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Lesson 6
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This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by Jeremy Cooke.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by Jeremy Cooke.
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Working Hard everyday to become the best writer I can be and as a result I do become the best writer in Hollywood
What I learned from this assignment was the need for organizing all this information for future use on your characters along with additional guidelines on what your character will and wont do.
TV Relationship Map
Col Benjiman Greene Lead Protagonist
Lt. Brian Greene
Surface: Son Loving and devoted but he is also his father keeper when it comes to Col. Greene’s humanity because of his mother’s death.
Common Ground: He is as afraid of the Puzzle works as is his son. They Protect each other
Conflict: Son wants his father out of the PW. Dislikes his father’s actions. Desparatelt trying to save him.
History: Grew up as an Army Brat respects his father and his service
Subtext: He is hiding secrets and his relationship from his dad. Hiding exit plan too.
Relationship Arc: Over the 5-6 season their relationship becomes toxic until Lt. Greene kills his father to save him from prison
Sgt. Diedra Jones
Surface: Soldier in his command and confidant. Changed to Sgt. for dramatic purposes. Fraternization is illegal in the Army
Common Ground: She is in love with Lt. Green and protects him and his father.
Conflict: She is in conflict with Col Greene. Disagrees with his brutal methods. She is also in an illegal relationship with Lt. Greene and could be charged with fraternization if anyone ever found out.
History: She has been in the unit long 2 years and sees the toxic history Col. Greene can have and warns Lt. Greene to be careful.
Subtext: She is in competition with Col. Greene for Lt. Greene. She is always protecting him. She stands in the way of Col Greene’s complete control
Relationship Arc: Toward the end of the season we see Col. Greene view her as liability that must go.
1 st. Sgt. Desmoines
Surface: His top soldier and aid
Common Ground: Shared the battlefield Most trusted aid and friend. Respect each other and their command abilities
Conflict: He believes Col. Greene doesn’t go far enough to protect the unit
History: Served in Afghanistan and Iraq together. Knows his Commander’s history.
Subtext: There is an understanding between these warriors who both know this will end badly but they will not stop. They have each other’s back.
Relationship Arc: Their relationship is forged in battle and that is where they want it to end together. He may also betray Col Greene in the end and Col. Greene may kill him for it.
FBI Agent Darren Stockton
Surface: This agent is relentless and committed to ending the missions of Col. Greene. Very competent and devoted.
Common Ground: He understands Col. Greene well and knows what he is capable of.
Conflict: The murders and incursion by Greene and his unit will not stand in the civilian world. This is where he draws the line. That is his area
History: Grew up dreaming of being and agent sees this as his chance to correct the wrongs committed in the name of honor and duty.
Subtext: He is Col. Greene’s greatest test and adversary. He is never far behind and uses Col Greene’s son for leverage on the Col.
Relationship Arc: Surface Over the 5-6 season their relationship becomes increasingly toxic until Lt. Greene sets him up for a fall.
Spc. Allen Jones
Surface: Soldier in his command. Col. Greene took him in from the streets of Philly and sees him as a second son.Both are committed to the mission and loyal to each other.
Common Ground: Both are committed to the mission and loyal to each other. Each is committed to the Army way of Life.
Conflict: He also disagrees with Col Greene’s tactics but he will never turn on him. He will report dissent to the Col.
History: He has been in the unit long enough to see the new soldiers and their character. He is the Col’s eyes and ears.
Subtext: He often tells Col. Greene what he wants to hear than what he needs to protect his favored status. But he can be counted on thru thick and thin
Relationship Arc: Toward the end of the season we see Col. Greene view his proclamations with suspicion especially concerning his son.
<font face=”inherit”>General </font>Brigadier<font face=”inherit”> Mosely</font>
Surface: Commander at Ft. Bragg Superior he served with in Afghanistan The appear to have a working relationship until Greene.
Common Ground: Both career soldiers who are very patriotic. Both served together in theater and both are well connected.
Conflict: General Mosely has profited from importing Opium from Afghanistan using his military command resources for distribution. Col. Greene does not know this organization belongs to General Mosely but he has been ordered to end the drug network at all costs. This puts the two at odds with one another. History be damned.
History: Both have served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each knows the others strengths and weakness and capabilities.
Subtext: They do not share their secrets but those secrets will lead to a showdown in which one of them must die.
Relationship Arc: They start out as good friends and comrades but must duel to the death in the end. Greene must end his drug distribution and silence him forever.
