The Platform: Why Amazon Prime Video?

This production of 'The Keep' is proposed to be produced and shown on the platform of 'AMAZON PRIME VIDEO':

There are several reasons behind this decision:

​Amazon Prime Video has a distinct lack of original science fiction/ horror shows. Though shows like 'The Walking Dead' are popular and available to view via Amazon Prime Video, the platform lacks a shows of this genre of its own production.

This production would serve as a contender against shows of a similar genre and style to other streaming platforms. For instance, NETFLIX have produced shows such as STRANGER THINGS and CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA, two popular science fiction/ horror franchises that have been met with critical success. Producing a contending show via Amazon Prime Video will likely draw these shows audiences towards this platform.

Anyone who signs up to Amazon Prime automatically gains access to Amazon Prime Video, meaning that the incentive to watch this show would also serve to draw more people into using Amazon Prime for various other Amazon products.

'The Keep' Score- Track listing

The following are my plans for the partial soundtrack, including a track listing as well as what I wish for them to sound like. Some of these will probably not be included in the final project portfolio due to time constraints. Therefore, I shall put a star against the tracks which I will definitely make sure to create for the final portfolio.

1. Studio Titles *
This will just be a small theme for the metaphoric 'studios' which would be creating the production. This should be big and bombastic with a big brass section.

2. 'Something Is Killing My Men' *
This will introduce the tone and style of the rest of the soundtrack. It will start quietly will droning strings and a short brass piece which should help to create a mysterious and tense atmosphere.

3. Main Title- The Awakening *
The previous track should then segue into this big and bombastic piece which will play over the opening titles. This will probably be the track I will work on the most as it is the one that will be used the most throughout various examples of the production. A big brass section will be present as well as a large string section, creating a theme which sounds partly heroic, yet also dark and foreboding.

4.The Long Road To The Keep *
This will be a quiet and sombre march piece which will reflect the perilous journey though the Transylvanian Alps towards The Keep.

5. Molasar Is Released *
As the villain is released from his prison, this piece will start off quiet with a subtle piano and harp section before suddenly becoming distorted. By the climax, synthesizers will be heavily incorporated as if the demon's presence has an effect on the music itself.


6. 'Bright Eyes'


7. Theodore & Magda Cuza *
This track will be less dark with use of an acoustic guitar along with quiet strings and should reflect on the father and daughter relationship between the two characters and the troublesome situations they are finding themselves in.


8.  Erich Kaempffer & The SS *
As the theme of the secondary villain and his troops, this should also be a dark and foreboding theme through it will retain the traditional orchestra sound.

9. Main Title- The Convergence


10. Saved By The Demon *
This should be a reversal of how the demon is represented, almost as a thing of wonder as it rescues Magda from several SS officers. A choir and string sound should be used in oder to achieve this.


11. Molasar


12. Main Title- Ultimatum


13. Magda And The Stranger


14. Molasar Is Complete


15. Main Title- Annihilation *
This will be the same as the opening titles except some of the instruments will be replaced in order to reflect on how the demon's presence is also effecting the music and visual style of the show.


16. 'Take It!'


17. The Stranger Strides Forth *
This should be a more heroic theme which should build slowly as the Stranger steps forward and prepares to face Molasar.


18. Reunited.
A quieter version of the main theme, almost as an end coda to finish the narrative.


19. Credits/ Full Theme
A full version of the main isolated theme without the pre-teaser part.

Research- Soundtrack: Ron Goodwin

Ron Goodwin was born on the 17 February 1927 and died on the 8th January 2003.

He was an English composer who provided the score to multiple media, particularly war films predominantly during the era of the 1960s and 1970s. His notable works contributions include 'Where Eagles Dare' (1969), '633 Squadron' (1964), 'Frenzy' (1972) and 'Battle Of Britain' (1969).

Ron Goodwin's musical style utilises a full orchestra. The scores that were provided usually contain bombastic brass sections which normally follows a more heroic melody in oder to frame the protagonists in a typical heroic way. This follows the mood of the time where the Second World War had not long past and several productions were creating a spectacle out of certain events of the war, usually contain fictional, more heroic accounts of battles that took place during the war.

However, examples such as 'Where Eagles Dare', while retaining the more heroic aesthetic, sometimes explores a darker side of the war, as if to convey that the war itself was not as glorified and heroic as some other films may convey.

This is the kind of style I would wish to incorporate within my own project and score as it would reflect the stereotypical themes of the Second World War as well as the horror/ science fiction aspect of the narrative.

