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Post by Jamison on May 30, 2013 10:25:22 GMT -6
Episode #1-02: "Two Betrayals" Written by: Chris Davis Produced by: The VPN
UPDATED 8/29/2013 - Producers have revealed the episode is currently undergoing some changes. The original title, "W" has been changed to "Two Betrayals," and much of the plot has been slightly altered. - Two Betrayals is extremely telling of what happens in this episode. - John will be partnered up with newcomer Aiden Russo, much to his dismay. - The death count of this episode has skyrocketed from one to three! - Adam Brody guest stars as 'Randall' and interacts mostly with Marcus, William and Frank on the island. - This episode marks the first for DJ Cotrona's character, 'Aiden Russo,' who based been cast in a recurring role.
UPDATED 7/12/2013 - The VPN has released an official description for this episode:
CORRUPTION ON ALL FRONTS | Eager to jump back into the case of Henry’s (Freddie Prinze Jr guest stars) shooter and the mystery “W” bullet, John (Warren Kole) is disappointed to find out that he’s been taken off the case, due to his lack of experience and personal connection to the victim. Being assigned by Catherine (Melinda Clarke) to help investigate the sudden rise in drug-related deaths in their district, John gets his first real taste of not only the corruption of the city, but also the police force he has just joined. Meanwhile, Henry suspects his shooter is looking to finish the job after spotting him harassing Claire (Claire Danes) in the hospital. Also, after taking over the Shepard's (Gina Torres & Tahj Mowry) home, Joey (Peter Dinklage), Lorrie (Tricia Helfer) and Vince (Charles Dale) must come up with a way to deal with the dead Fist officer inside the house, as well as his vehicle parked outside. On the island, Marcus (Dominic Purcell) looks to begin his search for Carla (Serinda Swan) but is forced to hold off when William (Jeff Bridges) suspects there to be a mole in the Red Suns camp, looking to take them down from the inside. Furthermore, Maria (Michelle Rodriguez) begins to take notice of the horrors that have been happening between Brett (Jay Hernandez) and Jonnie (Frances Capra) under her leadership, but does she have enough control to end it? Lastly, Nikki begins "training" her new girls, but takes a special interest in Carla. Ben Foster, Idris Elba and Enver Gjokaj also star.
UPDATED 7/12/2013 - Spoilers for the episode have been released!
- More details in regards to Catherine's enhancements will be made clear in this episode. - There will be a death in this episode that will affect the lives of multiple characters. - Lance Reddick's character "Karth Davol" does not appear in this episode. - Producers have revealed that the mysterious homemade bullet has a much larger significance that will be revealed early on in the episode.
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Post by Jamison on May 30, 2013 10:24:39 GMT -6
Episode #1-01: "A Tale of Two Cities" Written by: Chris Davis Produced by: The VPN
UPDATED 5/30/2013 - The VPN has released an official description for the premiere:
SERIES PREMIERE. WELCOME TO GANGLAND | New arrival to the criminally run island is Marcus Holden (Dominic Purcell), an escaped convict. Desperate to find a woman he lost after being captured, he is swooped up in the dangers of the island, including caged death matches between rival gang members. Latin gang leader, Maria Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) must find a way to feed her people, who among many others on the island, are running low on food and supplies. Meanwhile, in New York City, newly assigned Fist officer, John Clarke (Warren Kole) steps unto the law enforcement scene as he is thrusted into a case involving a serial killer who targets cops, being partnered up with the ever-so cold, Commander Catherine Rinehart (Melinda Clarke), who leads New York City's 15th Precinct. Also, a group of criminals, lead by an Irishman named Joey McCray (Peter Dinklage) must come up with a way to lay low in the city of Detroit; and a grieving mother and her son's lives are about to get a lot more complicated.
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Post by Jamison on May 30, 2013 10:20:03 GMT -6
GANGLAND - SPOILERS & SPEC. | SEASON ONE
All Spoilers regarding "Gangland" will be posted below.
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Post by Jamison on May 30, 2013 10:18:13 GMT -6
Discuss the upcoming first season of new Crime/Mystery Drama, "Gangland!"
