Nature or Nurture?

 Logline: 

Two aliens discover one of their own has formed an unholy alliance with religious zealots. The goal is to hide the Earth from the Universe. They activate a hidden team and the chess game begins.

Synopsis

The narrative unfolds in the present era and spans up to 2052. Along the way, we journey to Saturn's satellite Enceladus, and the fictional planetary system called Aeon. We also explore various locales on Earth like New York, the Middle East, Paris, The Matterhorn, and Australia. The characters face many nerve-wracking situations and dramatic moments, interspersed with some amusing comedy and fun. They cope with the stress by finding humour in the situation. The idea of "Religion" takes on a protagonist role and can cause conflict, whether in theory or in actual actions, as religious or political figures impede the progress of our characters.

Bjorn and Zorn, two extra-terrestrial beings hailing from the planet Aeon, bear witness to the total annihilation of Planet Earth in the year 2052. Determined to prevent this catastrophe from occurring, they embark on a perilous quest. Joined by a group of human allies, they encounter a myriad of fascinating personalities and gain a deeper understanding of the Universe and themselves. Their journey takes them to both familiar and alien locales, spanning an incredible distance of seventy thousand light years from their home planet. When Earth disappears without a trace for the third time, the time has come for them to make critical decisions that will alter the course of destiny forever. One reader who perused the manuscript was particularly impressed by the stunning plot twist at the end, which involves a time paradox.

FEEDBACK:

Hello Andrew,

Melbourne Live Indie Film Fest has added a note to your submission:

The screenplay successfully blends nerve-wracking   situations and dramatic moments with humour and comedy, creating a   well-balanced and engaging experience. The characters' coping mechanism of   finding humour in stressful situations endears them to the audience and adds a   human touch to their extra-terrestrial journey.

"Alien Traitor" explores the theme of   Religion as a protagonist, which adds complexity to the conflict and serves   as an impediment to the characters' mission. The exploration of religious and   political figures hindering progress adds depth to the narrative, making it   thought-provoking and relevant.

The screenplay's plot twist at the end involving   a time paradox is particularly noteworthy, leaving a lasting impact on the   reader and heightening the intrigue surrounding the characters' decisions and   their impact on destiny.

"Alien Traitor" is an enthralling and   well-crafted screenplay that excels in its genre. The imaginative   world-building, captivating plot, and nuanced character development create a compelling   cinematic experience. As the characters embark on their mission to save   humanity and confront the consequences of their decisions, the screenplay   keeps the readers at the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating how the   story will unfold.

 A dark and confronting tale of two Senior Detectives as they uncover a child prostitution racket with ties to Newcastle’s elite. They work on solving two murders as they try to find two missing boys. Ultimately, they find themselves .

The Walking Wounded is essentially four intertwined stories and their crossover points.

Story Arc 1: Senior Detective Sergeant Phillip “Phil” Dobson and Senior Detective Sergeant Li Ma “Turbo” Zhang are detectives with the Newcastle Homicide Squad. They are inseparable childhood friends, and an LGBTIQ+ love story for the ages.

Phil’s mother commits suicide due to her inability to cope with her own childhood sexual abuse. Phil is left feeling helpless and decides one suicide is one too many. He buries his feelings and is prone to emotional outbursts and Turbo is always there to help him explode in a controlled manner. His true love for Phil is unspoken as he is terrified of losing Phil’s friendship. Ironically, Phil’s outbursts come partly from burying his love for Turbo. Toxic masculinity rears its ugly head. 

Story Arc 2: Levi (11) and Toby (6) Holbert live in Dunedin New Zealand with their physically abusive mother. When Toby suggests moving to Australia, she inexplicably agrees and they arrive in Newcastle to start a new life. Two days later their mother is killed in a car accident and the boys find themselves in the hands of a sexually abusive priest. They disappear into Newcastle’s underbelly, caught by a child prostitution racket, for Newcastle’s elite. Levi endures blow after blow after blow trying to protect his little brother. Iceman (See Story Arc 3) blocks them at every turn, even killing to keep the upper hand. The crescendo builds in this exhausting fight and ultimately costs Levi his own life. Toby finds himself alone in a foreign country, and part of a world he struggles to understand. The only thing left to hang onto and trust is Davina. (See Story Arc 4)

Story Arc 3: Ian “Iceman” Chase is the man that runs the racket along with his mentor and protector Judge William Jude. He suffered violence and sexual abuse at the hands of his father for ten years, and it has destroyed his humanity. He doesn’t care and the world is frightened of him. When his home life becomes intolerable his solution is to destroy the family home with his parents in it. He is ultimately responsible for more than ten deaths. 

Story Arc 4: Davina Jacoby is a gender fluid Social Worker, also a sexual abuse survivor but uses her pain to drive her to help others. As a child she believed the abuse was actually normal behaviour and her favourite teacher used it to his advantage. The realisation that came in her teens almost destroyed her. With the support of the man that was to become her husband, she made it through. As Davina’s own life burns around her, she finds herself the foster parent of a very frightened, 8-year-old boy. She is a beautiful soul with a demeanour that belies her painful past.  

French Modern Film and Script Festival Review

“It is with immense pleasure that we extend our warmest congratulations to you! Your exceptional work has earned the prestigious title of Award Winner. Your project has not only left an indelible mark on our esteemed jury but has also brought us great delight in celebrating your well-deserved success. We would like to extend our gratitude once again for your exceptional contribution. Your work has left an indelible impression on us, and we are honoured to have had the privilege of showcasing it.