Exhibition Statement

Introduction

 24% of queer television characters them from the 2022-2023 season not returning in the future because of series cancellation (GLAAD 19). As a viewer, how do you adapt to this type of frequent loss? This project was one response: developing a miniseries independent of the industry. Thus Indexing came into existence– a story of five young adults waiting out the zombie apocalypse in an abandoned library. This capstone project consists of the script for the pilot episode and a pitch deck, a brief presentation to garner interest for the series.

Literature

Character driven plot, taking an ensemble of teen stereotypes and expanding them into three dimensional, nuanced people (The Wilds), was the catalyst for the method of narrative in Indexing. Establishing a distinct balance between heavy subject matter-- family issues, processing trauma, etc.-- and dark comedy (I am Not Okay with This) was also a priority during the writing process. Apocalyptic worldbuilding and how characters interact with these surroundings (The Last of Us) exemplified how zombies fit into today’s culture. Indexing became a compilation of these qualities, paying tribute to the (first two) shows that never got their proper ending and reinforcing that this type of storytelling still has a future.

“The Guilt Inventory” offered insight into three major forms of guilt– state guilt, trait guilt, and moral standing (Jones). This research built the foundation for the central themes of the show, assigning these different attributes to each character and determining when the responses Jones identified would reveal themselves. The guilt ridden relationship between religious environments and apocalyptic mentalities (Dias) fleshed out the protagonist, Callis’s, storyline throughout the season. These objective texts, along with personal experiences, heavily informed the creative process of this project.

Methods

The most significant artistic technique used throughout this process was screenwriting. Becoming more familiar with the format of screenplays and how they differ from plays was an integral part of this process. Additionally, media curation– playlists, collages, etc,– built out the world of the show. For research, analyzing media influences like the ones listed above provided insight into what aspects of those stories should be reflected in Indexing. Interviews with other writers and actors (approx. 9) also aided influenced the new ideas incorporated during the drafting process.

Audience & Impact

The audience for this project are queer people ages 16-25,  similar to those for The Wilds and I am Not Okay With This. In the short term, the goal of this project is to make the audience want to watch the show in full; That’s the true criteria of if the pitch is successful. Ultimately, though, this project strives for the story to resonate with those who watch it– causing the viewer to see a small piece of themself in each of the five main characters. On a personal level, this project has allowed for a more thorough exploration of screenwriting in a serial format-- a skill that will continue developing throughout my education and career.

References

Dias, Elizabeth. “The Apocalypse as an 'Unveiling': What Religion Teaches Us about the End Times.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Apr. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/us/coronavirus-apocalypse-religion.html.

I am Not Okay With This. Created by Jonathan Entwistle, and Christy Hall, Netflix, 2020. 

Jones, Warren H., et al. “The Guilt Inventory.” Psychological Reports, vol. 87, no. 3, Dec. 2000, pp. 1039–1042., https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.2000.87.3f.1039.

The Last of Us. Created by Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, HBO, 2023.

The Wilds. Created by Sarah Streicher, Amazon Prime, 2020. 

Where We Are on TV Report – 2022-2023. GLAAD, 21 March 2023, pp 19-21, https://www.glaad.org/whereweareontv22. 

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Gabrielle Robinson-Tillenburg, Elizabeth Shannon, Jordan Resnick, Layla Nordrum, Jenna Dimaggio, Ryan Nock, Carolina Tosami, Gab Ryan, Wilson Seltzer II, Yani I., Heather Bremenstuhl, Abigail Warwick, Layla Nordrum, Belle Pham, Samuel Johnson, and Sofia Castiblanco.