save the writing! developing a series with series bibles: a production guide for writing series...
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WhatthisBookIs...andIsn'tWhyaBookaboutSeriesBibles?WhatisSeriesDevelopment?WhatToAskYourselfAboutYourSeries?WhatisaSeriesPitch?A:SeriesPitchExampleB:SeriesPitchWalkthroughWhatIsASeriesProposal?A:SeriesProposalExampleB:SeriesProposalWalkthroughWhatisaSeriesBible?A:SeriesBibleExampleB:SeriesBibleWalkthroughAFinalWordAboutUsSuggestedReading
WhatthisBookIs…andIsn’tWhatthisbookisnot,isabookthatteachesyouhowtowrite.Thisbookisaboutthebasicstructuralcompositionofwrittenseriespitches,
seriesproposalsandseriesbibles.Anyinferencestostorystructureinthisbookaresolelyincludedtoassistwiththestructuralintegrityofeachsection.Youshouldalsonote,thisbookssampleseriesisasci-fiactionadventure.
However,theconceptspresentedherearethesameforanydramaticshow,sci-fiorotherwise.Also,theterms‘seriespitch’,‘seriesproposal’and‘seriesbible’maybeused
indifferentwaysbyothersinfilmandtelevision.Thisbookisnotthebegin-allend-allofseriespitches,seriesproposalsand
seriesbibles.Thesubjectisaswidelyvariedastherearewaystowritethem.Whatthisbookis,ispartofourprocessfordevelopingseries,bothforour
companyandourclients.Infactwewouldaskyounottolimityourselftojustthisbookonthetopic,buttoinvestigateallpossibleavenuesoflearning.Thatbeingsaid,thisbookwaswritteninpartbecausewediscovered,thatthereisnosinglebookonthemarketaddressingthesubject.
WhyaBookaboutSeriesBibles?Withacombinedsixtyplusyearsintheentertainmentindustry,ourjourney
hastakenusfrombeingreaders,towriters,todevelopmentexecutives,tostoryconsultantsandfinallytobecomingproducers.Eventhougheachpositionhaddifferentresponsibilities,thefocusofallof
themwasalwaysongood,concise,grippingstory.Asthetelevisionindustrydeveloped,itbecamemoreandmoreimportantfor
allstorytellers,writersandproducersalike,to'beonthesamepage',immediatelyandconsistently.Weneedednotjustabenchmarkforeachshow,butastartingpoint,a
virtuallighthouseinthefogofunintended'artisticwander',thatoftenhappenswiththecreativeprocess.Astheindustrydeveloped,thatbenchmark,thatlighthouse,becamethe
televisionseriesbible.Originallytheseriesbiblewasanafterthought,awayofstayingconsistent
withchangingstaff.Iteventuallybecameawaytolockdownthestartingpoint,thevisionofwhattheserieswouldbecome.Later,itbecameadevelopmenttool,andeventually,atypeofpitchtool,inits
moreabbreviatedform,theTVseriesproposal.Inthepast,itbecameamuchneededandsoughtaftertool.Today,ithas
becomemoreindispensablethanever.Itissaidthattelevisionisinanewgoldenage,butwesubmitthatourentireentertainmentcultureisinanewgoldenage.Wealsobelievethatwiththeadventofe-bookseries,webseries,streaming
series,graphicnovelseries,etal,theuseofaseriesbibleismorepertinentthaneverbefore.Becauseofthiswedecidedthatabookonseriesbiblesshouldbefirstinourseriesofhow-tobooks.Whetheryouarejuststartingoutoryouareanestablishedwriter,wehope
thatthismodestbookwillactasyourlighthouseinthedark,oratleastanight
light,tokeepyoufrombumpingyourkneesontheoftenavoidableobstaclesduringaseries’creation.
First,WhatisaSeries?●Anumberofthingsoreventsthatarearrangedorhappenoneafterthe
other●Asetofregularlypresentedtelevisionshowsinvolvingthesamegroupof
charactersorthesamesubject●Asetofbooks,articles,etc.,thatinvolvethesamegroupofcharactersorthesamesubject-MerriamWebsterManybelievethatthemodernseriesstartedwiththe18thcentury’sThree
MusketeersandSherlockHolmes.However,theseriesasweknowitreallybeganwithpulpfiction.Pulpfiction
wasaphenomenonofinexpensiveshortnovelprintedoncheappulppaper.Thesebookshitthepublishingscenearound1896throughthe50’s.Pulpfictionthenledtoradiodramaserials,thatinturnledto,yes,seriestelevision.WhatisSeriesDevelopment?Seriesdevelopmentisthedevelopmentofalongformstoryfromaconcept,
intoaworkingseriesof‘episodes’.Traditionally,seriesdevelopmentbeginswithcomingupwithacompelling
concept,agood‘whatif’forashow,thenmovesforwardto:-TheSeriesArc:Themysteryorquest…thestoryenginethatpropelsandsustainstheseriesoverthelengthoftheshow.-TheEpisodeArc.Theincidentsthatpropelseachepisode.Thepatternor
patternsthatagivenepisode'sstorycouldhave.Anepisodemini-questormysterythatpropelsitsstoryengine.-Genre:Whattypeofstoryisbeingtold.Isitpoliceprocedural,sci-fi,
romanticcomedy,etc.Orsomemixofmultiplegenres?-Tone,Theme,andStyle:Isitagrittyurbandrama,showingushowtofixa
brokencity,orisitalight-heartedurbancomedythatshowsusthelightersideofpoverty?
-CharacterDevelopment:Whothecharactersare,whattheywant,whatthey
unknowinglyneedandwhattheydoabouttheirsituation?(Thisveryimportantlyincludesvillains!)-Storylines:Allthepossibledirectionsandwaysthatmakesensefortheshowtomovestorytellingforward.Thisshouldleadtoseveralepisodeconceptsforyourbibleorproposal.-Worldbuilding:Whatthesettingis,whatthepertinentbackstoryisofthe
world,howitworksandhowtheseallaffectthecharacters.-SetPieces:Whatarethelocationsoftheseries?Aretheypolicestations,
spaceships,apartmentsorcruiseships?Thenmakeaglossaryofthemforyourseries.
WhattoAskYourselfAboutYourSeries?Beforeyoubegindevelopingyourseries,pasttheinitialconcept,youshould
askyourselfseveralkeyquestions.Thesequestionswilltestyourconceptforboth‘audience’interestandmostespecially,foryourown.Thereasonsaretwofold.First,ifyoudon’thaveenoughinterestinyourseries,youwon’twriteit.If
youdon’twritethatfirstpilotscript/novel/webcomic,etal,youwon’thavethestayingpoweryourseriesneeds.Second,ifyoudon'taskthehardquestionsaboutwhyyouraudiencewilllove
theseries,theywon'tspendthetimeonyourfirstepisode,muchlesstherestoftheseries.Usethefollowingquestionsasyourlitmustestformovingyourconcept
forwardasaseries.-Whyisyourseriesinteresting?-Whatis/arethehook(s)ofyourseries?(Wesuggestthattherearealwaysthree,themainserieshook,amulti-episode
hookandahookforeachepisode)-Howismyseriesdifferentfromothershows?(Seriescanhavesimilarities,buttheycan’tbecarboncopiesorsosimilarto
anexistingseriesthatthereisnothingnewtoexploreinyour‘world’.)SeriesPitch,SeriesProposalorSeriesBible.Inthisbook,weprovidethreeexamplesofthesetypesofdocuments.Aseriespitchisshortandsweet,aseriesproposalshouldbelonger,andafull
seriesbible…well,thatcanbeaslongasneeded.Seriesreadybibleshavebeenknowtohit100pluspagesinlength.
WhatisaSeriesPitch?Aseriespitchcanbeverbal,orwritten.Averbalpitchisoftencalledan
‘elevatorpitch’.Thisisapitchthatisshort,conciseandwithenoughpunchtoconveyyourconcept,andhopefullygetthesale.Awrittenseriespitchisalittledifferent.Writtenseriespitchesareusuallyonetofivepagesinlength,preferablyno
longer.Thegoodonesusuallyhaveagreatelevatorpitch/loglineasitsfirstfewsentences.Awrittenpitchelaboratesenoughinafewpagestogiveenoughofasenseof
theseries,withoutbeingsoindepththataProducerwon’ttakethetimetoreadit.Anythinglonger,andyouaretakingachanceitwon’tbereadatall.
SeriesPitchExampleWhatfollowsisasampleseriespitch.Weneedtoremindyou,thereareso
manyformatsoutthere,thatsomeoneisboundtodisagreewiththisformat.That’sfine.Again,wearesimplysharingwhathasworkedforourcompanyandourclientsovertheyears.Fordemonstrationpurposes,wehavecreatedanhomagetoanexisting
sciencefictionfranchise.Wewillusethishomageastheexampleforeachofthethreedocuments.
A:SeriesPitchExample
FarthestStarYouareaby-the-bookStarcarrierCaptain,huntingdowndangerousrebels
knownasCorsairs,inadistantsectorofspace.It'sbeenyearssincetherebellionandthedeathofyourwifeatthehandsoftherebels.You'vebecomeobsessedwithyourwork.Allseemsquietonthebridge,uncomfortablyquietuntilahailcomesin.It'sfromaStarcontrolfacility,oneyou'veneverheardof,onekeptasecret.Sosecretevenhewasnotawareofitsexistence.Now,thefacilityisunderattack,byaCorsairraiderandisabouttobedestroyed.Thefacilityisrelativelyclose.Youarethereinminutes.Yourscreenreveals
theperpetrators.Youcan’tbelieveit,theraiderisTHEshipyouhavebeenseekingforyears.Yourbane,yourpain…theshipthattookyourwifefromyou,theraidernamedResolute.Youcallbattlestations,thenyouseeit.Amonstrouslyhugediamond-shapedship,largerthanthelargestasteroid.Yousteadyyourselfandordershieldsupandweaponspowered.Youmove
fortheattack,whenahailcomesin,fromthefacility.Youletitthrough,it’stheheadresearcher,aCommodore."Donotfire,youaretooclosetotherelicship,donotfire!"Only,yourshipisgettinghammerednow.But,youbiteyourlipandobey,
puttingyourselfbetweenthefacilityandtheattackingResolute.Thefacilityisfallingapartanditstinystaffboardsyourship,rightbeforethefacilityexplodes.Thenyourportenginetakesadamaginghit.Ordersbedamned.‘Fire!’Thetwoshipsdanceinanimpossibleballetoflightanddestruction.The
Resolutefiresthelastofitstorpedocomplement.OnehitstheArgo,blowingoutdecksofpersonnelintocoldspace,theother…hitsthealienrelicship.ThebattlecontinuesandtheArgomakesavitalblowontheResolute,killing
itenginesinagrandexplosion.Neithercrewnoticesthealienshipcomingtolife.Thatisuntiltheyhearthesound.Bothshipspersonnelareincapacitatedbyasoundthatcomesnotfromtheair,
butfrominsidetheirheads.Thenithappens.Thespacearoundthemturnswhite,blinding,andthensuddenly,itstops.Youandthecrewlookatthescreenjustasthealienshipdisappears.Thenhelminterruptswithdatathatdoesn’tmakeanysense.Youcheckandrecheck,butit’strue.Youaren’tinknownspaceanymore,youaren’teveninyourowngalaxyandyourship…hangsdeadinspace.Worse,nowyou’reunderimmediateattackandrealizetheonlypeopleyoucanturntoforhelp,areyourworstenemies.FarthestStaristhestoryoftwodiametricallyopposedcrewsfightingfortheir
lives,inanunknowngalaxy.Theyseektosolvethemysteryoftheirjourneysothattheycangetbackhome.Producer’sStatementFarthestStarisasciencefictionadventureseries.FromthemomentoftheArgosaccidentaladventure,everythingbecomes
desperate.The‘normal'intensityofthestressesacombatstarshipgoesthroughareunhingedastheyarehurledintoahyper-violentgalaxywheretheireveryactandchoiceaffectstheirchancesforsurvival.Thecoreoftheseriesiswatchingtheseenemycrewsfacedwithan
extraordinarysituationandhowtheydo,anddon’t,worktogethertosurvive.Muchofthedramaandactionoftheseriesspringsfromthis.Thecrewsare
constantlyfindingtheirmoralsandidentitiescomingintoconflictwiththeirdaytodaydesperatesituations.It’shardtofightoffattackingaliensandunknownphenomenawhenhalfthecrewisrebellingorplottingamutiny.Aprimecomponentofthisseriesisthatitisaboutinterpersonaldramaas
muchasaction.Contactismadewithoftenhostilealiens,combatisaconstantpartoftheirlives,butthenormisthatthecrewsareinaconstantstateofdiscontentandbrinkmanship.Usually,thesesequenceswillhaveanoperatictone,withtwolevelsofactionbeingplayedoutinahighadventure,highstakesenvironment.Inspiteoftheintenselydramatictoneandactionoftheepisodes,thereare
timesofbasichumanityandevenhumor.Theseoccasionsarekeytohighlightingtheseries’theme,buttheseeventsneverovershadowthestakesoftheseries.Inallsituations,the‘human’reactionsofthecharactersaredeliveredinsuchawayastoaccentuatethepressureofthecrews’moralandphysicalplight.Thisfurthersthethemeoftheshow,thatsurvivalmakesstrangebedfellows.TheoverallaimandappealofFarthestStarlieingivingtheaudience
characterstheycanrelatetoandactualcareabout,insituationsthatwillputthemattheedgeoftheirseats,andinsodoing,creatingatypeofScienceFictionshowfortoday'smoresophisticatedsci-fifansTone&StyleFarthestStarisaexerciseincontrasts.Establishmentvs.Commoners,
disciplinevs.disorder,positivevs.negative,goodvs.evil,conventionalvs.unconventional.Thestyleoftheserieswillreflectthesecontrasts.FarthestStarwillhaveadistinctivecinematicstyletohighlightthelivesthe
crewsareliving.IntheArgosandonmissions,thevisualstylewillbegritty,withdramaticlighting,energeticeditingand'youarethere'cameramovements,toexpressthe'realworld'theyarein.Scenesaretobenaturalisticandutilitarian,militaristic.TheArgoisakintomodernsubmarines.Thewordscavernous,gloomy,
gothicandclaustrophobicareappropriate,dependingontheareaofthechip.Dulllowlightpervadestheshipmostofthetime.Onlytheship'shydroponicparksitsinthemiddleofthewarship,asanoasisofhumanity.Aplacewherepeopleconnect,play...andscheme.TheFighterlandingbay,Fighterships,reconships,andeventhedisabled
ResoluteareotherkeypiecesoftheArgos’worldthatwillfeatureheavilyintheseries.TheStarcontrolgearwillallhaveadistinctivemilitaristiclookgunmetalgraysandblacks,angularedges,slightlybulky'dangerous'look.ThesamecanbesaidoftheCorsairgear,exceptitlooksmoreweathered,
withdarkerbrownsinsteadofgrays,withanedgeofoldfashionedwesternmeetsbarbaricdesignflair.Heavyonthepersonalizedgear,whereStarcontrolisallhomogenizedandgeneralissue.
