Tag Archives: Disney Channel

October 4, 2002 – The Disney Channel Original Movie The Scream Team Premieres

“If you see ‘em coming you better start running with the Scream Team.”

On October 4, 2002, the Disney Channel Original Movie The Scream Team premiered. It was written by Robert Short and Daniel Berendsen, and directed by Stuart Gillard. It starred Mark Rendall as Ian, Kat Dennings as Claire, Robert Bockstael as Richard, Eric Idle as Coffin Ed, Tommy Davidson as Jumper, Kathy Najimy as Mariah, Kim Coates as Zachariah Kull, Gary Reineke as Frank, and Nigel Bennett as Warner.

Some ghosts are searching for someone who’s only be dead for six hours, but they hide when they hear someone coming. Siblings Ian and Claire Carlyle are watching a home movie of them helping their grandfather create a revolutionary pumpkin carver, revealing that they are at his funeral. Their father Richard joins them, although he isn’t happy about their choice of film to watch. The relationship between Richard and his father Frank wasn’t exactly the warmest one. As Clair and Ian and Ian are told to mingle, Claire catches someone going through her grandfather’s library, and he introduces himself as Warner MacDonald before giving her a flier to the Zachariah Kull Halloween Festival. Later, Ian overhears his father telling guests that he will put his grandfather’s house up for sale first thing in the morning, throwing out everything inside. Hurt, Ian heads to the basement to fiddle with his grandfather’s inventions, when they start to go off one by one, and he hears his name being called mysteriously. Soon after, his father appears to see if he’s okay, but Ian gets mad when he keeps calling it junk, and refuses to let his father throw it in the dumpster. Richard is actually jealous that Ian was so close to Frank, as he was considered “in the way” as a kid.

The family takes another look at the flier for the Halloween Festival featuring the legend of Zachariah Kull

Later, after an admittedly disastrous dinner Claire cooked, the family finds the flier to the Halloween Fair, and Richard recommends that the kids should go. Richard explains that Zachariah Kull is a local spook: legend has it that he burned down his house with his young bride still inside. After condemning him to be burned to death at the stake for the murder, the courthouse burned to the ground, and he spends his days seeking his revenge. That night, Ian sleeps in his grandfather’s old room, although he is woken up by strange noises and the bed shaking. Ian calls out for his dad, but his dad reveals that Claire was under his bed, spooking him on purpose. After he goes to sleep again, more mysterious sounds start, with several important books falling on the floor, and the closet door opens to reveal the ghost of his grandfather, who disappears down the steps of the house. Ian thinks that Frank is trying to send a message, but Patrick is unconvinced.

As Claire retrieves the books the next day to return them to the library, she finds a strange box with Frank’s initials, but forgets about it as she takes the books out. The family heads into town, and are stopped by Warner, who wants to find the library books they just returned, but Claire refuses to answer. She finds the box again, and opens it to find mementos of Patrick’s childhood, which she hides before Patrick can see it. Ian then decides to use the old vacuum cleaner he and Frank created to try and capture ghosts. He spies the ghost float around the house that night, and uses a jar to capture it. He shows it to Claire, who screams. Another ghost appears, who asks for the jar back. He tries to scare them, although Ian is more impressed by the ghost’s antics than scared. He tries to capture the other ghost with the vacuum, but escapes and runs off the property, with Claire and Ian chasing him.

To track down the ghost, Claire and Ian follow the trail of souls

They lose the ghost, but realize that they are congregating in one area, so they head in that direction. They find the ruins of a castle, which is revealed to a Soul Retrieval Center for North America Zone 6. Ian decides to head inside, and the ghost, named Coffin Ed, heads to his boss, a ghost named Mariah, and informs her of the intruders. She is furious that the living found them, and takes the jar back from Ian, releasing the ghost named Jumper. Jumper explains that he and Coffin Ed are the Soul Patrol, and this is the place where people cross over to the afterlife when they die. Ian makes a deal with Mariah: they’ll help their grandfather cross over, so long as he has the chance to do the one thing that’s keeping him there. Mariah agrees, and the two quickly head home. The next day, they decide to search for their grandfather, and are excited when they are given another chance to talk with him. Unfortunately, their reunion is cut shore when the ghost of Zachariah Kull appears in their fireplace and captures Frank.

