LiNES: A Graphic Novel Written for Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Julia Roberts, and a Younger Model Named Robin
The heart of our story lies in the interactions between two couples, with a captivating twist: two of the women share a history as former lovers, creating an intriguing presence of a “ghost couple” in the room.
This four-handed drama predominantly unfolds within a single setting, allowing us to cast an intense light on the dynamics between the two couples. The photography studio setting proves to be the perfect backdrop, as being photographed exposes individuals, leading them to don masks and adopt false personas. Exploring this aspect with our characters promises to be enthralling, as the scrutiny and the personas they assume will propel the plot forward.
Power Play
In addition to the main room, we have two smaller, more intimate settings — the kitchen and dressing room — that provide moments of isolation for the couples or individual characters, offering a contrasting perspective.
This setting sets the stage for a gripping power play among the four individuals, with twists and turns that allow each character to rise to prominence at times and hit rock bottom at others.
The key to extracting dramatic conflict from this scenario lies in uncovering what drives these relationships, their unique quirks, and the external threats that loom over them. As the story progresses, the setting becomes a catalyst for exposing the problems and faultiness in these relationships. By the end, we’ll question whether this wild and insane party will break them apart or strengthen their bonds.
Characters
CATE embodies a captivating muse, radiating goddess-like charm. Her talent as a photographer flourishes because it aligns with her dominant vision and commanding personality. Yet, behind her big ego lies fragility, seeking external affirmation to fill the void of self-belief. TILDA, a cultured writer from wealth, anchors and nurtures CATE, though her controlling nature keeps her emotionally removed. Her once strong sex drive now manifests through voyeuristic erotic writing. Tilda finds stability in coping with CATE’s wild mood swings.
Their relationship is a toxic blend where they feed into each other’s worst traits: Tilda encourages CATE’s neediness, while CATE fuels Tilda’s controlling tendencies. The setting they find themselves in will expose the micro toxicities that fester beneath the surface.
Tilda suspects CATE of having an affair with her old flame, JULIA, a lawyer with a history of addiction. Julia, now clean for three years, seeks stability and routine to avoid temptation. Although reluctant to be part of this reunion, her past with CATE makes it hard for her to say no.
ROBIN, younger than the others, adores Julia but finds both CATE and TILDA intimidating. Her sincere and passionate nature leaves her vulnerable, making it difficult for her to hide her feelings. As the night unfolds, it may be Robin’s journey that becomes the most compelling as she navigates through self-discovery to survive the evening’s events.
In September 2019, I embarked on a trip to Toronto with a burning desire to step away from my day job as a TV Producer on a news channel. My heart yearned to weave more enchanting tales through storytelling. Contemplating a low-budget yet captivating film, I had an “aha” moment — a lesbian rendition of the classic ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ movie.
The concept thrilled me, and I couldn’t wait to bring it to life. I began envisioning the brilliant duo of Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton as the protagonists. In this adaptation, Tilda’s character had penned an enticing Erotic Novella, and Cate’s character proposed a daring idea for the book cover — a sensuous photo capturing the tale’s essence.
As I fleshed out the narrative, I imagined Cate inviting her former lover, Julia Roberts, and Julia’s girlfriend, Robin, for the photo shoot. The photography studio, rented by Cate, became the stage for an emotional rollercoaster. Buried feelings from their past resurfaced during the intimate and intense session, adding depth to the story.
In August 2020, I met Stacey Williams, an amazing writer and collaborator. We exchanged ideas through delightful email exchanges and crafted around 70 script pages in under four months. Our initial filming attempt faced challenges due to the pandemic and personal commitments, but undeterred, I refined the story. Eventually, I decided to bring the tale to life as a graphic novel.
When we started the project of the graphic novel, I instructed Adiparamytha, the first illustrator involved, to design the characters with Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, and Julia Roberts in mind, but not aiming for an exact resemblance. As we progressed, Chirika, another talented artist, joined our team and contributed to the completion of the graphic novel in its current form.
With the introduction of a crowdfunding campaign, we hope to take this project even further and turn it into a movie. While the graphic novel beautifully captures much of the story’s essence, certain elements, like the enchanting dance scene, would truly shine on the big screen.
Admittedly, it’s pretty ambitious to imagine these excellent actors playing the characters in the movie someday, but as creatives, we are dreamers at heart and hold onto the hope that anything is possible.
Cate and Tilda
Julia and Robin
Cate and Julia
Tilda and Robin
Robin and Cate
Tilda and Julia
LiNES, the Graphic Novel: A Timeless Narrative to Explore Self-Control or Self-Indulgence