Withthisblendofdesignandshootingstyle,FarthestStarwillhaveauniqueandatmosphericlookthatwillcomplementandenhanceitsuniqueanddramaticthemes.Thefollowing‘walkthrough’shouldhelpyouforgeyourownproject’spitch.
Remember,sticktothetemplatebeforedivergingorexpanding.Thiswillkeepthingsclearerandspeeduptheprocess.
B:SeriesPitchWalkthrough(Establishingshotoftheincitingincidentlocation,establishtime,mood
andmindset)Youareaby-the-bookStarcarrierCaptain,huntingdowndangerousrebels
knownasCorsairs,inadistantsectorofspace.It'sbeenyearssincetherebellionandthedeathofyourwifeatthehandsoftherebels.You'vebecomeobsessedwithyourwork.Allseemsquietonthebridge,uncomfortablyquietuntilahailcomesin.It'sfromaStarcontrolfacility,oneyou'veneverheardof,onekeptasecret.Sosecretevenhewasnotawareofitsexistence.(Lastsentencerevelation‘punch’)Now,thefacilityisunderattack,byaCorsairraiderandisabouttobe
destroyed.(Furtherexplorationandclarificationofthesituation,theemotion,
tension,realizationandreactionof…)Thefacilityisrelativelyclose.Youarethereinminutes.Yourscreenreveals
theperpetrators.Youcan’tbelieveit,theraiderisTHEshipyouhavebeenseekingforyears.Yourbane,yourpain…theshipthattookyourwifefromyou,theraidernamedResolute.Youcallbattlestations,thenyouseeit.(Specific,evenjaw-droppingrevelationand/orrealization)Amonstrouslyhugediamond-shapedship,largerthantheCeresasteroid.(Thereactionactiontotherevelation/realization)Yousteadyyourselfandordershieldsupandweaponspowered.Youmove
fortheattack,whenahailcomesup,fromthefacility.Youletitthrough,it’stheheadresearcher,aCommodore.(Thesurprisingreactionfromtherevelationobjectorperson)‘Donotfire,youaretooclosetotherelicship,donotfire.’
(Tensionbuilds,movesaremadetodotheselfless,braveor‘right’thing.)Only,yourshipisgettinghammerednow.But,youbiteyourlipandobey,
puttingyourselfbetweenthefacilityandtheattackingResolute.Thefacilityisfallingapartanditstinystaffboard,rightbeforeitsdestruction.(Dangerisimminentorresulting.Decisiveoftenrisky,bold
confrontationalactionmadeinregardstothescenario)Thenyourportenginetakesadamaginghit.Ordersbedamned.‘Fire!’Thetwoshipsdanceinanimpossibleballetoflightanddestruction.The
Resolutefiresthelastofitstorpedocomplement.OnehitstheArgo,blowingoutdecksofpersonnelintocoldspace,theother…hitsthealienrelicship.(Thedecisiveactionbeginsthetickingclockofthe‘setsail’event.)ThebattlecontinuesandtheArgomakesavitalblowontheResolute,killing
itenginesinagrandexplosion.Neithercrewnoticesthealienshipcomingtolife.Thatisuntiltheyhearthesound.(ThebeginningoftheSpringboardevent.)Bothshipspersonnelareincapacitatedbyasoundthatcomesnotfromtheair,
butfrominsidetheirheads.Thenithappens.Thespacearoundthemturnswhite,blinding,andthensuddenly,itstops.(RealizationandreactiontotheSpringboardEvent.Theshowhas‘Set
Sail’andthestakesandemotionaredrivenhome.)Youandthecrewlookatthescreenjustasthealienshipdisappears.Then
youhearit,helminterruptswithdatathatdoesn’tmakeanysense.Youcheckandrecheck,butit’strue.Youaren’tinknownspaceanymore,youaren’teveninyourowngalaxyandyourship…hangsdeadinspace.Worse,nowyourealizetheonlypeopleyoucanturntoforhelp,areyourworstenemies.(Closingsentence(s),thatestablishwhatthecoreoftheshowisandisall
about.)FarthestStaristhestoryoftwodiametricallyopposedcrewsfightingfortheir
lives,inanunknowngalaxy.Theyseektosolvethemysteryoftheirjourneyso
thattheycangetbackhome.(Genrestatement,resultofthe‘SetSail’momentonthetoneoftheshow.Thereactionofthesituationonnormallife.Whatkindofsituationtookplace?Whatconsequencesactionsmeaninthenewsituation?)Producer’sStatementFarthestStarisasciencefictionadventureseries.FromthemomenttheArgosaccidentallysetssail,everythingbecomes
desperate.The‘normal'intensityofthestressesacombatstarshipgoesthroughareunhingedastheyarehurledintoahyper-violentgalaxywheretheireveryactandchoiceaffectstheirchancesforsurvival.(Whatdoesthemaindramaofcharactertocharacterinteractionspring
from?)Thecoreoftheseriesiswatchingtheseenemycrewsfacedwithan
extraordinarysituationandhowtheydo,anddon’t,worktogethertosurvive.(Whatisthespecificallydefinedcoreofthedramaintheseries?)Muchofthedramaandactionoftheseriesspringsfromthis.Thecrewsare
constantlyfindingtheirmoralsandidentitiescomingintoconflictwiththeirdaytodaydesperatesituations.It’shardtofightoffattackingaliensandunknownphenomenawhenhalfthecrewisrebellingorplottingamutiny.(Whataretheexternalchallengesandhowdotheyaffectthedramatic
core?)Aprimecomponentofthisseriesisthatitisaboutinterpersonaldramaas
muchasaction.Contactismadewithoftenhostilealiens,combatisaconstantpartoftheirlives,butthenormisthatthecrewsareinaconstantstateofdiscontentandbrinkmanship.Usually,thesesequenceswillhaveoperatictone,withtwolevelsofactionbeingplayedoutinahighadventure,highstakesenvironment.
(Whatisthedichotomyofthetone?Isthereanother,lighterside?)Inspiteoftheintenselydramatictoneandactionoftheepisodes,thereare
timesofbasichumanityandevenhumor.(Howdoesthisdichotomyaccentuatetheseriesmainthrustofthe
show?)Theseoccasionsarekeytohighlightingtheseries’theme,buttheseevents
neverovershadowthestakesoftheseries.Inallsituations,the‘human’reactionsofthecharactersaredeliveredinsuchawayastoaccentuatethepressureofthecrews’moralandphysicalplight.Thisfurthersthethemeoftheshowofsurvivalmakesstrangebedfellows.(Whatisthevisceralappealoftheshow?)TheoverallaimandappealofFarthestStarlieingivingtheaudience
characterstheycanrelatetoandactualcareabout,insituationsthatwillputthemattheedgeoftheirseats,andinsodoing,creatingatypeofScienceFictionshowfortoday'smoresophisticatedsci-fifans.(Whatarethetheme’sdynamics?Whatarethemoraldynamics?)Tone&StyleFarthestStarisanexerciseincontrasts.Establishmentvs.Commoners,
disciplinevs.disorder,positivevs.negative,goodvs.evil,conventionalvs.unconventional.Thestyleoftheserieswillreflectthesecontrasts.(Whatisyourstatementofthemoral/themepush?)Thestyleoftheserieswillreflectthesecontrasts.(Whatisthevisualthemeandtonethatyouwanttoconvey?)
Visually,theArgoswillechothestyleofFarthestStarwillhaveadistinctivecinematicstyletohighlightthelivesthecrewsareliving.IntheArgosandonmissions,thevisualstylewillbegritty,withdramaticlighting,energeticeditingand'youarethere'cameramovements,toexpressthe'realworld'theyarein.Scenesaretobenaturalisticandutilitarian,militaristic.(Whatkindofproductionstyledoyouvisualizetheshowhaving?)FarthestStarwillhaveadistinctivecinematicstyletohighlightthelivesthe
crewsareliving.IntheArgosandonmissions,thevisualstylewillbegritty,withdramaticlighting,energeticeditingand'youarethere'cameramovements,toexpressthe'realworld'theyarein.(Whatarethreewordsthatcandescribethelookofacommonscene?)Scenesaretobenaturalisticandutilitarian,militaristic.(Whatisyourdescriptionofthemainsetpiece?<City,Hospital,etc>)TheArgoisakintomodernsubmarines.Thewordscavernous,gloomy,
gothicandclaustrophobicareappropriate,dependingontheareaofthechip.Dulllowlightpervadestheshipmostofthetime.Onlytheship'shydroponicparksitsinthemiddleofthewarship,asanoasisofhumanity.Aplacewherepeopleconnect,play...andscheme.(Whataresomeofthelessersetpiecesandtheirdescriptions?)TheFighterlandingbay,Fighterships,reconships,andeventhedisabled
ResoluteareotherkeypiecesoftheArgos’worldthatwillfeatureheavilyintheseries.TheStarcontrolgearwillallhaveadistinctivemilitaristiclookgunmetalgraysandblacks,angularedges,slightlybulky'dangerous'look.(Whatisthebasisofthelookofcharacterclothing,accoutermentsand
howdoesitreflecttheirstation?)ThesamecanbesaidoftheCorsairgear,exceptitlooksmoreweathered,
withdarkerbrownsinsteadofgrays,withanedgeofoldfashionedwesternmeetsbarbaricdesignflair.Heavyonthepersonalizedgear,whereStarcontrolisallhomogenizedandgeneralissue.
(Howwillsetpiecesandaccoutermentsaccenttheseriestheme(s)?)Withthisblendofdesignandshootingstyle,FarthestStarwillhaveaunique
andatmosphericlookthatwillcomplementandenhanceitsuniqueanddramaticthemes.
WhatIsASeriesProposal?Likeapitch,aseriesproposalcanbeverbal,orwritten.Wearefocusingon
thewrittenproposalhere.Writtenseriesproposalsareusually6to15pagesinlength,preferablyno
longer.AwrittenproposalisusuallyprovidedwhenaninterestedProducerwants
moredetailsafterasuccessfulpitch.Itgivesamuchmoredetailedlookattheseriesforthemtomakeabetterdecision.Itcanalsoprovetobeagooddevelopmenttoolforanywriterdevelopinghisorherseries.
A:SeriesProposalExampleFarthestStarproposalforaone-houractionseries
writtenbyWadeT.Pena&PhilZizzacreatedbyWadeT.PenaTakeaclean-cutbythebookStarcarrierCaptainandhiscrew.Without
warning,throwthemtothefarendoftheuniverseinanunknowngalaxy,theirshiphalfdestroyed.Theyimmediatelycomeunderattack.Theirmortalenemiestheyweretrackingdown,theironly'friends'inthisnewgalaxy,wheretheyareforcedtojoinforces.Tosurvive,evenworktogetherandsomehow,someway,trackdowntheancientshipthatcantransportthembackhome.ThisistheSci-fidramaof"FarthestStar.""FarthestStar"isthestoryofabythebookStarcarrierCaptainwhodiscovers
thelocationoftherebelsresponsibleforthedeathofhiswife,butwhentheirshipsareaccidentallytransportedtoanothergalaxy,hemustdotheunthinkableandpartnerwiththerebelsinadesperateattempttogetbackhome.FarthestStaris:-CAPTAINGRAY,ahandsomehardened40somethingwhothinksthe
Corsairrebelsarethelowestformoflifeuntilherealizestheyarehiscrew’sonlyhopebackhome.Now,hemustfighthisownurgeseveryday,nottopushthemalloutanairlock,forthegreatergood.-KEKOA,theCorsairCaptainthatGrayblamesforthedeathofhiswife.
OnlyKekoaknowstherealtruth.-LARACOLTON,theleaderofthesecretfacilitythatheldthealienshipthat
strandedthem.Sheisinchargeoftrackingdownthelocationoftheshipandgettingthembackhome.OnlysheiskeepingasecretaboutthealienshipfromtheCaptainandcrew.-BETORR,thecrustychiefwithapastheleftbehindwhenhejoined
Starcontrol.Onlynow,hispasthascaughtupwithhimintheformofaCorsaircrewmanthatknowshisterriblesecret.-AMONKIN,acareercriminalthatjoinedtheCorsairsforpersonalgain.
Now,hesecretlyplotsmutinyandhasadisturbingnumberoffollowers.-CASSLEE,abeautifulyoungStarcontrolofficerwhoisaclosetmanipulator
withapenchantforAmonandhelpinghisplansformutiny.-T’ARAROARK,abeautifulhalf-Crujaanfemale,andformercrewmanof
theArgos,beforequittingtojointheCorsairs.ShestillfindsherselfsecretlyattractedtotheCaptainandconfidesinheroldfriend,Betorr.Kekoa'sconfidante,shekeepsthesecretofCaptainGray'sdeadwife.-DANIELPEREZ,freshoutofStarcontrolAcademy,hehasbeenseducedby
Casstohelpthemutineercause.Hisgeniuswiththeship'ssystemsmakeshimanimportantpawninherplansBothcrewssoonlearnthatfromnowonthey'llbelivinginconflict—with
theirfellowcrewmemberswhovieweachotherwithsuspicion,andwiththenewalienspeciesthatseektodestroythemateveryturn.Theadventurestheshipgetsinvolvedwilltakethemfromthelowest
backwaterplanetstothegleamingspiresofpowerhungrystarempires.Eachepisodeof"FarthestStar"focusesonthesecretseachcrewmankeeps,internalpowerplayswhileatthesametimestrugglingforsurvivalamongthestarsallwhileseekingawayhome.
CAPTAINJOHNGRAY
Isahandsomehardened40somethingStarcontrolCaptainwith25yearsofnonterrestrialservice.CaptainJonGrayisacareerStarcontrolCaptainthathaslosthisway,since
thedeathofhiswife.Foryearshehastrackeddowntherebelshipthatcausedherdeath.Whenhefinallycornerstheship,attackingasecretFederacyoutpost,bothshipsareflungacrosstheuniversetoanunknowngalaxy.Now,hehastomakeatrucewithhismosthatedenemies,tosurviveinadesperatebidtofindthealienshipresponsiblefortheirpredicamentandgetthemallhome.
KEKOA
KekoaistheleaderoftheCorsairsandformerStarcontrolCaptain.HewasfriendswithCaptainGrayduringhistimewithStarcontrol.Aftertheirtwocrewsbecamestranded,heandGraywereimmediatelyatodds,butbothrealizedtheyhadtojoinforcesordie.Grayblameshimforthelossofhiswife,butonlyKekoaandT'araknowthetruthaboutherdeath.Asecret,ifdiscovered,coulddestroytheirallianceandthreatentheirsurvival.