Zachariah gets stronger after taking Frank, and tries to set the house on fire before he leaves. They are able to extinguish the fire, but their father is angry, thinking they were acting out. The kids flee the house and head to the Soul Center, and inform the Soul Patrol that Zachariah Kull stole their grandfather. Jumper reveals that Zachariah steals life forces from ghosts, and the kids are furious that Mariah refuses to help them retrieve their grandfather. Jumper convinces Coffin Ed to stop Zachariah, and they join forces with the kids to retrieve their grandfather. They head to the old mine where he supposedly holes up, and find him in the middle of the shaft, powering up. Ian sets up the old vacuum cleaner, and is almost able to capture him, but he escapes when the machine malfunctions, but after kicking it, they are able to capture him again. The machine breaks, and Claire is accidentally thrown into the cavern where Zachariah keeps the souls.

Zachariah grows stronger after taking Jumper hostage and stealing his life force

Jumper goes to attack Zachariah while Ian helps to pull Claire out, but Zachariah steals Jumper’s life force. Coffin Ed is upset that Jumper was captured, but when the kids get out of the mine, the police are there waiting for them. The mine apparently was closed because of natural gas leaks, and their furious father decides to take the two back to Boston first thing in the morning. The kids try to explain to their father what happened, but he doesn’t believe them. They find a fire outside of their property, which turns into a message: stay away. The next morning, their father postpones the trip back to Boston, and they head out with Coffin Ed to capture Zachariah. Claire realizes that Zachariah had been experimenting with natural gas when he was alive, and confirms this when she finds a pipe at his old property. The kids head to the library to see old newspapers from the time period, but find that Warner stole the books. They head to Warner’s house to steal the books back, with help from Coffin Ed, but Warner arrives home before they have time to find the books. Warner is aware that his kids are there, but when Patrick arrives to talk to Warner, Warner accuses Patrick of helping his kids steal the books.

When the kids get home, their father tells him that he knew of their crime, but offers to help them out, although, he warns them, they are still in a lot of trouble. After doing research, Claire realizes that Zachariah was wrongly accused of killing his wife: his research into creating a well for natural gas blew up, exploding his house and killing his wife. Ian is furious that they’re not taking any action, and heads to the Soul Center. Mariah refuses to help him, especially since her freedom is on the line. Ian convinces Mariah to go by saying she’d be a hero if she went to rescue the lost souls. Back at the house, Claire and Patrick realize that Zachariah never got a trial, and he’d be able to cross over once people realized the truth. They also realize that Warner wants to prevent the truth from coming out as well, otherwise their local legend will be gone. Claire and Patrick head to the festival, where they demand that Warner tell the truth about Zachariah. Warner says that Zachariah Kull is the perfect villain, and to prevent the truth, he burns the books.

Mariah shows up with Coffin Ed and Ian to stop Zachariah and rescue the souls

Ian heads back to the mine to stop Zachariah, along with Coffin Ed and Mariah. While Mariah is able to attack him, Zachariah is able to attack them thanks to Jumper’s life force. Back at the festival, Zachariah’s spirit appears, ready to seek vengeance on the inhabitants of the town. Warner is frightened and apologizes, but Zachariah doesn’t accept his apology lightly. Claire convinces Zachariah to think of his wife Rebecca, and he decides to let his pain and anger go so he can join Rebecca on the other side. With his crossing over, the souls are freed, and they all head to the Soul Center. The family heads home to find Frank in their living room, who is given his chance to finish his business: telling his son how proud he is of him. He wanted Patrick to get out of town and use his intelligence for the world. Patrick and Frank spend a few hours catching up and having their last conversation. Back at the Soul Center, Mariah returns from the other side, angered that her posting has been extended indefinitely, thanks to the spectacle of revealing that there is an afterlife. Patrick decides to stay in town, opening up a medical practice. Ian continues to work on the pumpkin carver, with Coffin Ed watching over the family.

