Firstly, it makes sense to apologise for the HUGE amount of inactivity on this site, we’ve had a whole lot of non-Gone related stuff going on over at Engage headquarters, so many be the website had take a back seat, but we’re here now, and that’s all the matters!
If you follow us on twitter, which you should btw, @ajriach for reference, or Instagram, @engageproductions, you may have seen that the whole team are currently over in Los Angeles California with a cast of incredibly talented young actors, and a whole crew of sound guys, directors, runners, and more, shooting a Teaser trailer for the show. So far, we’ve shot for one day, but everybody is back tommrow for another jam packed day!
Here are some ‘behind the scenes’ clips to keep you going until the realise of the full trailer and BTS video!
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If you’ve been following our progress with getting GONE on your TV screens, then you’ll already know that we recently asked you, the fans, to send in your fan-art to be used in our pitch document. We were absolutely overwhelmed with the responses we received, and would like to take this opportunity to thank every single person who got in touch! The pitch document is full to the brim with fantastic artwork. Below is just one incredible example:
Credit: Howard by Elina Poznaka
What exactly is a pitch document? AJ and Michael tell all below. Firstly, AJ explains what a pitch document is, and who will see it.
What is a pitch document?
AJ: A pitch document is used to identify key things within the intellectual property, in this case the GONE series. It identifies:
· Who the author is;
· The books publishing history;
· A short synopsis about the world Michael has created;
· Character bios of key characters;
· How the series could be broken down into episodes;
· A detailed synopsis;
· Bios of the production company and producers involved;
· Contact information for all involved; and
· All of the work we received from fans, to showcase the amazing, active audience that the series already has.
As well as all of the above, we also had some key scenes drawn up by a concept artist.
What is a concept artist?
AJ: A concept artist visualises and brings to life ideas, so that they may be ready for production. We do this because Film and TV are visual mediums: the whole experience is centred around watching and listening. Having these graphics created is a great way to illustrate the series on a basic, captivating level. Some absolutely fantastic images were produced - some of which you may have seen already…. Keep your eyes out for more!
If you haven’t seen any of the images, head over to our Twitter (@ajriach).
Who will see the pitch document?
AJ: Most of the people viewing the document will be parties/companies that we’re pitching the project to, be this a studio or another production company. I will be spending some time in LA with Michael over the coming weeks, so watch this space for any updates…
Of course, we are sure some of you are interested in seeing the document too, so over the next couple of weeks we will roll out some screengrabs. Keep your eyes peeled for these, they’re pretty great! Here’s a taster...
Next, Michael shares his experience of putting the document together, and his feelings about bringing GONE to life.
How did you feel when putting together the pitch document?
Michael: I felt guardedly hopeful. I feel guardedly hopeful about most things in life, and I suspect that caution annoys people who expect me to be more excited. But I don’t really do excited, guardedly hopeful is as close to excited as I get. (Gilfoyle from SILICON VALLEY is my spirit animal).
I’ve really enjoyed working with AJ and Ian, as well as Imogen and the two writers, Danny and Ron, who’ve been my mentors in the script-writing work.
Which did you feel was the most exciting aspect?
Michael: Well, see above. The original astronauts had a line about, ‘maintaining an even strain.’ In other words, don’t get too worried by the problems, don’t get too excited about the possibilities, try to maintain a sort of level flight through life. By the way this also answers the question: ‘Why have you never worked in publicity, Michael?’ Also, ‘Why are you not fun at parties, Michael?’
What was it like revisiting GONE more than a decade after originally writing it?
Michael: This will sound like one of those bullshit writer answers, but it’s humbling realizing that something you did a decade ago still resonates with people, that it has a life of its own. You might think that would make me proud or egotistical, but rather the contrary because it’s a reminder of how much the fate of my work is in the hands of other people. I’ve never really seen myself as working for publishers, I work for the readers. I am their dancing monkey.
Were you impressed with the artwork we received?
Michael: It was amazing. When we wrote ANIMORPHS, Katherine (my wife, Katherine Applegate) and I were some of the first writers to encounter the emerging phenomenon of fan-fic and fan-art. At that point no one knew what it all meant. Should we try to stop it, ignore it or embrace it? Our conclusion was that it was incredibly flattering, humbling, and kind of wonderful. So, I’ve always been a supporter of fan contributions.
