryan Gordon, Shree Crooks as Indigo Rivers, and Cate Blanchett as Dr. Roberta Blaine.
Story Structure:
In the pilot in Act 1: Ryan’s new in school. He’s in hiding from a secret agency called Hermes. His past as Star Rover is revealed, and Hermes makes contact with alien spirits.
In Act 2: Ryan discovers he’s the key to the aliens survival and faces a harrowing choice. He learns that Hermes is searching for him and the kids in school are getting on to him because he transfers his visions to everyone he helps and everyone he touches.
Act 3: Ryan’s early years as a ward of Hermes. A rogue agent, Seth vows to protect Ryan from any Hermes attempt to reacquire him.
In Act 4: The high school kids corner Ryan and demand to know about these visions they’re having and why their behavior is changing. Under pressure, Ryan confesses. He’s really Star Rover and feels he must run. But the kids reflect on this and become his allies. If Ryan can wait it out, the celestial event will pass and Hermes will have no use for him anymore. He’ll be free.
In Act 5: Ryan prepares to wait it out, continue as a student until the celestial event passes. But a chance event occurs and he winds up getting his picture taken and sent from one phone to another. Hermes picks up on this and now they know where he is.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by  Art Blum.

[Bob Creager]

Bob Creager’s Pitch Fest Pitch

What I learned: Building the pitch, line-by-line is easier and more complete than the old way.

Answered in the form of the pitch:

Hi, I’m Bob Creager and I’m an optioned screenwriter. I have a Science Fiction script set in a military sub-world. My title is Rogue Warriors. It answers the question: What if the key to saving Earth lies in the hands of a rogue medic?

Budget range: 1-5 mm

Actors: It is a great role for someone like __Amber Midthunder_, maybe __Janina Gavankar_.

Acts of the story:
Act 1 Leisa forms a team of rogue warriors to rescue her brother after the Marines refuse to do so.
Act 2 The team finds alien weaponry and use it to escape.
Act 3 The team find that they are being monitored by aliens.
Act 4 The rescue of the humanitarian workers is a success, but no brother.
Act 5 Leisa is court martialed, but it is interrupted by an alien flyby and her brother contacting her saying beware.
Ending: setup/payoff The teaser shows Leisa in a court martial / the ending is that same court martial interrupted by her missing brother taking over the communications telling her to be careful as alien spacecraft buzz the base.

What have you done? I have two scripts in development, and one optioned. I have a produced podcast based on one of my screenplays.

PITCHES

Hi, I’m Bob, an optioned screenwriter with two projects in development. “Rogue Warriors” is a one-hour sci-fi series where a Navy Corpsman leads a rogue team to rescue her brother, uncovering an alien conspiracy amidst military action and extraterrestrial intrigue.

COMPS

“It’s ‘The Expanse’ meets ‘Homeland.’ Like ‘The Expanse,’ it delves into interstellar conflict and alien intrigue, but what makes it different is its focus on a female Navy Corpsman leading a rogue team, much like the intense personal and political stakes seen in ‘Homeland.'”

“It’s ‘Battlestar Galactica’ meets ‘Zero Dark Thirty.’ Like ‘Battlestar Galactica,’ it features epic space battles and alien encounters, but what makes it different is its grounded military realism and focus on a female-led covert rescue mission, similar to the intense operations in ‘Zero Dark Thirty.'”

“It’s ‘Stargate SG-1’ meets ‘The Unit.’ Like ‘Stargate SG-1,’ it explores alien worlds and advanced technologies, but what sets it apart is its gritty portrayal of a rogue special ops team, led by a determined female corpsman, reminiscent of the military precision in ‘The Unit.'”

• This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by  Bob Creager.
• This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by  Bob Creager.

[Lenore]

Lenore Bechtel’s Pitch Fest Pitch

What I learned with this assignment is the model of successful pitches. I am surprised that the model includes telling about each act of the story. I thought the less we tell, the better. However, I’ve included the five acts, but think my pitch is better without them.

My Pitch:

I’m Lenore Bechtel, and I’m a multi-produced playwright who managed a hypnosis office for seven years.

