SMOKED
A Musical Drama Series
Written by Julie Paiva & Erik Lieblein
Main Characters
Bird
The Dreamer (20s)
Charismatic, creative Deadhead who lives on tour - music nurtures his soul and keeps alive his connection to his deceased mother. Forced to return to the Bronx when Jerry Garcia dies, he struggles to reconcile his reimagined hippie identity with his street roots.
Ben
The Visionary (30s)
Lead singer and band leader with psychedelic ambitions. A spiritual soul committed to his craft, he believes music transcends commerce. His passion for authentic artistic expression clashes with the mob's business approach.
Shelly
The Soul (20s)
Free-spirited natural beauty with unexpected toughness from her upbringing. Uses her musical talents to find belonging and shares Bird's belief in music's power to shape identity and heal wounds.
Josh
The Mentor (40s)
Quirky, old-school hippie and weed dealer who's been Bird's surrogate father for years. Thrives in the insulated tour world but fears life outside the bubble - representing the purity Bird might lose.
The Stakes: Two Worlds Collide
Aunt Inez
The Guardian in Crisis (60s)
Gambling-addicted woman who raised Bird after his mother died. Lives alone in the same Bronx home for 40 years, now drowning in crushing debt. Represents family obligation and the weight of the past.
Milly
The Dangerous Friend (20s)
Fast-talking loose cannon who's untouchable because he's the boss's son. Bird's childhood friend desperate for his father's approval. Offers easy money but at the cost of Bird's soul.
Frank
The Conflicted Operator (30s)
Milly's level-headed cousin - handsome, street-smart mobster with good intentions but criminal instincts. Sees potential in Bird's band but doesn't understand the sacred nature of their music.
The Central Conflict
Music vs. Money
Bird's pure musical connection to his mother's memory vs. the corrupting influence of mob money. Two families - blood and chosen - pulling him in opposite directions.
Season One Arc (8 Episodes)
JERRY'S GONE
BLOOD & MUSIC
DIRTY MONEY
THE CHOICE
Episodes 1-2: Jerry's Gone
Jerry Garcia's death devastates Bird - losing Jerry means losing his connection to the music his mother gave him. Returning to the Bronx reluctantly, he discovers Aunt Inez's gambling debt threatens the home that holds his childhood memories.
Episodes 3-4: Blood & Music
Bird brings his tour family (Josh, Shelly, Ben) to the Bronx while reconnecting with childhood friend Milly and cousin Frank. The band starts to take shape, but Milly's mob connections offer dangerous shortcuts to success.
Episodes 5-6: Dirty Money
Frank and Milly's investment in the band accelerates their success but threatens the music's purity. Bird's two families clash as Josh and Shelly struggle with the criminal world's influence on their art.
Episodes 7-8: The Choice
Success comes at a price that forces Bird to choose between saving Aunt Inez and preserving his sacred musical connection to his mother. He learns some memories can't be monetized without being destroyed.
Production Vision
Authentic 1995 Period Detail
VW buses, tie-dye culture, analog recording equipment. Handheld cameras capture intimate concert moments with documentary-style realism. Every detail honors the era without nostalgia clichés.
Music as Character
Original jam band compositions performed live by cast. Season soundtrack features original songs plus covers of Grateful Dead classics by contemporary artists, bridging generations of music fans.
Emotional Geography
Warm, golden tones for musical/memory scenes contrast with cooler, harsher palette for debt/pressure sequences. Visual metaphors connect music to emotional healing and family bonds.
Cultural Authenticity
Deadhead community consultants ensure tour culture accuracy. Bronx cultural advisors guarantee authentic street dynamics. Real musicians coach cast for believable performances.
Market Opportunity
Primary Audience
Deadheads (45-65): Who lived the culture firsthand
Music Lovers (25-45): Discovering jam band heritage
Streaming Demo (18-34): Drawn to authentic period pieces
Comparable Success
Music-driven series perform exceptionally on streaming platforms. Crime family dynamics have proven cross-generational appeal. Authentic period settings drive binge engagement.
Merchandising Potential
Soundtrack releases, band merchandise, festival partnerships. Authentic Grateful Dead covers could attract licensing partnerships with major artists.
Contact
Julie Paiva
(310) 968-2118
julieannepaiva@gmail.com