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ASSIGNMENT 8 – NADIA’S CHARACTER’S JOURNEY TRACK
(Title: “GRAHAMSTOWN”)
What I learned from this assignment: I learned that by creating a character profile the audience will be able to relate more to a character or the other and will be more invested when the horror strikes the character they are feeling most connected to… or might enjoy seeing a character they dislike die in the movie!
MATTHIAS CHARACTER PROFILE:
1. Role: leader/ outsider who comes to seek the truth
2. Traits: inquisitive. Intelligent. Mature.
3. Fears: to fail in the big city and newspaper he works for and to end up in a small town.
4. Wants/needs: to write a great story; to get the Pulitzer price at a young age.
5. Likability/rooting factors: his willingness to dig out the truth no matter what; his strong sense of ethic.
6. How he reacts under stress: level headed; keeps calm and reassures others.
7. Relationship with other characters: admired; seen as a natural leader; trusted.
MATTHIAS CHARACTER JOURNEY:
1- Character intro: arrives in Grahamstown with a purpose, a mission: to write a great story.
2- Denial: he is intellectually curious and doesn’t reject any possibility.
3- his reaction at first horror: excited by the opportunity to write a story that could help him reach his career goal (winning the Pullitzer price!).
4- Relation to group after first horror: stays calm, takes charge.
5- How he fights back: uses his brain. Tries to be cleverer than the monster.
6- End point: survives by teaming up and using Anna’s love for him and Andrew’s strength; he makes it out of town and free to go and write his great story!
7- What insight does his survival bring to the others/audience? To what extent would you go to reach out your goal?!
ANNA CHARACTER PROFILE:
1. Role: the blessed one; pure and untouched, she’ll be the vector of everything good.
2. Traits: naïve, believes in the good in everyone; has a deep faith and radiates goodness. Strong principles and disciplined.
3. Fears: not fulfilling her destiny.
4. Wants/needs: to be a good person, always and under all circumstances.
5. Likability/rooting factors: kindness, empathy.
6. How she reacts under stress: finds comfort in praying.
7. Relationship with other characters: want to convert them to her faith and sense of righteousness.
ANNA CHARACTER JOURNEY:
1. Character intro: she is doing voluntary work at an old age home and enjoying every minute of it.
2. Denial: she doesn’t want to believe that goodness cannot attract goodness and that evil can win; her faith leads her to total denial.
3. her reaction at first horror: she kneels down and prays.
4. Relation to group after first horror: her extreme faith and denial makes her irritating to the rest of the group; male lust for her beauty and females are jealous of her.
5. How she fights back: by letting others sacrifice themselves to pursue her sense of duty.
6. End point: she’ll survive but will accomplish the ultimate sacrifice by going back to Grahamstown to save future generations.
7. What insight does her survival bring to the others/audience? That her role in the story is not over (A SEQUEL?!)
MIA CHARACTER PROFILE:
1- Role: The rebel; wild and spoiled.
2- Traits: she acts like a spoiled brat to hide her insecurity; selfish and self-absorbed.
3- Fears: not to be liked for whom she is so she flaunts her father’s money in people’s face.
4- Wants/needs: she wants to be the centre of attention and wants people to envy her; she is jealous of every girl who has a man who loves her (Anna – Matthias will fall for her and Stephen who secretly worships her; Naomi – James who is her devoted puppy dog).
5- Likability/rooting factors: we feel sorry for her because all she wants is daddy’s attention, not money.
6- How she react under stress: she lashes out but flies in front of real danger.
7- Relationship with other characters: she thinks she can buy her popularity and everything is a fight; people either avoid her or feel sorry for her.
MIA CHARACTER JOURNEY:
1- Character intro: she is about to celebrate her birthday, alone and scared.
2- Denial: she thinks that by hiding she’ll be safe.
3- her reaction at first horror: she is terrified and hides.
4- Relation to group after first horror: she panics and lashes out.
5- How she fights back: she doesn’t; she tries to escape.
6- End point: jumps through the window trying to escape and dies.
7- What insight does her death bring to the others/audience? You can’t escape the monster!
NAOMI CHARACTER PROFILE:
1- Role: Popular girl; not too bright but street wise.
2- Traits: easy going and used to getting what she wants.
3- Fears: not to be the prettiest girl around.
4- Wants/needs: she wants guys to find her attractive and want other girls to envy her for going out with the best looking boy in college: James.
5- Likability/rooting factors: deep down she has very conservative values and want the white picket fence and 2 children happy ending, with James!
6- How she reacts under stress: she gets hysterical.
7- Relationship with other characters: they don’t take her too seriously as with Naomi ‘what you see if what you get’ and she is pretty harmless.
NAOMI CHARACTER JOURNEY:
1- Character intro: she is making out with James but doesn’t sleep with him, teasing him and keeping him wanting more.
2- Denial: she doesn’t believe at all there is any danger and makes fun of Joanna who is the first to warn them.
3- Her reaction at first horror: denial; believes it can’t happen to her.
4- Relation to group after first horror: doesn’t feel concerned; her and James are in their own little love bubble.
5- How she fights back: she’ll get hysterical; she was never equipped to fight and didn’t have a chance once James wasn’t there to defend her.
6- End point: she gets killed just after having had to watch James be tortured and killed before her eyes; she loses her mind, gets released and will be hit by a truck.
7- What insight does her death bring to the others/audience? That the monster likes to torture mentally as well as physically.
JAMES CHARACTER PROFILE:
1- Role: lover boy; popular and good at sports: your typical American college boy who has everything going for him: the girl, the sports scholarship, the looks, the buddies.
2- Traits: confident but not pretentious.
3- Fears: ???
4- Wants/needs: to play professional football but also level headed enough to get good enough marks.
5- Likability/rooting factors: comes from a poor hard working background and works hard at everything he does, doesn’t take anything for granted.
6- How he reacts under stress: fights hard.
7- Relationship with other characters: easy going so gets on with everyone; Naomi is his only weakness: he can’t say no to her!
JAMESCHARACTER JOURNEY:
1- Character intro: the make out scene with Naomi; from the get go the audience can see that she has him twisted in her little fingers.
2- Denial: he thinks Joanna is a lonely girl who is paranoid; he doesn’t believe there is any real danger out there.
3- his reaction at first horror: he believes there must be a logical explanation and that it is an isolated event.
4- Relation to group after first horror: doesn’t feel concerned and is confident that he is strong enough to defend Naomi from whichever danger.
5- How he fights back: with all his strength, like a tiger, and his only thought will be to protect Naomi.
6- End point: gets caught by the monsters (surrounded) and will be tortured to death in front of Naomi. His last words will be to tell her that he loves her.
7- What insight does his death bring to the others/audience? That the monster can get you, no matter how fit, young and strong you are!
STEPHEN CHARACTER PROFILE:
1- Role: Sacrificing lamb. A bit of a nerd.
2- Traits: introvert and totally smitten with Anna whom he loves from a distance.
3- Fears: girls in general and Anna in particular who he puts on a pedestal.
4- Wants/needs: he wants to be seen as a hero.
5- Likability/rooting factors: we feel sorry for him as he hasn’t got much going on for him.
6- How he reacts under stress: he steps up.
7- Relationship with other characters: he gets easily bullied or ignored.
STEPHEN CHARACTER JOURNEY:
1- Character intro: volunteers in the same old age home as Anna, to be closer to her; gets verbally abused by old people.
2- Denial: indifferent to the danger as is used to being victimised.
3- his reaction at first horror: wants to be seen as a hero in Anna’s eyes.
4- Relation to group after first horror: they underestimate him.
5- How he fights back: will take the monster by surprised as he always acted like a victim, never fighting back, until the danger was directed to Anna and then he put his life on the line to save her.
6- End point: he sacrifices himself so that Anna can realise how dangerous the monster is. He will die as a hero for her.
7- What insight does his death bring to the others/audience? That sacrificing himself won’t shake Anna’s face in good versus evil; it should also show that, by being spared by the monster when praying, Anna has a special role in the story!
JOANNA CHARACTER PROFILE:
1- Role: the loner. The observer. Plain and very sensitive.
2- Traits: lonely girl. Very acute sense of danger. She is the one who will send clues to Matthias that there is a story to tell in this town and that not everything is what it appears to be
3- Fears: that her life be meaningless.
4- Wants/needs: she wants to be meaningful.
5- Likability/rooting factors: we feel for her, for the constant loneliness she experiences.
6- How she reacts under stress: she accepts it as fate.
7- Relationship with other characters: she keeps a low profile; is not good at verbal communication, prefers to write.
JOANNA CHARACTER JOURNEY:
1- Character intro: she is alone, observing people around her, taking notes into a very thick and warn out note book.
2- Denial: she senses and believes in the evil all along; she was never in denial, very tuned to her spirituality.
3- Her reaction at first horror: she is not surprised, as if expecting it all along.
4- Relation to group after first horror: she warned them that it was going to happen; still, they don’t take her seriously, she is hurt by their behaviour.
5- How she fights back: she surrenders to the monster.
6- End point: she will be misled and be tricked by the monster who will lure her in a place that she thought safe; when she realises the imminent danger, she accepts her fatality without resisting.
7- What insight does her death bring to the others/audience? That she accepts to dies if it proves to the others that she was right and that they should have paid attention to her.
ANDREW CHARACTER PROFILE:
1- Role: Strong like an ox. Kind. Loyal. He will be Matthias’ side kick.
2- Traits: loyal. Team player.
3- Fears: ???
4- Wants/needs: to help Matthias with his story. To participate to the research. Likes to be useful.
5- Likability/rooting factors: a team player; puts the ‘we’ above the ‘I’.
6- How he reacts under stress: he rallies up and marches on.
7- Relationship with other characters: everybody likes him.
ANDREW CHARACTER JOURNEY:
1- Character intro: he is the first one to meet Matthias; will help him out when his car broke down in the rain. This first encounter will show his strength and character (helpful; altruist).
2- Denial: is very logical and down to earth; believes in what is sees.
3- his reaction at first horror: Follows Matthias lead.
4- Relation to group after first horror: will back up Matthias and show his loyalty and trust.
5- How he fights back: he uses physical strength and misdirection to fights the monster and lead him away from the survivors.
· End point: will survive once but not twice; at the end, he is outnumbered and knows it yet he will go down bravely and fighting like a lion.
6- What insight does his death bring to the others/audience? That some people are born prepared to sacrifice themselves for the survival of others.
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ACT 1—SET UP THE HORROR:
· Atmosphere of evil established: Press articles with graphic photos on a computer screen showing gruesome young people murdered or vanished; the number 21 comes back again and again on the screen, at the end, a town’s name appears – GRAHAMSTOWN. The computer screen reflects the strained face of a young woman and, in the background, we see the reflection of candles burning on a birthday cake on a table then we see the terror in her wide bulging eyes followed by her shrilling scream as someone keeps knocking, harder and harder, at the door in the background while humming in faint frail and soft voice “happy birthday to you”!
Horror situation: monster trying to get to you – a girl is spending her birthday quietly, all alone and in the dark; in front of her on the table, a cake with 2 candles forming the number 21. A little knock at the door, she is holding her breath and as the knock gets louder we see her eyes widening with fear.
Reaction – she quietly blows the candles and closes her eyes.
· Character intro: MIA is about to celebrate her birthday, alone and scared.
1- Demand: Intrigue: why is this young woman celebrating her 21<sup>st</sup> alone, quietly and in the dark?
Monster reveal: There is something about having her birthday that terrifies her!
Horror situation: lost – a character takes a short cut through the park and gets lost.
Reaction – He starts panicking then is relieved when he sees a sign, not knowing it’s a trap.
· Connect with the characters: A group of new students; we discover each character, their personalities, their struggle, their attempts to fit in, in a college where other students behave strangely and in a town with a secret.
· Character intro: ANNA is doing voluntary work at an old age home and enjoying every minute of it.
· Character intro: volunteers in the same old age home as Anna, to be closer to her; gets verbally abused by old people.
· Character intro: NAOMI is making out with James but doesn’t sleep with him, teasing him and keeping him wanting more.
· Character intro: JAMES is in the make out scene with Naomi; from the get go the audience can see that she has him twisted in her little fingers.
· Character intro: JOANNA is alone, observing people around her, taking notes into a very thick and warn out note book.
· The characters are warned not to do it: The new students to the college are told to never go out alone after dark and if they must then to stay in pack and never to mix with the friendly old people.
· Denial: JOANNA senses and believes in the evil all along; she was never in denial, very tuned to her spirituality.