August 23, 2002 – The Disney Channel Original Movie A Ring of Endless Light Premieres

“I can’t figure him out. He cares so much, but he sees so little.”

On August 23, 2002, the Disney Channel Original Movie A Ring of Endless Light premiered. It was loosely based on the Madeline L’Engle book of the same name, although the plot of the film veers greatly from the plot of the book. It is the first Disney adaptation of L’Engle’s work, with the second being A Wrinkle in Time in 2003. The movie was adapted by Marita Giovanni and Bruce Graham, and directed by Greg Beeman. It starred Mischa Barton as Vicky Austin, Ryan Merriman as Adam, Jared Padalecki as Zachary, Scarlett Pomers as Suzy, Soren Fulton as Rob, and Jame Whitmore as Grandfather.

The movie begins with Vicky Austin having a dream about being a mermaid, which quickly turns into a nightmare when she gets caught in a net. She wakes up on the ferry with her brother Rob and sister Suzy, making their way to their grandfather’s house for the summer. Vicky calls her mother soon after they arrive, and the call agitates her. That night, Vicky stays awake reading her physics textbook, when she notices her grandfather setting up Suzy’s telescope. She admits to her grandfather that she’s being pressured by her parents to work on her math and science scores for a new exceptional school. Her grandfather gives her present of a collection of Vicky’s poems, making her feel like a real author. Her grandfather is hiding a secret from his grandchildren: a serious medical condition.

Suzy and Vicky meet Adam, an aspiring marine biologist who reads philosophy books

The next morning, Vicky and Suzy meet Adam, a friend of their grandfather’s. He has an early admission to Harvard to study marine biology, and he invites Suzy and Vicky to go with him to the marine center. As they head there on their bikes, they run into Zachary Gray, who was Vicky’s boyfriend last summer. Vicky is angry that he never responded to her letters, and continues to the marine center. Suzy and Adam bond, as they are more science-minded, while Vicky is more creatively minded. Vicky interacts with one of the dolphins named Enid, and for some reason is able to read her mind, although she can’t explain why. Vicky heads back to the marine center to meet the dolphins, and ends up helping Adam with his research. They are able to use his contraption to call over Enid’s mate Basil, and once again, Vicky can tell how Basil feels without explaining it. Adam spies a gash on Basil’s skin, and believes them to be the drift nets, which are illegal.

Vicky spends time with her brother and sister, and once again meets with Zachary. He apologizes again, although he doesn’t seem very sincere about it, although she softens when she hears that his mother died. Rob goes into the ocean to retrieve his Frisbee, although he can’t swim; while Vicky is talking with Zachary, she senses that Rob is in danger and runs into the ocean. A dolphin helps Rob out of the water and leads him back to the shore. Later, Vicky accompanies her grandfather around town, and is confused as to why people are asking him if he’s okay. She admits to her grandfather that she seems to be able to hear what the dolphins are saying. He believes her, although he dodges her questions about his health. Vicky continues to date Zachary, who is still acting out thanks to his mother’s death and his father’s cold demeanor. Adam comes across them on their date, and accuses Zachary’s father of using drift nets. Zachary had no idea about the nets, but decides to help Vicky and Adam find out if his father is using the illegal nets.

Zachary helps sneak Vicky and Adam into the shipyard that night to find the illegal nets

They sneak into the marina boat area that night to search for the net, but are caught by the captain of the boat; Adam is able to determine before they are caught that Zachary’s dad is using drift nets. Vicky continues to have dreams about being a mermaid and communicating with the dolphins, although she also starts dreaming of Adam. The next day, Vicky sends Zachary a bouquet of roses, and Adam unexpectedly joins the family for dinner. They listen to Adam’s story as to how he became interested in dolphins and marine biology, although Vicky and Adam argue about the difference between logic and emotion. The cop arrives, and tells them that he couldn’t find drift nets on the Marie Rose, and a frustrated Adam storms out. Vicky can’t understand Adam, as he seems to care a lot, but only cares about proving things, as “that’s what scientists do,” he claims. Her grandfather uses the stars to make an analogy about not being able to see a person’s full self, that their true light may not have reached others yet.

