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Post by The Search on Aug 7, 2021 1:29:34 GMT -5
The Search Season 1 Episode 6 8/13/21 Challenge: Character Development Promo (400 words MAX!!)Last week, competitors were asked to give a Hardcore Championship type response to the Hardcore Champ himself. This week, the five remaining competitors are tasked with showing us their abilities with a character development piece. Every week up until now has heavily favored traditional shoot..until now. This is your chance to give us a deeper look into your character how you see fit. Good luck!
OOC Notes:-Roleplay by responding IN THIS THREAD! Do NOT post to the roleplay board or make a separate post!-At the end of the roleplay window, this account will be the last response in this thread to to close off roleplaying and end this weeks challenge.-AW checks the word counts of each roleplay with wordcounter.net and it is the ONLY tool we use to check word count. All roleplayers should use this as well!DEADLINE:THURSDAY, August 12th. 11:59PM aka midnight Eastern Standard Time.Who Is Still In The Competition?Daniel DavisMadeline WhittneyKazim MeunierAphriya Adler-WardMathew Knox
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Post by Aphriya Adler on Aug 10, 2021 21:22:24 GMT -5
The scene comes in blazing. Literally. Several quick video shots of bridges burning. One exploding.
“They say for you to move on and live your life fully, you must let go of the past. Don’t dwell on it. Don’t let it hold you prisoner. Well consider this me burning the bridges to the past and completely disconnecting me from then.”
Her voice comes in just before the scene reveals her. Braided hair. Black and white. Her eyes looking somewhere off into the distance.
“You see, you have to relieve yourself of those past demons. Torments. The heartache that existed then. Now of course you must learn from what happened then to help for future endeavors.”
She shows a small grin.
“Back then, I was married. I loved her unquestioningly. But it seemed she couldn’t handle the commitment. Up and vanished. The past couple of years I have carried that pain. That anguish inside. Each passing day, breaking my already shattered heart into more microscopic pieces. Last week, I came to a conclusion. All the love I have spent out into the universe for her is pointless. It is wasting my love on someone and something won’t return that love. Last year I fought my last mixed martial arts bout. I lost that fight. Many things contributed to that loss. Little did I know that I would change my course not too long after that. Football. Short lived. Now wrestling.”
She now finally focuses on the camera.
“Gaining attention for both what I look like and my showing on The Search. Day by day, the pain of my missing wife is fading. Today is the day I burn those bridges. Learn from those experiences. But I know that there is love out there for me. I just need to allow it. I closed myself off from it out of fear. Out of anxiousness. Even some hope. NO!”
She grins wider now.
“I am no longer known as Aphriya Adler-Ward. No. I am taking back my life. Taking back myself. My heart. My love. I am now Aphriya Adler. No more holding onto that. Bridge burned. Now it is time to push forward. Achieve goals. Love and be loved.”
The scene swipes into a film roll of Aphriya celebrating victories in MMA and on the football field. The final frame is her sitting atop a cage with her hands in the air.
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Post by avantgarde on Aug 12, 2021 21:54:35 GMT -5
"Maddie, you here?"
The door to Madeline Whittney's studio creaks open, as a pudgy, blonde haired woman, about the same age as Madeline, walks into the studio.
The studio is... different. Normally, sun pours in through the windows, illuminating stacks of equipment and half finished work. But today all the supplies are neatly stacked, and curtains are drawn.
The blonde girl looks around with confusion as she shuts the door behind her. "Hadn't seen you at the gym all week, so I thought I'd check on you." the blonde yells out into the darkness. Reaching for the wall, she flicks on the lights.
Harsh fluorescents light up the studio, revealing Madeline, sleeping on a sofa, gripping a wine bottle that stains the cushions. Surrounding her are empty takeout boxes and more wine bottles.
"Jesus, Maddie!" The blonde exclaims as she rushes over. Madeline groggily opens her eyes, yawning and stretching out on the couch as she sits up.
"Beth, what are you... ugh hold on." Madeline stumbles towards the bathroom, but is caught by Beth.
"Maddie what the fuck happened? I know you get... down on yourself when you have artist's block, but I've never seen you this bad."
Madeline closes the bathroom door, shouting from the other side. "I- I failed. After weeks of training, when I finally got in the ring? Not only did I fail to win, I looked like an absolute amateur. No clue how I didn't end up eliminated last week."
Beth grins outside the bathroom, then laughs before covering her mouth. The door opens and Madeline is fuming, tears rolling down her cheeks. "What?!?!?"
