Friday, April 22, 2016

Supernatural Spin-off Proposal: The Men of Letters



LOGLINE:

By 1916, the Men of Letters have been dead for over a century. Six individuals in Kansas are forced to confront the supernatural world and unite to recreate the Men of Letters after they are caught in the middle of a fight to the death between the Trickster Gabriel and an escaped Purgatory foe from his past—Loki, the real Trickster.




SUMMARY OF SHOW:

This is the story of the emergence of the Men of Letters as we know them today through the series Supernatural. By 1916, the Men of Letters have been long lost and forgotten after they mysteriously died out in the 1800s. After a group of individuals find themselves caught in the middle of a battle between two supernatural creatures, Gabriel and the real Trickster, Loki himself, six of the witnesses come together to make sense of the shattering of their perceptions of the world around them. This series follows the evolution of their increasing interaction with supernatural creatures, their character developments and group personalities, and the evolution of the new Men of Letters as we know them today. Riley Singer, who is the collector of knowledge, the inheritor of the old archive of Men of Letters knowledge, and the grandfather of Bobby Singer from the Supernatural series, is the main protagonist, upon whom the season focuses primarily.

The show is about the building upon of the Men of Letter’s archive of knowledge, the individuals’ coping with the realization of supernatural beings in the world, and the fight to the death between the “Trickster” Gabriel, Loki, and the newly-forming Men of Letters themselves. The season also uncovers the true story of Gabriel, defining and reinvigorating the character in a way that transforms his prestige and prominence in both CW series. Old favorites, such as Crowley, are also explored in a new light in the series. Additionally, much of the classic stylistic flare of the Supernatural series is maintained while at the same time creating a new story with which the audience will become enthralled and engaged. The themes remain similar, yet unique. Riley, the Archivist, is a major source of the series’ pondering of the question of what it means to be human versus monstrous. The Men of Letters shows the characteristics of humanity and monstrosity, delving into Purgatory and the idea of Tricksters and gods more than ever before.

OVERVIEW OF MAIN CHARACTERS:

Riley Singer: The main character. He is the archivist: the inheritor and collector of all the knowledge that the new generation of the Men of Letters obtain throughout the series. Similar to Bobby Singer’s archive of knowledge in the main series, the Archivist is Bobby’s grandfather.

Gabriel, the Trickster: From the original Supernatural series, played by Richard Speight, Jr. While he has traditionally called himself a Trickster, this spin-off will look into Gabriel’s background, origins, and character. The series reveals more about him, one piece at a time. He is not a real Trickster, but has instead adopted this personality to hide himself from the wrath of the universe’s gods. He derives from Purgatory, which is where he had locked away his rival, the real Trickster, Loki, whose identity he stole to protect himself.

Loki, The Trickster: Gabriel’s greatest enemy, as well as the true Trickster. Like Gabriel, Loki also comes from Purgatory. It is his identity that Gabriel steals. Having escaped from Purgatory where he had been trapped by Gabriel, Loki will do whatever it takes to obtain his vengeance.

Al “Magnus” Rummond: The primary human antagonist who becomes the new leader of the Men of Letters once they are reestablished in the final episode of the season. Due to philosophical differences, particularly those relating to notions of “the greater good” and black and white conceptualizations of good humans versus bad monsters, he finds himself increasingly at odds with Riley throughout the series. Ultimately, his views and support within the group of Kansas allow him to obtain a position of leadership that affords him an unbalanced amount of power and influence. He establishes the use of the Men of Letters’ infamous code name, Magnus, based off his interest of a man with the same first name, Albertus Magnus, who was a 13th- century German Dominican and advocate for the coexistence of science and religion. His wife, Charley, is also a part of the group that becomes formed.

13-EP. EPISODE OUTLINE:

1- Six individuals in a shopping building are forced to confront the supernatural world when two humanoid beings (Gabriel and Loki) with special powers appear from nowhere. Experiencing this battle and escaping from the building just before it is blown up, a young man (Riley) and another man (Al) get the group out of harm’s way. They find themselves struggling with but rising up to the challenge of comprehending that the world around them is not as they believed it to be.

