Manhattan Transfer Streaming Series Pilot Episode

Ready for a cosmic ride that'll make "War of the Worlds" look like a minor traffic jam? Our 60+ minute pilot episode is in the oven, and it's got more twists than a pretzel vendor in Central Park.

Ever wonder what would happen if your favorite city suddenly... disappeared, whisked away by an alien spacecraft? In Manhattan Transfer, 1.6 million New Yorkers find themselves on an intergalactic road trip they never signed up for!

The series we create from this pilot will explore how both ordinary and extraordinary individuals cope with this mind-bending scenario. It blends classic science fiction elements with a sense of wonder and ingenuity.

"I have been a fan of Manhattan Transfer since it was originally released. I ordered a copy of the book before it was even released. I have always thought the book would make a great movie. A mini-series is even better. Being such a fan, I thought I should invest in making it happen." -Randy, investor

From the creative team that brought you Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, Star Trek: Renegades, Renegades: The Requiem and InAlienable comes a pilot episode for a compelling new streaming series --  “Manhattan Transfer.”  It is based on the best-selling novel by John E. Stith.

Our new streaming series will tell multiple stories of how everyday and extraordinary people react to these crazy new circumstances -- from the mayor to the ordinary guy on the street, from the top minds in business and science to the street-smart loners, from the celebrities to the mobsters in the seedy underworld. 

How will we discover what the aliens have in store for us?  Will we be able to communicate with our captors? How will we get off this alien ship?  

And, perhaps most importantly, how will people and society function when they’re cut off from the rest of the world?

"I have watched all their other productions and really enjoyed them. This is a worthwhile project that has a good chance of being epic." - Andrew, investor

Manhattan Transfer's pilot episode is your opportunity to become a part of a project with the potential to become the next big sci-fi phenomenon! We are looking to raise $1.2 million to fund the pilot.

Early Bird Investors in our project will not only secure 130% of their principal investment up front as revenue is generated, but they will also benefit from a substantial 50% share of the profits from the pilot episode!

Regular Investors will secure 120% of their principal up front plus the 50% share of the profits.

Our primary goal is to raise the full production funds to produce the pilot here on WeFunder.  Then, we hope to have a streaming service (Netfilx, Hulu, Amazon, Paramount Plus, Apple TV, etc.) or cable channel (SyFy, AMC, FX, etc. ) pick up the pilot and fund the series. We have the most leverage with this position and we would keep the most creative control possible. And, depending on the licensing rights sold to one of these services, an investment of $50,000 in the pilot could return over $240,000!

If, for whatever reason, we can’t raise the full amount of funding here, our plan is to bring in a co-production company to furnish the remaining funds.  We would then shoot the pilot and license the series as above.

If that scenario isn’t possible, we will work with our agent to sell the series to a network or streaming service without the pilot completed (but with the pre-production completed and ready to go).

Barring all of the above, we could also license various territories across the globe, and they pay us up front.  With those funds paid up front, we make the Pilot.

Why Invest in Manhattan Transfer?

• Proven Track Record: Led by award-winning producer Sky Conway, our team has a history of delivering compelling and successful projects. Our director, Shaun Piccinino, has several #1 hits on Netflix and HBO Max with 6 in the top 10 worldwide!
• Innovative Storytelling: Manhattan Transfer promises to push the boundaries of sci-fi storytelling. The series blends classic science fiction themes with a captivating narrative that explores human resilience and ingenuity in the face of extraordinary circumstances.
• All-Star Cast and Crew: With talents like Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), Walter Koenig (Star Trek, Babylon 5), Doug Jones (Star Trek: Discovery), John Billingsley (Enterprise),  Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager) and Dominic Keating (Enterprise) onboard, Manhattan Transfer boasts a stellar lineup that guarantees incredible performances and immersive storytelling.
• Investor Perks: Your investment doesn't just support the series; it unlocks exclusive perks ranging from early access to the pilot episode to credits as an Executive Producer or even a walk-on role in the show.

All investors will receive a digital copy of our movie poster and a digital e-book of the "Manhattan Transfer" novel.

At the $250 level, investors will receive an early stream of the pilot episode.