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Post by Jamison on May 30, 2013 10:16:14 GMT -6
Two years ago, with the outbreak of gang violence and criminal activity, a bill was passed by the United States government to ship every man and woman with outstanding criminal records (mostly murderers, thieves, gang members, serial rapists, etc...) to a massive and remote island in, what seemed to be, the middle of nowhere. Known, simply as, ''Gangland,'' by the criminals that reside there, it serves as a prison for those who have proved themselves to be far less than model citizens. Confined to the island, as the surrounding ocean is infested with sharks, salt-water crocodiles, and more; there is no escape. The government-funded project has been active for a year, and even though there is no physical government presence on the island, they have eyes and ears everywhere, and have been known to send survival packs. However, no such package has been delivered in over a month, which causes an uproar from within the already violent population.
Back in society, even though most known criminals have been sent to Gangland, there are still those who remain hidden, which is why a government funded task force called "The Fist" has arisen to ensure crime rates stay to a minimum. Completely taking over the U.S police, The Fist, operating from dozens of precincts across the states, relentlessly wage a war of terror and violence with the wrong-doers still living in our society.
This series, on one side, follows diverse groups of thugs, bandits and other criminals as they attempt to stay alive on the criminal-ruled island. Low on supplies, the islanders will do anything in their power to make sure their group gets what they need, even if it means wiping out another; and as a number of different affiliations and gangs rise up, they make it their business to either evade them, or take them down, in hopes of becoming the island's most feared, and respected. On the other hand, the series follows the day-to-day operations of a New York City division of "The Fist," and the issues their team faces on the streets, and within the political setting.
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Post by Jamison on May 29, 2013 21:45:50 GMT -6
Love the new graphic! Really enjoyed the original pilot, and still see potential in this series, so I'm looking forward to seeing your revised pitch and pilot.
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Post by Jamison on May 29, 2013 8:25:49 GMT -6
Response to Jack's ReviewI'm really glad you had time and decided to give this a read! I always appreciate your opinions since you're a big inspiration for me when I write. When coming up with the concept, especially the dynamics of the island, I would say my biggest influences were "Lost," obviously, and "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" (Marcus/Spartacus' journey, especially in the pilot, can really work as parallels to me). I didn't pick up on the latter until quite recently actually. But those two shows really helped me establish the aesthetic I wanted to create with Gangland. In terms of how character-driven this show aims to be, I was inspired a lot by "Battlestar Galactica," which really was crafted with a "Character-First. Plot Second" mantra. I welcome the idea of sacrificing plot for character, because in the long run, the characters are what the readers are focused on, and I wanted to stress that here; that layer of multi-dimensionality, realism and personal-depth in relation to the characters that will only grow as the series develops. Shifting to the semi-dystopian version of 'our society,' I was influenced more by worldly themes and ideas, rather than any pre-established film or series (at least that I can think of), but I'm so glad I was able to give my own style and voice to this concept! And I'm glad you enjoyed it. First mention of Danny! Yay! I was interested in hearing what people thought of this character. Obviously, he's portrayed as a hormonal, bad-mouth teenager. But once you get past that surface, I really wanted there to be a young man in there who has real, emotional motivations for why he is the way he is. I think you've raised some great points in your analysis of Danny, because he is very rebellious, and that trait is bound to develop as he's thrusted even more into this world of corruption and politics. I knew being, essentially, a pretty negative character, that most people would hate him right from the jump, but it was my goal to make it so, even if you were not fond of the character as an individual, you would at least be interested in seeing what makes him tick. So, I'm SOOO glad that worked for you! He's a character I'm excited about developing further, through the relationship he had with his father, to the relationship he'll slowly begin to build with his mom. And also, his own thought-processes in regards to himself should be huge aspect of his story arc. Karth is a character I knew I had to have in the pilot. He's sort of the Yin to Catherine's Yang, in the sense that he is that 'ideal' detective. He's very straightforward, gets the job done right, and he's all about order and structure, whereas Catherine is a bit more of a free-spirit. She goes things the way she wants to do them, and anybody who doesn't like it can kick rocks, pretty much. Their back and forth conversation in Catherine's introductory scene was particularly fun for me to write because of how much of polar opposites they were. Whenever