Berkner (Happy Feet AU | Audio Drama)
Project Overview
Berkner is an arctic island/ice rise in Antarctica. It's the largest island in Antarctica. It is said that sea levels caused its ice sheet to create a dome; If the ice cap was removed, the island would be underwater. It's surrounded by the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf. It is identified as an IBA (Important Bird Area) after about 8,000 Emperor Penguins are said to live there.
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What is Berkner?
Berkner is an Audio Drama that represents Alep, an Emperor Penguin that was forced out of his colony after an ice shelf collapsed, leaving both him and his mother stranded out of their home. After living in the sea for several days through a large ice cap, they end up residing in Heard Island, a place where they lived at for the rest of their days- that is, until Alep began to feel less welcome on the island, demanding his mother of wanting to return to his own kind.
Taped with pressure, his mother agrees. Now the two, along with a few friends of his, plans on taking their most riskiest event yet; To withstand the dangerous weather, starved predators, and constantly deteriorating ice glaciers in order to return back to where they can be truly happy at- or so, for Alep's happiness.
What am I looking for?
I'm looking for people who will take part in this non-profit project, ones who're passionate about it and will stay as this a long-term commitment, considering the audio drama will have many, many chapters. I'm looking for talented, motivated voice actors, regardless of age, gender, nationality, etc- ones who I know will share their expressiveness and emotion to the world.
Since Berkner is mainly an audio drama, I am primarily looking for editors and voice actors. I am also looking for any artists who will draw out concept arts for the audio drama, as I plan to add visuals. I will post the audio drama on YouTube on my channel.
Please be sure that you have a microphone that doesn't deal with pops, low quality, or freezes. I highly recommend Blue Yeti microphones, but if you have a regular headphone w/ a microphone inside that doesn't have too much of a problem, that's fine by me. Audio Engineers can help clean out any muddiness in the sounds.
THIS IS A +13 PROJECT! Please only be 13 and up if you're wanting to take part in this. While all the characters are adults, I know a handful of young teens/teens that can do an adult-like voice. If you think your voice fits for either of the characters, then go for it! (Updated notice; For the ones interested in voicing Rodna, Moiniro, and Gevi, please know all three of them are old characters, and I would like for them to sound like their designated age. Thank you! :>)
I will repeat this again, this is a NON-PROFIT project, with only some roles having payment (mainly composers and video editors since I hate to let their effort to be put into waste). Sadly, my budget is pretty wack, and I'm new to having PayPal and managing money, so it'll be awhile until I'm able to potentially pay someone.
For Auditions!
Make sure you are ready and clear with your sounds. There is no limit- be as flipping creative as you want to be! Go wild with your emotions, because there's going to be a lot of it. Scream to the ends of the earth, annoy your neighbors up or downstairs! Don't ever hesitate to show your voice and your expressiveness.
Join the discord server while you're at it! I decided that people can join the server regardless if they're chosen or not. We love to have both the chosen cast/roles and supporters there. :>
https://discord.gg/XH6aNAZCtv
DISCLAIMER
This will be my first time directing a project publicly or with others. This is my first time directing in general. I barely have any knowledge of directing something, so bear with me if I make any mistakes throughout the project. I will try my hardest and do my best as a director, and that I hope to communicate with others well throughout this journey. Thank you.
This is a Happy Feet AU.
Happy Feet belongs to Warner Bros. Pictures; produced by George Miller.
Deadline?
The deadline is April 17th. I might extend it depending on how wacky my life is or if there's a lot of auditions.
Updates.
- Added in a few more character roles. Changed description a little. (2/5/21)
- Extended the deadline to April 17th due to irl stuff. (3/1/21)
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For anyone willing to narrate the audio drama. This will mean you'll be saying a lot in this, so please, only audition if you are prepared, or have experiences narrating. Send anything you narrated in other people's projects.
Say anything.
Young Alep is Alep's well... younger self. His younger self is hyperactive, adventurous, and loves being around his momma all the time. If you can pull off a young child, preferably around 10-11, then feel free to audition for younger him!
(Sighing, turning to his mother.)
I got it, momma! Those sea lions aren't going to get me at all... hopefully. We're not close to them, right?
(Trying to get under his mother. Make out squirming sounds.)
How can I not fit in here anymore?! I perfectly fitted a few months ago!
(Melancholy, quiet voice as he looks at the crowd of playing chicks.)
What if I listened to what my momma said? What if I did have chicks to talk to? I love my momma, and I can't leave her! Not yet... not yet.
Pronounced as "ah-leep".
The protagonist of Berkner. He's an Emperor Penguin in his early adulthood life. In human years, he's recently turned nineteen. As a child, he's known for his widely energetic attitude and for only wanting to be around his mother a lot before he got swept away. He was born and raised in Berkner before the incident. In his life in Heard Island, he's known for keeping to himself, only talking to penguins he's comfortable with, and for genuinely being a good samaritan around everyone on the island. He was very clingy towards his adoptive parents until adulthood. Alep still worries for his parents' safety a lot, despite he knows they're completely safe from harm. He also despises making enemies or having another hate for him.