2- Riley, Al, Al’s wife, Charley, and three other people who were present in the explosion return to the scene to try to make sense of what happened. They are introduced to one another and begin to congregate, talk, and sort through their experiences together. Gabriel sees them and recognizes an opportunity to manipulate them into recreating the Men of Letters so that they can unwittingly assist him in his fight against Loki. In this, he also looks out for his long-term interests, as by establishing the group without them knowing he was the impetus for it, he can hide himself from other future hunters and keep track of the information that they have or gain regarding him. Additionally, he is unable to access the Men of Letters’ leftover works because they are warded against his kind. He approaches Riley and cunningly manipulates the archivist into finding a large body of knowledge about supernatural beings—the archive of the long-lost Men of Letters.

3- Riley shares the knowledge of the Men of Letters and their archive with the group. They sort through the knowledge they have obtained to try to identify the beings that could have had the powers that they saw. The Aquarian Star (the six pointed sign representing great power and magic linked to the gates of Atlantis) becomes the symbol for their club. Meanwhile, Loki is plotting his next attack on Gabriel, which includes the destruction of a large quantity of people in Kansas as well.

4- Loki’s plan in enacted and catches the attention of not only Gabriel, but especially the group of humans. When they hear that supernatural beings such as demons are possessing and killing members of the city not far from their town, a demon they captured by using the directions from the Men of Letters books tells them just enough to fill in a few pieces of the puzzle. Loki is discovered to somehow be connected to Purgatory, and intends to get his revenge on Gabriel and all of humanity as vengeance for being wronged.

5- The group’s focus on Purgatory grows as they attempt to gain more knowledge to defeat Loki. The monster-of-the-week style episode focuses on the development of the group, the development of the different members’ characters and interactions with one another, and their utilization of the Men of Letters archive of knowledge to defeat a new supernatural creature.

6- Another monster-of-the-week style episode focusing upon the group’s discovery of resurrected vampires from Purgatory. They are beginning to gain the attention of the creatures of the supernatural world, as well as more knowledge of Purgatory.

7- The focus of the episode shifts from the normal story of Riley, Al, and the other 3 members of the group to a flashback to Gabriel’s life as he watches the present-day group attempt to deal with their new-found fame amongst the creature they are hunting. The audience learns the story of how Gabriel derived his identity, his relationship with Loki, the betrayal, and how he became the character he is today.

8- The Archivist stumbles upon a Men of Letters pondering that there might be some way to “cure” monsters. As they go looking for information, they encounter a monster called a Dream Catcher who forces them unknowingly into a dream-like state, in which they are off fighting in World War I. They must make their way through the dream and break the spell of the monster.

9- An encounter with Loki shows that the group will not come out of this unscathed. Riley’s first attempt at defeating Loki fails, and the price in lives is paid. Hopelessness and despair is rampant. Gabriel reappears to them.

10- While exorcising some demons, Crowley, the King of Hell, makes a visit and introduces himself to the group. While he poses a much larger threat, he offers the group a deal: stop exorcising his demons and go on a dangerous mission to defeat Loki, or be killed. The group chooses the former.

11- The group gets thrown unexpectedly into Purgatory by Crowley, who has not given them all the information they need to fully prepare. They must search for the region of the origin of the Trickster and Gabriel themselves, while avoiding the monsters hunting them. This provides much-needed insight into how a cure for monsters, including Loki, might be made.

12- Gabriel reappears in Purgatory himself. He is captured by Loki. After they find the information they need, Crowley pulls the group out of Purgatory and returns them to present-day Kansas, where they must work to save Gabriel, find a way to defeat Loki, and save humanity.

13- Riley achieves his “cure” for the monsters, only to find that the cure is actually a source of extinction, too. Using this knowledge, a final showdown takes place, in which the group enacts the method and successfully ends Loki, but Charley dies. The enemy is beaten, but the morality of the group is pushed to its limits. Al, hurting, vengeful, persuasive, and the emerged leader of the group, wants to use the Archivist’s creation to exterminate every supernatural for the “greater good” of humanity. Tensions come to a peak when Riley, unwilling to commit genocide, destroys his research of the “cure.” The Men of Letters are finally established, but, due to Riley’s defiance, the Archivist is removed from their records and not allowed into the society.

