Development
Cossacks
Created by: Peter Sawka & Anastasia Baczynskyj
Genre: Historical Drama (TV Series)
Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, the downtrodden people of occupied Ukraine had fled the oppression of their overlords and sought better fortune in a land known as Zaporizhzhia. This region was the frontier of civilization: free from authority, rich with resources; but isolated, vulnerable, and extremely inhospitable. Tatar slave raids and punitive military campaigns by vindictive masters were commonplace. This sustained violent pressure forced these people to develop into a unique, militaristic society, bound together by the Orthodox faith, the love of freedom, and the willingness to die to preserve a democratic way of life. Because of their exceptional martial skills they negotiated true power, and earned a reputation as a notoriously fierce and utterly fearless fighting force. These outlaws became known throughout Europe by the name the Turks called them - Cossacks.
By 1646, Eastern Europe was dominated by three powerful states: The Tsardom of Muscovy, The Ottoman Empire, and The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The territory of Ukraine was ruled by the Commonwealth, which gained its affluence on the backs of its serfs. Beleaguered by un-repayable debt, increased demand for output, and hostile religious intolerance towards their Orthodox faith, conditions for the workers had never been more severe. While some managed to escape to Zaporizhzhia, most simply could not break free from their chains. The circumstances were dire and unsustainable. The people grew frustrated, desperate, and angry. All that was needed was a spark to ignite an explosive situation…
Written by: Peter Sawka & Andrew Morrow
Genre: Action Horror
Farrah, Roxy, Lian, and Debra are old friends who have reunited to rekindle a camping tradition. It has been four long years since their last adventure. This time around, however, things are simply not the same.
The women drive north, deep into the wilderness of Northern Ontario, to a hidden valley where they embark on their trip. They love the isolation, willing to go where the wind takes them.
At first the joy of being together outdoors again triggers some laughs and fond memories, but as the days elapse, unresolved issues from the past begin to create tension. Things get really nasty when they encounter a pack of hungry wolves. What was a feel-good trip down memory lane suddenly becomes a struggle for survival. These women must find a way to not only endure The Valley, but each other.
The Valley
Sariel Falls is not your typical city. Colourful criminals control the streets. Those who defy the system typically meet their demise in some unsavoury way.
When the city's most powerful crime lord, Lei Shan, abruptly loses her daughter to what at first seems like a random murder, a sequence of events begin to unfold that will challenge the current order. Lei Shan initiates a plot of vengeance against her greatest competition, Hugo Cooper, believing that he and his organization are behind her daughter's death. But are they?
Rumours swirl while chaos foments. As the body count mounts, little does anyone know that something is lurking in the shadows. Something righteous. Something that will change the fate of Sariel Falls forever.
For This We Die
Written by: Peter Sawka
Genre: Gangster Action
Paradigm
Story by: Peter Sawka
Genre: Drama
Carson, Jaden, and Murphy are troubled men in their mid-twenties who feel lost amongst a generation that has no profound purpose or identity. Individual creativity is dying while voices are fading and drowned before they’re even discovered in an increasingly corporate world. They are angry at the way society has left them with mere options of conformity and are seeking a way to rebel.
The fire and intensity that burns inside these young men is eventually unleashed. For a while it seems like they’re on a turbulent collision course with their self-destruction. People around them become deeply affected by their actions. Yet, through family, friends, and lovers, each one of them experiences profound epiphanies that ultimately steer their paths and teach them not only about the purer and simpler meaning of life, but their own individual selves.
oPEN WIDE
Written and Created by: Nicholas Haraszty & Josephine Crawford
Genre: Comedy (TV Series)
Open Wide is a half hour comedy series that celebrates the stressful and zany world of dentistry. At the top of each episode we encounter a dentist being briefly interviewed about both his/her professional and personal lives. Certain anecdotal musings deriving from their accounts will then be utilized in an episode of Open Wide and portrayed by its diversified cast of characters. The main character of Open Wide is Floyd, an early forties man, (think Charlie Day) who is a dentist with a successful practice and who managed to hustle his way through dentistry college by being a pool shark.
We meet Floyd as he’s divorcing his Cruella Deville-ish wife Jessica, who plans to financially ruin Floyd through the divorce. Meanwhile, Floyd and Jessica’s precocious and entitled son Spencer is in the process of abandoning his father, preferring to spend time with his mother’s latest beau, Blair. Emotionally bereft and panicked Floyd decides to pursue a new passion that can revitalize his spirit and his bank account, acting. He has convinced his dearest and oldest friend Cynthia, a fellow colleague of joining forces with him to develop a comedic television show about dentists. Cynthia in turn seeks funding for the television venture from Richard, who is a former dentist and her former lover. Richard, (think Bill Burr) is a Howard Hughes-ish gentleman, who also happens to be Floyd’s nemesis due to Floyd’s uncontrollable jealousy over Richard’s fortune and larger than life posturing towards everything. Floyd is incensed over the fact that Richard just casually jamming with a friend managed to become a one-hit wonder by accidentally creating the most listened to reggae song in music history.