Zachary and his father have a very terse conversation about maintaining their lifestyle, and Zachary asks his father if he uses drift nets, but his father refuses to answer. Vicky heads to the marine center to find that Enid is having a difficult delivery. Vicky knows that Enid needs Basil with her, and not to be sedated during the delivery. Adam lets Basil in, and Basil helps Enid with the delivery. Adam and the research team ask Vicky what happened, but Vicky refuses to answer. Adam confronts her, as he realizes that she can communicate with the dolphins telepathically. He starts treating her like a science experiment, and she storms away. Meanwhile, Zachary does research on his own to find that his dad is using drift nets. Later, Adam finds Vicky and tries to talk with her, although she gets angry when he brings up science and data again, as she feels like there are things is this world that aren’t meant to be explained. Adam admits that he’s jealous, as he wishes he could communicate with dolphins like she can. They finally become friends again. Vicky is confused about her feelings for Zachary and Adam, and can’t seem t decide between them.

Zachary invites Adam on his date with Vicky to show the proof of the use of the drift nets.

Vicky later goes out to dinner with Zachary, and Vicky is surprised to find that Zachary invited Adam. Zachary shows them the evidence of the use of drift nets, but Adam tells them that they need to actually catch them in the act using nets. Later, after Vicky’s gone home, Adam asks Vicky to teach him how to dance, and they start to talk about her writing. The two end up sharing a kiss, and she agrees to help him with his research. They head into the water the next day, and Vicky tries to communicate with the dolphins. Soon, the dolphins surround them, and Vicky asks them to perform at trick to prove she can communicate. She then asks them why they returned to the sea, and she goes deep into the water as she listens, scaring Adam, who later tells her that she shouted something, calmly walked out and sat down on the beach. She later explains that the dolphins tried to answer her question, but she couldn’t understand it, although she knows that the dolphins are connected to everything. When she gets home, Zachary is waiting for her to take her out to catch the bad guy. He admits that he’s in competition with Adam for Vicky’s affections before deciding to play a game of chicken with an approaching boat. Vicky is furious.

Later that night, Vicky finds her grandfather collapsed on the floor and confused. He still won’t tell her what is wrong with him right away, but he finally admits to Vicky that he’s dying from leukemia. She doesn’t want to lose the only person who understands her, but he tells her that she’ll meet many more like-minded people through her poetry. Later, on the beach, she and Adam are talking, when Vicky senses trouble in the water. She knows that the drift net has caught Enid, and they call Zachary to help them. Zachary’s father demands that Zachary get back to his company’s party, but Zachary refuses and decides to help Vicky and Adam. They come across the boat that has captured Enid, and Vicky calls her grandfather, who will help them bring over the marina police. As they get closer, the net is being pulled in, and Vicky jumps into the water to save Enid before it’s too late. Adam jumps in to help cut Enid out with some pliers. They are able to save Enid, but Adam gets tangled in the net and is pulled under. The dolphins return to help keep Adam conscious, and he has visions of Vicky as a mermaid. She quickly appears and helps get Adam out, while the harbor patrol catches the Marie Rose in the act of using drift nets.

Vicky finds her grandfather dying, and comforts him in his final hours

After the day’s events, Adam reveals that the dolphins spoke to him just once. Vicky’s grandfather takes her home, and heads inside, worn out. That night, Vicky comes to check on her grandfather, who is fading fast. She wants to call a doctor, but he refuses, as he feels it is his time to go. He tells her not to let her light go out, and she should let it shine for the whole world. He passes away soon after, and a star shines brightly in the sky. The next morning, the kids are upset at his sudden death, and their parents are on their way. Vicky then has a good conversation about life with her little brother before their parents arrive. They all head home soon after, with Adam at the ferry wishing Vicky goodbye. He tells her that he enjoyed her poems, and she has decided to show them to the literary magazine at her school. He promises to write her, and she agrees to as well. As they head back, the dolphins also appear to wish Vicky goodbye.