WELCOME IN. We’re determined to raise funds to produce an original, scripted series with the working title Wild Horses. The series begins when a long-haul, international flight is forced to land off course, leaving passengers from around the world stuck in an unexpected city. After a few days in-waiting, a group of them decide to stay and start a life and hotel business together during what becomes a historic time that new land. Please scroll on for more story and project details, and, if it interests you, please consider supporting its fundraising goals.
“Big, dumb plane. Whole new world.”
— The faulty plane makes its unexpected landing in the setting “Lina,” starting a long night.
1. What’s the story?
— DISCOVERY & CONSTRUCTION. With Wild Horses there are two, larger stories we’d like to tell. The first part focuses on the discovery, exploration, settlement and advancement in what is a “new world” to the characters. We’d follow them, over months/years, from the unexpected landing to taking root in the new world both personally and through a hotel business. The second part of the series would focus on the hottest times of a critical juncture in the setting. The city in which the characters landed - currently called Lina - will have always been charged, but the characters will not have been driven by it until later in the story, after they’re more established.
— FOUND FAMILY. To power the above, we’ve created an eight-person ensemble using the setup of a “long-haul, international flight” as a chance to create characters of geographically varied backgrounds. First off, the banter between them will be great, and also, so will the tension. By featuring people from different worlds who would together - but each in their own way - try to build a new life in a dynamic and exotic (to them) setting, the opportunities for both drama and hi-jinks are abundant.
2. What’s the Vision?
— ADVENTURE & COLOR. Horses has a sillier tone as its core, inspired by classical sitcoms, but with characters that have the capacity to slide into drama or calm when the moment calls for it. The series, with its framework of travel and discovery, also draws inspiration from westerns or epics in its ideas for filmmaking. Finally, the vibes - or the sights and sounds - will be heavily influenced by the selected filming location. In writing, the location is envisioned as a Caribbean or South Atlantic city and so, the design, music, et al would hold such influences.
— RECURRING PARTS. Currently, the episodes are written as half-hour(ish) in length with a slightly larger episode count outlined for a season. The story at present is mapped out in five parts, or seasons, that would ideally occur annually with consistent structure. It aims to foster longer story threads, plus one-off adventures and specials.
“One night, over there.”
— Two passengers enjoy a night out in their new city while locals look on at the new arrivals.
3. What’S THE REASON?
— A GOOD TIME. One of my greatest film and television inspirations is Some Like It Hot, the 1959 comedy classic about two musicians who go on the run after witnessing a murder in Chicago. In my opinion, it is the standard for a fun time and has been a vehicle for joy and vitality for 65 years. So simply, the goal of Horses is first and foremost to try to offer its own good time. Overall, Hot may have a sillier tone than Horses, which would like to have more moments without farce but always, still, from a foundation of fun.
— TIME TO EXPLORE. The shape of the series is based on life-long interests in geography and sociology at-large. With the desired (more international) makeup of the characters, there is opportunity to learn about and play with different natures and customs. The general series plot - of constructing new lives in a new world - gives opportunity to consider how people and bands of people have done that before and how the characters can do it today.
4. What’s the plan?
— A PROLOGUE. Sort of. The goal is to make four episodes, to start, with stretch ambitions up to a full season. The target budget for episodes is $250,000 (avg) per, after taxes. In mapping a production and budget, we considered past experiences on projects at different scales and what those allowed. This particular level would afford more than the basics; it also can include a fuller complement of design and production team members and the chance to build up infrastructure on-location.
— “DOOR TO DOOR.” At present, Horses is a wholly independent project, and, to put it kindly, starting from the very bottom. The initial goal is to try to raise funds through crowdfunding campaigns, while also building awareness of the series for opportunities to pitch the project to larger sponsors. Any funds raised independently (crowdfunding) will go to production, but also to further outreach for the project. If funded, the intention is to use the first episodes (or Block A) as a stepping stone for a larger scale production on a full season.
Block A, the setup for the series.
Episode 01 / “Say Your Name.”
— It’s been two days since the unexpected landing and the passengers are still in-waiting. The ladies (Devika, Mei Ling and Valya) set off to see a natural wonder; Dwi gets robbed and Jon and Haj help the search; Gustavo tries a day date and Samirah gets tricked into hotel work.
Episode 02 / “Turn Around.”
— The adventures from Episode 1 continue. The ladies have car trouble and, oh yeah, Mei’s in love with a local. The fellas get caught up in Samirah’s hotel work and Gustavo’s date becomes, uh, not as good. Also, it’s Christmas time and there’s a big party at the hotel.
Episode 03 / “Make the Deal.”
— To start, we go back to the initial hours after the unexpected landing. The characters have unique paths to The Wild Horse (their hotel). … Back to the present and while recovering from the big-ass, holiday party the crew questions Fer (The Wild Horse owner) on the state of the hotel.
Episode 4 / “Stay Right There.”
— Well, the crew (plus a lot of non-guests) takes shelter in the hotel for the night. You probably guessed this but the plane left.