The Palimpsest

 

Title: The Palimpsest

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Genre
Sci-Fi Thriller, Mystery & Suspense, Action Thriller, Action & Adventure

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Logline:

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Targeted by the same authoritarian government that executed his father, the son of a brilliant mathematician finds himself in a race to save his life and his family, and finish research on a set of ancient equations that could transform the world with almost limitless power.

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The vision and conceptual ingenuity of films like MINORITY REPORT are injected, in this script, into a world as immersive and intricate as in BLADE RUNNER, CHILDREN OF MEN, and DUNE. The dystopian future in which Gordon finds himself, tattooed with a mandated encryption code predicting the probabilities of his civil agitation, and relentlessly pursued by agents of the despotic State Machine, is at once both nightmarish and darkly believable, whether it is the cynical repression of research and ideas by U.N. operative Audrey Ajay, quietly stored away in a makeshift library of the rebellion by Charlie and her father, or the “passive euthanasia” to which his mother, Savoy, seems destined to be subjected. Woven into the Palimpsest and its rumored counterpart is a sense of both history – dating back to 287 BC – and possibility, in the form of potentially limitless resources and almost omniscient insight into the world. As other brilliant scientists are quietly “disappeared,” and Gordon and Charlie race to track his twin sister, Blythe, it is impossible not to get swept up into their journey, building toward a galvanizing climax that seems to pave the way for the next chapter in a whole new franchise.

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The scope and approach of this story are quite impressive. The Palimpsest and the formulas that come with it are quite exciting in premise. Rescuing Savoy adds to the gripping action and intensity.​ One of the strongest elements of this script is its premise. While the legacy of the brilliance of Gordon’s father and the efforts to complete his work feels reminiscent of a film like PROOF, the more action-driven sequences possess the mystery and thrill of a film like THE DA VINCI CODE or TOMB RAIDER, which ultimately make for an engaging foundation in which to catapult this narrative. With that in mind, it also does well to embrace its genre and tone, mixing suspense, action-thriller components and dramatic adventure. These elements allow for the reader to be taken on this audacious journey with Gordon as he works with Dr. Hun and his network from the resistance while establishing a mysterious and alluring formula that if solved could change the world. There is also an ever-present dependence on family throughout the project. This underlying drive for Gordon to reunite his family and continue his father’s work is an emotional and moving piece of the story that provides a lot of motivation and thematic potential for the story overall.

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THE PALIMPSEST has an evocative premise. It is exciting to see an imagined dystopian version of the future; from the flippant military destruction to the neck chips, the script clearly, paints the world in which Gordon lives. It is also quite interesting that the ideas of Ancient Greece are so central to a script taking place in the distant future. Gordon is shown to have glimmers of A BEAUTIFUL MIND, which makes him a fascinating character. The reveal that his mother is alive quickly raises the stakes, and her rescue sequence is one of the most exciting and action-packed of the screenplay. The world’s underbelly is also explored in a visual way; from Gordon’s initial escape from the restaurant, Charlie’s secret Library of Rebellion, the brothel Charlie and Gordon hide out in , the seedy establishment they save Blythe from, and the crooked Isaak Lowell hospital, the locations are tension-filled and help paint a clear image of the world the characters are living in. ​

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This script envisions a future world that is at once both vibrantly inventive and immersive, and also uniquely all its own. It crafts a mythology that smartly ties together elements of the past with those of a dystopian sci-fi vision, creating a rich and lavishly-textured flavor in its narrative. The pacing and momentum are infectious from the first few scenes onward, lending the story an almost BOURNE IDENTITY thriller quality. Gordon offers the opportunity for a standout leading performance, from a talent perspective, while Charlie more than holds her own as his counterpart, and secondary characters like Hun and Audrey each bring their own notes of voice and color to the ensemble. It feels as if a film like this one could light the fuse for a whole new sci-fi series, both theatrically and on streaming venues like Netflix and Max.

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There is potential for this project to be a great example of the writer’s ability to navigate action sequences and craft a unique concept. The budget for this film does not seem likely to be prohibitive to its development or production. Given the action-thriller genre it resides in, there is certainly room for a slightly bigger budget which this project will likely require given the scope of locations, ensemble, special effects and stunts. This project does not seem well-suited for the independent circuit, but could potentially have appeal for larger production companies and studios.

 

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