Explanation of spinoff idea based on class study:
              
Supernatural tends to close down or back away from many opportunities to explore the supernatural legends or creatures further. There are many captivating stories to be written about how the monsters that viewers know and love on the show today came into being. The Men of Letters makes many allusions to central figures in the current series, especially in regards to the Trickster, Purgatory, Crowley, and the Men of Letters themselves, who have become a vital aspect of Supernatural in recent seasons. The key elements of the show’s horror, supernatural, and drama genres are central to this spinoff, but include more elements of action than seen in the original series. Though there are key character, actor, spacial and stylistic connections between the show and the current series, this spin-off series is different enough to not seem redundant or less integral to Supernatural, especially because of the manner in which it is not an adventure on the road, but is rather focused in around the location of the Men of Letter’s locale. Additionally, the series’ focus on the formation of the Men of Letters and development of characters and relation to the supernatural world allows it the unique position of capping it as a complete story at one season, or continuing the story as it gains even more popularity through what can be a nearly endless amount of seasons due to the show itself. The Men of Letters have much more work to be done by episode 13 of this first season and can extends onwards through present day if so desired. While the origins and formation of it is the best and most substantial place to start to effectively create a prosperous spin-off, there are still an immense amount of story arcs to make the series an entity that could surpass even the ratings of the original series itself.

Discussion of audience commodity, marketability, and medium choice:

The Men of Letters is a TV series, which will allow it to be distributed to a wider audience, where it can gain the budget and actors it requires, as well acquiring more momentum and profit. A higher budget is required over a webisode series, but the cost of set productions, CGI, and travel will be very low in comparison with other shows. There is far more profit and potential for the TV series as well as involvement in fandom events, such as conventions, both separate and combined with Supernatural, which will produce a substantial amount of money and propaganda for the series. Additionally, according to the Nielsen Total Audience Report for the 3rd Quarter of 2015, the monthly time spent by adults amongst traditional and emerging media formats, distinguished by annual household income, is overwhelmingly in the favor of live and DVR or time-shifted television. This is amongst house hold incomes from less that $25K, between $25K-$50K, $50K-$75K, and over $75K (http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/reports/2015/the-total-audience-report-q3-2015.html).

With the CW’s gearing towards an expanding audience originally ranging from 18-34 years old to now a median age of 43 years and 45% male, 55% female viewership, according to Adweek and CW President Mark Pedowitz, a fast-paced spin on some of the classic characters and styles of the Supernatural series while introducing identifiable, intriguing, stylish, and evolved characters into one of the most interesting parts of the current series, the Men of Letters, will be all but devoured by both the diehard fans of Supernatural, as well as average viewers for whom this series will by their first foray into the CW network. (http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/press-room/2012/the-cw-to-use-nielsen-online-campaign-ratings.html and http://www.adweek.com/news/television/qa-cw-president-mark-pedowitz-gets-guys-164297). Even though it is a spin-off, the show is self-contained and will be able to even bring in new viewers who have never watched an episode of Supernatural. The Men of Letters has great potential to be one of the CW’s top shows, drawing in a wider viewership, and causing audiences to become invested in thought, time, and money.

Justification- why this and not something else:

It’s rad and it has Richard Speight, Jr. in it.

Charlie's Adventures in Oz: a Supernatural Spinoff


Dear Mark Pedowitz,

            Charlie was a much loved character to the fandom, and I know many would love to see her journey through Oz. She was relatable without being over the top and had her own story that was never truly explored. What happened to her in Oz? Dorothy mentions that Oz is not at all like the well-known story written by her father, so what was it like?

            Charlie’s Adventures in Oz is about Charlie Bradbury, from Supernatural, after she steps through the door to Oz with Dorothy early in season nine.