Now, was I surprised that GONE readers were such a talented bunch? No, not at all, of course they’re talented, and smart, and charming, good-looking and quite frankly the finest bunch of humans ever to tread the soil of this benighted planet! (I’m bad at publicity, but I know how to suck up to fans).
What do you think of the pitch document?
Michael: It’s rather better than the sorts of things I produce on my own with my very limited skills at layout. It’s, like, professional.
How did you feel when you saw the concept art of the key scenes?
Michael: I thought, damn, given the ridiculous time constraints we put on the artist, they were excellent. I know some fans have had concerns, but they need to bear in mind that they’re seeing the embryo, not the eventual fully-formed thing.
What is it like seeing GONE start to come to life?
Michael: Katherine and I were in London looking at neighbourhoods with an eye to moving there. Seriously. I was thinking of a sort of genteel semi-retirement where I’d write just one book a year, hang out in London smoking cigars and drinking Scotch at 10 Manchester Street (my London cigar hideaway) then, whenever the sun deprivation got too bad, hopping down to the Algarve and... well, I had this meeting I’d agreed to and entirely forgotten about until about an hour before. I met AJ and Ian at a restaurant and they basically said, ‘We’d like to try and produce GONE for TV and would you like to write it?’
So, Katherine and I went to dinner that evening and it was instantly obvious to both of us that we were going to do it and that between us we had enough stuff going on in Hollywood that moving there made more sense than moving to London + Algarve. So, because our lives have never been planned in any rational, adult way but always just improvised in a series of ill-considered reactions, we thought, ‘Let’s go to Hollywood! Yay!’ So we pulled a 180 and bought a house in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles where, I believe by city ordinance, all writers are required to live.
Stay Tuned!
That’s everything for now - stay tuned and keep an eye on our social media, where any and all updates will be posted. This blog will also be updated regularly, to keep you in the loop!
Join the conversation using #GONE and #EngageInTheFayz!
Hi, my name’s Imogen Hennell, and In my opinion, I’m one of the luckiest girls in the world.
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Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved to dance. My mum put me in dance classes when I was 4, by the time I was 5 I wanted to quit, and when I turned 6 I was convinced I was going to be a ballerina. I’ve always been this way, never able to make up my mind. When I was slightly older, I joined singing and acting classes, safe to say I loved them. I was always called a drama queen, and I loved every moment in the spotlight. I used to think it was my destiny to be an actress! Then when I went to secondary school, (In the US I belive that’s middle school?) I decided I wanted to be a lawyer. For a while I wanted to be a film director, a children’s nurse, a surgeon, and a clothes designer, (remember when I said how indicisive I am!) but I think now I’m really leaning back towards the acting route!
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With the acting however, came the reading. A few of my top reads are ‘Love Aubrey’ by Suzanne Lafleur (one to bring the tears!) and ‘If there’s no tommorow’ by Sarah Pinborough. What are your favourite books? Leave suggestions below!
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When I was 11 years old, my brother Ethan leant me a book called ‘Gone’ by Michael Grant. I remember reading it for the first time and being very impressed. It was a confusing and challenging read for 11 year old Imogen, but something must have stuck - I’d finished all 6 books little under a year later!
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I don’t consider my self a ‘nerd’, but I’m not that super popular stuck up princess either. (Come on, we all know one!) I like to think I’m a good balance. (Although my favourite TV characters are Veronica Lodge from ‘Riverdale’ and Blair Waldorf from ‘Gossip Girl’, so maybe that says something about me!) One thing I know for certain however, is that I love to read, and I’m not afraid to say it. Reading gives you knowledge, and knowledge makes you powerful. The Gone series was something I always came back to, reading them over and over again. I always dreamt of playing Diana in a film one day!
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The first time I heard about ‘Engage Productions’, was about an hour before we were leaving for a family party. My Dad told me he had invested some money into a production company, and that he was ‘probably going to loose it all!’ (And that’s a direct quote😉) He told me a BAFTA winning producer , AJ Riach, would be at the party, and that I should speak to him, as he would tell me cool story’s about when he’s worked with, and met celebrity’s! Of course I never actually spoke to AJ at the party, the World Cup was on, and that was the talk of the night!
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My dad later explained more about the company to me. The logistics, too which I just smiled and pretended to understand, and about projects they are working on. There is a couple of feature films and some really great shows under way, which we are super excited about, but I realised something was missing. And that something, was ‘Gone’.
