"Out of sight, out of mind" may be a cliche, but then don't cliches become cliches because they are so often true? And there's probably nowhere that one's more true than this profession we've chosen, the entertainment business. So here we are at another "Introduce Yourself" weekend, and here I am, my name and work out there.
So who am I? For those who've never encountered my posts here before, I am Christopher Neal Fisher, a 61 year old retiree; married; no kids, but do have stepdaughters, step-grandkids, and even step-great-grandkids. Screenwriting is something I've known I wanted to do ever since about first grade, yet I was never able to try and make a serious go of it until I was forcibly retired in 2016, after 32 years at my old job.
My current main project, and in fact my main project for the past few years, has been an hour-long Serial Drama TV Series concept called Bayou Noir (named after the fictional town it's set in and around). I often describe it as a "Southern Gothic Soap Opera" (I didn't come up with that, but rather found it on the Internet, and thought it described my series idea perfectly), much in the stylistic tradition of shows like Dallas, Dynasty, Falcon Crest, etc., and comp it to "Dark Shadows meets The Sopranos in the middle of Louisiana's famed Cajun Country". Its protagonist family, the Delacroix, are a very Williamsian/Faulknerian bunch, which means there's plenty of dysfunction going on, and of course the Southern Louisiana setting (which in itself is, in a way, one of the show's "characters") would be superfluous if the show didn't showcase the unique culture of that region, including the folklore that's so deeply interwoven into it (though it does take a more subtle approach to the supernatural than, say, True Blood).
Below is both my logline for and a brief synopsis of the series concept of Bayou Noir.
LOGLINE: The wealthy and influential Delacroix family must deal with internal dysfunction and external threats — both human and supernatural — in order to maintain their power and position in the Cajun Country town of Bayou Noir, Louisiana.
SERIES SYNOPSIS: The Delacroix family is rich, powerful, influential, and nothing happens — legal or illegal — in the Cajun Country town of Bayou Noir, Louisiana, without the say-so of the family’s patriarch, Jean-Baptiste “JB”. But when you’re all those things, and you live in one of the most supernaturally-charged areas of America, you’re bound to have more than a few skeletons (and ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witch queens, zombies, etc.) in your family’s closet...
The pilot episode script, "Made in Louisiana" (a nod to the title of the series finale of The Sopranos, "Made in America"), written in the summer of 2020, was a semi-finalist in the Page Turner Screenplays "Top 100 Movie and TV Pilot Screenplays" contest in December 2020, and was a finalist (top 1% of all submissions!) in the 6th annual Stage 32 TV Writers' Contest in March, 2021, and was listed among the top 1% of all submissions on Stage 32 for that year. Plus, the post-contest coverage of the script by Stage 32 was some of the best I've ever gotten for it!
Since then, I've worked on a pitch bible, written pitches, and a script for a second episode. However, despite trying to make connections and network with people in "the business", and submitting written pitches to over a dozen production-type folks, I've been kind of spinning my wheels and not getting any traction. I'm hoping see this situation come to an end in the near future, though, as I totally believe in my creation, and believe my pitches show this. The main thing I keep in mind is that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and that a lot of times, all it takes is for the right producer, agent, or manager to see your work, and see the same potential in it you do.
So, I guess that's it. Hope everybody has a great -- and productive -- summer!
1 person likes this
Hi Georganna -
Congratulations on scoring a fantastic opportunity to stretch your creative muscles!! I'm Shellie Schmals, Stage 32 Director of Community - it's so nice to meet you!
I suggest starting...
Expand commentHi Georganna -
Congratulations on scoring a fantastic opportunity to stretch your creative muscles!! I'm Shellie Schmals, Stage 32 Director of Community - it's so nice to meet you!
I suggest starting out in our Stage 32 Producers Lounge >> https://www.stage32.com/lounge/producing & the Financing/Crowdfunding Lounge >> https://www.stage32.com/lounge/fundraising
You can also Browse Members and direct message folks you'd like to connect with, I find people are very responsive to having one-on-one conversations >> https://www.stage32.com/people
Nashville is a fantastic place to launch your career, there are so many sides to the industry happening there - movies, tv, music - are you in touch with any professional organizations?
All my best, Georganna! Robin
Welcome, Georganna! Nice to meet you. Glad you're here. Always interested in talking analytics.