BETORR
BetorristhecrustySecurityChiefwithapast,apastheleftbehindtojoinStarcontrol.Onlynow,hispasthascaughtupwithhim,intheformofaCorsaircrewmanthatknowshisterriblesecret.Nowhemustdecidebetweenthedemandsofthemysterycrewman,orfacethetruthandthelossofhislifeinStarcontrol.
DANIELPEREZ
DanielPerezisthenewestadditiontotheArgosandalongtimefanofCaptainGray.Restlessforadventure,hewoundupwithmorethanhecouldimagine.Feelinglostandoutofplaceamongsthiscrew,muchlesstheCorsairs,hefallsforandisseducedbyCasstohelpthemutineercause.Hisgeniuswiththeship’ssystemsmakeshimanimportantpawninherplans.Hesoonrealizeshemustchoosebetweenloveandhonor.T’ARAROARKT'araRoarkistheattractivehalfalienintheroom.Alwaysstuckbetween
worldsandcultures,shenevercompletelyfitinwhenshewasaStarcontrolofficer.WhenhercolonycameunderattackintheDemilitarizedzone,shejumpedatthechancetojointhemorespeciesdiverseCorsairs.Butwhentheybecamestrandedwithheroldship,theArgos,oldfeelingsofallegianceemerge.Now,shefindsherselfstuckbetweenworldsagain,andwhenrumorsofmutinysurface,shemustdecidewhichworldshelovesmost.CAPTAINLARA‘DOC'COLTON;Ph.D.QUANTUMMECHANICSDoctorLaraColtonwastheleadresearcherontheancientaliencraftthattook
themfromtheirhomegalaxy.OnceahighlyrespectedmemberofStarcontrol’sarchaeologicaldivision,sheisnowrelegatedtotrackingdownthelocationoftheshipandgettingthembackhome.Onlysheknowstherealtruthbehindtheattackonherfacility.Atruththatneithercrewknowsabout,orherhiddenagenda.EverydayshebecomesmoreattachedtoCaptainGrayandhiscrew,whichmakeswhatshemustdo,evenmoredifficult.
AMONKIN
AmonKinisacareercriminalthatoriginallyjoinedtheCorsairsforpersonalgain.HeistheoriginalsourceofinformationfortheCorsairsontheoriginsoftheancientalienship,buthehasnotdivulgedeverythingtothem.Onlyheknowsifhedoesn’ttakecommand,theirchancesofreturningaredimatbest.Now,heseekstocreateasuccessfulmutinyandstakeseverythingontheseductionofayoungStarcontrolofficer.But,whathedidn’texpect,wastofallinlovewithher.LT.COMMANDERCASSLEECassLeeistheArgos’communicationscommander.Alwaysdiplomaticand
loyal,toafault,shefindsherbeliefschallengedbythebarbaricAmonKin.Atfirstrefusingherattractiontotherogue,shesoonfallsforhimandbecomeshislover.Now,shehasbecomehisprimaryconspiratorinhisplannedmutiny.But,shefallsforyoungDanielPerezaswellandistornbetweenthetwo,untilAmonforceshertouseDaniel’sfeelingsforher,totheiradvantage.Nowsheissecretlytornbetweenbothfactionsandbothmen.
GENERALBIBLEBIOQUESTIONS
CHARACTERTITLENAMEINCAPS,age,howthecharacterappearsandyearsofdutyjob.Earlylifeandfamily'seconomicstanding.His/hermentalcapacity,howhe/sheaddresseshiswork,personalcost,and/or
side.Personalproblem(s)andhowhespendshistime.Demeanorandhowitdoesordoesn'tchange,dependingonthesituation.Whathe/shethinksofthecurrentsituation,howhispersonalhistoryaffects
thatviewandwhatemotionalgutinstinctisabouthisopiniononthecurrentsituation.Whatworrieshimandwhathedoestocompensateorfixit.Howhetestsothersand/ortheirresolvetoprovethemselves.Howthecharacterwillevolveoverthecourseoftheseriesandwhattraits
staystatic.
PILOTEPISODE
Noteforthissection:Inthissection,ashortfourpluspageepisodesummary
isusuallyprovidedforproposals.Thissummaryshouldnotbetakenasadefinitivetemplateforallstories.Itisnot.Thisismerelyanexampleofonetypeofstoryandwhatit'stypeofstructureentailsinabasicproseformat.
ACTI
In2507CaptainJonathanGrayoftheStarcontrolStarcarrierArgo,isatthe
endofathreeyearmissiontohuntdowndangerousinterstellarrebelsknownasCorsairs.It’sbeenyearssincethedeathofhiswifeatthehandsoftheCorsairs,andheisstillobsessedwithfindingtheshipresponsible.Unexpectedly,Inthemiddleoftheirfinaljourneyhome,Anemergencyhailcomesin.It’sfromaStarcontrolfacility,afacilitysosecrethewasnotawareofitsexistence.Uponarrival,Gray'sscreenrevealstheperpetrators.Hecan’tbelieveit,the
raidertheResolute,THEshiphehasbeenseekingforyears.Hecallsbattlestations,thenheseesit.Amonstrouslyhugediamond-shapedalienship,largerthananasteroid.Thesecretfacilityisfallingapartanditstinystaffejectsinlifepodsand
boardstheArgo,rightbeforethefacilityexplodes.Thetwoshipsdanceinanimpossibleballetoflightanddestruction.TheResolutefiresthelastofitstorpedocomplement.OnehitstheArgo,blowingoutdecksofpersonnelintocoldspace,theother…hitsthealienship.Neithercrewnoticesthealienshipcomingtolife.Thatisuntiltheyhearthesound.Bothshipspersonnelarestunnedbyasoundthatcomesnotfromtheair,but
frominsidetheirheads.Thenithappens.Thespacearoundthemturnswhite,blinding,andthenwithoutwarning,itstops.Thecrewslookattheirscreensjustasthealienshipdisappears.Thecrewscheckandrecheck,butit’strue.Theyaren’tinknownspaceanymore,notevenintheirowngalaxyandbothshipsaredeadinspace.Worse,bothshipscomeunderimmediateattackfromunknownhostilefire.Alienfightershipsdescendonthetwoshipsinahailofblasterfire.TheArgo
andResolutedesperatelyfireallremaininglasersasbesttheycanonthestrafingenemy.Kekoa,theResolute'sCaptainhailstheArgo.Graydoesn'twanttorespondbutiscompelledbyhisSecurityChiefBetorr.KekoarecommendsabacktobackmaneuverthattheyusedbeforewhenheservedasGray’sformerFirstofficer.MemoriesfloodinandGraybeginstoprotestuntilKekoaasksifhewantstoberighteousanddead,orrealisticandalive.Grayagreesandthetwo
shipsdefendthemselves,backtoback.Withinminutes,theMaraudersturntail,butnotbeforetractorbeamingthe
alienshipawaywiththem.Thetwoshipsaretoodamagedtomove,buttheyarealive.
ACTII
ThetwocrewsareinaweattheircircumstancesandCaptainKekoainitiatesa
“Parle’,foratruce.Meantime,Kekoa’sfirstofficer,AmonKin,secretlyplanstomutinybutputshisplansonholddespitecallsbyhisconfederatestoinitiatethemutinynow.ThemeetingbetweenCaptainsandtheircommandcrewstakesplaceon
dockedshuttlesbetweentheships.PresentatthemeetingfromtheArgoareCaptainGrayashisfirstofficer,Lt.CommanderCassLeeandChiefBetorr.FromtheResoluteareCaptainKekoa,AmonKinandT’araRoark,alsoaformerStarcontrolofficer.ThetwocautiousCaptainsgreeteachother.Kekoasuggestsanextended
truce,atleastuntiltheycanfindtheirrespectivecrews...andthealienship.WhilethetwoCaptain’sspeak,LeeisstaringatAmon,whoisatfirstunaware.Whenhenotices,hegivesaroguishsmileandwinks.ThestartledLeeturnsherattentionbacktotheCaptain.Grayishesitantabouttheofferofextendedtruce,asangerdancesinhis
expression.Kekoalaysitallout.Hisengine’shypercoilsarefriedandStarcontrolalwayskeepsextras.Argo’ssensortransducersareshotandtheResolutehasspares.Therearetoomanyunknownsforusnottoworktogether.Graynods.AmongoestoprotestandhestopsasKekoaraisesahand.Theyagreetosendoversupplyshuttleswithsixtechnicianseach.Alltobeescortedbysecurityonbothships.Kekoaextendshishand.ButGraydoesnottakeit.“YouhaveyourtruceCaptain,fornow,”andtheydepart.Elsewhere,theMarauderandhumancraftsfromearlierareinahugelanding
bay.Hoardsofarmoredalienwarriorsswarmthehumanfightercrafts,gunsattheready.Humansarebeingtakenprisoner,somebeingshotiftheyshowresistance.ThedefeatedmenandwomenfilterbyagroupofMarauderofficers.ThelargestoftheofficersistheirFieldMarshal.AjuniorofficerwalksuptothegroupandaddressestheFieldMarshal.“Excellency,thereisnosignofthealiensfollowing.”TheFieldMarshalsmiles,turning.“Butweknowtheywillcome,don’twe?Theywillcome.”
Later,backontheArgo,teamsandequipmenthavebeensenttoeachshipto
effectrepairsontheResolute’senginesandtheArgo’ssensors.CaptainGraysummonsDoctorColton,theheadoftherescuedalienshipresearchteam.TheCaptainwantsanswersabouttheship.Shesaysshehasnonebutmaybeabletotrackandfindthealienshipwhentheirsensorsarebackonline.TheCaptaingiveshereveryresourcetomakeithappen,buthedoesnottrusther.GraycallsonChiefBetorrtowatchher.OnboardtheResolute,Lt.DanielPerezassistswiththerepairsofthe
Resolute’senginesbutgetshisfirsttasteoftheCorsairsdislikeofStarcontrol.Lt.CommanderLeehastoworkwithAmonKintorepairtheArgo’sengines.Sherebuffshisadvances,whilehesecretlyplantsacovertdeviceintheirengineeringsection.TheenginesgoliveontheResolute,provingPerez’sworthtotheirnewallies,
rightbeforetheArgo’ssensorsaresuccessfullyrepaired.Dr.Coltonscansforandfindsthealienship’ssignature.It’slocatedinadistantnebula.Bothshipsgetunderwayimmediatelyforthecoordinates,withoutknowingexactlywhattheyareupagainst.
ACTIII
Telemetrycomesinandtheydiscoverthemaraudersareatahugering
shaped-spacestationthesizeofaworld,thatwouldbesuicideasadirectassault.Theydecideonatwoteamcovertinsertion.Oneteamtofindthecrew,oneteamtofindthealienship.TensionstillrunshighbetweenGrayandKekoa,butwhenconfrontedby
Kekoa,Grayconfirmsthetrucewillholduntilaftertheoperation.AmonandLtCommanderLeegatherattheArgomeetingroomforassault
planning.AmonamorouslymovesonLeeagainandsherebuffshisadvances.Later,theArgoandResoluteattackcrewsmeetattheArgo'spilotready
room.Thebriefingisgivenandtheteamsareestablished.Bravoteamforcrewrescueconsistsof,AmonKin,CassLeeandAlphateamforfreeingthealienshipfromitsberthmadeupofDr.Colton,Betorr,andLt.Perez.ThetwoCaptainsareoversightbackontheArgo.ThedualcrewteamsrunthroughsimulationsonArgo’ssimulationdeck,but
allgoeslessthansmooth.ThediametricallydifferentapproachesillustratethattheCorsairsmusttakeStarcontrol’sleadonthemissions.AmonandtheResolutecrewpushbackbuttheformerStarcontrolofficer,Kekoa,approves.Thiscreatesmoreanimositytowardhimandbetweenthecrews.Withrelentlesspractice,theteamsimulationsgetbetterbutnottothelevel
thatmakestheCaptainscomfortable.TheyarriveattheoutskirtsofthenebulanowandbothCaptainsdecidetheymustbeonthemissions,tomakesurethemissionsaresuccessful.
ACTIV
PartoneoftheplanisfortheResolute’screwtocapturetwoalienships,en
routetothestation,thenusethemfortheassaultteams.TheResolutecrewwatchesindistasteasthepiraterebelsdotheunpalatabletaskthatisnecessaryfortheirsuccess.BeforeAlphateamtakesoff,AmonplanstoshootKekoaonthemissionand
takecommand.Bothshipsfindnon-regulardockstothestation,andcarrydimensionalbridgers,totransportthembacktotheirshipsthroughdimensionalportals.Oncetheygettotheholdingcells,afirefightbreaksout.AlthoughAmonplannedtoshootKekoa,hehastomakeachoice.DoeshekillKekoa,orsaveCass?TheBravoteamhastosilentlykillmultiplealiensbeforefindingtheirquarry,
thealienship.Butcutoffbyaguardedwalkway,Dr.Colton,BetorrandGrayhavetospacewalktoit.BackwithAlphateam,AmonsavesCassinsteadofkillingKekoa.They
releasethecrew,buttheynowhavetogetthemtotheirfighterships,becausetheirdimensionalbridgerwasdestroyed.Dr.GrayandBetorrmovetowardsthealienshipintheirsuits,butshesays
shehastogoaloneortheshipmightactivate.Theystandwatch,slightlyoutofsight.Butwhenafirefightstartstobreakoutattheirairlock,Betorrgoestotellhertheyhavetoleavenow.Itisthenthatheseesherdoingsomethingtotheship,insertingapyramidintotheside,insteadofjustputtingonatransponder,theninaflashofblindinglight,thealienshipdisappears.AlphaTeamisawaywithallfighters,firingtheirwayoutofthestation.
BravoteamusestheirdimensionalbridgertogetbacktotheResolute.GrayisfuriousandmystifiedatColton,buttheyhavenotimeforquestions.TheArgoandResolutemovetowardthestationtoretrievethefightersastheyarepursuedbyenemyships.KekoaandthefightersgetbacktotheArgo’slargerintactlandingbays,but
nowtheirshipsareunderheavyattack.TheResolute’smainenginestakeaheavyblowandcan’thyperdriveaway.KekoaordershiscrewtoabandonshipbutnowhastoprotecttheArgosasitpicksupthecrews’lifepods.Kekoafightstotheendtosavehiscrew,thentheArgo,fullyexpectingtobeleftbehindashekamikazeshisshipintoanalienbaseship.Butatthelastmoment,GraytakesthechanceofinsertingadimensionalbridgertotheResolutebarelysavingKekoa.But,theResoluteislost.Asurprisedcrewseesthealienarmadahaltpursuit,givingthemprecioustime
tospooltheirhyperdriveandescape.GrayandhiscommandcrewgotosickbaytoseeKekoa,whoisbeingtreated
forinjuriesfromthebattle.Hethankshim,suggeststheymergecrewstosurviveandinfershewilllooktheotherwaywhentheygetbacktoletthemescape.ThenheextendshishandandthetwoCaptain’sfinallyshake.Totheside,T’araasksAmonwhatwouldhappenifGrayeverfoundoutwhat
reallyhappenedtohiswifewhentheResolutekilledher.Amonsmiles,thenseesCassatthedoornodforhimtofollowher.Heexitsandshetakeshimtoasideoffice.Shethankshimforsavingher,hebeginstoleave,butshegrabshimandsurprisingly…kisseshim.Dr.Coltonleavestheroom,Betorrseesandfollows,thenconfrontsher.He
sawwhatshedidandnowsheneedstoexplainherself.Meanwhile,backatthealienstation,thealienCommanderistoldthatthe
Argohasescaped,perhisorders.“Good,theprophecyhasbegun.”Andweseeonhisdesk,anancientlookingrepresentationoftheArgo.
