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ISMN: 979-0-800136-00-9
Draft: August 3, 2017 | Premiere: April 1, 2018&
Slidedeck
Easter is an opera about sacrifice+redemption in the coming-of-age of juking [++feasible jukebox use cases].
Synopsis
The prelude of its five-chord arc~, Die, Detective!, speaks to urban renewal. It aptly deals with contemporary civil unrest with foci on the interrelationships between law enforcement in communities it serves, and corruption within the justice system as a whole. This unfolds from the refuge of an abusive rogue who, feeling circumstantially slighted by his peers, takes the law into his own hands and goes on a rampage which crescendos into a war in the process. I personally think that the ideal theatre for such a drama (because of the scale and necessary visual effects) is via cinema🎞️, and the best vehicle for telling it non-generically may be The Detective (TD) canon.Arc: Easter:Die, Detective! → Easter:Lazarus → Easter:Déjà Rêvé → Easter:Déjà Entendu → Easter:Déjà Vécu
Note (+): Easter:Die, Detective! is in some ways heterotic; an |
Including the Die Hard™ (DH) anthology (NLF+), The Detective franchise is one of the most popular and best-critiqued[1] series in cinematic history. Spanning seven (7) films (six sequels) over the course of fifty (50) years (1968 - 2018/9), the series has a non-linear storyline centered around police detective, Joseph Pascha "Joe" Leland, his sometimes alliances, frequent mishaps, steady heroics, and they mostly follow a standard formula:
- our protagonist typically starts out wearing a clean shirt that gets progressively dirtier throughout the film (a cinematic timeframe of no more than 12 hours) until it is noticeably filthy
- some antagony introduces itself that constricts a situation, usually forcing the hero to react (thereby getting his shirt dirty in the process)
- a spectacular climatic distress sequence ensues. Here are those scenes from the middle five (5) films in the series:
The Detective has been and is a portrait of sensational thrills that gently samples high-technology in its sequences [eg. the touchscreen in the Nakatomi Plaza lobby (TD2), the fax machine (TD3)]. In bringing it to a close🔒 after its fifty year run*, I propose a few things, two (2) of which are: the exploration of a backstory for the sake of character development, and the introduction of substantive dramatic elements. Logic dictates that, if either of those things is missing from a closure🔒 piece like this, an opportunity to tie up loose ends in the narrative would have been forfeited.Trivia: 2018 marks both the thirtieth anniversary of Nothing Lasts Forever (DH movie) and the fiftieth anniversary of The Detective (film).
The insertion of the word 'Pascha' was my doing, thus giving him a middle name that was absent in the literature and did not exist anywhere in the canon. Linguistically, 'Pascha' is the Greek equivalent of/to 'Easter'. I also gave him a birthdate of April 10, 1955 (an Easter Sunday). Now we have a point of reference as to why (the arc of) the |
I don't envision just collating subplot points from prior entries, but to look altogether retroactively at Thorp's literary interpretation of The Detective [some time around which Leland retires, hence, the events of Die, Detective! would hypothetically take place before and leading up to Nothing Lasts Forever (NLF*) -- this episode (which opens on Ash Wednesday) is set twelve (12) months prior to NLF]. From there, I have interwoven those minor elements into the major tapestry that is this opera.NLF=DH=TD2
Note (+): The novel, The Detective (1966), was translated onto screen as a movie of the same title in 1968. It starred Frank Sinatra as Joe Leland. Later (1979), a sequel was written for it called, Nothing Lasts Forever. That was made into the movie 'Die Hard'(DH:=NLF). Sinatra rejected reprising the role because he felt that he was too old to play the part again (1988), so the studio eventually chose Bruce Willis. In doing so, they edited parts of the book's storyline around in an effort to modernize it. One of those changes was Leland being renamed 'John McClane', and the character portrayed as more youthful. But for all intents and purposes, 'Joe Leland' and 'John McClane' are the same cop in The Detective universe. |
The hardnose behavior and sardonic temperament of our maverick detective is risque, to say the least, and has been valued as an asset among fans. He has been used to represent the everyday man who perhaps could not say and do things that were otherwise unfashionable. His exploits and adventures throughout the series have touched on sensitive topics, such as homophobia (TD), racism (TD4), xenophobia (TD6), and large-scale domestic terrorism (TD5). The audience knows what they are getting with Leland; it revels in vicariously helping him sort through the predicaments he faces with the expected outcome of a better day lying ahead because he just surmounted the odds.... and that is where we find Easter (Joe Leland) today, an elderly man with one (1) more trick up his sleeve on the brink of receiving his due pension, but genuinely unsure of whether the odds are still in his favor. His insecurities stem from years, .. decades of having rubbed people the wrong way in order to answer the calls of duty that may never add up to anything more than a thankless job. A miserable alcoholic, he drinks* away personal demons thus becoming his own worst enemy in geriatric anger, and now, in an effort to save both his reputation and family, is in a war pitted against the most formidable foe - himself.His personal favorite is a brand of DIY rum called Hubert Brown😉. (Drink responsibly.🥃)
To put it bluntly, he is a bonafide flush and it shows. Lack of self-discipline in regards to drinking and its damaging effects has ruined his relationship over the years with his children. Factor-in that his pride, has, in the past, refused to let him get the professional help he could so |
In today's current social climate, pockets of once-latent animus are spreading across the globe - be it from shifting politics, stances on immigration, bigotry, or what have you - engendering bunches of armchair heroes and keyboard⌨️ warriors; cowards in need of a figurehead they can galvanize behind until their version of order is restored or parturitated.
villainy |
Unless things are under control, then things are out of control. What we have here is a major city (Philadelphia) on the brink of chaos. There has been yet another incidence of fatal violence committed toward an unarmed and presumed innocent minority at the hands of law enforcement, this time, they belong to Easter's own partner, Bunny (Mika Petrakis). This miscarriage has put the whole town - already fragile from previous similar occurrences across the country - on-edge. Unfortunately for said law enforcement, the difference between other jurisdictions and the City of Brotherly Love is that she lives up to her reputation as being the most blue-collar, no-nonsense town in America, totally intolerant of brutality towards its citizens by those who have taken an oath to protect them. They have social media and a backlog of public case studies replete with examples of no justice being brought to officers in the courts of law. Now, where there was hope and maybe even expectation of a drawn out trial that could potentially result in an acquittal, certain neighborhoods - exhausted from fighting for very limited resources, have other plans for dealing with the perpetrators.Bunny is an ambitious rookie cop (first year on the force) who is fresh off of a murder case she just helped solve.
Harkening back to Thorp's original Detective plot somewhat, the case that has just been closed🔒 after a six (6)-month investigation involved a brutal murder (victim's head crushed, mutilated genitalia, beating, etc.) in which Petrakis has just deciphered clue codes. In this version of the storyline, it turns out that the victim was dating the daughter of the mayor. There are suspicions that Bunny had been involved in the crime from the start, and was protected by the mayor himself as a favor. Hence, we can see why she is rising in the ranks rather quickly.I envision her in the mold of Mark Fuhrman, the notorious detective from the infamous O.J. Simpson murder case. -- a snurky dude with a personal vendetta who was willing to plant and tamper with evidence that could have damaged an investigation -- she was also drawn from the Tulsa-based officer, Betty Shelby, who was arrested and tried for manslaughter in her case for murdering Terence Crutcher🙏 (watch her run from the courthouse after the verdict). In fact, it was the outcome of this case that prompted me to write the opera. Tulsa has a history of profound racism against Black civilians, dating at least back to the Black Wall Street massacre (1921). What struck my chord was the fact that Shelby and her partners (ground assist and helicopter pilot husband) had the cameras turned off leading up to the execution, and then the coroner compounded that by testifying that the victim (Crutcher) had narcotics in his system.As an aside - a word about character development - I changed 'Michael' ('Mike Petrakis' was the name of Leland's partner in The Detective) to 'Mika' because 'Michael' means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew, whereas 'Mika' is Native American for "intelligent raccoon"[1]. She is definitely not god-like, nor does she try to be, but she is very clever (or at lease thinks she is). -- There was this White girl I had gotten to know for a short while when I was eighteen (18) or so that was a real bigot, super-racist. I was more ignorant to and fascinated by that stuff (White racism) back then to the extent that I am now, and she let me essentially document her (I had so many questions). It turned out (as I later learned from another Black guy) that before she became a vitrioled person, she was romantically involved with a Black fellow (not me or anyone I knew) and their relationship went sour. When she and I knew each other, she had a "redneck" (her words) boyfriend that "would spit on interracial couples" (he also "drove a big truck") and was really proud of that. My documentary of her stuck with me, and this is how I imagine someone like her could turn out to be. -- Except that this gal (Bunny) is on the clock (she has political bosses), and that makes her extremely dangerous. Her characteristics also loosely incorporate the Rochelle Ciardello angle from DIE HARD: Year One comic books. In that story, she - Shelly - was the abused wife of Russ Ciardello, a dirty and damaging cop. It is implied that she slept with his partner, Peter Noonan, because their marriage had hit a figurative wall. All three parties involved were sleazy. In the opera, Roscoe fits Peter Noonan's profile (Roscoe was a police academy graduate and actually recruited, but never accepted an offer); he and Bunny at some point were lovers.
