The Hound - ORIGINAL SCI-FI AUDIO DRAMA
Project Overview
"In a future Britain, a company-contracted investigator searches for a defector who is building a new kind of weapon. "
The Hound is a 30-minute, immersive, POV, sci-fi audio drama set in a near-future, cyberpunk-esque dystopian Britian. It follows Auditor Cassius Abrams, a corporate bounty hunter/investigator working for the shady Anima Technologies, in his hunt for Defector Cain, a criminal he helped create. His search will take him all across the Downland, an ultra-urban sprawl that engulfs the south coast of England.
This project contains: flying cars, robotic limbs, combat exoskeletons, AIs (the fun ones, not the ones that people use to cheat on their assignments) giant frenzied mechs, and an array of faithfully recreated real-life environments.
DISCLAIMER. This project also contains: mild swearing, themes of grief, injury (not excessive), violence, threat, and characters that are figuratively and literally dehumanised by a company/government that doesn't care for them.
This project is based on a short story of mine, and is also my Graduation Project for university, where I have specialised into Sound Engineering. This means it will be produced to a very high standard, with multiple rounds of feedback, as well as the use of professional software and high-quality equipment. I understand that there is a lot of work involved contributing to a thirty-minute piece, especially in major roles like the top three, but what I can promise is a high-quality audio piece with full binaural surround sound (if you're interested, look at DearVR Pro 2) that places the audience directly into the action, and directly into the perspective of our protagonist. The fun thing about binaural audio is that unlike regular headphone audio, you hear it outside of your head, so it's like you're really there.
I'm excited to showcase a more British, authoritarian spin on the cyberpunk genre, a genre usually deeply rooted in American culture.
Recording will start early-mid February, and the piece will be finished mid May. Please be open to retakes if necessary.
To hear my previous project, a fan-made radio adaptation of Chapter 8 of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, please follow the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yMRm1orBD-6lS5RZ7UZ1P7xZBsDFl3t2/view?usp=sharing
Cover photo by Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash. Used with accreditation under the Unsplash License.
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Major role, with narration. I am open to payment for this role due to the large scope of it. Please message me if this is something you would like to discuss, but please bear in mind that I am working with a very limited budget for this project, and most of it is out of my own pocket.
Our protagonist, Cassius has been tasked with hunting down Defector Cain. He's loyal to the company, and his work is all he knows- whether he can break though his conditioning and take responsibility for the creation of Defector Cain is yet to be seen.
NOTE: As the protagonist and POV character, Cassius also has a number of narration-style lines. Try and match the energy of what's being said while staying in character.
Voice profile - Late 20s to early/mid 30s, Male, London/Southern British accent, deep voice, detached tone. Don't try and play it cool, play it realistic. This man is the tool of a megacorporation but he doesn't see himself that way, to him, following orders is second nature. He follows the path of least resistance, and he hates wasting time. The age range is broad because it's more about the feel than a specific age, but the audience needs to get the impression he's been around the block a few times.
- english
- british (london)
- male adult
(Narration) He slipped in through an air vent, took out a room of four Anima database engineers in as many seconds, fished one drive out of a storage unit the size of a fridge, punched out the front door, and blended in with the usual bustle of Downland riff-raff. Thirty-six seconds was all it took from when he first entered the vent, at least according to the silent alarm. Our target response time is two minutes, we made it in one and a half. Not nearly fast enough.
(To Defector Cain, interrogative) Your "friends" said they hadn't seen you in months, so who the hell have you been stealing tech for?
(Asked if he was wondering where to find Defector Cain) Among other things. Hundreds of unlabeled drives and the git picks out the ones he wants in seconds. Something stinks.
Major role.
Our antagonist and the subject of great speculation, Caleb Cain is a confused and scared young man who spent his formative years as the violent arm of Anima after being forcefully adopted by the company. After the death of his partner and subsequent abandonment by his mentor Cassius, he disappeared from the company and dropped off the face of the earth. Now that he's finally back, he's hell bent on getting revenge, and sometimes he can even convince himself he actually wants it.
Vocal properties: Early-mid 20s, Male, British, forced gruff voice. Teeters between stoic mockery and complete breakdown, always in motion, feels like a ticking time bomb.
Cain is very much playing a character. He tries to fit this stoic, self-assured role, complete with a put-on gruff quality to his voice- almost like a cowboy from an old film- but his precarious mood often threatens this. At times of great stress, the character drops, and he oscillates between listless, tearful, and manic. This isn't to say he isn't a threat, the man was raised as an enforcer, and he's got no reason to start holding back now.
- english
- british
- male adult
- male young adult
(To Cassius, in control, poised to trigger an explosion if threatened) Was hopin’ you’d came to visit me as a friend. Never was good at readin’ people I s’pose, didn’t need to be... I'd suggest you stop walking now.
(To Cassius, bitter) Wouldn’t expect you to get it. Ain’t the same for you salary boys, us adoptees get given a bowl of shit an’ told to eat.
(To Cassius, furious to despair, spluttering, losing it) I’m saying, I’m telling you it is! You come back for me now. Now! Any point in the past three years- you left me on my own- any time you could’ve come to find me- on my own- I’d always looked up to you- I haven’t seen you since before she- you left me on my…
Major role.
