Operation Home Base

OPERATION HOME BASE-No good deed goes unpunished. To read the proposal and an excerpt of the pilot go to
http://www.theresachaze.com



U.S. Military Killed in Action:

Iraq:10/18/10: no reports current: 4758
Afghanistan:10/1810: 3 current: 1353

IRAQ:
Wounded Total (to 4/30/10): 54,834
Killed in Action, September, 2010: 7
Wounded, April,2010: 40
Iraqi Civilians Killed: 1,366,350

AFGHANISTAN:
Wounded Total (to 6/30/10): 6,773
Killed In Action,September,2010: 56
Wounded, May, 2010: 406
Wounded, June,2010: 517

> KILLED IN ACTION:
SSG Sean G. Landrus, 31, U.S. Army, Thompson, Ohio (hostile fire--IED attack)

SGT Travis A. Mothart, 23, U.S. Army, Brownsville, Oregon ( hostile fire-IED attack)

SSG Lester O. Kinney II, 27, U.S. Army, Zanesville, Ohio (hostile fire--IED attack)

SGT 1ST CLASS James T. Hoffman, 41, U.S. Army, Whitesburg, Kentucky ( hostile fire-IED attack)

2ND LT Luke S. James, 24, U.S. Army, ________ Oklahoma (hostile fire-IED attack)

SGT Cory R. Mracek, 26, U.S. Army, Hay Springs, Nebraska (hostile fire-IED attack)

CAPT Mathew J. August, 28, U.S. Army, North Kingstown, Rhode Island (hostile fire--IED attack)

1ST LT Adam G. Mooney, 28, U.S. Army, Cambridge, Maryland (non-hostile--helicopter crash)

SSG Christopher Bunda, 29, U.S. Army, Bremerton, Washington (non-hostile-drowning)

CWO Patrick D. Dorff, 32, U.S. Army, Buffalo, Minnesota (non-hostile--helicopter crash)

PFC Ervin Dervishi, 21, U.S. Army, Fort Worth, Texas (hostile fire-RPG attack)

SGT Randy S. Rosenberg, 23, U.S. Army, Berlin, New Hampshire (hostile fire--car bomb )

Blue Bloods: Where was Tom Selleck?

Blue Blood led CBS to rating victory on Friday night. But in spite of its success, I kept wondering where Tom Selleck was. An actor who looked very much like him appeared occasionally on the screen, but the vibrant, multi-dimensional actor that I have always enjoyed failed to make an appearance.

Blue Bloods is the story of a New York family, who has a multi-generational tradition of service in the police department. Selleck plays the current Police Commissioner, whose youngest son has just joined his brothers as the newest rookie. With a conspiracy within the police department and a secret society, Blue Bloods implied that the youngest son will be investigating his family, including his father. The problem is that no one cares. None of the family members are likeable or interesting.

Tom Selleck always gives a diamond performance. Even characters who would normally be one dimensional, he has been able to breathe life into, giving them depth with humor, character and likeability. Whether a good guy as in Magnum or the not-so-much of the white hat with the dark character Jesse Stone, Selleck’s eyes were always lit with his inner passion. As Frank Reagan, Selleck’s eyes were lifeless. In fact, the character was a little more than a prop for the younger characters as was Len Cariou’s. Part of me kept waiting for the real Selleck to make an appearance. Sadly, he never did arrive.

Over all the show reminded me of out of sync gears, where the teeth failed to properly work in tandem. Or better said a choir that was singing the same song, but the individual singers fail to listen to each other. The detective son was simply unlikable. His blaming his bad behavior on his military experience just made me dislike him even more. It was just one more stereotype those who serve simply don’t need. The daughter and the youngest son had no personality. I would like to comment on Cariou character, but he wasn’t given enough air time for me to comment beyond Cariou is normally first rate.