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There is a new assignment for the talented young officer who is being quickly promoted through the ranks: bring Roscoe, the mid-Atlantic's most dangerous gangster, to justice. Doing so could lead to great rewards and coveted recognition that comes along with it. With the assistance of her connections to the city government and dubious ties to the criminal underworld, this shouldn't be a problem, and wouldn't be if she can just do things her way. Having been recently partnered with retired lieutenant Easter (who is supervising as part of his exit interview requirements so that he can receive his full pension), Bunny surmises that the most opportune time to test the limits of her authority will and has come while under the tutelage of one of the most controversial officers in this country's history. On a routine traffic stop, and doubtedly 'fearing for her life', she opens fire on a seatbelted father and his young daughter, killing them both. With no witnesses other than an unwitting Easter, the department and city are left with the difficult task of explaining and defending this tragedy to the public. Questions arise: is there innocence in this case, and where to place the blame? -- and are answered quickly: blame is placed squarely on Easter, framing him. Furthermore, because of what appears to be a curtailing of a kingpin's business dealings, a hit is put out on the detective's life, endangering him.
Easter had little idea that his assigned mentee was a slimy, full-fledged racist, nor did he understand how deep corruption ran throughout the city's major players from top-to-bottom. Nonetheless, this episode has triggered an intense flashback to the MOVE standoff and shootout event that shaped him during his own rookie year in 1978 as a beat cop in West Philadelphia, and an unresolved issue from his own military past (he went AWOL as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Coast Guard before becoming a policeman). Now, with a special political election underway, the town's entrenched power elite are out to protect themselves from this rising menace (potential civil enmity) at considerable cost. Their tentacles run deep. Easter's entire precinct [spearheaded by the Chief of Police, Lent Goode (Tom Farrell)] turns against him (forcing him into absolute fugitivity), leaving him embroiled in a search for the truth about his colleagues, the city, and own future.
There is an impending multi-year, very large monetary foreign investment that is due to the City of Philadelphia over the span of the next five years with the first installment due at the |
Note (+): The Shootout of 1978 at Powelton Village house at 311 N 33rd Street in Philadelphia was factual. Putting Easter in that time period is due in part to the line from Die Hard where our protagonist mentions to a fellow passenger that he has been a cop for eleven (11) years. Since that story (movie-wise) took place on Christmas Eve (1988), I assume that he would have started on January 1 as a rookie cop in 1978 (Christmas 1977 would make it thereabouts). |
Enter Fer.
In the wake of this, we have a civilian, a man named Fergus, who, having been disillusioned with authority after his own recent encounter with the legal system moved him beyond reproach, devises a plan to carry-out what he sees is the only logical solution to stop and prevent any further foul play against his community - the killing of all police officers, and the dismemberment of local officials (eg. elected officials, ombuds, prosecutors, etc.) for whom they serve. Worst of all, he is even willing and competent enough to take his cause further - orchestrate an all-out war against anybody who is in disagreement with his self-reliance/self-preservation, protectionist philosophy. Inevitably, random persons are made at fault and no one is a safe target, but by billing himself as the "bringer of dawn", this 'manifestation of abuse' can rationalize being his own judge+jury (however sadistic) by using the 'survival of the fittest' evolutionary tactic so that he can 'begin anew'.
I wrote Fer to be perhaps the nastiest, most vicious antihero ever. Even though the character is definitely the antagonist, I refuse to label him outright villainous because he is reactionary; had the others not done what they did, there would be no cause for him to take action. He views himself in prophetic taste like Moses; wanting to manumit his followers from the stronghold of socio-economic oppression and is completely sold on the movement. |
Every so often somebody comes along who turns the game on its heels; completely changing the status quo, more often than not for the better/best. This is why it's so difficult to pin labels on these characters when you can clearly see from where they are coming, and to some degree, going. However, the mastermind behind all of the drama won't be revealed until the epilogue (per usual).
heroics |
What we do get to see, though, are the real detective skills of Easter. Dramatically, his character is fully developed here. There is clear and present danger that, for the most part, only he can address, and if he does his job, he ultimately becomes a protagonist. If he fails, then we are left to ask what constitutes a 'good guy' anyway(?), and moreso, are patrol police people necessary in today's world where artificial surveillance is so prominent?
How to present our detective doing detective-like things was tricky to accomplish. On one hand, The Detective was written at the |
The real hero is actually the jukebox, UUe. As an appliance, it presents workable solutions to poverty problems that are so rampant and counterproductive. It also gives a roundabout answer to the awful political system that has hijacked the city government (which has been under a hostile takeover ever since foreign investors successfully bribed leadership).
drama |
There is a slight chance that some people may make it through the
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Joe Leland versus John McClane All cops secretly want to die on the job. As long as he clasps the hands of oppression disguised as an agent of
service, then sooner or later, John McClane will be retired one way or another.* TaglinesThis is the "Battle for Philadelphia" (that's what I'm calling it). Here we have a civil war in effect. Even though it (urban guerilla warfare) takes place over the span of a single Good Friday, the causes of it have been brewing for at least some years. All of these sensitivities are brought to the surface in this piece where over a million people (~2/3 of the current population of Philadelphia) perish, and the audience will have to choose a side.
When The Detective and Die Nigger Die! were published in their respective years (1966 and 1969), the country was in a tumultuous period fraught with political assassinations, coping with extreme racial tension, at war overseas, and a number of other evils beyond the scope of this footnote. Die, Detective! is a loose continuation of that era (albeit brought into circa 2018-2019). It is with reservation that I offer admission of this story devolving into a civil war [I do not advocate hate or hate speech]. I had to write it so that such a conflict would be inevitable. |
My outline (six-act structure*) for the first chord is as follows:
A dyadic three-act structure.
- Act 1: remembering sad holidays [prologue]
- Act 2: monstrosity is a tendency
- Act 3: hallucinating from hallucinogens leads to hallucination [crescendo]
- Act 4: dirty shirt
- Act 5: of death and the detective~ [denouement]This is where the
opera derives its title. Alcohol is arguably the main character in this part, and it's the detective's abuse of it (his "elixir" as he calls it) that has to die in order for him to finally be able to accept his reality (one must and will kill the other). Easter🐰🐣 (a synonym of "Pascha", Leland's middle name) represents the theme of a rebirth/renaissance (which is prevalent throughout the entire opera), so to speak. There is an incidental religious (Christianity) undertone here, considering that his name is Joseph/John, and these events happen near Easter (actually on Good Friday) in Philadelphia, but that's unintentional and certainly not stressed.- Act 6: Pillowsoft [epilogue]
Tech targets
The ai will do two (2) things here: (1) provide visual ventriloquy [+training] for face swapping and facial mapping onto an actor in the motion capture pipeline, and (2) mimic a static landscape (ie. Philadelphia) for a dynamic event upon loading.