            When she arrives, she learns that Oz is in Underland, which is made up of Oz and Wonderland, and learns that the Queen of Hearts wants to rule both Oz and Wonderland so she can have total control. While helping Dorothy rescue Alice, who has been captured by the Queen of Hearts, Charlie meets many new creatures and learns that the rules she has learned from the Winchesters about hunting do not always apply in Underland. In this new world, some creatures are good, such as the Cheshire Cat, and some humans can be the worst enemies, such as the Wizard himself.

            At the mid-season finale, “Something Wicked,” we see Dark Charlie. It is not yet revealed how she came to be, but Charlie mentions her in season ten of Supernatural and tells the Winchesters that she helped win the war for the Emerald City between Dorothy and the Evil Wizard.

            Since Charlie does eventually leave Oz, this spinoff would only last a season or two. This is why I think streaming on Netflix or CW Seed would be the best option. Supernatural fans would be able to see Charlie and Dorothy kill the Wicked Witch, then be able to follow Charlie’s story line through Oz until she returns to Supernatural in season ten.

            I hope you consider my spinoff as an addition to the CW,


                        Kris Zouri

Logline:
Charlie’s adventures in Oz. After traveling through the door to Oz with Dorothy, Charlie learns that the Queen of Hearts wants to rule Oz as well as Wonderland and Charlie, Dorothy, and  Alice must stop her.

General Summary:
            After walking through the doorway to Oz with Dorothy, Charlie enters the magical world of Oz, which is a section of Underland, which is made up of Wonderland and Oz. She learns that the Queen of Hearts wants to take over Oz and that the Queen has kidnapped Alice. Charlie and Dorothy go to save Alice and stop the Queen of Hearts.
           
                                                                             
Characters:
Charlie Bradbury is a fantasy lover and Hunter in her mid-twenties who just wants to make her own adventure. While she knows quite a bit about the supernatural world, she is new to Oz and all of its new creatures and places. She has read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, but she will quickly learn that the world she is thrown into is nothing like what she’s read.

Dorothy Baum is a young woman hardened by her many years spent in Oz with no way home. After spending seventy years in Oz, the Earth has changed too much for her to feel comfortable living there anymore, so she decides to stay in Oz, which has become her true home. She teaches Charlie about Oz and the two quickly become best friends.

Alice Liddle is a sixteen year old girl who fell down the rabbit hole around 100 years ago and was never able to find a way home. After spending years wandering around Wonderland and running from the Queen of Hearts, she and the Cheshire Cat, Chessie, found Oz and the Emerald City. She becomes friends with Dorothy and tells her and Glinda everything they need to know about Wonderland.

Chessie the Cheshire Cat is the magical tabby Alice met in her first few days after entering Wonderland. He is friends with Alice and provides her with help when she needs it. Unlike the book by Lewis Carroll, he cannot talk.

Glinda is the good witch who wants Oz to be a peaceful place. While she has magical abilities, she cannot use them to harm anyone. She acts almost like a co-ruler of Oz and helps protect the Emerald City from the Queen of Hearts’ tricks and soldiers.

The Queen of Hearts is the ruler of Wonderland. She is a creature similar to a werewolf, and she became ruler when she stumbled into Wonderland via the rabbit hole many years before Alice did. She wants control of Oz and will do anything in her power to get it. She kidnaps Alice, and Charlie and Dorothy must rescue her.

The Wizard is the current ruler of the Emerald City. He enjoys being in charge, and will do nearly anything for power. He turns out to be the Mad Hatter, and made a deal with the Queen of Hearts so he could rule Underland with her.

The Caterpillar helps lost travelers on their way. His mushroom has magical properties that cause those who eat it to either shrink or grow. He gives cryptic advise that doesn’t seem like much help at the time.

Tweedledee and Tweedledum work as the guards at the Gates of the Castle of Hearts. While they are fairly good at their job, they are easily distracted and fight with each other often, making it possible for someone to sneak past.

The Walrus and the Carpenter live by the Pool of Tears looking for oysters to lure in for dinner. Always hungry, they’ll eat just about any living thing that comes near.

