Everyone has a voice! Just add a little music.
Set across a vast and vibrant medieval Kingdom, this original, Disney/Pixar-style musical animation feature is a family oriented story about a young girl who is thrusted into a hilarious nightmare of her own making; venturing into a deeply emotional journey full of music, dance, and apples, to discover what it takes to be authentic and confront our deepest fears through our biggest passions.
The Story
In a music-crazed medieval kingdom, Meredith, a small-village teen with a repressed singing gift, struggles to meet her father's only wish - to become the legendary musician she was born to be. But when she suddenly encounters a magical crystal ball that plays radio signals from the future, she is quickly shot to fame by secretly copying modern songs and performing them as her own. However, when a fierce bard begins to suspect the origin of her talent, Meredith is forced to find her own voice before her secret is exposed to the world.
THE CHARACTERS
Meredith Wells
In a world where everybody loves music, Meredith is the exception. She is a quick-witted, too-cool-for-games teenager who struggles to live up to her Father’s outdated picture of her: the exceptionally gifted young talk-of-the-town star who loved singing and dancing. Now stuck in a broken record day-to-day life, Meredith spends her time with her horse far away from folk and anyone who even remotely sneezes in the faint beat of a tune. Her only desire is to make her father happy, but when all he wants is for her to make music again, her actions do not beat to the rhythm. That is until she secretly encounters a crystal ball that plays music from the future, and she feels it is time to face the music again… and copy it as her own.
Elizabeth Wells
Meredith’s beloved mother and total idol. Elizabeth is the voice and heart of the village. Cherished by all, she uses her job as barmaid at the Buckle Inn to channel positivity, keeping everyone's spirits up - and moods in line - through spontaneous bursts of song and dance. Her goal is to bring people together through music, promoting her belief that everyone can find their voice if they learn to be open about their feelings and authentic about who they are. That very belief is what fundamentally inspired Meredith at a young age to discover her exceptional gift for singing, solidifying Elizabeth's hunch that her daughter was born to carry on her mission to show people their true voice.
The Crystal Ball
A magical ball of unknown origin. This wondrous curiosity comes into Meredith’s life just at the right time; a time where she would have simply thrown it away if it didn’t have the power to emit radio signals from the future and back in time! From artists such as Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Backstreet Boys, Rihanna, Juice WRLD, and many other modern musical legends, Meredith is given the prime time opportunity to secretly copy these artists and trick her father into believing she still has a voice. Unsurprisingly, her plan goes a little too well, and not only does her father want more new music, but so does the entire Kingdom. The question now is... Will she manage to keep her ruse afloat or will her secret become her ultimate downfall?
Arthur Wells
Meredith’s beloved father and the local village bard. The kindest, most loving, and greatest undiscovered instrument builder and salesman in the Kingdom. His goal is to help Meredith achieve her childhood dream of singing across the Kingdom, and won’t stop until he sees it through. He dedicates every bone in his body to support Meredith and convince her that she was born to shine, even when she refuses to play a single note again. He is a strong advocate for originality and believes Meredith’s passion is still inside her, albeit deep, deep inside. Nothing could convince him anything other than his daughter is the most authentic, original and talented artist out there. Nothing…
Lord Sutton & His Band
Duke of the Wailing Islands. Lord Sutton is an aristocratic and renown bard that hungrily and viciously travels across the Kingdom in constant search of the best new music. A strong keeper of tradition, he believes mastery comes over time, and that those who work hard deserve to see the fruit of their labour. Because of that, he believes he deserves no less than to play at the upcoming historical Royal Wedding itself. He lets nothing, and no one, outshine him - but once his eyes have been set on a worthy prey, he studies them obsessively until he uncovers every detail that makes them special - no rock (or crystal ball) left unturned…
Adda & Her Mummers
Adda and her band of traveling entertainers roam the Kingdom on a battered stagecoach searching for a quick buck, and a quick scam. Struggling to keep her finances afloat, the extravagant Adda dreams of finally finding that special star that can plunge her into piles of coin and an overdue retirement, and squeezing their juice until there are no drops left. While her "flawless" schemes have never quite worked out, she keeps a positive attitude and remains hopeful that her next show can be the one, or at least that the next town is naive enough to fall for her ploys. After all, what is a show without a few tricks?
