Casting a Fantasy TV Show

[WayneLigon]

Premise: You are the owner of an independent production company and have managed to sell an hour-long original SF- or fantasy-themed live-action drama show to cable. Now you have to cast and write it! You have a budget of roughly $2 million an episode, which will give you production capabilities roughly equal to the late lamented Firefly.

1. Who are your protagonists?
2. Who are your villains?
3. What do the heroes do every week?
4. Who do you cast (you haven't got the budget for A-list talent; make do)?
5. What is the central premise of the show?
6. What's the name of the show?
7. Other: is the show episodic (like Sliders; one show rarely has anything to do with the other; each episode is self-contained), semi-episodic (Stargate; episodes frequently make reference to other episodes, but it's pretty easy to pick up on; things that happen in one episode have effects in later episdoes ), or completely serial (Babylon 5; overarching themes, more 'arc' episodes than not). Anything else you can think of.

Example:
Shadows of The Sun
Wed 8:00 Showtime; semi-Episodic
Stars
Tir: Gael García Bernal (Julio Zapata, Y Tu Mama Tambien)
The Master: Luis Guzman (Traffic])
Lord Xathos: Xander Berkeley (24])

Tir is a young swordsman in the desert city of Kharan, the sole student of the mysterious Master, a swordsman who has fallen on hard times since his formerly illustrious family was disgraced and destroyed by the sorcerer Lord Xathos. Tir and The Master try to foil Xathos' ambitions to rule Kharan while staying one step ahead of the evil wizards mind-controlled thugs.

 

[Jamdin]

Kyra the Chaotic
WB, Sundays @ 8 pm Central
Semi-episodic fantasy adventure with tongue-in-check action

Starring: Alyson Hannigan as Kyra and Joanie "Chyna" Laurer as Rhiannon

Young thief, Kyra, wrecks havoc in a medieval city protected by captain of the guards, Rhiannon. She gets into misdeeds either by her clients or by the Goddess of Chaos. Recurring characters include the bumbling duo, Louis and Claude, as they try to edge her out of the "business."

Written by James P. Allen (who's Kyra the Chaotic stories are now appearing at Moongem Fiction - shameless plug)

 

[Dr Midnight]

1. Who are your protagonists?
A- The Iconics. No, really. With good writing, it could be great. Lidda would perhaps be played by a little girl.

2. Who are your villains?
A- Some villains-of-the-week, some recurring baddies, and the first season "big bad" is a lich named Cyrlwurm the Cruel. There is a huge dragon to watch for.

3. What do the heroes do every week?
They move from town to town, solving problems and following the trail of Cyrlwurm.

4. Who do you cast (you haven't got the budget for A-list talent; make do)?
Unknowns, all... even though that ugly Aeryn from Farscape would make a good Mialee. Cyrlwurm might be played by Brad Dourif or... someone. I'll have my people look into that.

5. What is the central premise of the show?
We're keeping the action as CLASSIC D&D. Should have the feeling of a campaign in action.
THE PILOT: A small village holds their annual harvest festival, featuring their famous adventurers' gauntlet. A small group of friends (the heroes) win the grand prize. That night, during the celebration, they're surrounded by soldiers and taken into the woods, where the king has camped. He tells them that he has been watching them, and their kingdom has need of them. They are to go out into the world and recover some once-considered useless artifact that was stolen from the castle by a dragon during a night attack in which many died. Now, the land's goodness is failing... somehow, as a result of the theft of the artifact, evil and nasty things are beginning to stir. The heroes set out into the world with new weapons to find The Sunless Citadel and conquer it as the first step on their quest to find Cyrlwurm and recover the lost Perpetua Stone that will lead up to a climactic season finale in Cyrlwurm's black tower of dread.

Each week, a different module (or adventure written for the show). The characters are quickly endearing and memorable, with great lines and Buffy-esque smart dialogue. Plot twists aplenty. Occasional cameos by Meepo, who'd just be too popular to not include now and then.

