#0

The

(c) 2015 Muammer „MUDER“ Derebasi - All Rights Reserved.

- Carl Sagan

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.

In a world of no one asking anything, everybody owning the same symbol,

and moving with the sirens, even though many of the siren towers are broken and not functioning, between the barracks, dark energy rooms, solar panels, melt depots, picker ramps, hidden tunnels, sonic towers, coilers, fire poles, altar, techbase, portal, home of “mecha”

and Kelley`s Tower, with Water of Life from the wells which are stored in Life-water silos, Under the Dark Sun reveals a “blackened” world of “mecha” pilots,

crow masters, “froggers”, red eyed deer, mutated crocodiles, shadows between the old trees in the dark forests, robo-hounds, scorpions and much, much more. A windy world that is in perpetual twilight, never bright, never wet but always “covered”

with the Water of Life.

* a “general view” sketch of some of the “environments”:

1) A scene of units including a “mecha” looking over the hills to their destination: the village, which is being lit by the dark sun.

2) Similar to scene one, but on a different scale and angle - showcases the dark forest and far away from it, the Ice Region.

3) A party consisting of a “scorpion mecha” and stag man looking over the hills to see the village state and ice mountain.

4) The Ice Region: looking over this point, one can see some of the region’s creatures moving around, while in the distance, the village and forest can be clearly seen.

5) Peering from over the highest building in the village, one can see several energy points – which allow people to harness that energy, and build towers and houses around them.

6) From the Air Balloons -looking down to inspect the village. Again, one can see bustling buildings full of activity.

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through a visor or capsule, we can see our hero’s face with a determined look.

(Voice Over/Text/Whispered):“What lurks beyond the walls?”

A ruin in heavy dust is surrounded by a group of villagers. They’re cleaning, lifting rocks and adding new ones.

A “portal” starts to take shape. The villagers stare in awe.

Other buildings show up: the solar panels, the “picker” ramps.

Men and women are gathered together, in fear, at the semi-opened village gates.

The group discovers a new ruin, the stones. The stones are heavily carved with symbols.

(Voice Over/Text):“What we discovered just left us with more questions”.And then again, we see some similar symbols

when they discover the robot-like parts.

The villagers now look into what lies beyond, the dark of the forest.

The focus is now in the dark.

The dark is now being ripped apart by our hero’s

“mecha” as he advances.

He’s now a grown up adult.

The “mecha” advances climbing a mountain, we see dark forests surrounding it, and ice far away.

The “mecha” crosses a river, always being watched by red and white eyes from the shadows.

The “mecha” stops at a ground opening that emanates light.

A mechanical sound and a release of pressure from the “mecha” shows that the robot is opening. The hero jumps out, we see his legs touching the ground at the edge of the opening.

The same fingers, resembling the scene from the beginning, are touching the mud in the exact same position.

Our hero’s looking down curious. A shadow grows from below, covering our hero’s face that follows the shadow with his eyes. He doesn’t look afraid.

Zoom in to his face. He has a smile of determination and confidence.

By his side, a couple of units come to help: a “janissary”, an archer, a crow master, a “frogger”, and others. They stand ground against whatever is coming. The image fades out.

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Technical

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leave the village through a technological door that opens in the wall, then quickly closes.

CUT TO:

4 EXT. VILLAGE, TRAINING AREA – TWILIGHT

CLOSE-UPTree being split in two.

SFXBlade sound.

MID SHOTA young child swings a blade against a tree. A male villager is instructing him.

MID SHOTWe also see a young archer about to release an arrow, also followed by his instructor. EXTREME CLOSE-UPA practice target is hit in the center.

SFXIron sound. EXTREME CLOSE-UPA couple of frogs are jumping.

LONG SHOTThe frogs are surrounding another young child and then they jump into the child’s bag. An instructor is watching.

MID SHOTBeside him, there’s another instructor watching another child calling for a crow that’s about to land on his finger.

CLOSE-UPThe crow is just about to land.

SFXSquawk sound.

EXTREME CLOSE-UPA robotic foot lands on the sand and then another, then another.

SFXRobot feet stomps.MID SHOTA group of “mechas” are advancing slowly.

SFXRobot feet stomps fading in.

