Operation Home Base: A New Military TV Series

Operation Home Base
Theresa Chaze
One of The Red Cross’s functions is passing messages to and from military personnel. However, they are limited to the passive role of sharing information. What if there was an organization that could do more? What if it could actively make a difference with legal, medical and logistics help? What if it was staffed with people, who understand the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges because they had been there? They know why some veterans are no longer able to sleep indoors much less return to their civilian lives. They understand because the same ghosts haunt them. What if in their dedication to help, the founders stumbled upon an international cover up, which put a target on their own backs?

A medic in Nam, Martin Flying Crow returned home only to find the war followed him. By helping others, he was able to quiet the ghosts in his head. He gained national attention and the friendship of Lieutenant Colonel Elaine Reynolds (Ret.) after he talked a Marine out of committing suicide. Together they pulled enough resources together to achieve non-profit status and were able to move Operation Home Base from Martin's garage into a small office building.

The organization once again gained national attention when they used their connections both in and out of the military to investigate the disappearance of PFC Hank Bogley and his squad. When they start to unravel the lies and misinformation, they suddenly become the targets of a national smear campaign. Although their personal and professional motives are brought into questioned, the board refuses to back down.

Unable to deter them, their lead detractor, Valhalla does an about face and offers to support them with endless financial, political, and logistic support. There is one catch. Operation Home Base must accept their representative as the new head of their organization. Valhalla chooses a man who knows Martin's secrets. He knows because the same ghosts haunt him. Is he the distraction to keep Martin busy, while they use the money, influence and access to classified information to destroy Operation Home Base from the inside out?

Operation Home Base combines MASH and The Waltons with NCIS to create a family of man drama about forgiveness and second chances. From the senseless murder of a therapy dog to two teens stealing a tank to joy ride down main street to the Native American's family having to fight for their loved one's last wishes honored and non-coms dealing with PTSD, Operation Home Base intertwines real life situations with a fictional international conspiracy. From World War II to the current conflict, the stories will show military personnel and veterans as real people, not just disposable parts of the war machine. Its tagline is helping others heals our own wounds.

Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Operation-Home-Base/108122929228217

Operation Home Base finds Support from Veterans

Veteran, military activist and talk show host, Richard Bauer actively endorses the new military series, Operation Home Base.

Bauer served in the United States Air Force Command from 1988-2010. As a Inventory Management Specialist, he coordinated supply for the Air National Guard at Jefferson Barracks. He insured the mobility assets were available for deployment and all personnel were properly fitted and ready in the event of war. June 2000 – March 2003, Bauer performed military funeral honors for deceased active duty, retired and veteran personnel at Scott Air Force Base-Belleville IL. As Command and Control-flight Follower from April 2003-January 2006, he was the command agent responsible for the accurate, real-time global command control of all AMC directed tanker and airlift Missions in support of national interests worldwide. From May 1999-June 2010, he worked in the defense and space industry as the Missouri State employee, providing funeral honors for deceased veterans and retirees for the entire eastern part of Missouri. Currently, he is the host of Tribute to the Troops on the Virtual Entertainment Radio Network. It is a program that supports current members of the military as well as veterans. The program will educate and explore questions or problems relating to military personnel. By coalescing governmental, civilian and veteran’s organizations, Tribute to the Troops’ goal is to insure that not one soldier/airman/or sailor is left behind..

Of Operation Home Base, Bauer said:
“WOW...this is awesome, breath taking, and splendid; words cannot express my gratitude or thankfulness. I think you got a real winner. God Bless you for finally opening the family life of the military spouse to the general public.”
Rich Bauer MSgt USAF (Ret.)

Bauer’s associate said:

'I think the script is dealing in uncharted waters. This will be like nothing ever produced! What a brilliant idea to expose to the general audience real life situations that our fellow soldiers have to deal with returning home. Bravo!'

Two different members of the military and both Senior NCO's looked at the script like the military (Department of Defense--Washington) would look at it and we both agreed you got a hit.

Combining MASH and Little House on the Prairie into a family of man drama, Operation Home Base combines the real life challenges of living the military life with a fictional world-wide conspiracy of intrigue, murder, and lies. Refusing to be bullied, OHB begins to unravel the lies that surround the disappearance of Bogley and his squad.. Unable to deter them with the stick, their lead detractor does an about face and offers to support OHB with endless financial, political and logistic support. Is it a honest humanitarian offer or are their enemies trying to destroy it from the inside out.?

From the PTSD of the Vietnam nurses to the murder of a Marine’s therapy dog that leads to a wild and crazy fundraising fair, OHB will make the viewers laugh and cry. It will also build a bridge of understanding between those who serve and civilians. The viewers will be able to easily relate to the characters as family members, friends or the person they see in the mirror. Unlike most new shows, which either appeal to adults or children, OHB will be a drama that will appeal to the whole family

To read the full proposal and an excerpt of the pilot go to http://www.theresachaze.com/Operation_Home_Base.html

Making the Most of Advertising and Marketing Dollars

Product placement has been a blessing as well as a curse for the entertainment industry as it both financed and controlled television programming. Over the years the advertisers role has changed from sole sponsorship of individual programs to rotating commercials that have little or no connection to specific programs. Instead of content, advertisers use ratings as the yardstick as the deciding factor as to where to spend their marketing budget. However there is a third option available that would be advantageous to both program producers and advertisers. Products properly embedded into programs will not only positively market products and services at a lower cost, but will also subsidize production budgets thereby allowing the executive producers and the networks to air a higher quality of scripted programming.

