NOT THE BEAUTIFUL GAME focuses on a compelling mix of characters who have fascinating detail and colour woven into the epic tapestry of personal stories which are at the heart of the series.
Characters are vulnerable and damaged; puerile and comic; gross and fabulous, glamourous and fake; but ultimately very human.
NOT THE BEAUTIFUL GAME is about fragile beings whom we come to know as very real; we laugh, love and lust with them, learn to admire, cry, or hate with them, as they struggle to glory and greatness, or tragedy and humiliation.
NOT THE BEAUTIFUL GAME is cutting edge, gritty, stark, fearless and dramatic adult television in the realm of Desperate Housewives or House of Cards.
OVERVIEW
THE CHARACTERS
Jessica Karter
A 50s something leading character. She is the President of Kika International fashion house and the head designer. A “Joan Collins” type “A” personality who is motivated, artistic (and acutely cultured), moralistic in a black and white manner, preaches professionalism to her staff and is very protective of her models; however, she is also ruthless businesswoman and sees rising star, Luke, as way to enhance the bottom line of her fashion house.
Bentley “BJ” Jones
Early 40’s. Leading character. Roguishly handsome upper class “English Gentleman” Businessman”, High Street guru type. He is the President of the Invictus fashion group. He has little aesthetic or cultural knowledge, and no artistry, having acquired House of Invictus simply to make money. He is a masterful businessman, self-promoter and raconteur, with an impeccable understanding of who to employ, promote, bribe, or destroy.
His one weakness is his infatuation with Suzie Chan, who increasingly manipulates him with her womanly charms and implied threats of revealing the affair to his wife and family. Suzie believes she has him lock, stock, and testicles, but knows nothing about his other affairs.
He regards Jessica and Kika International as a possible future acquisition and bribes Thomas Jaye the lawyer to sell him insider information. Jessica openly dislikes Bentley, and derides Invictus, but secretly has a type of unprofessional “crush” on him.
Samantha Hanson
Mid 20’s, earthy and beautiful “girl next door” type. She could be a cover girl for Country Life, yet she is pursuing a career in design. Originally, she had hoped to become an architect, but couldn’t make the grade on the maths. She is somewhat resigned to her role as long suffering, reliable girlfriend to Luke. She knows she cannot to compete with football – which is probably his first love – but feels he is worth the effort, if only because he is so charming, personable, and a soulmate.
Luke Bentham
Late 20's. Leading character, Luke is one of football's rising stars. An skilled player, with great social skills and a sensible long term girlfriend, he is about to be thrust into the limelight by signing a Premier League contract. Life on the surface looks like exceeding his wildest dreams. However, inner turmoil could easily destroy his career and his relationship.
Thomas Jaye
Early 30’s. Supporting character. The clean cut, dark and handsome looks, trendy “ABC 1” executive type. He is the City lawyer, advisor to Jessica on business matters, who pursues a dangerous liaison with the “high” life; a toxic mix of escorts, drugs, and East End gangsters. He admires and feels he could even love Jessica, though she rejects his “boyish” attention – and suspects that he is pushing his nightlife far too hard. His young and charming veneer of the well-heeled Gentlemen begins to disintegrate as his appetites take over. He is easily corruptible, and a target for exploitation with enough inside knowledge to bring down Kika International.
Suzie Chan
25-30 years old. Leading character who is beautiful, highly styled, and ruthless. The eccentric lead designer (and business savvy arch manipulator) at Invictus. She achieved her position of power by clever manipulation of the male species. Based in Shanghai and London, she is Bentley's key player and the source of much of his power. She is also Jessica's nemesis and despised slut. A "Suzie Wong" type who increasingly sets Jessica and Bentley on a collision course which will lead to war. Suzie is ambitious and keeps her hands firmly in Bentley's pocket. She is happy to lead him to ruin to furnish her desires and take her "Karma destined" place among the glitterati of the fashion world.