EPISODESTORYCONCEPTS
COLONY
TheArgosisattackedbyamysteriousenemythatcandimensionallyteleportaboardtheirship.Theyareimprisonedonapenalcolony,foraccidentallytrespassingthroughtheattacker'ssystem.Now,theymustengineeranescapebyovercominganenigmatic,impenetrableprison.Also,iftheydon'tescapequickly,theenemiesreinforcementswillpreventtheirescapeforever.StarcontrolandCorsaircrewalikemustputasidedifferencestosurviveandescape.
STARSHIPLOST
TheArgoscomesacrossa'ghost'starship,missingitscrew,butonlyrecently.Ontheheelsoftheirrecentprisonescape,thetwocrewsworktogethertosolvethemystery,butoldhabitsdiehard.Soonafterdocking,theArgoslosespowerandtensionsrise.Onlyacomatosecrewmancananswerthemysteryoftheship,butisincriticalconditionanddying,quickly.Theyhavelittletimetosolvetheriddlebeforetheymeetthesamemysteriousfateoftheghostship.
PLANETSIDE
Duringthejointcrew'sfirstmissiontoretrieverareelementsfortheirengines,andgetalittleshoreleave,aloneobelisk,withsimilarmarkingstotheAlienrelicshipisfound.Wheninvestigated,itkillsoneofthecrew.Now,spatialphenomenaontheplanetandinspace,threatentheshipandcrew.But,theyhavelittletimelefttouncovertheanswer,whentheirsensorsdiscoveranenemyship,justhoursout.
ARTIFACT
GuidedbytheDoctor'snewscannerupgrade,theArgosfindsaplanetoidwithasmallancientoutpost.Accidentallyactivatingaself-destructmechanism,theydoretrievewhattheybelievetobeadatastoragecrystal.Withinminutesoftheirescape,theyareattackedbyasavageenemyoflessertechnology,butmassivenumbers.Numberssogreat,thattheywouldnotbeabletoleavewithoutpossibledestruction.Theywantthecrystalback,inexchangeforallowingtheirsafepassage.But,atthesametime,theDoctorfindsoutthatthecrystalisthesametechasthatoftheRelicship.Theyneedittofindtheshipandgethome.Now,theymustfendofftheattackers,decodethesecretofthecrystalandgiveittotheirattackers,beforetheirshipisdestroyed.
B:SeriesProposalWalkthroughFarthestStarproposalforaone-houractionseries
writtenbyWadeT.Pena&PhilZizzacreatedbyWadeT.Pena(Whattypeofheroandaccompanyingcharacters,theincitingincidentof
thestory,theinternaldramaticconflictoftheseries,theexternaldramaticconflictoftheseries,thequestoftheseries.)Takeaclean-cutbythebookStarcarrierCaptainandhiscrew.Without
warning,throwthemtothefarendoftheuniverseinanunknowngalaxy,theirshiphalfdestroyed.Theyimmediatelycomeunderattack.Theirmortalenemiestheyweretrackingdown,theironly'friends'inthisnewgalaxy,wheretheyareforcedtojoinforces.Tosurvive,evenworktogetherandsomehow,someway,trackdowntheancientshipthatcantransportthembackhome.ThisistheSci-fidramaof"FarthestStar."(Whattypeofhero,thediscovery/impetusthatleadstotheinciting
incident,theincitingincident,theironicdramaticpushoftheseriesandtheseriesquest)"FarthestStar"isthestoryofabythebookStarcarrierCaptainwhodiscovers
thelocationoftherebelsresponsibleforthedeathofhiswife,butwhentheirshipsareaccidentallytransportedtoanothergalaxy,hemustdotheunthinkableandpartnerwiththerebelsinadesperateattempttogetbackhome.(Nameofcharacter,Typeofcharacter,mainemotionalpush,ironicpush
oftheseries,Internalstruggleduetotheironicpush)FarthestStaris:-CAPTAINGRAY,ahandsomehardened40somethingwhothinksthe
Corsairrebelsarethelowestformoflife,untilherealizestheyarehiscrew’sonlyhopebackhome.Now,hemustfighthisownurgeseveryday,nottopushthemalloutanairlock,forthegreatergood.(Charactername,typeofcharacterandstationinlife,howthemain
characterfeelsabouthim/her,ironicmysterythatrelatestobothcharacters)-KEKOA,theCorsairCaptainthatGrayblamesthedeathofhiswifeon,only
Kekoaknowstherealtruth.(Charactername,relationshiptotheseriesquest/mystery,jobduringthe
series,thedramaticsecretthathe/shekeepsfromtheothercharactersthatpertaintothequest/mystery)-LARACOLTON,theleaderofthesecretfacilitythatheldthealienshipthat
strandedthem.Sheisinchargeoftrackingdownthelocationoftheshipandgettingthembackhome.OnlysheiskeepingasecretaboutthealienshipfromtheCaptainandcrew.(Charactername,typeofcharacter,hintofashadowypast.Establish
thatthepastisthreateningtoberevealedbyanew,threateningcharacter)-BETORR,thecrustychiefwithapastheleftbehindwhenhejoined
Starcontrol.Onlynow,hispasthascaughtupwithhimintheformofaCorsaircrewmanthatknowshisterriblesecret.(Charactername,typeofcharacter,reasonforhis/herstationinlife,
hidden/secretplotthatcanaffecttheseriesmystery/quest)-AMONKIN,acareercriminalthatjoinedtheCorsairsforpersonalgain.
Now,hesecretlyplotsmutinyandhasadisturbingnumberoffollowers.(Charactername,typeofcharacter,stationinlife,typeofperson,
relationshiptomaliciouscharacterandhowhe/shehelpsthatcharacter)-CASSLEE,abeautifulyoungStarcontrolofficerwhoisaclosetmanipulator
withapenchantforAmonandhelpinghisplansformutiny.(Charactername,typeofcharacter,characterpast,connectionwiththe
maincharacter,whatsupportingcharacterhe/sheconfidesin,secrethe/shekeepsthatcanaffectrelationshipwiththemaincharacter.)-T’ARAROARK,abeautifulhalf-Crujaanfemale,andformercrewmanof
theArgos,beforequittingtojointheCorsairs.Shestillfindsherselfsecretly
attractedtotheCaptainandconfidesinheroldfriend,Betorr.Kekoa'sconfidante,shekeepsthesecretofCaptainGray'sdeadwife.(Charactername,stationinlife,his/herrelationtoasupporting
characterandtheirdesigns,character'sabilitiesthatcanaffectthosedesignsandtheseriesquestsuccess/failure)-DANIELPEREZ,freshoutofStarcontrolAcademy,hehasbeenseducedby
Casstohelpthemutineercause.Hisgeniuswiththeship'ssystemsmakeshimanimportantpawninherplans.(Establishthedramaticandironicconditionsthatthecharacters,the
tensionsthiscausesandtheexternalthreatsthatthemystery/questbringsthem)Bothcrewssoonlearnthatfromnowonthey'llbelivinginconflict—with
theirfellowcrewmemberswhovieweachotherwithsuspicion,andwiththenewalienspeciesthatseektodestroythemateveryturn.(Descriptionoftherangeofseriesstorieslocations,descriptionofthe
threetofourdramaticfocalpointsoftheseries,endingwiththeprimarymystery/quest)Theadventurestheshipgetsinvolvedwithtakesthemfromthelowest
backwaterplanetstothegleamingspiresofpowerhungrystarempires.Eachepisodeof"FarthestStar"focusesonthesecretseachcrewmankeeps,internalpowerplayswhileatthesametimestrugglingforsurvivalamongthestarsallwhileseekingawayhome.(Charactername,characterdescription,stationinlife,anypersonal
internalloss,howthatloss/painhasaffectedthecharacter,howthatledtotheincitingincident,howtheincitingincidentledtothedramaticironyoftheseries,andtheseriesmysteryand/orquest)
CAPTAINJOHNGRAY
Isahandsomehardened40somethingStarcontrolCaptainwith25yearsofnonterrestrialservice.CaptainJonGrayisacareerStarcontrolCaptainthathaslosthisway,since
thedeathofhiswife.Foryearshehastrackeddowntherebelshipthatcausedherdeath.Whenhefinallycornerstheship,attackingasecretFederacyoutpost,bothshipsareflungacrosstheuniversetoanunknowngalaxy.Now,hehastomakeatrucewithhismosthatedenemies,tosurviveinadesperatebidtofindthealienshipresponsiblefortheirpredicamentandgetthemallhome.(Charactername,stationinlife,paststationinlife.Mutualpastwith
maincharacter,currentrelationshipwiththemaincharacter,how/whytheyworktogether.Whatthemaincharacterthinksofhim/her,whatrelationshiphe/shehaswithadifferentcharacterthatcould/ordoesimpacthis/herrelationshipwiththemaincharacter)
KEKOA
KekoaistheleaderoftheCorsairsandformerStarcontrolCaptain.HewasfriendswithCaptainGrayduringhistimewithStarcontrol.Aftertheirtwocrewsbecamestranded,heandGraywereimmediatelyatodds,butbothrealizedtheyhadtojoinforcesordie.Grayblameshimforthelossofhiswife,butonlyKekoaandT'araknowthetruthaboutherdeath.Asecret,ifdiscovered,coulddestroytheirallianceandthreatentheirsurvival.(Name,Rank/stationandpast,whatthepastmeanstohim/hernow.How
thatpasthascaughtuptothecharacter.‘RockandaHardPlacedecisionoverhis/herpast)
BETORR
BetorristhecrustySecurityChiefwithapast,apastheleftbehindtojoinStarcontrol.Onlynow,hispasthascaughtupwithhim,intheformofaCorsaircrewmanthatknowshisterriblesecret.Nowhemustdecidebetweenthedemandsofthemysterycrewman,orfacethetruthandthelossofhislifeinStarcontrol.(Thecharacter'sname,howheorshefitsintheteam/show,Whathe/she
thinksofthemaincharacter,Whatthecharacter'smaingoalis/was.Howdoesthecharacterfeelnow,afterthe‘setsail'incident?Whatspecialrelationshiphe/shehaswithanothercharacter,thatcouldcauseproblems.Whatisthecharacter'sspecialgiftthatmakeshim/hervaluable?Whatisthedramatic‘Rockandahardplace'decisionhe/shemustmake?)
DANIELPEREZ
DanielPerezisthenewestadditiontotheArgosandalongtimefanofCaptainGray.Restlessforadventure,hewoundupwithmorethanhecouldimagine.Feelinglostandoutofplaceamongsthiscrew,muchlesstheCorsairs,hefallsforandisseducedbyCasstohelpthemutineercause.Hisgeniuswiththeship’ssystemsmakeshimanimportantpawninherplans.Hesoonrealizeshemustchoosebetweenloveandhonor.(Character'sname,visualaestheticanduniquenessamongstthe
team/crew?Howandwhyhe/shedoesn'tfitin.Howdidthecharacterbecomewhotheyarenow?Howdoestheircurrentpredicamentaffecttheirmindsetnow?Whatisthecharacter's‘rockandahardplace'dramaticchoice?)T’ARAROARKT'araRoarkistheattractivehalfalienintheroom.Alwaysstuckbetween
worldsandcultures,shenevercompletelyfitinwhenshewasaStarcontrolofficer.WhenhercolonycameunderattackintheDemilitarizedzone,shejumpedatthechancetojointhemorespeciesdiverseCorsairs.Butwhentheybecamestrandedwithheroldship,theArgos,oldfeelingsofallegianceemerge.Now,shefindsherselfstuckbetweenworldsagain,andwhenrumorsofmutinysurface,shemustdecidewhichworldshelovesmost.(Character’sname,rankand/orposition,whathe/shedid/doesthat
pertainstothecentralmysteryand/orquest.Whathis/herpurposeisnow.Whatsecretand/oragendathecharacterholdsthatcanaffecttheothercharacters.Howdoesthissecretand/oragendaweighonthecharacter?)CAPTAINLARA‘DOC'COLTON;Ph.D.QUANTUMMECHANICSDoctorLaraColtonwastheleadresearcherontheancientaliencraftthattook
themfromtheirhomegalaxy.OnceahighlyrespectedmemberofStarcontrol’sarchaeologicaldivision,sheisnowrelegatedtotrackingdownthelocationoftheshipandgettingthembackhome.Onlysheknowstherealtruthbehindtheattackonherfacility.Atruththatneithercrewknowsabout,orherhiddenagenda.EverydayshebecomesmoreattachedtoCaptainGrayandhiscrew,whichmakeswhatshemustdo,evenmoredifficult.
(Character'sname,careerandtheoriginalpurposeforbeinginhis
position.Howhispastconnectswiththecentralmysteryand/orquestandwhathe/sheholdsback.Whathis/hernewhiddenpurposeisandhowthatconnectswiththecentralmysteryand/orquest?Howhe/sheactstocontrolotherstothatpurpose?Whatunexpectedthingresultsfromthatstrategythatputsthisplaninjeopardy?)
AMONKIN
AmonKinisacareercriminalthatoriginallyjoinedtheCorsairsforpersonalgain.HeistheoriginalsourceofinformationfortheCorsairsontheoriginsoftheancientalienship,buthehasnotdivulgedeverythingtothem.Onlyheknowsifhedoesn’ttakecommand,theirchancesofreturningaredimatbest.Now,heseekstocreateasuccessfulmutinyandstakeseverythingontheseductionofayoungStarcontrolofficer.But,whathedidn’texpect,wastofallinlovewithher.(TheCharacter’sname,rank/position?Thecharacter’skeypersonality
traitsandhowanewcharacteraffectsthosetraits?Howhe/shefirstreactstothatcharacterandhowthatreactionchanges?Howshehelpsthenewcharacterwithhis/herplansand/orulterior
motives?Whatistheothercharacterhe/sheengagesthatmakeshis/hernew
relationshipmorecomplicated?Howishe/shecoercedbyacharactertouse/abusehis/herrelationship
withakeycharacter?)LT.COMMANDERCASSLEECassLeeistheArgos’communicationscommander.Alwaysdiplomaticand
loyal,toafault,shefindsherbeliefschallengedbythebarbaricAmonKin.Atfirstrefusingherattractiontotherogue,shesoonfallsforhimandbecomeshislover.Now,shehasbecomehisprimaryconspiratorinhisplannedmutiny.But,shefallsforyoungDanielPerezaswellandistornbetweenthetwo,untilAmonforceshertouseDaniel’sfeelingsforher,totheiradvantage.Nowsheissecretlytornbetweenbothfactionsandbothmen.
