Beyond the Dark Productions - ‘The Strata’ - Chapter 8 | Original audio drama
Project Overview
The Strata is a gritty sci-fi / cyberpunk 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 25 episodes released with many more planned. Please take a listen to previous seasons of The Strata for an idea of the overall tone at http://thestratapodcast.com/
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***Payment Structure for Characters - Per Season - in USD***
Narrator / Lead (10,000+ words) : $500
Lead / Supporting (7,500 - 10,000 words) : $400
Supporting (5,000 - 7,500 words) : $250
Supporting (2,500 - 5,000 words) : $100
Supporting (1,000 - 2,500 words) : $50
Minor (less than 1000 words) : $25
Extra (less than 50 words) : Unpaid
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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.
Disclaimer / Content Warning: This project contains mild profanity and some portrayals of violence (gunplay, drug use).
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.
4. You must be 18 years or older to audition
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Doctor Halliwell is an accomplished scientist who is an expert in several scientific fields including robotics and communications. He is intelligent and well spoken. Having achieved success early in his career, Halliwell gained substantial wealth at a young age, and this allowed him to concentrate on research and development of his own personal projects. Halliwell is ambitious, arrogant, and single-minded. He has forgone all friendships and leisure pursuits and now spends most of his time in his lab. He sometimes visits his mansion in Highgate City, where he lives alone, but even there his thoughts are consumed by work.
Halliwell is not a social person and shuns interactions where possible. Although keenly intelligent, he is out of touch with social norms and most would consider his demeanour cold and distant. With his focus on research, Halliwell places very little value in people, and views the citizens of The Strata as nothing more than tools to be manipulated in the pursuit of his own goals. Although not inherently malicious, his indifference to the welfare of others borders on heartlessness. If required, Halliwell would gladly sacrifice human lives to save his research. He is also condescending toward people who cannot grasp the importance of his work.
Halliwell is generally calm and reasonable. However, when challenged about his research or motives, he can become vehement and outspoken.
(Enthusiastically explaining the details about technology he has developed) ““Microscopic machines. Millions of them - deployed in each host, each with their own specific task. I’ve developed and perfected them in my own laboratory. During the process, the implant is responsible for regulation and coordination of the nanites - the central processing unit, I suppose you could say.”
(Indignant when challenged about the ethics and legality of his technology) “I’m on the verge of the greatest medical achievement in history. Questions of legality are insignificant in the big scheme of things.”
(Vehement, indignant as he defends the actions he’s taken in order to carry out his research) “The human race is fighting a war here. Do you understand that? And we’ve been losing it since the very start of our existence. Ever since the first single-cell organism came into being, it was intrinsically bound to its own demise. Inescapably spiralling toward its own destruction. And now here we are, countless generations later, still subject to the same fate. Yet I’ve created a way to fight back - a weapon that can finally end this war, and you want to sit there and lament some minor casualties we’ve suffered along the way? Well, I’m sorry, but... I consider it a sacrifice worth making. And I’m willing to lead this fight, even if you’re all too blind to follow!”
Major Kaddick is a high-ranking soldier in the group known as Miliconn - a branch of armed forces that is called upon in times of unrest in The Strata. He is disciplined, uncompromising, dutiful, and does not tolerate insubordination. Having been deployed in many skirmishes both off-world and in The Strata, Kaddick is battle hardened. There is very little he hasn’t seen over his decades of service, and his record is impeccable despite the many hardships he has encountered. With such a high degree of loyalty, Kaddick has been known to place more importance on the name and reputation of Miliconn than in civilian lives, and will sacrifice the innocent to uphold his duty if necessary. Kaddick expects the same attitude from those who serve beneath him and will quickly weed out weak-minded soldiers from his ranks. His delivery is somewhat gruff and hard-edged.
(Impatient, barking at a subordinate) “What’s going on here, soldier? Get this idiot out of my checkpoint.”
(Fondly recalling an old memory from a retirement party many years ago) “The boys wanted to give him a bottle of Moon Tears as a going away gift, but there were none available at short notice. The owner put in a phone call, and not long after you walked in with a bottle under your arm and handed it to old man Kurtz yourself - to a standing ovation, I might add.”
(Calmly confronting several witnesses after a major incident has taken place) “Listen, I’ll need the two of you to stay here. You’ll be taken for a full debrief. I’d like to hear about what happened from the perspective of someone who was on the inside. But for now, I have to keep moving. Stay safe, won’t you?”