· Denial: ANNA doesn’t want to believe that goodness cannot attract goodness and that evil can win; her faith leads her to total denial.
· Denial: STEPHEN is indifferent to the danger as is used to being victimised.
· Denial: NAOMI doesn’t believe at all there is any danger and makes fun of Joanna who is the first to warn them.
· Denial: JAMES thinks Joanna is a lonely girl who is paranoid; he doesn’t believe there is any real danger out there.
2- Demand: To solve the mystery, we have to come to Grahamstown and discover what is wrong with the town.
Monster reveal: At night fall, young people barricade themselves indoors.
· Denial of horror: The new students will brush off the advice as plain silly and paranoid and mean; they are young and strong, why should they be afraid of some old folks even if they are the only ones walking in the dark streets of the small town!
· Relation to group after first horror: JOANNA warned them that it was going to happen; still, they don’t take her seriously, she is hurt by their behaviour.
3- Demand: Young people warn the new students in town not to go out at night and not to tell anyone when it’s their birthday.
Monster reveal: Somehow, young people in their 21<sup>st</sup> year are vanishing or found dead and horribly mutilated.
· Her reaction at first horror: JOANNA is not surprised, as if expecting it all along.
· Safety taken away: When young people are stranded as cars strangely break down, buses don’t show and taxis don’t stop, being home before dark becomes an impossible mission.
· his reaction at first horror: JAMES just wants to be seen as a hero in Anna’s eyes.
· his reaction at first horror: JAMES believes there must be a logical explanation and that it is an isolated event.
· Her reaction at first horror: NAOMI is in denial; believes it can’t happen to her.
· Character intro: MATTHIAS arrives in Grahamstown with a purpose, a mission: to write a great story.
Horror situation: forced into a dangerous environment – when Matthias’ car breaks down and he has to walk back into the rain, he arrives into the town at night and walks into a bar to call a tow car, only to find that the bar is packed with old people only.
Reaction – he is surprised then senses (his journalist instincts!) that something is not quite right in that setting.
· Denial: MATTHIAS is intellectually curious and doesn’t reject any possibility.
· Character intro: ANDREW is the first one to meet Matthias; will help him out when his car broke down in the rain. This first encounter will show his strength and character (helpful; altruist).
4- Demand: Public places at night time are full of old people who behave with energy far above their biological age.
Monster reveal: Some mysterious purpose is making the elderly come out at night in pack
· Denial: ANDREW is very logical and down to earth; believes in what is sees.
· Monster- the nature of the beast: With old people infiltrated in all areas of the small town’s life, knowing who the monster is and whom to trust is a matter of life and death.
Horror situation: not knowing who is possessed – the characters don’t know which ones of the elderly are monsters.
Reaction – they don’t know who to trust and are suspicious of everyone around, feeling even more isolated.
Horror situation: unknown motive – the group hasn’t a clue why some young people vanish or get killed.
· Relation to group after first horror: NAOMI doesn’t feel concerned; her and James are in their own little love bubble.
· Relation to group after first horror: JAMES doesn’t feel concerned and is confident that he is strong enough to defend Naomi from whichever danger.
Reaction – Some take action and decide to investigate (Matthias, Andrew), while some will go in total denial (Anna, Naomi, James).
· Relation to group after first horror: ANNA’S extreme faith and denial makes her irritating to the rest of the group; male lust for her beauty and females are jealous of her.
· Relation to group after first horror: MIA panics and lashes out.
· Relation to group after first horror: they all underestimate STEPHEN.
· his reaction at first horror: MATTHIAS is excited by the opportunity to write a story that could help him reach his career goal (winning the Pullitzer price!).
· his reaction at first horror: ANDREW follows Matthias lead.
Horror situation: menacing stranger – JOANNA followed by an old homeless guy, scaring her by shouting that her end is near and to be careful of ‘the smiling ones’!
Reaction – she gets scared, thinks he is just scary why he was trying to warn her, and warns straight into what the arms of the monster, thinking she’ll be safe.
· How she fights back: JOANNA surrenders to the monster.
5- Demand: Paranoia: a young woman is terrified by an old homeless man who follows her at dawn.
Monster reveal: The elderly are perceived as a menace.
Character death 1: JOANNA
· Why: she is the one in the group who suspects there is some form of evil amongst the elderly; she represents a threat which needs to be eliminated when she starts sending clues to a newspaper.
· How: she is blindsided, fooled by the homeless guy who follows her and she takes him as a threat, walking straight into the safety of her favourite bakery where she’ll be poisoned with her favourite cake.
· End point: JOANNA will be misled and be tricked by the monster who will lure her in a place that she thought safe; when she realises the imminent danger, she accepts her fatality without resisting.
ACT 2—THE POINT OF NO RETURN:
· Isolated/trapped/abducted: Young people are no longer even safe in doors as the monsters try to break in or to lure them outside in desperation to get what they need.
Horror situation: attacked – a character will be attacked by the monster.
Reaction – total disbelief, then shock at the strength of the attacker.
Horror situation: chased – a character will be chased by the monster.
Reaction – fear mixed with disbelief.
· Relation to group after first horror: MATTHIAS stays calm, takes charge.
· Relation to group after first horror: ANDREW will back up Matthias and show his loyalty and trust.
Horror situation: mentally tortures – Mia will keep receiving anonymous phone calls before her 21<sup>st</sup>, counting down the number of days she has left to live.
Reaction – she’ll go through different stage of emotions as the date of her birthday gets closer and strange deaths occur: from annoyance, to anger to dread and finally hysteria.
· Denial: MIA thinks that by hiding she’ll be safe.
· her reaction at first horror: MIA is terrified and hides.
6- Demand: A girl needs a bodyguard on her 21<sup>st</sup> birthday and will jump through a window to her death when an old man in a bodyguard uniform walks in.
Monster reveal: Why is she so terrified of this old man that she would prefer jump to her death than whichever fate he could bring.
· How she fights back: MIA doesn’t fight back; she tries to escape.
Character death 2: MIA
· Why: it’s her 21<sup>st</sup> and she believes to be untouchable because of her father’s wealth; the fact that she has a bodyguard won’t save her.
· How: the monster will impersonate her bodyguard and penetrate in the safety of her home. She’ll try to escape and jump through a window, plummeting to her death.
· End point: MIA jumps through the window trying to escape and dies.
Horror situation: environment changing around them – A couple of drinking buddies are at the local bar at night, suddenly one of them shouts “cheers, birthday boy, happy 21<sup>st</sup>!”; then the bar goes dead silent for a few seconds, all eyes on them, and the sound resume but the atmosphere has changed.
Reaction – a few young people will discretely leave the bar while some elderly will get closer to the drinking buddies offering to buy a round to the birthday boy.
· One of us killed: Naomi and James – the lovers – will be the first to go. Lust and romance will led them outside after dark and cause their death.
Horror situation: lured into danger – the monster is cunning and lures the lovers into a meeting after dark with the promise of intimacy.
Reaction – When the couple realizes that the message didn’t come from one of them and that they are out at night in an isolated place, they start experiencing an overwhelming fear.
7- Demand: A couple gets lured out at night, trapped and will be tortured and killed by some elderly.
Monster reveal: What brings these harmless looking old people to act like total monsters!
· End point: JAMES gets caught by the monsters (surrounded) and will be tortured to death in front of Naomi. His last words will be to tell her that he loves her.
· How he fights back: JAMES fits with all his strength, like a tiger, and his only thought will be to protect Naomi.
Horror situation: see another killed – Naomi will see watch her boyfriend, James, get tortured and killed before her eyes.
Reaction – she freezes and watch in horror then throws up.
· How she fights back: NAOMI gets hysterical; she was never equipped to fight and didn’t have a chance once James wasn’t there to defend her.
Character death 3: JAMES
· Why: because, with Naomi, he represents the ‘sinfulness of sin’ as they disobey the rules by meeting outside at night and to have sex without being married.
· How: James will be tortured to death in front of Naomi who will have to watch him, both stark naked.
Character death 4: NAOMI
· Why: just like James, she has sinned in the eyes of the monster. She’ll have to endure mental torture by having to watch her lover die.
· How: she’ll go insane and even though the monster releases her (still naked), she’ll wonder aimlessly on the road at night in a daze and get hit by a truck.
· End point: NAOMI gets killed just after having had to watch James be tortured and killed before her eyes; she loses her mind, gets released and will be hit by a truck.
MIDPOINT—THE MONSTER IS WORSE THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Full pursuit by the killer: They must now do whatever they can to protect themselves at night from the monsters who try to break in and become increasingly aggressive and cunning.
Horror situation: threatened– at the old age home, some elderly start showing signs of increasing strange behaviour and unusual strength.
Reaction – the staff will ignore the signs, not seeing imminent danger.
Horror situation: walking into a trap – at the old age home, a surprise birthday party has been organised for ANNA, who is turning 21.
Reaction – she is overwhelmed by the elderly kindness, then starts sensing something are not quite right and as fear start to increase she’ll feel trapped.
· How he fights back: STEPHEN will take the monster by surprised as he always acted like a victim, never fighting back, until the danger was directed to Anna and then he put his life on the line to save her.
Character death 5: STEPHEN
· Why: wanting to save Anna from the elderly in the old age home surrounding her.
· How: he is the sacrificed lamb; the audience need to see a character willing to die for love and to the premise of Anna’s special ‘connection’ to the monster.
· End point: STEPHEN sacrifices himself so that Anna can realise how dangerous the monster is. He will die as a hero for her.
· Horror situation: face to face with the monster –the monster shows his true face to Anna by killing STEPHEN in front of her own eyes.
· Reaction – she unsettled the monster by calmly getting down on her knees and starting to pray.
· her reaction at first horror: ANNA kneels down and prays.
8- Demand: Apprehension: Elderly people in an old age home are behaving very strangely towards a young woman celebrating her 21<sup>st</sup>.
Monster reveal: We need to find out what triggers the monster in the elderly when someone turns 21!
ACT 3—FULL OUT HORROR:
· Fight to the death: Some of the characters won’t make it and will be massacred; some will sacrifice themselves to save others. The monsters are now seen for who they are and no longer underestimated: there’s nothing vulnerable, friendly or innocent about them anymore, they are wolves in lambs’ clothing!
Horror situation: wounded – one of the characters is wounded by a blow on the head with a walking stick.
Reaction – he is stunned, shocked and looks in total dismay at the blood pouring profusely from his forehead while the monster looks at him with a sweet smile.
· Terrorized: The characters find themselves increasingly isolated, unable to leave town, and terrified as night falls.
· Hysteria: It’s now a war between the young terrified desperate to survive characters against the old determined to get what they need (blood & flesh) to regain their youth.
9- Demand: There is a surge of aggression and killings from Elderly people on young people (all 21) all over town.
Monster reveal: The targeted young people are no longer safe indoors at night and look for shelter in churches, where they will not find protection but the answer to behind the killings and the monsters’ mad motivations.
· The thrilling escape from death: Some will manage to escape, to find momentary safety in one of the many churches… only to realize they have stepped in the belly of the beast!
· How he fights back: MATTHIAS uses his brain. Tries to be cleverer than the monster.
10- Demand: ANNA finds out about the connection between the bible and the ‘death by nos’ and why “21” is the target of all killings. She then urges others to leave the church with her as she realizes it’s the monster of the beast, but they won’t listen, apart from MATTHIAS.
Monster reveal: The reason why the monsters kill has been revealed by Anna! We now know the why and the who!
Horror situation: trapped – some characters seek refuge in a church at night, only to realize this may not be a safe place after all.
Reaction – they start panicking, looking for somewhere to hide or an escape route.
Horror situation: dilemma- who to save – Andrew (the strong as an ox guy) finds out that a group of students are trapped in the church and surrounded by the monster(s); he can either create a diversion and risk being captured and killed or watch them being taken and killed.
Reaction – he takes a deep breath and makes a choice.
· How he fights back: ANDREW uses physical strength and misdirection to fights the monster and lead him away from the survivors.
Horror situation: a character becomes a liability – Andrew will be seriously injured by the monster and, when trying to escape through the woods, will slow down his friends’ escape and jeopardize their only chance of making it through the woods to reach the edge of the town limits.
Reaction – he will pretend to take a rest break, letting his friends get a bit ahead, then will take off in the opposite direction shouting at the monsters to create a diversion and save his friends, sacrificing his own life.
· End point: MATTHIAS survives by teaming up and using Anna’s love for him and Andrew’s strength; he makes it out of town and free to go and write his great story!
