"GOTHAM KNIGHTS" SERIES WRITER's BIBLE Developed by Robert Garlen BATMAN Created by BOB KANE and BILL FINGER BATMAN
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
"GOTHAM KNIGHTS" SERIES WRITER’S BIBLE Developed by Robert Garlen BATMAN Created by BOB KANE and BILL FINGER BATMAN published by DC COMICS This is a work of Fan Fiction and is not to be confused with any official BATMAN products or media adaptation. I do not own nor claim to own any character appearing in this work. All Rights Reserved WARNER BROS. DC COMICS. GOTHAM KNIGHTS INTRODUCTION In the darkest area of Gotham, where the monsters prey on the fearful! Where the monsters prowl the streets and the victims of evil grow minute by minute hour by hour! The night sky of Gotham city where the only light is the faint rays of the moon and broken street lights stacked blocks apart. The shadows move with the darkest intent as villains rise and let loose on the city with no remorse, no content, and no mercy! Yet at night, preys one who uses fear against those who prey on the fearful. There is an existing element in Gotham. A wild, animalistic force that cannot be bought, bullied, or reasoned with. This force has become the new heart of Gotham and is no longer lone on its journey for justice. As criminals who were once only afraid will forever be petrified as there is an unstoppable force in Gotham. A force the world calls... BATMAN AND ROBIN! 2. MISSION STATEMENT "GOTHAM KNIGHTS" is an hour long DRAMA centered around the Dark Knight and the Boy Wonder! The long term goal of this series is to not only entertain fans of Batman, but also teach life lessons to a new generation of audiences. Batman in all his glory is a testimony of human will, the will to survive, the will to help, the will to act in the right even when it means a total sacrifice. Batman has stunned and adored fans for almost 80 years. Having existed as one of the quintessential comic book icons he and his young partner in crime fighting Robin have lasted as examples of what the human race can be. Batman is a character that everyone, whether they like him or not, is well respected. Batman is a character that has attention of fans. But the real focus of the story is to tell the relationship between Batman and Robin, While there are many Robins the only logical way to start the story is at the beginning and allow a new generation of fans to see the original Robin, Dick Grayson. Together they represent one beautiful idea: Maturity, something everyone faces in the site of tragedy. As the two kindred spirits attempt to grow beyond the pain of loss. The GOTHAM KNIGHTS are not only the Dynamic Duo, but the members of their supporting cast who help them, teach them and grow with the main characters. Batman is a character with a rich supporting cast. The supporting cast is what helps the characters be so fantastic and what adds the zest to the story. All of the supporting characters are a symbol of something that we can all learn from and as previously stated the mission of the series is to teach a new generation about many things, especially Maturity. The Batman universe is a richly complex and thoughtful universe where many can learn from, and with the characters in the Batman stories they all serve a side of humanity for an audience to learn from. That is the Mission of GOTHAM KNIGHTS. 3. SERIES CONCEPT "GOTHAM KNIGHTS" The Batman legend is an expansive tale. For this series we’re not going to pull any punches. As large as the legend is it allows us to take from it its darkest themes. This is an hour long story where we delve into a main plot full of Noirish detective styles while imploring a brooding tone to keep in the line the Batman’s mood. The series will contain a mixture of the Modern Jim Lee like quality of Batman and Gotham mixed with original Bob Kane like 40’s Noir flair. What’s different about GOTHAM KNIGHTS? Chances are if you’re reading this, you know Batman, well. He’s been a childhood and adult icon since the 1940’s inspiring real world technology and techniques. His story is very well known as told my Comics, Films, Radio, Novels; pretty much any medium known. THE ORIGIN: One dark and stormy night as the Wayne Family had left a Screening of THE MARK OF ZORRO; Thomas’ and Bruce’s favorite film, they met the end of their lives in an area of Gotham known as Crime Alley at the hands of a Mugger. In deep shock the boy made a vow to gain revenge or die trying. But when his parent’s killer had died in front of him he was a lost soul, he left embracing on a worldwide journey that redefines everything anyone knows about Bruce Wayne. As he returned from a long and arduous journey he wasn’t the same spoiled rich child, he was something darker, an entity of darkness and fear. No longer was Bruce Wayne a normal rich kid... He was BATMAN! Every fan knows Batman’s origin. It is something we do not need revisit. No origin episodes. No this is how Bruce became Batman. This series is a partner series. Batman has had his origin told the right way, and now we cover Robin’s, a character whose origin hasn’t been properly dealt with. As iconic as the characters are they deserves nothing short of our very best work. Batman and Robin are a legendary team. The big change of this series is that it focuses on Batman as a father and the Robin’s as sons to the brooding detective. He wants to offer them a family and a purpose, the purpose they find in ROBIN. Make no mistake this series isn’t Batman’s early years of being Batman, this is about the early years, the beginning, the genesis of Batman and Robin, Batman and Robin’s time together. This is the origin of the Dynamic Duo. What (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 4. follows are ways we are dealing with the series to make it feel fresh and original to the fans: 1. BATMAN and ROBIN are partners, the term sidekick is so often used and misinterpret. No doubt Robin takes orders but in the way a son listens to his father. Batman works with Robin {Think the way Dr. House works with his Team, they bounce ideas, while House isn’t always right, he is most the time, Same with Robin the two bound ideas off each other} They’re partners and take each other’s emotional and physical state into each confrontation. 2. BATMAN isn’t a boss, he’s not an employer who is hiring Robin to join him, What Batman’s role in Robin’s life is the Father figure, as well as Alfred as they both Parent Robin in different formats but keeping the boy in a loved and cared environment. 3. The Dynamic Duo doesn’t work well with Police; officially their outlaws. They work with Commissioner Gordon to stop criminals, but as declared by the Mayor, they’re vigilantes and are breaking the law. No Bones about it Cops love them, but they have to pretend to hate them, doesn’t mean they aren’t allowed to get away once in a while. 4. BATMAN and ROBIN aren’t the only active crime fighters in Gotham. The GCPD are some of the richest characters of the comics and they have no small role in Batman’s adventures as Batman is not a one man army. There is no problem leading heavy stories with the notable members of the GCPD. Find something for them; they’re not useless, not to Batman. 5. At its heart GOTHAM KNIGHTS is an HOUR LONG DRAMA. It’s a mixture of detective drama, hard hitting action, and interpersonal stories with the often enjoyed comic relief. The series should never betray the dark brooding tone of GOTHAM but that doesn’t mean the series is on a constant downer. Comic relief is always needed as much as people love drama they love to laugh. 5. WRITING STYLE AND STRUCTURE This series is not for the faint of heart. On GOTHAM KNIGHTS we want strong willed, witty but organic, humanizing dialogue, Life like believable and relateable characters who’s actions and words and movements are believable, strong hearted, heavy hitting stories that fit the hour long drama and have as much fun as it does sophistication. The series wants to encourage it’s writers to take larger than life characters and adapt them in stories that have meaningful events. We have an advantage over an animated series by having the opportunity to be more serious, darker, and heavy hitting then Animated Series. USE THIS TO YOUR IMAGINATION AND ADVANTAGE! We encourage our writers to utilize intelligence and imagination into each episode and each adventure. We should all keep faith in our actors and our directors to take the scripts and term them into hour long dramatic mini-films. Our Stories will all center on a main confrontation. We should pay a lot of attention to this; it’s a large point in each episode that is always looked forward to. Like many iconic shows such as Mission: Impossible, Burn Notice, The Shield, we will keep seasonal storyline as well as episodic where we hold a strong confrontation between characters. 6. SERIES ACT STRUCTURE While the series is televised event we want it to feel cinematic.