In the early years of television, advertisers sponsored individual shows. The program quality and the product reputation were intertwined. The mutual branding gave the sponsor more control over the content of the program and to some extent the network that aired it. Texaco Star Theatre is an example of successful product sponsorship. It was a comedy-variety show that originated on radio in 1938; however, NBC picked up it up the June of 1948. Not only was the brand name featured in the show title, but Texaco featured its products and services throughout the show. It was blatant in your face promotion, but it was also done within the context of the show format. Texaco was taking credit for presenting good entertainment. In 1953 Texaco dropped its sponsorship, but Buick picked it up, changing the name of the show to The Buick-Berle Show. In 1954, the name was changed to The Milton Berle Show, which it was known by until it ended in 1956. Buick changed its sponsorship at the beginning of 1955-1956 season to the Jackie Gleason Show. In both cases, Texaco and Buick paid production cost to insure their products left a lasting positive impression on the viewers by embedding their products within the context of the entertainment.

Throughout the decades, single sponsorship dwindle to the point that it is currently nonexistent. It has been replaced by commercial breaks, making the advertising completely separate from the entertainment. Although initially the change has made it less costly for advertisers, it has also created a competition for placement for shows with higher ratings. With the diversity of products and the time limitation, networks and local stations not only charge on a sliding scale according to the ratings, but they no longer guarantee exclusivity during commercial breaks. In the current system, there is virtually no connection between the programming and the products. Sponsors buy ratings and demographics, nothing more.

Each system had both benefits and pitfalls. Embedding products takes advantage of the positive aspects television marketing, while eliminating most of the drawbacks. Implanting products within the entertainment will once again blurred the lines between content and advertising, but it will also more honestly reflected not only the product but its use in real life. By appropriately embedding the products within the context of action, the show looks and feels more realistic. Instead of drinking no named sodas, the characters would openly drink Coke, Pepsi, or another name brand. While continuing with the natural flow of the plot, characters could be shown shopping or dining at specific national chains. Nothing in the conversation would be directly promote anything, yet the natural movement of the camera would catch the distinctive logos of both the individual products or the national chain. If the characters needed to buy a coffee pot, they could be seen going into Walmart, walking through the store and choosing to buy a Mr. Coffee. The conversation would be about topics which furthered the plot until it came to deciding which Mr. Coffee they were going to buy. Once the decision was made, they would revert back to plot developing topics. It would be natural and reflect a real life situation.

In addition, by making the product or business a natural part of the scene, it not becomes an effective marketing tool, but also it becomes permanently embedded into the episode. No matter what time slot, network or products slotted for the official commercial breaks, every time that episode airs the embedded products will once again be marketed without any extra cost to the sponsors.

The major pitfall is if the product doesn’t fit the situation, character or plot. If it is forced into the program instead of seamlessly fitting into the scene, it will not only distract the viewer from the program but also create negative backlash for the product and the sponsor. One soap opera placed a woman’s magazine into the action of a scene. A male character was injured and a female friend gave him a copy of the women’s magazine to read to help pass the time. The two of them proceeded to spend time talking about the benefits of the magazine. If it had been done properly in the context of character and the situation, it could have been very effective. However, instead of being an effective marketing tool it came off as a badly written ad. The situation would have worked for another product such as the TV Guide. The female friend could have given him a copy as a way of him finding programming to keep his mind occupied while he recuperated. In addition, the writers could have easily added dialogue to generalize about the information found in the articles, which would have kept the piece timeless. As long as the dialogue was kept short and within the framework of the situation, scene would have been effective.

Products could be embedded at two levels: episodic and series. The only difference between the two would be the length of service of the product in the series. Episodic products would be short term, being found in one or two episodes, while series products would run an entire season or as long as the series aired. Whether short term or long, the effectiveness will depend solely on the how well the product fits into the plot. The key is to write in the product without over-shadowing the entertainment or slowing down the plot development. Clever blocking of both the actors and camera angles would eliminate the need of promotional dialogue, thereby limiting the negative impact of over exposing the products.

The executive producers and writers of Operation Home Base intend to embed both series and episodic products within their new military series. In the style of MASH and NCIS, Operation Home Base has a strong ensemble cast that will appeal to a broad demographic base that includes gender, ages, and ethnicity.  MASH focused on the effects of war and NCIS concentrates on  criminal situations involving military personnel. OHB will incorporate both while revealing the challenges military families face daily along with the conflicts that originate from involvement with civilians.  OHB could be best described as a family of man drama, which will show the best and worst of the human condition, whose broad base appeal will give it nearly unlimited product placement potential.

Who is responsible for buying the donuts will be one of the long standing jokes among the characters on Operation Home Base. It would be very easy to promote Dunkin Donuts within the show by simply showing the logo on the box as the characters choose their favorites. Non verbal cues such as seeing the character enjoying the donuts or the multiple empty donut boxes in the trash would promote product more than any dialogue that could be written. In addition, if they are lucky enough to sign on Tom Selleck to play the part of Deek, orange juice will be added to the morning staff meetings along with the coffee, tying in OHB to Selleck’s voice overs for Florida orange juice. In addition to the civilian promotion, OHB will show the sense of belonging and personal satisfaction to be gained through service in the military, not through heavy handed ads, but revealing what it means to be military through those who have lived the life.

Short term promotion will be handled with equal grace. The fundraising episode will not only help raise awareness for therapy dogs, but it will also be a fabulous opportunity to promote restaurants, musical groups, soft drinks, and real-life veteran’s organizations. Stella’s engagement presents a chance to showcase the rings from Kay Jeweler or another national chain as the couple chooses their rings.

As a non-profit agency, which helps military personnel and their dependants during crisis situations, there will be limitless opportunities to discreetly promote products and services. Whether it is home repair, telephone service, or in the case of the pilot episode, emergency support in the form of prepaid charge cards after a family who looses everything to a home fire, OHB will be able to effectively promote a diverse number products and services, while still being able to produce quality entertainment.. Sponsors will not only gain effective marketing for their products, but they will also gain the additional benefit of showing public support for the military, veterans and their families.

