Stunners
returning series / 60pp pilot episode / comedy / mystery
A music journalist trying to establish himself at an uber-cool publisher is assigned to investigate a series of escalating revenge attacks by an angry & anonymous social media influencer.
Format: 8 x 60 minute
‘Succession’ meets ‘I May Destroy You’ with a twist of ‘The Big Lebowski’.… set in Vice Magazine’s London.
Pitch: Heaven has no rage, like love to hatred turned. A dramatic comedy / mystery / whodunnit that follows a bunch of flawed characters as they stumble, charm and murder their way through the confusing and complicated world of modern dating. Set against a backdrop of an uber-cool publisher and the colourful and sometimes cretinous world of influencer culture. Loosely inspired by my time spent working at Vice magazine and by the classic novel Venus In Furs, which explores sexual obsession, cruelty and masochism.
Story: An aspiring music journalist at a youth culture publisher is pressured into writing an article about a series of escalating revenge attacks on unscrupulous daters by an angry, anonymous and accidental social media influencer. A severe case of dating fatigue is sweeping the city, and it’s turning violent. Drawn into a world he had absolutely no interest in, it’s not long before our reluctant investigator attracts the attention of the vengeful influencer. Meanwhile, this self-professed undateable finds himself entranced by an intimidating rock singer. As he navigates these treacherous paths, he discovers the challenges, impact and effects searching for love or satisfying lust - can have on the psyche. Elsewhere, he discovers that the inner workings, politics and power battles within the world of modern media are equally complicated and just as cutting.
Episode 1: A Severe Case Of Dating Fatigue
“We enjoyed reading! It’s a really interesting premise and feels very zeitgeist – tapping into the world of dating fatigue and its madness is fun and clever. We loved Henry and Zac’s characters too and felt they really lift from the page.”
“I can see why your script has garnered so many great responses. It’s an authentic insight into this world and very funny. While you’ve captured the idiosyncrasies of the influencer culture and got a great series ticking clock.”
World: Set in fashionably edgy East London, against the backdrop of an uber-cool magazine publisher - think VICE or Dazed with a slice of Nathan Barley. A publisher that’s been forced by plummeting revenues to diversify, get with the times and risk forgoing all credibility by acquiring an influencer agency. It’s here we’re given a look inside the world of influencer culture, from reality TV stars, TikTokers, stoned gamers and tarot readers, to business-savvy child stars. A setting full of larger-than-life, passionate, ruthless and obnoxious characters, painfully cool editorial and ‘creative’ teams, boilerroom-esque sales floors, absurd photography shoots, crazy gonzo style video reports, and much more.
In the wider story world, we take in the live music, nightlife and art scenes. We visit the subversive and creative communities living on London’s canals and in the warehouse districts. Overall, we see East London as lived by its most eccentric, hip, or ‘trying hard to be hip' inhabitants.
Tone & Style: Dramatic comedy, heartfelt humanity, sinister tension, and heightened realism bordering on the absurd. Presented in a traditional style, with occasional magazine-like mashups of formats and devices such as social media style videos and music videos (think the bowling dream sequence in The Big Lebowski).
Influencers: Since the world of influencers is so broad there's loads of scope to bring in a range of colourful characters. It might even be possible to feature actual influencers, whereby tapping into their fanbase.
Themes: Modern romance. Revenge. Ambition.
Modern dating is a theme that runs throughout season 1. In particular, the way society’s been changed by recent technologies such as dating apps and social media. Online has spilt into the ‘real’ world, influencing the way we communicate and interact with people, the way we date, romance or seduce lovers, even the way we make money. They’ve opened up our networks, leading us to meet strangers from different social circles, and they’ve given us the chance to control and manipulate the way we’re perceived… at least in the short term.
Then there’s the extremities and peculiarities such as app flashers, fuckbois, softbois, sugar babies, Onlyfans style subscription platforms, and the unique behaviours dating apps cultivate... rich territory!