To be honest, I was hoping Blue Bloods would be a dog simply because I wanted Selleck to portray Deek in my military series, Operation Home Base. After hearing the rumors of trouble on the set, I held out a glimmer of hope. But I was realistic enough to start looking elsewhere to cast the role. Before watching Blue Bloods, I didn’t think Selleck had a bad performance in him. He was never just a pretty face, but a talented professional who has always brought passion and life to his work. Do I still want him to play Deek? You-betcha in a heart beat. Will I watch Blue Bloods again? No. There isn’t anything in the show interesting enough for me to spend the hour.

Operation Home Base: Deacon (Deek Williams)

When Deek agreed to head Operation Home Base, he expected to die. He thought Walter would have him killed to cover up the past or that Martin would finally get his revenge. Either way the ghosts in his head would finally be silent. Instead, Deek found what he had been seeking his entire life--a family.

To provide for his Mother and younger brother after his father‘s death, Deek enlisted in the Marines. Deek was deployed to Vietnam in the summer of 1966. Through a series of twists of fate and his own brash nature, he found himself recruited into a special ops team, which closely worked with the Montagnard and the Vietnamese Army. Deeply embedded, he not only lost track of the world, but himself. Forced into life or death situations, he made snap decisions that at the time were reasonable and necessary.

Five years later, he reemerged from his assignment and was immediately air lifted out. His records were sealed, except to those with the highest security clearance. Yet, part of him never left the jungle. He returned to the world only to find that it had gone on without him. His mother had remarried. Her new husband and step-daughters filled her life with happiness. His brother Stephen had gone to Canada to escape the draft and made a new life. They no longer had room for him.

He wandered aimlessly until General Walter Hummel found him and recruited him for an off the books black ops team. Walter offered him a place in the world where he was not only wanted, but also desperately needed.. It wasn’t what Deek wanted, but he couldn’t see any alternatives. Boxing up his regret and guilt, he buried it away along with all his hopes and dreams. A falsified death certificate ended Deek’s old life and began his new life. Emotionally numb, Deek followed orders. He went and did what he was told.

Charming one minute, deadly the next, Deek 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 gets the jobs done efficiently and effectively. In the shadows of espionage and off the books world politics, he becomes a legend to be respected, yet feared.

No matter how far or fast he ran, the ghosts of the past were never far behind. They nipped at his conscience and haunted his dreams. Decades later, a slight hesitation on his part caused a high priority target to escape. His team remedied the situation, but they no longer trusted him. Deek returned home, expecting one of them to appear and take out the liability.

Instead retired General Walter Hummel appeared on his doorstep with another offer. Confused, Deek listened. He liked the concept behind Operation Home Base. He wondered how different his life would have been if there had been such an organization to catch him when he first returned from Nam. He agreed to take the job on the condition that he would have the freedom to expand the scope of OHB. He wanted to give the disenfranchised veterans more than basic emotional and material support. He envisioned an organization that provided not only the basic needs, but legal protection and support from those who had survived the journey back home. He couldn’t do it himself, but he knew those who could.

Deek met Randi Cullen when she was looking for her father, Colonel Andrew Cullen. Through his connections, he found Cullen. What he learned Randi didn’t need to know. Instead, he shared only the on the books honors of the Colonel. Randi told him that she knew there was more, but she trusted him enough to accept what he gave her. Randi followed her step-father’s path and moved on to law school, becoming one of Delaware’s fast rising legal stars. A legal situation once again brought them together. The friendship blossomed into a relationship that Deek couldn’t emotionally handle. He left, yet he continually returned to her throughout the years simply because he couldn’t stay away.

Coming from a military family that could trace its roots back to the Civil War, Debra Anne Lee knew how to translate civilian intoa language the military could understand. She came to Deek’s attention when she used family connections to helped Seaman Gary Mayor get leave from his sub and return home in time to say good-bye to the grandmother who raised him.

Deek met Master Sergeant Stella Garcia in a Washington DC bar. Angry at the world and her disability, Stella was out to leave rubble in her wake. Deek was able to prevent her from killing the local LEO. With Randi’s help, he was able to the charges thrown out. Stella got off, but she wasn’t saved. She went back to her much hated desk job and self-destructive behavior. Deek just couldn’t let her go. In her eyes, he saw himself in the 1970’s. Behind her back, Deek contacted Stella’s family. He made arrangements with the Tribal Elders for her to go to back to the reservation for the warrior healing ceremony. Kidnapping her, Deek took her back to the Rez. Through Walter, Deek made the UA on her record disappear. Stella returned to duty with a new purpose. She couldn’t have saved those in her unit, but she could speak for those who paid the ultimate price and support their families as a Mortuary Officer.