"Maddie, you got in the ring and mixed it up with an MMA specialist after barely four months of experience. That's unbelievable. I know it may not have been what you expected, but you scraped by didn't you?" Beth wipes away Madeline's tears
"You never would've made it through art college if you felt sorry for yourself every time you had a creative block. Now's not the time to wallow in self-pity. It's time to get up and show them why you deserve to be in Action, Maddie."
Madeline gives a half grin as she looks at Beth.
"You know I hate when you call me that."
Beth smiles.
"Hate we can work with."
Madeline turns to the mirror, ties her hair up in a pony tail, and smirks.
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Post by mattknox on Aug 12, 2021 22:23:48 GMT -5
"It's not easy to root for the one who's supposed to be good at what they do."
The shot opens to an empty ring, a spotlight focused on the middle of it.
"And those so gifted at one thing, obviously fail spectacularly at a great many other things."
Into the spotlight, Matthew Knox walks in. Face paint, ring gear, focused and grim look. Ready to carve a path of destruction toward whatever the hell he desired.
"A lot of people will preach to you about striking a balance. I'm here to tell you it's a myth.."
The spotlight widens and Matt Knox is joined by...Matt Knox. Dressed in a button up shirt, slacks and dress shoes. Without the face paint a more tired, weathered face.
"Each of us is gifted a small flame of life. Desperately we feed it, keep it alive and burning. Trying desperately not to have it snuffed out…"
The spotlight turns red, neither Knox moves.
"One flame. One life. The life of a fighter, the life of a normal everyman and woman. The illusion of balance. Of having both...no one flame can sustain such ambition...so inevitably..one has to die."
A snap of action, the painted Knox leaps at the everyman. The Raven swings a vicious kick as the lights cut out.
The silence reigns..
"My problem is, I got so lost that I could never keep the lies straight. Man, monster, fighter, father…"
The lights return, a sullen blue. A figure is hunched over, arms wrapped around it's midsection.
"The Raven, Matthew Knox…"
Slowly, the figure stands. It's head remains bowed as slowly the camera pushes in upon him.
"Lies, Truth..it's all relative. Maybe I lost track of what flame to feed a long time ago..but in the Chaos, a resolution…"
Slowly, the face begins to lift.
"Whatever the fire is...I'm going to burn all of you with it."
Half painted. Half flesh. Half the man. Half the fighter.
"Now...can you stop me?"
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Post by Daniel Davis on Aug 12, 2021 22:26:51 GMT -5
Fade in. Flashback.
The scene opens to Danny, maybe fifteen or sixteen, hiding flat against the side of a shipping crate. Across a gap of five feet, beside another crate is a man in his late thirties, sporting a similar lanky figure. Danny is the first to speak, voice hushed.
"Dad, what are we even gonna do once we get onto-"
"Shh!"
"But dad, why don't we-"
"Shut it!"
The sound of footsteps against the pavement as a guard walks past a row or two of crates over. Danny's dad motions with two fingers, as more obvious by glow-in-the-dark nail polish, toward the area the guard had just passed, and then bolts that direction. Danny rounds the corner and follows closely behind.
As a towering claw clamps down onto a crate and lifts it into the air, it swings toward a massive sailing vessel, already partially loaded with other crates. Danny's dad grabs hold of the bars on the frame of the one beside that crate, positioning his feet as tight along the edge as he can.
"This is the one. Let's go."
"But dad, why can't we just rip it open now and take the-"
"Once we get on board, we'll have plenty of time to stuff our bags of product. Now come on!"
Danny crosses to the other end of the crate, but cannot get a good grip before the claw latches onto the massive cube and lifts. Danny's hands slip, and he looks up to witness his father being hoisted away.
"Dad!"
"Dammit kid, you can't do shit right, can you?!"
The same footsteps from earlier come approaching, and Danny quickly darts off, looking back only once as his dad disappears into the night sky.
Present day. Voiceover.
"That was the last I saw of my old man. Maybe he got lost at sea, or wound up overseas. Maybe he escaped, or maybe he's in jail. Probably, he died from falling off of that fucking crate at however fucking high up.
"But I knew the petty thief life wasn't for me. I figured I ought stay out of trouble, and mostly, I have. And what better way than to train to become a pro wrestler? If I succeed, and become famous and renowned, who knows? Maybe he'll see it and come back. But that doesn't happen without one thing happening.
"First, I gotta win."
Fade out.
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Post by The Search on Aug 13, 2021 22:09:18 GMT -5
Intro
Last week, the final six were tasked with submitting a promo in response to the challenge laid out by AW’s hardcore champion as well as stepping into the ring for the first time..
In the promo portion, everyone came out swinging and in back and forth battle royal action, Kazim earned immunity and an automatic spot in the final four..