There was uncertainty in booking Bruce Willis for the role of the protagonist. At first, this was depressing considering that, as John McClane, he is a box office draw. Accommodations were then made to work around the absence of Mr. Willis (say, in the flashback scenes), including clever |
+ Urban agriculture
+ huckleberry chemistry
In this |
Cast+Crew
@Attention: casting call announcement📣
(Legend: CONFIRMED)/[ensemble]
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Bruce Willis& as Easter (Joe P. Leland), a notorious retired police lieutenant[description:= White male, 60-65 years /// character:= aged, grossly flawed and deeply insecure, drunk, instinctive and experienced, now at the stage where he is remorseful, relocated/switched cities (NYC→Philly) to be closer to his kids (daughter in Chester and son in Maryland) 'just in case', a severely skeptical Irish Catholic]Willis' likeness is conveyed with ventriloquy by Jim Meskimen (motion capture) and Ross Marquand (voice), as necessary.-
Glenn Close as Maundy, very powerful mob boss[description:= White female, 70-ish years, Swedish heritage /// character:= cunning, works behind-the-scenes (doesn't use own products or get hands dirty), hates repeating herself, territorial, competitive, proud, immediate, regal, eye on the big picture, she's committed to her business (moonlights as a shipping magnate) and lives by the pericope 'You deserve what you let happen to you.']-
Link Starbureiy[i] as Fer(gus), the antagonist[description:= Black male, 30-40 years, this guy's resemblance to Link Starbureiy is uncanny😉 /// character:= ruthless, bellicose, not easily fooled, fearless, and on a crusade for freedom]-
Tommy Beardmore as Egg (Joseph "Joey" J. Leland, Jr.), intelligence operative and only son of Easter[description:= White male, 30-35 years, fit /// character:= travels frequently in search of more than just tech-installing for his job assignments, fallen out-of-favor with his mother and wary of his dad because of doubts of paternity, yet can't ignore evidence of similar behavioral patterns, a boy scout/G.I. Joe-type]-
Reginald VelJohnson as Al(ven) Powell, retired police sergeant having a decades-long friendship with Easter[description:= Black male, 65-70 years /// character:= a happy-go-lucky retiree who is always there when you need him🙂, his only real concern these days is for his nephew, Albert, who is following in his footsteps and joining the TPD, enjoys his hobbies and spending time with his grandchildren, resides in Babson Park, FL but is visiting family in Silver Spring for the holiday and Easter's badge honoring party, bothered by a nagging spider bite that is restricting his ambulation, probably the sole person with insight into Fer's playbook]
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Marc John Jefferies as Roscoe, kingpin drug dealer[description:= Black male, 25-30 years /// character:= former police academy graduate+recruit, now a wanted criminal (for murder and narcotics dealing) who is the subject of a joint PPD+DEA hunt (and has been for many months), the biggest drug dealer in Philly and feared leader of an extremely violent criminal network arisen from Camden slums]- Bunny (Mika Petrakis), trainee of Easter[description:= White female, 22-25 years, thickish build (5'7'', 140lbs.-- must really be able to "squeeze in them jeans"), strong features of her Greek/Mediterranean heritage (dark hair/eyes) /// character := she looks nice but she's not nice, sly, bold, opportunistic, a cold and conniving dyke]📣
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Jim Meskimen as Eógan Tyrone, mayor of township[description:= White male, 55-59 years, Irish/British heritage, must be able to nail the Philadelphia accent /// character:= privileged, seasoned, aggressive, and power thirsty, a typical two-faced political bullshitter]- Stephanie "Steffie" Lucia, only daughter of Easter and older sister of Egg[description:= White female, 30-39 years /// character:= independent self-made adult on the cusp of 'finding' herself, employed as a clandestine agent (and that's all we know), sides with her mother in despising her dad but would be unsure why if she did some self-introspection]📣offered to Rumer Willis
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Sinqua Walls as Ares (Red* Horseman), one a Fer's henchmen[description:= Black male, 30-ish years /// character:= an architect apprentice, professional student-type, humble and milquetoast, takes orders well, is afraid that maybe both sides of the fight are equally wrong]-
Rusty Schwimmer as Wendy Roberts, civil servant and in-house Doctor of Psychiatry[description:= White female, 50-55 years, heavyset build /// character:= a lonely hopeless romantic (who is just now starting to accept that men never cared about her credentials), professional to a fault]-
Eddie George[i] as Iggy Veracruz, Navy SEAL special ops commander[description:= Latino/Hispanic male, 40-45 years, Central American heritage /// character:= a Texas-bred, tough-as-nails/'hard ass' field general]
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Carl Weathers as Reverend Dominique McClane, neighborhood deacon[description:= Black male, 60+ years /// character:= he can preach until the moon turns blue, but is deep-down tired of the choir itself, lately finds himself babysitting Tharbis' kids, he's been waiting for someone like Fer - who he views as a prophet - to come along]- Lent Goode (Tom Farrell), Easter's police captain[description:= White male, 50-55 years, Eastern European heritage, clean-cut /// character:= lenient but vindictive, really harbors ill-will towards criminals, a brown-noser]📣offered to Brett Hull (other actors may be considered)
- fabl3 (Matthew Farrell), computer hacker and government associate[description:= White male, 40-ish years /// character:= a dues-paid public servant who's worked on important
cyber missions over the past decade, distant cousin of Lent Goode]📣offered to Justin Long-
Kofi Siriboe as Colin "Ramp" MacIver, petty officer in the maritime forces[description:= Black male, 20-25 years /// character:= fiscally conservative, hardworking and dutiful, a friend and fellow band member of young Joe Leland]-
Kathleen Quinlan as Lily (Karen Holly Gennaro), ex-spouse of Easter[description:= White female, 65-70 years /// character:= sick/ill, settled in Fairfax County, Virginia, frequently at odds with Easter because of her past dalliances; what's left of their relationship these days is estranged and apoplectic, but both still honor "the deal"]- "Lollipop" Sylvia, connect[description:= Latina/Hispanic female, 15-20 years, Puerto Rican heritage /// character:= the unsuspecting distributor for both an offshore drug lord and Roscoe's minions, a candy-loving, cold-blooded assassin, a young girl who is making good money being exploited]📣
- Hephaestus (Blue* Horseman), one of Fer's henchmen[description:= Mixed male, 15-18 years /// character:= a mulatto boy caught up in a race war, an otherwise city-slick/street-smart punk kid who is infatuated with the manliness and father figurehood that Fer exudes, participated because he admires the leadership and wholeheartedly believed in its cause, now he must make a decision]📣
- Hebe (Purple* Horsewoman), one of Fer's henchmen[description:= Black female, 40-ish years /// character:= something was amiss in her personal life that she thinks she's found by following Fer]📣
- Bethany, a close business associate of Maundy[description:= White female, 30-ish years /// character:= cutthroat, face-paced MBA
type who is just as invested as her boss in making sure the company is in a secure position]📣- Bachev, concerned citizen[description:= Eastern Bloc male, 25-35 years /// character:= a no-nonsense family guy, prejudice at his core yet affable, large build (6'6''+, 240+), intelligent]📣
A Horseman is identified by the color of their held Beretta handgun.
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Amrapali Ambegaokar as Ritcha Ramja, City-wide liaison for the Police Department[description:= Indian female, 40 years /// character:= blunt, low-key mouthpiece who acts as the interface between the intra-departmental corruption and the general public]-
Dianne Wiest as Marty Abrams, District Attorney[description:= White female, 70s years /// character:= a deadly prosecutor (frequently seeks the death penalty for the convicted), running for mayor in this special election which she is campaigning for "redevelopment", a holdover from the Frank Rizzo era, modeled after Lynne Abraham] - Efret, distressed child, only sibling of Gershom, and daughter of Tharbis[description:= Black girl, 8-10 years, dark-skinned]📣
- Gershom, distressed child, younger brother of Efret, and son of Tharbis[description:= Black boy, 6-7 years, lighter-skinned]📣
- Tharbis, distressed mother of Efret and Gershom[description:= Black female of Ethiopian descent, 30-35 years, thin build (body type reflects her struggles with drug addiction) /// character:= a thot]📣
- young Karen Gennaro[description:= White female of North Italian descent, 28-32 years, small
frame (~5'6'', 115lbs) /// character:= an abundantly hopeful person with an air of class (read: 'old vibe') to her]📣- Dorsel, concerned citizen[description:= White male, 20-30 years /// character:= red-blooded American dude competent with a variety of firearms, pissed-off at the uprising, sees this as the perfect time to kill himself some 'niggers']📣
- Norma Stefany "Norma" MacIver, wife of/widow to Colin[description:= Black female, 20-25 years /// character:= an eager militant youth who is obsessed with the political and social climate of her time]📣
- Al(bert) Powell, freelance private investigator[description:= Black male, 21 years /// character:= nephew of Alven who wants to 'fight the good fight', aspires to be like his "legendary" uncle]📣
- George Coon, concerned citizen[description:= Black male, 20-25 years /// character:=
token conservative Black guy, well-read, unctuous, wears his opinions on his sleeve, thinks that everybody should get along with everybody as long as it benefits him]📣- Patel, concerned citizen[description:= Indian male, 20-25 years /// character:= a passer-by whose bad luck put him in the path of danger]📣
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Ross Marquand as Lambsimon, a member of Bethany's pod[description:= White male, mid-30s years /// character:= meticulous, diligent, dutiful, and sacrificial in the sense that he's willing to work long hours]- Ling-Lang, concerned citizen[description:= East Asian male, 25-30 years /// character:= restaurant employee out to defend his turf, not the nicest person, but decent and minds his own business]📣
- d0x, Roscoe's BI[description:= Black male of Somali descent, 30-35 years /// character:= tech and business savvy, helps with the logistics of the kingpin's operation(s)]📣
- Lef'fut, Maundy's bodyguard[description:= White male, 35-45 years /// character:= burly guy who doesn't say much, speaks when spoken to, does what is asked of him, the boss' right-hand man and muscle]📣
- Mang, battalion leader for Zone 4/Asian community[description:= Asian (Chinese/Vietnamese) female, 30-40 years, small frame (shorter than 5'5'', 110lbs. or less) /// character:= a feisty survivalist who just so happens to get caught up in a war, a wife with secrets]📣
- Frank Rizzo, Mayor of Philadelphia (1978 flashback)[description:= White male, 55-60 years, burly frame /// character:= boisterous and brutish, his relationship with the African-American community is volatile]📣
- Galina, concerned citizen[description:= Russian female, late 30s years /// character:= single mom, immigrant, fed up with the 'others' not appreciating their opportunities, fighting for her race]📣
- Romany Naples, Vice Mayor of township[description:= Italian male, 45-50 years /// character:= second in-command, always en garde, of IJ Syndicate heritage]📣
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Laura Stetman as Ethel, Egg's girlfriend[description:= White female, 25-30 years /// character:= her relationship is tricky, as she is romantically involved with an always on-call operative, but it's relatively new and she is patient, an actuary by trade]- Bird, Navy SEAL under Iggy[description:= White male, early 30-ish years, medium
frame (~6'0, 175-180lbs.) /// character:= a ginger, never bothered, contemplative/mysterious, gets the job done]📣Note (+): Any and all confirmations strictly means that talent has opted to work on piece in some capacity relative to what has been proposed, and thus would qualify to be on the payroll. |
Note (+): Because of the speed at which I plan to move (on schedule), the antagonist in the story has been written so that the actor would really need to have a close relationship with the writer himself (me), so I've penciled myself (Link Starbureiy) in the role of Fer. And since I know exactly what I want, I doubt that will change. |
- conduction+editing+writing = Link Starbureiy (opera+libretto, conductor, editor), H. Rap Brown[ii] (writing, autobiography), Roderick Thorp[iii] (writing, characters)
- visual/special effects = Digital Dimension[i], Pixel Magic[ii], Luma Pictures[iii][iv], Eight VFX[v], Gloria FX[vi]offered
- costume+wardrobe = Link Starbureiy (ideation)
- makeup = ?