Stunners explores the modern dating landscape from a wide range of different characters’ viewpoints, but the main perspective is that of season 1’s male protagonist. He investigates the impact our evolved social behaviour is having on mental health and wellbeing across a broader cross-section, in the best cases leading to sexual liberation, empowerment and successful relationships… In the worst cases, broken hearts, breakdowns, and occasionally, violent acts of brutal and humiliating revenge!
Future Seasons: Explore the world of an uber-cool publisher, perhaps staying with Zac as he becomes a seasoned investigative journalist, and join other journalists and influencers as they uncover more surprising and barely believable curiosities and sub-cultures.
Why?: In recent times we’ve seen phenomenally successful scripted shows that explore the modern dating landscape and beyond (many through the female gaze), notably: I May Destroy You, Promising Young Woman, You, I Love Dick, Fleabag and Normal People. As well as hugely popular non-scripted shows such as: Love Island, Love Is Blind, The Undateables and Naked Attraction. There remains a huge appetite for this subject matter. There’s also been a renaissance for mystery series and films, such as Knives Out, Severance, See How They Run, Search Party and… perhaps Stunners too!
Characters
Isaac (Zac) Blaise
ZAC (25), an East Londoner with a mischievous nature who struggles to control his often self-destructive wry comments and cheeky remarks. He dresses like a skater come beat poet. A thoughtful observer and righteous protector of the persecuted, though usually cowardly in the face of confrontation. He works tirelessly towards his dream of becoming a music journalist. Dedicated to making this a reality he’s forgone dating to focus on the prize, as such he’s rather innocent to affairs of the heart. He lives on a canal boat and works three jobs, as well as looking after his beloved sister’s young kids whenever he can.
The Vigilante
A sinister and foreboding theme intros… Mars the Avenger or Venus Unchained?? She stalks with a lion-like prowl, her face ever hidden under a fedora… This vengeful vigilante is out there hunting fuck boys and fuck heads, bringing her own brand of justice to London’s broken-hearted. A reluctant social media influencer who attacks and humiliates unscrupulous daters, taking revenge with escalating physical and reputational attacks… All recorded on her hugely popular blog in graphic technicolour. But who is she? And can she be stopped?
Henry
HENRY (35), Zac’s good mate and boat neighbour, has a severe dislike for Brexiteers and anti-vaxxers and will not let it go. He’s got Zac’s back no matter what, a sure-fire liability Zac may fare better without… but that is not an option. Henry’s a tall, lumbering figure, sometimes seen red-faced and crazed, with hair like a politician with a bedhead, wearing a blazer, shirt, sunglasses and tie-dye rainbow leggings… On other occasions, a rock ‘n’ roll Terminator charging like a drunken bull through the dance floor, who slips, falls and takes the entire band with him… Never a dull moment. Henry’s looking for love but keeps finding himself friend-zoned.
Maya
MAYA (30) is a textbook femme fatale and the supersensual singer in The Soho Sirens band… She sweeps through the transfixed crowd, an eerie silence surrounds her, her cloak’s made of black feathers, only her blood-red lips are visible under the shadow of her hood. Her devilish eyes break cover and capture a dumbstruck Zac as she glides majestically past... She’s the spider and she will toy with her prey, but perhaps she’s always in character. She’s in a non-monogamous relationship with her uptight banker boyfriend - who would much rather they were exclusive - but Maya belongs to no man, or woman.
Sven
SVEN (45), is the founder and creative director of Stunned Magazine (Dazed meets VICE), he also oversees the running of Stunners, the influencer agency. He’s a stylish slinker, with old school chic and an ethical vagueness. Manipulative, arrogant, pretentious, but actually has heart, creativity, and some integrity underneath the surface. Sven has suffered heartbreak of the most tragic kind, he’s putting on a brave face in search of someone to help him refind life beyond the office.
Rita
RITA (28), a senior exec at Stunned and the founder and owner of Stunners - until it was acquired by Stunned. She’s Sven’s right-hand woman and as sharp as a whip. Conservative but stylish, with a serious and professional demeanour, she’s career-focused, ambitious and takes no prisoners. She is the managing director of Stunners and is therefore responsible for the careers of some of London’s biggest influencers. Her private life is a mystery, but one would suspect she is as serious and committed outside of the office as she is in.