Series Overview – Wake Up Call, a series of shorts, is set in New York from January 2020 to the present. It centers around the main character, Julian McCallum, as he goes from successful businessman to gubernatorial candidate to the Governor of New York. All the characters face the changes and challenges the pandemic brings to their New York way of life in different and often conflicting ways as they navigate their relationships, businesses, political careers, vie for government contracts and more.
Episode 1 - Don’t Panic
Julian McCallum and Miranda Monroe are reluctant business partners as COVID-19 is just emerging in early 2020. Julian does not take the virus seriously and does not want his wife, Lily, or his employees to panic. Miranda uses her considerable influence with the Governor, Nicholas Reade, to try to never have to work with Julian again. Julian meets and has a strong connection with the Governor’s new Policy Director, Chloe Dehvas.
Episode 2 - Staying Home
COVID-19 becomes a pandemic. New York shuts down. Lily McCallum settles into home life with her husband and daughter, Ashley. Julian is stir crazy. Chloe is frustrated with how the Governor is handling the pandemic. Not-so-tech savvy Miranda brings on her young nephew Michael Monroe to help her navigate the “new normal” of virtual biz.
Episode 3 - Enough is Enough
Against Lily’s wishes, Julian attends the Governor’s Birthday Bash, tests positive for COVID-19 and quarantines at their country house. This drives a wedge between Lily and Julian. All Miranda’s government contracts are on hold and she is struggling with how to keep Monroe Enterprises afloat.
Episode 4 - Ready to Work for You
Julian declares his candidacy for Governor. Nicholas announces he will not seek re-election and endorses Julian. This makes Julian the clear front runner. Chloe resigns from her position with Nicholas and joins Julian’s campaign as a consultant. Lily attends Julian’s Campaign Launch Event and meets Michael for the first time. Michael has now become Miranda’s Right Hand.
Episode 5 - Wake Up New York
Chloe becomes Julian’s Campaign Manager and together they launch the Wake Up New York Campaign with a Big Vaccination Event. Lily and Michael have a chance encounter at a coffee shop and exchange phone numbers. Miranda meets with Julian and realizes that he will be a very different governor than her good friend Nicholas. Julian meets Natalie Alvarez of Starlight, Inc.
Episode 6 - It’s Over
Michael turns 18, can access his multi-million dollar trust fund and closes on a Gramercy Park penthouse. He texts photos of the penthouse to his new friend Lily. Julian and Chloe launch the “It’s Over” Campaign with another Vaccination and anti-Violence Event aimed at cleaning up and fully reopening New York. Julian wins the primary. Miranda meets with Nicholas and expresses her concerns about Julian. Nicholas agrees to speak to Julian.
Episode 7 - Time to Lead the World Again
Nicholas and Julian meet. Julian agrees to treat Monroe Enterprises fairly although it is clear Julian does not really like Miranda. Julian and Chloe launch the “Time to Lead the World Again” campaign at a big 4th of July picnic and concert. Michael starts college at NYU. Miranda is feeling increasingly lost and desperate. Ashley starts pre-school and Lily is feeling lonely. She and Michael are texting a lot.
Episode 8 - Julian Wins
Julian becomes the Governor-Elect after an intense campaign. Lily attends his Election Night party and is so surprised at how little attention her husband pays to her. Lily also sees the connection he has with Chloe and it bothers her. Julian and Chloe do, in fact, become very close friends and colleagues and he offers her the top staff position of Chief of Staff. Chloe accepts. Julian has a meeting with Natalie.
Episode 9 - Let’s Build a Ferris Wheel (episode in post production)
Newly Elected and very popular Governor Julian McCallum and his Chief of Staff Chloe make all their campaign promises new initiatives starting with “Wake Up New York.” They announce the Ferris wheel project to be built in Times Square as the center piece of their new administration. Desperate Miranda plays dirty to try to get the coveted contract. Michael gets Lily to send him a compromising photo, which Miranda tries to use as leverage to get the contract.