It wasn’t until after he had his team on the way to Dover that Deek learned Martin Flying Crow was one of the founding members of OHB. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Deek accepted that his past had caught up with him. He was good with it. Either Walter or Martin would silence the ghosts and send him onto whatever waited for him on the other side. However, instead of death, Deek found a new beginning and new reasons to want to stay alive.


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

New Military Series: MASH meets Little House on the Prairie

Operation Home Base: A Combination MASH and Little House on the Prairie

Several people have commented that they simple can’t envision how two shows as vastly diverse as MASH and Little House on the Prairie could be combined into one show. My answer--it was very simple. I just had to think outside the box and look at the core of both shows. MASH dealt with the emotional and physical issues arising from war. Little House was about family and community. Operation Home base combines the two premises by exploring the emotional, psychological and physical effects of war with the conflicts and misunderstandings that are frequently connected to the civilian world.

Premiering on September 17, 1972 and ending on February 28, 1983, MASH spanned 251 episodes. Until recently the final show held the title of the most watch episode of all time. Unique for its time, MASH was a front runner in TV programming. Considered a medical drama and a black comedy, the producers and writers chose to do the research and bring a realism into the show that had never been tried in a fictional venue. They had the courage to tell the truth about war and show how it affected those who serve. The simple fact is that war changes not only the landscape of a country, but the very soul of everyone that it touches.

The alcohol, the dark humor, and practical jokes were the most obvious of the coping mechanism the characters used to emotionally and psychologically survive. Radar had his teddy bear. Klinger dressed up like a woman. Hawkeye and Trapper John chased women, played practical jokes, and played golf. BJ and Sherman Potter focused on family. By seeking comfort from men, who weren’t always available, Margaret both sought and hid from love. Charles found refuge in music. They did what was necessary to cope with the death and destruction that surrounded them daily.

As in real life, sometimes it worked--sometimes it didn’t. Margaret getting married to someone else, caused Frank to have a breakdown. He was sent home. Hawkeye lost control after a mother smothered her crying child to keep the enemy from discovering them; instead of being sent home, he was hospitalized, treated and returned to the 4077. Throughout the run of the show, other characters became mentally unstable, but in each instance the topic was treated realistically and with great sensitivity.. From self inflicted wounds to shell shocked, the incoming wounded, special guests to the 4077 and the regulars revealed how the trauma of war has unexpected consequences.

MASH brought home the simple fact that sometimes good people don’t go home and even when they do, they are never the same. When Henry Blake died, it wasn’t just the characters who mourned his loss. The viewers also lost a beloved family member. Henry’s death cascade off the screen into the homes of the viewers. It reflected something Henry shared with Hawkeye--There are two rules. good men die in war.
and doctors can’t change rule number one. Although, other characters died, Henry’s death had more impact. Like in real life, it was totally unexpected.

Operation Home Base picks up where MASH left off. The characters of MASH became a family because of their shared experience and their desire to help. This is the foundation that OHB is built on. It shows how war permanently changes both those who serve and those who love them. Even though, military personnel changed location, it doesn’t necessarily mean they come home or that they have a home to come back to.
Not only do military personnel change, but so do their family members. OHB deals with the loneliness and fear of those who are left behind. When a family member is deployed, the others have to fill in that void. Not only are there practical issues like home repair, child care and financial concerns, but the emotional impact can be even more challenging on relationships. Spouse become lonely. Children grow up and away; sometimes, they resent the absent parent. Everyone involved changes and adapts to the new circumstances. When the family member returns, the challenge is to blend the old with the new.

It is What it is--A Vietnam nurse buried the trauma of her last days in country. When her grandson is killed in the sandbox, the old memories resurface and she is forced to remember what happened when she was evacuated.