· How she fights back: ANNA lets others sacrifice themselves to pursue her sense of duty.
Character “ near” death 6: ANDREW
· Why: the audience needs to get a glimpse of hope by seeing the strongest character save the day; then their hope gets crushed as he falls and gets caught.
· How: when the group has taken refuge in the church and surrounded, he’ll create a diversion to allow them to escape but will fall into a bear trap running into the woods and the elderly will close in on him; the audience will think he died but he’ll escape… only to be sacrificed later by ANNA!!!
· Death returns to take one or more: More will need to die before they can unify and overcome the monsters.
Horror situation: escape route cut off – the only road out of town is blocked by the monster(s), preventing the car with a group of characters to escape.
Reaction – MATTHIAS urges ANNA to step on the gas and run over the monster(s) but the driver is not willing to do so, as she still can’t face the idea that the harmless looking creatures on the road are monster(s).
Horror situation: character refuses to take action – Anna is reluctant to run over the monster, she is forced to make a choice between risking killing innocent people in the process of running over the elderly blocking the road or risking the lives of the people in the car with her (Andrew and Matthias).
Reaction – she’ll choose to sacrifice Andrew, he’ll understand that it’s their only chance and will not leave Matthias (who is against seeing his friend going to a certain death) a choice in the matter.
· End point: ANDREW will survive once but not twice; at the end, he is outnumbered and knows it yet he will go down bravely and fighting like a lion.
Character death 7: ANDREW
· Why: the audience needs to understand that this character’s role is to save the day (twice!) but also that he is doomed.
· How: he’ll be killed by the pack when he charges upon them with a baseball bat, making a breach for the car with Anna and Matthias to squeeze in and drive to the outskirts of town, and pull over just after the town limit indicating they are no longer in GRAHAMSTOWN!
· End point: ANNA will survive but will accomplish the ultimate sacrifice by going back to Grahamstown to save future generations.
11- Demand: The survivors manage to make it to the edge of town, killing some monsters on the way, but ANNA (the graced one) decides she has to go back to make sure the monster never returns.
Monster reveal: Although the monsters within the elderly have been killed, evil may return when its number comes up! (FOR THE SEQUEL!!!)
· Resolution: When Anna’s deep unshakable faith and innocence bring her to the ultimate decision: to leave Matthias (whom she has fallen in love with and is pregnant from, which he doesn’t know) and choses what she sees as her calling; she chooses to go back to Grahamstown to make sure evil never returns to the elderly and that the words of God are never again misused for evil purposes.
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BOB KIELY’S CHARACTER JOURNEY TRACK
What I learned doing this assignment is the reminder of the importance of a character profile in a script of any genre, and how that can aid in refining and adding subtext and creditability to a plot.
Atmosphere of Evil established:
Cold Open with old witch as only attendee to a funeral in a creepy “potters field” cemetery. Cheap tombstone marker dates the burial as 1860.
Horror Situation: Foggy, creepy graveyard situation.
Reaction: Witch in black shroud with red eyes.
Who is your monster and what is their terror?
1. Powers: Witch with strong physic and physical powers, including telekinesis. Ageless.
2. Limitations: Has influence only over the land of the cemetery as well as the ground beneath.
3. Weaknesses: Can’t survive out of the cemetery and now condo yard bounds.
4. Plan/Purpose/Appetite: To avenge those who have desecrated or transgressed respect for the bodies disturbed during construction of the new project. She demands an eye for an eye for her victims.
ACT 1
Current time. Zoning board meeting where approval is given to a developer to build upon the site of the cemetery with some restrictions. Developer takes shortcuts including the bulldozing of six gravesites that were scheduled to be relocated. The operator of the bulldozer shuts off the vehicle and urinates on what was a gravesite. MONSTER REVEAL He is pulled down into the marshy ground as the first victim and portent of things to come.
Horror Situation: Bulldozer operator gets pulled down not the grave.
Reaction: Total fear on his face as his head submerges into the quicksand-like muck.
Character Death 1: Bulldozer operator
Why: Desecrates grave by urinating on it.
How: Gets suck down into the mucky ground.
Connect with the characters:
Open house at the new condo. Developer gives his pitch to the assembled buyers.
The characters are warned not to do it:
The same witch who is now sitting in the back of the room warns the buyers that “nothing good will come of this.” The developer dismisses her to the buying prospects as a crazy old fool.
Horror Situation: Deception. Innocent buyers being lured into shoddy cursed project.
Reaction: Denial of warning. Condescension.
Denial of Horror:
Six of the new buyers on the same floor have a housewarming party where they toast to the ridiculousness of the witch’s warning.
Horror Situation: Subconscious impending doom.
Reaction: Buyers still in denial, but one is taking the warning more seriously.
Safety taken away:
Scary, unexplained phenomena happen throughout the building. The building inspector, who got paid off by the developer comes in response to some of the physical building complaints.
Horror Situation: Spooky situation as building inspector goes into the inner rooms in the basement.
Reaction: Try to solve building issues in shoddy construction.
Monster: The nature of the beast.
He examines the faulty foundations and is killed. MONSTER REVEAL . But we don’t see the actual killing yet, just the evidence.
Horror Situation: Monster approaching.
Reaction: Tries to escape.
Character Death 2: Building inspector
Why: He colluded with corrupt developer and got paid off.
How: He gets squashed by falling support beam.
MONSTER REVEAL:
Character Journey Track:
Wife: Couple #1:
1.Calm and composed.
2.Is suspicious of first death.
3.Not in total denial as the other are.
4.Voice of reason.
5.By example, becomes de facto leader, with help of husband
6.Escapes with husband. The only two.
Husband couple #1:
1.Very decent. Soft spoken, devoted to wife.
2.leans to denial with deference to his wife.
3.He’s composed and sympathetic to the plight of the victim.
4. Becomes bridge of wife to group, a moderator of group reactions.
5.Supports wife’s efforts to understand point of view of the witch.
6.Escapes from the witches underground world .
7.Be respectful to the dead or they may take retribution for the desecration of their resting place.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted:
The inspector does not return from his inspection in the basement. Two of the men go down to investigate his disappearance. They see the head of the bulldozer operator’s head on a pike, and a trail of blood leading down a tunnel. MONSTER REVEAL
Horror Situation: Pursued. Forced into life threatening situation.
Reaction: Try to solve by investigation absence of inspector.
One of us killed: ALSO MOSTER REVEAL
One of the men foolishly investigates and is killed by the witch.
Horror Situation: Isolation.
Reaction: Other man gets lost getting out.
Ccharacter journey track: Gay couple.
1. Fun loving, happy-go-lucky.
2. In total denial of anything mysterious happ[ened.
3. They think it’s just an accident.
4. Nonchalant, almost irreverent.
5. Go into the witches domain ill-prepared.
6. Death for both.
7. Their death solidifies witch is bad news and out to get more.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Full pursuit by killer:
Through witchcraft and powerful evil forces, she basically encapsulates the building making it impenetrable from the outside and sealed on the inside. MONSTER REVEAL
Terrorized –
Monster takes 2 more lives, leaving only first couple with cat left. But she needs one more victim to make up for the six desecrated graves.
Horror Situation: Isolated in condo as witch encapsulates it.
Reaction: MONSTER REVEAL Couple try to escape. Don’t make it out.
Character Journey:
Lawyer husband of couple #2:
A little pompous and arrogant.
Total denial at first.
Saw it as totally natural accident.
Lectures them on legalities and strategy
Holds moot court with witch.6. He loses case and life.
7. Don’t be so arrogant not to consider another’s point of view, or opinion.
Real estate broker wife of couple #2:
Opportunistic flatterer.
Open minded but more by ignorance and IQ.
What ever hubby thinks, I.e. accident.
Same reaction. No-one ever took her seriously.
Observer until trial and begs for life.
She is allowed to leave.
They’re happy she’ll get to live.Character death 3: Developer
How: Gets head sliced off by the witch (if she is exposed yet)
Character death 4: Gay guy.
Why: He stupidly disregards the danger they are in and goes off into the tunnels beneath the building (the witches world)
How: We don’t know exactly but hear his screams. Maybe find later.
Character death 5: The lawyer husband
Why: He conducts a mock trial in witch’s world. Doesn’t go well for him.
How: Taken away and has head scythed off.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the death:
Couple have plan of escape but the cat runs down to the basement and wife won’t leave without the cat, so she and hubby go down into the bowels of the building. Cats directs them to the portal to the killing fields under the building and its yards.
Horror Situation: Isolation and tortured mentally as the remaining couple can’t get out.
Reaction: Escape. They try to find way out in the tunnels.
Hysteria:
Husband goes into tunnel to retrieve the cat. While he is gone, the wife is petrified, is grabbed from behind. It turns out to be a homeless squatter who lives, unknowingly to the witch, in her domain, and knows the way out. The husband returns with the cat with the witch in pursuit. MONSTER REVEAL
Horror Situation: Isolation. Wife left alone after husband goes looking for runaway cat.
Reaction: Fight. Wife grabbed from behind. Struggles with attacker.
The thrilling escape from death:
The homeless man guides them to an escape hatch.
Horror Situation: Pursued by witch.
Reaction: Escape as witch gets closer.
Death returns to take one or more.
The homeless man lets the couple go first and pays the price with his life. MONSTER REVEAL
Horror Situation: Tormented. Homeless squatter can’t make it out.
Reaction: Sees there is no escape. Smiles at couple as they manage to get out.
Character death 6: Homeless squatter
Why: Basically sacrifices himself for couple one’s husband.
How: Gets pulled down from escape hole.
Resolution:
Now out of the grounds, the couple with their cats stand on a hill with the townspeople looking at an emergency response team leading others from the building before it spectacularly goes up in flames and collapses into the ground.
Horror Situation: Tormented at seeing their friends and home destroyed. Figure of witch in inferno not burning.
Reaction: Fear of her return.
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JAYE’S CHARACTER JOURNEY TRACK
What I learned is that each character has a journey. These should not simply be people that come into an unfortunate situation and get picked off one by one. Our characters need depth, regardless of the story and regardless if they are first to die, or last.
I have 8 character that will die: Olivia, Robert, Josh, Sarah, Karen, David, Johnny, Marcus
(plus one man in the prologue – Derrick)One will live: Whitney
PROLOGUE / Circa 1950 —
DERRICK
A. What is their Character Profile?Role: Sets the stage for what we will later come to seeTraits: Mentor, confident, loving Fears: ??Wants/Needs: Wants to teach his son Johnny the trade / Needs more helpLikability / Rooting factors: Fatherly, kindHow they react under stress: Cool-headedRelationship with other characters: Only Johnny. It’s a good relationship, but he gets killed on page 2.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: Landscaper. Called in to remove a tree from the property (circa 1950s)Denial: No denial at this point. The monster has not presented itself yetTheir reaction at first horror: No reaction. Doesn’t see it comingRelation to group after first horror: See aboveHow they fight back: See aboveEnd Point: A freak accident causes the head of an axe to fly off and stick in his jugularWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? His death tells us that the grounds are haunted
PRESENT DAY —
OLIVIA
A. What is their Character Profile?Role: Innocent/IntrovertTraits: Quiet, kind, shyFears: being left aloneWants/Needs: Wants friends. Needs to be assertiveLikability / Rooting factors: Very friendly, doesn’t like to cause troubleHow they react under stress: Panics Relationship with other characters: Friends
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: At school with friends (have to explore deeper)Denial: She ignores them at first; thinks the stories are urban legendTheir reaction at first horror: Terrified. PanicRelation to group after first horror: How they fight back: Tries to runEnd Point: The creek will drown herWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? She will be dead, but her body will be used to trick some of her friends.