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I first tweeted Michael, asking if there were talks of a ‘Gone’ show or film, to which he replied in the negative. I then showed this to my dad, and he sent it to AJ, who set out to find if anybody owned the production rights to the books. He found out that they were free, and got started on reading the series. My Dad, AJ and Michael met up in London to discuss things, and it went really well. They then met in LA just over a month ago, see how their trip went in the previous post! Things at this point we’re looking promising.
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Michael then mentioned me on Twitter. And the response was, well, it was incredible. I’ve never received such kind messages in my life, and I’m truly grateful. Once it had been revealed that Engage was the production team, and that it was kinda, sorta, maybe me who got the ball rolling, your tweets came flooding in! We try to answer all your questions as best as we can, and the love and gratitude is very much appreciated! Your support pushes us to try to make this happen!
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At the end of the day, I’m just a super lucky girl, who got a once in a lifetime opportunity. I really hope we can make this happen, for you guys. I’ve loved every second of this adventure so far, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Engage Productions recently announced that we’ve teamed up with Michael Grant to try and bring GONE to your TV screens, and we intend on keeping you informed every step of the way...
AJ and Ian recently travelled to LA, where they’ve spent time with Michael exploring the environment in which GONE takes place, as well as working on the pilot script. Here’s a roundup of the trip.
Stepping foot on Perdido Beach
First on the agenda was a visit to the home of GONE: Pismo Beach (otherwise known as Perdido Beach)! Spiritual base of the FAYZ, Pismo offers breath-taking scenery and sea for miles: perfect for a quick surf before history class.
After a stroll along the shore and a wander down the pier to truly take in the surroundings, the team began brainstorming where each of the main characters would live, as well as looking for the Canyon where (spoiler alert!) Lana crashes.
All in all, it was a chance to truly imagine what the book would look like on screen, bringing the settings and characters to life.
Crossing the water to Perdido Nuclear Plant
Next, the team took a visit to Perdido Nuclear Power Plant, known as Diablo Canyon. Unfortunately for sea-sickness prone Michael, you can’t drive up to the Power Plant, and so the team rented a boat. Dramamine and coat intact, Michael and Engage (who soldiered on in T-shirts!) took to the water.
The team got to understand the geography and the landscape, which was another fantastic opportunity to imagine how the events would translate on screen. Big thanks to Jay, our captain, Isabel, our first mate, and the rest of Patriot Sports Fishing for getting us there safely!
Visiting Warner Bros
On Thursday, the team visited the Warner Bros backlot, to find out for sure if they would be able to use the location to film the pilot. The team really enjoyed this, and found a few locations they think could work.
From here, the team had a pit-stop at Central Perk and the Friends fountain – which Michael and Ian particularly enjoyed!
Reading of the Pilot Script
The team ended the first week of the trip with a read through of the pilot script. With the help of some fantastic actors, Michael and team were able to hear the script out loud and receive invaluable feedback that will only make the script stronger.
Fear not! Nobody has been cast yet. This is an incredible exercise that allows the team to spot things they may have missed or overlooked, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the brilliant actors who gave up their time to help them. If and when the time comes for casting, Michael and Engage will let you all know.
The feedback the team received was fantastic and only made them more excited! There was a discussion about whether the series should be set in 2008 or 2018, with the team deciding it should be set in 2008. What are your thoughts?
Universal Studios
At the start of the second week in LA, AJ and Michael headed to Universal Studios, where the pair explored the surroundings in the hope of finding some perfect spots for filming.
They had a good look around, becoming familiar with the settings and finding some great locations, such as Lana’s potential crash site. Another fabulous find was a setting that could become the Town Square… exciting! The team imagined the below image as being Sam’s house. What do you think?
This was another fantastic opportunity for Michael and AJ to envision what GONE could look like on screen, and it certainly did not disappoint.
Starting Conversations
As well as finding super spots for shooting, Michael and AJ began talks with a couple of networks, streaming services and TV studios about making GONE into a TV series.
Discussions included key points, like the expected cost to shoot the pilot, and what the team would need. This is a really exciting step, making the possibility of GONE on our TV screens feel that little bit closer.
The team also met with APA, specifically their LIT team, to continue discussions about how to make this happen, focusing on how APA could help in the process. Again, this is really exciting, and definitely a step in the right direction.
Stay Tuned!
That’s all for now! Stay tuned and keep an eye on Michael’s and Engage’s social media, where any and all updates will be posted. This blog will also be updated regularly, to keep you in the loop!
Join the conversation using #GONE and #EngageInTheFayz!
