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Haven Point: A New Forum Soap


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Old 18-05-2014, 21:39
21stCenturyBoy
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After a lot of writing for pleasure and immeasurable files on my computer, I've decided to begin sharing my would-be serial Haven Point. It's a soap with a difference. Ideally, this would be a "niche soap" aired on either Channel 4 or 5 and be a blend of gritty social commentary with a more surreal, slightly dark narrative structure. As well as the usual birth, marriage, deception, money troubles and whodunnits that characterise soapland, this will feature dream sequences, time freeze and internal monologues. The setting, Haven Point, is a deliberately non-descript coastal town- the kind you find across any stretch of the English south coast. There is a small tourist industry, only ever visible in the height of summer, and a slowly encroaching council estate Saltwood that is a constant source of castigation for some residents of our town.

The initial focus will be on the Nightingale Family- outwardly everything you'd expect from a middle class, almost well to do family but inwardly anything but. The main story arc for the first chunk of episodes will be a whodunnit in reverse following the death of Nikki Nightingale (who is dead at the start of episode 1 but the first 60 episodes are exposition leading up to her murder), the beautiful but troubled daughter of the family. Through the first story arc, we'll meet the town's residents, go behind closed doors to expose their own private dramas and get a clear picture of what could have driven someone to murder Nikki Nightingale. The story, obviously, will continue beyond this case as we realise all is not as it seems in this town like any other. Scratch the surface and you find a town at war- rich with poor, young with old and good with evil. The darker, more fantastical elements I hope to weave into this soap will never be dominant or even obvious- but from the start, a sense of "all is not as it seems" will be apparent. My aim, as lofty and ambitious as it sounds, is to create a kind of Brookside meets Twin Peaks narrative- social realism and commentary, blended in with a much darker, unsettling concept of dark forces at play.

That's it for now. As I'm trying to make this as realistic as possible I'll be unveiling some castings in due course. I'll also be talking a little more about the location and initial storyline in a short while.

But yes, get ready for a soap that isn't what you expect.
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Old 18-05-2014, 22:33
winter99
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Very much look forward to this!
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Old 19-05-2014, 14:00
21stCenturyBoy
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Newman, Basset and more join new Channel 4 "soap-thriller"

Ex-Footballers Wives star Alison Newman, East is East actress Linda Bassett and comedian Jazzie Zonzolo are three of the major names linked to Channel 4's new "soap-meets-thriller" Haven Point. The show, set to revolve around the brutal murder of a local girl, is yet to commence filming for it's run of episodes, but have confirmed that the first major story arc, which producers have dubbed "a whodunnit in reverse", will launch the show as a "darker, slightly edgier" addition to the DS soap lineup.

Some more casting details to follow.
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Old 19-05-2014, 17:44
21stCenturyBoy
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I just thought I'd share a little bit more (not that anyone would be particularly interested) about the three central story arcs that will carry the show for the first few months:

(1) Fundamentally, the Soap begins as a murder mystery- although the first 60 episodes will be focused on the days in the run up to the murder. We'll look at the preceding events and the subsequent murder investigation that rocks the town and exposes some secrets.

(2) The influx of Polish immigrants into the town and the tensions that creates between the locals and the outsiders. We will focus specifically on some "brothers" who's relationship and reasoning for being in the town goes beyond the "looking for work" line that they peddle.

(3) The shady mechanisations of "the Plant", the town's largest employers and subject of a scandal early in the series.
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Old 19-05-2014, 18:15
21stCenturyBoy
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Three international names for Haven Point

Channel 4's latest soap opera Haven Point is to get some international flavour when it launches later this month, with three of it's stars being non-Brits. Australian actress Anna Skellern star of shows such as Outnumbered and A Passionate Woman is set to be joined by Czech actor Miroslav Simunek and German soapstar Vincent Kruger, who will be performing in his first UK TV role.

Whilst Skellern's character is being kept a closely guarded secret, it is believed that Simunek and Kruger will be playing Polish "brothers" who are in the town to find work. They join names such as Alison Newman, Linda Bassett and Jazzie Zonzolo as confirmed to be filming the drama.
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Old 19-05-2014, 21:23
Cal_Scream2
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This looks brilliant. I like the Polish immigrant aspect to it, really realistic, and also 'The Plant' organization should be really compelling.
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Old 19-05-2014, 21:44
21stCenturyBoy
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This looks brilliant. I like the Polish immigrant aspect to it, really realistic, and also 'The Plant' organization should be really compelling.
Thanks.

I wanted to blend realism with some pretty far-out elements.

The Plant will be explained a bit more as I progress- I'm currently just fleshing out my initial character list and then I'll hopefully start introducing you!
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Old 20-05-2014, 12:00
Ross1998
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This sounds phenomenal. Bring it
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Old 20-05-2014, 19:13
21stCenturyBoy
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I've been out all day (my last exam ever !) but will be updating either tonight or tomorrow afternoon
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Old 25-05-2014, 00:27
21stCenturyBoy
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An update

I think I'm going to re-focus my soap to something a little grittier, as I'm working on this as a novel (well, elements) and would rather keep that side under wraps should I have any success with it.

But I will be unveiling a soap here soon with some of these characters brought over. I'm currently creating a story bible for my created characters, and am working on adding a few new ones. I'll be opening a new thread for the new soap.

I'd rather work on this as a novel (I was getting too deep into dream sequences, internal monologues etc that work better in prose) and have something more character driven and forum friendly for my soap.
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