Portrait of screenwriter P. James Norris Poster artwork for Project Omega
P. James Norris
Email: pjamesnorris25@gmail.com
Phone: 303-704-3978
Website: ocetacea.net/pjamesnorris
5706 Moses St, Chubbuck, ID 83202, USA
Project Ωmega

Synopsis

Two years ago, Avé Aquino, a U.S. Army Colonel, and his wife are called to the scene of their ne’er-do-well son’s ritualistic murder. Later, Nina Blacke, a spiritualist, offers to perform a séance for Avé and his wife to learn why their son was murdered. A devout Catholic, Avé walks out on the séance convinced Nina was either a fraud or a sinner. Two months later, his wife, also a devout Catholic, commits suicide — damning her to Hell.

Two months ago, Nina, hired by Henrietta Talbot’s son, performs a séance for Henrietta so she can hear from her deceased husband that she is doing a good job of executing his estate. But Nina, speaking as Henrietta’s husband, tells her to step down as executor. Talbot’s daughter, suspicious of her brother’s motives, hires Project Ωmega — Avé, his daughter Catherine (a Professor of Experimental Psychology), and Sebastian Elias (a Professor of Religious Studies and Mysticism) — to investigate Nina Blacke.

While filming Nina’s second séance for the pilot of their reality TV show Project Ωmega, prompted by memories of his son’s murder, Avé goes off-mission and asks a question that causes Nina’s spirit guide to end the séance. Enraged, Henrietta orders Project Ωmega out of her home. Catherine and Sebastian attempt to question Avé about his screw-up. When Avé won’t discuss it, Catherine berates him for abandoning her after her mother’s suicide and tells him her department Chair is going to take away her Experimental Psychology lab. Avé flashes back to the séance Nina was going to do for him and his wife.

When Avé returns, he’s decided he and Catherine will try to convince Henrietta to allow Project Omega to continue. Henrietta agrees, but only if Avé isn’t in the room for the third séance. Meanwhile, Sebastian discovers Nina has been using Google glasses and cut-and-pasted recordings of Henrietta’s husband’s public speeches to make it seem she’s channeling his spirit. The team films a third séance, and Catherine asks the question Avé was supposed to ask — Nina’s response indicates she really is channeling. When Nina tells Henrietta to make their son the executor of his estate, Avé causes audible feedback in her Google glasses and charges into the room saying Nina is scamming Henrietta.

Having proven Nina a fraud, the team feels they have a good pilot for their TV show. In Nina’s hotel room, Avé’s wife’s spirit appears to Nina, thanking her for giving Avé the “evidence” he needs to feel that he wasn’t responsible for her suicide, and says she must now get to work on Sebastian.

Awards & Recognition

  • The Red List – currently in top 7% discoverable projects
  • 2023 Christian Faith, Love and Hope Screenwriting – Grand Prize
  • 2018 Faith in Film International Screenwriting Competition – Grand Prize
  • 2020 Industry Next Festival – Semi-finalist
  • 2019 Emerging Screen Writers – Semi-finalist
  • 2020 First 10 Pages Script Competition – Official Selection
  • 2019 Diversity Film & Script Showcase – Official Selection
  • 2021 CineStory TV Retreat and Fellowship – Quarterfinalist
  • 2017 Creative World Awards – Quarterfinalist