Little Johnny Isn’t Little Johnny any More--Deek sees a friend from Nam that he thought was long dead. It forces him to not only deal with his own survivor’s guilt, but also with what he had to do to survive.

Right to Believe--New to the base, Sergeant Major Horse finds discrepancies in the billing of a food supplier. However, Horse is killed before he can investigate further. His tribal Elders and his family contact Stella when the base commander attempts to cover up the murder. Religious bigotry complicates the investigation when the base Chaplin steals the body in order to circumvent Horse’s religious practice.

Homeland--Airman First Class Steve O’Connell is deployed. Before he leaves, he arranges for the mortgage to automatically be paid electronically. The bank claims the deposits were never made and forecloses. The bank president disregards the Soldiers and Sailors Act, which legally protects those who have been deployed. Sheriff ignores proof of fraud by the bank and attempts to force the family to leave. The O’Connells with help of friends defend their home.

Dunk Tank--The killing of a Marine’s therapy dog sparks a fundraising campaign, which rapidly becomes a wild and crazy a free for all. While Special Agent Simon Behan investigates the death of the dog, the OHB team competes against military personnel and other civilians for cheesy prizes as way to raise money to help homeless dogs become helpmate for veterans dealing with PTSD. This storyline could easily be carried back over into real life

Listed as a western, Little House on the Prairie was more about family and community than a shoot’um up. Airing from September 11, 1974, to May 10, 1982., Little House primarily focused on the financial, medical and social issues, which challenged Ingalls family.

As much as the Ingalls’ home was filled with love, so was their life is filled with challenges. Several time Charles was forced to leave the family in order to find work during financially challenging times. When Mary become blind, she and her family had to cope with the physical aspects of her disability along with the emotional and psychological changes that came with it. When her baby brother died, Laura felt responsible. She went looking for God so she exchange places in heaven with him. The deaths, births, adoption and marriages changed the family dynamic as well as each individual member. How they coped revealed who they were.

Although the show was family oriented, it did reveal how bigotry and ignorance can be found in the least likely places. By dealing openly and honestly, with the topics of death, disability, bigotry and loss, Little House proved that a family and community is only as strong as its weakest member. In doing so, it mirrored real life back to the viewers.

Not only within the storylines, but within the characters themselves, OHB will be dealing with the same kind of family hardships and community challenges. It will address the emotional, physical, financial as well as many more of the life tests that those in and out of the military face every day. From the loneliness of missing a loved one to dealing with their return, military families live with uncertainty and the potential loss every day.

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. 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 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. Instead of seeking aid, she hides deeper within the bottle. It was only after her Tribal Elders helped heal her in ceremony that she was able to find a new purpose in life.

In her early twenties, Debra Ann Lee is a southern bell who 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. Having 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 cons, charms, or connives her way to achieving her goals. Debra has only one fear--losing her husband. Newlywed at the time he was deployed overseas, Debra must cope with the fear and loneliness of the uncertainty of her soul mate being in the military.

OHB combines the issues of war with the challenges of family and community as it shows the good, bad and the ugly of military life. It will address the misunderstandings and the bigotries that arise between civilians and the military. But more importantly it will tells the stories of those who serve in a way that will not only entertain, but create a bridge of understanding and compassion.


http://www.theresachaze.com/Operation_Home_Base.html

Operation Home Base: Bringing Back Age Diversity to Television

Recently it was pointed out to me that I have been focusing on the older characters of Operation Home Base to the exclusion of the rest of the characters as a way of promoting the show to investors and sponsor. Instead of furthering my cause, it has diminished my chances of finding support in the entertainment industry.

Investors, sponsors, and networks’ consider those between 18-35 to be the prime demographic age group. They believe that in order to have hit show, whether it be television or film, this demographic needs to be courted by featuring characters from this age bracket. I, on the other hand, believe there is intelligent life out there, who will be attracted not by the age of the characters, but by the depth of the personality of the characters, complexity of the storylines and the quality of the production.

