Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

(The Channel Awesome logo and NC title sequence play, then open on NC sitting at his desk, looking quizzically at a binder. Malcolm enters the room)

Malcolm: Critic?

NC: Yeah?

Malcolm: (gesturing out with his thumb) Could you tell me what's with the sign on our front door?

NC: What sign?

(Malcolm holds up a sign reading "NC's School For Wowed Youngsters")

NC: What sign?

(Getting frustrated, Malcolm points to the sign)

NC: You mean the one at the end of your finger?

Malcolm: Yes, the one at the end of my finger.

NC: Well, tell me, Mr. Malcolm, why do people watch sci-fi and fantasy films?

Malcolm: To experience new worlds, creatures and ideas?

NC: Exactly, and what's the best way to make people feel like they're experiencing that?

Malcolm: Write interesting characters to draw them in?

NC: Nope, write boring, blank slates who go "Wow!" to everything.

Malcolm: That... doesn't sound right.

NC: (getting up from his seat and walking up to Malcolm) Malcolm, of course that doesn't sound right, but for some reason, young people never get tired of it.

(He puts his arm around Malcolm's shoulder and walks out of the room with him and down the hall)

NC: You see, there's a very distinct formula to this: young person feels like outcast; supernatural threat comes along; supernatural hero comes along to help save and teach the young person that...

Malcolm: Let me guess: that what makes them an outcast is what ultimately will help them save the day?

NC: Exactly! You know the drill.

Malcolm: But don't you think people are sick to death of that by now?

NC: One would think, but it's still going strong: Darkest Minds, Wrinkle in Time, Jupiter Ascending, Tim Burton movie you forgot you saw.

Malcolm: But why can't the young person be a little more deep or complex?

NC: Because then the viewer can't imagine themselves as that young person.

Malcolm: I don't think I follow this at all.

NC: Watch and learn, my friend. (turns, walks toward the main office, then speaks in the style of a drill sergeant) New recruits! Ho!

(In the main room, four people are seen: Harry Potter (Tamara), Eragon (Jim), Jubilee (Aiyanna) and Neo (Walter). They were all talking among themselves, but when NC addresses them they all stand at attention in military drill fashion)

NC: Name, franchise!

Neo: Neo, The Matrix!

Jubilee: Jubilee, X-Men!

Eragon: Eragon, "Inheritance Cycle"!

Harry: Harry Potter, "Harry... (hesitates slightly) Potter"...

NC: Oh, we like saying our names twice, Stutter Potter?!

Harry: No, sir!

NC: Right! (walks up to them)