From WWII to the Sandbox: The Story Behind the Warriors

I have been asked what is different or unique about Operation Home Base. Why should producers risk their money? Why would a network schedule it? Why would people make time in their busy schedules to watch it? Simple. It is about people, situations and events that the viewers can identify with. It doesn’t depend on special effects, gadgets or sexual fantasies. It’s a back to the basics of family acceptable programming that is not only entertaining, but also timely with situations that people are experiencing today.

The character are not only characters, they are individual who have personalities, flaws and unique perspectives on the world. Aging from 7 to 70, the characters cross generations, creating an accurate cross section of population today. Like most successful shows in the past, the viewers will be able to identify with the characters as grandparents, parents, siblings, children and friends Unlike many of the new shows, the characters have depth and motivation that goes beyond being sexy.

Hank Bogley is listed as MIA under questionable circumstances during Operation Desert Storm. The Army refused to answer the family’s question about his disappearance. Unable to get answers on their own or through their state representatives, Pat and Rose Bogley approached the staff of OHB for help. Using the back door contacts and by calling in old favors, Elaine and Michael with Martin’s help quickly learn that the essential details of where and when Bogley disappeared were falsified on the official records. Unable to deter the team with the usual methods of intimidation and bribery, a shill nonprofit organization called Valhalla, with Retired General Walter Hummel as the head, is set up as the carrot to tempt the founding members with unlimited funds and power, which they could use to help others. The mission is to destroy OHB from the inside out and discredit the founders.

Although General Walter Hummel is officially retired, he continues the same work, only it’s been taken off the books. Enlisting during the close of the Korea War, Hummel quickly rose in the ranks by doing what was necessary to protect his country and its secrets. He got the job done and never looked back. In Vietnam, Hummel was assigned to cover up break down in command and the illegal actions of others that caused the deaths of nearly an entire company and the vengeance on a small village that followed. His success opened doors to both promotions and power, yet he desired neither. His motivation came from love of family and country. He wanted his children to have a life better than his own and he was more than willing to do whatever was necessary to make it happen. He could be a cold blooded bastard, yet a loving and protective parent; he saw no inconsistency in ordering the death of others, while attending his son’s baseball game. When his grandson and his wife were murdered, Hummel took custody of their daughter, Tessa and circled the wagons around his family. Walter Hummel is a man the viewers will love to hate

Martin Flying Crow enlisted in the Navy to escape the abject poverty. In Vietnam, he served two tours as a medic. Although he was not officially allowed to carry weapons, he did not hesitate to defend those in his unit by whatever means necessary. It was during this time that he crossed paths with Deek. After his term of service, he quickly learned how little emotional, spiritual, and medical support there was for the military personnel, vets and wounded warriors along with their families. Working on a local level out of his garage, he gathered information, contacts, and resources, which he used to improve the lives of those affected by war. He gained national attention when he was able to talk a wounded warrior out of committing suicide

Ex-Special Ops, Deacon James Williams was nick named Deek soon after he was deployed in Vietnam the summer of 1966. Assigned Recon Intelligence, he worked closely with the Montagnard and the Vietnamese Army. Five years later, he re-emerged from his assignment and was immediately airlifted out, without any official records of his activities. As part of the financial aid agreement with the government, Williams was named as Head of OHB, officially answering only to the heads of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Pentagon. However, in the actual chain of command Deek reported directly to Hummel. Charming one minute, deadly the next, Williams is able to accomplish the seemingly impossible.

Randi Cullen-(Legal Aid) Randi Cullen grew up as Marine brat until her mother divorced her father early in her childhood. Eventually her mother remarried and moved across country, taking Randi and her brothers away from the military way of life. After the divorce, her birth father severed contact. He quickly became the elephant in the room that neither she nor her mother were willing to discuss for fear of where it would lead. Although both of her older brothers enlisted right out of high school, Cullen both loved and hated the military. She loved the discipline and the service, yet she blamed it for the loss of her father. Following her stepfather, she went to law school and joined the local Prosecutor’s Office. She was not only known for her fairness and tenacity, but her out spoken views.

Lt. Colonel Elaine Reynolds is retired regular army officer in her late 50’s, she is chief financial aid officer for OHB. Half accountant, half weasel, she has able to not only make stingy people take a crowbar to their wallet, but also make sure every buffalo shits twice before the nickel is spent. A career officer, mother of two, and a wife, Reynolds found a way to balance her career and family needs. Her husband, Larry Reynolds is a police detective. Her daughter Rachael is a junior in college; who does volunteer work for the OHB in the Red Cross office. Her son Mitchell is an active duty marine; his wife Debra and his children live with Reynolds while he is in the Sandbox.

Michael Woodsman is political appointee who knows the ins and outs of how and when to kiss ass and when to kick it, Woodsman worked his way up through the political system. His hard edge and cynicism makes him a dangerous opponent, but also a very effective Liaison for the OHB. A car accident in his late teens, permanently damaged his spine, the physical limitation is a source of great anger as well as being a profound motivator. Although he never served himself, he has great respect for those who do step up to the plate.

Lorelei Stewart started her life as an army brat who married Army. It was after his death of her husband that she learned how little support military personnel and their families actually received. Determined to use her experiences to help others, she became one of the founders of Operation Home Base. Whether it be with a wise-crack, singing a song, or with a ruler across the knuckles, she has a unique ability to defuse tense situations that could have easily become violent.

Half Potawatomi half Mexican, Master Sergeant Stella Garcia is woman in her late 30’s who planned to be a career soldier; however, the IED, which took her left leg, ended her active field duty. Emotionally, she couldn’t find the reason for her surviving when rest of her buddies were killed. Using alcohol and sex to numb the pain, she walked through life unable to feel anything. She settled into her new desk job, yet her dreams were haunted by the ghosts of her unit and the others. They asked her why she ran away from her duty--why she allowed their deaths to be in vain. Through ancient ceremonies she not only found the strength to heal and forgive herself, but also finds her new destiny. By volunteering for Mortuary duty, she became the Wind Talker who spoke for the dead and insured their wishes were fully carried out.