GENERALBIBLEBIOQUESTIONTEMPLATE
CHARACTERTITLENAMEINCAPS,age,howthecharacterappearsand
yearsofdutyjob.Earlylifeandfamily'seconomicstanding.His/hermentalcapacity,howhe/sheaddresseshiswork,personalcost,and/or
side.Character'spersonalproblem(s)andhowhespendshistime.Demeanorandhowitdoesordoesn'tchange,dependingonthesituation.Whathe/shethinksofthecurrentsituation,howhispersonalhistoryaffects
thatviewandwhatemotionalgutinstinctisabouthisopiniononthecurrentsituation.Whatworrieshimandwhathedoestocompensateorfixit.Howhetestsothersand/ortheirresolvetoprovethemselves.Howthecharacterwillevolveoverthecourseoftheseriesandwhattraits
staystatic.
PILOTEPISODE
Noteforthissection:Inthissection,ashortfourpluspageepisodesummary
isusuallyprovidedforproposals.Thissummaryshouldnotbetakenasadefinitivetemplateforallstories,itisnot.Thisismerelyanexampleofonetypeofstoryandwhatit'stypeofstructureentails.
ACTI
(EstablishestheCurrentWorldoftheSeries:When,Who,Where&Whyofthestory.TheWhyshouldbethephysicalmotivationquestandtheemotionalquest,atthebeginning.TheCatalystmomentthatteasesandcreatesthefirstdramaticquestion.)In2507CaptainJonathanGrayoftheStarcontrolStarcarrierArgo,isatthe
endofathreeyearmissiontohuntdowndangerousinterstellarrebelsknownasCorsairs.It’sbeenyearssincethedeathofhiswifeatthehandsoftheCorsairs,andheisstillobsessedwithfindingtheshipresponsible.Unexpectedly,Inthemiddleoftheirfinaljourneyhome,Anemergencyhailcomesin.It’sfromaStarcontrolfacility,afacilitysosecrethewasnotawareofitsexistence.(Theanswertothefirstdramaticquestionisoneormorerelated
surprise(s).Usually,involvesconflictand/oractionand/orimminentconflictand/oraction.)Uponarrival,Gray'sscreenrevealstheperpetrators.Hecan’tbelieveit,the
raidertheResolute,THEshiphehasbeenseekingforyears.Hecallsbattlestations,thenheseesit.Amonstrouslyhugediamond-shapedalienship,largerthananasteroid.(Thedramatictruthofthesurprise(s)fullyeruptinconflictand/or
action.Oneormoreearlierforeshadoweddramaticsurprise(s)engagesdramatically.)Thesecretfacilityisfallingapartanditstinystaffejectsinlifepodsand
boardstheArgo,rightbeforethefacilityexplodes.Thetwoshipsdanceinanimpossibleballetoflightanddestruction.TheResolutefiresthelastofitstorpedocomplement.OnehitstheArgo,blowingoutdecksofpersonnelintocoldspace,theother…hitsthealienship.Neithercrewnoticesthealienshipcomingtolife.Thatisuntiltheyhearthesound.(CharactersbecomeawareofthedramaticeventknowastheInciting
Incident,whichisdefinedasaneventordecisionthatbeginsastory'sproblem.Thecharacter(s)realizewhathasnowoccurred.)
Bothshipspersonnelarestunnedbyasoundthatcomesnotfromtheair,butfrominsidetheirheads.Thenithappens.Thespacearoundthemturnswhite,blinding,andthenwithoutwarning,itstops.Thecrewslookattheirscreensjustasthealienshipdisappears.Thecrewscheckandrecheck,butit’strue.Theyaren’tinknownspaceanymore,notevenintheirowngalaxyandbothshipsaredeadinspace.Worse,bothshipscomeunderimmediateattackfromunknownhostilefire.(Conflictand/orActionbeginsduetotheIncitingIncident.Alliancesare
decidedordecision(s)toembarkonaphysicaljourneyis/aredecided)Alienfightershipsdescendonthetwoshipsinahailofblasterfire.TheArgo
andResolutedesperatelyfireallremaininglasersasbesttheycanonthestrafingenemy.Kekoa,theResolute'sCaptainhailstheArgo.Graydoesn'twanttorespondbutiscompelledbyhisSecurityChiefBetorr.KekoarecommendsabacktobackmaneuverthattheyusedbeforewhenheservedasGray’sformerFirstofficer.MemoriesfloodinandGraybeginstoprotestuntilKekoaasksifhewantstoberighteousanddead,orrealisticandalive.Grayagreesandthetwoshipsdefendthemselves,backtoback.(Anotheractionoreventhasoccurredthatcompoundstheeffectofthe
IncitingIncident.)Withinminutes,theMaraudersturntail,butnotbeforetractorbeamingthe
alienshipawaywiththem.Thetwoshipsaretoodamagedtomove,buttheyarealive.
ACTII
(Characterstakestockofwhathashappened.)ThetwocrewsareinaweattheircircumstancesandCaptainKekoainitiatesa
“Parle’,foratruce.Meantime,Kekoa’sfirstofficer,AmonKin,secretlyplanstomutinybutputshisplansonholddespitecallsbyhisconfederatestoinitiatethemutinynow.(Tensely,CharactersstrategizeonhowtorecuperatefromtheInciting
Incident.)ThemeetingbetweenCaptainsandtheircommandcrewstakesplaceon
dockedshuttlesbetweentheships.PresentatthemeetingfromtheArgoareCaptainGrayashisfirstofficer,Lt.CommanderCassLeeandChiefBetorr.FromtheResoluteareCaptainKekoa,AmonKinandT’araRoark,alsoaformerStarcontrolofficer.(Characterstenselyinteractandinitiatethelayoutoftheplanofactionto
recuperatefromtheIncitingIncident.)ThetwocautiousCaptainsgreeteachother.Kekoasuggestsanextended
truce,atleastuntiltheycanfindtheirrespectivecrews...andthealienship.WhilethetwoCaptain’sspeak,LeeisstaringatAmon,whoisatfirstunaware.Whenhenotices,hegivesaroguishsmileandwinks.ThestartledLeeturnsherattentionbacktotheCaptain.(Planofactionistenselyagreedto,butnotallcharactersagreeorare
happyaboutthedecisionand/ordirection.)Grayishesitantabouttheofferofextendedtruce,asangerdancesinhis
expression.Kekoalaysitallout.Hisengine’shypercoilsarefriedandStarcontrolalwayskeepsextras.Argo’ssensortransducersareshotandtheResolutehasspares.Therearetoomanyunknownsforusnottoworktogether.Graynods.AmongoestoprotestandhestopsasKekoaraisesahand.Theyagreetosendoversupplyshuttleswithsixtechnicianseach.Alltobeescortedbysecurityonbothships.Kekoaextendshishand.ButGraydoesnottakeit.“YouhaveyourtruceCaptain,fornow,”andtheydepart.
(ThehighstakesthathaveresultedfromtheIncitingIncident
(Ex.endangeredperson(s),item(s),etc.>isindirejeopardy.)Elsewhere,theMarauderandhumancraftsfromearlierareinahugelanding
bay.Hoardsofarmoredalienwarriorsswarmthehumanfightercrafts,gunsattheready.Humansarebeingtakenprisoner,somebeingshotiftheyshowresistance.ThedefeatedmenandwomenfilterbyagroupofMarauderofficers.ThelargestoftheofficersistheirFieldMarshal.AjuniorofficerwalksuptothegroupandaddressestheFieldMarshal.“Excellency,thereisnosignofthealiensfollowing.”TheFieldMarshalsmiles,turning.“Butweknowtheywillcome,don’twe?Theywillcome.”(Character'splantolicktheirwoundsand/orseekwaystofindthe
jeopardizedperson(s),item(s)orsituation(s))Later,backontheArgo,teamsandequipmenthavebeensenttoeachshipto
effectrepairsontheResolute’senginesandtheArgo’ssensors.CaptainGraysummonsDoctorColton,theheadoftherescuedalienshipresearchteam.TheCaptainwantsanswersabouttheship.Shesaysshehasnonebutmaybeabletotrackandfindthealienshipwhentheirsensorsarebackonline.TheCaptaingiveshereveryresourcetomakeithappen,buthedoesnottrusther.GraycallsonChiefBetorrtowatchher.(Characterscomeupagainstconflictwitheachotherwhilelickingtheir
wounds.Canandshouldinvolvesubtleoroversubterfuge.)OnboardtheResolute,Lt.DanielPerezassistswiththerepairsofthe
Resolute’senginesbutgetshisfirsttasteoftheCorsairsdislikeofStarcontrol.Lt.CommanderLeehastoworkwithAmonKintorepairtheArgo’sengines.Sherebuffshisadvances,whilehesecretlyplantsacovertdeviceintheirengineeringsection.(Againsttheodds,woundshavebeensufficientlyfixed,andthe
jeopardizedperson(s)and/oritem(s)locationshasbeenfound/discovered.Nowthecharacter(s)areunderwaytoretrievethejeopardized.)TheenginesgoliveontheResolute,provingPerez’sworthtotheirnewallies,
rightbeforetheArgo’ssensorsaresuccessfullyrepaired.Dr.Coltonscansfor
andfindsthealienship’ssignature.It’slocatedinadistantnebula.Bothshipsgetunderwayimmediatelyforthecoordinates,withoutknowingexactlywhattheyareupagainst.
ACTIII
(Thesituationandstakestoobtain,fixand/orrescuethejeopardizedareestablishedandaroughplanishatched.)Telemetrycomesinandtheydiscoverthemaraudersareatahugering
shaped-spacestationthesizeofaworld,thatwouldbesuicideasadirectassault.Theydecideonatwoteamcovertinsertion.Oneteamtofindthecrew,oneteamtofindthealienship.TensionstillrunshighbetweenGrayandKekoa,butwhenconfrontedby
Kekoa,Grayconfirmsthetrucewillholduntilaftertheoperation.(Moretension(s)/problem(s)is/arerevealedinplanningtheundertaking
toobtain,fixand/orrescuethejeopardized.)AmonandLtCommanderLeegatherattheArgomeetingroomforassault
planning.AmonamorouslymovesonLeeagainandsherebuffshisadvances.(Character(s)practiceand/ormovefor/totheundertakingandtension(s)
runhigh.Thisisusuallyduetoeitheroverwhelminglybadodds,internalpersonalstrifeand/orintercharacterstrife...oralloftheabove.)Later,theArgoandResoluteattackcrewsmeetattheArgo'spilotready
room.Thebriefingisgivenandtheteamsareestablished.Bravoteamforcrewrescueconsistsof,AmonKin,CassLeeandAlphateamforfreeingthealienshipfromitsberthmadeupofDr.Colton,Betorr,andLt.Perez.ThetwoCaptainsareoversightbackontheArgo.ThedualcrewteamsrunthroughsimulationsonArgo’ssimulationdeck,but
allgoeslessthansmooth.ThediametricallydifferentapproachesillustratethattheCorsairsmusttakeStarcontrol’sleadonthemissions.AmonandtheResolutecrewpushbackbuttheformerStarcontrolofficer,Kekoa,approves.Thiscreatesmoreanimositytowardhimandbetweenthecrews.(CharactersarriveattheUndertaking,resolutebutworried.)Withrelentlesspractice,theteamsimulationsgetbetterbutnottothelevel
thatmakestheCaptainscomfortable.Theyarriveattheoutskirtsofthenebula
nowandbothCaptainsdecidetheymustbeonthemissions,tomakesurethemissionsaresuccessful.
ACTIV
(FirstpartoftheUndertakingplanbegins.)PartoneoftheplanisfortheResolute’screwtocapturetwoalienships,en
routetothestation,thenusethemfortheassaultteams.TheResolutecrewwatchesindistasteasthepiraterebelsdotheunpalatabletaskthatisnecessaryfortheirsuccess.(TheUndertakingbringsconflictand/oraction.Duringthissequence,a
surpriserevealsacharacter'sharddecision...selfishnessorselflessnessforanothercharacterand/orcause.)BeforeAlphateamtakesoff,AmonplanstoshootKekoaonthemissionand
takecommand.Bothshipsfindnon-regulardockstothestation,andcarrydimensionalbridgers,totransportthembacktotheirshipsthroughdimensionalportals.Oncetheygettotheholdingcells,afirefightbreaksout.AlthoughAmonplannedtoshootKekoa,hehastomakeachoice.DoeshekillKekoa,orsaveCass?(Anothercharacterfindsanunforeseenwrinkleintheplan.He/she/they
mustadjustandtakeaction.)TheBravoteamhastosilentlykillmultiplealiensbeforefindingtheirquarry,
thealienship.Butcutoffbyaguardedwalkway,Dr.Colton,BetorrandGrayhavetospacewalktoit.(Thecharacterwiththesurpriseharddecisionbetweenselfishnessand
selflessnessmakesadecision,thatmaybeuncharacteristicforhim/her.)BackwithAlphateam,AmonsavesCassinsteadofkillingKekoa.They
releasethecrew,buttheynowhavetogetthemtotheirfighterships,becausetheirdimensionalbridgerwasdestroyed.(Theadjustedplanrevealsmorecomplicationsandacharacterquestions
hisorothers'abilityand/ormotives.Thecomplicationsetsactionsinmotionthatestablishthemaindramaticquestfortheentireseries.)
Dr.GrayandBetorrmovetowardsthealienshipintheirsuits,butshesaysshehastogoaloneortheshipmightactivate.Theystandwatch,slightlyoutofsight.Butwhenafirefightstartstobreakoutattheirairlock,Betorrgoestotellhertheyhavetoleavenow.Itisthenthatheseesherdoingsomethingtotheship,insertingapyramidintotheside,insteadofjustputtingonatransponder,theninaflashofblindinglight,thealienshipdisappears.(Theundertakingseemstobeworking,ifimperfectlyand/orwithlosses.)AlphaTeamisawaywithallfighters,firingtheirwayoutofthestation.
