Producing : Hey producers... by Ian White

Ian, after your comments to Wes - I think not.

An entire room of Producers, the who's who of Hollywood, was at the PGA awards yesterday in Los Angeles.

Shoulda been there. Pitch for free in bathrooms.

Yeah, Doug Nelson, that was pretty rude and I regret posting it. Was on a major downer and a half bottle of scotch. Forgot I even posted it. Note to self, don't drink and internet.

Hey Ian...

Pitch your damn screenplay.

AMARIS (sci-fi, 109 pgs)

Logline: Following a global environmental collapse nations claw for remaining resources and land. When the crew of the ISS receives a message from a lush and resourceful alien planet, superpowers on Earth race to make a claim.

Pitch:

Sending a message out into space can be a dangerous thing. You never know who is listening. Some fear that one day the signals we send out into space might be discovered by a malevolent species who could attack us. But, what if we were the ones to receive a signal, and what if we were the malevolent species?

This is an elevated "Science-faction" - fact-based/science-based sci-fi along the lines of "Interstellar", "Gravity" and “The Martian". Combined box office $1 Billion.

Nate is a loner, a cynic, and an environmentalist. His father originally developed tech to study the environmental decline we experience in our story. He was killed in a shuttle mission. Nate steps up to complete his work. While on an environmental expedition to the ISS Nate and the crew are visited by aliens from a rich and resourceful planet. Nations on earth soon get wind of this new planet and scramble to take it from the peaceful, humanoid residents. Afraid humans will consume and destroy this new world, like we did with Earth, Nate is determined to protect it. Where his father failed to save Earth, Nate will fight to save this new world.

Theme (contains spoilers):

It’s subtle. Something for sci-fi fans to discuss on-line. James represents Jesus, returned. Nate represents mankind and the baseball represents the flame of stewardship over Earth. Nate’s father represents our ancestors (who fail to protect the earth) and his niece represents our decedents. Simon Skariota in the Bible is also known as Judas Iscariot. The ships at the end represent the rapture where the meek inherit a new Earth - Amaris (A gift from God).

Opportunity for one or more sequel (Think Planet of the Apes meets AVATAR).

Hey D Marcus nope?

Take 2.

Title:

“AMARIS” (WGA #I307403)

Logline:

An environmental collapse has left Earth decimated. Nations claw for land and resources. When the International Space Station is contacted by an alien species from a lush and resourceful planet, the crew clash over divergent priorities, while global superpowers fight to stake a claim.

Synopsis:

Sending a message out into space can be a dangerous thing. You never know who is listening. Some fear that one day the signals we send might be discovered by some malevolent species, who could attack us. But, what if we were the ones to receive a signal, and what if we were the malevolent species?

In 2045 an environmental collapse has left the earth decimated. NASA works diligently to study the climate in the hope of reversing the damage and saving humanity. Their work is interrupted when an interstellar object is observed headed for Earth on a collision course. When the White House Chief of Staff arrives at NASA he learns that the object is not a meteorite or an asteroid, but something much more mysterious. It has come to a complete stop outside the International Space Station (ISS) and NASA has lost contact with the crew.

The story begins with our protagonist, Nate, at an environmental protest. Violence quickly escalates between protestors and police and Nate is hospitalized while saving a fellow protestor. He awakes in a drab and basic hospital room where he’s visited by his brother-in-law and ISS commander, James Hamilton, an honorable and principled military man. Despite being estranged from his sister, Nate considers James his only real friend. We discover that Nate, the environmental activist, is the science officer for an upcoming ISS expedition. However, his recent actions have put him in danger of losing his seat. He’s granted a reprieve solely because the mission’s goal is to test new sensors he has designed following from his late father’s work.

Back at his home we find him to be an isolated bachelor and misanthrope with little care for anything except for the environment and an old, battered baseball that connects him to his late father.

We transition to New Houston where the crew of the ISS prepares for their upcoming mission. Nate is reintroduced to Sarah Brockworth, ISS technical officer. She’s both wise and a wise-ass. The commander informs them that they’ll be joined on the mission by space-tourist billionaire and expedition benefactor, Simon Skaryota. Nate is irate as he considers Skaryota to be one of the worst offenders in the environmental collapse. This is clearly a PR stunt by Skaryota on a mission that Nate considers to be of the utmost importance.

Onboard the ISS, Simon is in the middle of a propaganda transmission to Earth when all power is lost. The crew have to hustle to regain power before their O2 runs out and they freeze to death. A bold decision by Nate restores power and the crew are saved. While investigating the cause, Simon and Nate almost come to blows before Simon notices a glowing blue light outside the station. Cut off from NASA they decide to go EVA to inspect the anomaly. Drawn by its beauty James is compelled to touch it. A resulting pulse of energy sends James tumbling, unconscious, towards Earth’s atmosphere. Nate risks his own life to mount a daring and heart-pounding rescue to recover James.

The orb was a transmission beacon and soon an alien spaceship arrives in response to the suggestion of life. The aliens are friendly and inquisitive and quickly learn to communicate with the crew. Dissuaded of traveling to earth the aliens invite James and Nate to their planet. Nate takes his sensors and there they learn of the beauty, wealth and resources of this peaceful and Edenic planet. Upon their return to the ISS the US government learns of the economic potential and recognizes the opportunity this planet holds. They conspire to exclude other nations from this discovery, but their secret is short lived. Greedy for the resources and paranoid of being precluded, tensions on earth rise between superpowers, with devastating consequences.

Concurrently, tensions rise on the ISS between James, determined to follow orders, Simon, desperate to acquire the resources of the planet for himself and Nate, convinced governments on Earth would consume and destroy the new planet, resolves to protect it. Where his father failed to protect Earth, Nate will not fail to save this new planet...from us.

What is unique about the screenwriter?

I am a 43-year-old scientist in the field of cardiovascular regeneration and stem cells (Writing awards – Top 10 most-read manuscripts in Circulation Research (2015), Best Manuscript Award - American Heart Association (2016)). I am also the inventor of the monoMASTER (Innovation award – Best new gadget, Field & Stream, 2008). I am a long-time writer, but new to screenwriting. A native of England, I now live and work in Miami, FL. I am heavily inspired by James Cameron and high-concept material like “Tails of the Unexpected” and “Black Mirror”. A life-long fan of sci-fi I speak the language necessary to connect to other sci-fi fans. Also, entering the industry at a more advanced age, and with such a broad background, I bring an energetic and innovative spark with a mature and experienced approach to storytelling.

“AMARIS” is an elevated "Science-faction" - fact-based/science- based sci-fi along the lines of "Interstellar", "Gravity" and “The Martian", with a subtle theme. After five weeks in the weekly Top 10, “AMARIS” peaked at #2 on the screenwriter’s peer-review website Talentville.com (owned by Final Draft founder Ben Cahan). As a finalist for December’s Top Script “AMARIS” received professional coverage and consequently won Best Screenplay.