- sound+music = Jerry Goldsmith[i] (incidentals), Michael Kamen[ii] (theme), Jimmy Jam + Terry Lewis (coordination)
- electrical = ?
- set decoration = Link Starbureiy (staging)
- stunt coordination = ?
- art direction = ?
- line production/business operation = ?
- casting = Link Starbureiy
- cinematography [camera, lighting, photog direction] = Link Starbureiy (ideation)
- transportation department = ?
- military science = ROTC at The University of Montana
Thanks goes to writers Howard Chaykin[i] for any comic book (DIE HARD: Year One) influence, and W.E.B. Griffin[ii][iii] for his dramatic styling of certain story elements that may have been |
+Jobs/Employment
The following employment opportunities are non-unionized paying contracts available to contractors*. All positions seen here are active; if the position is not in this space, it is not active. If no positions are posted, it means just that - there are no available gigs. Jobs, their descriptions, and any related information is always subject to change, and may remain posted at the discretion of the poster for purposes of posterity. To begin (an) application, open the lines of communication with the hashtag: #Eastergigs in the comment section below [eg. #Eastergigs: name, skills, etc.]. Messages may be considered responsive, but only insofar as mutual interest exists. I'm also a firm believer that everyone should have Discord
handy.Contractors must independently draft their own contracts (as to what salary, working conditions, etc. is acceptable).--------
+concept artist - draw, draw, draw, and draw some more! -- proficiency with variety of vector graphics programs (Corel, Adobe/GIMP, MS Paints, etc. w/ brushes: watercolor, camel hair, airbrush, crayon/oil pastel, grease pencil), strong 2D/3D modeling and CAD. Skills in character animation (/animatics) with said tools is a plus! Fine artists will spend their time building assets. --- can you do stuff like this? 
+military consultant - help draft* schematics for wargaming in an urban landscape. An ideal candidate will have experience in actual combat (deployed), ROTC, and/or be a solid player in real-time tactics video games such as Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, Sniper Elite, and Battlefield -- in these scenarios, we need to know - given certain time constraints - what is feasible versus infeasible in urban guerilla warfare. Considering that Philadelpia, PA is a relatively large layout with many rowhouses, sidestreets, a trolley/elevated transit system, and on two rivers ([a]+[b]), how would battalions attack each other with limited munitions in that setting? --- if you're a gamer, demo your vids on YouTube with the hashtag: #wargamingforEasterOperaData trained on Easter.ai.
Note (+): |
+actors - both dry and wet. A dry actor (rehearsal aid) is one who helps with fleshing out a scene, particularly assisting the concept artists to better communicate+illustrate their renderings (for the wets). These individuals are not expected to have screen time. On the otherhand, a wet actor will audition for a role to be seen by a wide audience. --- dry actors might be selected from local talent; wet actors should frequent the film office bulletin in Philly (film.org), and elsewhere online (eg. Backstage.com). All hired actors must be non-union [SAG/AFTRA/AEA=no].* ---- actors please demo your reel on YouTube (at your discretion, make selection public, or unlisted if you only want someone like me to be able to view it) with the hashtag: #actingforEasterOperaOr, at least commit to being de-unionized while on set. The reason no SAG/AFTRA/AEA is preferred is because I don't want a union trying to bully me or getting in the way of what I'm trying to accomplish. I can't have actors or crew or anybody for that matter, slowing down production with a list of demands for working terms; if I have to work a certain style (long hours, etc.), then you have to work that same way. // En lieu of this, offered to hirees is an exceptional benefits package.
Note (+): All acting assignments are paid gigs that will receive |
+construction worker - build/construct physical sets according to specification, and under the supervision of a foreman. Must be able to work on-site (Philadelphia or Montana) with varying hours. -- laborers should hold industrial trade certification and pass a background check. English and Spanish speakers OK.
+music - besides myself and a mixer, instrumentalists will be conducted by a classical conductor with experience in film, television, or (the cinematic elements of) video game scoring. Soft notes from Jerry Goldsmith's incidentals, as well as themes from Michael Kamen's original Die Hard score may be incorporated, so the department will need to conduct a full orchestra for additional new music (3+ hours) around that. -- applicants should hold a bachelor's degree in music.
Also wanted are neo soul/contemporary R&B songwriters and beatmakers for a series of forty-five (45) second advertisements featuring Ric Flair[i] of a fictional (in the sense that it was created for this opera) brand of DIY huckleberry-flavored rum called Hubert Brown (the birth name of H. Rap Brown/Jamil Abdullah al-Amin). These are marketing gimmicks that tie into the production (look for these around the Web and in the |
My way (rather, the Black American style to which I'm accustomed) of doing this is to put a bunch of professional musicians (whether they've worked together before or not) in a room and let them have jam sessions. We're bound to have a ton of new music and sounds, some things of which are destined to make the cut.
btw, aren't these great?:
+video game programmer - going off concept art and assets to develop the complementary app for Easter. For the most part, gameplay is styled after the Pokémon Go game (2016), consisting of mixed reality/augmented reality elements super-imposed on locations (also, can you make in VR??). -- do you think your team can ship a monetizable app (beta) with continuous predictable updates through March 2019? Show me your GitHub. 
+chemist - study (I'm thinking more along the lines of theoretical chemistry) the properties of huckleberries (Gaylussacia) in relation to biofuels [assignment: describe how synthetic compounds (eg. alkaloids) found in the huckleberry/blueberry can be used as a fuelcell to power an artificial motor]. Your research will produce peer-reviewed technical papers (this would make for a great thesis😉).* Funds are in the form of a one-time, short-term grant. -- candidacy: should be competent in all standard purification+analytical techniques, as well as parallel synthesis. A graduate education (PhD/master's) is required.Co-authorship is likely. 
+automotive engineer - somebody who can prototype interfaces for self-driving vehicles (smaller cars). You will need to be comfortable with CAD+3D printing of dongle accessories (these control the automobile) into which your machine learning software will be built. More specifically, can you work with the comma.ai API and that whole ecosystem?
