Beyond the Dark Production - ‘The Strata’ - Episodes 1-6 | Original audio drama
Project Overview
The Strata is a gritty sci-fi / horror series and requires serious, grounded performances.
Format: The podcast consists of a series of interwoven stories in a persistent universe and there is an opportunity for voice actors to take on recurring roles if interested. There are over 50 episodes currently planned, broken up into chapters of around 5 episodes each. The overall tone will be similar to previous seasons of Beyond the Dark, which can be found here.
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***Payment Structure for Returning Characters - Per 5 Episode Chapter - in USD***
Narrator (over 5000 words) : $250
Major Character (over 1000 words) : $50
Minor Character (less than 1000 words) : $25
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About Episodes 1-6
Synopsis: In a dystopian city, an ageing courier is forced to go into business with an underworld ganglord in order to pay for the treatment that keeps him alive.
Setting: In a sprawling future metropolis called The Strata, society has continued to segregate between the classes. The wealthy live in Highgate City, a place full of dazzling skyscrapers and creature comforts. Organic body augmentations that allow citizens to extend their life for hundreds of years have become commonplace. At the other end of the spectrum lies Dockerton, a slum area filled with crime, drugs and poverty. Disease is rampant and basic facilities are almost non-existent. There are many checkpoints maintained by police that help to keep the city segregated, and most citizens don’t bother straying from their own neighbourhood. As such, delivery services are in high demand, and couriers who have the ability to move quickly around the city are much sought after.
Disclaimer / Content Warning: This project contains mild profanity and some portrayals of violence (gunplay and a brief torture scene).
Rules for auditioning
1. A quality recording. I can't use poor audio no matter how great your performance might be.
2. Commitment to deadlines.
3. Willingness to take direction and provide pickups if necessary.
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Rust is the protagonist and narrator of the story. He is a grizzled, ageing courier who is somewhat ill-tempered and short on patience. He has seen everything in his time and knows the city streets like no one else. He speaks his mind and does not mince words. In the early days of body augmentation, mechanical body parts were the first technology to be used to extend the lives of recipients, and Rust was a quick adopter. As such, he had over ninety percent of his body turned into a machine. This makes him somewhat of an outlier since most citizens opted to use organic methods for life extension. However, Rust still appears normal - a man in his late 50s - thanks to the imitation skin that hides his upgrades, even though he has lived for almost 150 years. He became estranged from his family a long time ago due in part to his obsession with mechanical upgrades and these days is somewhat of a loner. Rust works long hours so that he can pay to keep his body running properly and most of the time is in a constant battle to make ends meet.
Voice is low pitch. Gravelly and world weary but with a hard edge to it.
For reference - Holt McCallany (Bill Tench from Mindhunter). See the following scene where he interviews the Charles Manson character.
https://youtu.be/DxgyQTZFenM?t=51
(Narrated, describing the slums as he walks through) At the opposite end of The Strata - back down in Dockerton - it’s a different world. The air is thick with smog that never goes away, and the streets crowded with all sorts - pump workers making their way home from the late shift, thugs loitering and looking to start trouble. Hookers with cheap body enhancements prowling for clients. The homeless. It’s not the kind of place you wander alone, unless you can handle yourself. And most of these lowlifes know my face, know not to mess with me. Just how I like it.
(First part narrated: recalling the name of his long dead wife; pensive, tinged with sadness) Even after all these years, I still think about that name almost every day. But I haven’t spoken it out loud in almost a century. I’m not even sure why. Maybe because part of me is afraid that the very act of invoking it will somehow throw me back into the past, into those horrible last days. (Second part dialogue: Angry and overwrought as he confronts a loved one, attempting to explain why he replaced most of his body with machine parts even though it alienated him from his family) “You wanna know why I did it? Why I turned myself into this... this thing? It was because I had to watch the woman I loved... my Lucia... I had to watch her waste away to a shadow. She withered, right in front of me, eaten from the inside by cancer, and there was nothing I could do about it.”
(He’s being followed down a dark alley and decides to turn to confront his pursuers. Confidently raises his voice) “Okay you two. Game's up. Get the hell out of here before I come back there and beat the living crap outta you.”