Puzzle Works
Surface: The organization is the source of Col. Greene’s covert missions. The organization is full of shady people Col. Greene and his unit don’t trust
Common Ground: Completing their missions and keeping the negative press at bay so no one ever knows the truth.
Conflict: he scope and final outcome is often in disagreement but Col. Greene doesn’t openly challenge their authority
History: Because of Col. Greene’s past CIA and current Special Operation history they are well acquainted with each other.
Subtext: Col Greene and the Puzzle Works do not trust each other. There is always tension and caution on both sides. Col. Greene does not like them.
Relationship Arc: Their relationship is forged in distrust and symbiotic in nature. Eventually Greene will no longer be seen as loyal or useful and must be eliminated.
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Hilton Garrett, Show Relationships Map
What I learned – Again, I learned to see the characters at a much deeper level. I see more clearly how their lives are intertwined, and how action and conflict arise naturally from the relationships
Example Show
Breaking Bad
Walter White
Skyler White
Surface
Relationship – Wife, mother of his children
Common
Ground – Trying to make the family work with limited funds
Relationship
Conflict – Walt is hiding his crimes and lying to Skyler
Relationship
History – They have been faithful partners while struggling financially
Relationship
Subtext – Walt’s terminal cancer diagnosis
Relationship
Arc – From co-equal partners to Walt’s taking over of the family’s future
Hank Schrader
Surface
Relationship – Brother-in-law
Common
Ground – Family
Relationship
Conflict – Walt must hide his crimes from Hank the DEA agent
Relationship
History – They get along as family, Walt’s son looks up to Hank
Relationship
Arc – From close to suspicious
Jesse Pinkman
Surface
Relationship – Partners
Common
Ground – Both want to cook meth and make money
Relationship
Conflict – Walt is overbearing and insulting to Jesse, Jesse is undisciplined
Relationship
History – Jesse was Walt’s student in 11<sup>th</sup> grade
Relationship
Subtext – Jesse resists Walt’s bossiness and his demands for organization
Relationship
Arc – From a fitful beginning to working together successfully
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My Show
The Stringer
Will Calhoun
Becca Calhoun
Surface
Relationship – Wife
Common
Ground – Marriage
Relationship
Conflict – Becca wants children, Will does not
Relationship
History – Both work or worked at the newspaper
Relationship
Subtext – Their lives are diverging, the marriage failing
Relationship
Arc – From happy wife to frustrated, angry and estranged
Byron Rountree
Surface
Relationship – Adversaries
Common
Ground – From the same hometown, both interested in politics
Relationship
Conflict – Will has long suspected Rountree of misdeeds and investigates each one
Relationship
History – Rountree’s bank took Will’s family home
Relationship
Subtext – Both are damaged souls fighting for redemption
Relationship
Arc – From surface adversaries to Rountree’s death, and Will’s redemption
Cander Martaan
Surface
Relationship – Allies in pursuit of the truth of the accident on the bridge
Common
Ground – They both grew into their teens in the same place
Relationship
Conflict – Will doesn’t trust Martaan, doubts his assertions
Relationship
History – Both were at the bridge the day of the wreck
Relationship
Subtext – Both men’s lives were permanently damaged at the bridge
Relationship
Arc – From wary potential allies to full-on partners
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Mr. Robot’s Relationships
Elliot-Tyrell
Surface: Tyrell bullies Elliot
Common Ground: Both brilliant, both with mental disorders
Conflict: Elliot wants to destroy Evil Corp, Tyrell is charged with protecting it
History: Met during a hack of Evil Corp that Elliot unknowingly facilitated
Subtext: Tyrell threatened by Elliot’s lack of ambition
Relationship Arc: Frenemies to competitors to nemesis out to destroy each other
Elliot-Angela
Surface: Elliot secretly (but obviously) loves her
Common Ground: Work together, grew up together, both lost a parent to Evil Corp
Conflict: Elliot loves her but she thinks of him as just a quirky friend she has to protect and put up with
History: Grew up next door neighbors
Subtext: Elliot stalks her, pulls her into hack on Evil Corps because that’s how he shows his love
Relationship Arc: Best friends to competitors to estranged to allies and best friends united against Evil Corp
Elliot-Mr. Robot
Surface: Brilliant jerk who pushes Elliot to take action
Common Ground: Both computer geniuses, think out of the box, hate Evil Corps
Conflict: Mr. Robot wants to burn down the world and doesn’t care who gets hurt, Elliot just wants to quietly destroy Evil Corp and go back to his life
History: Meet during Evil Corp hack
Subtext: Mr. Robot stalks Elliot, tests him to see if worthy of joining team, somehow knows Elliot’s weaknesses better than Elliot does himself
Relationship Arc: Strangers to competitors to mentor to hate to recognizing too late that Mr. Robot IS Elliot
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CJ’s show, Patient X, Relationship Map:
What I learned from this assignment is that I need to strengthen the relationship between the hero and villain to increase conflict, maybe find a way for them to be on share more scenes together?
