Project Overview:
"Uncontacted" is a screenplay, written by myself, that is being adapted for the audio medium. It will include narration, unique voices for characters, sound effects, and music. Will be published on YouTube and Spotify.
Logline:
After an island mysteriously appears in the South Pacific, a scatterbrained anthropologist must uncover its origins and investigate its inhabitants, who appear to be living in the wrong century.
Synopsis:
Seventy-two hours ago, NASA scientists detected the sudden appearance of an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There's been no evidence of volcanic activity or earthquakes in the region. Whatever this is, it isn't natural. But that’s not it. People live on this island, but they appear to be living in the wrong century.
On a mission to investigate, the military recruits leading anthropologist, and our protagonist, Dr. Avery Walker, who specializes in the study of uncontacted peoples. But there’s something Avery hasn’t told them – he’s been having hallucinatory visions of this very island since his childhood. Now that it’s appeared in real life, Avery must finally confront his visions and how they’ve warped his identity.
Avery reunites with his lost love, another leading anthropologist named Dr. Amanda Palmer. The two have clashing anthropological philosophies, debating the best way to advocate for uncontacted persons, if they even need our help at all.
Avery, Amanda, and the military travel to the island only to find that the indigenous society is a conglomerate of geographically disparate peoples with an array of unique ethnic and cultural origins. Despite their differences, everyone on the island lives in peace. A far cry from the rest of our world.
Everything changes when a sacrificial ceremony reveals that a god-like entity controls the island and has been using telepathic visions to summon people to this hidden place for hundreds of years. After accidentally poising a sick child with modern medicine, Avery is captured and forced to confront the true nature of the island and his relationship to its inhabitants. Avery is then faced with a choice: leave the island as he found it or change its fate forever.
This epic adventure explores the themes of modernity vs traditional living, control vs trust, and confronting your world view. It deconstructs the white savior trope and shows that the best way to help uncontacted persons is to leave them alone.
Additional Casting:
Many minor roles not listed on this page need casting. Reach out if interested. Roles are unpaid: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hf4XJUSKMlF3DFNmB8drCbHxADLjFLfe_yQHR7Y56CY/edit?usp=sharing
Project Discord:
Avery is a scatterbrained professor of anthropology. He spends more time reading books than he does in the field. He's scared, repressed, and arrogant. He always thinks he's right and has facts and theories to back up his claims.
[This is Avery describing his visions to his psychiatrist. He's worn out, at the end of his rope]
"It's... well, it's... quite pleasant, actually. I'm in the most beautiful tropical landscapes, rich with fruit trees and little creeks. It looks like the Garden of Eden, if you believe in that sort of thing. I feel completely at peace. It's the only time I ever feel at peace... but then I wake up and it's chaos."
[Avery is a professor. This is an excerpt of him lecturing in class.]
"Take the Kawahiva tribe, for example. In 1982, the Brazilian government reported their numbers to be 350 strong. But when a nearby mining operation encroached on their territory, a deadly a virus infected the tribe. The Kawahiva called it "lotakalu," or, "Death Incarnate." We may know it as the flu."
[This is Avery pleading to not go on the mission to the island. He's desperate.]
"I came here, against my will, gave you my expertise, and now you're all set to go to the island. I now ask that you let me leave. Just take me home.
Please."
Amanda, like her counterpart Avery, is a long-time professor of anthropology. However, while Avery spends his time reading books, Amanda goes out into the field, studying uncontacted peoples and advocating for them. She’s fierce, adventurous, and confident.
[Here, Amanda makes her voice heard by standing up to the military]
"Excuse me, but why is this a military operation and not a humanitarian one? We are dealing with a potentially uncontacted and vulnerable population and you want to show up with a strike force? Do you want to learn about these people or dominate them?"
[This is a cutting remark Amanda spits at Avery in an argument.]
"Did it ever occur to you that maybe there isn't an answer to what's wrong with you? That maybe you're just crazy?"
[This takes place at the end of an argument between Amanda and Avery. They are about to have a falling out. She's desperate, wants him to stay. She loves him.]
"I won't abandon these people. They don't know what's coming. Stay with me. I don't care that this island isn't what you thought it was. I don't care that you killed an alien. Just stay with me. Stay with them. If you really want to help, that's all you need to do."
