Pre-Production Unit - Synopsis - Final Draft

Pilot Synopsis

“Four bodies, one suspect. No trace. Dead Simple”

In this gripping first series Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is in charge of Operation: Salsa. A stag night prank, gone wrong. He and his team are working against the clock to find missing groom Michael Harrison.

When his four best friends are killed in a car accident moments after burying Michael in a coffin in the middle of Ashdown Forest, leaving him nothing but a bottle of whiskey and a walkie talkie, it seems there is no hope for the soon to be husband.

Roy Grace himself is only too familiar with missing person cases, eight years after the disappearance of wife Sandy, Roy is still searching for answers.

With his photographic memory and interest in the paranormal, Roy’s controversial investigative techniques are often ridiculed but never proven wrong.

He has a stubbornness and determination inside him that has driven him relentlessly throughout his life to pursue facts, and the truth, which probably led to his early promotion of Detective Superintendent. Roy is human, he can make mistakes, often getting into trouble with boss Alison Vosper and the media through his unorthodox approach and his judgment can also sometimes be clouded by his never-ending search for his missing wife.

Roy and his colleague and best friend, the ever more hip and younger version of Roy, Glenn Branson, are the lead investigators on Operation: Salsa. When they set about solving the mystery of Harrison’s disappearance; they soon discover that what at first appears to be a simple accident and missing person’s case has in fact far darker and sinister undertones.

This original and gritty new detective series takes crime drama into the underbelly of contemporary Brighton and shows a realistic approach to the life of a detective. Roy Grace is played by BAFTA nominated David Morrissey  who works alongside a cast of British talent including Ashley Walters (Top Boy) and Felicity Jones (Cape Wrath).

With a dark and gritty tone, Dead Simple brings a captivating new detective to Channel 4.       

Pre-Production Unit - Synopsis Draft 3

Pilot Synopsis

“Four bodies, one suspect. No trace. Dead Simple”

In this gripping first series Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is in charge of Operation: Salsa. A stag night prank, gone wrong. He and his team and working against the clock to find missing groom Michael Harrison.

When his four best friends are killed in a car accident moments after burying Michael in a coffin in the middle of Ashdown Forest, leaving him nothing but a bottle of whiskey and a walkie talkie it seems there is no hope for the soon to be husband.

Roy himself is only too familiar with missing person’s cases, eight years after the disappearance of wife Sandy, Roy is still searching for answers.

With his photographic memory and interest in the paranormal, Roy’s controversial investigative techniques are often ridiculed but never proven wrong.

He has a stubbornness and determination inside him that has driven him relentlessly throughout his life to pursue facts, to pursue the truth, which probably led to his early promotion to Detective Superintendent. Roy is human, he can make mistakes, often getting into trouble with boss Alison Vosper and the media through his unorthodox approach and his judgment can also sometimes be clouded by his never-ending search for his missing wife.

Roy and his colleague and best friend, the ever more hip and younger version of Roy, Glenn Branson, are the lead investigators on Operation: Salsa. When they set about solving the mystery of Harrison’s disappearance; they soon come to realize that distraught fiancée Ashley Harper and best friend and business partner Mark Warren may not be all they seem to be. 

This original and gritty new detective series takes crime drama into the underbelly of contemporary Brighton and shows a realistic approach to the life of a detective. Roy Grace is played by actor David Morrissey, who works alongside a cast of British talent including Channel 4’s actor Ashley Walters (Top Boy) and actress Felicity Jones (Cape Wrath).

With a dark and gritty tone, Dead Simple brings a captivating new detective to Channel 4.       

Pre-Production Unit - Production Design Ideas

Just collecting some images for production design ideas for Roy's Office...

Pre - Production

I have just sent Peter another question, lets hope he replies again!