Investor relations
Financial literacy | Flotation and private offering
Hello.🙂
DESCRIPTION Easter is an opera billed as the capstone of the acclaimed The Detective franchise. Roderick Thorp's bestselling novels were first adapted to screen in 1968 with a fine performance[i] from Frank Sinatra as Joe Leland, and then twenty years later in 1988 (Die Hard) with Bruce Willis' career-topping role as John McClane. Here, Joe Leland/John McClane returns in this epic saga-concluding tale about redemption. An all-star cast dramatizes Link Starbureiy's Pulitzer-nominated work. |
abo$567million pps$1.00 goal$60million |
Slidedeck
PROSPECTUS
{This is a subscription*. You are investing (purchasing shares) in a project that is a work-in-progress for the possibility of being rewarded with high-yield interest, upon completion. The following presentation is directed at potential underwriters.In finance, subscribing is the
process of investors signing up and committing to invest in a financial instrument, before the actual closing of the purchase.}
INVESTMENT TERMS
Security type: Crowd note with revenue participation rights (ie. share)
Round: Seed [$120,000 (min.) - $1.2million (max.)] /
Close🔒: April 30, 2018Valuation cap (budget/goal): $60million
Conversion provisions: Participants are granted non-voting rights as a relative stake in gross profits accumulated from all media sales through a finite period as determined by the house. For example (actual values will vary), if a participant's individual subscription (s) totaled $10,000 of an estimated $50,000,000 budget (b) [f = s/b = 1/5,000th], and the box office output (t) is $500,000,000, then participant's earnings would be = (f x t = $100,000). [Discussion: financial fuss]
All monies received here come from voluntary orders, and are not tax-deductible. By purchasing, you hereby agree to the following Terms of Sale: All sales are final, non-refundable, irrefutable, and non-transferable.
Long-short: As to not allow contamination of the vision of the Opera, total subscription equity has been diluted to fifty percent with negative parity (50%-). This marginalization of the Subsciber ("You") keeps the majority (50%+) of the power and absolute direction in the Producer's ("Me) hands, but privileges are still jointly shared between parties. Once monies are collected from the exploitation of the Opera, it becomes imperative that fair distribution ("Adjusted Gross Procession") is established. Essentially, what you paid into ("Subscription"), gets reflected in the amount, based on total returns. Keep in mind that repayment lasts only for a specific duration, and is in no way |
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
The cast+crew for Easter:Die, Detective! have either won or been nominated for a considerable number of industry-related accolades over the course of their careers. For instance, the opera's thespians (anchored by Ms. Glenn Close) have received 10+ Academy Award nominations, 40+ Golden Globe Award nominations, 30+ Emmy Award nominations, and 4 Tony Award nominations.
BUSINESS SUMMARY
Opportunity
This is your chance to help rejuvenate 'The Detective' series. Its first sequel, Die Hard™ [TD2], has been called the 'greatest action film of all-time'[i] and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2018, which also marks that film's thirtieth anniversary.
Activation
//Use of proceeds, marketing -
All funds raised from this offering will be used to further project to completion. The ensemble cast for Die, Detective! has been completed*. Other roles (and there are lots of them) are still being filled. Casting should be completed by May 2018. Again, the budget is conducive to funds raised, with a low ceiling of $60million. To save on expenses, there may be deferment of costs (eg. talent might opt for backend compensation en lieu of salary). Tax credits will also be applied whenever possible. No loans are to be taken out; all financing comes directly from crowd notes, themselves raised in funding rounds as necessary+feasible.Subject to change by the Producer and/or the talent themselves.
Seed funds are sought to complete pre-production (current state), and then progress to the next stage - principal photography. Pre-production is the stage where all concept art is illustrated for cinematography, pre-visualization is set for the actors, the script is squeaked for final preparation, and the cast is officially contracted. While large portions of the script can be performed without pre-visualization (just using direction, for instance), there are still a great many scenes that need to be fleshed out with 2D renderings and rough 3D animations.
Photography commences in late May 2018. Filming will take place on location in Philadelphia, PA and Butte, MT. A scheduled four-month shoot is allotted (with an additional two months for any necessary re-shoots included in this timeframe). Series A+B raises are likely to finance photography.
Post-production is the penultimate stage of filmmaking. During this stage, most if not all of the editing will happen. Visual/special effects are added to the picture. Sound, music, and audio effects are arranged+implemented. This is the most laborious stage in the entire process, and thus, typically takes the longest and is the most expensive. Funding is likely to come from additional Series (C, D, ..etc.).
The marketing campaign is as follows: Beginning June 2018, pro wrestling legend, Ric Flair, will feature in eight (8) adverts (called 'Easter eggs') to be distributed intermittently. Each advert will drop hints of John McClane's origin story. The 'Easter eggs' will have official trailer footage accompanying them. -- Mr. Flair was selected because of his own backstory (which conveniently ties-in), and because of his popularity with a specific target (male) of our demographic.
All talent (cast+crew) who have available social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), are asked to utilize them throughout the opera's development. This is done so as to keep investors (and to a smaller extent, fans) abreast on internal (but not spoiling) ongoings. Major print and multimedia outlets will also be contacted for news flashes.
🗓️Schedule
Easter:Die, Detective! debuts theatrically on April 19, 2019 (Easter holiday weekend). Supplied is a one-year roadmap of planned milestones leading up to release.
TRACTION
Different production companies (including mine) had been rumored to have limited involvement with a John McClane-centric picture since 2010. Bruce Willis ("Mr. Willis") publicly stated that he wanted to retire the character after a portrayal in a sixth film.[i] In October 2015, director Len Wiseman tweeted a still image that read "DIE HARD: Year One"[ii], with no further information for nearly two years. Then, in September 2017, news outlets were given the report[iii] that he was looking to cast in a (presumably) new television series based around the comic books DIE HARD: Year One. Disney later purchased Twentieth Century Fox.[iv] With the project sitting in development hell for more than seven (7) years, Mr. Willis took to late-night talk shows in February 2018 to give a status update, confirming that scriptwork existed.[v] By March of 2018, DIE HARD: Year One hired new writers to do a script re-write[vi], implying some dissatisfaction from its would-be star.
Mr. Willis requested the following:
- to star in a war movie[vii] (Hart's War is discounted because that's not actually a war picture, but a drama which takes place in a war camp)
- an on-screen send-off with McClane's ex-spouse, Holly Gennaro[viii]
- a return of either Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) or Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson) in some capacity
- that if his character were do die, it should be helping children in the line of duty[ix]
Note (+): Bonnie Bedelia has declined - with exception - to reprise her role of Holly Gennaro. In Easter:Die, Detective!, the actress for Karen Holly Gennaro has been replaced with Kathleen Quinlan. I apologize to the dismay of the fans, but I need people who actually want to work. |
Die, Detective! obliges those requests (for the most part). Additionally, the critical response to A Good Day to Die Hard was overwhelmingly poor.[x] Many felt that it 'didn't feel like a Die Hard movie', while others gave Jai Courtney's (Jack McClane) performance lackluster reviews. As a response, the character of Jack McClane (Joey Leland) has been replaced with actor Tommy Beardmore. Also, Bruce Willis' real-life daughter, Rumer Willis (contracted with Fox via the show, Empire), has been offered* the role of McClane's on-screen daughter, Lucy (in part due to public distaste for the scandal involving Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ewan MacGregor[xi]).This would be the forth time father and daughter acted together on-screen[xii].
The Die Hard™ franchise has a die hard (pun intended) built-in fanbase. Its social media presence on Facebook sits at ~2.7million likes/fans, more than that of superheroes (and box office draws) Wonder Woman ($412.6million US/$821.9 worldwide), Black Panther (which, as of April 2018, is the highest-grossing superhero film to date), and Justice League ($229million US/$657.9 worldwide).