The Keep- Episode 4 Summary:

The Keep: Episode 4- Annihilation

Theodore sets off in search for the key which will ultimately free Molasar from the Keep.

Tensions start to grow between Woermann and Kaempffer. A massacre ensues when Molasar starts to systematically kill off every german soldier in the Keep. After retreating to Woermann’s quarters, Woermann starts to reflect on the futility of the Nazi ideology, stating that this is punishment for the war crimes the Nazis have been committing during the Second World War. Enraged, Kaempffer shoots the traitorous Woermann, killing him.

After heading back into the main Keep grounds, Kaempffer finds a a bed of mutilated corpses that where his own men along with rest of the german soldiers. He is then confronted by a now fully-formed Molasar. After pleading with Molasar, asking what he was, he is answered with ‘I am from you…’ before being killed.

Theodore returns, along with Magda, having found the key. Molasar orders that Theodore gives him the key. Theodore then realises his error works out that all Molasar would bring is destruction under his own rule, and that he was imprisoned for a reason. Therefore he refuses. Molasar attacks Theodore, returning him to his aged, weakened state.

Before Molasar is able to kill Magda, Glakken appears at the Keep entrance, fully recovered from his wounds and brandishing a mysterious sword which he had brought on his journey.

A climactic battle ensues.

Glakken is then able to return Molasar back to his imprisoned state, sealing back inside the Keep forever. Glakken then is reunited with Magda and they and Theodore leave the Keep together.

The Keep- Episode 3 Summary:

The Keep: Episode 3- Ultimatum

The stranger arrives in the village surrounding the Keep and takes refuge in a small room for rent.

Magda finds Theorfore, who has become several decades younger. He explains to her that the demon, Molasar was responsible and wishes to help him so that he might help them.

After visiting the village, Magda comes across the Stranger, named Glakken, who presses her for information on the occurrences within the Keep. He explains that the demon, Molasar, has has escaped from his prison within the Keep and that he, himself, had sealed Molasar away many years ago. He had awaited the day in which Molasar would inevitably be released and had come to seal him away again, if not destroy him completely.

In the Keep, a semi-formed Molasar confronts Theodore. He explains that he needs to go into the depths of the Keep and retrieve a key which will disable the final bonds on prison and he will be free as Molasar is unable to retrieve it himself. In order to convince Theodore, Molasar promises that he will seek out and destroy the Nazi empire if he does this, which Theodore blindly agrees to.

Theodore then goes into the village in search for Magda, who he finds has become romantically involved with Glakken. Glakken tries to warn Theodore not to help Molasar escape as he would bring nothing but destruction. Theodore feels threatened by Glakken and proceeds to report him to Woermann and Kaempffer, accusing him of the murders of the german soldiers.

Glakken is being brought in by several german soldiers when he puts up a fight and is shot, seemingly fatally wounded, and falls into the river which surrounds the Keep.

The Keep- Episode 2 Summary:

The Keep: Episode 2- Convergence

After another german soldier is killed, and Kaempffer himself is threatened, A message written in an unknown language is found written in blood on a a wall. the villagers are made to interpret. After being unable to do so, one of them advises the Woermann about an old philosopher and professor by the name of Theodore Cuza, who they think will be helpful in finding out what might be killing the german soldiers.

German soldiers arrive a the Cuza household and force both Theodore and Magda to come with them to the Keep.

Theodore and Magda Cuza arrive at the Keep, where Theodore is set straight to work on interpreting what the killer might be. Not far away, the stranger approaches by bike, dealing with several german-patrolled road blocks on his way.

Several german soldiers attempt to rape Magda during the night when the killer arrives, having taken an incomplete form and rescues her. She is then carried by the monster back to her father. Theodore is given an ultimatum by the monster, revealed to be named ‘Molasar’, where Theodore is allowed to live if he helps Molasar escape the Keep. He then leaves Theodore after decelerating his age so that he is a young man again.

'The Keep' Title Evolution

Here are a few images showing a small evolution of the main title for my project. This includes from when I was trying to create an aesthetic resembling 1980s media to the new visual and sound direction reflecting war films from the 1950s and 1960s.

Some other experimental ideas are included as well:

This last image is a roughly edited version of some of the shots I got when location scouting. I inserted the backdrop of the mountains in order to better establish the setting as well as placing small trucks to give the 'Keep' an illusion of greater size than the pill-box I shot actually was.

The font used for this last image is also what I feel should be the final font used for my pre-production project as I feel it greatly perfectly reflects the type of style used in the older war films, particularly 'Where Eagles Dare'.