Although the older characters are very important to the show, they are only the support pillars for the storylines. OHB has always been based on diversity of age, gender and culture. The characters ages range from 7 to 70. Being the youngest in the regular cast, Tessa and Izzy are children, who are connected to the military families. Still children, they have learned how to live and function in the world of adults. Together, they learn how to be children. Walter Hummel is the oldest of the regular cast. At 71 years, he has survived his own military career and has retired into civilian life. His experiences go back to the Korean War as well as many of the subsequent conflicts. These are the bookends; most of the remaining characters’ ages fall between them.

The older characters are important simply because they are the pillars of the show. In order to fully understand how deeply the emotional traumas cut into a person’s soul, you have to have lived and survived it.. It is through them at that younger staff members will learn how to help others. It is this reason I focused on introducing them first. Without Walter, Deek, Martin, Elaine, Lorelei, and Michael, the OHB would have no credibility. In addition, there will be semi-regulars and guest stars, who are also of an age; they will reflect real life and keep the show honest. It is their experience, wisdom and personal challenges that create the healing atmosphere that the rest will build from.

The 18-35 age group will be well represent as regular cast, semi-regulars and guests. However, these characters will not just be chip beef--chippies in bikinis and beef cake. Each will have depth and character, which make them individuals with personal challenges, desires, and faults. No one will be perfect. No one will be completely evil. What they will be are real people that viewers of all ages will be able to identify with as family members, friends, and the person they see in the mirror.

Master Sergeant Stella Garcia is OHB’s Casualty/mortuary officer. 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. She is the only active duty member of the OHB staff. Emotionally and physically injured, Stella finds her way back to life and love. She learns how to find happiness in spite of her disability.

Being the youngest member of the OHB staff, Debra Anne Lee is more than capable of holding her own not only with the rest of the staff, but also military personnel from the lowest to the highest ranked. As the Red Cross Liaison, Debra Anne would be assisting family members in communicating with military personnel through official channels. In her mid to late 20’s, she is a newly wed, whose husband was deployed shortly after their wedding. She will show how military families survive the separation both as a professional and a wife, who never knows when or if her soul mate will be coming home.

Randi Cullen is the thirty-something legal advocate. She 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 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. Unlike her brothers, she followed her step-father’s example by becoming a top litigator before she reached her 30th birthday. However, she never forgot her birth father. She met Deek while searching for him. They became close friends, who tried to take the relationship to the next level.

In her early 20’s, Denise O’Dell is a third year law student, who started as a volunteer with OHB as a receptionist/gopher. As a regular member of the cast, she will help Randi deal with legal issues and help keep the office organized. A bright, intelligent, and ambitious woman of African-American decent, she works hard to make a difference. Although she doesn’t have any direct connection to the military, she has chosen to step up to help simply because she cares and she sees the need.

Special Agent Simon Behan is also African-American. He will be a reoccurring character.. In his early 30’s, he has a proud family man. Coming from a law enforcement heritage, Behan was recruited by NCIS after he help clear a Marine of murder charges. By speaking the truth, he broke the Blue code and put himself at risk. His choice not only put him at odds with his co-workers, but with his own family.

In his mid twenties, Shawn Michael Knox is Deek’s hand picked assistant, who frequently disappears without explanation. Self assured, Knox diffuses personal questions with humor. A combination of computer geek and profiler, his charming personality and sex appeal gets him where he needs to be and what he needs to have. Although he is sexually desirable, he appeal comes from his good heart, quick wit, and the courage, which comes from his soul. His secrets and his inability to give a straight answer about his past will keep him a mystery to both the other characters and the viewer for the first two seasons.

Family members and people who come to OHB for help will also fall into the younger age group. Stella and Debra Anne both have siblings who will visit on occasion. Lorelei’s children are in their twenties and early thirties. Elaine’s daughter, Amanda will be a very important reoccurring character. In her late twenties, she is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force. As a character, she plays an important role in understanding not only women who serve, but she will show how military personnel find the balance between duty and caring for their children. Most military personnel and their families that will need OHB’s help will be in their late teens and twenties. Although most will appear as guest stars on the show, they will add age and ethic diversity.