Karth says something, it's like she MUST disagree or refute his words some how. So, I'm glad you caught onto that and enjoyed it. Some of the stuff you mentioned about these two, I didn't even pick up on, but I like the way you worded it, and it'll definitely be explored more as I continue to write these two characters together! That scene went through a lot of redrafts. The first opening dealt with more science fiction elements, but both Amin and I thought it would be best to establish a very gritty, raw vibe to the island, instead of a tech-heavy, glamorous, vibe. Questions will arise on just how "inescapable" the island actually is, as Marcus will be looking for cracks in the system. Whether he'll be able to find one. You'll have to wait and see. But you're right. While William considers this a great opportunity, Marcus wants to get Carla and get the HELL out of dodge. I figured people would enjoy the off-island stuff more, since it has a more grounded connection to our own modern society, so naturally, it's more interesting to learn about how we got from where we are now to the point when the series takes place. I personally can't wait to dig more into the politics of it all. There's even more politics. Even more systematic corruption. We haven't even scratched the surface of it all yet. Jack, thank you soo much for reading/reviewing. I sat down to write the pilot just a few days ago, and was NOT expecting to get it finished so quickly, but I'm glad it's getting such a positive response from you all so far. I'm still awaiting one review telling me that it's terrible and needs to be redrafted with the quickness, but for right now, I'm glad people are enjoying the pilot! Thanks for your thoughts and insightful review! It was GREAT to read
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Post by Jamison on May 28, 2013 22:34:52 GMT -6
Response to Jason's ReviewThanks for giving it a read, Jason! This is an idea I had been keeping up top for about two years now. I always knew that one day I would write it, so I'm glad I finally got to, no matter how it turns out. The concept was good before, and Amin really helped me take it to a whole new level, so I can't thank him enough for coming on board. Given the amount of characters we've got in this show, I knew it would take a while for the readers to adjust. Glad that it picked up for you, though. Game of Thrones is definitely inspiration for the show, in terms of format. Although, they jump around A LOT more than this show would. We only have three central locations. Granted, the island is split up in a way that it could make it seem like six, but the characters will be crossing over from time to time. That's awesome! We wanted to set the show up so there would be an interesting storyline for everyone. If you didn't like one plot, you might appreciate another one more. But you're liking both sides equally, that's even better. You'll probably switch back and forth between the two, but that's expected. Cannot wait to hear your thoughts when we develop the story even more. Should be interesting to hear some of your crazy theories Marcus' character was tricky. He's a very low-key, timid guy, but his wild side tends to come out when he feels threatened. I think his hesitance to trust anyone, and be more of a loner stems a lot from his backstor, which we would definitely be getting into in future episodes. His history with Carla will be touched on, and we get to see more of what motivates his character, moving forward after joining the Red Suns. I want to establish Marcus, Frank and William as sort of a solid "unit." They'll grow to rely on one another, and that's something I really want to get into in episode two. William is a character I love to write for already, so I'm glad you're taking to him. You're right about the 'father figure' comment. I can see his relationship with Marcus heading somewhere in that direction, even though Marcus would probably be against it initially. I love Maria! Haha! And even though I didn't get to really get deep into her character in the pilot, I'm really looking forward to doing so in the near future. From what we've seen so far, we know she's a tough broad, but she's also a bit naive. Jonnie may not be the best guy when it comes to morals, but he had a point in saying that their on their own. Maria's journey from this point on is more about figuring out where she stands on the island as a leader; what kind of leader should she be in these new circumstances, etc... I can tell you that Jonnie and Maria's relationship is NOT getting better any time soon, if at all. I suspected the Jonnie/Brett scenes would bring up a lot of dark emotions. They were hard for me to write. You might be on to something with your comments on Nikki. She's definitely a force to be reckoned with, and someone you can't really take your eyes off of. Amin and I were just discussing some future scenes today involving her character and Carla that will be very interesting. If Law is just being lead by Nikki, I fear for him as well. haha!! Everyone should be afraid of Nikki. That's the moral here. In terms of their relationship, it's a pretty toxic one. We don't really know right from the jump if they actually love one another, or if it's all a "power thing," but it's gonna be fun diving more into their arc in the coming episodes, as they rule the Island side by side. haha! Nikolai is also a powerful guy on the island, even though his power is not seen in the forefront, but it's felt in the