ROBERT
A. What is their Character Profile?Role: ObnoxiousTraits: Self-absorbed, pervertFears: Being judgedWants/Needs: Wants booty. Needs loveLikability / Rooting factors: FunnyHow they react under stress: FreezesRelationship with other characters: Friends, but gets along better with the guys
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: At school with friends (have to explore deeper)Denial: One of the first to go, he doesn’t believe the mythsTheir reaction at first horror: freezes, panicsRelation to group after first horror: N/A. he diesHow they fight back: StrugglesEnd Point: ChokingWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The monster likes to suffocate victims
JOSH
A. What is their Character Profile?Role: Rule BreakerTraits: Aloof, risk takerFears: Being boringWants/Needs: Wants attention. Needs a creative outletLikability / Rooting factors: He’s a nice guyHow they react under stress: CoolRelationship with other characters: Friends
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: At school with friends (have to explore deeper)Denial: All-out denial. Doesn’t believe it. It’s not even in his headTheir reaction at first horror: We don’t see this. It happens when we’re not lookingRelation to group after first horror: Unknown / UnseenHow they fight back: Unknown / UnseenEnd Point: His chest is puncturedWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Like Olivia, the demons can control a body they kill
SARAH
A. What is their Character Profile?Role: Sacrificial LambTraits: Bold, sexy, shit-stirrerFears: Being judgedWants/Needs: Wants attention. Needs self confidenceLikability / Rooting factors: Easy to get along withHow they react under stress: ScreamsRelationship with other characters: Friends
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: At school with friends (have to explore deeper)Denial: Thinks the stories are urban legendTheir reaction at first horror: ScaredRelation to group after first horror: DeathHow they fight back: StrugglesEnd Point: Mauled/Suffocated/ChokedWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The monster strikes quickly and relentlessly
KAREN
A. What is their Character Profile?Role: ComplainerTraits: A tease, kinda bitchy, selfishFears: RejectionWants/Needs: Wants everything to go her way. Needs to relaxLikability / Rooting factors: She’s bold; sexyHow they react under stress: Runs.Relationship with other characters: Flirty with the boys; kinda snobbish with the girls
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: At school with friends (have to explore deeper)Denial: Thinks her friends are joking with herTheir reaction at first horror: She throws her friends into the fire.Relation to group after first horror: No time to see the groupHow they fight back: RunsEnd Point: Falls through stairs/pulls through stairs; strangledWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? More suffocation death
DAVID
A. What is their Character Profile?Role: LeaderTraits: Funny, strong-minded, gets along with everyoneFears: Being wrongWants/Needs: Wants to be popular. Needs to listenLikability / Rooting factors: How they react under stress: Stands up to hit. Wants to protectRelationship with other characters: Everyone’s friend; the glue
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: At school with friends (have to explore deeper)Denial: He perpetuates the denial and is the one to deny it hardestTheir reaction at first horror: Brave Relation to group after first horror: BraveHow they fight back: Stands upEnd Point: Gets crushedWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Why the house is killing, and why it has an interest in Whitney
JOHNNY
A. What is their Character Profile?Role: Attempted heroTraits: Emotionally & Physically wounded, afraid, easily excited, Fears: What he saw at the house, the unknown, anything to do with the houseWants/Needs: Wants to be sane again. Needs to be believedLikability / Rooting factors: Good heart, genuinely cares for peopleHow they react under stress: Runs at first; then faces itRelationship with other characters: Homeless guy
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: In the prologue. Witnesses his father’s death. Gets maimed.Denial: No denial.Their reaction at first horror: Ruined for the rest of his lifeRelation to group after first horror: Comes to their aid eventuallyHow they fight back: Tries to help get them outEnd Point: Murdered by MarcusWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Why the house is angry and why it wants to keep Whitney
MARCUS
A. What is their Character Profile?Role: AssholeTraits: Selfish, goal oriented, strong-mindedFears: Getting trapped in a relationship before he’s readyWants/Needs: Wants to go to college and get a good job. Needs to learn to think of othersLikability / Rooting factors: Confident, goal orientedHow they react under stress: Abandons everyoneRelationship with other characters: Casual. Good, as long as things are going his way.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: At school with friends (have to explore deeper)Denial: Thinks it’s just urban legendTheir reaction at first horror: PanicRelation to group after first horror: HysteriaHow they fight back: Kills the wrong guy and runs. Abandons his friendsEnd Point: The creek smashes the shit out of him and drowns himWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The house hates him the most
WHITNEY
A. What is their Character Profile?Role: Moral OneTraits: Kind, strong, lovingFears: Being heartbroken and alone. Having a baby without a dadWants/Needs: Wants to be with Marcus. Needs to have solutionsLikability / Rooting factors: She has a good heartHow they react under stress: TerrorRelationship with other characters: Friends
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: At school with friends (have to explore deeper)Denial: Thinks the story is urban legendTheir reaction at first horror: TerrifiedRelation to group after first horror: DependentHow they fight back: Old school, grittyEnd Point: Survivor. Kept intact by the house for the sake of her babyWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The house wants her alive so it can take her baby
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ROB’S CHARACTER JOURNEY TRACK
What I learned: I learned that a character journey track helps to builds more character and depth into your story. I was a bit confused on how to add these to the growing outline, so I’ll be adding them on the clean up lesson.
1. Name: Carole Watkins: The Hospice Nurse (30s)
A. What is their Character Profile?
– Role: Monster Bait
– Traits: Sweet with a sassy side. Gives what she gets.
– Fears: Losing her job. Has kids to take care for.Wants/Needs: She wants to put the old man to bed so she can get back to her homework. She’s putting herself through school.
– Likability / Rooting factors: We like her because she doesn’t take any guff from the old man. She works in Hospice because she truly cares.
– How they react under stress: she talks to God, prays from protection.Relationship with other characters: She has relationship with the old man built on mutual respect.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
– Character Intro: She wakes the old man in his chair, to take him to bed.
– Denial: Thinks the old man is too old to be afraid of monsters in the closet.
– Their reaction at first horror: Prays to God.
– Relation to group after first horror: She flees, abandoning the old man.
– How they fight back: She runs from danger.
– End Point: A piece of furniture trips her and she’s dragged into the darkness.
– What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience: Her disappearance is the first sign of danger and kicks off the need for an investigation.2. Name: Jerry Alan Scheckla – Terminal Cancer (60)
A. What is their Character Profile?
– Role: The Carrier: the cause of the evil.
– Traits: Looks sweet and kind. Hides an evil side. He’s a master manipulator. Dying of terminal cancer. He’s weak, confused and afraid.
– Fears: Though he’s was once a killer, Jerry is very afraid of death. He also fears being exposed as a serial killer, while he is alive.
– Wants/Needs: Jerry wants to die. But before he does, he NEEDS to kill, one more time.
– Likability / Rooting factors: Before the twist is revealed, Jerry is a sweet, good natured old grandpa.
– How they react under stress: He cries, begs for help and eventually reveals his evil side.
– Relationship with other characters: He has a strained relationship with his son, Al. He has a bond with his granddaughter. Jerry is weary of the investigators and secretly hopes they fail.<div>B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
– Character Intro: We meet Jerry Scheckla, sitting in his favorite chair after being awoken from a dream. He’s dying of cancer.
– Denial: Jerry is confused and doesn’t understand why he’s seeing visions of his past victims.
– Their reaction at first horror: The first time he sees the ghost of his wife, he thinks she’s an angel. Only to realize that death has come for him after all this time.Relation to group after first horror: He reveals only information that he has to. He’s not used to being on the defensive. He’s panicked and frightened.
– How they fight back: Jerry fights back with lies and half-truths to throw investigators off.
– End Point: Jerry dies at the hand of his own son.What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? We learn the true story of Mrs. Scheckla’s death and the victim’s that came after.3. Name: Dr. Daniel Tillman (50s) – holds a Doctorate in Psychology and Parapsychology and is the grandfather of Abby Tillman.
A. What is their Character Profile?
– Role: The Leader
– Traits: He’s fun and quirky. Leads by example. He believes that no one is more important than the team. His team is his family. Believes in Science not Religion. Believes in facts over myth.
– Fears: Retirement. He fears that his whole career has been wasted.
– Wants/Needs: He has never seen a ghost. Wants to validate his career. He also wants Abby to embrace her psychic talents.
– Likability / Rooting factors: We LOVE The Doc! We want him to see a ghost. Always puts the team first.
– How they react under stress: The Doc is cool, calm and collect under pressure. It takes a lot to spook him.
-Relationship with other characters:B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
– Character Intro: We meet the Doc as he’s attempting to use his newest invention, “The God – Helmet.” He’s pulled away into a meeting.
– Denial: After the lab loses funding, he decides it’s time to retire. He doesn’t, for one second, believe the situation is the result of paranormal activity.
– Their reaction at first horror: No fear, only an intense curiosity to study it.
– Relation to group after first horror: He’s seen it once before and reveals Abby’s backstory.
– How they fight back: He believes it’s being conjured by the mind of the dying old man. He wants to convince the old man to stop.
– End Point: Having seen his first ghost, The Doc is reinvigorated to continue investigating the paranormal.– What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? SEQUELS!
4. Name: Abigail “Abby” Tillman (20s) – Lead Investigator
A. What is their Character Profile?
– Role: Rebel/Rule Breaker
– Traits: Intentionally unapproachable, Distrustful, rebellious, protective, not afraid to ask the tough questions, extremely competitive, adaptable, eager to push the boundaries of what most people consider possible. Tough on the outside, sweet on the inside. Has repressed psychic abilities.
– Fears: She suppresses her natural psychic ability due to a childhood trauma.
– Wants/Needs: She wants to prove that ghosts are real.
– Likability / Rooting factors: She’s extremely protective of children. Pushes others to be their best. She’s willing to break the rules.
– How they react under stress: She stays calm and never backs down. Steps up as a true leader.
– Relationship with other characters: She trusts her team, but is considered a loner. Prefers to investigate alone.B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
– Character Intro: We meet Abby as she interviews a single mother and her kids about their paranormal experiences.
– Denial: She denies her grandfather’s suggestion to hang it up and quit. Hold’s herself back by repressing her psychic ability.Their reaction at first horror: Excitement and eagerness to study it.
– Relation to group after first horror: Abby struggles with self-doubt. She’s resistant to the “God Helmet” experiment.
– How they fight back: Abby learns to control her fear and outsmarts Jerry Scheckla.
– End Point: Abby let’s go of her fear and embraces her natural psychic ability.
– What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Now in control of her psychic gift, Abby is eager to help other people in paranormal need.5. Name: Thomas “Tommy” McClees (20s) – The Tech Guy
A. What is their Character Profile?
– Role: Complainer
– Traits: Handy with tools. Crafts electronic gadgets and investigation equipment. He’s a scaredy-cat. Prefers to monitor from the safety of the mobile lab. He’s honest and loyal. Casually religious.
– Fears: Rejection, looking foolish and spiders.
– Wants/Needs: He wants to impress Noelle.
– Likability / Rooting factors: He’s willing step outside his comfort zone for the good of the group. He’s funny and handsome.
– How they react under stress: He tends to use humor to hide his fear. Like Shaggy without the dog. He’s the first to retreat.
– Relationship with other characters: He’s loyal to Dr. Tillman and the group. He also has a huge crush on Noelle.B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
– Character Intro: We meet Tommy as he’s wiggling through a dirty crawlspace, investigating plumbing pipes.
– Denial: He looks for every possible explanation outside of the paranormal to explain the current situation.
– Their reaction at first horror: He talks himself out of believing what he saw. He thinks they got enough evidence and wants to leave.Relation to group after first horror: Tommy doesn’t want to be left alone. There’s safety in numbers.
– How they fight back: He tries to use his cross necklace to ward off evil.
– End Point: Tommy ends the film becoming a full-on believer. He loves the new found “celebrity” from the news coverage.
– What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Together, they can accomplish anything.6. Name: Noelle Johnson (20s) – Researcher
A. What is their Character Profile?
– Role: Innocent
– Traits: Sweet. Trusting. Innocent. Fully believes in the paranormal and is willing to perform any experiment the Doc suggests. A proper “southern” girl.
– Fears: Fears that her parents are going to stop paying her tuition because of her paranormal studies.
– Wants/Needs: Wants to impress The Doc with her investigation skills and find indisputable proof that ghosts are real. With the Doc retiring, she thinks it’s her time to shine.
– Likability / Rooting factors: Her southern charm puts people at ease. She’s a go getter with a bubbly demeanor.
– How they react under stress: She’s a screamer, but is working on it.
– Relationship with other characters: She knows Tommy likes her, but is making him earn it. Working with The Doc and Abby is a dream come true.B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
– Character Intro: We meet Noelle as she investigates the HVAC and wiring in the basement for high EMF readings.
– Denial: Thinks the video from Scheckla’s house could be fake.
– Their reaction at first horror: Her first instinct is to run, but she collects herself.
– Relation to group after first horror: She’s all in. Ready to investigate.
– How they fight back: She believes that they all must stick together.
– End Point: Noelle lives and decides to dedicate her life to paranormal research.