Roberts is a dedicated cop who works in the slum area of Dockerton. She is tough, but also personable and friendly and tries her best to make the most of a difficult job. She enjoys engaging in banter with other cops at the stationhouse. Having grown up in Dockerton, she has formed an emotional attachment to the area and while most cops have given up on trying to make a difference, Roberts still believes she has the power to bring about change. She is sensible, pragmatic, and a proven survivor. Although she never backs away from a fight, she also understands that a tactical retreat is sometimes the only option.
(Ironic. Responding to a fellow cop who offers to buy her a drink at a bar called ‘The Pumphouse’) “See, that offer would hold a lot more weight if you actually showed up at The Pumphouse now and again.”
(Emotional, overwrought after a near death experience with an unruly mob) “I managed to lock myself into one of the holding cells. The insurgents, they... they only had clubs and steel pipes, they couldn’t reach me. I... I had to shoot some of them. I didn’t have a choice...”
(Breathless as she relays information about a deadly situation unfolding on the streets involving an out of control mob) “This may be just the tip of the iceberg. There are even more reports coming in. They’re turning on the rest of the population now, too. Indiscriminate attacks in the street, civilians getting hurt.”
Jaxon is a low-level enforcer in the powerful Fortunato crew. He is not especially smart and prefers to let violence do the talking. He is loyal to the Fortunatos and somewhat fearful of the lieutenants who give him orders. When confronted he can revert to a cowardly disposition and tends to fold quickly in the face of aggression.
(Breathless, desperately bargaining for his life) “Just let me go and I’ll make it worth your while, all right?”
(Defending his actions after it comes to light that he was responsible for killing a man) “I was following orders. All part of the operation that was going on in the Underground. A couple of Overseers needed to be wiped out, and my number got called. I had no choice.”
(Offering privileged information during an interrogation. Pronunciation of Skerridge - scare-ridge) “It was a double-cross. A bunch of Skerridge loyalists inside Blackhall thought they were getting a ticket out through the Underground, but my brothers were waiting instead.”
Blackburn runs a small distribution centre in Midtown where he buys and sells various mechanical tools and gadgets, often on the black market. Most of his clientele are poor and his margins are very tight, so Blackburn has to run his business accordingly. He is a hustler who is always looking for a deal and doesn't mind tricking or lying to his suppliers if it will help him to get parts more cheaply. His voice is gruff and he has a prickly demeanour most of the time. He is also somewhat sexist and objectifies women, often making inappropriate comments and proposals. However, being cowardly in nature, he will often back down when confronted.
(Making a suggestive comment about a female customer) “How about you? You haven’t changed a bit. I mean... that booty is still rockin’.”
(Confronted by an intimidating thug. Trying to be brave, but with an undercurrent of cowardice) “I said I want you and your silver-eyed freaks out of my place. Right now!”
(Looking up inventory; suspicious when he discovers there is a high demand for a specific item. Pronunciation of holo-chips - HOL-oh-chips) “Okay, let’s take a look... oh, these things? Not you, too. I’ve already had two other calls about these today. These specific holo-chips. What do you know that I don’t?”
The Soldier is a low-ranking member of the group known as Miliconn - a branch of armed forces that is called upon in times of unrest in The Strata. They are disciplined and dutiful and follow orders to the letter.
(Voice raised as a civilian approaches a checkpoint) “Get back in your vehicle, sir.” (More insistent) "Get back in your vehicle!"
(Apologetic response to a query from a commanding officer. Pronunciation of Kaddick - CAD-ick) “Sorry, Major Kaddick. He won’t listen.”
(Voice raised, alarmed, as an emergency unfolds) “Get back! All of you!”
The Insurgent is a mindless zombie whose only thought is to inflict violence and mayhem. Having been brainwashed, the Insurgent is no longer in control of their actions. Their speech contains little humanity - instead, there is only hatred and a perverse kind of hunger. Hunting in packs with other Insurgents, they have the ability to terrorise the citizens of The Strata as they swarm through the streets.
(Mindlessly repeating instructions as they go on a homicidal rampage - in a whisper) “Kill! Destroy! Leave none alive!”
(Mindlessly repeating instructions as they go on a homicidal rampage - in a normal tone) “Kill! Destroy! Leave none alive!”
(Mindlessly repeating instructions as they go on a homicidal rampage - shouting) “Kill! Destroy! Leave none alive!”
The Attendant works at a morgue in Dockerton and is tasked with handling bodies of the recently deceased. They are calm and polite and try to do the best job they possibly can. However, things are busy in the morgue and this can result in errors now and again. The Attendant tries to maintain a professional demeanour even when the job gets tough.
(Politely enquiring when some newcomers try to access an area that’s off-limits) “Excuse me, can I help you?”
(Perplexed when something strange is said) “Uh…”
(Grunts as they are struck forcefully on the head)
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