background, through scheming and stuff like that. We'll get more into that later in the series, but I think he'll definitely be a character that's funny to listen to, which makes him strangely likable. I thoroughly enjoyed the scene and a half I got to write with him in it, so I'm excited for more of that as well John's arc this season, and in the show in general, is very "hero's journey" based. There will be ups and downs to his character, like all of the characters on the show, but I understand why were you able to relate more to him than to Marcus. I mean, I'd like to think you'd sooner connect with a seemingly nice guy who loves his friends, than a convict with a bad attitude and trust issues. haha! Catherine seems to be the "woman of the hour." Amin and I, when developing these characters, had a clear vibe we wanted to come across with her character, and I'm glad we stuck to it. Her personality ties into her cybernetic enhancements as wel, and yes, that part of her backstory will be touched upon more if we get to write more episodes. It's a big part of the show, and it really gives us more insight into her life. Excited for people's reactions to the "maternal" aspects of her character, once we've introduced her son. Should be fun, but she doesn't initially have that "mom" vibe. That actually sums of the Joey/Lorrie dynamic pretty well. Sorry for the let down with no explanation on why the "crime trio" are trying to take the house. It all pretty much came down to time, lack of time. So, I figured it would be better to hold off until episode two, where they'll be given a lot more attention. You know I gotta add a bit of mystery to everything I write. There's even more where that came from. Trust me! Episode two reveals a lot about certain things. Well... you'll find out. Thank you soo much, Jason! I'm really glad you enjoyed the pilot. Thanks for giving it a read! This whole show and its characters, especially the ones on the island, are really fun to play around with, because I get to be a "bad guy," most of the time. You know how much I love writing for bad guys, so this show is pretty much a dream come true, although it's not always gonna be so black and white. Amin and I plan on tossing so many shades of gray over the readers heads throughout the show, you'll begin questioning your own moral compass. That's out end goal and hopefully we meet it. I was worried that by the time that little scene happened, people would totally forget all about the shark attack in beginning and like... not make the connection. haha! Glad you were able to piece those two events together! Thanks again for reviewing so quickly!
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Post by Jamison on May 28, 2013 21:21:14 GMT -6
Response to Brady's Review
Thank you for your continued support for the show! It took a year, but I finally got it out! There's a pretty big cast, so I knew it might be a little bit of a struggle for some, but I'm glad it got easier to follow for you, sooner rather than later. I didn't mean to write Frank this way, but he sort of plays that comic relief character, in a sense, in the pilot. Totally not intentionally, but it just turned out that way. I'm glad you enjoyed the him and William, and it'll be interesting to see if you still have that opinion once we get a little insight on their criminal past! Lorrie and Joey's scenes were some of the hardest for me to write for some reason. Still not sure why, but I always got stuff with them, even though they only have about 2 full scenes in the episode. I think it was trying to make Joey come across as brutally honest, but still a loving guy. You know? I didn't want people to think he was rude to Lorrie, while she just sits back and takes it. It's just the relationship they have and they accept it. Amin and I have a huge love for Catherine as well. I'm pretty sure she's one of Amin's favorites of the series, and she's definitely one of mine. I can see what you mean about her introductory scene. It actually went through a few changes; there are different versions of it, but it all of them, she has that same sort of vibe about her. It may be changed again with another draft, but I'm glad she got better as we got more into her character, and the story. We were hoping for a good response when it came to Catherine. I would make a reference to a character from the Buffyverse, who she sort of reminds me of, but it would be lost on you! hahaha! *hint hint* I'm really glad you're liking the world we're trying to build up. There's a lot of history between the characters on the island, and the different inner workings of all the gangs, their leaders and members. It's gonna be fun slowly revealing more and more information about that in the coming episodes, if this series gets the greenlight! Law and Nikka are gonna be something else. I can tell you that. They are both power players, and like to be in control. Once their leadership is challenged, all hell is bound to break loose. That Maria scene was fun to write, and something that just popped up last minute, really. Aahh! Bozo mistake on my part. Will fix it right away. Thanks for pointing it out. Catherine and John buddy-cop relationship is going to be interesting to develop, since we come to discover the way the like to operate as detectives is so different. John is someone who likes to follow rules, and play by the book, although passion can take over sometimes, while Catherine is much unconventional and unpredictable. Jonnie and Brett's abusive relationship is something I knew I had to show, but it's also something I was a little nervous about, because it goes to some pretty dark places. Nevertheless, I want to bring even more complexity to that relationship. There may or may not actually be real feelings there. We'll have to wait and see. Marcus and Carla -- that's pretty hush hush at the moment, but I'm glad you're interested in seeing more. My god, Brady. Thank you soo much for the read and review!! I really didn't want to disappoint you. And not just because you threatened to kill me, had this not lived up to your expectations. haha! But anyway, thanks! Glad you enjoyed it and I hope we can bring you more! *Fingers crossed*
