It’s comedy, an adventure, a bizarre screenplays, an animation and it is cool!

Why  Henri and the Alien?

‘Henri and the Alien’ is one of those unique books with an outstanding story in a bizarre world. It is part Time Bandits and part Alice in Wonderland. It is not a normal children’s story: It is multi-layered, contains archetypes that adults can easily relate to and children can enjoy.

Where to find “Henri and the Alien”

Reviews:

Reviewer: “…both children and grandparents can appreciate this book.”

Lauri Foston alias Cheryl Haynes (author):”…with lots of visualization, humor, melancholy, and adventure. …a fantasy …with a touch of science fiction and has facts inserted in the comments throughout the story that stimulate the reader…”

Bettie Corbin Tucker reviewer: “I recommend Henri and the Alien as a “must read” for children who wish to share the trip to Netherworld with Henri, her classmates, Eanie Meanie, and Geegle.”

Deborah Hockenberry: “‘Henri and The Alien’ will unleash your imagination taking you with Henri on her adventures to find her real parents.”

Michael Flowers, author of  Jackal: “This is definitely an avid reader’s book.”

The Screenplay: Henrietta’s Odyssey

It is difficult to find any existing film that resembles Henri and the Alien with its unique plot. The closest comparison is Terry Gilliam’s blockbuster film ‘Time Bandits’ from the 1980’s. It shares a similar mixture of humour and pace. The ghostly children’s story ‘Spirited Away’ shares other elements including transitions and character types with the book. Other films with less obvious similarities; are ‘Alice in Wonderland’ for its humour, ‘The Neverending Story’ for its depiction of school life, and ‘Police Academy’ for it situational stupidity. Fifty percent of ‘Henrietta’s Odyssey’ depicts Henrietta’s school and home life the rest is scenes of pure fantasy which include unique cinematic effects.

Animation

Many years ago, a commissioning editor suggested making the book into a great cartoon. Its strong characters and unusual storyline make it score high as an animation. Henrietta depicted initially as Cinderella, but within a few pages, she has transformed into a determined personality only seeking reunion with her lost parents. The character Eanie Meanie is not the normal depiction of an alien. He muddles through the bizarre human world like a man in the dark. He only half-understands to world he finds himself. Yet, when it comes to getting out of tight corners, he is at Henrietta’s side, as either himself or Arthur the artificial boy. Geegle is an archetype new to story telling. He is a bit like a leprechaun, plays a magical violin and an antihero. He endeavours to destroy everything about him until he realises Henri was the child he left as a foundling on the self-indulgent Fritzgrumpy’s doorstep. He then uses Henri to serve his ends until the final sequence when he becomes a saintly figure bring order to the world after the fall of the Black Cardinal. Henri’s nemesis is only fully revealed in the latter scenes. A disgruntled power mad Cardinal who after failing to be elected the leader of his church becomes a fallen angel seeking revenge and subservience from the human world. I think he is based upon Cardinal-Duc de Richelieu from the Four Musketeers.

The animation pilot “Who is Henrietta?”

The first appearance other than in print will be a children’s television cartoon. Work is in progress to make a sequel for the book with vivid characters and unusual happenings. The pilot should now be in production by Cannes MIPCOM, October 2010. It is a wonderful story with stronger characters than in the book who act in a way reminiscent of Tom and Jerry. The director has multiple Emmy Awards.

Can you wait?

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