AMALGAMATED ARTS
FILM AND TELEVISION SCREENPLAYS
His extensive experience as an actor inevitably led to Michael writing screenplays for film and television. Most of these have been cross-developed as screen versions of his novels and several have secured production options for forthcoming development.
CONQUERED HEARTS – NOVEL AND SCREENPLAY
The discovery of a skeleton on a Jersey farm in the summer of 2010 leads a local reporter to elderly Belle Legallienne, whose amazing personal story takes the journalist back seventy years to the German occupation of 1940. Her poignant and touching tale relates the strength of spirit and humour with which the Legallienne family and the entire island population endured five long years of hardship and oppression under the heel of Nazi rule. The eighteen year old Belle grows to womanhood in a gripping account of love, courage and daring that shows the best and worst elements of human nature and salutes those who stood against injustice and the loss of liberty. As her compelling story finally reaches the liberation and the island is free, the reporter brings the interview to what he thinks is a close; but Belle has one more secret to reveal. She takes the reporter back again to 1945, to a surprise twist in the tale that finally provides the answer to a decades long murder mystery.
All locations have been scouted and the full support and co-operation of the Jersey government for the making of the film has been secured.
The screenplay – a two hour feature film – is set entirely in Jersey.
SENSE OF TIME – SCREENPLAY
A romance that tells the story of an age-gap relationship, set against a background of the world of professional music.
Emma is a single mother in her mid-twenties, with a six year old son called Toby, who is resolved to preserve her newly-won independence and never again be tied down.
Mark is a successful musician in his mid to late forties who writes jingles and runs a working band but whose ambition is to compose for the concert hall.
In an engaging and amusing screenplay, the relationship between Mark, Emma and Toby gradually develops despite her determination not to become ‘involved’ – but ‘the path of love doth not run smooth’ as they attempt to surmount the disparity in their ages, the antagonism and plotting of her ‘ex’ – and the problems of taking a Vegan to dinner! Not until the twist in the tale in the final scene do we learn whether or not they will build a bridge across the divide between their two worlds.
The screenplay – a two hour feature film – is set in and around London.
THE MUSIC WITHIN THE FILM
Set against the lives of Mark and the camaraderie of his band (The Black Cat Band) – Danny, Carl, Garry, Bob, Jackie and Kelly – the screenplay features several new commercial songs and a new ‘cello concerto, with a surging love theme.
This concerto was premiered in London by the Docklands Sinfonia, under Spencer Down, with the London Philharmonic’s Gregory Bennett Walmsley as the soloist.
There is also a children’s junior school performance of an up tempo Caribbean style song with a steel band.
An original sound track double CD, containing all the music from the film, will be marketed alongside the movie.
The Black Cat Band
10 tracks have been written for ‘The Black Cat Band’ – Mark’s fictitious group that plays at The Black Cat as featured in the screenplay ‘Sense Of Time’.
Five of the tracks are written into the screenplay (in whole or in part) – the rest have been written to make-up a CD for promotion alongside the film.
All the tracks are scored for:
Voice, Piano, Double Bass, Guitar, Drums, Tenor Sax doubling Flute, Percussion and backing singers.
Tracks:
1. Le Chat Noir (3m.25s.)
2. I’m Just A Shade Too Midnight Blue (3m.45s.)
3. (Today Is Gonna Be) A Special Day (3m.00s.)
4. The Heartache Special (4m.10s.)
5. A Moment In Time (3m.26s.)
6. Cycle Song (3m.21s.)
7. Love Don’t Come Easy (3m.38s.)
8. I’m Too Fat For My Jeans (3m.25s.)
9. Movin’ On (3m.55s.)
10. Each Little Thing (4m.18s.)
(Track 6 is adapted from an original theme by Richard Greening)
A DEMO RECORDING OF THESE TRACKS IS AVAILABLE
LEGACY – SCREENPLAY
James Mackintosh, a high profile journalist, receives a bizarre telephone call announcing a series of three murders. The first of the caller’s predictions comes true and the police are called to the macabre crime scene where an ex-army officer lies crucified to the floor. As Detective Chief Inspector Paul Chard leads his team to find the killer before the second murder takes place he runs headlong into Major Pennington of military intelligence who is trying to restrict and undermine the investigation. Chard’s only ally in his struggle to catch the killer is his new psychological profiler Dr. Sadie Haslett but, as the two draw ever closer in both their professional and personal relationships, even she is not all she at first seemed. When the murder hunt reaches its extraordinary conclusion, the killer’s last act causes shock waves that reverberate around the world.