HISTORICAL FINANCIALS
+ The Detective series box office performance
📊📈Spread Analysis
+ Ad traffic (for uuelco.me)Page RPM [floor - ceiling, with daily fluctuation]: $0.00 - 37.49
Note (+): This graphic only shows the start of a new cycle, that's why the 'Clicks', 'Page views', and 'Impressions' |
Post count: ~11,100
Average page views/day: 23.5k
Unique site visitors/month: ~617k+
What I do for a living is play with a |
INDUSTRY+MARKET ANALYSIS
Note (+): A Good Day to Die Hard performed exceptionally well in Hong Kong, setting a series record in film gross. |
COMPETITORS/COMPARABLES
//Other franchises with themes similar to Easter:Die, Detective! -
Platoon: The classic American film based on a screenplay by director Oliver Stone about his time in the infantry while serving during the Vietnam War. This picture follows a small platoon of soldiers on a ground assignment as they fight their enemies and each other. The film went on to win Academy Awards (1986) for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing. [watch trailer footage🎬]
John Wick (franchise): About a retired hitman forced to deal with adversaries who have stolen his property and disrupted his pursuit of a calm lifestyle. As the chapters progress, he is brought back into the world of underground contract killing. The films are very high-octane, and play like a first-person shooter video game as viewed by the audience in second-person. [watch trailer footage🎬] 
Power: Set in present-day New York City, the drama follows James Saint Patrick as he simultaneously masquerades as a drug lord and night club owner. As both the protagonist and antagonist of the show, he must balance volatile elements of his personal life that include a longtime friendship, a stable wife and family in addition to his mistress, and a menacing past that threatens to topple all of it. To date, the show's second season has been lauded as its most successful, garnering a 'fresh' 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (.com). [watch trailer footage🎬] 
The Wire: A crime drama series (five seasons, sixty episodes) set in Baltimore, Maryland that explores the relationships intertwining law enforcement, illicit+illegal drug activity, city government and its bureaucracy, as well as print news media. Since its syndication, it has been hailed by fans and critics as one of the greatest television shows of all-time. [watch trailer footage🎬] DIE HARD: Year One: Howard Chaykin-created comic series which delves into the rookie year of a young John McClane on the force in New York City in the late 1970s. This is (presumably) being produced by Di Bonaventura Pictures and Len Wiseman as a serial television program (running parallel to the comic books' issuing). It was greenlit by 20th Century Fox in 2017 as a replacement (new incarnation) to that studio's cancelled 24:Legacy show.
Basket🛍️
compile🔐/$50 |
perks🖐🏽 |
Easter.DD
Your downloadable digital compile🔐 includes the piece's multiplexed plugin, libretto, and a deluxe edition of the print (Easter:Die, Detective! cinematic). Ships April 19, 2019.
Note (+): The |
+ $500/
signed shirt (autographed by Link Starbureiy) [shipping NOW]
Item description: You'll look good in this shirt. The UUe |
+ $1,000/underwriter credit - Credited as an 'Underwriter' of the opera. Your name (first plus last) will appear in the end scroll during film credits. You'll also get a
signed shirt. [ships April 2019] + $25,000/private screening - Enjoy the pre-release (plus meet+greet) with me during a screening for professional journalistsin Los Angeles, California. [transportation and lodging accommodations are your responsibility.] -- This perk also comes with an 'Underwriter' credit and a
signed shirt. [ships April 2019]
Additional hospitality: As my personal guest, you will receive an entrance badge to the theater, an assigned seat (this just means that you'll get a nice view if stadium seating is available), and a gift bag to take with you. There will be catering (suited to my cuisine tastes, probably nourishing soulfood) on-hand to everyone during the experience. This should be fun! |
Discussion
//general (15+1) //production (10) //financial (14) //technology (7)
comment💬
Q: Is this 'Die Hard 6'?
A: It could be. Or, rather, this would be 'The Detective part 7'. Technically, it (the first part of the operatic arc) is 'Easter:Die, Detective!'.
Note (+): The 'Die Hard' trademark is only |
Because the arc wraps with a rehash of Nothing Lasts Forever (chord 5), this, in a way, is a reboot of the series, as well.
Q: Is this the official webpage for said project?
A: Yes. This is the official central page for the opera, Easter, by Link Starbureiy. Other sites may ping back here as a point of reference.
Q: Will there be sequels?
A: To the opera itself, no. The first chord is intended to conclude the Joe Leland saga. By the end of the fifth chord, the Leland Family drama is completed as was published.
Q: This comes across like a multitude of projects. Please clarify.
A: Easter is an ambitious large-scale opera that is told is five parts called chords. The first chord (prelude) of this opera is, 'Die Detective!'. Since we are doing one thing at a time, Die, Detective! is what is currently underway for screen adaptation. The plan is to have the other four (4) chords successively released in similar fashion.
In terms of the amount of activity in this opera, there are a few intra-opera technology targets🎯 that we aim to hit, but these are supportive (supplemental) and not extracurricular.
Q: What does the opera's logo
mean?A: It is an illustration of a cracked Easter eggshell, which supposedly represents the oncoming of a new beginning or an awakening.
Q: Establish permissions.
A: Because this is a transformative phonorecord, the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976[i] supersedes and supplements permission from Dial Press, the publishing imprint for the books, The Detective and Die Nigger Die!, to use those works as I see fit, however faithful. That is my legal authority to move forward with this piece. I have qualifications (via [a], [b], [c]) to prepare a derivative work (chords 1 and 5) from a musical angle. And even if the permit were to be rescinded (it won't), this is - according to fair use doctrine - pursuant of an original work (intermezzi: chords 2-4). Standard stuff.
More concretely, I am granted definite statutory custodianship from the estate of Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin to reuse the book, Die Nigger Die!.
Q: What is the ISMN with the Library of Congress?
A: ISMN: 979-0-800136-00-9
Q: Explain this operatic phylum.
A: Easter is an opera predicated on cinema (opera cine). Much like how you can have a movie based on a book, the prelude chord (Die, Detective!) centers around characters and a plot synthesis spiritually connected to the books, The Detective (1966, Roderick Thorp ISBN: 0-8488-0375-2), and Die Nigger Die! (1969, H. Rap Brown ISBN:978-1-55652-452-3).
Q: 🗓️When does the opera premiere?/When does it first get performed?
A: April 1, 2018 [libretto📘] (online @this parlor as a stream of frames in its non-cinematic entirety = chords 1-5) / April 19, 2019 (chord 1 debuts cinematically
Easter holiday weekend [domestic🇺🇸])Q: Discuss debut and post-premiere distribution plans.
A: In addition to being a metered embed on this jukebox page, the cinematic might have a wide domestic release in IMAX theatres and on RealD® screens for its opening week [twelve (12) days from 4/19 - 4/30/2019] so as to qualify for Oscar eligibility -- any further theatrical releasing will be played by ear. -- The opera itself has a lot of replay value, so ending that first weekend, on Easter Day (4/21/2019)🐣🐰, it will have broader simultaneous availability as a streaming/video-on-demand item for rent* [at the usual ten cents per minute (10¢/min.) or one-cent per frame (1¢/fr.) rate] or purchase in digital format. Supposedly, this practice keeps advertising costs down; ensuring that distribution fees will only have to be paid once.[ii] Expected services to be used are: Vimeo, YouTube, and Windows+Xbox. The cinematic will also be compiled with the libretto where it can be experienced in its true form, immersively.Keep in mind that renting an item is
normally cheaper than purchasing it. However, the terms for holding/borrowing are shorter.
Q: If you cannot obtain a distribution agreement from a major distributor, is this a hindrance?
A: No. This is my own work, a project created by me to be exhibited/delivered to the public (subject to licensing). A lack of a distributing partner would not be an impediment; as exorbitant as such costs[iii] are, it may actually be welcomed (such a deal for the 'deliverable' would only be negotiated for tangible home media and/or international markets where English is not the primary or secondary language [for dubbing purposes and censorship securing], anyhow, namely China). Besides, I'm not at all interested in the motion picture ratings game; Die, Detective! is (ahem, it's actually NOT RATED) an R+ (for intense sequences) piece, and I won't allow a distributor/studio dictating with scissors what they think is appropriate for me to attain. Plus, there are other distribution methods available.
Q: If you have a buttercup with no butter, what's in the cup?
A: {shrugs shoulders}😉
Q: Why have such a relatively short/limited theatrical engagement?
A: Mainly because of the habits people have in consuming media nowadays. I think an opera of this caliber deserves the very best delivery [sound (audio) and visual]. So as to maximize revenue and minimize costs, unless it has a huge opening where a standard fifty percent (50%/week) drop-off won't affect business, it will only be in theaters for no more than two (2) consecutive week(ends). I certainly will entertain keeping the print available in first- and second-run houses until the nut hits the floor if it is breaking records. The silverscreen is there so that you can enjoy it with others in an auditorium, with all of the "ooohs and aahhhs", stadium seating, and refreshments (if that's your thing). I'm purchasing the highest-quality theaters just for this experience, which isn't cheap. I figure, after you've seen it once on the big screen, it should be available around the same time on your small screen so that you can watch it whenever/wherever; you'll have both options there for your liking.
Q: Where will this be screening roomed?
A: At the 2019 Columbus International Film & Animation Festival (trivia: this is the oldest film festival in the United States).
Q: Under what genre is this classified?
A: It is of the war genre. While still 'NLF'-styled (ie. constricted action and so forth), the overall setting is moreso placed in 'The Detective' realm. In that sense, it is also a crime drama. {I really want to emphasize this being a 'crime drama', because it will feel at points like a drawn-out episode of your favorite police procedural before its war crescendo. There is so much intrigue here that people who love gangster flicks could go for this.}
Q: What is the duration of this piece?