Cassius's partner in this investigation, Tomasz takes things a little bit easier. He's perceptive, quick, and has a way of saying innocuous things in a way that gets people thinking. He measures his words, but speaks quickly and directly when he needs to.
Vocal properties: Mid 20s to early 30s, Male, Polish/Central European accent, relatively upbeat tone.
Something of a foil to Cassius, Tomasz is willing to bend rules that he doesn't agree with. He tries to find enjoyment in things outside of his job, something Cassius could never understand. Sometimes they clash because of these things, but most of the time they get along just fine.
- english
- male adult
- polish
(To Cassius, joking, almost longing sounding) Morphine mix... Don't suppose you can get me some of that, can you friend?
(To a corrupt foreman caught smuggling, slow, hint of threat) Shipping manifests... Some extra goodies too by the look of it. My, Foreman, it's your lucky day. Why? We aren't Revenue & Customs.
(To Cassius, upbeat) Do you want to make a bet with me? Five pounds says we find three or more counterfeit stores in this market before we even make it to the middle.
Major role.
A powerful information broker, Metis is willing to share her knowledge with anybody, for the right price. She knows more than she lets on, but that's a given.
Vocal properties: Late 30s, 40s, or 50s, Female, any accent. Condescending tone, thinly veiled distaste for Cassius and his organisation. Talks slowly, has all the power – why rush?
- english
- female adult
- female senior
(To Cassius, expositing) I hear Anima has a pest problem. In the past month, Caleb Cain, your little defector, has targeted your storage houses and your server farms. He knows what he wants, and he never visits the same place twice. What I suspect you'd like to know, is where he'll be next.
(To Cassius, impatient, condescending) You can burn that bridge when you get to it, Auditor. Please pay attention.
(To Cassius, in farewell) On Anima cash and favours, any time. Tell Adam Marshall not to make us wait on our payment, or a few of his closely guarded secrets will make it onto this evening's newscast.
Major role.
A deceased enforcer for Anima, and Cain's former partner. Stripped of her agency in life, and puppeted as an AI created to destroy the Downland in death, will she finally break free from what others have imposed upon her?
Vocal properties: Early 20s, Female, Southern British accent. An AI for most of the piece, seems detached at first but clearly feels greatly, almost more human and emotive than Cassius at times. Err on the side of "posh" in her accent, but don't make it stilted. It's not that she is posh, it's more like an ordinary person who learned English by watching Saoirse Ronan in Atonement. In her one appearance as her human self, she is drunk and furious. Unfortunately, this worst moment is the one Defector Cain chooses to immortalise.
- english
- female young adult
- british (posh)
(Human, drunk, giggling, as if shouting to someone next door) Yeah, fuck off, narc!
(Human, slow, spiteful) You're all complicit. If it were up to me, I'd drop a bomb on Central District.
(AI, slightly inhuman, becomes more hesitant and human toward the end) People keep calling me that name. I can't speak for what she wanted, but I don't want to hurt anyone.
Medium role - Limited "screen" time.
The leader of Anima Technologies, Adam Marshall is pragmatic, confident, and ruthless. Having pioneered biotech, his designs earned the company many lucrative deals with the military and the government, which afford him and his subordinates a number of privilages. He protects his image tirelessly, although it likely wouldn't bother him to be reviled so long as he could continue his work. Will take any opportunity to get his hands dirty on the operating table – has a troubling habit of cybernetically augmenting adoptees past the point of necessity.
Vocal properties: 30s, 40s, 50s, Male, British accent, a voice that "flows like molasses". Never blinks.
- english
- male adult
(To Cassius) Find him *before* he can finish whatever it is he's been stealing our parts and data for. We have some visitors from the European Defense Commission arriving. I trust I don't have to impress upon you how embarrassing it would be to have to admit we have some crafty maniac prowling about with our tech.
(To Cassius) Oh, and if Cain is still at large by midnight, I'm sending EDC soldiers after him. This goes without saying, but the technology at their disposal makes your exoskeleton look like a toy. They won't take him alive. Happy hunting.
(More of a statement than an offer) Anima could use someone of your talents.
Minor role.
Kazan is the ringleader of an anti-government, anti-Anima cell but he's a good man at heart, he just can't bear to see how cheap human life is considered in the Downland. He also knows where Defector Cain is holed up.
Vocal properties: Adult, Male, Eastern European accent, tired tone.
- english
- male adult
(Pleading, resigned) My daughter… Let me say goodbye. Please.
(Eager to be useful to the people threatening him) Young man, thin, big scar on mouth corner, talk like American cowboy, yes?
Minor roles with only a couple lines and few specific requirements. Feel free to apply to one or all. The roles are as follows:
Dockyard foreman: adult, fearful tone.
Bartender: young adult or adult, wary tone. (A couple more lines than the other two)
Soldiers (multiple needed): Adult, variable tone.
- english
(Foreman) They'll kill me for this.
(Barman, discussing entering virtual reality) Everything's gonna be a touch fuzzy when you get in there, mate, and... Well, you'll see.
(Soldier, upon seeing rampaging mech) What the hell is that thing? Open fire!
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