LOGLINE
A penguin with an amazing voice
dares the doubts of others and a dangerous ocean voyage to follow his unusual
dreams and successfully sing in the New York Metropolitan Opera.
PITCH
Born to sing the Opera, a singing penguin named Emperor finds a pamphlet featuring “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart at the
Opera House in New York, starring Alberto Matteo dressed in a black and white
outfit, which looks like his own penguin suit. Despite his family’s discouragement, Emperor
courageously sets off on his ice raft to New York City. He meets a dolphin family who travels
with him, keeping sharks away, and an albatross, who feeds him fish. When Emperor
goes to the Opera House, the manager decides that a penguin who can sing might attract crowds. During his audition, the casting director is impressed he’s already dressed for
the job, and he is hired as Alberto Matteo’s understudy. Matteo tells Emperor
he must follow his dreams. Months later, Emperor’s family surprises him by arriving at a concert in New York, and
Emperor becomes as famous as Alberto Matteo, not only for his voice, but his perfect
suit.
SYNOPSIS
Emperor the Penguin of the
Antarctic loves to sing, even if his friends and family don’t appreciate his
talent. One day he comes across a pamphlet drifting in the ocean. It features
“The Marriage of Figaro” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York City. He notices a male vocalist named Alberto Matteo dressed
in a black and white outfit, which looks like his penguin suit with tails.
Despite the discouragement of his family, Emperor decides he is born to sing
the Opera and must travel to New York City. Emperor
courageously sets off on his ice raft with the pamphlet. Along the way, he
meets Delfina Dominique and her dolphin family who love to sing. They travel
with Emperor, keeping sharks away. He also meets Jack the Albatross, whose
unlucky luck helps by feeding him fish. Persevering through lonely nights, wind,
and storm, Emperor arrives months later in New York. The dolphin family says
goodbye to Emperor, while Jack goes with him into the big city. He asks Delfina
to send word to his family that he made it to New York and to please come visit
him.
Walking
through Times Square, most pedestrians wondered what a penguin was doing on the
sidewalk, insisting he is meant to sing Opera at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Emperor budges at the front doors until the manager asks him to come back
tomorrow for tickets. Emperor explains he needs to audition. The manager says penguins
don’t sing and turns off the lights. To prove him wrong, Emperor croons with a
beautiful baritone voice in front of the dark Opera House. As
the penguin keeps singing, a crowd gathers. The manager bursts through the
doors, telling him to come back tomorrow morning for an audition. Of course, a
penguin who can sing might attract crowds. Emperor pleads to sleep in the Opera
House for the night with Jack. So, Emperor snores on a soft chair in the
auditorium. In the morning, Emperor stands inside the stage door, nervously.
After
the penguin finishes singing a gorgeous passage from “The Marriage of Figaro”
he bows and stands with pride. The casting director is impressed that he is
already dressed for the job, and he is hired immediately as Alberto Matteo’s
understudy. After meeting Mr. Matteo with the help of Jack, Alberto tells
Emperor he must follow his dreams. Months later, Emperor’s family arrives in
New York to happily see him perform the Opera. Emperor the Penguin becomes as
famous as Alberto Matteo, not only for his voice, but for his black and white suit.
It all started because Emperor had enough courage to take a journey alone on an
ice raft through unchartered waters.
Copyright 2022 Jennifer Waters