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Post by Jamison on May 28, 2013 13:51:31 GMT -6
• Trinity | Season One Opening Credits an opening for the first season of the Trinity reboot, edited by Alex Matthews
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Post by Jamison on May 28, 2013 12:13:10 GMT -6
UPDATE: First draft of the pilot has been posted! Check it on below! Any feedback is appreciated. 1.01: A Tale of Two Cities - New arrival to the criminally run island is Marcus Holden (Dominic Purcell), an escaped convict. Desperate to find a woman he lost after being captured, he is swooped up in the dangers of the island, including caged death matches between rival gang members. Latin gang leader, Maria Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) must find a way to feed her people, who among many others on the island, are running low on food and supplies. Meanwhile, in New York City, newly assigned Fist officer, John Clarke (Warren Kole) steps unto the law enforcement scene as he is thrusted into a case involving a serial killer who targets cops, being partnered up with the ever-so cold, Commander Catherine Rinehart (Melinda Clarke), who leads New York City's 15th Precinct. Also, a group of criminals, lead by an Irishman named Joey McCray (Peter Dinklage) must come up with a way to lay low in the city of Detroit; and a grieving mother and her son's lives are about to get a lot more complicated. Link to Pilot: ninth-spectrum.weebly.com/uploads/6/8/3/8/6838324/gangland_s01e01_-_a_tale_of_two_cities_-_pilot.pdf
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Post by Jamison on May 28, 2013 9:00:23 GMT -6
I really love the sound of the episodes you've got so far. Episodes 3, 5 and 7 really stand out for me. I'm looking forward to seeing a pilot for this. You've got a great concept here, so it'll be fun discovering where you decide to take it.
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Post by Jamison on May 27, 2013 23:27:56 GMT -6
And we can't wait to read it, Jay! Finishing the script is the first step. Don't worry about trying to make it perfect because you'll never get it done. You'll always find things in your scripts that you think need to be fixed or could have been better. Some things you will be able to improve on in 2nd and 3rd drafts. But it's an endless cycle. We just have to keep writing and get better as we go.
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Post by Jamison on May 27, 2013 19:51:10 GMT -6
And.... DONE! Gangland 1x01 is complete and 70 pages long. After a year of planning out the backstory, coming up with series bibles, and creating a universe full of (hopefully) rich characters, the pilot has been written in under a week. Needs a good edit before it's released to the public. It may or may not need to come down in length. And I still want Amin to look over it to see if he catches anything that needs changing/improvements. But, the first draft is done.
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Post by Jamison on May 27, 2013 11:59:50 GMT -6
Thanks, Alex! Glad you liked the opening and the pilot! xD I'm a little surprised I've been getting people that actually think it's even a little funny, because I'm not really that into sitcoms and stuff like that on TV, so I didn't even really know if I could pull the comedy off. Glad I somewhat did. One of the reasons I switched the point of views of the voiceovers was because like you said, Joshua always says exactly what's on his mind, so giving the voiceovers to Andrew seemed more appropriate. Besides, I think Andrew is easier to relate to. Thanks for the feedback!
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Post by Jamison on May 27, 2013 11:50:45 GMT -6
40 pages in and I've still got like... a good 10 more scenes to write. And these Gangland scenes can run long. I'm really hoping I don't run past 65 pages. But at any rate, I'm just excited the pilot is moving along so smoothly.
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Post by Jamison on May 27, 2013 0:25:47 GMT -6
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Post by Jamison on May 26, 2013 19:24:14 GMT -6
Made a few recasts (Out goes Kristin Bauer Van-Straten and in comes Melinda Clarke). So what do I do? I make a revised version of the Opening Credits. haha! It's sort of in the same style as the previous one, but with totally different clips, and a totally different tone. I edited it with a different software too. Final Cut Pro X instead of Sony Vegas 9.0 Pro. Tell me what you think and get ready for the release of the pilot which is far past the halfway mark! Edit: Oh my god! "VINCE BAXTER!??" THAT'S A CHARACTERS NAME, NOT AN ACTOR! HAHAHA! FAIL. Oh well, I'll make another revised version for episode two.
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