Nikol (TBD) – Currently in pre-production
Title: Nikol
Tag: Print is Dead.
Logline: A bankrupt newspaper displaced by advancing technology dismantles its self-aware newspaper press, Nikol. Not wanting to be “killed”, Nikol fights back.
Genre: Feature-length sci-fi/drama.
Produced By: Nightowl Pictures
Created By: Nathan Bezner & Donald Wells, David Oates and Patrick G. Keenan
Nikol opens with a newsreel introducing us to the world in which the story takes place. In this world, the electrical theories of Nikola Tesla and the polished brass and wrought iron look of the steam-powered 19th century predominate. It is a world in which the strange and imaginary inventions of writers like Jules Verne and H.G. Wells are living, working realities.
We are then introduced to our main characters: Victor Banes, Hollis Johnston, and Miles Jordan. They are celebrating the last few days of their employer, the Herald-Tribune newspaper, which has been rendered obsolete by the development of newer information-based technologies.
The following day, the characters arrive to dismantle the Nikol AU-5600, a bio-mechanical computer and printing press assembly which has produced the Herald-Tribune for decades. They are met by Sidney Chester, the woman who has been Nikol’s chief programmer for years.
From the moment of their arrival things start to go wrong…
Nikol began as a short film concept project when Nathan Bezner said eight little words to his friend and cohort Andrew Jenner: “I want to make something in a warehouse.” Three years later, the screenplay for “Nikol” had been finalized as a high-concept, Victorian-styled sci-fi drama.
For the past year, the Nightowl Pictures team has been trying to raise money for the project. We’ve written business plans, had pitch meetings, and through it all, one thing has become very clear: in order to retain any kind of creative control over the project, we would need to finance this beast ourselves.
We believe that “Nikol” as a project, as a story, could be something truly special. That is why we have gone to Facebook, the IndieGoGo community, Twitter and the internet in general as a means to get creative projects off the ground. We hope that you will want to see “Nikol” become a reality as much as we do.
What we are looking for right now are starting funds, the money to get the ball rolling. Once that first road is crossed, we will be able to find additional revenue from several investors who have already promised to match funds should we get that initial interest up and running. We’re planning on initiating pre-production once we hit our final goal of $250,000.
If we don’t get that initial funding in order to get off the ground, don’t worry, we’ll find another way. Like Peter Venkman says, everyone has three mortgages these days.
So, PLEASE, let everyone know about the project! Tell your mom, tell your dad, hell, tell your cat – anything and everything can help. This project is a community effort, and we can only do it if the word gets out.
I’m sure your cat will like it.