The narrator will narrate the scene directions of the production. They will not voice characters. They should be able to speak clearly and confidently and set the tone of a scene.
[An intense action scene]
Random villagers, twenty in total, begin spasming, their faces blank. Despite their seizures, the convulsing villagers push their way through the crowd, one forcefully shoving Avery out of the way.
Avery looks at Amanda, both of them terrified. That is, until an invisible force consumes Avery and his body becomes uncontrolled and zombie-like.
[This is the low point for our protagonist. The tone is somber.]
On one boat is Avery, who looks like his dog just died. Rodriguez sits across from him and gives him a confused look, obviously wondering where Amanda is, but Avery just turns away. He instead looks behind them where the storm visibly ravishes the island, mighty lightning striking repeatedly.
[A standard set of general scene direction.]
The thick metal door to the closet-sized quarters swings open. Avery, still soaked from his dip, steps in and is immediately greeted by Kaya, who rubs against his leg. The three food bowls are completely empty.
Admiral Baldry is a no-nonsense career military officer. He’s here to do the mission and advocate for his country’s best interests, even if it means hurting people along the way.
[This is when Baldry recruits our protagonist for the mission]
"I'm leading an operation to investigate the people and location seen in these photographs. We believe they are uncontacted, which means we need good, informed people on the team. People like you."
[Baldry explains the mission]
"72 hours ago, NASA scientists detected the sudden appearance of an island the size of O'ahu four hundred miles northeast of New Zealand. There's been no evidence of volcanic activity or earthquakes in the region, so whatever this is, it isn't natural."
[Baldry giving orders]
"Finally, I'm ordering all our forces off the island for the next eight hours. Neither this island nor the village has the infrastructure we need to safely remain here for the duration of the storm. We'll return in the morning once the inclement weather has passed."
Val, 24, is fresh from the naval academy and green with inexperience, but eager to impress. Role requires someone of Hispanic or Latino origin.
[After a moment of great defeat, Val doubts herself.]
The commander's final order was to get you two back to the Farragut. There's an entire village back there that wants our throats. We're not equipped to go after him. I'm not equipped.
[Growing frustrated with herself and the person she's arguing with.]
You want to go back for him? Be my guest. But I'm clearly not qualified to help you. This was my first real assignment. And I failed it spectacularly.
[Reassuring the protagonist that everything will be okay]
I suggest you avoid looking out the window. Focus on a specific point in the cabin. Control your breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth. We should be there soon.
Commander Dunn is an intense military squad leader. His mind is filled with plans and strategies. He despises having to babysit the two anthropologists who accompany the mission.
[Standing up to a hostile foe]
My name is Commander Dunn of the United States Marine Corps. State your identity.
[Asserting his command]
That is not within mission parameters. Our orders were to observe and observe only.
[Giving orders]
Hold this zone and report in every fifteen minutes. I want to know everything that happens. If you step on a sand crab, I want to know hear about it. Is our peace offering secure?
An inhabitant of the island who is a fierce protector of his family. This role must be filled by someone of Middle Eastern or Eurasian descent and speak with an accent related to those regions. The character, as he stands now, hails from India, but this could be subject to change based on the actor who fills the role.
I saw you rise... but it is not possible. Your pilgrimage was not announced. Your people bring violence to our land. You could not be Chosen.
It is a haven for those who worship him. We understand each other because of him. He makes our land fertile. He protects us from harm.
It is a great honor. She is one of few Chosen to ascend. But is one thing to see it happen to someone else, another to see it happen to one of your own. My Joanna's heart could not bear it. I thought I could bring her back in exchange for you.
The voice of a creature not of this world. Ethereal and childlike. Voice will be further be altered by sound effects and post-processing.
I am the sentient that inhabits the vessel. I chose a form from your subconscious with high emotional significance.
A final act of selflessness. The cloak was disabled so I could be found. So I would not be alone.
Preparing surface cloak. Once engaged, this island habitat will be hidden until its power cells deplete in 1,436 years. Shall I proceed?
Need an artist to create a cover image for this production. Almost like an album cover.
Say something you think would fit
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