6. What's the name of the show?
A- Sword & Spell

7. Other...
A- Strong overarcing story with references to past episodes and recurring characters, yet still new situations each week and new characters to meet and areas to explore.

 

[Viking Bastard]

1. Who are your protagonists?

A team of Red Capes, the police force of Serpent City (a city ruled by
a merchant guild and is the nexus of all trade in the world), who fight
for truth and justice.

The main characters are Incognito (main star), Geir (all knowing brain
type), Jala (a fey-blooded rogue), Kurk (an orc warrior) and Ramira (a
sorceress).

The recurring characters in the police force include the Dux (police chief)
and Sergeant Carp (their direct superior and mentor figure).

.

2. Who are your villains?

Most episodes will have a villain-of-the-week although some will evolve
into more recurring villains.

Each season also has a big bad and the first season's will be Grunt, an
Orc chief who has been raiding and pillaging the surrounding area for
years and is now moving into the city.

.

3. What do the heroes do every week?

Solve crimes and fight monsters/baddies. It will be semi-episodic, a lot of
little stories that connect into a larger overall plot (ala DS9 or Stargate SG-1).

.

4. Who do you cast (you haven't got the budget for A-list talent; make do)?

Regulars
Incognito = Micheal Weatherly
Geir = J.C. MacKenzie
Jala = Some new young hot star, the next Eliza Dushka (sp?).
Kurk = Some large athletic black guy, I can't think of anyone whos's not too big of a star.
Ramira = Gina Torres

Recurring Characters
Sergeant Carp = J.K. Simmons
The Dux = Alex Norton
Grunt = Clancy Brown
Guildmaster Qter = Peter Woodward

.

5. What is the central premise of the show?

It's a mix of a detective show and a Buffy/Angel style monster hunting. Quick
action and snappy dialouge with a mix of episodes about the supernatural and
crime mysteries.

Grunt, the first season big bad mentioned above, will be defeated in the first
season cliffhanger and cast into the shadow plane (only to later return to cause
more trouble with shadowy powers). But as he is defeated it is revealed that
Guildmaster Qter of the Merchant Guild (one of many Guildmasters), a valuable
ally to the main characters until now, is really the secret mastermind behind this
all in an attempt to gain immortality. A plan which succeeds and he kills Sergeant
Carp as he gets away to become the big bad of season two.

But Guildmaster Qter has no want to destroy Serpent City or the world, he just
wants to be immortal. But early in season two an old villain from Sergeant Carp's
past returns from beyond the grave (in Carp's dead body) and starts killing people
and molest their corpses to create a super body for his demon master. He seems
to have failed by episode's end to try to raise the demon from it's sleep as he did
not possess the constructed body. But the he succeeded, the demon simply went
to possess the most powerful vessel around, Guildmaster Qter's. Now the season
two big bad becomes a ancient demon wanting to bring on the apocalypse in an
immortal body.

He will of course be defeated in the season two cliffhanger, as they imprison him in
some other plane of existance. He will though return some seasons later wanting
revenge, maybe as the unknowing tool of an even more dangerous evil.

.

6. What's the name of the show?

I dunno, something short and catchy like "Black Serpent" (as in Serpent City) or
"Cops & Robbers" or whatever.

.

Man, this is fun!

 

[Sixchan]

1. Who are your protagonists?
Andreil, an elven ex-princess who is a marksman with her bow (when I say this, I'm meaning James Bond style, not Legolas style. She can do rolls and flips and cool stuff that you don't see Legolas do), Andry (no relation. 'An' is a suffix meaning heroic in this world, such names are common), a naive and confused warrior who has little to go on but his kindness, Ferinel, a cynical and fed-up sorceress who could be doing much better things in her opinion, and [unnamed], a mute (I mean mute mute, not just quiet-type mute) thief who looks really evil, but isn't.

2. Who are your villains?
Two main recurring villains. A religious order of fanatical priests and knights that worship a heroic god that has gone mental. Now he wants to kill everything, and his priests and knights are instrumental in this. The other is an ex-priest of said order that was thrown out due to being discredited by Andreil many years ago.

