Gotta Go Fast... to the Box Office! [Sonic the Headhog Producer Quest]

The office was quieter now, the hum of the overhead lights the only noise filling the room. Thunder sat at his desk, stacks of papers and notes scattered before him like a battlefield he had yet to conquer. Across the room, Bruce lounged on a beanbag chair, lazily tossing a crumpled piece of paper into the air and catching it with one hand.

"I'm just saying," Bruce began, his voice dripping with mock indignation, "next time, you can deal with the guy who thinks he's Mobius's next big action star because he can do a single backflip."

Thunder smirked without looking up. "You're just mad because he almost kicked you in the face during the demo."

"That's not the point!" Bruce protested. "The point is, you're the talent guy! Why am I the one dealing with these people?"

"You wanted to be involved," Thunder said simply, flipping through a packet.

Bruce groaned, flopping back dramatically. "I thought being involved meant doing fun stuff, like picking which snacks we keep stocked. Not... this."

Thunder chuckled, finally setting the packet down. "Speaking of fun stuff, we've got scripts to look at."

Bruce perked up immediately, his tail swishing with interest. "Oh, now we're talking. Let's see what we've got."

SCRIPT PROPOSAL: The Last Blade

GENRE: Action
SUBGENRES: Martial Arts, Clan Drama
FORMAT: 2 hours
BASIC PROMPT:
A young warrior fights to reclaim his clan's honor after a rival clan accuses them of treachery.
SPECIFIC POINTS AND SCENES:
Opening Duel: The film begins with a ceremonial duel between two rival clans. The protagonist, Karran, narrowly loses to his nemesis, a wolf warrior named Veyar, setting the stage for their rivalry.
The Betrayal: Karran's clan is framed for an attack on a neutral village. The tension is palpable as the elders argue over how to clear their name.
The Journey: Karran sets out to uncover the truth, traveling across Mobius and training under a mysterious master who teaches him an ancient martial art.
Climactic Showdown: The final fight between Karran and Veyar takes place on a crumbling bridge over a roaring river. Their clashing blades are interspersed with moments of mutual respect, culminating in a breathtaking resolution.

Bruce snorted. "Let me guess. You wrote this one."

Thunder gave him a sharp look but couldn't hide his smirk. "It's a classic story. My clan loves this stuff."

"Sure, but don't you think starting with 'ancient clan warrior drama' might be a little... on the nose?"

"Let's see you do better," Thunder challenged.

SCRIPT PROPOSAL: The Depths Below

GENRE: Horror
SUBGENRES: Mystery, Creature Feature
FORMAT: 1 hour, 40 minutes
BASIC PROMPT:
A quiet coastal town is terrorized by a monstrous sea creature.
SPECIFIC POINTS AND SCENES:
Opening Scene: A fisherman finds his boat overturned and his crewmates missing. The camera pans to the water's surface, revealing a shadowy, monstrous figure lurking beneath.
The Investigator: Enter Detective Sora, a gritty Mobian crow with a sharp eye and a penchant for sarcasm. She arrives in town to investigate the disappearances, clashing with the paranoid locals.
Building Suspense: Strange events—boats vanishing, bizarre markings on the beach—build tension as the creature's attacks escalate.
The Big Reveal: Sora discovers the townsfolk have been sacrificing travelers to the creature for decades. The creature, now enraged, turns on them.
Final Showdown: Armed with ingenuity and an ancient harpoon, Sora faces off against the creature in a storm-battered lighthouse.
Bruce sat up straighter. "Now this is more my speed. A giant sea monster? Creepy townsfolk? Sign me up."

Thunder frowned thoughtfully. "It's good, but wouldn't it be expensive? The creature alone would eat up most of the budget."

Bruce grinned. "You're the talent guy. I'm the budget guy. Let me worry about that."

SCRIPT PROPOSAL: Streetlights and Shadows

GENRE: Drama
SUBGENRES: Slice of Life, Coming of Age
FORMAT: 2 hours, 20 minutes
BASIC PROMPT:
A young humian struggles to chase her dream of becoming a singer while navigating life in the backstreets of Green Hills.
SPECIFIC POINTS AND SCENES:
Opening Scene: Mia, a shy humian girl, sings in a dingy bar for tips. The audience barely notices her, but her raw talent shines through.
The Mentor: She meets an older musician who takes her under his wing. Their growing friendship is the emotional core of the story.
Rising Tension: Mia faces rejection after rejection in her quest to land a proper gig, culminating in a public humiliation that nearly makes her give up.
Triumphant Climax: Mia performs an original song that brings the crowd to tears, solidifying her place as a rising star.

Bruce let out a low whistle. "Okay, I like this one too. It's grounded, emotional. We'd just need the right actress for Mia."

"Think we could pull it off?" Thunder asked.

"With the team we've got? Probably," Bruce said. "But it's a heavier story. Do we want that for our first film?"