Episode 10 - Famous First Lady
Lily is doing lots of interviews about her new initiative “New York Never Looked So Good.” At first she is a bit nervous and reluctant, but she quickly steps up and finds she enjoys the attention. It brings her back to her modeling/acting days. She is also doing photo shoots for magazines and a series of commercials. Her popularity is off the charts. Things, however, are getting more and more tense at home with Julian. This whole initiative is uncomfortable for him and he is angry about how it happened. Lily remains in touch with Michael. Julian is having an affair with Natalie.
Episode 11 - Miranda Back On Top
Miranda convinces Nicholas to join Monroe Enterprises. His name and connections open all sorts of doors, especially as the pandemic is truly ending. She, with Nicholas and Michael by her side, lands contract after contract and Monroe Enterprises is stronger than ever. Lily and Michael start an affair. Chloe confronts Julian about Natalie.
Episode 12 - Dangerous Liaisons
Julian takes Natalie with him on a trip to promote the Ferris Wheel, which is scheduled to open on Memorial Day. Julian does not bring Chloe or Lily on this trip. Chloe is furious. Lily could care less. Julian’s affair with Natalie heats up. While Julian is away, Michael and Lily get closer. Chloe tells Miranda what is going on. Miranda no longer needs for Michael and Lily to be together and is actually a little concerned about their affair. Miranda and Chloe connect.
Episode 13 - New Year’s Resolutions
Everyone is excited about the new year. Julian wants to try to gracefully exit his marriage to Lily and marry Natalie. Chloe decides she wants to run for Mayor of NYC. Lily and Michael want to get married. Miranda wants a personal life.
Episode 14 - Ashley Turns Five!
Anyone who is anyone wants an invitation to the First Daughter’s Fifth Birthday Party. The party also coincides with the ribbon cutting/grand opening of the Ferris Wheel. Lily and Julian were both planning to put up a front as the happy first family for this event and then file for divorce after. However, they connect again and both have second thoughts. This is difficult for Natalie and Michael. Natalie is trying to put up a good front as she cuts the Ferris Wheel ribbon. Michael plots revenge.
Episode 1 - Don’t Panic
Julian McCallum and Miranda Monroe are reluctant business partners as COVID-19 is just emerging in early 2020. Julian does not take the virus seriously and does not want his wife, Lily, or his employees to panic. Miranda uses her considerable influence with the Governor, Nicholas Reade, to try to never have to work with Julian again. Julian meets and has a strong connection with the Governor’s new Policy Director, Chloe Dehvas.
Episode 2 - Staying Home
COVID-19 becomes a pandemic. New York shuts down. Lily McCallum settles into home life with her husband and daughter, Ashley. Julian is stir crazy. Chloe is frustrated with how the Governor is handling the pandemic. Not-so-tech savvy Miranda brings on her young nephew Michael Monroe to help her navigate the “new normal” of virtual biz.
Episode 3 - Enough is Enough
Against Lily’s wishes, Julian attends the Governor’s Birthday Bash, tests positive for COVID-19 and quarantines at their country house. This drives a wedge between Lily and Julian. All Miranda’s government contracts are on hold and she is struggling with how to keep Monroe Enterprises afloat.
Episode 4 - Ready to Work for You
Julian declares his candidacy for Governor. Nicholas announces he will not seek re-election and endorses Julian. This makes Julian the clear front runner. Chloe resigns from her position with Nicholas and joins Julian’s campaign as a consultant. Lily attends Julian’s Campaign Launch Event and meets Michael for the first time. Michael has now become Miranda’s Right Hand.
Episode 5 - Wake Up New York
Chloe becomes Julian’s Campaign Manager and together they launch the Wake Up New York Campaign with a Big Vaccination Event. Lily and Michael have a chance encounter at a coffee shop and exchange phone numbers. Miranda meets with Julian and realizes that he will be a very different governor than her good friend Nicholas. Julian meets Natalie Alvarez of Starlight, Inc.
