Six Pilots To Pitch aka You Wanna Watch This?

In the last year I’ve worked on finalizing half a dozen pilot scripts for competitions, pitch packages and as projects with other creatives.

Details about the shows are below. Feel free to let me know what appeals the most. The goal, of course, is to sell them all!

Each is a one-hour scripted drama with a written pilot and a planned season of storylines including multiple subplots. The end of every pilot episode has a great set-up or plot twist for the series.

Why do I think I have the ability to script a popular drama, you ask?

On the writing front I’ve written three novels, have a short story collection coming out soon, covered television for newsprint and websites, had my TV blog links liked and reposted by cast and crew of US shows I’ve discussed, written scripts and production schedules for music videos, and work as a features and content writer. (Oh, and took scriptwriting units at university.)

And of course I’ve watched thousands of one-hour TV dramas. I’ve counted scenes, subplots, noted trends, and compared small screen storytelling styles from around the globe. From the technical to the entertaining, structural to visual, I’m certain I can create material that will appeal to the current market.

Before you check out these six TV shows, please note the scripts are copyrighted for those feeling slight-ly too inspired by the concepts.

...We all know how this meme ends.

Saving Beauty

Interpretation of Sleeping Beauty by painter Thomas
Ralph Spence. My version has less flowers, more sword fighting. 

Logline: Sleeping Beauty is considered a disempowered female character. But what if falling asleep makes her powerful? And what if she’s the one saving the kingdom?

The concept: On her 17^th birthday Princess Ava discovers she’s a Dreamer. The ability to manipulate the dreamscape threatens the power of the High Queen, and all Dreamers are sentenced to death.

Friends and family manage to save Ava’s life, but at a terrible cost. Now the Robin, commander of the rebels, wants to enlist and control her. Only a powerful Dreamer can defeat the High Family.

Whoever controls the dreamscape, controls the world. Ava’s only choice is to become a leader, and control her own destiny.

Elements that stand out: The Sleepers. In each kingdom, once an heir is born, a member of the royal couple is put into an enchanted sleep by the mages. This way the High Queen and High King control the other royals. Once a year they wake up. The rest of the time their consciousness is locked in the dreamscape.

The High Princes. Four brothers make up the High Family. The mysterious mage Alex, identical twins Marcus and Jerome, and the beautiful prince Alex. Their history is complicated, as is their struggle for power.

What I like most about the series: The people who love Princess Ava are as dangerous to her as her enemies. Most of the characters want to protect, manipulate, kill, or use her.

This is a tale of a teenage girl’s empowerment in a ruthless world where everyone has an agenda.

Key sells: Fantasy, Teen, Dream State, Female Empowerment, Action, Adventure.

*Read a sample here.

The Guardians

Logline: Guardian angels have been released from their duty of care but are still bound to a soul. They fight for control of this reality by manipulating their assigned human. The story moves between the present day where people begin to hear a single voice and a future where mankind is at war on behalf of the angel factions.

The concept: People begin to hear one voice, and see an “imaginary friend”. Most think they’re going crazy. Slowly they accept the apparitions are telling the truth: guardian angels are no longer silent, or forced to protect us—and they’re not going away.

Guardians know every memory and desire. Some want to be friends, others want to break people and use them like puppets. Control of this reality through humans is the end game.

In the future timeline set a few years forward, the characters lead very different lives, fighting for various angel factions.

Elements that stand out: Complex Characters. The leads range from an elderly businesswoman mourning the recent death of her wife to a young male veteran dealing with PTSD and life as a stay at home dad.

Guardians appearing/disappearing. In some scenes the audience sees what the characters see which is a person standing beside them. In others, the angels aren’t visible; reminding us it’s all happening in people’s heads.

A split timeline. War rages in the near future. Just a few years have passed yet the leads have changed immensely.

What I like most about the series: The friendship between a young Mexican American teenage girl who is a cutter as a result of bullying, and a young Japanese-Korean teen guy living in America who doesn’t seem to have a guardian.

Key sells: Supernatural, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Science Fiction.

Insta-Dead

Logline: America’s favorite teen social media star Sally is murdered. The prime suspects are Sally’s six famous Instagram “besties”. Her sister Amy takes Sally’s place in the social media crew to unearth the killer.

The concept: When Sally is murdered at a party, her quiet sister Amy decides to find the killer. The only way into Sally’s famous crew is to become an Instagram icon—but Amy doesn’t use social media.

Signing with Sally’s agency, she learns online fame is big business. The number one rule: protect your persona at all costs. Endless parties, fake relationships, online stalkers and the politics of endorsement make it clear Amy is in over her head.

The six teens at the party with Sally claim they want to clear their names but one has to be the murderer. As she learns more about their lives (and lies), Amy discovers the murder was meticulously planned. Instagram posts hold the clues—she just needs to figure out what to look for…

Elements that stand out: If you grew up on a diet of Buffy, Veronica Mars and Pretty Little Liars, you’ll know how great it is to watch teenage girls find their strengths and navigate risky waters.

At first Amy doesn’t have the social skills to tackle the case. And the more she learns about Sally, the more she realizes she hardly knew her sister.

What I like most about the series: The teen leads are ambitious but also insecure, and will do anything to keep their secrets hidden. The mean girls (and boys) have millions—in money, and followers.

When everybody is so good at being fake it’s hard to tell whom to trust.

Key sells: Teen, Murder Mystery, Social Media, Female Lead.