I have a one-hour TV contained comedy series titled “Hypnotized by Hope.”

My protagonist Lilly juggles facilitating Hypnotist Joshua Hope’s zany antics while hiding them to promote his fame.

Can she keep a scandal reporter from exposing Joshua’s bizarre treatments long enough for the book she’s ghosting for him to become a best seller?

Joshua’s unpedictability provides endless comedic potential as Lilly battles to keep Joshua’s reputation intact.

Imagine “House” and “Shrinking” in the unique world of hypnosis. Fix one client’s problem with a good zonking, and another is always waiting for an instant cure. This low budget series could go on and on.

Act 1 challenges Lilly in two ways: new-hire Sally’s ineptness and the scandal reporter’s sleuthing. Joshua begins his treatment with Timothy, who thinks he’s invisible.

Act 2 requires Lilly to arrange a fake bank robbery as treatment for Timothy. A collision after the robbery reveals Maudie—this week’s subject on Joshua’s TV show—to be a fake fatty. Joshua tells Sally to get ready to teach an exercise class.

Act 3 has Joshua fixing Maudie and Lilly setting up an unopenable safe for Tyrell’s treatment,

Act 4 Sally has a successful exercise class. Joshua and Tyrell find the safe unopenable,

Act 5 While the office staff watch Bernadine’s show at the Karma Klub, police catch Tyrell trying to open the safe and he blames Joshua. Police bring him to the Karma Klub and Joshua admits his involvement, leading to a cliffhanger for the next episode.

Hypnosis is an untapped goldmine for a TV series. It’s a popular subject with broad appeal, evidenced by hypnotists being favorites at high schools and state fairs.

[Margaret]

Margaret’s Pitch Fest Pitch
What I Learned: Components of a successful Pitch fest.
Hi, I’m Margaret Silebi and I’m and optioned screenwriter. Today I have a 1-hr SCI-FI drama as a pilot for a series called “Echoes of Masada”
It is the story of a man trapped in a parallel universe where Earth’s ancient events are repeating, and he must rewrite history to save a people from repeating Masada’s tragic fate.
Brand: I’m an optioned TV writer who specializes in faith-based stories and enjoys historical dramas.
Genre: 1-hour Sci-Fi Drama
Title: Echoes of Masada
High Concept: Transported to an alien planet, a man relives Masada’s historic siege through echoes, tasked with altering its outcome to save a nation from impending annihilation.
Transformational Journey: Jack begins as a man broken by betrayal and disbelief, thrust into a foreign world where he must evolve into a decisive leader. Over the first season, Jack transitions from a reluctant prophet hiding his Earthly origins to a proactive savior willing to risk everything to prevent history from repeating itself.
Major Story Hook: The mystery of why Earth’s historical events are echoing on this alien planet and the impossible goal of altering a tragic outcome that once seemed inevitable.
Comps: It’s “The Man in the High Castle” meets “Stargate SG-1.” Like “The Man in the High Castle,” our show explores the complexities of historical events in an alternate setting, but unlike it, we combine this with the adventurous, otherworldly elements of “Stargate SG-1,” grounding the narrative in the character’s personal transformation and high-stakes survival.
Why I chose this project:
Why this? “Echoes of Masada” presents a compelling blend of history, science fiction, and profound personal transformation, making it both thought-provoking and highly entertaining.
Why now? In a time when audiences are craving deep, meaningful stories that challenge their perception of history and their place within it, this series offers a unique narrative that resonates with contemporary issues of leadership, faith, and redemption.
Why me? As a faith-based writer that enjoys historical drama, I am uniquely positioned to bring authenticity, depth, and a nuanced perspective to this story, ensuring it captivates and moves its audience.

