I have been screenwriting for many years but always had difficulty making any serious progress, even after winning major screenwriting awards. As a UK-based screenwriter specializing in Science Fiction, there seemed to be the added issue of sci-fi being perceived as too expensive and thus easy to disregard (at least in my small part of the world). I began using Stage 32 Pitch Sessions as there was a clear appetite from many of the professionals for genre material. To date, I have received 5 full script requests from five different industry professionals, including Wes Ambrecht at Titan1Studios.

I originally connected with Wes (VP of Content) through Stage 32's Pitch Sessions back in June 2022. At the time I was pitching ANDIES as a feature film but after learning that Titan1Studios was involved in the gaming sector I discussed the possibility of adapting the central premise of “CASTAWAY with malfunctioning pleasure androids” into a survival RPG game. This was perhaps a little too ambitious and the proposal was ultimately declined, however, Wes was appreciative of my flexible mindset and happy to review any future material I may have.

At the start of 2023, I began researching AI art and ChatGPT. The rise and acceleration of AI was the key reason I returned to my script ANDIES, expanding the feature screenplay into a mini-series and delving deeper into artificial companionship, corporate control, and the psychology of social isolation. I didn't use A.I. to write my script at all, but instead used the topic as my muse.

But as a new piece of IP (particularly in the science fiction arena), the project was still too ambitious so I decided to take matters into my own hands. With the help of a freelance cast and crew from around the world (US, UK, France, Spain, and Norway) I adapted the first quarter of ANDIES into an audio drama, and to my surprise, it turned out much better than I expected.

I shared the audio drama with a few industry contacts and while receiving positive feedback had little success moving forward. Remembering that Wes was very complimentary of the original feature screenplay, I shared the audio drama not really expecting much. However, Wes was immediately taken and swiftly shared the audio drama with Rathan Morthy (Titan1Studios CEO). Within days a Zoom meeting was arranged and a shopping agreement was offered.

Prior to ANDIES, Titan1Studios had no plans to branch out into the audio drama market, the fact that ANDIES is the reason they have done so is a huge confidence boost.

As media consumption around the world changes (movies, streaming series, video games, even TikTok videos which are essentially short films), I feel it's important for writers to keep an open mind and be flexible with their work. Storytelling can come in many forms. Had I stuck rigidly to ANDIES being a feature film and nothing else it's highly unlikely anything would have happened with the IP.

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