Debra Anne Lee (Red Cross). In her early twenties, this southern bell grew up with seven older brothers most of whom join the military. A martial arts expert in her own right, she is proud of her family heritage that can be traced back to the civil war. Her mother used to say that Debra Anne walked where fools and angels fear to tread and was kicked out for being a smart ass. More moxie and intelligence than common sense, she is willing to take on situations and people that most people run away from.

Harold Phoebus taught his son Homer Alexander to not only fly before he was able to legally drive a car, but how to make repairs with whatever parts were available. Homer joined the U.S. Air at the age of eighteen, becoming one of the youngest chopper pilots to serve in the Corps history. A career pilot and officer, he was one of the most decorated pilots of the Vietnam conflict. Though he was a hero with his men, he frequently came to conflict with command; his superiors considered him a necessary pain in the ass that represented the best and worse of the Air Corps. Refusing to send others on missions he considered too dangerous, he gained the nickname the Lone Ranger and his Jolly Green, Silver. Homer actively flew missions past the time most pilots were grounded. It wasn’t until his wife, Kim-Ly was diagnosed with cancer did he accept the promotion to Commander and the desk job that went with it. However, he spent little time polishing the seat with his ass. Instead he taught the dog-fighting and his dusting off techniques to new generations of pilots by showing them how it was down, not lecturing in a class room. More than a teacher, Homer considered every pilot he taught to be his son or daughter

Although some of the storylines will be ripped from the headlines, most will come from the back pages, while others will not have received any public attention. Not all vets are homeless. Not all vets go Rambo on small towns. Not all vets are heroes. But the one thing they all have in common is that once they have served, they are no longer the same. From those who fought in WWII, Korea and all those since then to the nurses and non-combatants, OHB will show how war affect not only those who serve, but those who love them. It will show the honor as well as the dishonor. The heroes and the villains that are created by war.

Even though, the storylines will be based around military personnel and their families, the situations will also be too familiar to civilian. From financial crisis to loss of a family member to new love and happy endings, Operation Home Base will tell the stories which will not only entertain, but make the viewers laugh and cry. OHB could be best described as a family of man drama, which will show the best and worst of the human condition.  The viewers will be able to easily relate to the characters as family members, friends or the person they see in the mirror. Unlike most new shows, which either appeal to adults or children, OHB will be a drama that will appeal to the whole family.


Technorati Tags:
Graham Green, Deidre Hall, Alan Alda, MASH, family programming, Mark Harmon, Tom Selleck, Chaz Floyd Johnson, Belisarius Production, military TV series, marines, army, navel, airforce, Coast Guard, aid to military families, NCIS, JAG, military TV show, medical drama, CBS production, Sony Productions, TNT, Turner Broadcasting, Alyssa Miliano, Jerry Bruckheiner, ABC programming, Disney, CSI, NCIS cast, NCIS TV show, NCIS episode Guide, NCIS cast, NCIS Gibbs, Navy NCIS, Abby, CBS NCIS, Special Agent Gibbs, Donald Belisarius, Magnium PI, Vegas, US Marines, U.S.A Marines, Marines TV show, Department of Defense, USA Army, Army Wives, Army Rangers, Special Forces, United States Army, Army Navy surplus, new TV Pilot, shooting a TV pilot, TV pilot script, military series pilot, TV pilot productin Company, production Company, CBS, CBS programming, CBS TV, CBS, com, CBS rumor mill. NCIS ratings, NCIS Los Angeles, Medium, Ghost Whisperer, CBS TV schedule, CBS television, CBS Fall Schedule, The Unit, CBS network, USA Network, USA Network Schedule, USA NCIS, Monk, Burn Notice, USA network series, Law and Order, USA network shows, NCIS fans, Mark Harmon NCIS, Mark Harmon Bio, actor Mark Harmon, pauley perrette and mark harmon, mark harmon, universal pictures, Jeffrey Immelt, alternative programming for NCIS, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, theresa Chaze, Glan Larson Productions, Turner Productions, HBO, original series, wounded warriors, The Mission Continues, IAVA.org, Paul Peterson, Jonathan Frakes, Pentagon, Colon Powell, Chiefs of Staff
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

Alternative to NCIS: New Military Series

Operation Home Base: A proposal
By
Theresa Chaze

The government offers a small organization unlimited resources in order to help military personnel and their dependents. Is it a honest humanitarian offer or are they once again trying to hide something? And if so, what?

Operation Home Base is a military drama about fictional non profit organization that gives support to military personnel and their families. Staffed with unique characters, each of which has their own reasons for wanting to help military personnel, OHB is designed to build a bridge between the civilian population and the military. OHB is a combination between NCIS and Army Wives with the potential for therapist drama as well. There is a wide range of potential stories that can be spun from this set-up, from domestic drama, hospital/therapist drama, legal drama, crime drama, adventure, even the occasional comedic episode.

Seeing the need, the organizers created Operation Home Base to help those in the military and their dependants to meet the basic needs of life. Existing on donations of time, money and resources, they frequently had to dip into their own savings to keep the lights on. Coming from diverse backgrounds, personalities, and motivations, they combine their talents to create a bridge between civilians and the military.

An Army brat, Lorelei Stewart grew up to married military. When her husband was killed in action, she learned how little support families received from those they served. His death left more than a financial and emotional void in their lives. There were questions about his death that the Army refused to answer. Determined to be part of the solution, instead of just ignoring the problem, Stewart goes back to school. Through her own hard work, sacrifice and stubbornness, Stewart earned Master degrees in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. For a short time, she works for the FBI as a profiler. Through her job, she meets Michael Woodsman.