Rossi (hero) and Serial Killer (Season 1 villain)
Surface: he’s a rich, concerned doctor helping with the search
Common Ground: both medical professionals, both searching for girl, both fascinated with Fatal Insomnia
Conflict: he’s hunting the girl and other kids to test if his doctored “flu” shots gave them Fatal Insomnia, experimenting on women he kills as well
History: meet during search for girl
Subtext: rich and powerful control the world, can get away with anything
Relationship Arc: strangers to competitors to nemesis to a face to face lethal encounter that only one leaves alive
Rossi and Ryder (love interest)
Surface: sexual tension/attraction
Common Ground: first responders, understand the dark side of humanity, good in a crisis, both searching for girl and killer
Conflict: he’s the detective, she’s a civilian, he doesn’t want her any where near his case, and when he discovers her secret, the Fatal Insomnia symptoms terrify him
History: meet at the opening
Subtext: tragic love story—will it be worth it, risking their hearts when they know Rossi is dying?
Relationship Arc: strangers to professionals on search to reluctant partners in search to saving each other’s lives to romance to each being willing to kill/sacrifice selves save the other
Rossi and Devon (sidekick)
Surface: unlikely allies
Common Ground: both are trying to avoid violence, both willing to break rules/laws to find her and stop the killer, both reckless
Conflict: Rossi literally is dying, has nothing to lose so she despises Devon’s recklessness because he has everything to live for
History: meet during search for Devon’s daughter
Subtext: Devon punishing himself for past sins
Relationship Arc: partner in the search, become friends, save each other’s lives, and eventually both end with blood on their hands
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What I learned doing this assignment is…handling conflict and subtext via dialogue/situations that keep a comedic element will be a challenge.
Betty Veronica Archie Jughead
Surface HS classmates Best friends friends in same HS social circle
Common Ground friends, school, want to be popular, dislike Cheryl grew up next door to each other, same class always neither popular in school, a bit on the fringe
Conflict jealous over boys, Whether or not they should date How to go about investigation
History betrayal, competing for attention/power friends since childhood, Betty stood up for & helped Archie as kids Betty holds superior position in HS, good girl status over Jughead’s outsider status
Subtext Betty doesn’t fully trust Veronica after betrayal Betty is in love w/Archie but he only sees her as a friend Jughead seems to see things Betty doesn’t realize
Relationship Arc bond over getting justice for girls listed in the book, like Polly friends, unrequited love, friends but uncomfortable while they see each other dating other people bond over journalism role in solving mystery
Lizzy Sean Geoff
Surface neighbors in the HOA neighbors in the HOA
Common Ground both struggle to be accepted for who they are single and straight
Conflict Lizzy wants her secrets to remain secret but Sean pushes for her to open up and be authentic, not realizing the lies she’s telling are to keep her safe Geoff interested in relationship w/Lizzy but she doesn’t want to date a neighbor
History Sean is super nosey trying to figure out Lizzy’s truth. She puts up her guard but needs his friendship Neither know right away, but Lizzy figures out before Geoff that she slept with his son and then needs to fend off his advances because of that
Subtext If Sean figures out Lizzy’s truth, will he keep her secret. Can Lizzy trust this stranger with her life? Geoff doesn’t understand why the sexual tension that seemed to be heading somewhere suddenly stops
Relationship Arc friends, suspicious mistrust, confrontation, confession, trust bond friends, sexual tension builds, friction when suddenly changes, anger/embarrassment
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<div>BRIAN BULL – Build Your Relationship Map</div><div>
</div>
“What I learned from doing this assignment is…
I really need to revisit this and work on my characters relationships. It’s far from where I would like them to be.ASSIGNMENT 1
Watch the next episode of your Example Show and focus on ONE of the main characters and how they interact with others.