ZOOM-IN TO EXTREME CLOSE-UPIn the last of the “mechas”, through a visor or capsule, we can see our hero’s face with a determined look.

SFXRobot feet stomps fading in even more, then stops.

HERO (V.O)(Whispering) What lurks beyond the walls?

FADE TO BLACK

CUT TO:

5 EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF THE VILLAGE (FLASHBACK) -

TWILIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOTA ruin in heavy dust is surrounded by a group of villagers. They’re cleaning, lifting rocks and adding new ones.

SFXIntrospective music throughout the scene.

UP-SHOTA “portal” starts to take shape.

MID SHOTThe villagers stare in awe.

ESTABLISHING SHOTOther buildings show up: the solar panels.

ESTABLISHING SHOTThe “picker” ramps.

MID SHOTMen and women are gathered together, in fear, at the semi-opened village gates.

LONG SHOTThe group discovers a new ruin, the stones. The stones are heavily carved with symbols.

HERO (V.O)What we discovered just left us with more questions.

ESTABLISHING SHOTAnd then again,

we see some similar symbols when they discover the robot-like parts.

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MID SHOTThe villagers now look into what lies beyond, the dark of the forest.

ZOOM-INThe focus is now in the dark.

SFXMusic fades out.

CUT TO:

6 EXT. BEYOND THE FOREST - TWILIGHT

EXTREME CLOSE-UPThe dark is now being ripped apart by our hero’s “mecha” as he advances.

SFXStrong crumble sound.

EXTREME CLOSE-UPHe’s now a grown up adult.

SFXEpic music starts.

PANORAMIC SHOTThe “mecha” advances climbing a mountain, we see dark forests surrounding it, and ice far away.

SFXEpic music continues.

CUT TO:

7 EXT. DARK FOREST, RIVER - TWILIGHT

LONG SHOTThe “mecha” crosses a river, always being watched by

red and white eyes from the shadows.

SFXEpic music continues through the scene in crescendo.

EXTREME CLOSE-UPThe “mecha” stops at a ground opening that emanates light. A mechanical sound and a release of pressure from the

“mecha” shows that the robot is opening. The hero jumps out, we see his legs touching the ground at the edge of the opening.

LONG SHOTThe hero crouches in front of the mecha. By his side, a couple of units come to help: a “janissary”, an archer, a crow master, a “frogger”, and

others. They stand ground against whatever is coming. Their figures are opaque, not completely visible.

POINT OF VIEW FROM THE HEROThe same fingers, resembling the scene from the beginning, are touching the soil but in the reverse position (looking to the right).

CLOSE-UPOur hero’s looking down curious. A shadow grows from below, covering our hero’s face that follows the shadow with his eyes. He doesn’t look afraid. The shadow covers the middle of his face.

ZOOM-INHero’s face. He has a smile of determination and confidence. The shadow grows covering all of his face and all the background elements.

SFXMusic climax, then fades out.

FADE TO BLACK

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It all starts with a blueish and dark world. What we see from the beginning is a kind of “arctic blue” world, where everything is a pale, faded blue and nothing is shiny or bright- from the faces, buildings, walls, even the trees or whatever we can see. This is mainly because of the water of life. It’s the main core of the units, and we learn that water is used to produce the units but it also mutates the world as we learn about the crocodiles or other creatures which are affected by it. It covers the whole world as far as we see. It’s in the air. It’s on the surface of the things, throughout the environment. It’s like fog or a very low density snow is falling, but it’s not raining, it’s always there. It never stops and you never get wet from it, but it is still like the normal water as we can understand. It covers everything like a heavy “smoke” under the dark sun.

It’s also windy and always in twilight. As we know, the sun is always in the same position and the world doesn`t turn around it. There is no day or night times. As it’s now always “dark” we assume that something is between the world and the sun, or something has already

happened to the sun and that’s why there’s no day nor night under it.

Is this our world?Beyond what we see, there are two very important things Under the Dark Sun. First, the scientists discover a „space“, a gap in „snaps“ when they examine the neurons’ actions while watching, monitoring human brain’s activity, which shows the differences between when we imagine a thing and when we actually see or taste or hear a thing in reality. The data or whatever you call it, follows a route. Millions of neurons work together to transfer the „information“ at almost the same moment as they, we, know. However, they realize that every bit of information or data that is transferred to process somewhere at some moment along its way, goes for nothing and comes back like nothing happened.