BravoteamusestheirdimensionalbridgertogetbacktotheResolute.GrayisfuriousandmystifiedatColton,buttheyhavenotimeforquestions.TheArgoandResolutemovetowardthestationtoretrievethefightersastheyarepursuedbyenemyships.(TheUndertakingand/oroneofitsmaincharactersisinjeopardy.The
Undertakingissuccessful,butatacostofeitherlife,limb,resources,oracombinationthereof.)KekoaandthefightersgetbacktotheArgo’slargerintactlandingbays,but
nowtheirshipsareunderheavyattack.TheResolute’smainenginestakeaheavyblowandcan’thyperdriveaway.KekoaordershiscrewtoabandonshipbutnowhastoprotecttheArgosasitpicksupthecrews’lifepods.Kekoafightstotheendtosavehiscrew,thentheArgo,fullyexpectingtobeleftbehindashekamikazeshisshipintoanalienbaseship.Butatthelastmoment,GraytakesthechanceofinsertingadimensionalbridgertotheResolutebarelysavingKekoa.But,theResoluteislost.(Thecharacter(s)havesucceededandleave/retreatfromthe
undertaking.)Asurprisedcrewseesthealienarmadahaltpursuit,givingthemprecioustime
tospooltheirhyperdriveandescape.
(Thecharactersembracetheirsuccesses,aloneand/orwitheachother.)GrayandhiscommandcrewgotosickbaytoseeKekoa,whoisbeingtreated
forinjuriesfromthebattle.Hethankshim,suggeststheymergecrewstosurviveandinfershewilllooktheotherwaywhentheygetbacktoletthemescape.ThenheextendshishandandthetwoCaptain’sfinallyshake.(Secondarycharactersponderand/orshowtheresultsoftheiractions
and/orsuccesses.)Totheside,T’araasksAmonwhatwouldhappenifGrayeverfoundoutwhat
reallyhappenedtohiswifewhentheResolutekilledher.Amonsmiles,thenseesCassatthedoornodforhimtofollowher.Heexitsandshetakeshimtoasideoffice.Shethankshimforsavingher,hebeginstoleave,butshegrabshimandsurprisingly…kisseshim.(Character(s)confronteachotherovertheiractions,oranalyzethenew
realitytheirsuccesshasbrought.)Dr.Coltonleavestheroom,Betorrseesandfollows,thenconfrontsher.He
sawwhatshedidandnowsheneedstoexplainherself.(TheEpiloguepointthatrevealsthemysteryoftheseriesantagonist.)Meanwhile,backatthealienstation,thealienCommanderistoldthatthe
Argohasescaped,perhisorders.“Good,theprophecyhasbegun.”Andweseeonhisdesk,anancientlookingrepresentationoftheArgo.
EPISODESTORYCONCEPTS
(Whatistheepisode’sproblem/teaser?Whatpredicamentdoestheproblem/teaserplacethecharactersin?Whatmustthecharactersdotofixtheirpredicament,against
overwhelmingodds?Whatsecondaryproblem/dangerisdiscoverediftheydon’tfixtheir
situationsoon?(tickingclock)Whatpersonalproblemsmustoneormorecharactersovercometo
succeed?)
COLONY
TheArgosisattackedbyamysteriousenemythatcandimensionallyteleportaboardtheirship.Theyareimprisonedonapenalcolony,foraccidentallytrespassingthroughtheattacker'ssystem.Now,theymustengineeranescapebyovercominganenigmatic,impenetrableprison.Also,iftheydon'tescapequickly,theenemiesreinforcementswillpreventtheirescapeforever.StarcontrolandCorsaircrewalikemustputasidedifferencestosurviveandescape.(Whatistheepisode’sproblem/teaser?Whatpersonalproblemsmustoneormorecharactersovercometo
succeed?Whatsecondaryproblem/dangeroccurs/isdiscovered?Whatmysteriouspuzzlepiecemustbedeciphered,quickly(tickingclock)
beforetheirproblem/dangerbecomespermanent?)
STARSHIPLOST
TheArgoscomesacrossa'ghost'starship,missingitscrew,butonlyrecently.Ontheheelsoftheirrecentprisonescape,thetwocrewsworktogethertosolvethemystery,butoldhabitsdiehard.Soonafterdocking,theArgoslosespowerandtensionsrise.Onlyacomatosecrewmancananswerthemysteryoftheship,butisincriticalconditionanddying,quickly.Theyhavelittletimetosolvetheriddlebeforetheymeetthesamemysteriousfateoftheghostship.(Whatisthebenignbeginningpurposeofthecharacters?Whatisdiscoveredthatseems/isconnectedtothecentralmystery/quest?Howorwhatdoesthediscoverydotothreatenthecharacters?Whatsecondarydangerhasmadefixingthesituationwiththediscovery,
timesensitive?(Tickingclock)
PLANETSIDE
Duringthejointcrew'sfirstmissiontoretrieverareelementsfortheirengines,andgetalittleshoreleave,aloneobelisk,withsimilarmarkingstotheAlienrelicshipisfound.Wheninvestigated,itkillsoneofthecrew.Now,spatialphenomenaontheplanetandinspace,threatentheshipandcrew.But,theyhavelittletimelefttouncovertheanswer,whentheirsensorsdiscoveranenemyship,justhoursout.(Howdoesthenavigatingthecentralmystery/questrevealaclue/setpiece
atanewlocation?Howdoesthatnewsetpieceputtheminimmediatedanger?Howdoesthatsetpieceputthematoddswithanewthreatthatwantsto
retrievethesetpiecefromthem?Whatmakesitimpossibleforthemtogiveanewthreatwhattheywant,
inthetimethattheywant?(tickingclock)Whatarethreethingstheymustaccomplishbeforeanestablishedthreat
totheirsurvivaloccurs?)
ARTIFACT
GuidedbytheDoctor'snewscannerupgrade,theArgosfindsaplanetoidwithasmallancientoutpost.Accidentallyactivatingaself-destructmechanism,theydoretrievewhattheybelievetobeadatastoragecrystal.Withinminutesoftheirescape,theyareattackedbyasavageenemyoflessertechnology,butmassivenumbers.Numberssogreat,thattheywouldnotbeabletoleavewithoutpossibledestruction.Theywantthecrystalback,inexchangeforallowingtheirsafepassage.But,atthesametime,theDoctorfindsoutthatthecrystalisthesametechasthatoftheRelicship.Theyneedittofindtheshipandgethome.Now,theymustfendofftheattackers,decodethesecretofthecrystalandgiveittotheirattackers,beforetheirshipisdestroyed.
WhatIsASeriesBible?Unlikeaseriespitchorseriesproposal,aseriesbibleiscreatedfororduringa
seriesproduction.Theyareusuallymoredetailedandareusually50to100pluspagesinlength.
(Note:ProductionSeriesBiblesareoftendoublespacedorat1.5)Formany,thisisnotjustaguide,buttheultimatedevelopmenttoolfora
series.However,itisgoodtonotethatwhenwritingaseries,itsdirectionmayveerinunexpectedandbetterdirectionsthanthebible.
A:SeriesBibleExampleFARTHESTSTARfollowstheadventuresofaStarcontrolvesselwhichmust
finditswaybacktoFederacyspacefromadistantgalaxy.(Whatisasinglesentenceexplanation/descriptionoftheseries.)
THEBACKSTORY
Lessthanfiveyearshavepassedsincetherebellionofthefrontierplanetno
man'sland,toformtheirownConfederation.SincethefrontieristheagreeddemilitarizedzonebetweenFederacyandtwoopposingEmpires,Starcontrolwasforcedtoputdowntherebellion,tokeepthedétente'.However,theremainingfrontierrebelscontinuetofightaguerrillawarforindependence,callingthemselves,Corsairs.OurstorybeginswhentheStarcontrolshipArgosisdispatchedtosearchfora
CorsairshipthatattackedatopsecretFederacyfacility,whereahugemysteriousalienshipisdocked.TheCorsairsarestoppedandincarceratedaboardtheArgos.But,thentheArgosfindsitselfpulledintoawormholecreatedbythemysteriousship.Thisultimatelyleavestheshipinanunknowngalaxy,withnoideahowtogethome.Eventually,anuneasyalliancewiththeCorsairsisformedtoimprovetheir
chancesoffindingthealienshipandgettingbacktoFederacyspace.Todothis,thetwoships'captainsnegotiateforcommissions.Tothispoint,
theCorsairsinsistonCommandrolesfortheirseniorstaff.Anarrangementismade,however,theArgoscaptaininsistedthattheybehaveasaStarcontrolcrew.Thisdoesn’tsitwellwithalloftheCorsairs.
THESTARCARRIERARGOS
Thesizeofasmallcity,theArgosisacombatvesselthatholdsacrewofhundreds.
THECORSAIRS
Theyareidealisticnonconformists,mixedwithcutthroatsandcriminals.SomeareformerStarcontrolofficersorAcademydropouts.TheyareoftenindividualswithperhapsafewmoreroughedgesthanwemightseeinatypicalStarcontrolcrew.
CONTINUINGCHARACTERS
CAPTAINJOHNGRAY
Isahandsomehardened40somethingStarcontrolCaptainwith25yearsofnonterrestrialservice.Thesonofageneticistfatherandaphysicistmother,Graywasonapathfora
careerinscience.But,hisnaturalleadershipmanifestedattheAcademyandhewascontinuallypromotedtohigherpositionsofresponsibility.GrayisgenerallyacknowledgedthatheisamongthebestCaptainsin
Starcontrol.HeembodiesallthatisthatwouldbeexpectedofaseniorStarcontrolofficers:intelligent,toughandnotafraidtotakechances.Aconsummateprofessional,Graydoesn’tusuallyletpersonalfeelingscloud
hisjudgment.However,thelossofhiswifeduetoaCorsairattackfiveyearsagohasmadehimanobsessedman.Thishasresultedinisolatinghimselfinhisquarters,whennotonduty,pouringoverintelligencereportsanddrinkingalittletoomuch.Becauseofthelossofhiswife,hethinkstheCorsairrebelsarethelowest
formoflife.Everydayhefightshisownurgesnottolockthemup,orpushthemalloutanairlock.But,herealizestheyarehiscrew’sonlyhopebackhome.Althoughhekeepsastiffupperlipaboutgettingbackhome,herealizesthat
hemayneverreachFederacyspaceinhislifetime.Thesethoughts,atcheckbyday,tendtoeruptinnightmarishdreamsatnight.Heconstantlytestshisnew‘crewmembers',bypushingtheirabilities,their
willingnesstofollowordersandevenunfairlyputtingtheminharm'swaymorethanhiscrew.However,themorehedealswiththeCorsaircrew,hecomestohaveagrudgingrespectforthemormostofthem.Duringtheseries,GraywillstarttoseethetruthbehindtheCorsaircause,and
gaintherespectofhisformerenemies.HewilldiscoverthetruthbehindtheAlienshipandespeciallythehiddentruthbehindhiswife’sdeath.
KEKOA
TheFirstOfficer’sbackgroundisunique.HisancestorswereHawaiiansthatcolonizedaplanetintheinfamousDemilitarizedZone.Kekoawasalwayswhathispeoplecalla“seeker;"hehadamindofhisown,
anindividualist.Proudofhisheritageandtraditions,hewasnotsatisfiedtoignoretheuniverse,auniverseteemingwithalienworldsandincredibletechnology.Helefthisworld,educatedhimself,andattendedStarcontrolAcademy.ButhewasstilltooindividualisticattheAcademy,hehaddifficultyadhering
totherules.But,hewascommissionedandpostedtotheDenebaftertheendoftheImperialWars.WhenhelearnedthathispeoplewerebecomingvictimsofattacksbyMaraudersandtheEmpires,sheleftStarcontroltodefendthem,joiningthethen-fledglingrebels,thatbecameknownastheCorsairs.Kekoanevergaveuphispracticeoftraditionalrituals,andhepreservesthem
aboardArgos.Heoftenretreatsintovirtualrealitytoconnectwithpastmemories.Memoriesthatoftenprovideinsightintoaddressingcurrentproblems.Asaleader,heisasfirm,fearless,asheiscaptivating.HecameontoArgos
byduress,buthehasinspiredtherespectofmanyofthemosthardenedoftheStarcontrolcrew.HeandGraywereimmediatelyatodds,butbothrealizedtheyhadtojoin
forcesordie.Grayblameshimforthelossofhiswife,butonlyheandT'araknowthetruthaboutherdeath.Asecretthatifdiscovered,coulddestroytheirallianceandthreatentheirsurvival.
BETORR
TheUulbeSecurityChiefistheelderwarriorofthecrewbutisasphysicallycapableashisyoungerCaptain.Heisapowerfulcombinationofmaturity,experience,andstubbornparanoia.HisUulbenpatiencedoeslittletokeeptheshipatpeace,especiallywhentheCorsairsbecomepartofthecrew.But,hiscrustypresenceiscomfortingtomany,ironicallyespeciallytheyoungandheadstrongT'ara.Heisknownforgivinghisopinion,whetheritisaskedforornot.Betorrhaslivedlong,maybetoolong.Heisaserialmonogamist.Hehas
beenthroughseveralwives,butnochildren…thatheknowsof.Hehasworked'withGrayforsometime;theyknoweachotherwellandhave
achievedthekindofrelationshipthatcomeswithwar.Grayturnstohimasarockofwisdom;Betorristhepersonheturnsto…whenheneedsone.ButitiswithT’arathatBetorrhasthemostintenserelationship.Hisbrusque
demeanorisoddlyreassuringtoher,maybeit’sthehonesty.ItisBetorrandT’ara’soddrelationshipthatstartstobringthecrewshesitantlytogether.
DANIELPEREZ
Daniel,theOps/Communicationofficer,isahumanofSpanishdescentandhadthehappiestdayofhislifewhenhereportedtodutyaboardArgos.Hisparentswereproudandembarrassinglyshowedit,inawayonlyLatinparentscan.(Name,position,ethnicbackgroundandpersonalpositionbeforetheseries
springboardincident?Howhisclosestpersonalrelationsfelttowardshimbeforetheseries
springboardincident?)Danielgrewupwithacoddledtypeofsupportthatmadetheassumptionhe
wouldacewhateverheputhismindto.Morethananything,hewantedtofulfillthatbeliefandmakehisparentsproud.HedidsobygraduatingwithhonorsfromtheAcademy.AfterArgoswasswepttothefarreachesofanothergalaxy,herealizedhe
wouldneverseehisparentsagainandtheywouldbelievehimdead,hisgrowthintoamanbegan.Beingpamperedthroughhisyouth,Danielhadsomegrowinguptodo.
Havingneverexperiencedtrueadversity,hefoundhimselflesscapableofhandlingitthanothers.Hefeelslikeheisoutofhisdepthnow.Whatwassupposedtobea3-monthstinthasturnedintotheunthinkable.Hegoesabouthisdutieswithintensity,findingtheconstantworkandgood
waytokeephismindoffofthepainhepushesaside.Theothersknowthis,andintheirvaryingways,trytogivetheyoungmana
helpinghand.TheirmethodsrangefromKekoa'ssterninsistenceondutytoGray'scomfortingpaternalpresence,butamongthecrew,thereisnotonewhodoesn'tlikeDanielPerez.T’ARAROARKTheChiefEngineerhasafacadethat'sworkedwellforher:tough,
knowledgeable,abletotakecareofherself.However,beneaththesurface,dwellsapersonconfusedandatwarwithherself.