– What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? That everyone brings a unique talent to the team.</div><div>7. Name: Jerry “Al” Scheckla Jr. (35) – The Old Man’s Son
A. What is their Character Profile?
– Role: Introvert/Loner
– Traits: Distracts himself with work. Hidden trauma, doesn’t like to talk about his feelings, Quick to anger, Avoids conflict
– Fears: Fears losing his family
– Wants/Needs: He wants to know what happened to his mother.
– Likability / Rooting factors: At first, he’s angry and hostile. Over time, he loosens up and we come to understand him.
– How they react under stress: He tends to hold back his anger until it explodes.
– Relationship with other characters: He’s on the verge of divorce with his wife. Doesn’t know how to communicate with his daughter. Avoids confrontation with his father.B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
– Character Intro: We meet Al as he and his family arrive to his childhood home.
– Denial: He doesn’t believe in ghosts. Especially in his childhood home.
– Their reaction at first horror: Utter disbelief. He’s speechless.
– Relation to group after first horror: He needs their help. He’s willing to do anything to help his father.
– How they fight back: He tries to help his father by intervening in the invisible beatings. He explores his memory for clues.
– End Point: He kills his father after learning of his crimes. His wife is dead and his daughter is traumatized.
– What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? It’s important to get to know your parents.8. Name: Barbara Scheckla (30s)
A. What is their Character Profile?
– Role: Monster Bait
– Traits: Good mom, ignored, lonely, borderline alchoholic, considering divorce
– Fears: Fears letting down her daughter, having a failed marriage. Doesn’t want Al to know how much she drinks.
– Wants/Needs: Wants to be loved, wants to be seen and needed. Wants another drink!
– Likability / Rooting factors: She’s the one holding the family together.
– How they react under stress: She’s a mom, she knows how to keep it together. She’s protective. Her child comes first.
– Relationship with other characters: She has a tense relationship with her husband.B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
– Character Intro: We meet Barbara when her family unit arrives at the beach house. Her first glimpse of the house. Her first order of business is cleaning up the place. She’s unhappy with her life.
– Denial: Thinks her family is playing pranks on her.
– Their reaction at first horror: Her first reaction is to protect her daughter. Knows they need help.
– Relation to group after first horror: She lays off the booze and mothers the investigators. She tries to learn all she can.
– How they fight back: She screams and curses the unseen spirits.
– End Point: Barbara is taken when the group is distracted with the Old Man. She is killed after Old Man Scheckla learns of her possible infidelity.
– What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Her death is a shocking revelation of how dangerous the poltergeist really is.9. Name: Ellie Scheckla (10) – Granddaughter of Jerry Scheckla
A. What is their Character Profile?
– Role: Sacrificial Lamb
– Traits: She’s inquisitive, a bit of a snoop, eavesdrops on adult conversations, smarter than she’s given credit for, stubborn and pure of heart.
– Fears: Watching her grandpa die, it’s her first experience with death.
– Wants/Needs: Wants her parents to be happy together.
– Likability / Rooting factors: She’s funny and smart.
– How they react under stress: She has a tendency to freeze under pressure. Experiences panic attacks
– Relationship with other characters: She is highly curious about the paranormal investigators. She hangs around and asks a lot of questions. They think she might be the cause of the poltergeist.B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
– Character Intro: Ellie explores the house.
– Denial: Believes there’s no such thing as monsters.
– Their reaction at first horror: She breaks down into sobs, screaming for help.
– Relation to group after first horror: She sticks close to her grandpa and keeps watch.
– How they fight back: She yells, screams and uses her body to protect her grandfather.
– End Point: She’s betrayed by her grandfather and tricked into his basement kill room where he wants her to be his final victim.
– What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? She survives, but history repeats itself and she suffers the trauma of losing her mother to violence, just like Al did.
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Deborah’s Character Journey Track
I learned that when I create these profiles, I find more depth in my characters, I especially like working out what the insight from their death might be. That served to give them an arc I hadn’t necessarily planned.
Andre Spence
Role: Leader/Survivor
Traits: Intelligent, lethal, low profile, loving father
Fears: Losing his daughter
Wants/Needs: Raising his daughter as an independent and fearless woman vs. keeping her safe
Likability/Rooting factors: Well-liked and respected.
How they react under stress: He takes charge
Relationship with others: Well-like, but he is also distant.
Ebonie Spence
Role: Interface with robot/Innocent/Resurrected
Traits: Genius, Difficulty with person relationships, Observer
Fears: Losing her father, Losing Jack
Wants/Needs: Wants to advance quantum sciences/Needs to understand and develop person relationships.
Likability/Rooting Factor: Liked but not understood.
How she reacts under stress: numbs out
Relationship with others: distant, except for Ian who forces himself on her, and Jack, her robot.
Sly Stone
Role: Fierce warrior/Protector
Traits: Loyal, strong, intelligent, personable
Fears: Losing the civilians he’s been entrusted to protect/Being made into a hybrid
Wants/Needs: wants to perform his job well/needs to face the horrors of war and come to peace with them.
Likability: Hero. Funny
How they react under stress: Quicky responds, follows orders without question
Relationship with others: Friendly
Pen Wright
Role: The mining expert/Love interest for Andre/Survivor
Traits: Intelligent, strong, able to think out of the box, busts people on their shit
Fears: Dying with having made some kind of difference/The Dark
Wants/Needs: Wants to make a great find of rare earth ores/needs to believe in herself
Likability: With the characters, maybe not so much. But with the audience, hopefully Loads.
How they react under stress: Takes up the gauntlet and fights with the men.
Relationship with others: Love interest for Andre/Antagonistic with most others.
Kev Kelly
Role: Pilot. First to die
Traits: Cocky, irreverent, intelligent, great pilot
Fears: growing old, being grounded
Wants/Needs: Wants to fly forever/needs to fly forever
Likabiliby/Rooting Factors: Likeable, hi rooting factor
How he reacts under stress: faces it head on.
Relationship with others: really a man’s man so gets along great with military men. He seems like a showboat to the women.
Senator William Tate
Role: Denier/Out of control/ Obnoxious
Traits: Powerful, smart, tense, loses it easily
Fears: losing his status, being wrong
Wants/Needs: Wants power/needs to find inner power
Likeability: He’s obnoxious so no, not very likeable
How they react under stress: Gives Up/Angry/Dramatize/Denial
Relationships: He has a likeable mask which slips under pressure, so relationship isn’t that good with the other characters, including his son.
Ian Tate
Role: Senator’s son/stow-a-way/survivor
Traits: obstinate/brilliant/reader of science fiction
Fears: His father/being irrelevant
Wants/Needs: Wants to go to the asteroid/Needs to connect with his father
Likability: He’s smart and a good foil for Eboni. High.
How they react under stress: runs but will give it a fight if it catches up.
Relationship with Characters: Good except with his father.
Mae Zeh
Role: Scientist. Monster Bait
Traits: smart/introvert
Fears: appearing stupid, being made fun of, people
Wants/Needs: wants to bury herself in science/needs to make connections with others
Likeability: maybe medium. She connects with Eboni, becomes Eboni’s friend, so maybe a bit higher
How they react under stress: runs if she can, but mostly freezes/gives up
Relationship with other characters: she connects with Eboni but none of the others.
Sabina
Role: photojournalist/makes bad decision
Denial: Takes pictures as if nothing is wrong.
First Reaction to Horror: She fights back to save her own skin
Relation to Group after First Horror: The group is put out by her lack of empathy for the dead, instead photographing everything
Reaction as Horror Increases: She is shaken by Mae’s head. Won’t photograph that. Starts to get a more human connection to what’s happening
How they fight back: By shooting, photographing, finding weakness.
End Point: She dies
Insight from Death/Survival: Don’t always assume that’s the only monster out there
Jack
Role: Eboni’s robot, an AI made from alien technology. The role is the Moral One and the Red Herring.
Traits: logical, adores Eboni, alien, thinks for itself
Fears: losing Eboni
Wants/Needs: To integrate with the asteroid/needs to save Eboni
Likability: High
Relationship with other characters: none
Character’s Journey
Andre Spence:
Intro: Faces down the Senator and others who want to deny Eboni’s trip to the asteroid.
Denial: The crash was due to something other than intelligent design
First Reaction to Horror: Picks up weapon of dead military guy and kills the monster
Response After First Horror: takes care of Eboni
Relation to Group after First Horror: Takes Charge, gets them on their feet to find the compound.
Reaction as Horror Increases: He becomes grim and focused on protecting the group, especially Eboni.
How they fight back: Finds weapons, forces Mae to examine the monsters to see if there is a weakness.
End Point: Finds experimental room and kills scientists, though princess escapes after killing Eboni.
Insight from Death/Survival: You can do everything in your power to protect your children and it won’t be enough.
Eboni Spence
Character Intro: She is the winner of a contest using alien technology to create something. Most people couldn’t even understand the technology, but she built an AI that can understand exponentially.
Denial: After the crash, she’s fine with going to the compound. Her goals haven’t changed. She lives in today, not tomorrow.
First Reaction to Horror: Eboni shuts down.
Response after First Horror: Ian brings her back by talking about Jack.
Relation to Group after First Horror: She sticks close to Jack and doesn’t get close with anyone.
Reaction as Horror Increases: She with draws even further
How doe she fight back: She sends Jack to find a way into the alien technology to find a way to stop the horror.
End Point: She dies physically, but Jack downloads her consciousness.
Insight from Death/Survival: There’s more than one way to cheat death
Sly Stone
Character Intro: He’s career military and has already been to the asteroid. He’s in charge and he lets people know it.
Denial: He believes something is wrong before they get sucked in. This man has no room for denial.
First Reaction to Horror: Shoot it
Response after first horror: Goes into action, getting weapons, checking ammo and setting a perimeter
Relation to Group after First Horror: Takes charge, leads
Reaction after Horror Increases: Andre joins forces with him. He now knows Andre has mega background, so he feels relieved it isn’t all falling on him
How they fight back: With guns
End Point: He gets taken by a monster and Andre shoots him.
Insight from Death: There are worse things than death.
Pen Wright
Character Info: Looking at maps of possible mining sites. She sent to find rare earth (or not so earthly) minerals. She’s in an argument with Mae Zeh over storage space on the shuttle.
Denial: She doesn’t think any of this is something they can’t handle.
Reaction to first Horror: Changes her mind and now is with Sly in that there’s something keeping them there.
Relation to Group after first Horror: She’s the glue holding them together while the men protect them from the outside. She’s rude to the Senator, making the rest of the group on her side.
How they fight back: She has a mining tool that makes a great weapon. Also, she works on keeping the group from division or from totally shutting down.
End Point: She survives/in love with Andre
Insight: To be a badass woman, you don’t have give up your feminine traits
Senator William Tate:
Introduction: He tells Ian he cannot go to the asteroid. He let a 13 year old girl beat him in the competition, he doesn’t deserve to go.
Denial: He’s important. People will be sent to rescue him. They can just sit and wait.
Reaction to first horror: Believes it’s pilot error
Relation to the group after first horror: The group is annoyed at a) he’s obnoxious b) the way he treats Ian.
How they fight back: He doesn’t
End Point: He dies
Insight: You don’t fight, you think you’re too important to be killed, you die.
Ian Tate
Character Intro: His father taking away his trip to the asteroid because a 13 year old girl beat him in the contest.
Denial: There’s no danger being a stowaway
Reaction to first horror: He turns to Eboni and Jack. What do they know about this place? He gets them involved in a talk about using Jack to find out.
Relation to group after first horror: He’s adopted.
How they fight back: Working with Eboni and Jack in trying to find out what’s going on and where.
End Point: He survives.
Insight: Don’t believe it when people say you aren’t good enough.
Mae Zeh
Character Intro: She’s a scientist loading equipment onto the shuttle. Gets in argument with Pen about how much space each of them gets.
Denial: Dismissal of the danger when communications are missed.
First Reaction to Horror: Wants to go and find her husband.
Relation to group after the first horror: They don’t want to carry any of her equipment and she is distraught at the destruction.
Reaction as Horror Increases: She freezes.
How they fight back: She doesn’t
End Point: Is taken by the monster with her husband’s head
Insight from Death: Denial won’t save you
Sabina
Character Intro: Taking pictures of people entering shuttle. Conversation with Andre about her experience as a photojournalist
Denial: Crash just seems like a photo op. Total denial there may be a reason for it.
Reaction to first horror: She is shaken. Pilot was a friend.
Relation to the group after first horror: She’s a bit isolated in her grief.
How they fight back: She does use a gun to good effect, but sometimes the camera comes before the gun.
End Point: She backs into a second monster
Insight: Don’t assume there’s only one monster.
