Walter Bauer
Director of “Susquehanna Episode One”
Meet the Creator
A huge thank you to Walter for these thoughtful answers and for giving us a glimpse behind the scenes of your work. We at Hollywood Indie Festival are cheering you on as you continue to create. Enjoy the interview below!
What is the central conflict and unique selling point of your project?
Giles, a young 17th-century noble English lad dispossessed by treachery, goes robbing on the high seas. Holding secret ship designs invented by his murdered brother, and seeking to avenge his family’s destruction and regain his ancestral lands, he sets out with his motley crew to build a pirate ship faster and more maneuverable than any other. His encounters with the cruel colonialists, sadistic slavers and ruthless capitalists of his era pose the question as to who the real villains are, a question with resonance even today.
Who is the ideal viewer for this project, and which existing films/series is it most comparable to?
We anticipate an extensive cross-demographic appeal for the series concept. The combined elements of anachronistic technological innovation, historical drama and action-adventure synthesize audiences with a taste for all three genres into a broad target audience with significant commercial potential. Viewers from fan bases as diverse as those of Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Masterpiece Theater and Game of Thrones will all be attracted for their own various individual entertainment interests and viewing preferences.
What was the primary inspiration behind this story, and why is now the right time for the world to see it?
The vision for the series is to tell a science fiction story from a perspective unique within the genre. It needs to be told now for two reasons, to present a new take on historical perceptions of societal outcasts and to explore the implications of disruptive technologies for our own future by viewing them through a lens of imagination peering into the past.
Is the project fully completed, or are you currently seeking distribution, finishing funds, or representation?
The first episode of the series is completed and has won nineteen awards on the festival circuit, including Best Television Screenplay Pilot and Platinum Award for Best Teleplay. It is one of several of our scripts which have won numerous festival awards. We are seeking representation.