Sound

Logline: Residents of the quarantined city of Sound live off performances by the world’s best musicians. The groundbreaking experiment sees the body source energy from sound waves—but with unexpected side effects. Facing a food-deprived future, how far will those in power go to hide the truth?

The concept: Based off my novel, the plot follows the arrival of a young woman, Cecilia (Ces) in the city of Sound. Live performances are amplified through special speakers, with citizens surviving on a mix of food and sound waves.

Ces moves into Hotel Vigoroso, owned by the famous musician Jesse. His previous band mate Michael no longer speaks to him, having been changed by the music. Turns out, making tunes has as many side effects as feeding on them.

Regular visits to the Clinic are meant to help the people of Sound. Yet those detained are often never seen again. And with patrollers observing more than they police and protect, the streets are not safe.

The experiment calls for minimal tech, and the city has no contact with the outside world. Resident artist Brad teaches Ces about life in the city, along with Daisy, a veteran and survivor of a terrorist attack whose fractured mind may be the key to keeping the citizens of Sound alive.

Elements that stand out: A love of music. Sound amplifies the idea you can become addicted to a musician’s output.

The cultists. Ceruleans wear blue robes and animal masks. They live in an abandoned theatre, and many work in city’s red light district. Now and again the officials collect them in “sweeps”. Many never return.

The children. The side effects of Sound are most obvious in babies born in the city, a fact hidden from the world.

What I like most about the series: As the story progresses the audience wonders if Ces may be an unreliable narrator. How much of her experiences can be trusted? Visual symbols that act as clues and moments of delusion show Ces’ perspective might not be one hundred per cent trustworthy.

Key sells: Science fiction, music, dystopia, psychological thriller.

Jedi AF

 

If you haven't seen the EXO Lightsaber
clip go and watch it right this minute.

Logline: In an alternate version of the present day Jedi and Sith are members of society. Identified by a special gene, many work in law enforcement or for the underworld, while others are rogues or loners. When a powerful teenager emerges from the city’s slums, the fight is on to secure his services and gain control of his power over the Force.

The concept: Disney owns Star Wars so this is almost impossible to pitch but since I was a child, writing Jedi’s into the real world has been my dream. Lightsaber fights on the streets after dark… How cool would that be? Teen angst meets the Force in neon-soaked settings. Young Jedi are prone to becoming vigilantes and young Sith are prone to running in packs

Certain Jedi and Sith bloodlines have become surrogate royal families, ruling the corporate world—or the Underworld. And after a century of relative peace, Jedi and Sith are on the verge of outright war.

With, Anti-Force sentiment is high among ordinary humans, a special task force, made up of Jedi and Sith exists to monitor Force users. Powerful Force users are considered dangerous and must choose an affiliation: Jedi or Sith.

For a poor teen with no allies it’s a dangerous time to discover you can control the Force.  

Elements that stand out: Blurring the line between the Jedi and the Sith. In this reality some Sith are kind, some Jedi ruthless. Good and evil are less distinct.

The visuals. Kpop group EXO released Lightsaber in 2015 in conjunction with Disney, a collaborative MV/film that captures the visual aesthetic of a modern Jedi/Sith drama.

What I like most about the series: The Jedi/Sith conflict being transplanted to a gritty, urban setting. The series draws from but is not limited to existing mythology.

Jedi, Sith and Social Media. The idea of young people posting about and stanning famous Jedi (or Sith) is a surreal side note.

Key sells: Teen, Star Wars, Jedi, Action, Adventure.

Gateway

Logline: In near-future New York the drug Gateway is the darling of the party scene, but users don’t realize the dahlia-printed paper slips open the door to more than the subconscious. Taking the petal lets you see into the Otherworld. And sometimes, gods and spirits hitch a ride back.

The concept: The pilot establishes Gateway is a supernatural drug that opens the mind to the  Otherworld, allowing creatures banished from Earth millennia ago to possess a human while the drug lasts.

Most consider Gateway a hallucinogenic. Only a few know the Otherworld is real, short-term possession happens, and the gods have a plan to stay on Earth permanently.

Mysterious Gateway dealer Col sells mostly to rich kids on the clubbing scene. One night he reluctantly gives Gateway to some friends, setting off an unexpected chain of events.

Now Col and Brianna have to find the secret government agency that took their friends, deal with a possession and a vengeful god’s agenda, all while avoiding the two cops closing in on Col.

The story follows a mix of characters caught up in an Otherworld conspiracy. They’re knowingly, or unknowingly connected. And every one of them has secrets they want to protect, even the gods.

Elements that stand out: Futuristic Graffiti. A fusion of tech and street art hides messages on walls that only phone filters and programmed eyewear can find.

Vigilante Parkour Crew. Female lead Briana is a member of The 88, who uses holos to hide their profiles. “Faceless protecting the faceless. Justice for areas cops won’t cover.”

Visions. Those on Gateway see things from the past, as well as looking into the Otherworld. More than one doorway in the mind opens.

What I like most about the series: Love triangle. The musician Sara relies on Gateway to see her muse in the Otherworld, the fae Tristan. She also lives with Agent Barnes, who tracks Gateway dealers.

Halfies. Alex and Simon are known as halfies because one parent was on Gateway and possessed by a God during conception. Halfies have special talents, including the ability to sense when a possessed person is near, but are prone to emotional issues.

The atmosphere. Mostly shot at night, Gateway is dark and fast paced and has an eerie, tense vibe. The visual style could be called “dystopian tech”.

Key sells: Supernatural, Drama, Nightlife, Psychological Thriller, Procedural, Action.

Thanks for reading. My email is gilliano@iinet.net.au if you have any queries.