Floyd also enlists the help of other dental affiliates in developing the television show. He idolizes Cynthia’s dental assistant Marlin, who happens to be excellent at his job, represents the epitome of diplomacy and all things interesting. Not only is Marlin revered by Richard, he excels in the practice of voodoo, but more importantly he is allowed into Girls Nite, one of the most coveted clubs across the Nation, unbeknownst to Floyd. Girls Nite is a sub-plot on Open Wide. Girls Nite was started by Floyd’s and Cynthia’s dental practice managers, Nancy and Marta. Throughout the show, while Floyd and Cynthia are trying to get their television series off the ground, Girls Nite will eventually have 5 million members with Nancy and Marta becoming millionaires due to their clothing, skincare and vodka product lines.
UNTIL IT ISN'T
Written and Created by: Josephine Crawford
Genre: Paranormal (Mini Series)
Until It Isn’t is a television mini-series comprised of eight episodes about paranormal activity as seen from the perspective of those that actually cause the paranormal activity. The pilot episode is fundamentally about a shift that is occurring both on earth and beyond. It shows how entities belonging to the spiritual realm are going to embrace this shift. In the first episode we are confronted by a death that has gone wrong for the spirit world. This is the thread that will manifest itself throughout the other seven episodes.
The other episodes will be magnifying various issues that both the spirit world and humanity have to contend with, however, once again it will be shown through the perspectives of those that cause the paranormal activity. The issues are as follows; how tragedies are set up, the reason why we dream, reincarnation, how angels and ghosts are misconstrued, fate versus free will, the necessity of humans heeding their intuition, and finally a new order is established in the spirit world.
Cupid is a dark romantic comedic feature film about an incredibly disenchanted and embittered gentleman Shep (think Bill Murray), who has occupied the position of Cupid for nearly five hundred years. Set in modern day, the immortal Shep has forty years left remaining on his tour of being in charge of romantic love. When we meet him his behaviour is that of a rogue and vigilante Cupid, who is both misusing and abusing his powers due to the loss he feels over losing the love of his life, Tilly, (think Susan Sarandon) a former Cupid that mentored and trained him. A stuttering and anxiety ridden Shep no longer spends time at The Hearth (Love Headquarters) or in The Rush (All Moments of Love that Exist). Instead he is a raging alcoholic that spends his time spying on people, ax throwing, watching Kardashian reruns, killing himself every night and drunkenly attending the odd yoga class.
Aris, a former Cupid (think Neil Patrick Harris) comes to rescue Shep from himself and to get him back on track. Aris tells Shep that if he can manage to pull himself together and resume his position in an authentic and dignified manner that he will be briefly reunited with Tilly. Shep readily agrees and Aris ensures Shep’s rehabilitation by having Danny, the young woman who lives next door babysit him. This proves to be a mutually beneficial dynamic because as much as Shep needs a babysitter and to be humanized again, Danny is a widow whose heart needs to be healed so that she can love again.
CUPID
Written by: Josephine Crawford
Genre: Dark Comedy
ETHEL'S LOUNGE
Written and Created by: Josephine Crawford
Genre: Drama (TV Series)
Ethel’s Lounge is an hour-long television drama. This relatively small and quaint 1930’s style hotel is the setting for the divining and unfolding of various love stories, (whether it be romantic, platonic, familial, or involve a deep passion) that span various eras. Set in modern day New York, Ethel’s Lounge is a veritable haven for people who are struggling with the potential fate of their choices in regards to what and whom they love. To assist them with their dilemmas we have two gentlemen and a love spell. Mayer (the co-owner) and Roamy, (the immortal head bartender) oversee the hotel and are keepers of the spell. The spell was created by Mayer’s absent wife of many years, Ethel, whose history is revealed throughout the episodes in small steady doses.
The true nature of the spell is revealed throughout the episodes, namely that it has existed since time immemorial and is manifested throughout different eras through different people. In this era, its’ vehicle is Ethel and Mayer’s love story. The spell works differently for each individual and their circumstances. The moment you walk into Ethel’s Lounge you are asked to confront who you really are, what you really want and what you are willing to do to get it. All of this must first be settled because once you agree to the spell there is no turning back.