The screenplay – a two hour feature film – is set in the UK (London and Oxford) with some flashback scenes set in a middle-east desert village.
DEVEREUX …and a question of class – NOVEL AND TELEPLAY
Former military intelligence officer, Clayton Devereux, resigned his commission in 1930 and set-up his own detective agency, which he runs with his secretary Rose and the occasional hiring of his street-wise cohort Ollie Jones. Their routine work of divorce and petty crime usually bores the urbane Devereux so he is intrigued, and keen to help, when a former colleague asks him to assist unofficially in the search for an M.I.5 operative who has gone missing. In a plot that is woven against the actual political and social tensions of the period, the story twists and turns as Devereux’s clandestine investigation gradually uncovers a dangerous and sinister threat to national security and the stability of the country. Solving the case and finally defeating the forces set against him costs Devereux far more than he was prepared to lose.
The teleplay has been written as four one-hour television episodes – set in England in 1935.
DEVEREUX …and a question of class – NOVEL AND TELEPLAY
Former military intelligence officer, Clayton Devereux, resigned his commission in 1930 and set-up his own detective agency, which he runs with his secretary Rose and the occasional hiring of his street-wise cohort Ollie Jones. Their routine work of divorce and petty crime usually bores the urbane Devereux so he is intrigued, and keen to help, when a former colleague asks him to assist unofficially in the search for an M.I.5 operative who has gone missing. In a plot that is woven against the actual political and social tensions of the period, the story twists and turns as Devereux’s clandestine investigation gradually uncovers a dangerous and sinister threat to national security and the stability of the country. Solving the case and finally defeating the forces set against him costs Devereux far more than he was prepared to lose.
The teleplay has been written as four one-hour television episodes – set in England in 1935.
DEVEREUX …and a royal flush – NOVEL AND TELEPLAY
The second Devereux novel in the series.
In the fateful abdication year of 1936, Devereux receives a clandestine summons to the Houses of Parliament, where he is hired in secret to investigate the theft of personal letters that, if made public, could bring down the monarchy and the empire. With his close team of Rose Merriman and Ollie Jones, Devereux infiltrates the highest echelons of London society. Their enquiry constantly twists and turns through a convoluted path that exposes them to violence and major fraud. Set against the background of actual events of the period, this fascinating tale finally results in an extraordinary and unexpected revelation that must never be disclosed.
The teleplay has been written as four one-hour television episodes – set in England in 1936
DEVEREUX …and a royal flush – NOVEL AND TELEPLAY
The second Devereux novel in the series.
In the fateful abdication year of 1936, Devereux receives a clandestine summons to the Houses of Parliament, where he is hired in secret to investigate the theft of personal letters that, if made public, could bring down the monarchy and the empire. With his close team of Rose Merriman and Ollie Jones, Devereux infiltrates the highest echelons of London society. Their enquiry constantly twists and turns through a convoluted path that exposes them to violence and major fraud. Set against the background of actual events of the period, this fascinating tale finally results in an extraordinary and unexpected revelation that must never be disclosed.
The teleplay has been written as four one-hour television episodes – set in England in 1936
DEVEREUX …and a case of second sight – NOVEL AND TELEPLAY
The third Devereux novel in the series.
Devereux is hired by a star of film and theatre when she receives mysterious threatening letters that order her to abandon her hit West End play or face death. The strange stanzas of the letters appear to suggest witchcraft and the occult and lead Devereux into the oddest case of his career. With his team of Rose Merriman and Ollie Jones, Devereux sets out on the first week of the play’s tour and immediately encounters murder. As he finally uncovers the source of the strange threatening verses, Devereux discovers a far more sinister and dangerous plot that leads him to Special Branch and the secret services and risks repercussions for the safety of the whole country.
The teleplay has been written as four one-hour television episodes – set in England in 1937 and 1938.
DEVEREUX …and a case of second sight – NOVEL AND TELEPLAY
The third Devereux novel in the series.
