Treatment

Acropolis

When the modern and ancient worlds collide, extraordinary things start happening. When Esme Carter discovers Goddess Athena’s necklace in the Parthenon, she is catapulted into a life she has dreamt about but could’ve never imagined.

My screenplay is a drama and it would be a one-off special. A 1 hour episode at 9pm on a Friday on Channel 4; I have chosen this slot because it has passed the watershed so any swearing or violence would be allowed, although I’m not planning for there to be any, there may be some scenes younger children could not watch and so beyond the watershed would be a better timeslot.  Channel 4 is known for showing documentaries and historical action dramas, such as Labyrinth, so I think my show would fit in nicely with the current running and previously shown programs. Friday surprisingly has a lack of interesting shows in the evenings so this one-off program would be something for an audience to look forward to and with the right marketing it’s more likely to draw in an audience. The majority of the nation spend Saturday nights out and Friday nights in, so having it on a Friday over a Saturday would bring in a larger audience. My target audience is 25-50 year olds, this is because it’s not an action or comedy which I think would suit a younger audience more, but is a historical drama which, through research, I have discovered that 25 – 50 year olds are interested more in that genre. Of course other ages would also be interested in the programme and watch it but the audience I am primarily targeting is adults (between 25-50) as I think they would be more intrigued and inclined to watch it.

A 23 year old graduate of Classics, Esme Carter, who is shy, kind, inquisitive but keeps herself to herself, has to move back home to be a carer for her mother Juliet who has been diagnosed with MS which she is struggling to get to grips with, although she loves helping others she’s stubborn to someone trying to help her. Esme had booked a week trip to Rome and then onto Athens for a festival in the beginning of August so calls her older brother John to look after her while Esme is away. Esme spends two days in Rome, looking at the most famous landmarks, the Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, the Victor Emmanuel Monument and the Colosseum. At the airport in Rome she bumps into her classmate James Wright who also happens to be going to Athens. The first day she’s there, her and James go to the city centre where it’s vibrant and lively, to see all the traditional crafts and arts and music with street performers. The next day Esme visits the Acropolis, spending most of the time in the Parthenon, here she hears ghostly voices and giggling as well as seeing fast moving objects which she finds odd. In her sleep that night she transforms into Athena, travels back to Ancient Greece and lives her life; being dressed, wearing a beautiful owl necklace and living in luxury, while bathing in a lake Tiresias comes along, she blinds him for doing this but subsequently he gets the powers of prophecy. She gives advice to those who need help, she wins against Poseidon to become Patron Deity of Athens and she attempts to stop the Trojan war happening before Esme wakes up in a fret. Esme flies back to England and tells her mother about everything that happened while she was away. Esme has to take Juliet to the hospital for an appointment where she finds out that her MS is getting worse and soon she won’t be able to walk. While in the appointment, Esme reads a paper and finds an advertisement for a volunteer to be an assistant on an archaeological dig in Athens, immediately she applies with her mother’s blessing for her to go. A few weeks pass and Esme hears she has got the job and only a few months later it’s time for her to go on a month long dig. While on the dig she is pulled towards a certain area and suggests them digging there, while digging they find the exact necklace they had put on Athena in Esme’s dream.

In conclusion, the screenplay Acropolis would be great for the allocated slot I have selected, as this would bring in a larger audience and higher ratings. The purpose of this show is to get people re-interested in Ancient Greece, and know more about the Goddess Athena as well as other Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece. Also to enthuse people to travel and get them excited about the sights and magical mythologies of Greece. I think a diverse range of people would love the show as it would be both exciting and a unique and appeal to a mass audience.