The two sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the decision settling in.

"Well?" Bruce finally asked. "What are we going with? Something big and bold, or something a little closer to home?"

Thunder leaned back, rubbing his chin. "I'll need some time to think. Each one's got potential."

Bruce grinned. "Take all the time you need, boss. Just don't forget to tell me what we're calling this place when you make up your mind."

Thunder smirked, standing to stretch his arms. "Oh, I've got a name. Just didn't think you'd care."

"Try me."

Insert Studio Name

[ ] Write in:

Hello, welcome to the script proposal tutorial! As you may have guessed from the examples that I had woven seamlessly into the narrative, the basic template for ironing out your ideas goes as follows:

TITLE: Self-explanatory. The final title of the eventual movie will be voted on by the questers, however--consider this space for a sort of temporary title or project title if need be.
GENRE: Also self-explanatory.
SUBGENRE: This space represents the "niche" under the genre. It can be how the fantasy genre has "dark fantasy" or "high fantasy" under it, or how action genre movies in the Sonic the Hedgehog universe can range from "chaos thrillers" (basically involves retelling old legends) or "illegal urban Extreme Gear racing."
FORMAT: Short movie (1-1.5 hours long) or Long (2-3 hours long) movie? That's for you to place here.
BASIC PROMPT: Summarize the general story of your movie idea here. Try to keep it short and digestible.
SPECIFIC POINTS/SCENES TO IMPLEMENT/ETC.: This is where you put all the details you want to include with your prompt. Kind of directing? Casting decisions? Special details to include in the set? An entire outline of the film? Even an excerpt of an actual pseudo-screenplay dialogue for your idea? Anything goes.

The quantity, but especially quality and creativity of details will help mechanically later on as we progress through this sort of mini-tutorial--but don't be too concerned about it. There will be future chances to add more roll benefits even past the script writing phase--though in this particiular phase, the easier you can make things for your scriptwriters, the better.

I also heavily encourage you to collaborate with each other to shore up each other's script proposals instead of treating this as a competition between whose idea will get picked. This was a major cause of the downfall of the quest that this one is a spiritual successor to, and I don't want to see that happen again.

As there are no script proposals yet for you to vote on, this time will be spent waiting for people to present their pitches. A subvote will be held at a future time on which script proposal will actually be chosen for your first holovid.

Also as a treat here is Thunders backstory!

Born into the rugged life of a proud lynx clan deep in the untamed territories of Mobius, you were raised in the shadow of tradition. Your people valued strength, loyalty, and the art of combat above all else, and you took to it with gusto. Your rivalry with Lightning, the strongest warrior in the clan, drove you to push harder and fight fiercer, even if you never quite managed to beat him. Yet, those battles shaped you, forging you into a warrior worthy of carrying the clan's honor.

Life changed with the arrival of the clan head's modernization efforts. It started simply—a single television, brought in "for the kids" despite the loud protests of the clan's conservative elders. Those protests didn't last long; the clan head had a habit of silencing dissent with his fists.

It was your turn to guard the children when the TV flickered to life. At first, you ignored it, focused on your duty—until the colors, sounds, and stories spilling from the screen caught your attention. The concept of "movies" was new to you, but they became an instant fascination. These were battles of a different kind, heroes fighting with words and courage rather than just fists or claws.

Your real encounter with the world of filmmaking came later, during tense negotiations with the South Island Duchy. The clan head, eager to showcase your people's way of life, allowed a film crew to produce a documentary under strict supervision.

Among the outsiders was Bruce the Shark, the crew's cameraman. Sharks were rivals to your people, warriors from the sea who clashed with your kind over territory and pride. But Bruce wasn't like the sharks you'd fought. He wasn't a warrior at all—he was a storyteller, his camera his weapon.

Curiosity turned to camaraderie as you bombarded Bruce with questions about his work, his life, and why he left his own clan. His answer shocked you: he'd grown tired of their outdated traditions, tired of losing friends in fights they couldn't win because they still clung to swords while the world moved on. By the end of the documentary, Bruce wasn't just an outsider; he was your friend.

The desire to leave and make your mark in the world burned brighter with every passing day. You approached the clan head, laying bare your dreams of becoming a filmmaker. He listened but didn't make it easy. "If you want to leave," he said, "you'll need to defeat Lightning."

It was the fight of your life, and for the first time, you won. The clan head smiled, clapped your shoulder, and gave his blessing. "Go," he said. "Bring glory to the clan."

For the first time, he looked proud of you.

Life outside wasn't easy, but Bruce helped. He gave you a place to stay and a crash course in city life. Your first job was as a security guard for a small studio. It wasn't glamorous, but it kept you close to the industry you were learning to love.

The moment that started your career came when a humian girl, tears streaming down her face, begged for a chance to audition. She'd been rejected because of what she was, dismissed before she even had a chance to prove herself. You couldn't let it stand.