Devereux is hired by a star of film and theatre when she receives mysterious threatening letters that order her to abandon her hit West End play or face death. The strange stanzas of the letters appear to suggest witchcraft and the occult and lead Devereux into the oddest case of his career. With his team of Rose Merriman and Ollie Jones, Devereux sets out on the first week of the play’s tour and immediately encounters murder. As he finally uncovers the source of the strange threatening verses, Devereux discovers a far more sinister and dangerous plot that leads him to Special Branch and the secret services and risks repercussions for the safety of the whole country.
The teleplay has been written as four one-hour television episodes – set in England in 1937 and 1938.
THE EXECUTIVE – NOVEL AND SCREENPLAY
When an African diplomat dies in his hotel room from a heart attack, after buying the services of a call girl, the doctor conducting the autopsy is unhappy with his findings but receives pressure from above to ignore his suspicions and close the case. Unable openly to oppose his superiors, he calls freelance journalist Josh Brody and asks him quietly to investigate. Struggling to keep up his alimony payments and trying to be a decent, if absent, father, Brody needs an assignment and so agrees to help. His initial enquiries produce nothing significant, and he is about to abandon the story, when he unexpectedly discovers there has been a definite attempt at official cover-up. Sensing the possibility of a big story, the journalist begins to dig beneath the apparent facts and starts to uncover the extraordinary truth. His enquiry takes him to Vienna where he finds yet more contradictory evidence and slowly discovers a conspiracy more sinister and far reaching than he could possibly imagine. Faced with forces he cannot hope to defeat, Brody’s investigation not only puts his own life at risk but places his family and everything he loves in danger.
The screenplay – a two hour feature film – is set in London and Vienna.—-
THE EXECUTIVE – NOVEL AND SCREENPLAY
When an African diplomat dies in his hotel room from a heart attack, after buying the services of a call girl, the doctor conducting the autopsy is unhappy with his findings but receives pressure from above to ignore his suspicions and close the case. Unable openly to oppose his superiors, he calls freelance journalist Josh Brody and asks him quietly to investigate. Struggling to keep up his alimony payments and trying to be a decent, if absent, father, Brody needs an assignment and so agrees to help. His initial enquiries produce nothing significant, and he is about to abandon the story, when he unexpectedly discovers there has been a definite attempt at official cover-up. Sensing the possibility of a big story, the journalist begins to dig beneath the apparent facts and starts to uncover the extraordinary truth. His enquiry takes him to Vienna where he finds yet more contradictory evidence and slowly discovers a conspiracy more sinister and far reaching than he could possibly imagine. Faced with forces he cannot hope to defeat, Brody’s investigation not only puts his own life at risk but places his family and everything he loves in danger.
The screenplay – a two hour feature film – is set in London and Vienna.—-
THE PRESIDIUM – SCREENPLAY
When an African diplomat dies in his hotel room from a heart attack, after buying the services of a call girl, the doctor conducting the autopsy is unhappy with his findings but receives pressure from above to ignore his suspicions and close the case. Unable openly to oppose his superiors, he calls freelance journalist Josh Brody and asks him quietly to investigate. Struggling to keep up his alimony payments and trying to be a decent, if absent, father, Brody needs an assignment and so agrees to help. His initial enquiries produce nothing significant, and he is about to abandon the story, when he unexpectedly discovers there has been a definite attempt at official cover-up. Sensing the possibility of a big story, the journalist begins to dig beneath the apparent facts and starts to uncover the extraordinary truth. His enquiry takes him to Vienna where he finds yet more contradictory evidence and slowly discovers a conspiracy more sinister and far reaching than he could possibly imagine. Faced with forces he cannot hope to defeat, Brody’s investigation not only puts his own life at risk but places his family and everything he loves in danger.
The screenplay – a two hour feature film – is set in London and Vienna.—-
WILLOW MOON – NOVEL AND SCREENPLAY
A painting by a Chinese Master, called The Willow Moon, sells for a record price at Christie’s in Lodon. As the buyer, James Covington, leaves the auction he is confronted by a young Chinese woman. She produces an old sepia photograph showing The Willow Moon in the possession of a beautiful Chinese girl named Lihua and standing beside her in the photograph is Richard Covington – James’ ancestor. The exciting and deeply moving tale reverts to 1872 and the story of Tián Shuĩ, a small village in China. Richard Covington saves the rural community from the terrorising bandit leader Meng and marries Lihua, the daughter of the head man. Their wedding gift is the painting of the rare lunar eclipse called The Willow Moon. The extraordinary story of the painting and its strange and wonderful journey to Christie’s one hundred and forty years later, brings James Covington more than the true history of a work of art.
