Logline: Uncovering a rare and ancient talent of mesmerizing vocals, an extraordinary young opera singer becomes the focus of a sinister secretive society, which is out to recruit her or destroy her.
Genre: Musical Drama with elements of Thriller and Fantasy; Sub-genre: Light Comedy
Audience: Aimed at Young Adults and General Audiences, particularly appealing to young adult women and parents. Ideal for those who cherish music and enjoy narratives that blend edge-of-your-seat mystery with dramatic storytelling. Opera Girl brings classical and contemporary classic music into contemporary settings, much like the way classical music was woven into the fabric of timeless cartoons still appreciated by families worldwide.
Location/Setting: Primary: New York City. Secondary: Assisi and Milan, Italy.
Commercial Appeal: Opera Girl is not only a captivating narrative but also presents substantial merchandising opportunities, especially appealing to the 5-18 age group. From themed apparel to music/video and other interactive digital experiences, the series is poised for a range of promotional strategies that can engage audiences beyond the screen. Opera Girl is a new and fresh franchise.
Synopsis
The story begins in ancient Rome, around 230 AD, where the young and gifted CECILIA meets her tragic end at the hands of a ruthless Senator. As she faces her fate, her captivating voice and ethereal chants mesmerize her attackers, turning her final moments into an unforgettable and haunting display of her extraordinary vocal power. A piece of her vocal cords are dislodged in the murder and retrieved by a young girl. After two more transitional scenes laying the foundation for the relic and the special vocal gift, the scene advances to 1936 in Assisi, Italy, at the wedding of two wealthy Mussolini-era families. In the choir loft, 16-year-old Isabella Belcanto sings a solo of Schubert's Ave Maria with an extraordinary vocal range and tone. Two agents of the centuries-old secret society HARMONIA recognize her voice as potentially having the legendary power of "CANTICUM", whose mesmerizing power is known to captivate hearts and influence minds. They approach Isabella after the wedding and charm her into attending the after-party with promises of champagne and dancing. At the party, one of the agents, Paolo, tries to take romantic advantage of the naive Isabella. She flees into a hedge maze, but Paolo pursues her. Terrified, she uses her gifted voice to mimic a nightingale and lure Paolo deeper into the maze to evade him. However, Paolo vows to capture Isabella and force her to use her voice for Harmonia, and trap her in a gilded cage, as he puts it metaphorically, from which there is no escape.
The story flashes forward to 2008 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Young Maria, age 7, granddaughter of Isabella, promises her recently deceased father that she will only use her voice for good. An incomparable musical prodigy, Maria grows up studying singing and opera and attends Juilliard. However, at a rehearsal at LaScala in Milan, Maria lets her extraordinary voice accidentally wreak havoc, cracking a chandelier and damaging the ceiling. With her colleagues repulsed and traumatized by her, she abandons her singing career. A year later in New York, Maria works an office job she hates, for a wicked boss. Her mother, Rose, reveals to Maria that her grandmother Isabella had a similar vocal gift but vanished after being exploited by the dangerous group Harmonia. With encouragement from new friends Joe and Aurora, Maria starts singing again and gives a show-stopping performance at a charity gala in New York City. However, Maria then receives flowers with a warning she is being watched by Harmonia, and its leader, the Maestro.
Joe and a former Harmonia member named Lyric ally with Maria to take a stand against the sinister group. Akin to Frodo’s journey carrying the ring, Maria slowly begins to embrace the Canticum of which she never asked to have, but recognizes her duty to “use her voice for good” as she promised her father at his funeral. Maria has a dream recalling her grandmother Isabella's trauma in the maze back in 1936, suggesting a legacy connecting them. Soon after, a SWAT team arrests Maria, orchestrated by Harmonia. But Maria uses her voice to mesmerize the officers into backing down. Maria then calls Joe for help, realizing Harmonia has made its first move against her. Now realizing the centuries-old evil force she is now confronting, she is determined to embrace her family's musical legacy and gift, fight back against Harmonia, undermine its hold on the world of music, and solve the mystery of her grandmother Isabella's fate.
Musical References performed (or partially performed) in the Pilot:
Ave Maria (Schubert)
I Will Always Love You (Parton)
O Mio Babino Caro (Puccini)
Flower Duet (Delibes)
Smile (Chaplin)
Habanera (Bizet)
Spec Script, Script Coverage, Musical Production Archetypes, including the fully produced Opera Girl theme, “The Nightingale Sings”, and cast suggestions completed available under the “It’s the Music!” heading on this website. Story and character arcs available upon request.