(Character’sname,position,demeanor,ability…andpersonaldemonand/orstruggle?)T'arahasamixedheritageCrujaanandhuman,thatsheabhors.HerCrujaan
sideisdistressingtoher,andshemakeseveryefforttosuppressit.ShedistruststhefeelingsherCrujaanheritagebringsandwishesthat,likeBetorr,shecouldachievecontroloverthem.T’ara'sattitudestartedwhenherhumanfatherneverreturnedtoherfamilyas
achild.Hisfinalwhereaboutsstillunknowntohisday.So,asachild,shefantasizedhimintoanidealfigure,someonetolookupto,tobelike.Sheandhermotherlived,notontheCrujaanHomeWorld,butonaremote
colonyinthedemilitarizedzone,whichwaslargelyhuman,andwheretheyoungchildinevitablygrewupfeelinglikethealien.Asshegrewolder,shesawbeingCrujaanasshamefulandhumanaswhoshereallyis.ThisfeelingwassolidifiedwhenshewasacceptedatStarcontrolAcademy
wheresheexcelled.Buteventhenshestruggledwiththestructureanddisciplinedemandedofthestudents.Aftergraduation,shejoinedtheStarcontrolEngineers,butherstrugglewithStarcontrollifecontinued.Hercareerwasrocky,puttingherinconflictwithcolleaguesoverthingsbigandsmall.Shequit,withgreatregret,feelingthatshedidn'tfitin,blamingthis,again,onherCrujaanside.AsamemberoftheCorsairs,T’arahadfinallyfoundanoutletformanyof
herfrustrationsandaphysicalenemyagainstwhomshecouldfight.Shewasacourageoussoldier,andeitherdidn'trealizeordidn'tacknowledgethefactthatwarringontheMaraudersallowedherCrujaanwarlikebloodfree.Now,onArgos,herowninnerfrustrationsareagainemerging.T’araisforced
todealwithangrypartsofherselfthatnolongerhaveanappropriateoutlet.ItisthroughBetorr'sinyourfacefairandsquarecounselthatsheislearningtoacceptherself.T'araturnsmanyheads,butthepersonshehasdesignsonistheCaptainbut
forcesherselftocontrolherfeelings.CAPTAINLARA‘DOC'COLTONDocisnotamonikershehaseverbeenknownby,butaderisiveonethrust
uponherbytheCorsairs.HershasbeenafastrisetothetopinStarcontrol,butonlyduetoherresearchandsuccesses,notfromhands-onleadership.Theonlypreviouscommandisthatofthesecretfacilitythatsheandthreeofherstaffwererescuedfrom.Docisfarfromcomfortableinunforeseensituations,situationssheisnot
readyfororcan'tcontrol.Raisedamilitarybrattotwomilitaryscientists,onthetechdevelopmentfields.Shewasthepersonthatuncoveredtherestingplaceoftherelicship.Onlysheknewhowtofindit,founditandnowshewillattemptagaininanincrediblyhostilenewgalaxy.However,sheholdsasecretbackfrombothcrewsonthehiddenhistoryoftheship,andwhatitwilltaketogethome.
AMONKIN
Amonisacareerpirateinhismid-thirties.HeispartoftheCorsairs,notforaltruisticreasons,andhiscrewmenknowit.Heis,toputitnicely,acivilizedbarbarian,withaquietcunningthatunnervesmany.He'sascavenger,trader,conman,procurer,andofcourse,warrior.Hislifehasnotbeenaneasyone,buthehastougheditout--survivingbyhiswitsandinstinctsindangerouspartsofspace.Amonhas,throughnecessity,becomeaninterstellarjackofalltrades.But,to
theArgos,heistheirscout,theircartographerwherescannerscan’treach.But,whatisn’tknowntomostofthecrew,isthatheisplottingmutiny.He
quietlyplots,growinghisnumberoffollowers,biddinghistime.LT.COMMANDERCASSLEECassLeeistheArgos’communicationscommander.Alwaysdiplomaticand
loyal,toafault,shefindsherbeliefschallengedbythebarbaricAmonKin.Atfirstrefusingherattractiontotherogue,shesoonfallsforhimandbecomeshislover.Now,shehasbecomehisprimaryconspiratorinhisplannedmutiny.But,shefallsforyoungDanielPerezaswellandistornbetweenthetwo,untilAmonforceshertouseDaniel’sfeelingsforher,totheiradvantage.Nowsheissecretlytornbetweenbothfactionsandbothmen.
LOCATIONS
MAINBRIDGE
ThecommandpostandbraintrustoftheStarcarrierUS.S.Argos,thisareaservesthelocationtoviewstarshipsindistressorposingthreats,tonegotiatewithleadersofrivalraces,andtolearnabouttheunfamiliargalaxyintowhichtheStarcarrierhasbeenthrust.CaptainGrayisincommandofthiscommunicationshub.
BRIEFINGROOM
Insidethebriefingroom,theentirestaffwillgathertomakeimportantdecisionsregardingthefateoftheStarcarrierUSS.Argosandboldnegotiationswithopposingforces.
ENGINEERING
EngineeringisthehomeoftheStarcarrierU.S.S.Argos'sQuantumenginesystem,whichismademoreadvancedandefficientsystemwitheachalienencounter.
DININGHALL
Thedininghallprovidesasocialatmosphereaswellasadiningfacilityforthecrew.ItiswithinthesewallsthecrewoftheStarcarrierUS.S.Argos,eats,blowsoffsteamandengagesin‘friendly’gamesofchance.
SICKBAY
Sickbayisafullyequippedmedicalfacility,preparedforanychallenge.Theonlyproblem,thesurgicalAIhasbeendamagedandmustbeoverseen,manually,butallmedicalpersonnelwerekilledduringthequantumevent.CAPTAIN'SREADYROOMThequarterswherethecaptainconferswithhisofficersandcontemplateshis
decisions.
B:SeriesBibleWalkthroughFARTHESTSTARfollowstheadventuresofaStarcontrolvesselwhichmust
finditswaybacktoFederacyspacefromadistantgalaxy.(Whatisasinglesentenceexplanation/descriptionoftheseries.)
THEBACKSTORY
(Whatcatalysthasoccurredoveragivenamountoftimethathasledto
thecurrent‘world’?Whatconflict(s)hasthisworldcreatedduetothecatalyst?Howdotheauthoritiesinthisnewworldactduetothecatalyst?Howdoesthepopulaceinthisworldactduetothecatalystandthe
authorities?Lessthanfiveyearshavepassedsincetherebellionofthefrontierplanetno
man'sland,toformtheirownConfederation.SincethefrontieristheagreeddemilitarizedzonebetweenFederacyandtwoopposingEmpires,Starcontrolwasforcedtoputdowntherebellion,tokeepthedétente'.However,theremainingfrontierrebelscontinuetofightaguerrillawarforindependence,callingthemselves,Corsairs.(Whatistheeventthatinitiatestheseries,thatbridgesbetweenthe
catalystfortheexistingworldandincitingincident?Whatleadstotheincitingincidentandhowdoestheseries’“setsail”
momentoccur?Whatisthenewpredicamentthatleadsthecharacterstotheirnew
world?Howdoesthiscreate/exposethecentralmysteryand/orseriesquest?)OurstorybeginswhentheStarcontrolshipArgosisdispatchedtosearchfora
CorsairshipthatattackedatopsecretFederacyfacility,whereahugemysteriousalienshipisdocked.TheCorsairsarestoppedandincarceratedaboardtheArgos.But,thentheArgosfindsitselfpulledintoawormholecreatedbythemysteriousship.Thisultimatelyleavestheshipinanunknowngalaxy,withnoideahowtogethome.Eventually,anuneasyalliancewiththeCorsairsisformedtoimprovetheir
chancesoffindingthealienshipandgettingbacktoFederacyspace.(Howmustthecharactersmust/oragreetoworktogether?Isitatensedétente,ortenseworkingrelationship?Whoishappywiththearrangement?Whoisnot?Why?)
Todothis,thetwoships'captainsnegotiateforcommissions.Tothispoint,theCorsairsinsistonCommandrolesfortheirseniorstaff.Anarrangementismade,however,theArgoscaptaininsistedthattheybehaveasaStarcontrolcrew.Thisdoesn’tsitwellwithalloftheCorsairs.(Descriptionofthemainseriessetpiece/location)
THESTARCARRIERARGOS
Thesizeofasmallcity,theArgosisacombatvesselthatholdsacrewofhundreds.(Descriptionofthemainantagonistgroup?Howtheantagonistgroupconnects/correspondstotheprotagonist
group?Attributesandfeaturesofthemainantagonistgroup?)
THECORSAIRS
Theyareidealisticnonconformists,mixedwithcutthroatsandcriminals.SomeareformerStarcontrolofficersorAcademydropouts.TheyareoftenindividualswithperhapsafewmoreroughedgesthanwemightseeinatypicalStarcontrolcrew.
CONTINUINGCHARACTERS
(Physicaldescription,age,positionofthemainprotagonist)
CAPTAINJOHNGRAY
Isahandsomehardened40somethingStarcontrolCaptainwith25yearsofnonterrestrialservice.(Personalbackgroundofthemainprotagonist’sfamily?Originalplansforthefuture?Whatledtohis/hercurrentposition?)Thesonofageneticistfatherandaphysicistmother,Graywasonapathfora
careerinscience.But,hisnaturalleadershipmanifestedattheAcademyandhewascontinuallypromotedtohigherpositionsofresponsibility.(Howtheprotagonistisseen/perceivedbyhis/herpeers.Whataretheattributesand/orfeaturesofhis/hercharacter?)GrayisgenerallyacknowledgedthatheisamongthebestCaptainsin
Starcontrol.HeembodiesallthatisthatwouldbeexpectedofaseniorStarcontrolofficers:intelligent,toughandnotafraidtotakechances.(Whatkeyattributeformshis/herdecision-makingstandards?Whathasoccurredinthepastthathasorcouldchangethatstandard?Howhasthatpastoccurrencechangedtheprotagonistandhisactions
andbearing?)Aconsummateprofessional,Graydoesn’tusuallyletpersonalfeelingscloud
hisjudgment.However,thelossofhiswifeduetoaCorsairattackfiveyearsagohasmadehimanobsessedman.Thishasresultedinisolatinghimselfinhisquarters,whennotonduty,pouringoverintelligencereportsanddrinkingalittletoomuch.(Howdoestheprotagonist’spastaffecthowhe/shefeelsaboutthe
antagonistgroup?Howdoestheprotagonistdealwiththeantagonistonadailybasis?Howandwhydoestheprotagonistdealwiththeantagonistgroup?Howdoesthisdynamicaffecttheprotagonist’spsyche?)
Becauseofthelossofhiswife,hethinkstheCorsairrebelsarethelowestformoflife.Everydayhefightshisownurgesnottolockthemup,orpushthemalloutanairlock.But,herealizestheyarehiscrew’sonlyhopebackhome.Althoughhekeepsastiffupperlipaboutgettingbackhome,herealizesthat
hemayneverreachFederacyspaceinhislifetime.Thesethoughts,atcheckbyday,tendtoeruptinnightmarishdreamsatnight.(Howdoestheprotagonisttreattheantagonists?HisTeam?Howdohis/herfeelingschangetowardstheantagonists?Histeam?)Heconstantlytestshisnew‘crewmembers',bypushingtheirabilities,their
willingnesstofollowordersandevenunfairlyputtingtheminharm'swaymorethanhiscrew.However,themorehedealswiththeCorsaircrew,hecomestohaveagrudgingrespectforthemormostofthem.(Howdohis/herfeelingstowardstheantagonistschangeduringthe
series?Generally,whatthingswilltheprotagonistdiscoverduringthecourseof
theseriesabout;Thecentralmystery,thecentralquest,histeam,hisantagonists?)Duringtheseries,GraywillstarttoseethetruthbehindtheCorsaircause,and
gaintherespectofhisformerenemies.HewilldiscoverthetruthbehindtheAlienshipandespeciallythehiddentruthbehindhiswife’sdeath.(Therecurringcharacter’spersonalbackground.His/herculturalbackgroundandhowthatconnectswiththemain
protagonistsand/orantagonists?Whatkindofpersonisthecharacteratheart?Whatmotivatesthecharacterincontrastwithhis/herbackground?)
KEKOA
TheFirstOfficer’sbackgroundisunique.HisancestorswereHawaiiansthatcolonizedaplanetintheinfamousDemilitarizedZone.Kekoawasalwayswhathispeoplecalla“seeker;"hehadamindofhisown,
anindividualist.Proudofhisheritageandtraditions,hewasnotsatisfiedtoignoretheuniverse,auniverseteemingwithalienworldsandincredibletechnology.Helefthisworld,educatedhimself,andattendedStarcontrolAcademy.(Howdidthecharacter’spersonalityaffecttheirearlyprofessional
years?Whatoccurredthatledthecharactertohis/hercurrent
position/situation?Whatkeymomentledtohis/hercurrentplaceintime?)ButhewasstilltooindividualisticattheAcademy,hehaddifficultyadhering
totherules.But,hewascommissionedandpostedtotheDenebaftertheendoftheImperialWars.WhenhelearnedthathispeoplewerebecomingvictimsofattacksbyMaraudersandtheEmpires,sheleftStarcontroltodefendthem,joiningthethen-fledglingrebels,thatbecameknownastheCorsairs.(Whatculturaltraditionsdoesthecharacterobserveorignore,andwhy?Howdoeshe/shedealwiththis,andwhy?)Kekoanevergaveuphispracticeoftraditionalrituals,andhepreservesthem
aboardArgos.Heoftenretreatsintovirtualrealitytoconnectwithpastmemories.Memoriesthatoftenprovideinsightintoaddressingcurrentproblems.(Whattypeofleadershipskillsdoesthecharacterhaveornot?Howdoothercharactersrespondtotheseskillsorlackthereof?)Asaleader,heisasfirm,fearless,asheiscaptivating.HecameontoArgos
byduress,buthehasinspiredtherespectofmanyofthemosthardenedoftheStarcontrolcrew.