Create a Relationship Map for one lead character and their relationship with three others.
RIVERDALE
ARCHIE ANDREWS
Betty
Surface: Best Friends
Common Ground: Neighbors
Conflict: Betty loves Archie, Archie just friends w/ Betty
History: Grew up together
Subtext: Betty is looking out for Archie
Relationship Arc: Betty loves Archie – we don’t know yet
Veronica
Surface: Friends
Common Ground: Both sing
Conflict: Archie has no loyalties to Veronica
History: New relationship
Subtext: She’s there for Archie
Relationship Arc: To early to tellJughead
Surface: Best guy friends
Common Ground: Grew up together
Conflict: Archie puts others before Jughead
History: Grew Up together
Subtext: Jughead tries to steer Archie in the right direction
Relationship Arc: We’ll have to wait and seeASSIGNMENT 2
FORESIGHT
JIM BROWN
Delores
Surface: Co-workers / Friends
Common Ground: Looking out for each
Conflict: He doesn’t believe in psychics / She doe.
History: They have worked together 10 years
Subtext: He worries and cares for her well being
Relationship Arc: From mutual respect to controllingGloria
Surface: Love of Jim’s life
Common Ground: Both are in the psychic world
Conflict: Jim is in love, Gloria not so much
History: New relationship
Subtext: Jim will do whatever to win her over
Relationship Arc: From enthralled to obsessiveMom
Surface: Mother / Son
Common Ground: Each other
Conflict: Jim is over-protective
History: Father had a mysterious accident at work
<b class=””>Subtext: Jim doesn’t want anything to happen to his mother<b class=””>
Relationship Arc: From easy-going to overly concernedDELORES
Jim Brown
Surface: Co-workers / Friends
Common Ground: Looking out for each
Conflict: She believes in psychics / He doesn’t
History: They have worked together 10 years
Subtext: She’s more capable than Jim knows
Relationship Arc: From helpful to independentGloria
Surface: Sweet and innocent
Common Ground: They both like Jim
Conflict: Delores doesn’t trust Gloria
History: New relationship / Started off well
Subtext: Gloria’s hiding something and I want to know
Relationship Arc: From trusting to suspicionDelivery Guy
Surface: Friendly banter
Common Ground: The internet Delivery system
Conflict: He’s out of her league
History: 5 years of service
Subtext: Delores is crazy about him
Relationship Arc: From friends to being a coupleGLORIA
Jim Brown
Surface: She likes him but just as friends
Common Ground: Both are in the psychic world
Conflict: Jim is in love, Gloria not so much
History: New relationship
Subtext: Does Jim know where the crystal ball is???
Relationship Arc: From liking Jim to help me distance myself from JezebelDelores
Surface: Sweet and innocent
Common Ground: They both like Jim
Conflict: Gloria knows Delores doesn’t trust her
History: New relationship / Started off well
Subtext: Gloria can win Delores over with psychic stuff
Relationship Arc: From friends to skepticismJezebel
Surface: Gloria is meek, Jezebel is sinister – They are in cahoots
Common Ground: They both want the crystal ball that belonged to Zelda
Conflict: There’s only one crystal ball
History: They are sisters
Subtext: Meek; waiting for the right moment to strike
Relationship Arc: From togetherness to Jezebel perishing by her own accord -
C A Holmes Module 1 Lesson 7 Show Empathy/Distress
What I learned from this assignment is that the big picture Empathy/Distress situations seem to repeat for main characters. Detail oriented empathy can be small issues or even humorous events which challenge them as a person.
For example, Kate in The Diplomat does not want to leave her post in Kabul or end up being with her husband in her own work, as she plans to divorce, but when she is transferred to London and he follows he manipulates everyone and everything knowing she is being vetted for the VP post, so everything she does not want or enjoy about diplomacy becomes a task she must overcome.
She is posted with her husband in London and thinks it’s just a vanity post
She is shadowed by her husband who lies and manipulates her every stop of the way
Plot intrudes on her life when a war ship creates this whole scenario
Moral Dilemma: when she goes back to DC on a secret mission she finds out that her old friends she had in Kabul are under attack, or tortured or dead or unable to help the people of Afghanistan. Meanwhile she has this plum post which she does not even want.
She is forced to contact old colleagues to get intel or to find info to foil those in power who are just playing games with peoples lives, or just waddling around in ego land while she wants to actually do something of value to help people. She also dresses all wrong for the post but when she dresses “right” her costumes all get ruined because she drops food on them and it makes her look insane.OR
For example, Eddie in The Crux wants to be a great writer but instead ends up going into the military when his foster father throws him out without a penny.