Operation Home Base is far from being an old folks show. In reality, it will actually portray the diversity and challenges of life, becoming the first true family of man drama since MASH.


To read the full proposal go to www.theresachaze.com

Military Drama Operation Home Base: Family of Man Drama

Operation Home Base: Ensemble Cast for All Ages


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. While 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.

Although military issues and situations will act as a backdrop for the show, OHB deals with the human condition as it applies to those in and out of the military, civilians will also be able to relate to same the emotional, financial and legal challenges. From the murder of a Marine’s therapy dog to the foreclosures of the family home, the storylines will be taken from the headlines. OHB will have same divorce humor that made MASH popular for years, including long running jokes about donuts and the special benefits that Deek offered Randi to get her to join the team and how she implies the benefits are sexual because she doesn’t want to share Deek’s gourmet cooking with the rest of the team. The tension between Martin and Deek will force team to no only take sides, but push them both to the brink of self destruction.

Operation Home Base is first and foremost about people. They don’t have super powers. They don’t have fancy gadgets. Coming from all facets of life, the members of OHB have the courage to put themselves on the line to help others face and deal with the pain of separation and loss. They know how much honor costs. They have been there--done that and have the scars to prove it. Ranging in age from 8 to 70, each of the characters, as well as the actors who portray them, will bring their own unique perspective, strengths and viewer loyalty.

Written as an ensemble cast, who equally shares the spotlight, OHB will reflect the ethic diversity of the country. There will be no type casting. No matter what color of skin or cultural background, the characters will be developed into flawed, yet believable people that the viewers will not only like but also identify with.

Although his history will remain largely obscure, Walter will be the bastard you love to hate. Under the guise of providing financial and political support, Walter has been sent to destroy not only OHB, but the individual members’ credibility as well. Charming, yet deadly Walter’s total unconditional love of his great-granddaughter not only keeps him human, but in a strange way explains his actions

A full blooded Oneida, Martin 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 has 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 destined to be a healer and guide 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. 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 tour, he returned to the Rez. Working as Paramedic, 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 wound warrior out of committing suicide.

Ex-Special Ops, James Williams was nicknamed Deek soon after he was deployed in Vietnam the summer of 1966. Assigned to Recon Intelligence, he worked closely with the Montagnards 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. 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 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-personnel 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.

Classy by nature, when the situation arises, retired Army Lt. Col. Elaine Reynolds 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. However, she doesn’t know where she went wrong with her daughter Amanda, who chose the Navy instead of following her into the Army. Their good natured Army vs. Navy rivalry is always tempered by love of each other and the service. When Amanda is promoted into Naval Intelligence, she and her daughter, Izzy return to the family home to provide a secure home and care for the eight year old while Amanda is deployed.

Lorelei grew up as an Army brat and married Army. It was after his death she learned how little support military personnel and their families actually received. Although, she understood and accepted his death, her children, especially her daughter, bore a grudge against the military and the government for the loss of her father. Tensions and resentments were inflamed by Lorelei finishing her education and going to work for the government. Although she was unable to help her children accept and heal from the loss of their father, Lorelei has become part Mother Superior, part Mom and part USO entertainer to those she councils. Whether it is 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 as 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 special entertainment features for the troops. On occasion, she has participated as part of the program by singing and acting in comedy skits she helped write.

Master Sergeant Stella Garcia had planned on being a “lifer.” However, the IED that killed her team and took part of her leg send her into an emotional tailspin that nearly ended her career and her life. The sole survivor of the three vehicle convoy, she suffers from PTSD and depression. Emotionally, she couldn’t find the reason for her surviving when the 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. Instead of seeking aid, she crawls deeper in the bottle. It was only by going back to her Native American roots that she was able to emotionally deal with her survivor’s guilt and find a new purpose for her service.

When a childish prank permanently disables Michael Woodsman he is unable to follow his family’s tradition of service. Instead, he went to college. Studying Political Science, he was determined to be as much of an asset to the country off the battlefield as his father was on it. 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.