Michael Woodsman grew up in a Navy family. He always intended to follow the family tradition and enlist right out of high school. However, a childish prank in his teens led to the accident that left him permanently disabled. Unable to serve he went onto college to get a degree in Political Science. Using family connections, he worked his way up the political system. His hard edge and cynicism make him a dangerous opponent, who is willing to use his political capital both above board, while still being perfectly capable of blackmailing behind the scenes. He is a team player with an us or them mentality. For the us, he is a supportive and loyal advocate. The them quickly learn that crossing him was not a pleasant experience for his charm was a thin facade for the frustrated warrior within. While working for the Defense Department, he meets Lt. Colonel Elaine Reynolds. Although sexually attracted to her in the beginning, he respects her and her marriage too much to pursue the relationship.

Lt. Colonel Elaine Reynolds was a career officer, wife and mother, who found a way to balance her career and family needs with the help of her police detective husband. She joined the military to get an education. More office support than combat ready, Reynolds was still not above low blows both physically and verbally if the situation required action. Half accountant, half weasel, she learned how to work the system to get what she needed for her base by not only making every nickel count, but by also creatively using the resources at hand. It was through her dealings with the base Domestic Assistance co-coordinator that she met Martin Flying Crow.

A full-blooded Oneida, Martin Flying Crow used his brother’s birth certificate to enlist early to escape the abject poverty of the Rez to find the destiny his ancestors placed before him. Trained by his shaman grandmother, Flying Crow planned to walk the Red Road. The Eagle Spirit showed him that he was destined to be a healer and spiritual guide to others. What the Eagle didn’t reveal was that the road would begin covered with the blood of others. Enlisting in the Navy, he served two tours in Vietnam as combat medic embedded with a Marine unit. Although, he was not officially allowed to carry weapons, he did not hesitate to defend those in his unit by whatever means necessary. He encountered Colonel Walter Hummel and Sergeant Major Deek Williams during an investigation and eventual cover up of the unnecessary deaths of both Marines and civilians. The hypocrisy, lies and betrayal were enough to change Flying Crow’s mind about re-enlisting. Returning home, he worked as a paramedic. He quickly learned how little support there was for military personnel. Working out of his garage, he gathered information, contacts, and resources, which he used to improve the lives of those affected by war. He gained national attention when he was able to talk a wounded warrior out of committing suicide. It was this exposure, which made him national news and gave retiring Reynolds the inspiration for the next segment of her life. Enlisting Stewart and Woodsman and using Flying Crows template, the four of them created Operation Home Base.

Living hand to mouth, OHB was always on the verge of closing their doors. The need was great, while resources were limited. When Walter Hummel appeared with an offer of an endless supply of cash and political clout, it seemed to be too good to be true. Three members were eager to accept. Martin was the only hold out. He didn’t trust Hummel’s motives. He had already seen how Hummel’s open hand was the diversion for the hidden one holding the dagger. He knows the dangers, but he is willing to barter whatever is left of his soul to help those who serve and their families.

After the agreement is signed, the three other members begin to suspect that Martin’s suspicions are valid as they learn that Deacon (Deek) Williams has been chosen as Government Liaison/OHB Supervisor without their input. As the new head of OHB, he answers only to Walter and the Pentagon.

An ex-special ops, Deek was deployed in Vietnam in the summer o f 1966. Assigned to Recon Intelligence, he worked closely with the Montagnard and the Vietnamese Army. Five years later, he reemerged from his assignment and was immediately air lifted out. His military records were sealed except to those with the highest security clearance. Charming one minute, deadly the next, Williams is able to accomplish the seemingly impossible. A permanent bachelor, he has many love interests but no attachments. He sees the big picture when it comes to his career and the military, but he refuses to get caught up in the messiness of intra-personal relationships. The "companions" who warm his bed at night are never there to see the dawn. He is a man of mystery and many contradictions. Likeable, yet frequently frightening, he disappears without notice only to return without explanation.

Immediately, the team is called into service after a disgraced Marine has been found burned to death in there remnants of his parent’s home. They need to help Gunnery Sergeant Matt Thompson and his wife deal not only with the death of their only son, but the disgrace of their son being dishonorable discharged and accused of raping a friend‘s teenage daughter. OHB must help defend them from the charge of murder made by a deputy sheriff who has a grudge against the Gunny.

Operation Home Base will provide a perspective and understanding, if not the whole truth.






Technorati Tags:
Mark Harmon, Tom Selleck, Chaz Floyd Johnson, Belisarius Production, military TV series, marines, army, navel, airforce, Coast Guard, aid to military families, NCIS, JAG, military TV show, medical drama, CBS production, Sony Productions, TNT, Turner Broadcasting, Alyssa Miliano, Jerry Bruckheiner, ABC programming, Disney, CSI, NCIS cast, NCIS TV show, NCIS episode Guide, NCIS cast, NCIS Gibbs, Navy NCIS, Abby, CBS NCIS, Special Agent Gibbs, Donald Belisarius, Magnium PI, Vegas, US Marines, U.S.A Marines, Marines TV show, Department of Defense, USA Army, Army Wives, Army Rangers, Special Forces, United States Army, Army Navy surplus, new TV Pilot, shooting a TV pilot, TV pilot script, military series pilot, TV pilot productin Company, production Company, CBS, CBS programming, CBS TV, CBS, com, CBS rumor mill. NCIS ratings, NCIS Los Angeles, Medium, Ghost Whisperer, CBS TV schedule, CBS television, CBS Fall Schedule, The Unit, CBS network, USA Network, USA Network Schedule, USA NCIS, Monk, Burn Notice, USA network series, Law and Order, USA network shows, NCIS fans, Mark Harmon NCIS, Mark Harmon Bio, actor Mark Harmon, pauley perrette and mark harmon, mark harmon imdb, mark harmon and michael weatherly, David McCallium, tv show reasonable doubt with mark harmon, mark harmon military record, mark harmon of ncis
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

