“The Walking Dead x Call of Duty”: Michonne Trailer
WRITER: RACHEL JANDAK
The Walking Dead comes to the world of Call of Duty
The Brief: Drive hype for the Michonne and Rick operator bundles coming to the Call of Duty Store and help promote the premiere of AMC’s The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
Considerations:
Leverage pre-recorded in-game audio files for VO/Narrative purposes.
Create a unique narrative-driven way to showcase bundle content.
Utilize a distinctive music track.
Make sure it feels more like Call of Duty than The Walking Dead.
How can we highlight Michonne’s unique character and fighting style?
Pre-SCRIPTING Research
Who is this character? How do they fight? Who or what do they fight for?
For any project, my first step is to research the characters or IP I’m working with and learn everything I can about them. For this project, I utilized YouTube, wikis, blogs, and social media to dive deep into Michonne’s backstory, uncover her unique fighting style, and understand her motivations.
From TheWalkingDead Wiki.com:
“Michonne Grimes (pronounced /mɪˈʃɔːn/ mi-SHOHN)[1] (née Hawthorne)[2] is a survivor of the outbreak in AMC's Television Universe. She is a main character in The Walking Dead and one of two protagonists in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
Following the loss of her boyfriend and son, Michonne withdrew into solitude, perfecting her swordsmanship, and becoming a dark and ruthless warrior. After the Greene family farm was overrun by zombies, Michonne encountered Andrea and began to open up as the two developed a close friendship while surviving the winter together. Eventually, they encountered the Governor and were brought to Woodbury. Andrea decided to remain at Woodbury while Michonne, sensing that the Governor couldn't be trusted, left and soon encountered Rick Grimes and his group. Though initially distrustful of each other, Michonne assimilated into the group after bonding with Rick's children, Carl and Judith. She became a core member of the group, as well as Rick's right-hand woman and eventually, wife.”
Script & Storyboard
EXT. APOCALYPTIC CITYSCAPE - EVENING
Zombies roam an apocalyptic cityscape. MICHONNE, fierce and determined, wields her katana, slicing through them with ease. Blood splatters.
MICHONNE (V.O.)
Fight the dead.
EXT. CITY STREET - EVENING
ENEMY SOLDIERS spot her, moving into position.
ENEMY SOLDIERS (RADIO CHATTER)
Eyes on target.
One of the ENEMY SOLDIERS aims down their sights at MICHONNE and takes the shot.
MICHONNE (V.O.)
Fear the living.
MICHONNE ducks, retreating from the ENEMY SOLDIERS. She runs down an alley and comes face to face with a horde of zombies. They don’t see her— yet. But the ENEMY SOLDIERS are just behind her.
EXT. APOCALYPTIC CITYSCAPE - EVENING
ENEMY SOLDIERS (RADIO CHATTER)
There she is!
MICHONNE fires a single shot at the zombies, alerting the horde.
MICHONNE (V.O.)
Some bullies you can live with…
She runs back towards the soldiers’ position, breaking off down an alleyway at the last moment.
MICHONNE (V.O.)
Others… Nah. You gotta fight.
EXT. APOCALYPTIC CITYSCAPE - EVENING
HIGH ANGLE shot of MICHONNE running down the alley into a building as the ENEMY SOLDIERS enter from the opposite side.
INT. RUINED BUILDING - EVENING
MICHONNE runs into a firefight with the ENEMY SOLDIERS. She jumps out a window in the chaos.
ENEMY SOLDIERS (RADIO CHATTER)
Where’d she go?
The zombie horde following MICHONNE attacks the ENEMY SOLDIERS from behind, splitting their forces.
ENEMY SOLDIERS (RADIO CHATTER)
Run! Go!
CUT TO:
INT. RUINED BUILDING - VARIOUS SHOTS
- Zombies overrun the ENEMY SOLDIERS.
- MICHONNE lays an explosive trap to take out the rest.
- The explosive trap detonates as the remaining ENEMY SOLDIERS chase after MICHONNE.
EXT. APOCALYPTIC CITYSCAPE - EVENING
MICHONNE exits the building as the explosive detonates, killing the living and the dead left inside.
MICHONNE (V.O.)
The name’s Michonne.
CUT TO:
EXT. APOCALYPTIC CITYSCAPE - DAY
CLOSE UP on MICHONNE’s bundle weapon. As the camera pulls out, RICK GRIMES joins her and they share a meaningful look. The Walking Dead theme plays as they walk towards a city, recreating the iconic intro from the series.
MICHONNE (V.O.)
We are the ones who live.
CUT TO:
TITLE CARD: THE WALKING DEAD MICHONNE BUNDLE
FADE OUT.
AUDIENCE RESPONSE & RECEPTION
Fans of both The Walking Dead and Call of Duty loved the trailer, especially Michonne’s clever strategy of luring enemy soldiers into her zombie trap.
Call of Duty YouTube Channel Video Views: 80k
PlayStation Youtube Channel Video Views: 48k
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