In her early twenties, Debra Ann is southern bell who 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. 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.

Randi Cullen grew up as Marine brat until her mother divorced her father early in her childhood. Eventually her mother remarried and moved across the country, taking Randi and her brothers away from the military way of life. After the divorce, her birth father severed all 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. Following her stepfather‘s footsteps, she went to law school and joined the Prosecutor’s Office. She quickly rose in the ranks, being known not only for her fairness and tenacity, but her outspoken views.

Special Agent Simon Behan grew up as a Navy brat, who jokingly claims to have an allergy to water to cover his sea sickness. Clever like Columbo, charming like Magnum, yet he is a family man that would make even Bill Cosby proud. Although originally intending to be a defense attorney, the death of a friend and a series of coincidences brought him to the attention of director of NCIS, who made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, in spite of his allergy.

However, these brief descriptions are only the starting point. As a writer and creator, it is my job not to only setting the stage but also incorporating the actor’s talents and egocentrics’ into their characters. The writer and the actor need to be the parents of the character with each contributing equally to its growth and development. Without an effective partnership, the character will be stilted and flat. Several of the characters were written with specific actors in mind.

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
Simon Behan: Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Although realistically, it may not be possible to hire my dream team, each of these talented actors would bring not only their vast experience and talents to the show, but their established fan bases.

In spite of the fact of the decades of decreasing birth rate and increasing healthy longevity, most new shows consider those 25 and under as the most treasured demographic. OHB’s broader based character demographic, which actually reflect the 21st century population, will not only attract those over the age of consent, but teens and tweens as well. The successes of NCIS, CSI and Criminal Minds have proved creative story telling and strong characters are what attract viewer long term viewers and loyal fans.

The baby boomer generation was not only the largest to date, but they were also the ones who originally made television successful. They were the ones who talked their parents into at least one TV in every home. From computers to cell phones, each subsequent generation has had its own invention, which has become trade mark. Not only have the baby boomers remained completely loyal to television, but they have the most stable income base. For the first time in generations, the current generation has not financially done better than their parents. With less debt and with more stable incomes, those 35 and older are the least courted when it comes to programming and advertisers.

By deliberately casting to this demographic, OHB will follow a long line of successful series such as: Gunsmoke, Bonanza, All in the Family, Marcus Welby, MASH, China Beach, etc as well as the current favorites Criminal Minds, NCIS and CSI. An undeniable fact of life is that generations relate to their own age group and those who are older. While teens can associate to older characters as siblings, parents, grandparent in older age groups, the reverse is seldom true. A 40-something doesn’t connect with the life experiences of tweens, teens, or 20-somethings. They’ve been there and done that; they want to know what is coming up for them as they grow older instead of looking back at their youth and daydreaming about going back.

Many of the new shows titillate with T & A, but don’t really develop characters or plots. Even though each new generation wants to thinks it invented sex, there hasn’t been a new position created since the Karma Sutra. OHB will be dealing with issues and challenges of those in the military, veterans and wounded warriors along with those their families must face. Sex and relationships will be dealt with honestly and strictly within the context of the plot. The gratuitous sex and violence will be left for the James Bond movies. Although it might push the limits when it comes to the pain and tragedy of war, OHB will remain as family friendly as the nightly news cast.

Much like many successful series such as MASH, The Waltons, and Little House on the Prairie, OHB cannot be easily pigeon holed into a single category. Tears will be followed by laughter. Joy will be interlaced with pain. At different moments the labels legal, mystery, medical, war, military, police, and domestic drama could all equally apply. All encompassing, OHB could be best described as a family of man drama, which will show the best and worse 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. Unfortunately, there will be an endless supply of stories about those who currently serve as well as those who served in the past, whose truths were never told.

OHB’s contemporary and relevant storylines will sometimes spark controversy as old wounds are once again examined as a way to release the past and create a path for healing to begin.


To Learn more about Operation Home Base please visit www.theresachaze.com or email Tirgana at yahoo.com


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An Alternative To NCIS: Operation Home Base--The Newest Military Drama

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.


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New Military Series: Operation Home Base

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.




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