Casey Parker Hi Peter, I was just wondering who you would cast for Roy? Who is your dream Roy Grace or who do you imagine him as? Thank you :)

Pre - Production Unit - Synopsis draft 2

Pilot Synopsis

“Four bodies, one suspect. No trace. Dead Simple”

In this gripping first series Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is in charge of Operation: Salsa. A stag night prank, gone wrong. He and his team and working against the clock to find missing groom Michael Harrison.

When his four best friends are killed in a car accident moments after burying Michael in a coffin in the middle of Ashdown Forest, leaving him nothing but a bottle of whiskey and a walkie talkie it seems there is no hope for the soon to be husband.

Roy himself is only too familiar with missing person’s cases, eight years after the disappearance of wife Sandy, Roy is still searching for answers.

With his photographic memory and interest in the paranormal, Roy’s controversial investigative techniques are often ridiculed but never proven wrong.

He has a stubbornness and determination inside him that has driven him relentlessly throughout his life to pursue facts, to pursue the truth, which probably led to his early promotion to Detective Superintendent. Roy is human, he can makes mistakes; he often gets into trouble with boss Alison Vosper and the media over his choice to involve mediums when investigating cases and his judgment can sometimes be clouded by his never-ending search for Sandy.

Roy and his colleague and best friend, the ever more hip and younger version of Roy, Glenn Branson, are assigned the task of finding the missing groom before the upcoming wedding day. When they set about solving the mystery of Harrison’s disappearance; they soon come to realize that distraught fiancée Ashley Harper and best friend and business partner Mark Warren may not be all they seem to be. 

This original and gritty new murder mystery series takes crime dramas into the underbelly of tourist Brighton and shows a realistic approach to the life of a detective. Roy Grace, played by ‘The Red Riding Trilogy’ actor David Morrissey works alongside a brilliant cast of British talent including Channel 4’s ‘Top Boy’ actor Ashley Walters and 4’S ‘Cape Wrath’ actress Felicity Jones.

With a dark and gritty tone, Dead Simple brings a captivating new detective series to Channel 4.       

Pre-Production Unit - Synopsis first draft

Pilot Synopsis

“Four bodies, one suspect. No trace. Dead Simple”

In this gripping first series Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is in charge of Operation: Salsa. A stag night prank, gone wrong. He and his team and working against the clock to find missing groom Michael Harrison.

When his four best friends are killed in a car accident moments after burying Michael in a coffin in the middle of Ashdown Forest, leaving him nothing but a bottle of whiskey and a walkie talkie it seems there is no hope for the soon to be husband.

A murder in Ashdown Forest leads to a chance encounter with a father who says his late son claimed to have been chatting with a lost man on a walkie talkie. Could this boy have been the answer to finding Michael Harrison?

This original and gritty new murder mystery series set in Brighton takes crime dramas to a whole new level and is set to change the history of crime dramas in the U.K Roy Grace will captivate you and leave you wanting more.

Grace himself is only too familiar with missing person’s cases, eight years after the disappearance of wife Sandy, Roy is still searching for answers.

With his photographic memory and interest in mediumship, Grace’s controversial investigative techniques are often ridiculed but never proven wrong.

Grace and his colleague and best friend, the ever more hip and younger version of Roy, Glenn Branson are assigned the task of finding the missing groom before the upcoming wedding day. When they set about solving the mystery of Harrison’s disappearance; they soon come to realise that distraught fiancée Ashley Harper and best friend and business partner Mark Warren may not be all they seem to be. 

Pre - Production - cast - Davey wheeler

This is a bit if a dodgey one!! But I have no idea for this character

Jamie Waylett

Pre-Production - cast - Bella Moy

Lenora Crichlow 

Pre-Production - Cast - Michael Harrison

Bradley James

Pre-Production - Cast - Vic Delaney

Matthew McNulty

Pre-Production Unit - The Crew.