Is this something that has already happened?

To me, yes. I believe that there is nothing so generic or so certain about what we assume. What we think we know and what we assume the truth is, it may be completely different actually. The God we believe in or gods, or whatever we assume as creator, if there is any, could and should be much more than we can think or imagine. Think about if all the “information” through time, matter and energy, like the gap in transmitting the data, processes by ourselves in another dimension and we reflect it as the whole “life” together here as our known world, together. As the receiver and the messenger, maybe the man is between all of this, alone but not alone. Perhaps the “truth” is not what we assume it is, it is perhaps much more than that.

Is it the future or is it just another parallel world or cosmos story?

It’s today’s world. There are some experiments about human view. You know the story of people who get glasses which show the world upside down and they wear it for some time. After a while they believe that the world we live in, the shapes, the things are upside down, just as a normal thing. The brain, or our mind shapes itself for and into the conditions he, she, it is put in.

We went to schools, learnt to write and read, some of us can

even paint and do other things. However, in a general view, when I look at today’s world, I see people who are raised to be lawyers or doctors, or other professionals. Some others are raised to collect the tobacco from the field. In a way, we also do not ask questions or just forget, ignore some of the questions. Also, love and many other feelings are shaped via patterns in an expected manner. In especially issue #0 and #1, we’ve been introduced a world where almost everything is generic and moves in patterns. When I look at it, I see big traffic flow in big streets. I see people waking up at 06:30. I see coffee. I see TV, Internet. Is this a future world. Could be.. Is this a parallel world, maybe.. perhaps, not.

What about the “Janissary” or the “Archer” or the general feeling of the buildings? Are they related to the “Ottoman Empire”? Anything could be related with anything from the history or today’s world, because it’s mainly us. What we create today, what are we today, is us. The “Janissary”, the “Archer”, and others- they are all soulless. Fatherless. What we understand is they serve. They are not like us humans but units. Produced units. When we see them in this way, the question is why and how are they like this. Whom do they serve and what is the meaning of all of this. There are some things like

“pickers” or the portal or we see a big hand of a giant robot like thing under the dirt or we know that there are some ruins, big ruins around, with some symbols on them. “Pickers” go under the world, so it seems.Do we really know?Also water of life, usable water of life comes via wells, again from under the surface and we see silos to process them, we see barracks and some other type of factory-like buildings around.

Also, for sure, the sirens.. Even though they are broken and not all of them are working, it seems under the dark sun there is an order or at least should be an order for some of the “units” regarding them. Unlike our lives, waking up with the sun, going to bed at night, different from us, they “move” with the sirens. Who directs them with the sirens and why, are the two main questions. But more important to me, personally, what I would like to know more than these two questions is, why they “obey” the sirens, even though some of them are broken and why nobody’s questioning about them. In fact, why nobody’s questioning anything and accepting as it goes or “arranged” before their birth.

Can or will the hero be able to succeed?We’ll see. It’s not about directly his or anybody’s success or failure. There is more to the story than that.

It seems different than most of the comic books

or adventure stories, or some movie plots about future.It’s different and it’s not only a comic book or the adventures of one or more characters or flying heroes around. It’s a whole world with attractive, flashy views and to me, of course everybody tells his or her story in the end, with his or her views, but the big story behind all of this, under the surface, beyond and under the dark sun itself and what happened really and what is happening “there” and what will take place, is greater than any other story that has ever been told.

So, you believe in yourself about its greatness.Sure thing. It’s not about what I believe. It’s about what it is. Many believe that comic books are for children or for young ages. I don’t believe in that. If you tell a story about a man with super powers, with red tights or another hero with some kind of mask, or a waving cape, then maybe the action, what is happening, calls for younger viewers or readers. However, there are many different genres, and there are many other stories, which have some really deep meanings and messages, which are more suitable for older readers, even if they are comic books.For example, if you tell a story with the world of humankind’s slavery by monetary system, about alarm clocks, smart phones, social media, internet,

Interview w/MUDER - 1.2015

What kind of world is this? How do you

describe the atmosphere Under the Dark Sun?

when he’s not supposed to do so. Like falling in love. Yes, get it as a spoiler. Call it chemie, call it as an everyday issue or explain it with evolution theory or about sex. It doesn’t matter, as long as we live, we live by this, ourselves, the only receiver, receptor which we rely on: ourselves. We try to survive and transfer us for the future in time. However, what about the time outer space or the time when we are having fun, time which passes very slowly when we are in pain, the whole relativity. If you’re looking for magicians, magic, or flying men: we have more than that. Let’s make it happen together and I’ll show you where it happens.