3. What do the heroes do every week?
They fight crime! Or other things. See 5.

4. Who do you cast (you haven't got the budget for A-list talent; make do)?
Unknowns. However, Andreil must be Irish (both upper and lower class speech required), Andry English (lower class), Ferinel Scottish (upper-class), and [unnamed], when she finally speaks in the last episode, Polish (I just like Eastern European accents). Accents are important, because nothing bugs me more than American accents in Fantasy films. The only possible exception to this rule would be in a Maztica-like film or show. But then, only native accents are acceptable.
Also, being nit-picky here, but Andreil must have green eyes and short brown hair, and [unnamed] must have light pink hair.

5. What is the central premise of the show?
Ghostbusters meets a swat-team meets the Fellowship. So they're mercenaries, and they save the world for cash. Which is kind of sad, considering all the other heroes in every other show on every other world seem to do it to be nice. Oh well. At least they save the world.

6. What's the name of the show?
Heroes for Hire

7. Other: is the show episodic (like Sliders; one show rarely has anything to do with the other; each episode is self-contained), semi-episodic (Stargate; episodes frequently make reference to other episodes, but it's pretty easy to pick up on; things that happen in one episode have effects in later episdoes ), or completely serial (Babylon 5; overarching themes, more 'arc' episodes than not).
Semi-episodic. A lot like Stargate. Of course, if the show does well, then there will of course be a prequel, a telivised version of however many books I can churn out in that time. There would be completely serial, but we'd have a fan base first so we don't **** up like Farscape did in ratings.

 

[WayneLigon]

Occasional cameos by Meepo, who'd just be too popular to not include now and then.

Meepo: Iconic Comic Sidekick...

 

[Tyrion]

Not an original show, but I'd turn "A Game Of Thrones" into an HBO series (that means all of the sex and violence of the series could be translated over).

As much detail as possible from the books would be preserved, and special effects would be used sparingly, relying less on cheesy-looking CG and more on subtle camera tricks and the like.

The actors would all be unknowns to save on costs (which would be considerable with the massive cast of the novels), but there would be an extensive screening and casting process to ensure their quality. Occasional bit parts could be played by such fine actors as Steve Buscemi.

Hey, you could even have George R. R. Martin himself write the scripts since he's worked on TV stuff before. Of course, this would wait until all the books are done.

What do you think?

 

[Sakzilla]

1. Who are your protagonists?
Ron - the "super hero" with the ability to perfectly know all that will happen

Will - the sidekick who comes along for sarcastic comments and dips cherry Skoal alot ("no one likes a quitter!!!")

Jason - the friend with the prescription drug "issue" - mostly a comic relief for his sad devotion to Arizona State athletics.

Candace - one of the hero's "roommates" - decent cook and loves to give foot massages

Nicolette - the other "roommate" - constantly amazed at the super hero's "sooper dooper ness!" - her nikname is "Nikki hehe" - she is THAT dumb

Jacque - angry French guy that does all the chores - kinda like a building superintendent, but less competant and more French


2. Who are your villains?
Casino bosses - the hero keeps winning all the time - "we....must....stop....him....!"

'evil' forces - those who would perpetrate evil on the world

left-wing government forces - Kalifornia-type politicians whose long term plan is to completely rid America of anything resembling drive, motivation, and intelligence.



3. What do the heroes do every week?
In addition to winning tons of money in casinos and lotteries, the hero and his band go around thwarting evil actions of "the bad people" - evidence of global conspiracies are known to the hero and he takes the time to educate his friends and get many foot rubs.