Operation Home Base

OPERATION HOME BASE

Operation Home Base is a military drama about a fictional non profit organization that gives support to military personnel and their families. Staffed with unique characters, each of which has their own reasons for wanting to help military personnel, OHB is designed to build a bridge between the civilian population and the military. OHB is a combination between NCIS and Army Wives with the potential for a therapist drama as well. There is a wide range of potential stories that can be spun from this set-up, from domestic drama, hospital/therapist drama, legal drama, crime drama, adventure, even the occasional comedic episode. Though fictional, this is a story of real people, and the situations could have been ripped from the day’s headlines. OHB has a bit of everything; war and suspense, action and adventure, romance and betrayal. Fully formed characters who are flawed, but working for redemption; edge of the seat suspense as the action zips along at warp speed.

To read the treatment go to www.theresachaze.com

Suggested Cast:
Deacon (Deek) Williams: Tom Selleck
Martin Flying Crow: Graham Greene
Randi Cullen: Alyssa Milano
Michael Woodsman: Drake Hogeston
Lorelei Stewart: Gloria Loring
Elaine Reynolds: Deidre Hall
Walter Hummel: Alan Alda



Operation Home Base Pilot Episode:
Acting as a representative for the branches of the military and the federal government, Walter Hummel approaches the founders of Operation Home Base with an offer of economic and logistic support as well as political influence. Although Martin Flying Crow doesn’t trust Hummel, he is unwilling to deprive the armed service personnel and their families of the badly needed support. However, once the paperwork has been signed, the committee realizes that they may have gotten more than they bargained for. Immediately they are called to service. Dishonorably discharged and accused of raping a local teenager, ex marine, Ken Thompson, is found dead in his parents home. The deputy sheriff in charge suspects the Gunnery Sergeant and his wife are responsible for the murder of their son The OHB’s new legal adviser and the government advocate with the help of the NCIS team not only exposes the ulterior motives of the deputy, but also truth behind the death of the much hated man


To read the pilot episode script please email me at Tirgana@yahoo.com

Writer and Voice Over Resume

Published Books:
Awakening the Dragon-Book One of the Dragon Clan Trilogy
Dragon Domain-Book Two of the Dragon Clan Trilogy
Nict For Ure Selfe (Not For Ourselves)
Out of the Shadows and Into the Light
From Blank Page to Book Shelves

Screenplays:
Eye of Ra
To read an excerpt click here

Never Can Say Good-bye
To read an excerpt click here

TV Scripts
Days of Our Lives
Examples of plot, character, story and dialogue
The Ghost Story formatted
The unformatted beginning of the Ghost Story

The Gift: the beginning of a murder mystery

The Wedding: The wedding of Tony and Anne

Operation Home Base (This is a work in progress)
Excerpt of the made for TV two hour movie

Treatment for a NCIS episode: Between the Lines

Non-fiction
Record Eagle January 2007 to December 2008
Qwando--Clearwater FL March 2007 to November 2007

Digit Video Producer
Writes, Edits, produces and distributes videos for publishers, PR firms, and authors. Voice over and audio mixing.
Pump Up Your Book Promotions
Big River Press
West Wind Communications
Julie Schoerke
Cate Cavanagh



Radio Host: Blog Talk Radio
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theresachaze

Experience:
WGTU/WGTQ TV 29 & 8 May 1986-Feb. 1991
Master Control Switcher Director/Editor/Camera Operator/Producer/Writer
Director of the live morning show/ local promotional material
WXMI-TV 17 Grand Rapids, MI April, 1985-May, 1986
Master Control Switcher, camera operator, editor, crew

Education
Michigan State University
Bachelor of Arts--English
Bachelor of Arts--Video and Audio production
Minored in Theatre

Operation Home Base: A Military Drama

OPERATION HOME BASE
Operation Home Base is a nationwide non profit organization with local chapters that gives support to military families, veterans, wounded warriors, and active duty military personnel by working with existing programs and organizations. Acting as an information hub, OHB works in partnership with the bases’ Dependent Centers to give aid and comfort to military personal and their families while acting as intermediary not only with other military agencies but with the civilian services. Staffed with active duty and retired military personnel along with civilians, OHB was created by the combined branches of the services to take care of their own. Their single goal is to fill the voids left by governmental agencies who are unable provide the necessary services and support for all branches of the military.



To read the full series treatment click here

To read the first draft of the first hour click here

Operation Home Base

Operation Home Base is a nationwide non profit organization with local chapters that gives support to military families, veterans, wounded warriors, and active duty military personnel by working with existing programs and organizations. Acting as an information hub, OHB works in partnership with the bases’ Dependent Centers to give aid and comfort to military personal and their families while acting as intermediary not only with other military agencies but with the civilian services. Staffed with active duty and retired military personnel along with civilians, OHB was created by the combined branches of the services to take care of their own. Their single goal is to fill the voids left by governmental agencies who are unable provide the necessary services and support for all branches of the military.

To read part of the first draft http://www.theresachaze.com/files/OHB_episode_One2.pdf

Operation Home Base: The Next NCIS

OPERATION HOME BASE
Written by
Theresa Chaze

(Operation Home Base is copyrights; no part may be used, stored or reproduced without expressed written permission by the author)

To Read an excerpt of the first draft of the two hour made for TV movie click here

Operation Home Base is a nationwide non profit organization with local chapters that gives support to military families, veterans, wounded warriors, and active duty military personnel by working with existing programs and organizations. Acting as an information hub, OHB works in partnership with the bases’ Dependent Centers to give aid and comfort to military personal and their families while acting as an intermediary not only with other military agencies but with the civilian services. Staffed with active duty and retired military personnel along with the civilians, OHB was created by the combined branches of the services to take care of their own. Their single goal is to fill the voids left by governmental agencies who are unable provide the necessary services and support for all branches of the military.