Alep sounds teenager-ish despite he's grown, and constantly sounds quiet and worried, but he speaks loud enough to where others can hear him. He has a high baritone voice.
Alep's known to change moods a lot. His voice can change depending on how he feels (if he's angry, his voice is more hoarse and low. if he's sad, his voice is softer than usual and sudden. if he's scared, he pauses a lot in his voice, and sounds low and shaky).
In human age, he's about 19, so try to sound like that age, or at least close to it.
(Shocked, soft voice, looking at a recently collapsed ice shelf.)
To think, we were in the same place that ice shelf collapsed. I would've experienced a second near death experience... except that this one would be a genuine one.
(Holding his mother's flippers, glaring at her.)
Don't worry, mother. We're going to get out of this together. (Raising voice.) I don't know what those sea lions will do, but all I know is we have to run- run like we're escaping from an iceberg!
(Slowly groaning.) It seems like forever since we last passed through that weird station where those.. 'hum..mens' were at. Worst part is, I don't feel good- I shouldn't have ate so much fish before sliding through that ice slope...
Rodna is the protagonist's mother. She's more to herself and only speaks with an old friend of hers in the colony. Other than that, she either spends time alone or has an evening walk with Alep. Since Alep has similar eyes to her, some play around that Alep's just a "clone" of her, which she doesn't mind because of how much attention it gives the both of them.
Equal to Gevi, she has an intense fear of death, especially if it's involving her child (Alep), which only worsened after they collapsed with an ice shelf. It sometimes leads her to be very close to her son, tapping her feet, or having to lay down from her rapid hyperventilation moments.
In human age, Rodna's about 51 years old. Please try to sound like the age provided, or at least be close to it.
(Worried, holding onto young Alep tightly, reassuring him. She's trying not to break down. Have her give a soft whisper as if she's talking to him near his ear.)
Alep... don't worry. It's going to be alright. It may seem like the worst right now, but we'll pull through. If we could... c-could survive that orca attack, then we can survive being on.. on an ice cap again.
(Chuckling, looking down. Have her chuckle during the first sentence and then pull off a melancholic tone with the rest.)
A lot of penguins said I would be a loner. I didn't care at all, really. Taking care of a chick as a single mother is difficult, but it's a path I'm okay with taking.
(Hyperventilating. Have her make sudden stops to make it sound more real.)
Alep, alep! Alep- I - (pause) - I don't want to do this again! No - no, I don't want to lose you again! Please, we've already had to deal with this years ago, w-why d-d (pause, crying) - do you want to do this again?! (yelling) I rather stay in here and starve myself! (still hyperventaling)
Pronounced as "een-rah".
The deuteragonist of Berkner. She's a King Penguin in her early adult life. In human years, she's about twenty years old; a year older than Alep. Despite her extrovertive attitude, bubbly, yet adventurous personality, and well-known reputation around Heard Island, she never has many penguins to talk to. She's straightforward with anything that makes her uncomfortable or bothered, so always think twice before you say anything to her. Einra was the first penguin Alep met when he drifted to the island. They became friends ever since, with Einra refusing to leave his side most of the time nowadays. She does it to cope with her loneliness.
Her voice sounds like an average adult woman's voice, but more aggressive. Her voice can be high and bright, but only if she's feeling discomfort. In human age, she's about 20, so try to sound like that age, or at least close to it.
(Scoffing, turning away from her friend, sounding serious.)
When was the last time a woman asked to lay an egg with you, Selpé?
(Trying to catch up to Alep, panting.)
Alep, get your feathery tail over here! I am not spending five more minutes around Moiniro! If I do, he's getting a freaking kick in the eye! I will- I will not hesitate to do so!
(Teary-eyed, choking through her words, frustrated.)
I wonder how my friend would be if I didn't fall for those sea lions. Those guys are the reason my friend's gone. The reason I wouldn't hesitate to slam those ship's... crane things right onto their body until their guts spill out faster than a whale's!
Pronounced as "seal-pay".
The tritagonist of Berkner. He's a King Penguin in his adult life. In human years, he's about twenty-two years old, being the oldest out of the three. He's often vocal around given groups, being the star of the show sometimes because of his impressively low voice. No one knows it's a condition he had when he was born that caused his voice to sound so deep, and he rather keeps it that way. He has been friends with Einra earlier than Alep, so she has a larger bond towards him than she does with Alep. Einra enjoys criticizing Selpé's way of wanting a mate, often making fun of him whenever he explained he lost a mate because of his concern anxiety or his overthinking getting the best of him.
Selpé exhibits a low baritone voice, so his voice sounds rough in some places, and normal at other times. In rare cases, he can switch to a more low bass-y voice. In human age, he's about 22, so try to sound like that age, or at least close to it.
(Looking back, nervously swinging his flippers.)
So... uh, I hope your child is doing alright. He's being taken care by you and your husband, right? Good... good. I hope things'll go well with you guys. Bye.