Director: Dylan Cox
Producer: Casey Parker
Writer: Catharine Dorsett
Director of Photography: Tat Radcliffe - he was the cinematographer for Top Boy and Dead Set both channel 4/E4 dramas.
Production designer: Tom Bowyer  - Production designer for Misfits - E4
Editor: Mark Eckersley - Edited This is England 86' (C4) and Misfits (E4)
Visual Effects: Antonio Rodriguez Diaz - did visual effects for Misfits (some cool SFX!)
Costume Design: Ceri Walford - costume designed for Sherlock, controversial as this is a BBC production, however I feel it is a justified decision as she gave Sherlock a modern twist with subtle hints to his historical look, plus it was obviously a crime drama, and I think Grace needs to have a subtle yet statement costume, be it a certain type of suit, tie, coat etc. And as we have discussed, he will have a briefcase, so that could be his subtle version of sherlocks cap.

Pre-Production Unit

Came across this site that details how to do Pitch Packages - http://eyesondeck.typepad.com/scriptfaze/2009/03/how-to-create-a-tv-pitch-package.html

Although it may be a little more 'brief' than what is asked of us, but its helpful.

Pre-Production Unit - Key Locations

Pre-Production - edited teaser

Teaser - for some reason it has come out with a weird grey bit at the beginning

Pre - Production teaser samples more to come..

Pre-Production Unit

I realise I have neglected blogging a bit this week as I have been head deep in dissertation but I do have lots to blog about!

Okay, so the first week of easter, Cat, Dylan and I took another trip to brighton to shoot our trailer/teaser footage. We went down the beach, under the pier and around the front to shoot and get stills for the posters. We also tried shooting from a high up car park roof, but the car park police told us off, we weren't allowed to film up there :( We then went off the shoreham habour (a location in the book) and got some more footage and then to more 'grotty' looking houses around brighton, to get a feel for the 'real' brighton and contrast it to the tourist pretty beach front.

It was a great trip and we got some great stuff.

Then last saturday night Cat and I went into Barming woods to film some more for the trailer/teaser and it was every eventful! Firstly I had to pull my car into a very dodgey track as we wanted the scene to be lit by car headlights like the book/script describes, as we were taking sound and waiting for the sun to set we noticed that were some very strange debris around this particular part of woods, there were lots and lots of disregarded and partly buried clothes, debris of what looked like a very bad car crash or as I proposed 'insurance fraud' also partly buried in the mud. There was also a carpet which we were too frightened to lift in case there was a dead body underneath. (we were filming a mock up burial for a crime novel, our imaginations were in overdrive)

But the shoot was great, the new sound case blimp thingy-mi-bobby was awesome, all sounds were crystal clear, we made sure we got a lot of stomping, walking, digging, car door/engine and just general woods noises for the trailer soundtrack. We also played with shadows from the headlights and shakey OTH shots (hoping it doesnt come out too blair witch)

So by this time it was pitch black and we were in the middle of a secluded wood, and with the CSI scene around us and being two girls alone, we'd started to feel a bit creeped out. This is then topped off by a car slowing coming down the tracks and Cat and I absolutely terrified that we are about to be murdered, I near enough shove Cat and the kit in the car shouting "Oh my god, just get in the car cat, get in the car!!!"

We are sat nervously in the car, not really knowing what to do, when Cat exclaims "Its the Police!" So for the second time on this project we've had a run in with the police, which is very ironic as our project is pretty much about the police. But he was very nice and said he just wondered what a car was doing down there. So the moral of the story is, don't overwork your imagination and maybe take a boy with you into the secluded dark woods. Oh, and to add to the horror movie cliche, my mobile was dead!

ANYWHO, the agent I contacted about Felicity Jones never got back to me :( I am going to try again and some others but my IMDB Pro account expired the other day so I was going to borrow one of the other guys login and emails to get a new one :)

Next on the list is editing the trailer/teaser and getting all the location stills from the 7D that Dylan has.

Dissertation

I am really enjoying writing my dissertation, even though philosophy is such a headachey subject, I am on chapter 3 now and I only have to finish that and the conclusion and then I have hit my goal of giving in a full word count draft :)

I am very glad I chose the subject that I have as I feel really passionate about it so it makes it almost fun to write!