At the $500 level, investors will receive the previous perk, plus a special edition DVD or Blu-Ray of the pilot episode, and a cool Manhattan Transfer t-shirt.

At the $1000 level, investors will receive all previous perks, plus at least two behind-the-scenes live streams during the shooting of the pilot, and one autographed cast member photo.

At the $2500 level, investors will receive all previous perks, plus you'll get to spend a day on the set watching the shooting of the pilot (transportation and lodging not included).

At the $5000 level, investors will receive all previous perks, plus you'll get an Associate Producer credit in the end titles, and your name on our IMDb page (transportation and lodging not included).

At the $10,000 level, investors will receive all previous perks, plus you'll have a walk-on role in our pilot (transportation and lodging not included).

At the $25,000 level, investors will receive all previous perks (except Associate Producer credit), plus you'll get a Co-Executive Producer credit in the end titles, and your name on our IMDb page (transportation and lodging not included).

At the $50,000 level, investors will receive all previous perks (except other credits), plus you'll get an Executive Producer credit in the beginning titles, and your name on our IMDb page (transportation and lodging not included).

"I'm a sci-fi fan, and its an opportunity to help to create new stories and a new universe." -Eduard, investor

Investing in Manhattan Transfer's pilot episode means backing a team with a stellar track record of delivering top-notch, thought-provoking science fiction content. We're all about crafting innovative storytelling with a visual flair that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats!

Our team has created a visionary project that promises to redefine the genre and push the boundaries of storytelling and entertainment!

Director Shaun Piccinino directed three #1 hits for Netflix - A California Christmas, A California Christmas City Lights and That's Amor. He also had a #1 hit for HBO Max, Holiday Harmony. Shaun's Salvage Marines project was in the Top 10 for all of 2022 on the Crackle Network, and his project The Island was #1 on Starz for six weeks!

Producer Sky Conway as created and produced several award-winning independent films, including Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, Star Trek: Renegades, Cozmo's Thirsty Tentacle Bar and Grill, Walter Koenig's InAlienable, Renegades: The Requiem and Renegades: Ominara.

A word from Sky:

"When I first picked up John Stith's novel "Manhattan Transfer," I immediately fell in love with it! It is science fiction at its best - the perfect "what if?" scenario full of a sense of wonder like few other novels I read.

I immediately thought this would make an excellent science fiction series. However, at the time, broadcast and cable shows were off limits to "outsider" independent producers like me. So, I put it on a back burner, but I still revisited the possibilities of creating this series from time to time.

Fast forward to today, where there are countless cable channels and streaming services. And the one thing they all have in common - they need programming!

So, now is the perfect time to bring "Manhattan Transfer" to life! There are so many stories to tell with a premise like this: how vastly disparate people can come to work together, utilizing science and creativity to solve what will be a nearly impossible scenario. Can people put aside their differences for a common goal? Can they put aside their own needs for the needs of the many? And can they function as a society when their society collapses?

These are just some of the captivating questions that we can explore in this series. With an ensemble cast of exceptional actors, we can bring this compelling story to life - with your generous help! Thank you!"

-Sky Conway, Creator/Producer/Writer

"Sounds like a awesome idea and has a fantastic cast and great story." -Bryan, investor

We’ve worked in the business long enough to have established connections with top-notch Hollywood talent. Hailing from the classic original Star Trek series to the action-packed mega-hit Starship Troopers to nearly every iteration of later Trek series to top Hollywood blockbusters, we have assembled a stellar cast of science fiction legends.

"Excited to see something a little different with so many great actors, producers, etc." -Tempest, investor

• Our WeFunder campaign will be closing on March 31, 2025
• Preliminary pre-production is already underway, and will begin in earnest at the end of the WeFunder campaign.
• Principal Photography will take place once funding and pre-production is complete.
• Post-Production will begin immediately after principal photography.
• We release the pilot to our backers at the close of post production.
• We will start our pitches to the various streaming services once the pilot is finalized (editing, music scoring, visual effects, etc.)
• Once an agreement is in place with a streaming service, we will begin production of Season One!

"I'm a fan of all the people involved with this project and I'd definitely like to see it succeed! The story is innovative so that should bring some new stories to the screen. This is pretty exciting!" - Brian, investor