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YOUR INVITATION TO...
THE HARLEQUIN

What's happening at our roadside motel? Well, a group of strangers will arrive soon (they really have no choice). And they'll quickly discover that there's far more at risk than just their reputations. We'll strip them of their distinctive skills, of course. And our guests–Karl, Daeja, Brock, Jim, Erica, Nashiko, Wilma, and Sully–will be left with little more than their secrets and fears.

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We do hope you'll join us, too. Your room is ready!

WHAT IS THE HARLEQUIN?

The Harlequin is the feature film script we're currently pitching! It's a low-budget thriller crafted for a wider audience (i.e., fans of thrillers and comic books). Here's the logline:

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Coerced into visiting a remote motel, Karl Ellis joins a group of strangers who soon discover there's more at risk than just their reputations. Stripped of their distinctive skills, the Harlequin's guests are left with little more than their secrets... until one of them is murdered.

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Interested? Take a look at our proof of concept prequel film, No Vacancy! And if you're up to meeting with us, fill out the form and we'll be in touch.

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- Jay Sherer & Nathan Scheck

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OUR PROOF OF CONCEPT

Curious about what The Harlequin—our feature film—will feel like? Watch our proof of concept prequel, No Vacancy (2024) to learn more!

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Project "PICKAXE" Status Update

So... Three things:  (1) The Harlequin motel is good to go. All the rooms have been "decorated" and are awaiting guests.   (2) What do you think of the new project name?  :)   (3)  I prepped a briefcase for each of our “high profile” guests. They’ve been delivered, along with the invitations.

 

Here's the guest list:

 

  • Karl Ellis: “Accountant” from the Big Apple. Leigh Larson’s sweetheart. (Awww... *gag*)

  • Daeja Puentes: The old lady from Houston via South America.

  • Brock Wynter: Likes expensive toys (really expensive ones). Chi-town. Playboy. Bleh.

  • Nashiko Kamura: Spy. Very secretive.  Honolulu babe.

  • “Sully”: Looks like Walt Disney if Uncle Walt worked for the mob. From Detroit.

  • Jim Hawkins: Needs to cut his fingernails (so gross). Baton Rouge.

  • Erica King: Used to lead a Black Panther crew in Philly.

  • Ms. Flask: Think the boss lady will show? Hell’s Kitchen isn’t that close… Her room's ready either way.

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Everything else falling into place? Recap: 1. We get ‘em here. 2. We make sure the device works (if it doesn’t, we’re so screwed). 3. We do “the things.” 4. We make A LOT of money. Yay! *happy dance*

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I feel like I used too many quotation marks...

 

I think that’s it. TTYL!

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"THE MASK"

A Message from the Co-writer/Co-Director, Jay Sherer

Learn more about Jay and the rest of the team behind No Vacancy and The Harlequin!

Our Inspirations

Unbreakable and Split are two core examples of The Harlequin's aesthetic. They’re focused on telling a thrilling story with elements and themes that interest comic book movie and horror fans. We hope to attract a similar audience.

 

The Harlequin also draws on compelling elements from mystery films like Knives Out and Glass Onion, creating an intriguing ensemble of characters that collide in interesting ways. And, because we're big Christopher Nolan fans, we'll make the audience think along the way.

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The Harlequin has been written as a low budget feature. Our goal is to put out a quality film that makes money.

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Our Process

Showcasing the ability to put out high-quality work has become a top priority. In order to build investor/producer confidence, we embarked on a path that was intentionally crafted to showcase that The Harlequin has a strong chance of profitability:

 

  1. We entered our scripts (No Vacancy and The Harlequin) into industry contests to see how they would perform:

    1. No Vacancy earned five contest placements and at its height was in the Top 8% of projects on Coverfly. No Vacancy was also in the Top 4% of short thrillers on Coverfly.

    2. An early version of The Harlequin earned four placements and made it into the Top 11% of projects on Coverfly.

  2. We tested The Harlequin’s script with industry professionals and made improvements based on the feedback.

  3. We built a team, and shot No Vacancy to prove we have the ability to make a high-quality film.

 

We’re building a business that we need others to invest in. We take that responsibility seriously and want to work with others who also see the potential in our film!

Next Steps

What’s next for The Harlequin? We’re looking for investors, producers, and partners to help us turn this script into a feature film. If you’re open to chatting with us, please get in touch using the contact form below.

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We will attempt to follow up with everyone, but please be aware that we are prioritizing potential investors, producers, and distribution partners.

Contact Us

Thank you for your interest in The Harlequin! We'll be in touch soon.

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