For Questions:
Budget Range: $5-10 million
Act 1: Jack works with his televangelist father and discovers he has unwittingly assisted his father’s embezzlement scheme. He loses his girlfriend and job over the incident, depressing him to the point of suicide.
Act 2: A seismic event thrusts Jack into a parallel world where Earth’s ancient history is repeating itself. The Orb, a spiritual ball of light, follows him.
Act 3: Jack hides his origins while visions of the ancient Masada siege haunt him. He tries to find a way back to Earth, but the Orb prevents his success.
Act 4: Jack realizes his visions are coming true on this world, but the tribe refuses to accept his warnings. Jack accepts the Orb’s guidance and saves a woman from death.
Act 5: Jack is accepted by the tribe, takes on the role of reluctant prophet, and sees a vision of the mass suicide on Masada. Will he be able to stop history from repeating itself?
Season End: Jack takes the tribe to “Ebba”, like the historic Masada, as history echoes…
“I’m an optioned screenwriter.”

[Denice Lewis]

Denice’s Pitch Fest
What I learned doing this assignment is that these steps allow a deeper search for the succinct meaning of my series.
Hi, I’m Denice Hughes Lewis. I have an IMDB credit for a short and am a published, children and young adult author.
I have a one-hour Fantasy/Action series.
My title is Dreambound.
Series: Can a spoiled, insecure teen save the real world and the dream world as the first female Dreamweaver? Only if she can defeat the covert Dream Forgers who seek her destruction for power and profit.
Pilot: A spoiled insecure teen discovers her father’s secret identity after he’s kidnapped by a monster and disappears through a portal. Her unknown celestial tattoo appears when she discovers her dad’s hidden secrets and she creates a gateway that whisks her into the dream world and her destiny.
Budget range Middle: 15-30 million
Actors for lead roles:
Maya is an intricate role with a wide emotional and physically-active range. There are several good actresses that can play teens. Someone like Kyla Kennedy or McKenna Grace.
Zander is a teen shapeshifter and lost soul in the dream world who has been brainwashed to think he’s only a dream character. He’s really an orphan in reality and becomes Maya’s unpredictable friend and love interest in both worlds.
Someone like the actor, Jack Champion
Blake Robinson, secretive, kidnapped father, is the Dreamweaver, balancing dreams with reality and trying to reunite his family. An actor like Michael Fassbender.
Lysandra is the Dark Dreamer in charge of nightmares, and Blake’s kidnapper who doesn’t remember she’s his wife and Maya’s mother. An actress like Elizabeth Olsen.
Sophia is Blake’s mom, Maya’s grandmother, of Iroquois descent bent on finding and destroying threats to her family by infiltrating the Dream Forgers. Native American actresses like Shari Foster, Kimberly Guerrero, Georgina Lightning
Cutler Jackson is Sophia’s second husband, murderer of her first husband, and head of the Dream Forgers. He has faked his death. An actor like Denzel Washington.
Teaser: Maya’s destiny begins when a dragon materializes from the fog and spits a star constellation on her windshield.
Act 1: Maya’s normal life shows her loneliness and bullying in a private school as a spoiled, rich teen. Her unexpected powers create a dream world superimposed over a dance/fighting class before the lights go out.
Act 2: Maya’s father realizes she has inherited powers as his successor, too late. He’s kidnapped by a monster and disappears through a portal into the dream realm. Maya’s grandmother takes her away from everything she knows.
Act 3: Distraught, Maya flees from her grandmother in a storm and dares the lightning to strike her. Visions of her father with a strange woman haunt her.
Act 4: Maya enters public school under a fake name. Bullied, she fights back and is suspended.
Act 5: Maya’s anger at discovering her ancestry as a Dreamweaver creates a hidden celestial tattoo that opens a portal. A claw grabs her and she disappears into the dream realm.
How does it end (setup/payoff) A spoiled, insecure teenage girl becomes the savior of herself, dreams, and ultimately the survival of humanity.
What have you done? I have an IMDB credit for a short and am a published fantasy author for kids and teens.
Brand + Credibility and specialty – Fantasy/Action, IMDB credit for a short film
Why this? This story is about becoming something more than you think you are and having a positive effect on your life and world.
Why now? The world needs problem-solving using critical thinking, heart, and emotional control.
Why me? I’ve lived long enough to experience a wide range of emotions and learned valuable lessons from them.