When all was said and done, the field was slimmed down further as LC was the latest voted out.
With five competitors remaining and one spot accounted for, which three superstars will join Kazim in the semifinals?
This is…
THE SEARCH
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Post by The Search on Aug 13, 2021 22:13:37 GMT -5
Opener
We cut to the inside of the training facility where the present participants are in their usual lineup formation. Matthew Knox.
Aphriya Adler-Ward.
Madeline Whittney.
Daniel Davis.Kazim, however, is sat in one of four open chairs positioned just behind host Ethan Miller. We get more shots of each as Ethan nods to welcome to group. Ethan Miller: Six episodes in and the end isn’t too far away.
EM scans the lineup. Ethan Miller: Last week gave us a taste of both how you handle pressure from an AW promo as well as allowed you all to showcase your grit between the ropes.
We are shown highlights from the battle royal as well as a silhouette of LC leaving the building. Ethan Miller: This time out, you were given a pretty straightforward task in giving us a glimpse into your personal lives.
EM scans the four faces in front of him. Ethan Miller: As you all know, you’re due for more in-ring action this episode.
All four competitors remain transfixed on the ring in front of them. Ethan Miller: Tonight, you four will be competing against one another with the same goal in mind. Joining us this evening is Action Wrestling alum and AW’s co-head of security, Jaice Wilds. The challenge is simple. Jaice will step foot in the ring as will all of you. The first person to score a pinfall over Jaice will be declared the winner. Pull it off and you will not only move straight into next week’s final four, but will also be granted extra promo time towards your next challenge. (OOC Note: This means instead of the normal 400 word cap, the winner will be given a 500 word cap. All promos will be judged on even ground and quality, but this could be the extra little bit for someone to get across what they want, if they choose to use it.)The competitors approach the ring as some yeehaw ass Jaice Wilds music or whatever the fuck that dork uses plays over a shitty gym speaker. We cut to commercial.
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Post by The Search on Aug 13, 2021 22:15:51 GMT -5
Four Way Chase Match
Back from the break, Madeline, Daniel, Knox, and Aphriya are each in respective corners of the ring. In the middle is Jaice Wilds, taunting and flaunting like he’s talented. #LOL. All four step forward and the bell sounds. DING DING DING!!
Jaice continues to try to taunt like a giant dork. He like..rotates his hips sorta, but all four have him cornered. A big right hook from Knox drops Jaice, because he’s a glass jawed motherfucker. Jaice’s expression changes to one of pain as he tries to shake the immediate cobwebs. Aphriya, Daniel, and Madeline argue with one another over the situation as Knox bounds towards the group. He lays into Daniel with some chops as Aphriya takes standing side control of Madeline, laying into her with some rights of her own. As the four brawl, Jaice manages to roll towards the bottom rope where he continues his attempts at gathering himself. Aphriya and Matt lift Madeline and Daniel up respectively in vertical stall position before dropping them both with picture perfect suplexes. Once bac on her feet, Aphriya charges towards Matt and hits a big swinging kick to the head that drops the veteran Knox. She takes notice of Jaice on the outside and yanks him back under by one arm and drops a stiff knee into his skull, making a quick cover immediately after. 1! 2! The count is broken up not by Jaice himself, but by Daniel leaping across the canvas. Aphriya pulls him to his feet, but is met with a gutwrench suplex for her troubles. Daniel goes to pull up a now limp Jaice, but Madeline is behind him with a swift neckbreaker that drops Daniel back down as well. She darts off the ropes and jumps back first across Jaice’s milk in a bag gut with a picture perfect senton. She hooks the leg for a cover of her own. 1! 2! 3- Right before the full three count, Matt is on top of Madeline. He yanks her up and whips her face first through the middle of the ropes and sends her shoulder colliding into the post. She falls back, shouting out as Knox flips over for the pin attempt on Jaice. 1! 2! Surprisingly, it’s Jaice who actually manages the kickout this time. Knox looks enraged and shocked as he lays into Jaice with a series of stiff rights that bust open the head of security after just a few. MK pushes up and over Jaice with his palms, but before getting all the way back up is hit from behind with a big fameasser from Aphriya that drops Knox onto Jaice and takes both men out. Knox rolls off to the side and Aphriya scrambles for the pin. 1! 2! Daniel comes off the top rope with a frog splash to the back of Aphriya before the three, sending her rolling off Jaice as well. He hooks the leg. 1- Before the ref can even get the one count, Madeline is back up, gripping her shoulder and stomping out her frustrations against the back of Daniel’s head. She hoists him back up and throws him over the ropes where he stumbles to the outside mats. She goes for the cover herself. 1! 2! 3! Literally a 2.9 count. Madeline is shocked as for the second time thus far, Jaice kicks out himself. Rightfully assuming four way rules, she heads toward a turnbuckle and starts tearing away at the covering. Once exposed, she lifts Jaice up and throws him full force towards the exposed turnbuckle. Before she can capitalize, Aphriya is hits a spinning backfist to the back of her head and sends her crumpling to the mat. A recovered Knox spins Aphriya around but eats a spinning backfist right on the dot that drops him as well. Aphriya lets out a rally cry and goes to capitalize. As she turns around, she’s met by Daniel Davis springboarding through the air. He cocks back and hits a stiff Superman punch. The lone man in the ring, Davis leaps over and crashes onto Jaice with a standing star press and hooks the leg. 1! 2! 3! DING DING DING!!