(Howdoesthecharacterandthemainprotagonistdealwitheachother,
andwhy?Howdoesthemainprotagonistfeelaboutthecharacter,andwhy?Whatothercharacterplaysintotheirinterplay?Howdothesecharactersintersectwiththecentralmysteryand/orcentral
quest?)HeandGraywereimmediatelyatodds,butbothrealizedtheyhadtojoin
forcesordie.Grayblameshimforthelossofhiswife,butonlyheandT'araknowthetruthaboutherdeath.Asecretthatifdiscovered,coulddestroytheirallianceandthreatentheirsurvival.(Theethnicity,position,ageandphysicalabilityoftherecurring
character?Whatarethepersonalitymarkersofthecharacter?Howdoeshis/herpersonalityaffectdealingswiththemainantagonists?Howdoeshis/herpresenceaffectoneormorekeycharacters?Whatmainpersonalityquirkishe/sheknowfor?)
BETORR
TheUulbeSecurityChiefistheelderwarriorofthecrewbutisasphysicallycapableashisyoungerCaptain.Heisapowerfulcombinationofmaturity,experience,andstubbornparanoia.HisUulbenpatiencedoeslittletokeeptheshipatpeace,especiallywhentheCorsairsbecomepartofthecrew.But,hiscrustypresenceiscomfortingtomany,ironicallyespeciallytheyoungandheadstrongT'ara.Heisknownforgivinghisopinion,whetheritisaskedforornot.(Whatistheageofthecharacter,qualityofhis/herpersonal
relationships?)Betorrhaslivedlong,maybetoolong.Heisaserialmonogamist.Hehas
beenthroughseveralwives,butnochildren…thatheknowsof.(Whatisthecharacter’srelationshipwiththemainprotagonistand
how/wherediditcomeabout?Howdoesthemainprotagonistrelyonthecharacter,andhow
frequently?)Hehasworked'withGrayforsometime;theyknoweachotherwellandhave
achievedthekindofrelationshipthatcomeswithwar.Grayturnstohimasarockofwisdom;Betorristhepersonheturnsto…whenheneedsone.(Whatothercharactermostrelatestothecharacter?Whatmannerism(s)mostattracts/detractstheothercharacterfrom
him/her?Howdoestheirrelationshipaffectother
characters/antagonist/protagonist,relations?)ButitiswithT’arathatBetorrhasthemostintenserelationship.Hisbrusque
demeanorisoddlyreassuringtoher,maybeit’sthehonesty.ItisBetorrandT’ara’soddrelationshipthatstartstobringthecrewshesitantlytogether.(Whatkindofbackgroundwasthecharacterraisedin?
Whatexpectationswereplacedonthecharacterbyhim/herselfand/orothers?Whatmotivatedhim/hertoachievehis/hercurrentposition?)
DANIELPEREZ
Daniel,theOps/Communicationofficer,isahumanofSpanishdescentandhadthehappiestdayofhislifewhenhereportedtodutyaboardArgos.Hisparentswereproudandembarrassinglyshowedit,inawayonlyLatinparentscan.(Name,position,ethnicbackgroundandpersonalpositionbeforetheseries
springboardincident?Howhisclosestpersonalrelationsfelttowardshimbeforetheseries
springboardincident?)Danielgrewupwithacoddledtypeofsupportthatmadetheassumptionhe
wouldacewhateverheputhismindto.Morethananything,hewantedtofulfillthatbeliefandmakehisparentsproud.HedidsobygraduatingwithhonorsfromtheAcademy.(Aftertheadventoftheseriesspringboardevent,howdidthisaffect
his/herpsycheandgrowth?)AfterArgoswasswepttothefarreachesofanothergalaxy,herealizedhe
wouldneverseehisparentsagainandtheywouldbelievehimdead,hisgrowthintoamanbegan.(Howdidthisgrowthcontrastwithhis/herpast?Howdoesthiscontrastmakehim/herfeelintheircurrentstate?)Beingpamperedthroughhisyouth,Danielhadsomegrowinguptodo.
Havingneverexperiencedtrueadversity,hefoundhimselflesscapableofhandlingitthanothers.Hefeelslikeheisoutofhisdepthnow.Whatwassupposedtobea3-monthstinthasturnedintotheunthinkable.(Whatdoesthecharacterdoonadailybasistodealwithhis/hercurrent
predicament?)Hegoesabouthisdutieswithintensity,findingtheconstantworkandgood
waytokeephismindoffofthepainhepushesaside.
(Howdoothersviewthischaracter?Howdoothersassistand/orhinderthischaracter?)Theothersknowthis,andintheirvaryingways,trytogivetheyoungmana
helpinghand.TheirmethodsrangefromKekoa'ssterninsistenceondutytoGray'scomfortingpaternalpresence,butamongthecrew,thereisnotonewhodoesn'tlikeDanielPerez.(Character’sethnicbackgroundandhowitaffectshis/herdemeanor?Whatcharacterdoeshe/sheconnectwithand/oraffectshis/heroutlook
onapersonallevelandwhy?)T’ARAROARKTheChiefEngineerhasafacadethat'sworkedwellforher:tough,
knowledgeable,abletotakecareofherself.However,beneaththesurface,dwellsapersonconfusedandatwarwithherself.(Character’sname,position,demeanor,ability…andpersonaldemonand/or
struggle?)T'arahasamixedheritageCrujaanandhuman,thatsheabhors.HerCrujaan
sideisdistressingtoher,andshemakeseveryefforttosuppressit.ShedistruststhefeelingsherCrujaanheritagebringsandwishesthat,likeBetorr,shecouldachievecontroloverthem.(Howhasthecharacter’sdemeanorbeenshapedbychildhoodandwhy?Wheredidhe/shespendtheirchildhood?Howdidthataffecthis/herchildhoodandwhy?)T’ara'sattitudestartedwhenherhumanfatherneverreturnedtoherfamilyas
achild.Hisfinalwhereaboutsstillunknowntohisday.So,asachild,shefantasizedhimintoanidealfigure,someonetolookupto,tobelike.Sheandhermotherlived,notontheCrujaanHomeWorld,butonaremote
colonyinthedemilitarizedzone,whichwaslargelyhuman,andwheretheyoungchildinevitablygrewupfeelinglikethealien.Asshegrewolder,shesawbeingCrujaanasshamefulandhumanaswhoshereallyis.(Howdidthebeginningofhis/herprofessionallifechangehim/her?Whatstrugglesdidthecharacterhaveandwhy?
Whatwashis/herfirstprofessionaljobandwasitsmoothorrockyandwhy?)ThisfeelingwassolidifiedwhenshewasacceptedatStarcontrolAcademy
wheresheexcelled.Buteventhenshestruggledwiththestructureanddisciplinedemandedofthestudents.Aftergraduation,shejoinedtheStarcontrolEngineers,butherstrugglewithStarcontrollifecontinued.Hercareerwasrocky,puttingherinconflictwithcolleaguesoverthingsbigandsmall.Shequit,withgreatregret,feelingthatshedidn'tfitin,blamingthis,again,onherCrujaanside.(Howdidshecometobeinhis/hercurrentsituation,andhowdoesit
complementhis/herdemeanor?Howdidhis/hernewpositionrevealhis/herpersonalstrengthsor
weaknesses?)AsamemberoftheCorsairs,T’arahadfinallyfoundanoutletformanyof
herfrustrationsandaphysicalenemyagainstwhomshecouldfight.Shewasacourageoussoldier,andeitherdidn'trealizeordidn'tacknowledgethefactthatwarringontheMaraudersallowedherCrujaanwarlikebloodfree.(Howdidtheseriesspringboardevenaffecthis/herpersonalchallenges?Whatcharacter(s)helporhinderthecharactersabilitytodealornot?)Now,onArgos,herowninnerfrustrationsareagainemerging.T’araisforced
todealwithangrypartsofherselfthatnolongerhaveanappropriateoutlet.ItisthroughBetorr'sinyourfacefairandsquarecounselthatsheislearningtoacceptherself.(Howisthischaracterseenbyothersoftheoppositesexandwhat
characterdoeshe/shefindattractive,butproblematic?)T'araturnsmanyheads,butthepersonshehasdesignsonistheCaptainbut
forcesherselftocontrolherfeelings.(Name,rankandnicknameofcharacter?His/herbackgroundtomovingupintheranks,anditspitfalls?Whyhis/herpositionduringtheseriesspringboardeventwaskeyand/or
monumental?)
CAPTAINLARA‘DOC'COLTON;Ph.D.QUANTUMMECHANICSDocisnotamonikershehaseverbeenknownby,butaderisiveonethrust
uponherbytheCorsairs.HershasbeenafastrisetothetopinStarcontrol,butonlyduetoherresearchandsuccesses,notfromhands-onleadership.Theonlypreviouscommandisthatofthesecretfacilitythatsheandthreeofherstaffwererescuedfrom.(Howdoesthecharacterreacttosituationsinoroutofhercontrol?Whatisthecharacter’spersonalbackgroundandhowwashe/sheraised?Howdidthisbackgroundleadtoherpositionbeforetheseries
springboardevent?Howdoesthisbackgroundmakehim/herkeyinaddressingtheseries
centralmysteryand/orcentralquest?Whatgeneralsecretsdoeshe/shehavethatrelatestothemysteryand/or
quest?)Docisfarfromcomfortableinunforeseensituations,situationssheisnot
readyfororcan'tcontrol.Raisedamilitarybrattotwomilitaryscientists,onthetechdevelopmentfields.Shewasthepersonthatuncoveredtherestingplaceoftherelicship.Onlysheknewhowtofindit,founditandnowshewillattemptagaininanincrediblyhostilenewgalaxy.However,sheholdsasecretbackfrombothcrewsonthehiddenhistoryoftheship,andwhatitwilltaketogethome.(Nameofne’erdowellcharacterandhis/herposition?Whatishis/herreason(s)forbeingintheirposition?Whatisthemostaccurateassessmentofthecharacter’snegativetraits
andhowothersperceivethosetraits?)
AMONKIN
Amonisacareerpirateinhismid-thirties.HeispartoftheCorsairs,notforaltruisticreasons,andhiscrewmenknowit.Heis,toputitnicely,acivilizedbarbarian,withaquietcunningthatunnervesmany.He'sascavenger,trader,conman,procurer,andofcourse,warrior.(Whatisaonesentencedescriptionofthecharacter’swaythroughlife
andhowtheyhavehandledthehandtheyweredealt?)Hislifehasnotbeenaneasyone,buthehastougheditout--survivingbyhiswitsandinstinctsindangerouspartsofspace.(Whatis/arethecharacter’strade/positionsheld?Whatisthecharacter’spositionwiththecurrentprotagonistsand/or
antagonists?Whathasoristhecharacterplanningthatisormightbecontrarytothe
statusquo?)Amonhas,throughnecessity,becomeaninterstellarjackofalltrades.But,to
theArgos,heistheirscout,theircartographerwherescannerscan’treach.But,whatisn’tknowntomostofthecrew,isthatheisplottingmutiny.He
quietlyplots,growinghisnumberoffollowers,biddinghistime.(TheCharacter’sname,rank/position?Thecharacter’skeypersonalitytraitsandhowanewcharacteraffects
thosetraits?Howhe/shefirstreactstothatcharacterandhowthatreactionchanges?Howshehelpsthenewcharacterwithhis/herplansand/orulterior
motives?Whatothercharacterhe/sheengagesthatmakeshis/hernewrelationship
morecomplicated?Howishe/shecoercedbyacharactertouse/abusehis/herrelationship
withakeycharacter?)LT.COMMANDERCASSLEECassLeeistheArgos’communicationscommander.Alwaysdiplomaticand
loyal,toafault,shefindsherbeliefschallengedbythebarbaricAmonKin.Atfirstrefusingherattractiontotherogue,shesoonfallsforhimandbecomeshislover.Now,shehasbecomehisprimaryconspiratorinhisplannedmutiny.But,shefallsforyoungDanielPerezaswellandistornbetweenthetwo,untilAmonforceshertouseDaniel’sfeelingsforher,totheiradvantage.Nowsheissecretlytornbetweenbothfactionsandbothmen.
LOCATIONS
MAINBRIDGE
ThecommandpostandbraintrustoftheStarcarrierUS.S.Argos,thisareaservesthelocationtoviewstarshipsindistressorposingthreats,tonegotiatewithleadersofrivalraces,andtolearnabouttheunfamiliargalaxyintowhichtheStarcarrierhasbeenthrust.CaptainGrayisincommandofthiscommunicationshub.
BRIEFINGROOM
Insidethebriefingroom,theentirestaffwillgathertomakeimportantdecisionsregardingthefateoftheStarcarrierUSS.Argosandboldnegotiationswithopposingforces.
ENGINEERING
EngineeringisthehomeoftheStarcarrierU.S.S.Argos'sQuantumenginesystem,whichismademoreadvancedandefficientsystemwitheachalienencounter.
DININGHALL
Thedininghallprovidesasocialatmosphereaswellasadiningfacilityforthecrew.ItiswithinthesewallsthecrewoftheStarcarrierUS.S.Argos,eats,blowsoffsteamandengagesin‘friendly’gamesofchance.
SICKBAY
Sickbayisafullyequippedmedicalfacility,preparedforanychallenge.Theonlyproblem,thesurgicalAIhasbeendamagedandmustbeoverseen,manually,butallmedicalpersonnelwerekilledduringthequantumevent.CAPTAIN'SREADYROOMThequarterswherethecaptainconferswithhisofficersandcontemplateshis
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productionbusinessforoversixtycombinedyearsinLA,NYandOrlando,workinginboththeWriting,Consulting,andProducingsidesofdevelopmentandproduction.Collectivelytheyhavepitchedanddevelopedfororbeenassociatedwith
someofthetopentitiesinTV,FilmandAnimatedentertainment.
SuggestedReadingAGuidetoScreenwritingSuccessbyStephenV.DuncanConflictandSuspensebyJamesScottBellDialogueSecretsbyWilliamC.MartellFictionWritingDemystifiedbyThomasB.SawyerHowNottoWriteaScreenplaybyDennyMartinFlinnHowToGrowANovelbySolSteinHowtoWriteaDamnGoodNovelbyJamesN.FreyMakingaGoodScriptGreatbyLindaSeger
PoeticsbyAristotleSaveTheCat!byBlakeSnyder
ScriptshadowSecretsbyCarsonReevesSomethingStartlingHappensbyToddKlick
StorybyRobertMcKee
StoryEngineeringbyLarryBrooksStoryStructureBasicsbyAlexandraSokoloffTechniquesoftheSellingWriterbyDwightV.SwainTheArtofDramaticWritingbyLajosEgriTheMini-MovieMethodbyChrisSothTheScreenwriter’sBiblebyDavidTrottierTheSecretsofActionScreenwritingbyWilliamC.MartellTheSuccessfulNovelistbyDavidMorrellTheWriter’sJourneybyChristopherVoglerWritingNovelsThatSellbyJackM.BickhamWritingScreenplaysThatSellbyMichaelHaugeWritingtheBlockbusterNovelbyAlbertZuckermanWritingtheNovelfromPlottoPrinttoPixelbyLawrenceBlock
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