Jack
Character Intro: Jack is with Eboni and Andre when they meet the senator. Jack acts like a person, but doesn’t exactly look like one.
Denial: No denial
Reaction to first Horror: None
Relation to group first horror: She’s a curiosity. But after subsequent horrors she becomes a susupect of being an alien spy.
How they fight back; download alien information from ship, find where the experiments are taking place/ strength and lack of fear helps destroy some of the creatures
End Point: She downloads Eboni’s consciousness. The robot is now a blend of alien/jack/Eboni constructs.
What insight: Jack sort of gave her life for Eboni’s. But, we don’t know if that is a good thing or not because of the alien routines she also downloaded.
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Patrick Malone CHARACTER JOURNEY TRACK
What I learned was a great way to profile the characters and how to outline their journey in the script. This will help connect the audience to the characters and give them more meaning. These basic ideas will be developed as I write the script.
CHARACTER PROFILES
OLLIE GRIER
ROLE: Survivor, wilderness guide
TRAITS: knows the wilderness, confident, strong
FEARS: doesn’t trust Grant Fairfield
WANTS/NEEDS: help Clark find gold, keep them safe, get back to his little daughter’s birthday
LIKEABILITY: good friend, loving father, confronts adversity
HOW HE BEHAVES UNDER STREES: keeps cool, doesn’t over react, takes action
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS: Friendly, pushes them when necessary
CLARK GRADY
ROLE: group leader, sceptic, does not survive
TRAITS: expert on Confederate lost gold, serious, can be argumentative
FEARS: not succeeding
WANTS/NEEDS: to find lost gold, prove his grandfather was not a crazy fool
LIKEABILITY: smart, generous, will share reward, loves Tammy
HOW HE BEHAVES UNDER STREES: worries, easily frightened, panics
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS: Friendly, controlling
BILL MERIWETHER
ROLE: survivor, sidekick, provides humor
TRAITS: knowledgeable on Confederate lost gold, easy going, funny, practical
FEARS: worries about rumors and legends of people disappearing and strange creature
WANTS/NEEDS: help Clark find lost gold, survive the monster
LIKEABILITY: smart, good friend, humorous, helpful
HOW HE BEHAVES UNDER STREES: stays somewhat cool, calms others, takes action
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS: Friendly, but not keen on Emmet Floyd
TAMMY MARSHALL
ROLE: survivor, badass, Clark’s fiancé
TRAITS: athletic, energetic, self-reliant
FEARS: tends to believe the rumors of disappearing people and the monster
WANTS/NEEDS: to get Ollie to lead the expedition, to keep Clark and the others safe
LIKEABILITY: badass, vivacious, cares for others
HOW SHE BEHAVES UNDER STREES: first reaction is fear, dread, but quickly gains composure and takes action
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS: Friendly, but can be bossy, motivates others
EMMET FLOYD
ROLE: follower, paid help, does not survive
TRAITS: unassuming, a complainer
FEARS: the wilderness
WANTS/NEEDS: just in it for the money
LIKEABILITY: not very likeable
HOW HE BEHAVES UNDER STREES: very fearful, panics, losses control
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS: keeps to himself, not trustworthy
GRANT FAIRFIELD
ROLE: Northerner, group leader, does not survive
TRAITS: expert on Confederate lost gold, arrogant, sociopath
FEARS: not finding the gold, that Clark will find it before him.
WANTS/NEEDS: to find lost gold, gain self-glory
LIKEABILITY: not likeable
HOW HE BEHAVES UNDER STREES: becomes more demanding, controlling, takes action
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS: manipulative, controlling, demanding
MAX SEDGWICK
ROLE: Northerner, Grant’s right hand man, his mussel.
TRAITS: physically powerful, tough, mean
FEARS: nothing much frightens him, oh except for snakes
WANTS/NEEDS: to protect and help Grant’s quest for the gold
LIKEABILITY: not likeable
HOW HE BEHAVES UNDER STREES: becomes physical, fights, takes action
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS: edgy, bossy, enforcer
VICTOR LENNOX
ROLE: Northerner, works for Grant
TRAITS: easy going, likes to please
FEARS: wild life, bodies of water
WANTS/NEEDS: to please Grant and Max, do their bidding
LIKEABILITY: pleasant, cheerful
HOW HE BEHAVES UNDER STREES: becomes terrified, vomits, pees his pants
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS: gets along, tries hard to be liked.
FRED DICKSON
ROLE: Southern local hired by Grant, loser, does not survive
TRAITS: somewhat knowledgeable of the local wilderness
FEARS: has a good respect for wild things, fear of the unknown
WANTS/NEEDS: get the gold and get his pay
LIKEABILITY: likeable
HOW HE BEHAVES UNDER STREES: puts up a good front but quickly turns to mush
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS: suspicious of others
B. CHARACTER JOURNEYS
OLLIE GRIER
1. Character Intro: turns down Clark’s offer to join
his search for the lost gold. Has made enemy of Grant Fairfield for not
guiding Grant’s expedition to Tate’s Hell
Denial: Dismisses Tammy’s concerns about
disappearances and strange creature. But agrees to guide Clark’s
expedition.3. Their reaction at first horror: When first sign something is not right, he is startled, but not very
concerned.
4. Relation to group after first horror: he calms others, tells them it’s nothing. He takes control
and leads.
5. How they fight back: shooting the monster does nothing. He repels it, maybe kills it, with fire.
6. End Point: He escapes back to town.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?
He returns with pieces of gold that prove the lost gold exists, and that the legends
and rumors of a monster are true. Extreme precautions must be taken for any
future efforts to retrieve the gold.
CLARK GRADY
1. Character Intro: Tries to convince Ollie to guide
his group into wilderness. We see he is intelligent, practical,
determined.2. Denial: Dismisses Tammy’s concerns as simply rumors.
3. Their reaction at first horror: He is startled, concerned but can’t believe it’s real.
4. Relation to group after first horror: He encourages others to carry on. Becomes
argumentative.
5. How they fight back: He suggests a different route to avoid the monster, even though he
refuses to believe it is real.
6. End Point: He runs off to find Tammy, but is killed by the monster.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Proof that the monster and lost gold are real, not just legends. Extreme precautions must be taken for any future efforts to retrieve the gold.
BILL MERIWETHER
1. Character Intro: He is engaging and tries to get
Ollies to join their search by telling him it will be a fun adventure.2. Denial: Laughs at Tammy’s tales about disappearances and strange creature. But confides to Clark that he does have some concern.
3. Their reaction at first horror: He is very frightened. Suggests they go home.
4. Relation to group after first horror: To ease his fears he jokes about their situation.
5. How they fight back: runaway
6. End Point: He makes it home.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?
TAMMY MARSHALL
1. Character Intro: She warns Clark to take
precautions and get Ollie to guide the expedition.2. Denial: She has some degree of belief in the rumors.
3. Their reaction at first horror: She is very frightened, but puts on a brave face.
4. Relation to group after first horror: Tells the others she was right about the monster.
5. How they fight back: She realizes the Amaruga fears fire and attacks it with fire,
6. End Point: The Amaruga is repelled or killed. She escapes to home.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?
Any future searchers of the gold should have fire for protection.
EMMET FLOYD
1. Character Intro: Clark introduces him to Ollie as
they set out. Ollie is suspicious of Emmet2. Denial: Makes cynical, sarcastic comments.
3. Their reaction at first horror: Shocked, can’t believe it. Wants to go on the offensive.
4. Relation to group after first horror: Becomes aggressive & impulsive, complains.
5. How they fight back: He fires at monster with his pistol to no effect.
6. End Point: While protecting Tammy the Monster kills him.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Ollie realizes Emmet was a good man.
GRANT FAIRFIELD
1. Character Intro: Angry with Ollie for not guiding
his trek to Tate’s Hell. Schemes to follow Clark’s expedition to find lost2. Denial: Believes this is just some freaky one-time occurrence.
3. Their reaction at first horror: Shocked, but quickly shakes it off.
4. Relation to group after first horror: Orders them to keep going.
5. How they fight back: shoots at monster, attempts to blow it up with dynamite
6. End Point: just when he finds the gold the monster kills him
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Greed and arrogance do not win.
MAX SEDGWICK
1. Character Intro: Acts tough towards Ollie. Somewhat
threatening.2. Denial: he believes what he sees, is scared
3. Their reaction at first horror: petrified of snakes, screams, yells
4. Relation to group after first horror: Backs up Grant’s orders to keep going.
5. How they fight back: shoots at monster, attempts to blow it up with dynamite
6. End Point: he tries to shoot Ollie, but monster kills him
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Greed and arrogance do not win.
VICTOR LENNOX
1. Character Intro: member of Grant’s group as they
trail Clark’s group.2. Denial: thinks it’s some weird southern voodoo.
3. Their reaction at first horror: goes on the offensive, wants to attack the creature.
4. Relation to group after first horror: sucks up to Grant and Max.
5. How they fight back: he takes off after the creature, tries to shoot it
6. End Point: Monster kills him.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?
FRED DICKSON
1. Character Intro: Sees Ollie in bar, tells him he’s
lucky not to have gone with Grant’s expedition to Tate’s Hell.2. Denial: knows this is odd behavior for snakes.
3. Their reaction at first horror: frightened, concerned,
4. Relation to group after first horror: warns others, suggests they go back
5. How they fight back: He doesn’t.
6. End Point: Terrified he runs further into forest, monster kills him.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Ollie, Tammy and Bill knew Fred, are saddened.
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Tony McBride Character Journey Track
What I learned doing this assignment is that I can learn more about my characters through this exercise.
• Knowing your concept, fill in one or two sentences for each of the plot points.
o The college friends arrive at the manor.
o The monster kills the first friend.
A. What is their Character Profile?
8. Role: Husband
9. Traits: Provider / Arrogant / Territorial / Dismissive
10. Fears: Poverty / Unemployment
11. Wants/Needs : Power / Strength / Status
12. Likability / Rooting factors: 4
13. How they react under stress: Anger
14. Relationship with other characters: Pompous / Judgmental
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
8. Character Intro: We meet the husband in a car having an argument with his wife.
9. Denial: Doesn’t want to go into the house.
10. Their reaction at first horror: Shocked/ Defiant
11. Relation to group after first horror: Leader
12. How they fight back: Attack the monster
13. End Point: Gets Killed
14. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Do Evil—die.
A. What is their Character Profile?
8. Role: Wife
9. Traits: Submissive / Supportive / Insecure
10. Fears: Divorce / Living Forever w/o kids
11. Wants/Needs: Love / Security / Self-Determination
12. Likability / Rooting factors: 8
13. How they react under stress: buckles / makes excuses
14. Relationship with other characters: Mother Figure
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
15. Character Intro: We meet the wife during an argument in the car.
16. Denial: Doesn’t want to see a bunch of strangers.
17. Their reaction at first horror: Terrified
18. Relation to group after first horror: assistant captain
19. How they fight back: Weapons / Leadership
20. End Point: Survives
21. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? You can overcome personal faults to survive.
A. What is their Character Profile?
8. Role: Woman Complainer
9. Traits: Stoic / Loquacious
10. Fears: Abandonment /
11. Wants/Needs : Attention / Love
12. Likability / Rooting factors: 6
13. How they react under stress: fights back
14. Relationship with other characters: little sister
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
8. Character Intro: We meet having sex with her boyfriend and getting a text for a haunted house.
9. Denial: Thinks going to the house is spooky.
10. Their reaction at first horror: Wants to leave.
11. Relation to group after first horror: Fleer
12. How they fight back: Courage
13. End Point: Death
14. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Courage is needed to survive.
A. What is their Character Profile?
8. Role: Woman – Introvert/Loner
9. Traits: distant / reclusive
10. Fears: letting go / getting hurt again
11. Wants/Needs: relieve herself of her secrets
12. Likability / Rooting factors: 7
13. How they react under stress: retreat
14. Relationship with other characters: distant
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
8. Character Intro: We see the person getting fired from their telemarketing job.
9. Denial: Doesn’t want to go but needs the money.
10. Their reaction at first horror: Wants to leave
11. Relation to group after first horror: Follower
12. How they fight back: Stabs it with a dagger.
13. End Point: Survivor
14. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Courage can come from the deepest places
A. What is their Character Profile?
8. Role: Man- Sacrificial Lamb
9. Traits: Father Sarcastic / Yellow Liver
10. Fears: Getting Killed
11. Wants/Needs: Courage
12. Likability / Rooting factors: 5
13. How they react under stress: Negotiate
14. Relationship with other characters: Critic
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
8. Character Intro: We see the sacrificial lamb at his law office negotiating a deal.
9. Denial: Doesn’t want to go to a dirty old house with a bunch of strangers.
10. Their reaction at first horror: Scared as hell
11. Relation to group after first horror: Weasel
12. How they fight back: Try to use weapons
13. End Point: Death
14. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Fear will get you killed.
