How This Came to Be

Over At the Bar, Ankh posted a writing challenge titled "Midnight to 4 a.m."  We have to use the following actresses:  Bianca Lawson, Sujata Day, Michelle Krusiec & Jana Mashonee.  I added another actress to round out the cast: Chrystee Pharris.  We must churn out a possible TV screenplay using the following construct:

1) What are their names?
2) What are their individual backstories?
3) How did they meet?
4) Why are they friends?
5) Do they live together or apart?  Why?
6) Where is their story set?
7) What's their genre?
8) What would be the plot of the very first ep?
9) What would be the theme of the first season?
10.) How did each lady end up living in the apartment house?

Here is my submission.

____________________________

Show Title: Nightingales.  It's on HBO; in the Sunday 8:00 p.m. slot. Takes place in Atlantic Station, a popular and fairly posh Atlanta suburb.  It's contemporary, with a dash of horror and a heavy dose of supernatural.  Bianca Lawson is Jo, Jana Mashonee is Neveyah, Michelle Krusiec is Cressida, Sujata Day is Lee-Lee, and Chrystee Pharris is Monica.  Their bios are located just below the blog title.

These women met because they live on the same floor in the 17th Street Lofts in Atlantic Station. Jo and Neveyah are best friends and roommates. Lee-Lee and Monica are roommates. Cressida is a neighbor.  Due to the issues happening on their floor, they form an alliance in order to find out what’s going on.

What would be the plot of the very first ep?

A crash introduction into their lives; when Cressida noisily moves into an apartment and the noise disturbs the other ladies.

What would be the theme of the first season?

Getting to know each lady and figuring out what's going on in Cressida’s apartment; it’s haunted.  

How did each lady end up living in the apartment house? 

Jo & Neveyah moved in together after Neveyah got jilted. Monica let Lee-Lee move in with her to save money on rent and utilities. Cressida likes the apartment building and surrounding community .

Ankh suggested I turn Nightingales into a book.  As the idea had already taken root, I agreed and decided to structure it like a TV show and make it a series of books.  Each book is to be an hour-long episode (meaning no more than 60 pages).   It's ambitious by my standards, as I have a hard time writing anything less than 50 pages, but I accept the challenge.  As of right now, I have enough content for the pilot and two episodes.  Information about each episode is located under the "Series" tab.

So that's why we're here.  Let's see what happens.