How can people support?

I don’t ask for anything specifically but if they or you are interested in this comic, just shout out on twitter with the link, share the issue zero with your friends and family. Shoot the questions, engage, share the links, underthedarksun.com etc. on Facebook, visit facebook.com/homeofmecha you know, if “only” you would like to and want us to go on about this. This way, we can see very clearly if it’s interesting to you and if you want us to continue. I cannot promise about making the world or your life easier or a better place to live in but I can promise that I will show you another one. In addition, the whole thing is an awesome work, an intensive work, I believe if we get the results we want, it will be amazing.

Can you tell us what the “Dark Sun” signifies in this story?

It doesn’t signify any one “thing” alone. It gives some direct answers about what could happen. Indeed, it makes you think and ask, why? What could happen?

In this first comic, what role do the ‘Sirens’ play?The name of the preview issue, issue zero is “Sirens” as the siren towers and the sirens play a very important role under the dark sun. There’s no day nor night, also there is no time in this world we know in our lives. We wake up mainly by the sun, or in the morning, then we go to work and return in the evening or night, sleep and another day starts. There in the UtDS world, it goes with sirens. Almost all routine goes with sirens. The strange thing about them is that some cables, or some part of them goes into underworld and some of them are broken, some of them are already as “ruins” and not functioning. But still, without any question, they obey and do what’s needed with them. As we go deeper or with this first issue as we introduce under the dark sun, the world itself, besides many very interesting units, environmental things and everything about the world, the sirens are significantly important.

How did you come up with this new concept of a whole different world under the dark

sun?

It’s already here. It’s not a new world or a new concept. I

understand the question, if you see a world under blue water called water of life, you wonder how it is so.. and with Nicolàs (Colacitti), this could be just our interpretation.

Is “Under the Dark Sun” only intended to be a comic book, or do you have other plans for it, such as video games, etc.?

It’s only the beginning. In fact, I have already prepared the Game Development Document, very detailed document of 86 pages to show the programmers, developers, artists what to do to start and next steps for the first video game. However, before that I would like to have the animated movie. I realized that for both the game and the movie, it would take too much time, work and funds. I would need to work with four different teams all together, and the time needed is at least 18 months, plus a budget of nearly 1 million USD for the game I would like to create. Indeed, I have never been afraid of work, but for funds, I don’t have them yet. So, I would like to start from scratch, show the people and share with the people- the UtDS world, the sun, the units, and all. If they are interested in it, I can go on with my plans. If not, I must rob a bank or two! We will see. I’m just joking but as I was writing the GDD (Game Development Document), one night I heard some news about a bank robbery. On the same night, I had some offers from some developer companies to work with and the planned budget had already reached 600k. The stolen amount that the robbers got from the bank was 200k. I

raising via school system, working from 9 to 5 to get a pension, getting old, etc. -if you tell these things in your story and if you have deeper allegories or deeper messages, and if you do this by drawing a cartoon, or making a comic book, then that comic book is not intended for children or young ages by default. I believe if you can tell a good story in a great way, the audience finds that story by themselves. The story would reach its audience by itself. I believe in it and I have the right tools to tell this story in a great way. It’s not just a good story. Overall, it’s a great story.

