Greetings, my people. Today, we conclude my three-part pitch to television with an idea I discussed with you last year. This time, I've managed to refine it a bit to make it a pitch I would make to a network today. Now, this pitch is for cable, as well as broadcast networks, just in case that the big three networks aren't up to the task of producing this series.
Last year, in my first comeback posting, I mentioned my brainstorm about the 1976 TV movie "Sybil", that I would have made it as a TV series, not a film, if I was a producer in those days. After several more brainstorms, I've decided to pitch it as a television series in these modern times. It's the least I could do with the brainstorm I had last year.
In preparing my pitch this time, I headed back to the source of the whole mess, the original 1974 book. Now, I will admit, I have only thumbed thru it at this point, but the bits and pieces I've soaked up are good enough for a first time pitch. The book features a lot more material than the movie and thus, more material that can be used for the series.
For my pitch, I've decided to begin the series in January 1962. I feel that I can cash in on the current trend of shows taking place in that time period and it provides a contrast beween this series and "The Life of Oddley", taking place five years later. As I told you, I plan to bring Oddley and gang to television as the fourth show in my pitch.
For the pilot, I've decided to open it with the scenes that opened the original book, with Sybil moving from the classroom at Columbia University to a snow-covered street in Philladelphia. When she gets to a hotel where she apparently rented a room, she finds five days have passed between the classroom and the street. Concerned, she heads back to New York.
Confused about the experience and concerned about how it will be viewed by others, she decides to seek out a psychiatrist. Her teacher suggests the lovable Dr. Cornelia Wilbur. It's when she gets to the office that I make my own addition. In Dr. Wilbur's office space, the large inner office, occupied by the doctor herself. In the outer office is my creation, her assistant and student.
In last year's posting, I made a pun and called him Dr. Orville. Since then, I've renamed him Dr. Henry Edward Grant, "Hank" to his friends. It's Dr. Grant whom Sybil first meets upon her first visit to the office. Styling himself as the gatekeeper to Dr. Wilbur's domain, he gives Sybil a brief exam and questioning. During this, she reveals her recent experience with an unexplained trip to Philly.
Curious about Sybil himself, he decides to bring her to the doctor's attention and walk into the spacious office, where Hank tells Dr. Wilbur about the would-be patient in his office. Striken by Sybil's case, she invites her into the office. Sybil then unloads about the things that have happened to her concerning this phemenoma she finds herself. At the end of the visit, Sybil becomes Dr. Wilbur's newest patient.
One of the interesting things about this concept is that the series can be pitched as either a 30-minute or 60-minute program. While I would perfer a 30-minute series, I could also work with a 60-minute series. Also, while I would like it to air on a major network, I can also work the show on a cable channel, most likely Lifetime or AMC, depending on who's interested. As you can see, it's very usable.
One thing I would mention during the pitch is the background of Dr. Grant, because, as an original creation, he needs one. The other main characters can use the original book as background. Dr. Grant comes from Wheeling, West Virginia, the son of a general store owner. He only became a doctor because his father refused to allow Hank to pursue his true passion: being a traveling musician.
Dr. Grant is a happily married man, to the lovely Lydia, a former violinist who tries to get Hank to pursue his dream while she plays around with her true musical love: fiddle music. Throughout the series, the lives of Dr. Grant and Lydia would be shown. Tops in that line is showing their true devotion to each other. That would get to Sybil and her other selves, allowing her to examing her ideals of romance and love.
This goal would also be accompilished by the use of a boyfriend for Sybil. His name is yet to be determined but his job would be to test Sybil's idea of love, which comes from the years of abuse from her mother. As the series progresses, Sybil and her boyfriend would go thru the steps, while he would deal with the other selves, who try to scare him away, because they believe that love would only hurt Sybil.
The use of Sybil's other selves is dictated by their interactions with the outside world. One idea is to make Vicki the leader of the personalities. Another idea is to avoid the concept of dominance, which pervails in other kinds of shows of this nature. Furthermore, a layer of comedy is to be used, in the guise of Dr. Grant, to lighten the mood and also help the audience get into the series itself, rather than continually focus on Sybil's past.
Another thing to examine is the social issues of the era. While I haven't watched the other shows set in this time period, I do get the feeling that they avoid the social issues of the time. One way to mention these issues is to have an episode where Dr. Grant tells of his time as one of the Freedom Riders and how he learned that abusing others is not and will never be a good idea. Thru this experience, Sybil learns to try to accept her past and move forward in her treatment.
All in all, a well thought out concept. The results of many brainstorms on the idea. This program would definately be the one to make the rounds. I do know that a network is bound to buy into the concept because the possiblities of both entertainment and education make this a good show. The purpose of this week is to discuss the shows I wish to see on the air.
"A New Kind of Family" would be a nice sitcom. "Captain's Log: The New Star Trek" would make a nice return for a beloved series, and "Sybil" would make a nice time machine into another era. I hope that my three extra postings this week have whet your appitite for more. Next year, I hope to have a few more shows to pitch to television.
Yours truly, John Maxwell.
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