The March Hare and the Dormouse are friends of the Mad Hatter and are obsessed with Wonderland Tea. It has a sleepy side effect that causes the Dormouse to sleep most of the time, and can also cause hallucinations. The Dormouse is also terrified of cats.


Charlie’s Adventures in Oz

Episode 1: Welcome to Oz
            After defeating the Wicked Witch, Charlie and Dorothy go back through the door to Oz. There Charlie is introduced to the bright and colorful world that has a hidden dark side. She learns Oz is on the verge of war as the Queen of Hearts wants to take control of the Emerald City away from the Wizard and Glinda.

Episode 2: Lost Girl
            Charlie and Dorothy learn that the Queen of Hearts has kidnapped Alice. They devise a plan to get her back, but she is trapped deep in the heart of Wonderland at the Castle of Hearts. They first must get through the Poppy Fields surrounding Oz.
           
Episode 3: This Way
            Charlie and Dorothy make it to Tulgey Wood, just on the other side of the Poppy Fields. It is filled with signs pointing in many different directions, and Charlie and Dorothy get lost. After a few run-ins with some Flying Monkeys, they finally find their way out and to the Fungal Forest.

Episode 4: Fungal Forest
            In the Fungal Forest, Charlie and Dorothy meet the Blue Caterpillar. He gives them some mushrooms that will change their size. While trying to navigate their way out of the Fungal Forest, they run into the Singing Flowers.

Episode 5: Pool of Tears
After escaping the Singing Flowers, Charlie and Dorothy reach a large lake. They must cross, but they don’t want to waste their mushrooms. They need a boat, but the only one around is being used by the Walrus. The Carpenter helps them sneak the boat away from the Walrus.

Episode 6: The Wood of Giant Beasts
Charlie and Dorothy arrive at the Wood of Giant Beasts. They must avoid giant rats, snakes, and birds. They use their mushrooms to grow so they can navigate around the beasts.

Episode 7: The Castle of Hearts Part 1
Charlie and Dorothy finally arrive at the Castle of Hearts. They must make it past Tweedledee and Tweedledum, who are guarding the gate. They make it in, and search for Alice.

Episode 8: The Castle of Hearts Part 2
Charlie and Dorothy find Alice and the Cheshire Cat and attempt to free them. Alice kills the Bandersnatch in their escape with a silver knife, making the Queen of Hearts even angrier with them, and she sends her army of cards after them.

Episode 9: Hope
Charlie, Dorothy, Alice, and Chessie make it to the Town of Hope. The villagers help them hide from the cards and restock on supplies. They learn the Queen of Hearts is similar to a werewolf and can only be killed by a silver knife stained with Bandersnatch blood.

Episode 10: Time for Tea
The Wizard, who is also the Mad Hatter, turns out to be working with the Queen of Hearts for control of both Wonderland and Oz. He throws a tea party and traps Charlie, Dorothy, and Alice. He leaves them with the March Hare and Dormouse while he goes back to Oz.

Episode 11: Twinkle Twinkle, Little Bat
            Charlie, Dorothy, and Alice escape with Chessie’s help. Seeing the Cheshire Cat disturbs the Dormouse, which then distracts the March Hare. They are able to escape, but can’t go far as Charlie and Dorothy are unaccustomed to the sleepy side effects of Wonderland Tea.

Episode 12: That Way
            Charlie, Dorothy, and Alice make it back to Tulgey Wood. They need to find a way to stop the Wizard, and Dorothy reviles that some people have Dark versions of themselves, and that to kill one would kill the other.

Episode 13: Something Wicked
            Charlie, Dorothy, Alice and Chessie make it back to Oz. The Wizard is in the Wicked Witch’s castle and has control over all the Flying Monkeys. Glinda is keeping the Emerald City in a protective bubble. Dark Charlie is seen in the Poppy Fields.

Explanation:
Charlie’s Adventures in Oz is about what happens to Charlie after she steps through the door to Oz with Dorothy at the end of “Slumber Party” in season nine episode four of Supernatural. She learns that Oz and Wonderland are parts of Underland, and that the ruler of Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts, wants to rule Oz as well.