A: Running time for Easter:Die, Detective! (the first chord of a pentachordal arc) is ~200 minutes (3+ hours).
Q: When does recording commence?
A: Some time in early-to-mid Spring [along with rehearsals] - estimated to last through mid-to-late Autumn (wrap = October 2018), can be extended for reshoots as necessary.
Note (+): It is important to note that filming is commensurate with funding. Non-principal photography begins in May with adverts featuring Ric Flair, which are to be disbursed over the course of a year. |
Q: Where does recording take place?
A: Principal photography (+second unit photography) will be shot on location in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania and maybe in-and-around Butte, Montana. Butte can serve as a backdrop for Philadelphia since it has residential neighborhoods that share similar architecture to those in southeastern Pennsylvania. And also - in addition to some of the tax incentives the State of Montana offers filmmakers - because it has a large Irish community (which itself plays a substantial role in this piece).
These locales aren't coincidences. Montana is home, and it's easier to some degree for me to stay close to it. Not thinking about myself for a second, when putting this together, my mind was on a particular family member who lives in Philadelphia and was going through some stuff. An extended stay in Philly gave me an excellent excuse to be with them. |
//production
Q: How can I audition for a role?🎭
A: There are a number of roles for actors to audition. Not every role is open; some are (already) hand-picked by staff and thus not open for reasons that are out of your control. Before applying, you should know what role(s) you are wanting. Although there isn't too much information available regarding the character, a short description has been provided as a rubric. That said, all the staff is looking for is your ability to act and take direction.
Q: How long⏳ should my demo reel be?
A: Ideally, a demo reel will not exceed one-hundred seconds (100 seconds [~1.5 minutes]).
Q: Why are you only shortlisting schools/theater departments? Stop being such a snob.
A: lol. I'm not picking favorites. The top schools are the top programs for a reason. They offer the most thorough (maybe not the 'best') training. We want talent that is ready to 'go' from Day 1. When a production of this caliber is even mentioned, the bigger the applicant pool is not always merrier, so imposing a lower limit on a bucket draw tends to work favorably for the casting director. Still, drama departments across the country aren't differentiated by too much, and so any graduate (even a minor in theatre/drama studies will suffice) is welcomed to apply. (psst! I also consider alumni of avant-garde theater groups/experimental theater companies.)
Q: What camera is used?
A: Pixel* [handset] plus (depending on the perspective and what information/data needs are) device enhancements (ie. Moment or a Xenvo Pro lens).Camera rated the highest in its class.[x][y][z]
Yeah, we're shooting it with a phone📱! The choice was made early on to go with a handset instead of a camcorder, like (considered) RED MONSTRO 8K VV or Arri Alexa. The latter cameras offer a great range of abilities, but I want this to have a real-time strategic feel and look of emergent telepresence (ie. the camera just happened to be there), which in some regard meant photographing on mobile. The Pixel family (or rather, its |
Q: Is this a unionized production?
A: Absolutely not.
Q: If I am part of (have membership in) a worker's union, am I allowed to participate?
A: Possibly. Unions are relics of Prohibition and exist to regulate some thing. They can be beneficial to the 'little guy' who is just starting out (by guaranteeing a livable wage), but are a pest to larger organizations. You've got to eat, I get it. I can work with the contract that you have drawn up [maybe even honoring/matching sheet rates supplied by SAG
or AEA ("Equity")], but don't count on me unionizing my whole production* (a requirement of the union) just to feed you. The legal way around that is to treat you as a temporary employee, and have you NOT REPORT those earnings to your guild, only to the IRS. Both parties (even the AFL-CIO) have to report this information to Uncle Sam, anyway. Basically, you become an independent contractor [1099]. Standard stuff.Which is compliant with provisions of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.The other tidbit is for me, the employer, to have insurance, which most jurisdictions insist on, anyhow, because they're taking a calculated risk hosting an endeavor (ie. a big budget production will likely spend those funds, meaning that the locality or parts therein will need to be underwritten somehow). Think about it like this (hypothetical): I have a planned project. Two performers come to me looking for work. One is a freelancer with no experience, but loaded with natural talent. The other is a talentless unionized hack with a pretty face. She can obviously help sell the project in her own way, but the freelancer can also help, and all he wants is the chance to work on set for some pizza🍕 slices. There's no way I'm unionizing the production just because of her, when I could just hire some other babe who understands the deal. A box of pizza and some cheap insurance policy, or the extra expense of dealing with bloated collective bargaining agreements? You do the math. (see also benefits package, inactivating your status)
Q: Are children allowed on set?
A: Unless a child is part of the production (eg. as an actor), they, like anyone else not on payroll, should not be on set. Children - especially small children - are considered hazardous/a safety risk and not welcomed on set at any time during production.
Q: Are drugs and/or alcohol allowed on set?
A: No. My set is a substance-free workplace. Employees are prohibited from possessing, using, or being under the influence of controlled substances in the workplace. Violating this policy subjects the employee to termination of employment. Manufacturing and/or distributing illegal drugs (anywhere) can result in that person being reported to authorities. Say "No" to drugs.
Q: Are pets allowed on set? Can I bring my pet to work?
A: No. Please keep your pet(s) at home. If any animal is on set, it is likely that they are being handled by a hired professional handler.
Q: Does the script call for any nudity?
A: Nope. Proudly, no one's physical privacy will be compromised during this production.
//financial
Q: Must I be accredited to invest?
A: This raise is a private placement[i] that is open to accredited and non-accredited investors alike.
Q: How is it that non-accredited investors are able to be serviced?
A: Because this praenumeration is attached to a subscription (ie. no-debt/debenture rewards model), it qualifies as being exempt from Reg D (Rule 506)[ii]; thus allowing us to proceed in accordance with Regulation A+. We note that provisions of the JOBS Act applied here would not necessarily be asymmetrical. [Assurance: all such underwriting activities adhere to federal rules+regulations of the United States of America, and are thus SEC-compliant.]
Q: Is the purchase of shares a secure🔐 transaction?
A: Yes. The payment processing is handled on the frontend by Everbutton, which utilizes the Stripe API on the backend.
Q: Can I use money market instruments that I already own to negotiate a larger transaction?
A: Yes. First, to know that you are serious, we will need for you (or someone on your behalf) to make the maximum API (ie. via use of credit card or ACH) purchase of $50,000. Then, in the section of the shopping cart that reads: "Add a note to this payment:", enter a direct phone number, e-mail address, and statement informing us that you wish to fiddle with your CUSIP holdings. If all goes well, we will be in touch.
Step 1:
Then, Step 2:
Q: Do shares come with voting power?
A: Nope. Shares purchased here are non-voting preferred stock, and have no other privileges beyond their potential multiplicative value. As an insurance policy, the house (me) retains a minimum 50.01% ownership of common shares, so input into decision-making and/or direction is not an option that can be bought. You are strictly taking a financial risk.
Q: If I make more than one (1) purchase, will I receive multiple rewards?
A: Yes. Every perk you pay for, you'll get.
Q: Do you accept bitcoin?
A: No. Even though cryptocurrencies (bitcoin, ethereum, etc.) are tech stocks in and of themselves, the hassle of brokering them on my end isn't worth the effort at this point. Please sell-off your holdings in legal tender before dealing here.
Q: When is the expected dividend schedule/turnaround for my investment?
A: As soon as 100% of receipts are returned [likely within thirty (30) days after box office close🔒]. This means that if we stay on-schedule, and all of our targets are hit, then disbursements will be surrendered no later than June 30, 2019.🤞
Q: How is repayment delivered?
A: Spot payments are made with PayPal or via direct deposit (maybe checkbook.io).
Note (+): You are encouraged to register with PayPal if you have not already. |
Q: Is my investment sound?
A: Yes. As required by law, transactions are audited by an independent certified public accountant (probably this guy). Now, scroll back up to the picture of the pretty lady with the great smile and invest.
Q: Can I get a refund?
A: No refunds allowed. Funds are gathered and used immediately on production. A subtraction of financing could halt production (ie. equity withdrawal would be detrimental to credit), and so is not allowed. It is my duty/responsibility to make as much information and terms available to you before you make your choice so that you can do your due diligence in making the best decision (which will never result in rescindment).
Q: What is the budget for this project?
