Genre
Political Romantic Comedy
NCCA Development File // Feature
The Terms of Engagement
When a hot mic catches two rival political strategists trashing their own candidates, their bosses rebrand the scandal as a secret romance and stage an engagement through Election Day. As their signed contract threatens to leak, the relationship they are faking becomes the only honest thing either has done in a decade.
Format
Feature
Setting
Washington, D.C., Dayton, Atlanta
Development Lens
Netflix, theatrical and streaming
The story engine
Love was never part of the deal.
The Terms of Engagement is an original NCCA feature in development. Fired rivals sign their terms on a yellow legal pad: public appearances only, no kissing on the mouth, it ends on Election Night, and no falling in love. Fast dialogue, quiet devastation, an earned sunrise. In the tradition of Long Shot, Red, White & Royal Blue, Insecure, and Veep.
“No falling in love.”
Passport structure
The elements that hold the title together.
01 / Lead
Alex Chase
33, a Democratic strategist with Dayton union roots, protecting the jobs bill she wrote. She defines every clause so nobody can ask for too much. Her arc: from control to trust.
02 / Lead
Marcus Thorne
35, a Republican strategist from a Georgia political dynasty who wants his father’s approval. He charms on cue and touches a cufflink when he lies. His arc: from performance to conviction.
03 / Pressure
The machine
Dana and Gil convert intimacy into a message. Priya’s mistake and Kara’s reporting bring the signed terms into daylight.
04 / Heart
Two families
Rose asks the plain questions Washington avoids. Mother Pearl lends Marcus a union pin. Calvin turns his son’s future into strategy, and Vivian’s heirloom ring makes the engagement personal.
Controlled access
Confidential development materials.
The material package is presented project-by-project for approved development conversations. Files are not publicly distributed from this page.
Studio One-Pager
Logline, story, leads, comps, and the Netflix pitch on a single page.
Confidential
by request
Pitch Deck
Premise, the contract, leads, ensemble, story, world, and casting vision.
Confidential
by request
Cast Suggestions
A casting wish list for the leads and ensemble.
Confidential
by request