Storming into the studio head's office, you demanded she be given an audition. Normally, that sort of stunt would've cost you your job—but the girl turned out to be a star.

One of the eccentric executives saw an opportunity. "What if the savage manages the rejects? He can guard them and scout them at the same time—imagine the savings!"

And just like that, you became a talent scout.

No, you didn't make that up. The fox really said that.

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

TITLE: The Hiding Game.
GENRE: Thriller
SUBGENRE: Crime Drama
FORMAT: 1 h 45min
BASIC PROMPT: A femme fatale tries to be two steps ahead of the law to conceal her crimes
SPECIFIC POINTS AND SCENES: Opening: Our protagonist lives in a rich family where there is very little love, taken for granted for the work she does, any chance she would take to venture out is snuffed out by her relatives who keep her on a leash by controlling the family finances, only bright spots in her life are her children, her husbands blatantly makes a cuckhold of her (for added drama he could be in a relationship with her mother)
A Chance Taken: the Patriarch of the family is killed by her accidentally by letting a air bubble into the syringe she uses to administer medicine, she takes the opportunity to take control of her life by laying the trail of clues leading to other members of the family
The Law cometh: The police come and she has to play a careful game leading the cops to other suspects, keeping her out of the suspect list and enflaming tensions in the family so they turn on each other so much so the bodies and scandals keep pilling up
Breaking Bad: At the end managing to keep her freedom, protect her children and get her inheritance for how much is it worth with the reputation of her family and their businesses in tatters she finds to have a taste for the darker side of life, she starts to dip her fingers into organized crime opening the gates for sequels

How's this @Martin Noctis ?

TITLE: Project: Family
GENRE: Action/Family
SUBGENRE: Found Family
FORMAT: Short movie (1-1.5 hours long)
BASIC PROMPT: An escaped bioweapon/super soldier project (later named Sunny [name open to change]) is found by a young orphan girl named Avé living on the streets. Follow the pair as they flee from the organization that made "Sunny." Meanwhile the girl teaches the bioweapon what means to be a person and perhaps... a hero.
SPECIFIC POINTS/SCENES TO IMPLEMENT/ETC.:
The Escape: The movie begins with two parallel scenes one following the creation of the bioweapon and leads up to it's escape from the facility where it jumps in a moving train car. The other follows Avé as she goes about her life on the streets, eventually getting chased by a gang and hiding out in the same train car.
Family: A few scenes of the pair roaming around town, as Avé teaches "Sunny" about food, clothes (insert dress up scene?), and what it's like living on the streets.
Captured: The organization captures "Sunny" and Avé uses her street smarts and what she overheard about the containment device to break "Sunny" out
Last Stand: The organization decide that if they can't have their weapon, they'll kill it and the girl. Big climatic fight.

People Still Like Capers,Right ?
TITLE: Stuntmanly Warfare
GENRE:Comedy
SUBGENRE: Heist Thriller
FORMAT: 2 hours long
BASIC PROMPT:A group down on their luck stunt performers decide to rob a casino under the guise of a stunt show
SPECIFIC POINTS/SCENES TO IMPLEMENT/ETC.:Taking inspiration from the greats of physical comedy like Buster Keaton the Beaver and Jackie Chan the Fox,this film is most likely going to be rather expensive in the stunt department,since that's the whole point.
Opening Scene:Our protagonist,a stunt performer,fails a regular routine during a live show.They are fired,injured and literally thrown into the garbage can.
Protag Owes Money to the Mafia:The mafia boss guy threatens the protag with a bageutte because they are the French Mafia
Gathering the Crew:the protag and some other character(either the protag's second or the leader themselves) start gathering a crew made up of washed up stunters and othe rejects.Each of them get a spotlight of their miserable lives with lots of slapstick running away ensuing
The Plan:Like any good caper,once the crew is assembled around the table,they start planning their Heist.Scene switches between the Crew members preparing their equipment,casing the joint,smoking joints at the joint,getting pepper sprayed and other random bullshit that,later in the film,will be revealed to be conductive to their heist and them at the table,eating snacks,snoring and only the leader of the crew(possibly the protag)keeping them focused on the plan
The Evil Keneviel:First step of the Heist is the Crew performing a motorcycle acrobatics show.This will quickly evolve into towing the vault of full of cash with motorcycles.Policemen are in shambles
The Orgasmic Climax:The Crew are surrounded by the police at the top of a skyscraper with only some basic tools like ropes and sticks.They escape masterfully with an improvised stunt sequence.
Point 1:The story is mostly made of slapstick action set pieces with slower, sitcom like skits providing an even pace.
Point 2:We are gonna need both actors and stunt performers.Would be best if we could get some real Buster Keatons who can do stunts and act.Anyways,better be prepared to spend big.
Point 3:Some competent CGI guys would really be helpful right now.
Point 4:Everything can be fixed in post.

Draft v5