Glinda informs Dorothy that the Queen of Hearts has captured Alice and Chessie the Cheshire Cat. Dorothy and Charlie must rescue her as she knows how to defeat the Queen of Hearts. Together, Charlie and Dorothy cross Wonderland and make it to the Queen of Hearts’ castle, the Castle of Hearts. Tweedledee and Tweedledum are guarding the Castle gates and are fairly good at their job, but can be easily distracted by arguing each other. Charlie and Dorothy manage to make it past Tweedledee and Tweedledum and save Alice and Chessie. Alice kills the Bandersnatch during their escape with a silver blade. This makes the Queen of Hearts even angrier with the group and she sends her Playing Card Army after them.

Charlie, Dorothy, Alice, and Chessie are able to seek refuge in the Town of Hope as the Playing Card Army cannot go in. It is a peaceful town and those with malicious intent are not allowed past the Gates of Truth. While they rest and restock on supplies, Alice tells them what she has learned about the Queen of Hearts. She tells Charlie and Dorothy that the Queen of Hearts is a type of beast that steals peoples’ hearts, and that according to Chessie, the only way to kill her is with a silver blade stained with Bandersnatch blood.

Charlie, Dorothy, Alice, and Chessie continue on their way through Wonderland. Along the way they get captured by the Wizard, who also turns out to be the Mad Hatter. He traps Charlie, Dorothy, and Alice at a tea party with the March Hare and the Dormouse while he goes back to Oz. He is secretly working with the Queen of Hearts because he wants to rule Underland with her.

Charlie, Dorothy, and Alice escape the tea party with Chessie’s help. The Dormouse is scared of cats, so Chessie comes along and scares the Dormouse, distracting the March Hare and allowing Charlie, Dorothy, and Alice to escape. However, they cannot go far as Charlie and Dorothy are unaccustomed to the hallucinatory and drowsy effects of Wonderland Tea.

Charlie, Dorothy, and Alice make it back to Tulgey Wood and try to come up with a plan to stop the Wizard. Dorothy reveals that outsiders have two versions of themselves when they spend time in Wonderland, and that to kill one would kill the other.

Charlie, Dorothy, Alice, and Chessie make it back to Oz. They learn the Wizard is in the Wicked Witch’s castle has taken control over the flying monkeys. Glinda is keeping the Emerald City in a protective bubble. The last image is of Dark Charlie standing in the Poppy Fields.

Audience and Marketability:
Watchers of Supernatural would be the main audience, but Charlie’s Adventures in Oz still has enough of its own plot line to where outsiders of Supernatural would still be able to follow along. It would be marketed as a Supernatural spinoff.

Adherence to Supernatural:
Charlie’s Adventures in Oz is similar in structure to Supernatural because it still has the three main characters dynamic – Charlie, Dorothy, and Alice – and it has the main overarching goal – to free Oz. It also has different “monsters” Charlie, Dorothy, and Alice encounter such as Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Caterpillar, the Walrus and the Carpenter, and the March Hare and the Dormouse. The overall plot also follows the vague summary given by Charlie and Dorothy in seasons nine and ten of Supernatural.

Medium Choice:
Charlie’s Adventures in Oz would stream on Netflix or CW Seed. Streaming is becoming an increasingly popular way to watch television shows. It allows viewers to watch the whole season in one sitting and then continue watching Supernatural to finish Charlie’s storyline.

Justification:
            As a fan of Supernatural, I had always loved Charlie’s character. When she goes to Oz in season nine episode four, “Slumber Party,” I wondered what it would look like it. Dorothy did not seem to like it so much and described it as a dark place; nothing like the fairytale written by her father.
            When Charlie reappears in season ten episode eleven, “There’s No Place Like Home,” she mentions that her Dark side helped win the war between Dorothy and the Wizard. I had my ending, now I just needed to figure out what happened in between.

            I decided to combine Oz and Wonderland because they have always seemed similar to me. They are both rather whimsical, and I thought it would add an interesting layer to my spinoff.