Sienna is a street savvy and resourceful merchant who specialises in trading goods on the black market. Unlike many in her line of work, Sienna is compassionate and honest when dealing with individuals. However, she is disdainful of the corporate machine and doesn’t mind ripping off big businesses for her own gain. She has a soft spot for the story’s protagonist, Rust, and could be considered as the only person who cares about him. For their business arrangement, she pays Rust to courier many of her black market goods across the city. Sienna is also handy with tech and often provides repairs for Rust’s mechanical body for a small sum.
Voice is medium to low pitch.
(Helping Rust lie down so that she can examine his machine body after he tells her he’s been damaged in a street fight. Starts off casual but is then startled and dismayed by how bad it looks) “Lay down here. Just let me peel this back and... holy shit! Rust... what have you been doing out there?”
(With some degree of compassion and empathy as she tells Rust she won’t be able to help repair his outdated body for much longer) “Rust... I’ve been telling you this for years, pal. You’re on borrowed time. You can’t keep going on like this. That body of yours has kept you alive for what? A hundred and fifty years? But it’s past its use by date. Even if you find the parts today or tomorrow... it won’t be long until you come looking for more. And sooner or later your luck is going to run out.”
(Trying to talk Rust out of a dangerous job - voice is insistent as she tries to dissuade him) “And then what? As soon as that gear starts showing up on the streets, there’s going to be questions. They’ll trace it back to us, I guarantee it. That’s why I never took the job. It’s a bad idea.”
Carver is a cruel and manipulative ganglord who lives in Highgate City. He has a huge, genetically augmented body and possesses enormous physical strength, with large hands that can crush a man to death. Although Carver is a relatively small player in the underworld scene, he has lofty ambitions. Having come from a childhood of poverty, he has built his fledgling empire through brutality and a relentless drive to prove himself. Carver is highly motivated by the fact that he is not well respected by other ganglords, and would like nothing more than to take their places at the top of the food chain. Carver tries to disassociate himself from the slums and refuses to even set foot in Dockerton as he believes it is now beneath him. He speaks with a degree of formality, which he believes helps to associate him with the rich and powerful citizens of Highgate City.
Voice is low pitch, deep and authoritative.
(Discussing a business arrangement; authoritative, calm and in control) “When you work with me, sometimes you won’t know much about the wares. That’s above your paygrade. Your only concern is getting the package from A to B.”
(Calmly, but with a genuine sense of menace) “These hands were engineered to do terrible things, Rust. Terrible, terrible things. You think failure means losing a few creds here and there? That I’ll shrug it off because I’m a nice guy?” (Then, with more venom) “If you fail me again, I will tear that metal body of yours limb from limb. You will scream and beg for mercy before it’s over, I promise you.”
(Menacing, a gritty, measured warning) “Bring it to me right now, or I’ll find you and tear you apart.”
Tenikoff is a dedicated cop who works in the slum area of Dockerton. He is idealistic and driven by the desire to bring order to back to the streets. Having grown up in Dockerton, he has formed an emotional attachment to the area and while most cops have given up on trying to make a difference, Tenikoff still believes he has the power to bring about change. Being idealistic, he is incorruptible and one of the few cops who refuses to take bribes. Although Tenikoff has not met with much success on his crusade, he is driven and won’t give up, and plans to work his way up the chain of organised crime until he can topple even the most powerful ganglords.
Voice is medium to low pitch.
(Nostalgic as he talks about the beauty he finds in the slum area of Dockerton) “Anyone who thinks that way has never climbed the old Crosstown Bridge at the harbour and watched the freighters come in at twilight. They've never heard the pump crews singing old folk songs as they trudge home from a shift. Midtown and Highgate City? The beauty there is only skin deep. Down here, there’s a heart.”
(Vehement, somewhat offended as he rejects the idea of taking a bribe) “Who do you think I am, Rust? One of those Highgate City rent-a-cops? I grew up right here on these streets. I’m a Dockerton kid, and I know what it’s like to have no one on my side. I didn’t take this job to line my pockets. I did it to change things around here.”
(Shouting, busting in as he makes a raid) “Down! Put the weapons down!”
