Characters created by: Chris Savino
Chapter 1: Introduction
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Some of the music you are about to hear is being recorded in studio and is unreleased as of the premiere of this documentary. Please refrain from any piracy or bootlegging of these excerpts under the Copyright Act of 1976.
ECLIPSE: ON THE ROAD AND IN STUDIO
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania…
At the Wells Fargo Center, the arena was packed with people. It was dark. Then, spotlights lit up around the arena, and they all pointed to the large stage installed in the middle of the arena. There were speakers and wires around the back. The spotlights all focused onto a large drum kit, where a young woman, with hair covering her eyes, wearing a grey jacket with three buttons on one collar over a black and white striped shirt. She wore a black skirt that went halfway down to her knees, and white high-socks and green sneakers. She raised two drumsticks in the air, and the crowd cheered. Once the crowd's cheering had ceased, she began playing her drums.
*Tap* *Tap*. *Taptaptap*.
The rhythm persisted. After a while, her drumming was accompanied by a galloping bass line that filled the arena. Another spotlight focused on a man holding a bass guitar with long hair down to the bottom of his neck, and wore a black leather jacket over a medium purple shirt, jeweled bracelets on both wrists, blue jeans, and black shoes.
The bass line mixed with drumming persisted until the bass became higher, and then dropped in pitch and became slower. Then, a backwards piano chord progressed, until abruptly stopping. Two spotlights focused on a woman on a synthesizer, and the other playing the electric guitar. The woman on the synthesizer was Luna Loud, and the woman on guitar was Sam Sharp, and this group was Eclipse, the fledgling new rock band emerging from Royal Woods, Michigan. They had risen to the spotlight with their sound of rock in a new age, mixing the old with some elements of the new. Here they were, on a US tour in support of their second studio album, "Eclipse II".
Luna's hair was a bit longer and wavier. The hair on her forehead hung in front of the top of her eyes. She was wearing her usual attire. She had grown to her sister Lori's height.
Sam's hair was longer, going down her back. She also wore her signature attire. She was the same height as Luna.
Luna played on synthesizer while Sam played electric guitar, the long-haired male, known as Jack Valentine, supported the song on bass, and the other girl, Tiana Reeves, played drums. Luna played a high tune on synthesizer. As they played, the opening credits faded into the screen, naming cast, producers, etc. After a minute, Luna added in extra "sparkling" sound effects on synth, then went back to the high tune. The synth note started decreasing in pitch and slowing down. The music segued into the next track. A low, lone bass line from Jack followed, and then a supporting low hum from the synthesizer sounding two notes. After a while, the notes would go higher, then lower again. After a minute of the same repeating notes, the bass stopped, and the low notes continued, until slowing down, and devolving to one note each time. Finally, it stopped, and there was a slight pause.
The screen faded out, and then faded in to an American news show. A man in his mid 50s, with neatly combed brown hair, wearing a grey suit and tie, sat, with a a mobile phone laying on the desk.
"But first, listen to this…"
He pressed on the touch screen of the phone, and it played a screaming guitar that echoed in the track, supported by drums. The man would turn his eyes to the camera, then back to the phone. The camera cut to another man to his left with black hair in a bowl cut, looking to be in his late 40s, wearing a black suit and tie.
"It's cool, it's new, it's number one." said the man, "It's Eclipse."
The screen cut to a picture of the band members sitting, looking towards the camera, with the sound of the audience cheering. The camera cut back to the other man with the brown hair, who looked to his co-anchor.
"Eclipse?"
The camera cut to the man with the black hair, who put his hand to his chin.
"Yes, Dave. But I'm afraid you and other Dads like you may never have heard of them."
He put down his hand and looked to the camera.
"But this group, straight from Royal Woods, Michigan, has made history today. Readers of Rolling Stone Magazine have voted them the top world group. The significance is is that the last time any major rock group had risen to considerable popularity was during the Post-Punk Revival of the early 2000s twenty years ago. But the Pop music scene afterward had deviated to Electronic dance and Rap. But now, we're seeing yet another revival of rock music."
