Origins of the Laoich - Strength of my Hand

Wayward teen, Effie, is sent to her ancestral Scottish home as a last ditch attempt to get her life on track, only for her to discover her Gran’s secret life of monster hunting with an ancient Pict Warrior. Can Effie discover her family secret and unlock her magical potential in order to save her new home, become the next Champion of Scotland and face off against the devil himself?

  • Fraser Coull
    Writer
    Cops and Monsters, Night is Day, Origins of the Laoich
  • Project Type:
    Television Script
  • Genres:
    Fantasy, fairytale, drama, YA
  • Number of Pages:
    61
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Writer Biography - Fraser Coull

Fraser Coull has been a self-driven writer, beginning his journey with the creation of his first web series, NIGHT IS DAY, from 2005 to 2007, during which he wrote a total of 13 episodes. Between 2014 and 2019, he created the award-winning supernatural web series COPS AND MONSTERS, contributing to several of its 9 episodes, while also crowdfunding and producing the series. Fraser successfully managed a remote writers' room that included notable writers such as Debbie Moon, Philip Lawrence, Simon Underwood, Laura Anderson, and James T. Harding.

Currently, Fraser is developing a Scottish mythological fantasy series titled ORIGINS OF THE LAOICH, with Debbie Moon serving as Executive Producer. The project is in collaboration with Judd Tilyard of Dicentium Films in Australia and is on the development slate with RUNNING MANTIS ENTERTAINMENT. In 2020, Fraser crowdfunded over £15,000 to produce a 10-minute sizzle reel, as well as a spin-off comic book and other materials to pitch and package the series.

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Writer Statement

I am writing “Origins of the Laoich” because of my passion for the mythology that is woven into Scotland’s history. From a young age, I’ve been obsessed with magic, fantasy and superheroes. My dream was to be like Spider-Man, and this series has allowed me to fulfill this wish by creating a superhero in Effie Dwyer.

This is the first time there has been a story like this told from a purely Scottish perspective, incorporating all of our history and mythology, which is what makes this fresh and exciting.

The history of TV and film in Scotland has shown only the gritty realism of city living, or the idyllic version of the Highlands. Here, we start with an idealistic view of Scotland, with tourist-friendly versions of the residents, only for the mask to slip as the series continues. We, as an audience, discover that no matter where you’re from, everyone shares similar problems. However, family and community can help you overcome these challenges.

We have the opportunity to tell a classic coming of age story with relatable themes, and combine it with the thrill ride of ancient Scottish magic, monsters and epic sword fights - all against the backdrop of stunning Scotland; a truly magical setting for a supernatural story about self discovery.

Born and raised in Scotland, I have been interested in Scottish history and mythology my whole life and I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of the country. I have always been passionate about fantasy and sci-fi shows and dreamed of being part of that narrative. To show the lore of my country and work with the Gaelic community to include their language and stories is a dream come true.