The Red Cross Liaison assists family members in communicating with military personal through official channels. Using established avenues, the Liaison speeds up the verification process, thereby helping the messages arrive in a timely fashion. In addition, they help arrange transportation across country for the family members whose loved ones have been injured as well as for military personnel during times of family crisis.

Legal Aid --Staffed with both in-service and civilian volunteers, Legal Aid represents military personnel and families both with military and civilian legal issues. Although the representatives works directly with JAG/Provost Marshall/CID/NCIS/local law enforcement, they represent military personnel and their families in all legal issues.

Mental Health Services-Staffed with counseling professionals, they give emotional and spiritual support during times of crisis for active duty, vets, wounded warriors, and family members. Providing help with emotional and spiritual issues that arise from war, they find the necessary care for:

-domestic abuse
-PTSD
-head trauma
-rape crisis
-depression
-personality disorders
-family counseling
-suicide intervention

Unlike the existing services, these Mental Health professionals are both civilian and military, who have the authority to call in to question existing treatment protocol calls from the sandbox to the bases to homes. Civilians work on a situational basis and are granted rank, which is equivalent to their education and experience by the head of OHB.

Domestic Assistance acts an intermediary with local organizations for families in crisis. Every military base has a Dependent Center that helps military families find assistance from civilian organizations. OHB helps find additional resources to help improve the families’ standard of living, while helping vets and wound warriors successful reenter civilian life.

Casualty/mortuary Team-Made up of multi-denominational spiritual councilors as well as senior staff, this team helps the families of vets cope with the injury or death of their loved one. The mortuary team members notify the family members of the death of their loved one as well as helping them make the appropriate burial arrangements. In the case of injury, the casualty team keeps them informed of the status of their loved one and arranges the appropriate transportation.

Veterans Affairs Liaison-Combination political appointee and retired vet with at least ten years of active service, the Liaison helps military personal not only receive the benefits due, but to also fights for additional economic, medical and educational assistance. The position could be best described as the Military’s ambassador to the U.S government.

Financial Aid Officer-The Financial Aid Officer is accountant who finds sources of income from government grants, private donations and fund raising. In addition, this department helps arranges loans/grants through private the government or private institutions for emergency needs.

By combining their talents and resources, Operation Home Base does its best to catch those who would have fallen through the cracks. Sometimes humorous, frequently heart breaking, their stories are those of the U.S military and those who love them. Although intra-service rivalry continues, the branches of the military have come together to protect and provide for their members with the help of their government or in some cases in spite of it.

My first choice for the following roles:
Lorelei Stewart--Gloria Loring
Retired Lt. Colonel Elaine Reynolds--Deidre Hall
Deacon James William--Tom Selleck
Michael Woodsman--Drake Hogestyn
Martin Flying Crow--Graham Greene
Randi Cullen--Alyssa Milano


Master Sergeant Stella Garcia (Casualty/mortuary) Half Potawatomi half Mexican, Stella Garcia is woman in her late 30’s who planned to be a career soldier; however, the IED, which took her left leg, ended her active field duty. The sole survivor of the three vehicle convoy, she suffered from PTSD and depression. Emotionally she couldn’t find the reason for her surviving when rest of her buddies was killed. Using alcohol and sex to numb the pain, she walked through life unable to feel anything while awake. Zombie-like, she settled into her new desk job, yet her dreams were haunted by the spirits of her unit and the others. They asked her why she ran away from her duty--why she allowed their deaths to be in vain. Instead of seeking aid, she hides deeper within the bottle. Her relationships were shallow and temporary; no one was going to get close enough to hurt her again. However, after the death of her maternal grandmother, Stella knew where she needed to go. Going AWOL, she left for the Rez. A Tribal Elder, contacted her Unit Commander and arranged leave. Through ancient ceremonies she not only found the strength to heal and forgive herself, but also finds her new destiny. She became the Wind Talker who spoke for the dead and insured their wishes were fully carried out. Returning to base, she volunteered for Mortuary duty through which she became part of Operation Home Base.

Lorelei Stewart-(Mental Health Director) Lorelei Stewart is a woman in her early-fifties, who started her life as an army brat who married a career officer--Dr. Robert Stewart with whom she had three children-2 boys and a girl. She has Master Degrees in Behavioral Science, Psychology, and Sociology. A published author, she spent her early career working as profiler for the FBI. However, when she met and married career officer Col. Robert Stewart, she moved into private practice until his death during Operation Desert Storm. It was after his death she learned how little support military personal and their families actually received. Determined to use her experiences to help others, she became one of the founders of Operation Home Base. The love of her life Robert Steward left more than emotional and financial void in Lorelei and her children’s life. There were many questions the Army refused to answer. Growing up an Army brat, she was well aware that some questions were never meant to be answered. It was not so easy for her children, especially her daughter, Roberta. Although she has difficulty with helping her children accepting and healing their father‘s death, Lorelei has become part Mother Superior, part Mom and part USO entertainer to those she councils. Whether it be with a wise-crack, singing a song, or with a ruler across the knuckles, she has a unique ability to defuse tense situations that could have easily become violent. Growing up an Army brat, she not only understands the mentality of those who choose to serve, but also the subtext of the messages behind the words. Although it is not part of her normal duties, she arranges for special entertainment features for the troops in the San Diego area as well as else where. On occasion, she has participated as part of the program by singing and acting in comedy skits she helped write.