The screen cut to footage and audio from the Cardi B song "Bodak Yellow". The man spoke over the audio.
"Before, pop music had become increasingly electronic, with lyrics not usually pertaining to hidden meanings and philosophy, but more of ego and love."
The screen then cut to footage of Kanye West rapping.
"The type of music they created were mostly made to be danced to, and the music and lyrics would be popular, but then would usually be forgotten about by the next year."
The screen then cut to teenagers protesting in Washington, holding picket signs.
"But a new generation was growing up. A generation to whom Beyonce and Kanye West meant nothing. A generation that demanded a different kind of music. Music like the music of Eclipse."
The screen cut to a bearded man with long wavy hair and glasses. A name flashed on the bottom of the screen.
John Kowalski
Editor
Rolling Stone Magazine
"I think that the last year has seen a revolution in popular music, and the, at least, dormancy of the personality cult." he said, "Eclipse is more focused on their music then their public image. Their lead performer in particular has been criticized by some music critics as being "too wild" in their public concerts, to the point to where concertgoers "faint from the exhaustion compared to her seemingly infinite amount of energy.". But, that hasn't stopped her. She has stated she "wishes to give concertgoers the best time when the music suddenly starts getting heavy.". People are now interested in young musicians, who have a wider variety of musical compositions to choose from, rather than say.. What Katy Perry had for breakfast.. People have turned inwards, and they're looking to the young musicians scene.. Eclipse are good musicians, and people are voting for them, rather than for an image, as they used to years ago."
The screen cut to still images of each of the band members performing in concert, one by one. The screen then cut to the brown haired man sitting with Luna and Sam.
"First off, congratulations on your marriage."
Luna and Sam both smiled.
"Thank you." said Luna, then Sam.
"Second of all, Sam, I have a question for you. You yourself, like John Kowalski, the Rolling Stones Editor, said that the music is changing because "the kids are changing". What do you have to say about that.
"Well, yes, but, everything's changing really. I mean, we've had all sorts of people at concerts, you know. I think that they're coming to listen to what you're playing, and not just to look at you, and see what you are. I know you mentioned, like, Kanye West, like- It was to look at him. You know. It was you didn't really bother with what you were listening to."
"Yeah." responded the man.
"And today, it's not what you are, but what you're playing."
The man butted in as she was done and lightly pointed to Luna.
"Well, this is interesting, because we've heard that the Personality Cult is laying dormant, but- Uh, I'm still gonna put in one of those kinds of questions. I mean- Uh, I wouldn't know whether you're a millionaire or not, but- Uh, Y-You must be- You must be quite rich now. What's it like having money?"
Sam gave a light chuckle. Luna smiled.
"Well. Sam's laughing because I don't think- I think I must spend a good fifteen dollars a week."
Sam started laughing.
"Bull! Don't listen to her!"
Luna softly laughed.
"It's all for food."
"But, after the big concerts and stuff, and the hotels, you've got a little bit left over."
"Oh. A few bills and quarters, and stuff. No- I think all that really matters is just.. Doing what we love, and what we love is making music. And, to see people appreciate our music is all we really look forward to at the end of the day. It's just the whole big making people feel entertained, and the little things that make life go right. And, I think that we've reached that stage now, and it's up to us to.. To keep on coming up with something good. So, we'll be at the Rolling Stone Poll Winners Awards... You know… All that "Wish us luck" stuff… Yeah… Ehe."
The man smiled.
"Luna Loud, Sam Sharp, thank you very much, and- Um- Good luck with your forty-thousand audience in Madison Square Garden in New York."
"Thank you." said Luna, then Sam.
Music from the band was then played over the interview as the screen slowly faded to black.