Daniel’s eyes go wide and a rare smile spreads across his face. He rushes out under the ring and smacks his hands against one of the open chairs before taking his spot near Kazim. Ethan Miller: Congrats, Daniel! It was no easy feat, but you will now be joining Kazim and two of your peers in next week’s final four.
EM motions towards the remaining three who shake off various shades of frustration as the head towards lineup formation. Ethan Miller: Now, just like last week, the in ring action has unfolded and it’s time to get to the promos with some thoughts from Spencer Adams. That happens...when we come back!
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Post by The Search on Aug 13, 2021 22:17:54 GMT -5
Breakdown
We return to Ethan standing in front of the lineup of Aphriya, Knox, and Madeline. Seated behind him are a fresh and confident Kazim and a still recovering Davis. Ethan: Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. It’s almost time that we find out who advances..and who is sent packing..but first, it’s time to hear from our resident pro.
EM motions for the envelope and slips out the sheet within. He gives it a quick look over and looks back to the three in front of him. “Aphriya, I enjoyed the content here a fair bit. Giving us nuggets of information was the goal. It was interesting in substance, but maybe a tad shaky in execution. In a lot of ways this felt like an exposition dump dropped on our heads and the framing around it felt just a touch loose. Overall, solid work that could’ve been conveyed just a bit more smoothly.”Aphriya gives off an air of anxiety as she shuffles her feet within her own little bubble. “Madeline, I liked this A LOT. Going the route of showing us the reaction to recent events is a solid one that fits well and has been effective for many AW superstars both past and present. You touched on what’s happening without taking too far of a dive into shoot promo territory. This was a high end effort.”
Madeline’s face crinkles up, frustration still apparent. “Matt, as a piece of promo work, this was fine enough. Stylistically though, this feels like one more suited for the Harvey Marx challenge from a few weeks back. I feel we got less of a true look into the character’s life/depth/business just outside the ring and mostly were show a whole lot of aesthetic seasoning. Again, a good submission, but not something what I would call character development.”
Matt mouths something towards the two men sitting behind Ethan. “Daniel, this is killer stuff. It tells a solid story from start to finish that leaves the viewer wanting more and does a great job of leading into more. This just delivered on all fronts. Congrats on the shortest feedback of the week award. You earned it.”
Davis leans back in his seat, smiling as he does so. Ethan Miller: Another week of in ring competition, promos, feedback...and finally...elimination. In front of me are three exceptional competitors. Each of you have plenty to give, but we’ve only got two seats left behind me. One of you is heading home. We find out who after a quick commercial break. Stick around, folks!
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Post by The Search on Aug 13, 2021 22:19:56 GMT -5
Reveal
We come back to the lineup of Aphriya, Madeline, and Knox waiting eagerly for the call that will decide their futures. Ethan Miller: We’re just seconds from our final five becoming our final four. So far, Kazim and Daniel have punched their tickets. The judges have spoken and they’ve come to a conclusion. One of you is heading home.
EM’s expression drops. Ethan Miller: The person leaving The Search….is...
The suspenseful music hits and we get one final closeup of everyone in the lineup. Ethan Miller: Matt.
Aphriya and Madeline’s jaws drop in unison. Ethan Miller: Matt. It’s been a pleasure having you on, but it’s the end of the road. Matt: Eliminated from this? Sure, but I asked all of you a question and I still haven’t received the answer to that question. Can you stop me?
Knox smirks and turns towards the exit, departing in silence. Ethan Miller: Aphriya, Madeline, Daniel, Kazim. You have reached the final four and the finish line is in sight. Next week, you advance to the semi-finals of the competition where TWO of you will advance..and two of you will not. Who has what it takes? Who can dig that extra little bit deeper? Find out next week on...The Search!
The camera zooms out and shows Ethan and the top final four as the show fades out.
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