A: Our budget is entirely based on raised funds. There is no set number as of now (and likely won't be until post-production). Judging by the projected expenses of cast+crew salaries, set(s) construction, and costs of permits, a 'large budget' (relative to what was spent on similar works) should be a safe bet. I will say that this number (whatever it comes to) is a ceiling; the actual amount used may well be significantly lower. Keep in mind that budgeting covers pre-production+production+post-production+marketing (from idea-to-viewing).
Q: For how long does the raise last?
A: In stages (seed+series A,B,C,..) until enough funds are acquired to cover all costs/expenses throughout the entire production. This means that active fundraising can theoretically run into Q2 2019.
Q: I would like to make a no-strings attached donation. How do I do this?
A: Thank you. Please use the DONATE button
below (or click here).
Note (+): This is not a charitable |
//tech
Q: Are you shipping a (tangible) hardware product as a result of this work?
A: No. The plan is to have all specs released as a bundle for DIY.
Q: Where can I learn more about methods and methodologies of urban agriculture?
A: Just use Google/Bing and watch videos about the topic online (eg. YouTube), for starters. I got a taste of 'urban farming' by getting my hands dirty at Garden City Harvest in Missoula, Montana. I recommend a book by Will Allen called, The Good Food Revolution (ISBN-13: 978-1592407606), which helped sharpen my understanding for composing portions of this opera. Basically, my education on the topic came from reading literature, watching videos, and working on sites, and yours can, too.
Q: Where can I buy some Hubert Brown rum?
A: It's not for sale. And if it is on sale, it's not being sold by me. The spirit was created just for the first chord of the arc, and is a fictional brand. That said, you can make yourself some by following the instructions. (Drink responsibly.🥃)
Q: Under what license is Insane McClane developed?
A: GNU General Public License v3.0
Q: Is Insane McClane freemium?
A: Yes. 'Free' as in 'no pay' and opensource.
Q: When can I play with the ai?
A: It will be done when it's done. Monitor the GitHub if that interests you.
Q: Why not use multiple service providers for big computing?
A: The short answer is because since they all do the same thing at roughly the same cost, and each offer enough bandwidth to cover all of our compute needs, it's easier to stick with one (1) vendor.
--------
📄Gazette
/Factsheet |
/About - Easter is an opera by Link Starbureiy. It is composed in an arc of five chords. The first chord (prelude) is called, Die, Detective!. The fifth and last chord (postlude), Déjà Vécu, is an elemental revamp of Nothing Lasts Forever (NLF). Thus, the complete arc of Easter is a reimagining of the original The Detective series by Roderick Thorp. It aims to refresh+provide closure🔒 on both ends. [sequel to The Detective, prequel to NLF] /Blurb The reactions of a framed sleuth lead him out of retirement and into civil war. /Tagline Joe Leland versus John McClane |
/Snippets
- the story picks up with Joe Leland (/John McClane +all accustomed problems in tow) having moved from New York City (by way of Idaho) to Philadelphia [now volunteering (his mandate for a healthy pension) with the Philly Police Department]
- Leland is of advanced age and retired
- Leland serves as a mentor to a trainee rookie cop
- the series/franchise gets its first (main) female villain (coloratura by Maundy)
- Die, Detective! is approximately 3.25 hours long, making it the longest episode in the series, in stark contrast to the previous entry, A Good Day To Die Hard (TD6), which was the shortest (and worst-reviewed[i][ii])
- this is classified as a war drama (not as an 'action flick') that features a large-scale ethnic conflict stemming from modern-day issues (eg. oppressive police brutality, rise of ideological pluralities, etc.)
- after getting arrested, Leland situationally finds himself as the last responder amidst chaos where he must use his considerable detective skills and military background to piece together clues in a game of survival
- Leland re-teams with Al Powell (reprised deuteragonist) for stretches
- Heisman Trophy winner, Eddie George, plays a Navy SEAL whose squadron gets caught up in the meanest urban warfare
- 1 million [106] casualties, including major franchise characters (hint: check the title)
- Leland's son and daughter have been replaced with new actors
- we get an in-depth look at the protagonist' backstory (especially military/pre-cop and early career+marriage tidbits) from stitching together flashbacks. >> In doing so, we learn how "Joe Leland" became "John McClane", and, thus, uncover his origin story (an offered overture)
- a much darker, layered, incredibly deep, and considerably more realistic "adult look at police life" in the same vein as Thorp's and W.E.B. Griffin's prose, versus the hazy 'shoot em-ups' of prior offerings
- the cinematic style is real-time telepresent (RTT)
/Quotes
CONDUCTOR'S STATEMENT (a)
"I wanted to compose something that spoke or speaks to the social turmoil in the world of today, and at the same time provides a potential solution. Piggybacking on some of the most popular Americana provides just the experience for me to do that. Joe Leland/John McClane has been portrayed by two of the most iconic film actors of all-time, Frank Sinatra and Bruce Willis, respectively. That said, they're more well-known than he is. The only way to know who he really is is to explore him. -- His journey deserves a proper destination. -- The challenge was to modernize a timeless relic. So with Die, Detective!, we've done just that." - Link Starbureiy
CONDUCTOR'S STATEMENT (b)
"We had to accept that moving on from Joe Leland's saga was an eventuality. His substance abuse, state of mind, and instability ultimately and inevitably forced the drama to naturally - organically even - transition around a different character, his son, Joey. There's smart continuity in the storytelling here, with so many tie-ins to real-world happenings, that it makes sense that a younger person - especially one who is a government liaison - would be energetic enough to tackle them head-on." - Link Starbureiy
CONDUCTOR'S STATEMENT (c)
"The decision to stereoscope in virtual RTT came about from sampling shot selections within set/scene design. Giving the audience a 'place' of their own within the opera was something that I wanted to achieve since its conception. There are too many characters, subplots, and angles to simply focus on one perspective; the viewer should feel as if they're connected to different actors in realtime. This wasn't an innovation that could be accomplished with rhetoric alone, it had to be done with the camera+effects, which is the reason it was photographed on mobile." - Link Starbureiy
/Announcements
- Glenn Close as Maundy in Easter
- 'The Detective' reboot greenlit
- Reginald VelJohnson will reprise role of Al Powell in Easter:Die, Detective!
- Ric Flair to be featured in Easter:Die, Detective!
- Marc John Jefferies to play 'Roscoe' in Easter:Die, Detective!
/Third-party reporting
- Bruce Willis Says He's 'Very Happy About Story for Next 'Die Hard' Movie! [Entertainment Tonight]
- Ric Flair: Movie Star [Cageside Seats]
- WWE News: Ric Flair Lands Another Movie Role, The Rock Celebrates International Women’s Day [411 Mania]
- Ric Flair Lands Another Movie Role, Why WWE Events In Canada Were Cancelled [eWrestling News]
- Ric Flair Booked to Star in Multiple Films [Pop Culture]
- Lesnar Attacks a Referee, News on Austin Aries at ROH, Ric Flair [AllWrestling]
- WWE Symphony Of Destruction Bonus Footage, Another Ric Flair Film, Killian Dain On The WWE NXT Title [Wrestling Inc]
- Latest Titles With Glenn Close [IMDb]
/Homework
The audience is encouraged to, if they have not already, familiarize themselves with the following works of Roderick Thorp: The Detective [ISBN: 0-8488-0375-2], and Nothing Lasts Forever [ISBN-13: 978-0393012491]. Both of these novels have been adapted to film; The Detective (The Detective) and Nothing Lasts Forever (Die Hard[i][ii][iii][iv][v]). Additionally, themes and material for Easter:Die, Detective! are sourced from the autobiography, Die Nigger Die! [ISBN-13: 978-1556524523], by H. Rap Brown, as well as the DIE HARD: Year One [ISBN-13: 978-1608865062] comic book(s) by Howard Chaykin.
/Trivia
- Samuel L. Jackson, who played Zeus Carver, was an acquaintance of civil rights activist H. Rap Brown
- thirty-year anniversary of Die Hard (movie), forty-year anniversary of Nothing Lasts Forever (1978/9 novel), and fifty-year anniversary of The Detective (1968 film)+Die Nigger Die! (1968/9 book)
- Leland was given the middle name 'Pascha' by Starbureiy as part of the character's profile
- this project is, in part, underwritten with crowdfunding
+more
Recognition
- 2018 Nominee (Conductor, Director, New Production), International Opera Awards[i], 2019 Pulitzer Prize entrée (for Drama and Music)
{Right-click -> Save}
(184 kb)
We are happy to take you on a conclusive journey in bidding adieu to our favorite cop. Here, you get a first-hand account of my thinking into the development of this masterpiece. Performance-wise, I want Easter to be(come) one of the top-grossing and most highly acclaimed operas ever, that's what I'm going for. Enjoy.🤠