THE WORLD
Research
It isn’t called the Dark Ages for nothing. Disease, war, and poverty ran rampart during the middle ages, but there was a pastime as infectious as the plague itself in every corner of the world; music. Music, albeit simple, functional, and let's be honest, a little dull during the early era, meant that for bards this was a time to shine. Can't read nor write? No problem! Most folk couldn't, so music was never annotated but, rather, it was largely improvised in the spur of the moment. For the church, it was a nightmare, but for bards it was an opportunity to innovate and experiment, earning them recognition and significance at every degree in society. They became no little than the memory and voice of their communities, and served to archive stories and histories that informed and entertained every soul from the poorest of peasants to the mightiest of Kings.
Merry Greens
Meredith's home turf and the only place she's ever known. A remote and cosy village at the heartland of the Kingdom. This once busy market town was the proud home to a vast orchard farm, but after a devastating plague that ravaged the entire Kingdom, it now simply serves as little more than a side village with a few amenities left standing. "Nothing exciting ever happens in Merry Greens" is how local folk would describe it, "just a dull village where boring folk do the same thing day after day simply hoping to get by." But although their spirits are down, they still treat each other as a big family and hope one day things could get back to the way they were. They are just itching for something new, exciting... perhaps even magical.
The Buckle Inn
After a long day's work, The Buckle Inn is where the entire village ends up every night to drink their sorrows away, hoping to lift their spirits up with a little song and dance. Only problem is... they have sung every song and played every tune there is to play a million times. With nothing new to offer them, Meredith's father struggles to make a single foot tap, and plays his lute to a moody drunken audience that'll be expecting nothing better the next day.
The Workshop
Bursting with intricate and wondrous musical instruments (specially lutes), Arthur's once-renown instrument shop attracted amateur bards from around the region. Serving also as his personal workshop, this is the place where Arthur sells and builds his masterfully handcrafted lutes, flutes, hurdy-gurdies, drums and a vast number of other musical instruments. Brimming with detail and colour, it is clear Arthur's passion and talent lays in his craft rather than his music, and it is a skill that, unbeknown to him yet, will serve Meredith aplenty when she begins her need to produce sounds no one has ever heard before.
Attuned for Success
Once Meredith's fame starts to rapidly take off, inevitably, so does her need to adapt. When the music she hears on the crystal ball progressively becomes more and more intricate and "modern", the sounds she is able to replicate through medieval instruments begins to hold her back - putting her ruse into jeopardy. Luckily, her father has the skills to create and build entirely new instruments that help Meredith achieve "her vision", and thus a blast of creativity ensues as new instruments enter her array!
The Royal City
Capital city of the Kingdom and home to the King and his royal family. This vast city is the epicentre of the land's commerce, politics and general big-time mojo. Folk from all over the world gather here to show off their wealth, power, and unfiltered desire to make something of themselves. Find yourself bathing and gawking at the sight of thousands of struggling peasants at the foot of your tower and you'll know you have made it here. Guess you could call this... the top of the world.
The Royal Castle
Standing mightily above of the Royal City, the Royal Castle is the home of the royal family and the King's base of operations. This magnificent castle boasts hundreds of years of history and hosts a large archive containing precious items owned by various influential figures throughout time - including a prominent section dedicated to legendary bards. In keeping with tradition, the Royal Castle will serve as the venue for the Princess' upcoming historical royal wedding - which is where a most gifted musician will showcase their exceptional talent in their honour and secure a place in history. That... or perish forever.
More details coming soon...
ACCOLADES​ & FEATURES
July 2024, QUARTERFINALIST**
ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship 2024​​
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April 2024, QUARTERFINALIST**
ScreenCraft Family Screenplay Competition (2024)
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November 2023, SEMIFINALIST**
ScreenCraft Animation Competition 2023​
Find "MEREDITH SING!" on Coverfly here!
London, UK | kangelo@hotmail.co.uk | (+44) 07449 758565