Mr Yen is a polite and caring citizen of the slum area of Dockerton. His primary focus is the care of his wife, who has taken ill from a serious disease. Mr Yen is now attempting to obtain medicine for her so that she can survive. He also feels a strong sense of community and will do what he can to help others in his neighbourhood, despite the fact that he has very little to give.
Voice is medium pitch.
(Introducing a stranger to his wife, who is sick and possibly contagious) “That’s my wife, Sakura. You’d best stay on this side of the room.”
(Feeling numb and empty after the loss of someone close) “I tried to help her. Really, I did. There was another man who said he could get the cure for me. He took my creds, but... I never heard back from him.”
(Becoming desperate as he seeks treatment for his wife) “Don’t you think I’ve looked into that? There’s not a soul in Dockerton who can afford what they’re charging for the cure. This is all I can pay.”
Vika is an intelligent and highly educated medical specialist who lives in the opulent Highgate City. She works for a company that uses high tech treatments for body augmentation - growing new limbs and organs, increasing muscle strength and overall health. This treatment allows recipients to live for hundreds of years in perfect health. Vika is used to dealing with wealthy clients who can afford this kind of care and adopts a pleasant, soothing tone when speaking. Her primary focus is client satisfaction and she strives to leave a good impression with every consultation.
Voice is medium to high pitch.
(Reassuring a patient at the start of a consultation) “Oh, it looks scary, but I assure you - you’ll be fine. This device will perform a full body scan from head to toe. Nothing invasive, I promise.”
(Detailing a treatment plan, which happens to be very extensive and difficult. She’s a little tentative knowing the news won’t be taken well by the patient) “Well, you’d need to be submerged in a regen-tank for several weeks, at least. Stage one would involve stabilisation of your existing tissue before removal of your... outdated components. While that’s happening, we would grow new bio-replacement limbs and organs, but even after you come out of the tank, you would be incapacitated for... well, months, maybe even a year while your new body matures into a usable state.”
(Politely commenting on Rust’s metal body - which she finds to be very archaic. A note of sarcasm creeping in, then gets cut off at the end) “Well, I admire your construction in the same way I might admire the architecture of a thousand year old cathedral. That doesn’t mean I find it practical or even useful-”
Carlita is a girl around eight years of age who lives in the slum area of Dockerton with her mother Ximena. She is generally cheerful and good natured but hasn’t learned to be tactful and can sometimes say whatever comes to mind without realising she may have said the wrong thing. With only her mother for support, Carlita is sometimes lonely and yearns for a broader family. This in turn causes her to be quite forward with strangers as she seeks to form new relationships wherever possible.
Voice is high pitch, typical of a young girl.
(Pouting when asked how she’s feeling) “Feel sick.”
(Lacking tact as she comments on Rust’s embarrassing appearance) “You’ve got metal under your chest. What are these holes?”
(Prompting a new friend to buy her something) “Hey! What are you getting me for my birthday?”
Narli is a ruthless thug who works for the ganglord Carver. She is not especially smart and prefers to let violence do the talking. She is loyal to Carver and somewhat fearful of him. Her closest relationship is with her thug partner Stripp, who she often likes to joke around with.
Voice is medium to high pitch.
(Calling out a warning from a hiding place to someone she is trying to rob - projecting her voice) “Hand over the package and we'll let you go.”
(Impressed and somewhat surprised as she watches a man lift two heavy objects with ease) “Oh, okay. Two at once. You’re uh... you’re hard core, man.”
(Gets her hands on some dangerous weapons, then taunts a captive that she’s going to hurt him) “Hey, we don’t need no encryption to use these prototypes. How about we try ‘em out on him? Start blowing chunks off and watch him squeal.”
Stripp is a ruthless thug who works for the ganglord Carver. He is not especially smart and prefers to let violence do the talking. He is loyal to Carver and somewhat fearful of him. His closest relationship is with his thug partner Narli, who he often likes to joke around with.
Voice is medium pitch.
(Calling out a warning from a hiding place to someone she is trying to rob) “Come on, old man. Don't make this hard on yourself.”
(Reassuring a colleague that the situation is under control) “I got it. Don’t piss your pants.”
(Taunting Rust about his physical condition) “How come you always look out of breath, Rust? I thought with all that machine tech you’d never get tired.”
