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breakinglight11I think episode four of Dream Machine is going to be focused around casting for the new show, and specifically spending some time getting to know Josie Carraway, the one cast as the lead. Josie’s been in every episode so far, but mostly as a support to the comedy, and I want this installment to show who she is a little more. Not to mention lay some groundwork that I hope will run throughout, and pay off at the end, of the season. I think I will be seeding a villain for the season, and the fact that Ryan’s total cynicism is preventing him from believing the show could become something good, in addition to establishing Josie.
Neither Josie nor the rest of that is actually much in this scene here, however. This actually just lays the groundwork to set up the episode’s problem, including the slightly insider-baseball aspect of how in TV, casting often happens at bizarrely early stages in the development process, often even before there’s a finalized script, or any script at all. The information is delivered by Ryan, who I think along with Derek will end up being slightly less in focus this time in favor of Leah, Meredith, and Josie.
This scene follows directly after #5 - “Park Moms” which will likely be the episode’s cold open.
If you'd like to check out the episodes of Dream Machine so far, you can find them as follows:
1.01 - "The Show Must Go Off"
1.02 - "Requiem For a Dreamer"
1.03 - "Change or Die"
Day #13 - “Mobile Set Pieces”
From Dream Machine:
“1.04 - The Opposite of People”
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
LEAH LUCCHESI, a showrunner for Dream Machine, mid thirties
RYAN DRESDEN, head of programming for Dream Machine, early fifties
Los Angeles, 2020
~~~
INT. RYAN’S OFFICE – DAY
Leah rolls in, clearly in an excellent mood, sunglasses still on and abs still on display under the crop top beneath her jacket. Ryan looks up from his desk.
LEAH: Bow down, fives! A ten is in the building.
RYAN: I don’t know who you’re addressing, but I don’t answer to anything less than an eleven.
Leah drops down onto the suede couch.
LEAH: So what’s important enough that I gotta waste all this hotness on you?
RYAN: Just wanted to let you know we’re going to need to start casting for Offcomer this week. Though you’d like the heads up.
LEAH: Casting? But I don’t have anything drafted yet.
RYAN: That’s how it works when you’re already green lit. We got to have to names and faces for marketing to the press.
LEAH: But I don’t even have the characters all nailed down!
RYAN: Use Josie. If they have chemistry with her, then you can write around them.
LEAH: I don’t even know who Josie is.
RYAN: What about “write to your people” don’t you understand?
LEAH: Ughhhh, you mean I got to work with it out with her?
RYAN: How exactly do you imagine doing this without actors? Are you picturing, like, hand puppets?
LEAH: At least hand puppets hit their damn marks and don’t sass you back! On West Chesterham, Kristen the casting lady used to throw whatever summer stock hair bag of the week at me and I’d be the one who’d have to write around their schedules or their vertigo or their no-nudity clauses!
RYAN: You were showrunner, didn’t you get input?
LEAH: Nobody ever listened to me. “Not every character needs an Adonis belt, Leah!”
RYAN: Well, you get input now. Maybe that’ll take the sting out.
LEAH: Geez. I never got to run casting before. Do I still gotta work with Kristen?
RYAN: Union rules. But go wild— cast all underwear models, what do I care? They’ll look great on the posters.
LEAH: Damn. Maybe I can work this out after all.
Leah hops up from the couch.
LEAH: Look out, mobile set pieces! Prepare to be judged by your natural overlord!
She turns to stride out of the office.
RYAN: Who put a nickel in you today?
LEAH: Some mean moms in the park!
Neither Josie nor the rest of that is actually much in this scene here, however. This actually just lays the groundwork to set up the episode’s problem, including the slightly insider-baseball aspect of how in TV, casting often happens at bizarrely early stages in the development process, often even before there’s a finalized script, or any script at all. The information is delivered by Ryan, who I think along with Derek will end up being slightly less in focus this time in favor of Leah, Meredith, and Josie.
This scene follows directly after #5 - “Park Moms” which will likely be the episode’s cold open.
If you'd like to check out the episodes of Dream Machine so far, you can find them as follows:
1.01 - "The Show Must Go Off"
1.02 - "Requiem For a Dreamer"
1.03 - "Change or Die"
Day #13 - “Mobile Set Pieces”
From Dream Machine:
“1.04 - The Opposite of People”
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
LEAH LUCCHESI, a showrunner for Dream Machine, mid thirties
RYAN DRESDEN, head of programming for Dream Machine, early fifties
Los Angeles, 2020
~~~
INT. RYAN’S OFFICE – DAY
Leah rolls in, clearly in an excellent mood, sunglasses still on and abs still on display under the crop top beneath her jacket. Ryan looks up from his desk.
LEAH: Bow down, fives! A ten is in the building.
RYAN: I don’t know who you’re addressing, but I don’t answer to anything less than an eleven.
Leah drops down onto the suede couch.
LEAH: So what’s important enough that I gotta waste all this hotness on you?
RYAN: Just wanted to let you know we’re going to need to start casting for Offcomer this week. Though you’d like the heads up.
LEAH: Casting? But I don’t have anything drafted yet.
RYAN: That’s how it works when you’re already green lit. We got to have to names and faces for marketing to the press.
LEAH: But I don’t even have the characters all nailed down!
RYAN: Use Josie. If they have chemistry with her, then you can write around them.
LEAH: I don’t even know who Josie is.
RYAN: What about “write to your people” don’t you understand?
LEAH: Ughhhh, you mean I got to work with it out with her?
RYAN: How exactly do you imagine doing this without actors? Are you picturing, like, hand puppets?
LEAH: At least hand puppets hit their damn marks and don’t sass you back! On West Chesterham, Kristen the casting lady used to throw whatever summer stock hair bag of the week at me and I’d be the one who’d have to write around their schedules or their vertigo or their no-nudity clauses!
RYAN: You were showrunner, didn’t you get input?
LEAH: Nobody ever listened to me. “Not every character needs an Adonis belt, Leah!”
RYAN: Well, you get input now. Maybe that’ll take the sting out.
LEAH: Geez. I never got to run casting before. Do I still gotta work with Kristen?
RYAN: Union rules. But go wild— cast all underwear models, what do I care? They’ll look great on the posters.
LEAH: Damn. Maybe I can work this out after all.
Leah hops up from the couch.
LEAH: Look out, mobile set pieces! Prepare to be judged by your natural overlord!
She turns to stride out of the office.
RYAN: Who put a nickel in you today?
LEAH: Some mean moms in the park!
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