A. What is their Character Profile?
8. Role: Rescuer
9. Traits: Father Figure / Wise One
10. Fears: Losing Another Family Member
11. Wants/Needs: A family
12. Likability / Rooting factors: 9
13. How they react under stress: Confront
14. Relationship with other characters: Guardian
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
22. Character Intro: We see him at his wife’s grave.
23. Denial: Too old to play games, but goes to the house anyway.
24. Their reaction at first horror: Want to fight it.
25. Relation to group after first horror: Leader
26. How they fight back: Use wit and weapons.
27. End Point: Dies, but comes back to life to save the day.
28. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Hero of the move that shows love can save lives.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Horror Situation: Haunted House – Denial
• Character Death 2: Man/Sacrificial Lamb
• Why: It increases the horror
• How: Back into it
• Atmosphere of Evil established: A haunted mansion is shown.
• Connect with the characters: College friends shown reuniting.
• Denial of Horror: The husband assures the family that this is going to be a fun adventure.
• Safety taken away: The friends experience accidents one-by-one.
Monster Reveal: The ability to create holograms and use them to kill people.
• Monster: Annabella.
• Character Death 1: Husband
• Why: They made a bad decision
• How: Attempt something that fails
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Horror Situation: Lost – Escape
Horror Situation: Hallucinating – Denial
• Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: The friends are faced with moments from their past then some are killed by accident. Some of the friends go into town to find help and answers.
• One of us killed: The husband is killed by being crushed.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Horror Situation: Monster Approaching – Fight/ Escape
Horror Situation: See Another Killed – Hide/ Try to Solve It
• Character Death 3: Woman/Complainer
• Why: A character flaw that compels them to take the wrong action.
• How: Give Up
• Terrorized
Monster Reveal: She can only work within the confines of the house and its boundaries.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Horror Situation: See Another Killed – Hide/ Try to Solve It
Horror Situation: Chased – Escape/ Fight
• Character Death 4: Man/Rescuer
• Why: The character is in denial.
• How: Sacrificed
• Full pursuit by the killer: Annabelle pursues the friends with various weapons but doesn’t manage to kill anyone.
The monster is weak towards being loved.
Monster Reveal: The monster is weak towards being loved.
• Fight to the death: The friends gather weapons of their own and fight to the death.
• Hysteria: The friends are running throughout the house trying to avoid all traps and turns.
• The thrilling escape from death: Annabelle corners one of the friends but the other splashes her with oil.
• Death returns to take one or more.: Annabelle takes the life of the hippie.
• Resolution: The friends unite instead of bickering to defeat Annabelle.
Monster Reveal: The monster was the ghost of a raped and killed girl who possessed the body of a dead person.
Monster Reveal: Annabelle wants to kill everyone who ever hurt her because she died cruelly of rape and homicide. She won’t stop until all are dead.
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Robert R. Smith’s Character Journey Track
What I learned doing this assignment is: That delving into detail on your characters and their journey is crucial to creating a script. The assignment was large, and I regret that I missed deadline, but I am glad I did it. For me, it was my journey of discovery of my story.
Film Title: “The Toreph.”
Time: The Present.
Place: Tel Esh-Shaytaneen (Hill of the Two Devils) near ancient Jericho, West Bank.
Synopsis: An archaeological expedition uncovers a cave/tomb of a Biblical villain and find his mummy but also his mummified head which was used in antiquity as a Toreph, i.e., a skull for necromancy and divinization through a demon that possessed the skull by inserting into its mouth a small gold nameplate engraved with the name of the demon.
. With each of your Survivors and Victims, answer the following questions:
A. What is their Character Profile?
Role:
Traits:
Fears:
Wants/Needs :
Likability / Rooting factors:
How they react under stress:
Relationship with other characters:B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro:
Denial:
Their reaction at first horror:
Relation to group after first horror:
How they fight back:
End Point:
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the
others/audience?* *
Character: Hussein, a victim.
Role: A goat-herder, victim.
Denial: None. He believes there is something evil at Tel Esh-Shaytaneen, ‘Hill of the Two Devils,” an archaeological site where he and his brother Hassan discover a small ancient gold nameplate with engraving they cannot read. He believes the nameplate is evil and has something to do with the death of their goat whom they found at the same place..
Traits: Warm, friendly, but fearful.
Fears: Fears the evil of Tel Esh-Shaytaneen.
Wants/Needs: Wants to leave the area to escape the evil at Tel Esh-Shaytaneen. Also needs to
warn his brother and Prof. Kendrick, their archaeologist friend.
Likability / Rooting factors: He is a good person. He loves the lost goat they are trying to find
who died at the Tel from an explosion while digging in the sand.
How they react under stress: Hussein mourns the goat but is convinced it was some demon of
Tel Esh-Shaytaneen (Hill of the Two Devils) that killed him. He wants to escape.
Relationship with other characters: A warm relationship with his brother and fellow goat-
Herder Hassan and Prof. Kendrick.
B. What is Hussein’s Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: Goat herder, brother of Hassan, looking for a lost got.
Denial: None. Although he dies in the opening, Hussein is fully convinced of the presence of unseen supernatural evil at Tel Esh-Shaytaneen (Hill of the Two Devils).
Hussein’s reaction at first horror: The first horror is the death of the goat on the Hill and Hussein grieves, he loved the little goat. He immediately wants to flee and tries to talk his brother Hassan into joining him. However, Hassan and he find, in the sand, a gold nameplate with writing on it. Hassan wants to take it to their archaeologist friend Prof. Colin Kendrick who is on a nearby archaeological dig nearby so he could make sense out of the nameplate and its mysterious inscription in a language they cannot read. Hussein thinks the plate should be thrown away because, he is convinced, it did cause the goat’s death. When Kendrick tells Hussein and Hassan that the writing on the nameplate is the name of Azazel (Arabic: Azazil.), Hussein further freaks out. Azazel is the desert demon of Jewish (Biblical) and Arabic mythology. According to the mysterious Book of Enoch, Azazel was one of the leaders of the Fallen Angels (1 Enoch 13) Then, Kendrick wants Hussein and Hassan to take him to the site, to the Hill, Hussein is extra urgent in his plea that they do not go and return to that evil place. But his plea falls on deaf ears with Hassan, they go and he goes with them pleading all the way.
Relation to group after first horror: A companion but still a voice of warning.
How Hussein fights back: Although Kendrick’s scientifically denies and dismisses the notion
of an evil presence of evil at the Hill, and wants Hussein and his brother Hassan to take
them to where they found the gold Azazel nameplate, in order to assess if an achaeological site is there, Hussein fights back at their denial by warning Kendrick and his brother to keep away from the evil Hill of the Two Devils.
End Point: When Kendrick pulls a stone from the wall that seals the cave, astreak of lightning
bolts through the aperture and kills Hussein.
What insight does his death bring to the others/audience? The power of evil in the cave and
on Hill of the Two Devils.
A. What is Hassan’s Character Profile?
Character: Hassan.
Role: Victim, goat-herder and unwilling guide for Dr. Kendrick and the other members of his
team.
Traits: Sad to lose his brother. Very friendly toward Kendrick and the other archaeologists.
Fears: After the death of his brother Hussein, he is now convinced that evil exists in the cave
and on Hill of the Two Devils. He has become as fearful and as earnest as his brother
was in convincing Kendrick to abandon his project of excavating the cave/tomb on the
Hill of the Two Devils.
Wants/Needs : Wants to prevent harm to Kendrick and his party, aspiring archaeologists Ned
Garner, Kaitlyn Randolph, Bob Barton.
Likability / Rooting factors: His warmth and earnestness, plus, his caring for others at his own
risk.
How he reacts under stress: Wants to escape to safety and wants others to escape as well. But
when he sees the apparition of his brother Hussein beckoning him to join him in the afterlife he commits suicide.
Relationship with other characters: He is an outsider but well liked and is welcomed to join
them. On good terms with everyone.
What is Hassan’s Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: With his brother he finds the lost goat (dead) and the demon-named gold nameplate.
Denial: While his brother (Hussein) tries to convince him that the Hill and the nameplate are
evil, he pushes him aside and wants to take the nameplate to Kendrick to be explained.
Hassan’s reaction at first horror: The first horror was the death of the goat, then his brother
Hussein. He reacts with grief and humiliation. He now realizes his brother was right and
he coaxes Kendrick to join him and leave the Hill of the Two Devils.
Hassan’s relation to group after first horror: The first horror for the archaeological team is to
witness Hassan killing himself when he sees an apparition of his brother Hussein begging
him to join him in the afterlife where Hussein says he needs him. Ned warns Hassan not
to do it, “Your brother would never want you to kill yourself, the apparition is not your
brother but some demon conjured by the leader of demons, Azazel” who has possessed
the mummified head. Hassan is on friendly terms with Kendrick and after that with the
aspiring archaeologists (Ned Garner, Kaitlyn Randolph, Bob Barton). How they fight
back:
End Point: For Hassan Hussein’s apparition is the horror that spurs him on to suicide so he can
be with his brother.
His death shows the characters and the audience the power and evil of the demon Azazel.
Character: Dr. Colin Kendrick
Role: Victim; Dept Head of Near Eastern Archaeology at Buckridge University and Museum.
Traits: Professiorial, professional but approachable.
Fears: At first, he has no fears, inspite of the death of Hussein and persistent warnings. After
the suicide of Hassan, he fears both Azazel and fears for those whom he has brought into
danger by the expedition.
Wants/Needs: He persists in his singular goal of making a major archaeological discovery, i.e.,
to discover a Toreph (a head used in antiquity for necromancy and divination), believing it would put him in a professional standing with Kathleen Kenyon who discovered similar skulls in nearby ancient Jericho. He is like Ahab in search of the White Whale disregarding his own safety and that of others. After the suicide of Hassan, however, belatedly, his primary want is the safety of his archaeological team
(Ned Garner, Kaitlyn Randolph, and Bob Barton).
Likability / Rooting factors: The fact that he is both learned and approachable; capable of
getting along with academic colleagues, his team, and even Arab goat-herders.
How they react under stress: He fights back at Azazel. In his dying moments he counsels Ned
to neutralize the demon by extracting the demonic Azazel nameplate from the mouth of the mummified head.
Relationship with other characters: Friendly but regrets his monomania about making a
Major archaeological which brought his team into danger.
What is Kendrick’s Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: He is on a nearby archaeological dig when Hassan and Hussein bring the
engraved gold nameplate to him to explain what it is. He explains the name on the plate
is the name of Azazel a dessert demon and leader of fallen angels in both Jewish and
Arabic mythology and wants the brothers to take him to the spot where they found the nameplate. Above it he sees a cave which he wants to examine. .
Denial: That there is any evil at the Hill of the Two Devils which is superstition that will not
dissuad him from pursuing an expedition to find the contents of the cave/tomb. He is
still in denial when he and the brothers come to the cave. The cave is sealed, walled up by a previous expedition that has also left a sign with a dire warning not to enter the cave.
Kendrick’s reaction at first horror: The first horror is the death of Hussein which still does
not dissuade him from returning to excavate the cave/tomb.
Relation to group after first horror: Warm relations continue but he immediately abandons
any thought of a discovery and becomes earnestly concerned with the safety of his team.
How Kendrick fights back: He tells Ned to extract the gold Azazel nameplate from the mouth
of the skull, in other words to deactivate and expel the demon Azazel from the skull.
End Point: Kendrick is mortally wounded when a ricocheting bullet (trajectory guided by
(Azazel) mortally wounds him. He dies with the final instruction to Ned to pull the
demon nameplate from the mouth of the skull.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The power of the evil
monster the demon, Azazel. Also a lesson: To overcome evil you have to accept that it
exists.
Character: Ned Garner
A. What is Ned Garner’s (protagonist) Character Profile?
Role: Both Victim and Survivor because although killed in a collapsing of the cave he is
resurrected by Azazel who then possesses him.
Traits: Handsome, a bit shy and self-deprecating.
Fears: The demon Azazel whom he fights in order to free himself and his friends.
Wants/Needs: Loves Kaitlyn. Wants to be part of a great archaeological discovery.