Eddie gets posted and sees the world, which he uses later for characters and situations in his writing. He not really a fighting man, he just wants to be a writer and considers it his only gift though actually there are many things that he is good at.
He always has conflict with those in authority because they don’t like the fact he asks questions instead of just obeying orders.
When he gets into West Point, his fellow students try to support his writing life and he publishes his first book, but it’s a dismal failure and he is poverty stricken once again.
He starts to live with Mariah and Ginny but they hardly have enough to feed themselves. He wants independence but instead becomes a couch surfer.
He wins a writing contest but doesn’t even have clothes enough to receive the award. He is sort of a social pariah against his will, because he would like to be accepted and viewed well in society, but every where he turns people reject him because he is not really from the same class or social status. -
NOTE: This post is a mess. But I can’t seem to copy and paste the “map” formats, whether from Word documents, .pdf’s or .rtf’s. I don’t have the software to create a .gif. Sorry.
John Duvall’s Show Relationship Map
“What I learned doing this assignment is…” how to develop more complex relationships between characters by focusing on the elements in the map.
ASSIGNMENT 1:
Watch the next episode of your Example Show and focus on ONE of the main characters and how they interact with others. Notice how much you discover that could go into their Relationship Map.
Create a Relationship Map for one lead character and their relationship with three others.
Purpose: Give you a deeper experience of the relationships in a well written show.
Offred
Commander
Serena Joy
Nick
Surface
Sexual Master
Fred’s Wife
Fred’s Driver
Common Ground
Repressed Sensitivity
Very little
Hidden passion
Conflict
Submission & Dominance, Temptation
Inner strength competition for Fred’s affection
Mutual need for Secrecy
History
From submission to friendship
From hope to disappointment
From fear to intimacy
Subtext
Potential attraction
Competition for Fred’s affections
Mix of attraction & danger
Relationship Arc
Resentment, Curiosity, Disgust
Fear and ambivalence
Curiosity to lust to loveASSIGNMENT 2:
1. Create a Relationship Map for THREE lead characters from YOUR SHOW IDEA.
2. Using the Relationship map, pick a main character (place in upper left-hand corner), and with each character he or she is in relationship with, give us the 6 relationship experiences listed below:
<div>
Surface:
Common Ground:
Conflict:
History:
Subtext:
Relationship Arc:
</div><div>#1 Carolyn Woolf
Melba Walker
Jacob Woolf
Joanie Woolf
Surface
Woolf Maid
Husband
Teen Daughter
Common Ground
Both mentor Joanie
Traditional Marital roles
Live thru hard times
Conflict
Joanie’s affections
His workaholism, her neglect
Joanie’s rebellion
History
Long family service
20-year marriage
Typical Mom & daughter tensions
Subtext
Friction over roles
Husband’s neglect
Control issues
Relationship Arc
From dominance to participation as equals
Marital tension to husband’s military service
From conflict to mutual support & understanding</div>
3. Do the same process for the second lead character and the third lead character.
#2 Melba Walker
Carolyn Woolf
Lou Walker
Joanie Woolf
Surface
Woolf Homemaker
Husband
Woolf Daughter
Common Ground
Care for Joanie
15-year marriage
Mutual curiosity & affection
Conflict
Dominance in home
Finances, differing life goals
Youthful rebellion & risk-taking
History
Feels disrespected
Lou’s work injuries
Dedication to family
Subtext
Subtle racism
Feels unsupported
Vulnerability
Relationship Arc
From disrespected to work as equals
From frustration to self-empowerment
Establish relationship beyond former roles#3 Rose Combs
Orsa Combs
Mabel Buser
Carolyn Woolf
Surface
Husband
Aunt
Landlord
Common Ground
Rural farm background
Close family ties
Carolyn needs tenant, Rose needs somewhere to live
Conflict
Dismissive Sexism
Rose too reliant of Mabel & husband Thurm
Urban upper class vs. rural poor backgrounds
History
10-year farm marriage
Close relationship earlier in life
None before the war
Subtext
His insensitivity to her needs
Rose becomes a burden
How will they find ways to relate?
Relationship Arc
Separation undermines marriage
Rose must live elsewhere after Thurm dies
From early friction to working as allies with mutual respect
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