CINEMA OF ATTRACTIONS
Franchise: N/A
Session: For Cable Session 2 or Network Session 10
Genre: Dramedy
Timeslot: Half hour or hour -- Network head preference.
Summary: Silent era cinema can be put into three historical categories: PRIMITIVE (Pre 1907), TRANSITIONAL (1907-1909), NARRATIVE (1910-1929). This series takes place on the cusp of the Transitional Era.
The show focuses on the exploits of the folks working at LANCASTER STUDIOS in rural Pennsylvania. The studio is struggling to find a market for there films which are being released at a shotgun pace. While, that may be fast, it is not as fast as the TOMMY-GUN pace Lancaster Studios competitors are firing out films and worst of all, that's not there only major problem. Several of there rivals, lead by Thomas Edison are forming the MPPC (Motion Picture Patents Company) which could see Lancaster's production slate drop dramatically as there competitors slowly start to take over the industry. This is where SAWYER FINCH comes in.
Sawyer is a budding young writer from the Big Apple, who has recently been invited to work as a writer by his uncle SYLVESTER FINCH, who happens to be one of the directors at Lancaster Studios. While unbeknownst to Sawyer, Sylvester and several of the other higher ups including TOBIAS HORNSBY and FINN LANCASTER have decided to push all of Lancaster Studios chips into an idea Sawyer pitched Sylvester in a letter. The idea? A ninety minute war adventure. A length for a film that's never been attempted before and a genre that's been rarely touched.
But before production can begin, Sawyer is soon sucked into the world of Lancaster Studios that sees him being cast as an actor, director, editor, and chef for various mini-productions around set that have him introduced to several characters including eccentric director SPORTY MALONE, bombshell actress GRETA ERICKSON, heroic actor JOHAN CASE, and busty editor TAYLOR HALL, who takes a shining to Sawyer quite early on.
While the series could be presented as an ensemble, the show will focus mainly on Sawyer, though several sidestories will be explored. Mostly though, those stories will involve Sylvester, Tobias, and Finn. With that being said, the show will be taking a more light hearted approach to the subject matter and could be compared to the film "NICKELODEON." If anything, the film will have a similar tone to that of "The West Wing" where dramatic moments are spliced with comedic ones. It could also be easy to compare this show to that of the short lived "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." There will be some Boardwalk Empire like events in this film, where historical people will pop up in the story, one of those people will be THOMAS EDISON. I will also be using mostly modern dialogue in this piece, again, sort of like Boardwalk Empire.
The story will need some fleshing out but I do have several basic ideas and castings in my mind. If a Big 3 Network is interested, I could possibly try and squeeze a preview "pilot" episode out for the end of the session.
CAST:(Open/subject to change) Lucas Neff as Sawyer Finch, Norbert Leo Butz as Sylvester Finch, Alan Ruck as Tobias Hornsby, Carlo Gallo as Greta Erickson, Stephen Wallem as Johan Case, Bill Moseley as Sporty Malone, Taraji P. Henson as Taylor Hall, and Martin Short as Finn Lancaster
RECURRING GUESTS - Colin Firth as Thomas Edison
(CAST CAN/SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
**The cast was assembled with cable in mind. I'm happy to make some concessions but I would like to keep Lucas, Norbert, Alan, Carlo, and Tiffany in there roles as much as possible.
PM or E-Mail me if interested.