Episode 6 - It’s Over
Michael turns 18, can access his multi-million dollar trust fund and closes on a Gramercy Park penthouse. He texts photos of the penthouse to his new friend Lily. Julian and Chloe launch the “It’s Over” Campaign with another Vaccination and anti-Violence Event aimed at cleaning up and fully reopening New York. Julian wins the primary. Miranda meets with Nicholas and expresses her concerns about Julian. Nicholas agrees to speak to Julian.
Episode 7 - Time to Lead the World Again
Nicholas and Julian meet. Julian agrees to treat Monroe Enterprises fairly although it is clear Julian does not really like Miranda. Julian and Chloe launch the “Time to Lead the World Again” campaign at a big 4th of July picnic and concert. Michael starts college at NYU. Miranda is feeling increasingly lost and desperate. Ashley starts pre-school and Lily is feeling lonely. She and Michael are texting a lot.
Episode 8 - Julian Wins
Julian becomes the Governor-Elect after an intense campaign. Lily attends his Election Night party and is so surprised at how little attention her husband pays to her. Lily also sees the connection he has with Chloe and it bothers her. Julian and Chloe do, in fact, become very close friends and colleagues and he offers her the top staff position of Chief of Staff. Chloe accepts. Julian has a meeting with Natalie.
Episode 9 - Let’s Build a Ferris Wheel (episode in post production)
Newly Elected and very popular Governor Julian McCallum and his Chief of Staff Chloe make all their campaign promises new initiatives starting with “Wake Up New York.” They announce the Ferris wheel project to be built in Times Square as the center piece of their new administration. Desperate Miranda plays dirty to try to get the coveted contract. Michael gets Lily to send him a compromising photo, which Miranda tries to use as leverage to get the contract.
Episode 10 - Famous First Lady
Lily is doing lots of interviews about her new initiative “New York Never Looked So Good.” At first she is a bit nervous and reluctant, but she quickly steps up and finds she enjoys the attention. It brings her back to her modeling/acting days. She is also doing photo shoots for magazines and a series of commercials. Her popularity is off the charts. Things, however, are getting more and more tense at home with Julian. This whole initiative is uncomfortable for him and he is angry about how it happened. Lily remains in touch with Michael. Julian is having an affair with Natalie.
Episode 11 - Miranda Back On Top
Miranda convinces Nicholas to join Monroe Enterprises. His name and connections open all sorts of doors, especially as the pandemic is truly ending. She, with Nicholas and Michael by her side, lands contract after contract and Monroe Enterprises is stronger than ever. Lily and Michael start an affair. Chloe confronts Julian about Natalie.
Episode 12 - Dangerous Liaisons
Julian takes Natalie with him on a trip to promote the Ferris Wheel, which is scheduled to open on Memorial Day. Julian does not bring Chloe or Lily on this trip. Chloe is furious. Lily could care less. Julian’s affair with Natalie heats up. While Julian is away, Michael and Lily get closer. Chloe tells Miranda what is going on. Miranda no longer needs for Michael and Lily to be together and is actually a little concerned about their affair. Miranda and Chloe connect.
Episode 13 - New Year’s Resolutions
Everyone is excited about the new year. Julian wants to try to gracefully exit his marriage to Lily and marry Natalie. Chloe decides she wants to run for Mayor of NYC. Lily and Michael want to get married. Miranda wants a personal life.
Episode 14 - Ashley Turns Five!
Anyone who is anyone wants an invitation to the First Daughter’s Fifth Birthday Party. The party also coincides with the ribbon cutting/grand opening of the Ferris Wheel. Lily and Julian were both planning to put up a front as the happy first family for this event and then file for divorce after. However, they connect again and both have second thoughts. This is difficult for Natalie and Michael. Natalie is trying to put up a good front as she cuts the Ferris Wheel ribbon. Michael plots revenge.