4. Who do you cast (you haven't got the budget for A-list talent; make do)?
Ron - Paulo Costanzo
Will - Jack Black
Jason - Adam Garcia
Candace - Berenice Bejo
Nicolette - Piper Perabo
Jacque - Jason Mewes



5. What is the central premise of the show?
1000 years into the future, micro-techniology has advanced to the point where a tiny chip can be implanted into the head of any person. the chip gives the person control over their chemical/biological functions (regulate appearance, strength, odor, etc.) and vast knowledge. A future relative of our hero has illegally slipped back through time (possible re-occurring plot device) to give the hero one of these chips. He immediately has total knowledge of all that will occur (lottery numbers, sports scores, plots to end freedom as we know it)


6. What's the name of the show?
In the Know

7. Other: completely serial - every week builds on each other.
Season One establishes the characters, thwarts some local evil, and sets the hero on the road to unlimited wealth.
Season Two starts to reveal the existence of forces whose activities exist outside the hero's knowledge - how can this be?
Season Three unleashes the struggle between the forces of good and a powerful coalition of dark, evil forces and Kalifornia politicians

 

[Shadowdancer]

My show would be semi-episodic. A group of people on a quest, searching for a man, sort of like "The Fugitive." Except this man is an evil necromancer who killed a family member or relative of all of the protagonists.

There would be six protagonists, a classic adventuring band: two fighters, one cleric, one sorcerer, one rogue and one bard. One of the fighters could be a ranger. They would be a mix of humans, elves and half-elves. They travel around looking for the necromancer. In some episodes, they fight him and his minions. Others, they just fight his minions. Some they just get into other adventures while on his trail or seeking information about him and his whereabouts.

The protagonist would be really evil. A Joseph Mengella/Vlad the Impaler type. He tortures his victims while conducting horrific experiments on them. This wouldn't have to be shown, could take place off camera, just some good descriptions from other characters, let the viewers' imagination do the rest.

The necromancer has been at this a long time. From some of his victims, he steals their life essence to make potions of longevity. Some of the elves pursuing him have been after him for more than a century.

The cast would be relative unknowns. Probably lots of young, classically trained British actors who are attractive, athletic and can act.

Each character would have a distinctive weapon and/or fighting style or move as a trademark. One of the fighters would fight with an axe. The other, if a ranger, would fight with two swords. If not, an elven bowmaster. The cleric would use the weapon of his/her deity, but probably a mace. The sorcerer, a quarterstaff. The bard, throwing knives. The rogue would be the elven bowmaster if there was already a ranger; if not, he/she would fight with two daggers, or a sword and dagger.

 

[Tonguez]

Tomhas 'Jack' Alban steps down off the wagon/bus/strafrieghter (your choice) and gazes around at the city around him only to be bumped into by a beggar dressed in rags who quickly rns away into the crown. Thomas Alban opens his palm to find a green-metal four leaf clover has been placed there.

Pan and focus on two strange figures watching him. One is silver skinned 7 ft tall and impossibly thin she smiles and dissappears, living the old beggar to watch Thomas Alban as he turns and walks into the city - roll credits[/i]

1. Who are your protagonists?
Thomas 'Jack' Alban a young man seeking his fortune,
Fat Sally the Tooth Fairy - a tough old woman with a heart of gold and a mean right hook,
Toby the Rock Troll who lives inside the brickwall of Fat Sallys house,
Old Whistling Tom the Beggar,
Hewint Datterway the gnome pickpocket and
'Silver' the 7 ft tall Sidhe

(later Mother Goose and Peter Pumpkineater join in as guest stars)

2. Who are your villains?
The Unseelie Court as lead by Lord Autumn the Erl-King who wants to take over the world of mortals by controlling their dreams. Various villains of the week representing Lord Autumns cronies. A few substories involving the past of the other characters catching up with them. The Ripper - a Ghoul serial killer, a few random goblin gangs

3. What do the heroes do every week?
Try to stop Lord Autumns latest scheme. Lord Autumn has released a disease into the city that causes a coma wherein he can enter the dreams of its victims and take over. Fat Sally is trying to find the cure and works depserately in the city hospital to try and save the patients. Thomas must enter their minds and confront Lord Autumn - but they have to get past his guards first!.

4. Who do you cast (you haven't got the budget for A-list talent; make do)?

Um

5. What is the central premise of the show?

To explore Fairy tales from a dark and gritty perspective, cashing in on Buffy and making some acknowledgements of American Gothic


6. What's the name of the show?

The Green Man

7. Other: Semi-episodic but with an overarching uberplot.