Capitol Records Tower-Los Angeles, California
The screen faded in to a view down a Hollywood street, facing the Capitol Records Tower. Then, the screen cut to one of the studios in the tower. In the studio, Jack was playing some notes on the bass guitar. He had a pair of headphones on his head. After a few notes, the voice of Luna could be heard resonating in the room.
"Okay. That sounds good."
The camera cut to another room beside it, with a giant sound console, and a wide glass window separating the room from the one Jack was in. In the room stood Luna, who had her hands on the console, Sam, standing beside her, Tiana, sitting over some boxes in the back, and a man in his early 40s, with balding black hair, rectangular black glasses, a pair of black dress pants, and a white dress shirt with a black tie.
The screen then cut to Luna.
"My name's Luna Loud!"
She made a rock and roll sign with her hand.
"I'm the lead singer of Eclipse! I also play guitars, the keyboard, piano, violin, lots of stuff."
The screen cut to Luna live on stage, singing.
"I was picked to be the lead of Eclipse because of my energy, which gave Jack, who was the original lead before we were ever even called Eclipse, the ability to play bass. The life of a rock star is much like I anticipated."
The screen then cut to Luna and Sam walking and talking on the beach in swimwear, both with sunglasses on.
"Me and my wife Sam have a beautiful house on a hill, with a nice view of the towering mountains outside Los Angeles. Life in Los Angeles period is such a special experience. It barely ever rains. Only complaint is the traffic. It can get crazyyyyy…"
The screen cut to Sam.
"I'm Sam Sharp, and I'm the guitarist for Eclipse. I really enjoy being here in Los Angeles, recording songs with my wife and our bandmates. It's so great."
The screen cut to footage of Sam picking on electric guitar, with Luna standing nearby in front of a hanging microphone, smiling at Sam.
The screen then cut to Jack.
"Hi. I'm Jack Valentine. I'm the bassist for Eclipse. I founded the band when I was just in middle school, and it evolved to the band you see now. Luna is a more junior member of the band, but she acts as our principal songwriter. It's nice having her on the band. Very dynamic."
The screen finally cut to Tiana.
"Hi. I'm Tiana Reeves. I'm the drummer for Eclipse. Being a drummer in a band is so rad. Drums are very good, and you get to sit behind the others on stage, acting as the one with the guns, the literally heavy artillery, and bust out the beats. And it's really fun to work with such a team as me and my bandmates. Just pumpin' out music makes us happy."
The voice of Sam could be heard over slow motion footage of Tiana drumming.
"I don't think anyone could compare to Tiana. It just wouldn't be the same without her."
The screen cut to black, and the words "NGC 5189" faded in in white. The sound of a major audience cheering slowly faded in as well. Once they faded in completely, they settled down, and a menacing guitar tune echoed. The tune envoked dread and fear. The screen faded in footage from a live performance by the band in Nationals Park in Washington D.C. The camera slowly zoomed in to the stage. As the guitar tune continued to echo through the park, Tiana began tapping cymbals with timpani mallets, while Luna created a rising note on synthesizer, evoking a climax for each musical verse. Jack joined in with a bass tune. The camera cut to above Tiana's head as she played. Another rising note on synthesizer.
The camera then cut to Sam's face as she played guitar, then back to Tiana, then to Sam, then back to Tiana. As she finished with the cymbals, she played two lone cymbals with her left foot, and put down the timpani mallets in exchange for regular drum sticks. She began playing through her set, Jack's bass now playing along with the beat of her drums. As time went by, and the drums beat, a droning guitar from Sam became louder and louder. Tiana expressed pure energy in her dum playing, hitting the cymbals. Sam's guitar played a quick tune, and the band ended with a final cymbal crash and synthesizer note, then Sam's guitar with her guitar hitting one last deep note, and the track was over. The crowd cheered, and the screen faded to black.
Say in the reviews what you want the documentary team to record with the band next chapter! Activities, studio sessions, more live shows, etc. And tell me what you think of the story so far!