The screenplay – a two hour feature film – is set in modern day London and in China in 1872. The English actors speak in English while the Chinese actors speak in Mandarin (with subtitles) with some bi-lingual roles. A Mandarin version of the screenplay has been written.
WILLOW MOON – NOVEL AND SCREENPLAY
A painting by a Chinese Master, called The Willow Moon, sells for a record price at Christie’s in Lodon. As the buyer, James Covington, leaves the auction he is confronted by a young Chinese woman. She produces an old sepia photograph showing The Willow Moon in the possession of a beautiful Chinese girl named Lihua and standing beside her in the photograph is Richard Covington – James’ ancestor. The exciting and deeply moving tale reverts to 1872 and the story of Tián Shuĩ, a small village in China. Richard Covington saves the rural community from the terrorising bandit leader Meng and marries Lihua, the daughter of the head man. Their wedding gift is the painting of the rare lunar eclipse called The Willow Moon. The extraordinary story of the painting and its strange and wonderful journey to Christie’s one hundred and forty years later, brings James Covington more than the true history of a work of art.
The screenplay – a two hour feature film – is set in modern day London and in China in 1872. The English actors speak in English while the Chinese actors speak in Mandarin (with subtitles) with some bi-lingual roles. A Mandarin version of the screenplay has been written.
THE LINGUIST – NOVEL AND TELEPLAY
The Linguist is an exciting and intriguing espionage novel that tells the story of a man alone against the all-powerful state and his fight to survive.
In Switzerland, a British tourist dies suspiciously on the ski slopes. In Russia, a top scientist conducts cutting-edge research under the scrutiny of the state secret police. In France, a world-weary detective hunts Islamist terrorists bombing the streets of Paris. In England, the Special Intelligence Service secretly monitors an international conference of The United Nations World Food Programme. As these apparently unrelated threads gradually converge, the fly caught in the spider’s web is Adam Russell, a British Government interpreter whose car collides with another driven by Nina Petrova, a Russian journalist. The consequences of that collision penetrate the highest ranks of British Intelligence and change Russell’s life for ever..
The teleplay has been written as four one-hour television episodes – set in England and France (mostly London and Paris).
THE LINGUIST – NOVEL AND TELEPLAY
The Linguist is an exciting and intriguing espionage novel that tells the story of a man alone against the all-powerful state and his fight to survive.
In Switzerland, a British tourist dies suspiciously on the ski slopes. In Russia, a top scientist conducts cutting-edge research under the scrutiny of the state secret police. In France, a world-weary detective hunts Islamist terrorists bombing the streets of Paris. In England, the Special Intelligence Service secretly monitors an international conference of The United Nations World Food Programme. As these apparently unrelated threads gradually converge, the fly caught in the spider’s web is Adam Russell, a British Government interpreter whose car collides with another driven by Nina Petrova, a Russian journalist. The consequences of that collision penetrate the highest ranks of British Intelligence and change Russell’s life for ever..
The teleplay has been written as four one-hour television episodes – set in England and France (mostly London and Paris).
BRAM – SCREENPLAY
A feature film version of the stage musical BRAM (see Bram under Musical Theatre Works).
A musical drama that tells the story of Bram Stoker’s 30 year relationship with Sir Henry Irving’s Lyceum Theatre Company and how Dracula – the most famous gothic horror novel – came to be written out of Stoker’s experiences with Irving and his production of Faust.
It employs a double cast – with each actor playing a role in both realities – the real world of the Lyceum Theatre and the fantasy world of the Dracula novel.
The screenplay – a two hour feature film – is set in two realities – the Lyceum Theatre in London and Castle Dracula in Transylvania.
BRAM – SCREENPLAY
A feature film version of the stage musical BRAM (see Bram under Musical Theatre Works).
A musical drama that tells the story of Bram Stoker’s 30 year relationship with Sir Henry Irving’s Lyceum Theatre Company and how Dracula – the most famous gothic horror novel – came to be written out of Stoker’s experiences with Irving and his production of Faust.
It employs a double cast – with each actor playing a role in both realities – the real world of the Lyceum Theatre and the fantasy world of the Dracula novel.
The screenplay – a two hour feature film – is set in two realities – the Lyceum Theatre in London and Castle Dracula in Transylvania.