What can you tell us about the issue #0 and the first issue? Why there is a number zero issue?It’s a special introductory issue, a collector’s edition, limited in print but free digitally to share, an intro issue. It’s called “zero” because it’s a preview, also “zero” because it‘s the beginning of all, it will all start from zero, also zero because it’s free. Free to download, read, and share. A promotional issue that we would like to share and show the “beginning” of a proposal. A proposal from me, from us to you that includes some of the questions and promises about the answers. By the end of the first issue, you know the references about the underworld and you know about many things are related such as “pickers” going and coming from under the surface, there is more about what we can see, sure. However, the most

important and most surprising event towards the end of the first part would be the girl. You know about the blueish part- because of lack of the sunshine and because of water of life, almost everything in this world is “pale”, blueish, faded, under the twilight. But you know what, we find in this issue that our “mecha” pilot sees somebody who does not have that faded face. A face that seems like it is coming from a warmer place. Like somewhere near, under the dark sun but maybe more underneath that he had ever seen his life.

What’s your purpose?This.. Your questioning.. Every question comes after at least one thought, wondering about. I want you to ask. If you ask, you will get the answer. If you ask about the comic book series, I want to make two video games and then the movie, to show, to share it.

What’s the main plan for Under the Dark Sun?First, the distribution of issue #0, making it reach as many people as possible. Gathering a fan base, and testing whether people like it and getting the answer. Whether everyone is interested in this and will want more about it or not. If the answer will be yes, I want to go on with the issue #1 for sure. Simultaneously if I can see the demand, I would like to show the video game trailer first and then the rest. First, I want to make it possible to reach

anybody who is interested. First as a comic book, issue #0, preview issue, including the some of the artwork where one can see some of the elements of the game also, the literal and technical script of the “part” of the story we present in issue zero to show how capable we are. Especially important for the next steps. Like making a trailer for the video game. Or, making a movie afterwards. Why? Because it deserves it. There’s much more Under the Dark Sun and the questions must be answered. Because it’s here and it’s something incredible and awesome. It must be known.

What about the crowdfunding project?We are exclusively on Indiegogo and the main reason to make the first issue with a crowdfunding campaign is to build our own “army” of readers for it. It’s not just related to finances but of course, the possible funds we might raise would give us a big boost about what we want to deliver. It’s about results and for the best results we need people like us, around us. We should be among them to survive.

There’s no flying man, no secret magicians, etc.?No, the magic is the real thing, here, the world, Under the Dark Sun, itself. The crows, sirens, the ruins near the village, where the “pickers” go is the magic here. Most importantly, one’s questioning about himself and the world he lives in, especially

thought to myself, the game that they want is probably simpler!

What kind of video game do you plan for this to be- a simulated world, or survival in a hostile new world, or wars and battles, or something else?

About this, I cannot reveal much but all I can say that, whoever saw the GDD or got some more information about the game was amazed. If I share some details about it, it would ruin some of the nice surprises about it. More about this will come in the near future hopefully after the first issue. Especially if it reaches the targeted people already. There must be demand from the people for the game. Otherwise it cannot be made.

So, are there any villains or bad guys in this story? What or who is the hero going to fight against?There’s no hero like a man who has super powers or who can fly or who has magical superpowers in this story. Also, there are no bad guys.

Have you planned an entire series of graphic novels in this world- Under the Dark Sun?

Yes. All is well planned. The only thing left to see is “demand” from people. Only if people want this, we can go on and share the rest. We’ll see. Their appreciation and interest is all we need to share and show the rest.

You know, with the title ‘Dark Sun’, and the world being in constant twilight, and the artwork very dark and mysterious, should we expect a very deep and ‘dark’ plot/ story? Or will there be some humor, romance, quirky characters, and such things for adding some lightness?

The story, especially at the end of issue #1 goes into some “red”. What I mean is whatever we see in this world is under effect of water of life, blueish and also as you said, the faded light, darkness in a way rules there. However, we wonder about what the ruins beyond the walls of the village signify, what do the symbols on them mean. Also there are some giant robot like parts half under the world half on the surface as we see again near the village. So that means maybe there was some kind of big war, something came from the skies probably, some time ago. Also, “pickers” go underworld and come back, but from where does all this technology come from? We know about portal, for example, or the robohounds that the villagers can produce. All the units come and go, like duties. We have questions and I believe as we know more, it will go

much deeper about it. It would surely bring many surprises. They are not asking about the faded light in their world. If you’re not asking for more light, or questioning about the light in your life, maybe it’s already bright for you. Maybe for you, not asking is the correct behavior to not getting the wrong answer.

So the comic script says that nobody asks anything in the twilight world. Is this because people are scared to ask questions or under the control of some higher powers?

Do you ask questions about life? As normal people, do we ask questions about our world? What kind of questions do we ask? We, at least many of us, wake up with alarm in the morning, go to work, return, sleep, when weekend comes arrange some time for fun, when holiday time comes try to go somewhere to have some sunshine or to see new places or to ski. But what about beyond these things? Do we have a chance to ask or change the whole routine for almost everybody as we want?

The symbols on the stones (in the ruins) sound mysterious. Also, the strange symbol on the units` hands as we see. What do these symbols represent in the story?

I cannot tell you everything right now, but I can guarantee you that you’ll get all the answers as the

story goes on and it will take you much deeper than you would expect.

I like the idea, and I would like to participate in the crowdfunding. Is your Indiegogo campaign open

already?

January 12th, 2015, Monday at 09:30 GMT+1 Vienna, Austria time is the launch date and time for the campaign and it’s planned for 60 days. I hope that all will go well and before 60 days it will be fully funded. I believe in that.

When do you expect the first issue to be completed and released, if you secure the crowdsource

funding?

By May 2015 at the latest for sure. All backers and supporters should have their first issues at their hand already as we are already working on it.

Is your Indiegogo campaign for the initial comic books only, or for the video game or games as well?The campaign is not for the video game. If it was for the game, then the budget would have been at least a 800k-1M in USD / Euro and at least 18 expert people, divided in small teams, organized under mostly me to work more than full time, almost

every single day of the year, 1 year, before the launch. So, the crowdfunding campaign is for the issue #1 of the comic book series of Under the Dark Sun. However, it means a lot, as if we can successfully fund this step of the project, as it means we have supporters, people like us who like our project, who back Under the Dark Sun, love it, and it means there is a potential demand. Of course I, personally will ask them, one by one, and will hear in the campaign process and after the process. We will see and we will hear, we will know how the demand is like. If we all together want the next steps, we will be here all together to make it real. I hope people like it and demand more. It’s not about money, but printing, delivering, ink, paper, or digital presences, all kind of these activities, even sometimes giving any news requires time or work and needs resources. For the game, the resources needed is huge but if we gather the right people around us it will be very easy.

So how would you classify this comic and video game as: action/ adventure/ science-fiction/ fantasy/ drama, etc.?I want the first video game to be a 3D arcade adventure, and the second game to be a real time strategy. The movie will likely be an anime. You ask about the genre, there is action for sure, many fights, many encounters,

many surprises. Adventure, begins with questions. Sometimes when you get the answers, you’ll be surprised with many other questions. There are elements of science-fiction for sure, fantasy and drama, too. You’ll love it, I know.

What is it for you, personally?I am a writer and a creator. I have written in many magazines. I wrote five books, two have become bestsellers in my former country, the other three I didn’t publish as I didn’t want “more attention”. I’m a shy person. I wrote many columns for years, I made music, even there’s an album with my name on it, I drew, painted, I made many things in my life.

In just the past year, 2014, I worked on five different projects including heylo, Coolest Clock, and this one, Under the Dark Sun. I feel like I play with the waves, like in the ocean, but shape them, with my bare hands. This is my flow. Flow, is making music. Hugging someone you love. Flow is gardening. Playing with children. Playing with your dog, cat, white faced saki monkey... Writing, is flow. When you engage in an activity, that makes you forget yourself and lose track of time- that is flow. Mindfulness is flow. Reading is flow. Flow, is a smile. Sky, sun’s shining over you, being able to feel the mild wind on your skin, hearing the children’s laughter, birds, leaves on trees touching each other smoothly, or just the fresh air in the morning, evening, waking up, being aware of a part and itself of this, is flow.

What it is, for me, is my flow.

The

Under The Dark Sun - A MUDER Division - www.muder.tv A Derebasi - Colacitti Work with Alexander Wolf, Leslie Ng and Alexey Sarambaev.

Special Thanks to Iker Nefsogli - issue #0 - Sirens. January 2015(c) 2015 Muammer „MUDER“ Derebasi - All Rights Reserved.www.underthedarksun.com | www.facebook.com/homeofmecha