THE CONCEPT
Set against the backdrop of 1995, Northstar follows Bird, a charismatic hustler who lives on Grateful Dead tour. Music nurtures his soul and keeps alive the memory of his mother, who introduced him to the magic of music as a young child. His nomadic lifestyle is interrupted when he’s called home to the Bronx to help his Aunt Inez settle her crushing gambling debt. But when Jerry Garcia’s sudden death threatens to end Bird’s touring world forever, he faces an impossible choice: Protect the woman who raised him, or save the musical world that connects him to his mother’s memory.
TONE & GENRE
Season one would be based in California. A world of VW buses, outdoor festivals, communal living, analog recording studios, MTV, and colorful tie-dye hues. But the world Bird thought he’d left behind keeps calling him back. His Aunt Inez and the family’s 40-year-old Bronx home anchor him to his roots and history, where mob connections offer dangerous solutions to desperate problems. The bright and inspired West Coast world will stand in sharp contrast to the grit and grime of the 1990’s Bronx.
North Star has the heart and adventure of “Almost Famous”, exploring a new band’s struggle toward success and the cost of fame. Original compositions performed by cast members and professional musicians will offer opportunities for a soundtrack featuring original songs plus covers of Grateful Dead classics by contemporary artists. At its core, North Star is a COMING OF AGE story about family, community, and finding your place in the world. Bird’s pure musical connection to his mother’s memory vs. the corrupting influence of mob money brings CRIMINAL UNDERTONES reminiscent of “the Sopranos”. Bird’s two families, blood and chosen, pulling him in opposite directions. The clashing of these two very different worlds will lend itself to moments of DARK COMEDY, bringing levity to the wild ride ahead.
THE PLAYERS
THE BRONX CONNECTION
SEASON BREAKDOWN
MARKET & PRODUCTION