BUGGZ – ANIMATION SCREENPLAY
A full length feature animation. The screenplay – by Michael Heath – is based upon the original concept and story outlines by the artist Terry Quirk and the composer Ted Heath. They also created the character designs, music and lyrics. It is a comic and light hearted story that will appeal to family audiences and children in particular. The ‘bad bugs’ – led by the evil Floo Man Choo – are in conflict with the ‘good bugs’ – led by professor Enoch Ulation and Doctor Penny Cillin. A variety of colourful characters lead the audience through an engaging quest that approaches the subject of viruses and vaccination in an entertaining way, removing the ‘fear’ aspect of pandemics and bringing to life a cast of individuals with whom children will readily identify.
The screenplay will run approximately 90 minutes. A full marketing and merchandising campaign based on the characters will be mounted.
BUGGZ – ANIMATION SCREENPLAY
A full length feature animation. The screenplay – by Michael Heath – is based upon the original concept and story outlines by the artist Terry Quirk and the composer Ted Heath. They also created the character designs, music and lyrics. It is a comic and light hearted story that will appeal to family audiences and children in particular. The ‘bad bugs’ – led by the evil Floo Man Choo – are in conflict with the ‘good bugs’ – led by professor Enoch Ulation and Doctor Penny Cillin. A variety of colourful characters lead the audience through an engaging quest that approaches the subject of viruses and vaccination in an entertaining way, removing the ‘fear’ aspect of pandemics and bringing to life a cast of individuals with whom children will readily identify.
The screenplay will run approximately 90 minutes. A full marketing and merchandising campaign based on the characters will be mounted.
SENSE OF TIME – SCREENPLAY
A romance that tells the story of an age-gap relationship, set against a background of the world of professional music.
Emma is a single mother in her mid-twenties, with a six year old son called Toby, who is resolved to preserve her newly-won independence and never again be tied down.
Mark is a successful musician in his mid to late forties who writes jingles and runs a working band but whose ambition is to compose for the concert hall.
In an engaging and amusing screenplay, the relationship between Mark, Emma and Toby gradually develops despite her determination not to become ‘involved’ – but ‘the path of love doth not run smooth’ as they attempt to surmount the disparity in their ages, the antagonism and plotting of her ‘ex’ – and the problems of taking a Vegan to dinner! Not until the twist in the tale in the final scene do we learn whether or not they will build a bridge across the divide between their two worlds.
The screenplay – a two hour feature film – is set in and around London.
THE MUSIC WITHIN THE FILM
Set against the lives of Mark and the camaraderie of his band (The Black Cat Band) – Danny, Carl, Garry, Bob, Jackie and Kelly – the screenplay features several new commercial songs and a new ‘cello concerto, with a surging love theme.
This concerto was premiered in London by the Docklands Sinfonia, under Spencer Down, with the London Philharmonic’s Gregory Bennett Walmsley as the soloist.
There is also a children’s junior school performance of an up tempo Caribbean style song with a steel band.
An original sound track double CD, containing all the music from the film, will be marketed alongside the movie.
The Black Cat Band
10 tracks have been written for ‘The Black Cat Band’ – Mark’s fictitious group that plays at The Black Cat as featured in the screenplay ‘Sense Of Time’.
Five of the tracks are written into the screenplay (in whole or in part) – the rest have been written to make-up a CD for promotion alongside the film.
All the tracks are scored for:
Voice, Piano, Double Bass, Guitar, Drums, Tenor Sax doubling Flute, Percussion and backing singers.
Tracks:
1. Le Chat Noir (3m.25s.)
2. I’m Just A Shade Too Midnight Blue (3m.45s.)
3. (Today Is Gonna Be) A Special Day (3m.00s.)
4. The Heartache Special (4m.10s.)
5. A Moment In Time (3m.26s.)
6. Cycle Song (3m.21s.)
7. Love Don’t Come Easy (3m.38s.)
8. I’m Too Fat For My Jeans (3m.25s.)
9. Movin’ On (3m.55s.)
10. Each Little Thing (4m.18s.)
(Track 6 is adapted from an original theme by Richard Greening)
A DEMO RECORDING OF THESE TRACKS IS AVAILABLE
All enquiries – Contact:
Ellie Madden & Gemma Towersey
Jeffrey and White Management
Email: info@jeffreyandwhite.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1462 433 752
or
Amalgmated Arts
Email: enquiries@amalgamatedarts.com