Samhain
"So, will you produce this movie then?" John Carpenter asked as both you and Mike looked in contemplation.
No, that was wrong. Mike was looking in expectation as to how much he could make out of this new deal presented to him, and as for you...
Well, you were wondering how you got into this situation.
Okay, think back, how did this all started? You remember waking up next to your beautiful wife, with Little George for once having a peaceful night that bled through the entire house. Then after taking Mary to school you recalled that there were some last-minute issues that needed your attention before you were to leave for Italy (really, why couldn't DreamWorks or Hannah-Barbera decide on their own who'll make the Transformers series?!) when you were accosted by Mike who wanted you to sign up for his animated idea about... bouncy bears?
You might need more context for the latter one.
Point being, that before you could get into just what exactly was Mike asking of you, both of you were called as there was a visitor who'd asked to speak with either one of you directly. Huh, that was a blast from the past; though both you, Mike, and on occasion Goerge still made it a point to speak with the new members of Lucasfilms and the creative minds who would come to pitch their ideas, the company had grown large enough that anyone calling to speak to either of you directly had become somewhat of a rarity.
Curiosity in both of your minds, you decided to try and meet whoever had decided to pitch their new idea for your studio.
Needless to say, neither of you had expected to see John Carpenter, one of the most famous Horor directors in Hollywood, and Disney Studios darling to be waiting for you in the main office. Your disbelief must have shown in your face as Mike had to snap you out of it before you made a fool out of yourself, but this was big news. From what you'd heard (and Cat had managed to slip) Disney was very pleased with Carpenter's work and were seriously considering extending his contract and increasing both his budget and compensation as well.
So, just what exactly was he doing here asking you to produce a film of his?
Well, he explained it rather quickly when asked.
"It's not technically my movie... thought perhaps it could be called that." He pushed the script to both of you, showing the title for it.
Halloween III
Oh... Shit.
This might be a trouble, and Even Mike could see it by the look of it.
Halloween had been one of Disney's greatest achievements in showing how they had been able to bring the scary back from their origins (which you still think it unfair) and from what you'd heard, its sequel (Halloween II) though not the unbridled success that was the first one, still managed to hit all the right notes, and was praised by both critics and audience alike... though it is of note how little a call for another sequel there seemed to be.
Enough that when asked about it, Carpenter explained how it was kind of an open secret at this point.
"Halloween made bank, which proved my credentials so to speak. The sequel was not as popular, but the third... let's say that they did not find a future for a story that did not have Michael Myers in it. Me and Debra wanted to explore the holiday in an anthology type of films, with Myers being just a part of it, but it seems that for Disney and other studios, Halloween can only be done with Michael Myers in it."
He looked exasperated it, and you could empathize; the plight of an artist being told to draw what they are asked to instead of what they want to.
"So you come to us to continue the Halloween franchise then." Mike replied with a giddy smile on his face.
"Well, yes and no." He countered. "Technically, I'm still under contract with Disney, and Halloween along with Michael Myers is still technically in their possession, even if I still possess some of the rights as the creator."
You think you got it. "You want us to make the movie without it being promoted as a Halloween movie then?"
He nodded. "After this, I don't think we are going to continue the franchise. If Disney wants to they can go ahead, but I think this is a film that deserves its time in the big screen. I already have the director and the actors, so I just need your help in production. What do you say?".
"...Well, for starters, we'll need a new name for the film." You replied, as if you'd ever reject a good premise for an interesting film. "And, it just so happens that we can look at my Irish roots for it. What do you think of..."
Movie Pitch:
Samhain: Season of the Witch
GENRE: Horror/Thriller/Mystery
SUBGENRE: Suspense/Fantasy/Supernatural
FORMAT: Movie
Set Up: After the death of her father under suspicious circumstances, Ellie Grimbridge and Dr Daniel Challis decide to investigate the shady activities of Conal Cochran: the owner of the Silver Shamrock Novelties company. Before long, they discover Cochran's diabolical plot to brainwash the children of America into doing his bidding through a mixture of ancient rituals, technology, and witchcraft. This Halloween, wearing the mask of a skeleton, a witch, or a pumpkin can be deadly. Can Ellie and Daniel thwart the plans of the evil toy maker?
Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
Composer: Alan Howarth
Dr. Dan Challis: He is a hardworking doctor who was married to his wife, Linda, and had two sons before divorcing her, mainly due to his time and work and his drinking. He is the one who first see Harry Grimbridge and begins having doubts about what may have caused his death when next day his skull is split open. His investigation leads him to Conal Cochran, finding out his plans for Halloween, and trying to stop him, though it is left ambiguous as to whether he succeeds.
Played By: Tom Atkins
Alternate: Christopher Lambert
Ellie Grimbridge: She is the daughter of Harry Grimbridge who went to recognize the body after the latter had died. She and Dan team up together to find out just what is going on once they find too many different hints that something is not right in the town. She is very inquisitive and perceptive, helping Dan through nearly the entire research, before she is captured and killed, the last time her body is seen, it's not a killer robot trying to kill Dan.
Played By: Stacey Nelkin
Alternate: Sarah Douglass
Conal Cochran: He is a warlock who seeks to resurrect the pagan aspects of Halloween via the mass-murder of many children using weaponry disguised within Halloween masks sold by his company: Silver Shamrock Novelties. Despite being a "witch", he mainly utilized android minions to dispose of his enemies, though his methods do include mystical elements. Though portrayed as sweet and charming, in reality he's a sociopathic and ruthless man with no compassion for anyone.
Played By: Dan O'Herlihy
Alternate: John C. McGinley
Harry Grimbridge: He is the owner of a mask store who found out the truth about the killer androids of Silver Shamrock Industries. As such, he was chased and was able to survive by the slimmest of margins. After delivering his message, he was then killed when no one was looking by one of said androids, having his skull split open.
Played By: Richard Burton
Teddy: She is a worker at the Morgue which is at the hospital where Dan works. She is enlisted by him to help him in finding out the truth about the killer androids used by Silver Shamrock Industries, and though she finds vital information and sends it, she does not survive her encounter with one of them.
Played By: Sonja Smits
Starker: He is a disgruntled, drunk man and longtime resident of Santa Mira, the location where Silver Shamrock Novelties made its headquarters. He is very critical of the company, complaining that it brought all workers from the outside, is monitoring the city through video cameras (which are shown) and eventually is killed by the Killer Androids.
Played By: Harry Dean Stanton
Linda Challis: She is Dan Challis former wife with whom he had two children with. She made sure to keep custody of the kids when he saw that he had become an alcoholic. She is very critical of him breaking promises to his children because of work, and accuses him of being drunk when he tries to warn her about the Cochran's plan with the masks, hanging up on him.
Played By: Dianne Wiest
Walter Jones: He is an employee at a gas station in Santa Mira, and the one who found Harry Grimbridge when he was nearly death and in shock about his discovery. He then brought him to the hospital and explained to Dan about everything that had happened. At the end he also helped Dan by letting him use the phone he had to warn people about the commercial and Cochran's plan.
Played By: Essex Smith
Marge Guttman: She is a business-oriented woman who owned a shop in San Francisco, California that sold the Silver Shamrock Masks. She arrive to Santa Mira in order to speak about a misplaced order, and died due to finding a chip inside one of the masks in her room, causing it to misfire, and her skull to be destroyed by a laser beam.
Played by: Garn Stephens
Nurse Agnes: She is one of the nurses working at the same hospital as Dr. Challis, and is the one who takes charge of Harry Grimbridge when Walter Jones brings him in.
Rafferty: He is the manager of the Rose of Shannon Hotel and the owner of the Rafferty's Gas Station in Santa Mira, California. He is also a friend of Conal Cochran., secretly aiding him to cover things up.
Buddy Kupfer: The owner of a mask store who was invited by Cochran to tour the factory as a reward for selling the most. He was used as a demonstration on how the masks work as his son transformed in front of him, killing him and his wife.
Betty Kupfer: She is the wife of Buddy Kupfer. She hoped that her family could become as affluent as Cochrane due to their same beginnings. She was killed by their son when he transformed due to the commercial.
Buddy Kupfer Jr.: He is the son of Buddy Kupfer and Betty Kupfer. He had his mask with him during the tour, and when the commercial began he put on the mask, which began his transformation that killed his parents.
A.N.: I came up with this idea when I realized that in OTL Season of the Witch had a really bad opening due to not having Michael Myers in it, and yet still being promoted as a Halloween movie. I figure that now, with us putting it in as just another movie that is set on the holiday instead of it being part of a franchise, then perhaps people might appreciate it better. Besides, the movie is quite fun and scary on its own, with a great ending to boot.