Hagmeyer is a highly intelligent technician who works for the weapons manufacturer Sabre. He has been employed at the company for many years on many high profile projects. However, he has recently become disgruntled with Sabre and now seeks revenge against them by selling off their tech to the black market. This will not only help him to line his pockets, but will also damage the company by releasing some of their most guarded secrets. Hagmeyer is cautious and meticulous, but he is not familiar with the workings of the underworld and this makes him somewhat nervous as he feels out of place.
Voice is medium pitch.
(Cautious as he sizes up Rust for a job) “What exactly are your credentials, Mr. Rust? Are you an associate of Sienna?”
(Relishing the thought of revenge) “My only concern - apart from the creds - is that Saber gets what’s coming to them. I can’t wait to see their faces when they realise their precious secrets are out in the wild.”
(Conveying information about the weapons he wants to sell) “The company I work for - Saber - is on the bleeding edge of weapon design. These are designed for military use only. They’re not even supposed to be in the hands of civilians.”
Jordan is a technician at a lab in Midtown. She is a diligent worker but, since times are tough, she has begun to supplement her income by making black market deals - smuggling goods from the lab for trusted buyers. She has a warm personality and generally considers herself to be a good person, albeit one who has been driven to great lengths in order to make ends meet.
Voice is medium pitch.
(Setting up a black market deal to smuggle goods out of the lab with a buyer) “Oh, yeah. I’ve got that sorted out now. The security guy’s in my pocket, and he’ll do what I ask. Just don’t forget to add in extra so I can cover his cut.”
(Buyer asks if she has a premium product available, which she scoffs at - that kind of tech is well and truly out of her reach) “Oh, pfft. All of that regen-tech? Nothing like that here. BioCare is like... top of the line. Premium. Amazing what they can do, but it comes at a price.”
(Concerned by Rust’s appearance. As he leaves, she offers a farewell, genuinely fearful for his wellbeing) “Hey, Rust... take care of yourself, huh?”
(Note that this is a small, unpaid role) Dodds is a dedicated cop who works in the slum area of Dockerton. He is loyal to his boss Tenikoff and aspires to rise the ranks in the force so that he can take on more responsibility.
Voice is medium pitch.
(After searching a vehicle at a checkpoint he reports to his superior) “Nothing here, Detective. The van’s clean.”
(Impatient, forcing a criminal into a police cruiser) “Come on, get in there, asshole.”
(With a raised voice, conducting a raid) “You’re under arrest! Move and you’re dead.”
(Note that this is a small, unpaid role) Goyle is a thug in the slum area of Dockerton. He takes pleasure in his job of collecting protection money from innocent citizens and enjoys threatening them whenever possible. When faced with a stronger adversary his true cowardice comes to the fore and he is quick to retreat.
Voice is medium pitch.
(Threatening a woman) “You think we’re playing around here, little girl? You better pay up!”
(Panicky, backing down when he encounters someone stronger than him) “Come on man... let’s... let’s get out of here.”
(Grunting and crying out in pain when someone stands up to him)
(Note that this is a small, unpaid role) The Dockman is a worker at the harbour who earns very little money from his menial job. In order to supplement his wage, the Dockman likes to trade in black market goods. This is a fairly routine practice for him and although he is cautious, he has little fear of repercussions.
Voice is medium pitch.
(Greeting Rust, a courier he deals with frequently) “How you doin’, Rust?”
(Discussing the black market deal and outlining that he expects a good cut) “Wasn’t easy. It’s gonna cost you.”
(Satisfied with the deal and wasting no time in getting back to work) “Yeah, that looks about right. See you next time.”
(Note that this is a small, unpaid role) Phelps is a thug who works for the powerful ganglord Skerridge.
Voice is medium pitch.
(After being captured by a rival gang, he is nervous but tries to cover it with vague threats) “When Mr. Skerridge finds out what you’re doing here, Carver, he’s not going to like it. This is his territory.”
(After being captured by a rival gang, he is nervous but tries to cover it with vague threats) “Mr. Skerridge is gonna teach you a lesson, and I’ll be laughing when it happens.”
(Screaming in agony as he is slowly crushed to death in an unfortunate accident)
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