(Jumping onto a small iceberg, muffling with fish on his beak. He's very irritated.)
I can't believe you almost got me killed for a redundant piece of fish. Go risk your life for a random fish next time you're near a bunch of humans with loaded guns.
(Excitedly sliding through an ice cave laughing.)
You weren't lying, Einra! This is way better than walking around a packed colony on a lot of levels! Woo! Woo-hee-hee! Oh gosh, I can't feel my belly! Haha!
Pronounced as "moin-near-row".
Moiniro is one of the side characters Alep and the others meet during the audio drama. He's a Macaroni Penguin that left his colony from the Falkland Islands to go 'rouge'. He's easy to speak to and is respectful with everyone, but hard to reason with his faults sometimes. He loves to take risks, whether it may kill him or not- which is something all three of them don't want to experience. Moiniro was originally a victim of an ex-wildlife trafficking scenario, in which he eventually escaped after attacking a trafficker before running from the ship and into the ocean. He learned most of his skills thanks to copying on what he saw the traffickers do.
His voice sounds high and bassy. His accent can be anything you feel would fit him. In human age, he's about 27, so try to sound like that age, or at least close to it.
(Wiping blood off of his chest, chuckling.)
What do you know? There's blood and I'm not dead yet. Well then, I get to live another day surviving another ice calving again!
(Coughing, frantically crawling back to land.)
W-what was that!? That could have not been something normal- it couldn't! It shouldn't- it wouldn't! Alep, don't bring me back to whatever the heck you made me want to do!
(Putting his flippers on his hips, groaning.)
That doesn't seem fun, though. I'd rather be making out with a woman in front of her friends than spend the night inside a cave while I hear never-ending blizzard. (Two second pause.) Not saying I did it before, no, no.
Pronounced as "jeh-vay"
Gevi is another side character Alep and the others meet during the audio drama. He's an Adelie Penguin that has a panic attack wherever he goes. He's excessively afraid of death and will do whatever to prevent it. He constantly needs to keep his everyday fear out of his mind. One of them is him talking long walks. He's usually calm and assertive, but petrified and isolative when his fear kicks in.
In human age, he's about 34, so try to sound like that age, or at least close to it.
(Taking a walk. He's giving a long sigh.)
This unruly world doesn't have any sense anymore. One moment you survive getting killed by your own kind, and the next a skua takes your egg. (Grumbling) Life as a penguin feels so unfair that I can imagine how it'll feel being a human.
(Pleased, smiling.)
Well, thank you! I did not think my flippers would have such speed. I thought they would give out because of how mortified I was.
(Trying to run away from a sea lion. Gevi is highly intense with his reactions. Make sure you're very expressive of his fear responses. His responses pause a lot and he's a fast speaker when he's scared.)
No! No- no! Get away- you're not eating me! No- stay, stay away! Go away, go! I don't want to die today, nor right now, nor next week or year or decade! Please, please go away! Don't eat me! Let me live another day! Please, no! No! Go away, you beast! Go!
Pronounced as (dee-poo).
Dipu is a sea lion with a pessimistic mindset. He's about thirty years old in human age. He always look at the bad side of things, while also saying something reassuring at last minute to balance the conversation. His voice is rash and threatening despite he's not a danger at all. He also has an Australian accent.
(Licking their lips, thinking about eating a prey. Make him chuckle in a slow, frightening way before speaking.)
To answer your question, yes; If I had to kill a penguin right now, I probably would. (Pause with an unsatisfied sigh.) But I can't. It would take me going months without eating for me to eat a penguin. Would it be bad if I start off with their feet first?
(Yelling at a group of sea lions.)
Hey, get ou' of here! We don't want you here, you food-stealing bandits! These sardines are for me! Me, not you guys!
(Facing Alep.)
You best stay in this island for a while. There's a big storm coming soon over the path you're trying to get through, and it's not pretty. You're asking for death if you leave too early. Stay here until I tell you when things are cleared when I get informed from the other sea lions.
If you're not wanting to take part in the major roles, or if they have already taken the roles. These are for minor characters, some speaking up to only a few words, to saying a simple sentence. You are free to post your demo reel here if you want to.
Say anything!
For any writer who's willing to give honest critique for the story. Critique helps me get better, and the better I get, the better the story is. I'm also looking for proofreaders to help me with any mistake I made- and I know I defiantly made a lot of them.
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Show me anything you edited. All skills are welcome, but I am looking for more experienced ones.
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For anyone willing to help with tidying/mixing out the audio to give it a nice, fresh result.
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Any artists that worked with concept art or art in general, share your stuff here! I'm looking for anyone who's great with visuals. As I stated in the description above, it'll be usedin the audio drama.
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I'm mainly looking for composers who are well with making ambient-eccentric sounds, as these will be the major part of this audio drama. Anyone who worked on an orchestral track, OST, or ambience, share your tracks here. You can either link your SoundCloud or your YouTube.
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