Lt. Colonel Elaine Reynolds (Financial Aid Officer)-A retired regular army officer in her late 50’s, she is chief financial aid officer for OHB. Half accountant, half weasel, she has able to not only make stingy people take a crowbar to their wallet, but also make sure every buffalo shits twice before the nickel is spent. Whether in the private or government arena, if there is money to be had, she knows how to find it and acquire it. Blonde and beautiful blonde, those who under-estimated her intelligence quickly regret their mistake. Classy by nature when the situation arises, she is not above low blows both physically and verbally. A career officer, mother of two and a wife, Reynolds found a way to balance her career and family needs. Her husband, Larry Reynolds is a police detective. Her daughter Rachael is a junior in college; who does volunteer work for the OHB in the Red Cross office. Her son Mitchell is an active duty marine; his wife Debra and his children live with Reynolds while he is in the sandbox.


Deacon James Williams (Head of OHB and San Diego CA supervisor). Ex special ops, James Williams was nick named Deek soon after he was deployed in Vietnam the summer of 1966. Assigned Recon Intelligence, he worked closely with the Montagnard and the Vietnamese Army. Five years later, he reemerged from his assignment and was immediately air lifted out without any official records of his activities. His military records were sealed except to those with the highest clearance, he occasionally disappears for days without notice or reason. As part of the financial aid agreement with the government, Williams was named as Head of OHB, answering only to the heads of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Pentagon. Charming one minute, deadly the next, Williams is able to accomplish the seemingly impossible. A permanent bachelor, he has many love interests, yet no attachments. He sees the big pictures when it comes to his career and the military, but refuses to get caught up in the messiness of intra-personal relationships. The “companions” who warm his bed at night are never there at dawn. Although there is a great deal of speculation about him, no one really has the courage to ask.


Michael Woodsman (Veterans Affairs Liaison) A political appointee who knows the ins and outs of how and when to kiss ass and when to kick it, Woodsman worked his way up through the political system. His hard edge and cynicism makes him a dangerous opponent, but also a very effective Liaison for the OHB. He is a team player with an us or them mentality. For the us he is a supportive and loyal advocate; the them quickly learn that crossing him was not a pleasant experience for his charm was on a thin façade. A car accident in his late teen, permanently damaged his spine, the physical limitation is a source of great anger as well as being a profound motivator. Although he never served himself, he has great respect for those who do step up to the plate. When Lorelei approached him to help with OHB, he finally found a cause he could believe in. Using his political capital both above board and blackmailing behind the scenes, Woodsman was a major force in opening doors for its creation. In his mind, it is his way of serving those who do serve.

Debra Anne Lee (Red Cross) In her early twenties, this southern bell grew up with seven older brothers most of whom join the military. A martial arts expert in her own right, she is proud of her family heritage that can be traced back to the civil war. Her mother used to say that Debra Anne walked where fools and angels fear to tread and was kicked out for being a smart ass. More moxie and intelligence than common sense, she is willing to take on situations and people that most people run away from. Using the immortality of youth as a shield as well as her passion and natural curiosity, she would con, charm, or connive her way to achieving her goals.


Martin Flying Crow(Domestic Assistance) A full blooded Oneida, Flying Crow enlisted in the Navy to escape the abject poverty of the Rez only to find the destiny his ancestors placed before him Trained by his shaman grandmother, Flying Crow walked the Red Road from childhood. At age 13, he set out on vision quest to learn his life’s path. The Eagle Spirit showed him that he was too destined to be a healer and guide to others. This life was to be one of service to others. He was to teach them the way of spiritual balance. However, in order to lead others, he needed to walk the path himself. Enlisting as a combat medic in the Navy was the first step of many. In Vietnam, he served two tours as a medic with his unit. Although he was not officially allowed to carry weapons, he did not hesitate to defend those in his unit by whatever means necessary. It was during this time that he crossed paths with Deek. Although they met with opposing agendas, they developed a mutual respect for one another both on and off the battlefield. After his tour, he returned to the Rez. Working as Paramedic, he quickly learned how little emotional, spiritual and medical support there was for the military personal, vets and wounded warriors along with their families. Working on a local level out of his garage, he gathered information, contacts and resources, which he used to improve the lives of those affected by war. He gained national attention when he was able to talk a wound warrior out of committing suicide. It was this exposure that brought him to the attention of Lorelei Stuart and Michael Woodsman. Using his template, the three of them created Operation Home Base.


Randi Cullen (Legal Aid) Randi Cullen grew up as Marine brat until her mother divorced her father early in childhood. Eventually her mother remarried and moved across country, taking Randi and her brothers away from the military way of life. After the divorce, her birth father severed contact. He quickly became the elephant in the room that neither she nor her mother was willing to discuss for fear of where it would lead. During her teen years, she tried to contact him; however, she had little success. But she was able to learn that two years before his twenty year retirement, he suddenly resigned his commission and disappeared. Although both of her older brothers enlisted straight out of high school, Cullen both loved and hated the military. She loved the discipline and the service, yet she blamed it for the loss of her father. Following her step father, she joined the San Diego County Prosecutor’s Office and quickly rose in the ranks. She was not only known for her fairness and tenacity, but her out spoken views.

These are the core characters to the series. Supporting characters for the OHB would be added or removed as the series develops. This show will not be anything close to Army Wives. Taken from the headlines as well as from the writer’s imagination, the stories will accurately portray the challenges of military personnel, vets, and wounded warriors along with those their families must face.


Technorati Tags:
military program, CBS, Donald Bellisario, Gloria Loring, ncis, Sony Pictures, universal pictures, help for military, Gary Sinise, Alan Alda, MASH, Anthony Zuiker, Jerry Bruckeiner, Deidre Hall, Tom Selleck, Alyssa Milano, Graham Greene, Drake Drake Hogestyn, Theresa Chaze, TV series, The Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Viacom, Sumner Redstone, Sir Howard Stringer, Leslie Moonves, Anne Sweeney, Operation Homefront, VA, Red Cross, Theresa Chaze, Mark Harmon, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc, , support the troops, Operation homefront, marines, army, navy, airforce, USA Network,
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |