Obligatory newbie introduction: Hello fellow Ghostheads! I'm new here, so I hope nobody minds hearing my ideas for a third Ghostbusters film. I hope to do some serious paranormal research this spring, so I can start writing a complete script this summer. Here are just some of my preliminary notes and scribblings (as well as a few sketches). What I really need are ideas about what kind of event could cause a rise in paranormal activity. Thanks in advance!

Returning Characters:

•Dr. Egon Spengler
•Dr. Ray Stantz
•Janine Melnitz

New Characters
•Prof. Ardith Spengler – Daughter of Egon and Janine. 18 year old prodigy. Got her first degree (Neuropsychology) at the age of 12. Invents a PKE reader that can pinpoint the exact identity of the ghost, creating a new field of study at Columbia University; Paraforensics. After being possessed by a low-class vapour on her first bust, she develops a phobic fear of ghosts.
•Rockwell Byrnes – Student in Ardith’s Parapsychology class. Is really a Communications major. Applies for Ghostbuster job just to get the chance to be closer to Ardith. At first, he only wants to get closer to her to get a decent grade, but as time goes by, genuine feelings start to develop.
•Eddie Stantz – Son of Ray. Shares his father’s passion in the occult. Has helped in Egon and Ray’s continued surveillance of New York’s PKE levels. Assisted Ardith in gathering information to build a new forensic PKE reader. He put forth the idea to form a new Ghostbuster team.
•Oliver Pender – Green-haired, punk in Ardith’s Parapsychology class. Is really a Visual Arts major. Applies for Ghostbuster job because of deep interest in the paranormal. Growing up, he lived in a haunted house.

Script Notes

Chronological

•Ardith pioneers a new form of PKE technology with the ability to identify the unique ectoplasmic imprints of specific ghosts (much like DNA imprints). She is granted with a Ph. D., and becomes the first ever Doctor of Paraforensics.
•Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler, having continuously monitored the PKE levels in NYC, discover that paranormal activity is starting to rise a for reasons as of yet unknown. They consider starting up the Ghostbusters again.
•After receiving a call from a 2nd grade student. Ray, Egon, Ardith and Ray’s son Eddie investigate a haunting at P.S.#84 in the form of former teacher who writes spelling rules on the blackboard in chalk. The new PKE meter is put to the test.
•Oliver Bender, Rockwell Byrnes, and Eddie Stantz form the new Ghostbuster field team.
•Janine confronts Egon about their daughter’s ability to function socially, much like her father. After a rather one-sided debate from Janine, she remarks about how if Egon had never met Peter Venkman, the Ghostbusters would never have been formed, and as a result, Ardith would never have been born. The revelation stuns Egon, and for once, his work can’t take his mind off it.
•Ardith is made a member of the Ghostbusters field team upon Egon’s insistence.
•On their first bust, Ardith is possessed by a low-level spirit. She is mildly traumatized by the experience, and develops spectrophobia

Miscellaneous

•Ghostbusters investigate a poltergeist at a night club.
•Rockwell attempts to get to know Ardith better. Unfortunately, he tries to talk to her while she’s working. She makes a joke about the hot air that comes out of his mouth.
•Ardith attempts to approach the Containment Unit after her possession, but is too terrified.
•Egon comforts Ardith after her scare.
•Ghostbusters investigate a haunting by a miniscule ghost. Rockwell makes an offhand remark, causing the offended mini-ghost to pass through his head, leaving a gooey helping of ectoplasm dripping down his face.
•To be an ongoing plot thread – Ardith tries to improve the proton thrower technology, making it so the streams can pass through any and all matter (including humans) except for ectoplasm.

Micro Scenes

1. INT. TV ROOM – DAY

SPENGLER stands in the doorway and watches Ardith on the couch, making notes on a legal pad. On the television, a forensic science special is playing at half volume.

ARDITH

Intensely focusing on the legal pad, she blocks out any and all distraction. It is evident that she isn’t even watching the TV.

SPENGLER

Sighs, and glances down at his secret weapon; A bag of potato chips. Salt and vinegar. Ardith’s favourite.

Spengler slowly crosses the room and sits on the couch beside Ardith.

SPENGLER
I brought you something to eat.

ARDITH
(dismissive)
I’m not hungry.

Silence. Time for “Plan B”. SPENGLER gestures to the legal pad.

SPENGLER
Are you working on the new trap specs?

ARDITH
No. Dr. Rideau asked me to guest lecture his
Electromagnetic Theory class.

SPENGLER
Sounds interesting. Albeit, you are
overqualified.

ARDITH
Not everything has to be a challenge.

Silence. Spengler pauses, unsure of how to proceed.

TELEVISION

A commercial for the Ghostbusters flashes up on the screen. Ardith convulsively grabs the remote, and changes the channel to a nature program about snakes. Spengler grabs the wrist clutching the remote.

ARDITH

Half-heartedly, she pulls away from SPENGLER.

ARDITH
(whispers)
Dad, let go.

Spengler releases her wrist. Ardith clenches her jaw, gradually loosing her composure. The legal pad rests limply across her lap, forgotten. She struggles, not wanting to meet her father’s eye.

Unable to resist, she glances at him. Tears well up in her eyes as she slowly leans towards him. Spengler pulls his daughter into his arms, comforting her for the first time since she was a toddler. Ardith begins to cry great wracking sobs as Spengler strokes her hair gently, instinctively.

ARDITH
(voice cracking)
I’m getting your cotton shirt all wet.

SPENGLER
Don’t worry. It’s 95.7% polyester.


Ardith lets out a choked laugh. She hugs him tighter.


2. Small dialogue exchange #1

JANINE
Face it Egon, you’re emotionally unavailable.

SPENGLER
That isn’t true.

JANINE
How much do you love me?

SPENGLER
If I were to express it as a
numerical value, I would have to
use an exponential, because there
isn’t enough paper on the planet to write
it using expanded notation.

JANINE
I love it when you talk dirty.

3. Small dialogue exchange #2

ARDITH
Why are you even in my class?

BYRNES
I need a Science elective to
graduate.

ARDITH
What is your major?

BYRNES
Communications.

ARDITH
(pauses)
What have you learned so far?

BYRNES
Not much.


4. Small dialogue exchange #3

BYRNES
I should be getting extra credit
points for this. It’s the least you could do for me.

ARDITH
Actually Byrnes, I’ve seen your transcript.
Extra credit points would actually be the
most I could do for you.

5. Small dialogue exchange #4

EDDIE
Didn’t you have green hair the
last time I saw you?

PENDER
Yes.

EDDIE
Oh.
(beat)
I like the blue…it’s a good look for you.

PENDER
You think? I thought it would be too predictable.

BYRNES
Oh no, the blue is nice.

And here are two links to pictures I've drawn of Ardith:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/17097083/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/17097348/

wow.
i like.
you have really thought about the new characters and i like your development of them. i havent dabbled in the new character realm as deeply as you, so i dont think id be the one to criticize, not that i could find anything to criticize.
but maybe the only thing is, i think every character needs to have a funny trait. ghostbusters is a comedy, and it worked so well because the characters had funny traits, not because there were funny lines here and there. and maybe try relating them to the audience a little better too, but other wise, awesome job, keep it up.

Good point. Funny traits and relatable to the audience. How about this:

Ardith: Intelligent, but socially inept. When Rockwell comes on to her, she's not sure quite how to handle it, so she uses dry sarcasm as a defense mechanism. Developing spectrophobia as a result of a possession throws her whole world into chaos - ghosts were her life's work, and now she has an irrational fear of them (and Spenglers value their rationality).

Rockwell: The charmer. He is used to getting exactly what he wants (every semester, he has managed to get his textbooks for free by feinting a sob story that he lost his dad's credit card to some poor bookstore clerk.) Is really only coming on to Ardith to weasel a good grade out of her, so he can pass her class. He persists because this is the first time his charm won't work on someone. However, he starts to develop feelings for her, especially after her possession (an event which also drove home the fact that ghosts are real. He had entered the job with a healthy amount of disbelief).

Eddie: As enthusiastic as his father about the paranormal. Ray and Eddie have a tendency to finish eachothers thoughts - they can have entire conversations without anyone else knowing what they are talking about. All too willing to take risks in the name of paranormal research. (While helping Ardith develop new PKE technology, Eddie figured out how to release individual ghosts from the containment unit to take readings from. Ray was so proud of him.)

Oliver: Not a skeptical bone in his body. Not only does he believe in ghosts, but also vampires, werewolves, mythical monsters, etc. Unfortuately, with this lack of skeptism comes extreme gullibility. Also has a habit of making random remarks (without a hint of irony) that can be confusing when taken out of context. (ie, if someone were to trip and fall, Oliver would state that their “Venus must be in retrograde”).

Also, I want to do something different with Janine and Egon's relationship. Harold Ramis thinks it was too mawkish. I believe that was a result of the fact that their relationship was in it's infancy…just sweet, sickly infatuation. I want to show how their relationship has progressed over the years. Basically, Janine now knows exactly how her man's mind works, but Egon is still clueless about Janine's. They argue about parenting, and all the normal marriage related things.

You're gonna get trouble by saying Egon and Janine had a kid together. I can hear it brewing…

Hey, dish it out. I can take it.

Nah there wont be any problems, most people like the Egon and Janine releationship. Mallyory pretty good ideas and there some of the best ideas i seen in a LONG time.

Oh my…thank you very much! What I really need is an idea for a large conflict (along the same vein as Gozer and Vigo).

Also, I would like to include Winston, but I can't think of a way to do it. Out of the all the guys, only Ray and Egon seemed likely to continue Ghostbuster related activities. However, if there is a logical reason for Winston to stick around, I'd love to hear it.

…and as much as I'd like to include Peter, I'm trying to treat this script as realistically as possible. If Bill Murray says no to another movie, then no Peter in my script (or at the most, only in a cameo). I really don't know why I'm putting that restriction on myself…I think it must be the film student in me…

Well, Randall, as I last checked, had no quibble…

But I could tell you stories of how some of us used to bicker over who we thought should be going out with Egon…I'm a E/J shipper…after watching the cartoons and first movie, I can't really accept anything else.

Some pretty nice work there, some great lines, obviously you've been putting in a lot of thought into this. The PKE that can identify who a ghost is an intriguing idea…I'm not sure how well it will fare, but it's an interesting idea anyway.

And it looks like you've got Egon, Ray anc Janine's characterisation nailed, I've seen a lot fo stories where they do things they'd never do…but I can see them all either saying what you've posted or doing what you've described. I look forward to seeing the full script…and you're a pretty good artist to boot, I assume you'll be doing illustrations of the other team members?

EDIT: in an echo of Chuck's post, it's nice to see some fresh ideas in relation to GB3, Venky, if I'm not mistaken is also working on a nice and original GB3 piece as well.

As for Winston, well, he could remain as a sort of spokesperson for the company, could help seeing as he's the most down to earth guy in the bunch…equally, he could handle the physical training of the new team while Egon and Ray concentrate more on the technological side. However, those are simply ideas.

Kingpin
I look forward to seeing the full script…and you're a pretty good artist to boot, I assume you'll be doing illustrations of the other team members?

Yep, as soon as I can get a really good picture of them in my mind. For some reason, Ardith's character design slammed to the front of my mind when I was creating the character. I almost have a full idea for Rockwell, so he'll probably be the next illustration.

I just want to thank everyone for the positive feedback. Kingpin, your ideas about Winston are actually really good…they make perfect sense. I think I'm going to try to incorporate it into my script.

You guys also inspired me to write the opening scene. If you like it, I promise to finish the entire script by the end of this summer.

Unfortunately, the script lost it's formatting during the post…sorry if it's confusing to read. I'll try to fix it the best I can.

FADE IN:

EXT. NEW YORK ELEMENTARY P.S. #84 –- DAY

A bright spring Monday greets the young students as they make their way into the building for another day of learning. Teachers hustle the children inside, alternately breaking up fights and greeting the better behaved kids.

INT. CLASSROOM – MRS. WELLER’S 2ND GRADE CLASS

Show-and-Tell time. Students cart a variety of objects, several of them larger than the students who belong to them. MRS. WELLER smiles at her class.

MRS. WELLER
“Who would like to go first?”

Every miniature hand rises. Mrs. Weller points to a bespectacled boy in the front row. JIM VANOIRSCHOT excitedly leaps to his feet.

CHALK BOARD
Silently, a piece of chalk starts to stir.

JIM
Stands proudly at the front of the class, and produces his Show-and-Tell item. A Ouija board.

JIM
“This is my “wee-jee” board. It lets me talk to the dead!”

CHALK
As if on cue, the free-floating piece of chalk makes its way up the blackboard. Halfway up, it makes a line.

SECOND GRADERS AND MRS WELLER
Everyone falls silent at the sound of chalk screeching against the board. Jim continues, oblivious to the strange event unfolding over his shoulder.

CHALK
Makes its final mark, with an especially loud squeal.

JIM
Startled by the noise, he turns around.

JIM, CLASS, AND MRS. WELLER
They stare in stupefaction at the message written on the board.

BOARD
Written in neat capital letters are words no one in the class will forget after that day: “I BEFORE E EXCEPT AFTER C”

CLASS AND MRS. WELLER
They hesitate, mouths agape. Suddenly, in perfect unison, Mrs. Weller and her 2nd grade class scream in terror, and tear from the room.

JIM
Still standing in awe at the immortal words.

JIM
“Cool…”