Likability / Rooting factors: His modesty. But also has a ‘killer instinct evident by his
brilliance as a chess player. His love of his friends and personable manner all make him
likeable.
How Ned Garner reacts under stress: Fights back against the demon Azazel.
Relationship with other characters: Warm, friendly.
B. What is Ned Garner’s Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: We first find Ned beating his friend Bob Barton in a chess game with a move
called the Royal Fork. Barton tells Ned, “For a nice guy you have a killer instinct on the
chess board.”
Denial: He agrees with Kendrick that the talk of evil at Tel Esh-Shataneen is superstitious and
And wants to pursue the expedition. Like Kaitlyn and Bob, he defers to Kendrick’s
denial as the leader.
Ned Garner’s reaction at first horror: Ned fights back. When Azazel produces a supposed
apparition of Hassan’s dead brother Hussein begging him to join him in the afterlife,
Hassan grab’s Bob Barton’s gun to commit suicide and join his brother. Ned pleads with
Hassan not to kill himself, it’s not your brother who is speaking to you. Your brother
would not want you to kill yourself.”
Ned’s Relation to group after first horror: Wants to save all of them, first by neutralizing the
Toreph (the demon possessed mummified head. Then later fighting the mummy of Cushan whose head is reunited with his body and is possessed by Azazel.
How Ned fights back: Finally, as the mummy is in pursuit of them, Ned leads Bob and Kaitlyn
in tossing down a bolder onto the mummy which kills him. But Azazel still lives.
End Point: Azazel causes the collapse of the cav with Ned on the roof. He is killed in the
landslide. Bug Azazel resurrects and possesses Ned.
What insight does Ned’s death have on the others/audience? Kaitlyn and Bob notice there is
something wrong about Ned, especially, when shows them that he has retrieved the gold
Azazel nameplate that started the horror. They are afraid of this and Ned. Tells
audience: Evil is always ready to outsmart. Also, there will be a sequel.
Character: Kaitlyn Randolph.
A. What is their Character Profile?
Role: Survivor.
Traits: Good looking in a nerdy way, sweet and smart.
Fears: Once the horror starts with the speaking of Azazel through a skull, she fears what might
happen. Her fear increases when the apparition of Hussein appears and Hassan kills
himself.
Wants/Needs: Loves Ned but wishes he would be more proactive with his aspirations as a
budding archaeologist like herself.
Likability / Rooting factors: Her smarts and love for Ned and the way she is part of a
trio of Ned, Kaitlyn and Bob Barton.
How Kaitlyn reacts under stress: She uses her smarts to figure out a way to fight the demon.
She originates the idea of extracting the gold Azazel nameplate from the mouth of the
mummified head. She also follows Ned’s lead, including crushing the mummy with a bolder.
Kaitlyn’s Relationship with other characters: With Ned, love. Friendly and pleasant with the
others. Defers to Kendrick’s leadership.
B. What is Kaitlyn’s Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: At the University Student Union, she joins Ned and Bob Barton as they finish
a chess game.
Denial: Defers to Kendrick’s rationalism and denies any supernatural evil. However, once she
sees the horror for herself, she denies no more!
Kaitlyn’s reaction at first horror: The appearance of the apparition of Hussein and Hassan’s
suicide is the first horror for her. She screams but recovers and is determined to fight
Azazel. She comes up with the idea of extracting the gold Azazel nameplate from the
mummified head’s mouth.
Relation to group after first horror: Solidarity and support.
How Kaitlyn fights back: Fights back with her smarts. She comes up with the idea of
extracting the gold Azazel nameplate from the mummified head’s mouth.
End Point: The Azazel-possessed mummy is killed, Ned comes out of the landslide alive but
Doesn’t seem like Ned anymore, she notices first. He is in fact possessed by Azazel.
What insight does Kaitlyn’s survival bring to the others/audience? To Bob Barton, that she
is a true friend and partner for their mutual rescue. To the audience, there will be a
sequel, how will she handle Ned’s possession by Azazel?
Character: Bob Barton.
A. What is Bob Barton’s Character Profile?
Role: Friend of Ned Garner and Kaitlyn Randolph, like them, an aspiring archaeologist and
student of Dr. Colin Kendrick.
Traits: Warm, humorous, provides comic relief.
Fears: When he learns of the red flags about supernatural evil they might encounter, he initially is fearful, but defers to Kendrick and his friends.
Wants/Needs: Wants to be part of a major archaeological discovery which Kendrick says
awaits them at the otherwise sinister sounding Tel Esh-Shaytaneen (Hill of the Two
Devils).
Likability / Rooting factors: He is very personable, humorous and the kind of guy you would
want to know, if you didn’t know him.
How does Bob react under stress: After Hassan kills himself with Bob’s gun. Bob swipes the
gun from his lifeless hand and tries the shoot the Toreph, i.e., the Azazel-possessed
mummified skull to destroy it. However, Azazel had erected invisible bullet proof
shields. The bullets ricochet and are controlled in their trajectory to mortally wound
Kendrick. Bob is partner with Ned in crushing the Azazel-possessed mummy with a
bolder.
Bob’s Relationship with other characters: Always warm and friendly. Acts as a partner in all
things.
B. What is Bob Barton’s Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: We first meet Bob as he loses a chess game to Ned in the Student Union of
Buckridge University.
Denial: At first he does not deny that evil exists on Hill of the Two Devils when he hears the
story of the death of the goat, the finding of the Azazel gold nameplate, and the death of
Hussein. But he defers to the department head and leader of the expedition, Dr.
Kendrick, as do Kaitlyn and Ned.
Bob’s reaction at first horror: Which for him is the apparition of Hussein and Hassan’s
suicide. His reaction is to fight back. As he fires his gun the bullet ricochets and with
Azazel controlling the trajectory, mortally wounds Kendrick. Bob is in remorse. Kendrick treats him kindly telling him to think of themselves to save.
Bob’s Relation to group after first horror: A partner in fighting Azazel.
How Ned fights back: When Azazel enters the mummy of Cushan and pursues Bob, Ned, and
Kaitlyn, he is a partner with Bob in crushing him with a bolder.
End Point: Bob survives with Ned and Kaitlyn but both Bob and Kaitlyn notice there is
something wrong about Ned (he is possessed by Azazel).
What insight does Bob Barton’s survival bring to the others/audience? To Kaitlyn, she’s
glad Bob survived, he is an important fried that she may have to lean on as Ned goes
through changes possessed by Azazel. To the audience, concern about how Bob will deal with Ned’s possession in the sequel. Also, will Bob and Kaitlyn become an ‘item.’
Character: Dr. Clement Leroux, President, French Institute of Near Eastern Archaeology
A. What is Leroux’s Character Profile?
Role: Minor character, survivor. He is a distinguished archaeologist who previously excavated the cave/tomb, sealed it up, and left a dire warning sign not to enter it claiming that the cave is in danger of collapse and there is nothing within. Kendrick calls Leroux in Paris to inquire about his excavation at Tel Esh-Shaytaneen and why he sealed up the cave/tomb.
Traits: Learned, professional but approachable. He and Kendrick are kindred spirits.
Fears: When Kendrick tells him that he wants to excavate the cave/tomb on Tel Esh-Shaytaneen, Leroux fears for Kendrick and his party if he does so. Leroux attempts to talk Kendrick out of it for his own good and that of his expedition. To explain how concerned he is , Leroux describes how two of his party died, or maybe they were murdered and he threw away the gold Azazel nameplate which he now wishes he had destroyed so that it would never be seen again, instead Hassan and Hussein discovered it in the sand where he threw it. The thing is a transmitter of evil. And he tells Kendrick to destroy it.
Wants/Needs: He wants and needs Kendrick to cancel his expedition to Tel Esh-Shaytaneen, to the cave/tomb.
Likability / Rooting factors about Leroux: Kindly, warm, and genuinely caring for what might
happen if Kendrick conducts his excavation at Tel Esh-Shaytaneen.
How they react under stress: Leroux’s horror experience was years earlier, but he reveals that
2 members of his expedition died or were perhaps murdered. His way of dealing with the
experience was to abandon the excavation of the cave/tomb on Tel Esh-Shaytaneen. He
also reveals that ever since the experience he has had treatment for PTSD.
Relationship with other characters: He only has a distant relation with Kendrick on the phone
but it is satisfactory even though his warning falls on Kendrick’s deaf ears.
B. What is Clement Leroux’s Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: His appearance only for a short time, namely, a phone call from Kendrick to
find out information about Tel Esh-Shaytaneen from the last man who excavated it.
Denial: No denial of the presence of evil on Tel Esh-Shaytaneen. Leroux tries to talk Kendrick
into cancelling his expedition.
Leroux’s reaction at first horror: The horror for Leroux occurred years earlier but it is his
experience that he shares on the phone with Kendrick to convince him to cancel the
excavation.
Relation to group after first horror: All these years after his experience of the horror, he cares
for Kendrick and his ambition to make a great archaeological discovery.
How they fight back: Leroux fought back years earlier by abandoning his excavation, sealing
up the cave/tomb, and throwing away the evil Azazel nameplate, which unfortunately
was found later and is in the possession of Kendrick.
End Point: In one last statement to Kendrick, he says that he is a Captain Ahab and the
cave/tomb at Tel Esh-Shaytaneen is his White Whale, but what will it do your team and
ultimately yourself?
What insight does Leroux’s survival bring to the others/audience? Kendrick feels warmly
toward Leroux but disregards his advice. To the audience, Leroux’s survival and
warning shows how evil the monster (Azazel) is and heightens the anticipation of what awaits the expedition team (Kendrick, Garner, Barton, and Randolph) when they arrive and begin excavating the cave/tomb on Tel Esh-Shaytaneen..
Character: The Toreph (Azazel).
Explanation: A Toreph is singular from Teraphim. The Teraphim in the Bible are ‘household
gods.” However, in later traditions, they are said to be the mummified heads that are
used for necromancy and divination. The demon in the skull is activated by placing in its
mouth a gold nameplate with the name of the demon engraved upon it. In this case, the
gold nameplate has the name of Azazel engraved upon it. Azazel is the desert demon in Jewish and Arabic mythology.
Such heads were found in ancient Jericho in the fifties by Kathleen Kenyon, only, instead of being mummified they were plastered. These skulls originated in the Neolithic era (9,000 to 6,000 BC).
In the story, Kendrick believes he is about to make a major discovery of more such skulls at Tel Esh-Shaytaneen which is only a short distance from ancient Jericho and the site of Kenyon’s discovery.
A. What is the Toreph’s Character Profile?
Role: Both a victim and a survivor. Azazel is the personality inhabiting the mummified skull. Azazel is the leader of he fallen angels, I Enoch 13 and Genesis 6:1-4.
Traits: Cruel and evil.
Fears: None.
Wants/Needs: Not only does he want to spread evil and deception but he finds Kaitlyn
Randolph attractive. Although lacking a body, he still acts in-character as one of the
fallen angels who found the daughters of men attractive and “went in unto them” Genesis
chapter 6
Likability / Rooting factors: None.
How they react under stress: When Ned extracts the gold Azazel nameplate from the mouth of
the Toreph, he flees and enters the body of the mummy of King Cushan from whose
mummy the Toreph skull was taken. In this form, he arises from the sarcophagus and
pursues Ned, Kaitlyn and Bob who finally kill him with a bolder but then Azazel causes
the cave-in of the cave/tomb killing Ned. However, Azazel then resurrects Ned and
possesses him.
The Toreph’s relationship with other characters: Azazel has an evil and deadly antagonistic
relationship with everybody.
B. What is their Toreph (Azazel’s) Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: When the goat mysteriously dies on the slope of Tel Esh-Shaytaneen after
making contact with the small gold Azazel nameplate. The Toreph (Azazel) is still
unseen but proceeds to do evil through the Azazel gold nameplate when he kills Hussein
by a stroke of lightning emanating from the cave/tomb.
Denial: The Toreph (Azazel) has none.
The Toreph’s (Azazel’s) reaction at first horror: Satisfied with the horror he created but this
is unseen.
Relation to group after first horror: He prepares to do more horror.
How the Toreph (Azazel) fights back: Does more evil. He conjures an apparition of Hussein
To convince Hassan to kill himself in order to keep him company in the afterlife. Which
we never know if it is heaven or hell. Ned believes that the Hussein apparition was not
Hussein but a demon sent by a leader of demons, Azazel, who now animates the Toreph
head.
End Point: When Ned extracts the small gold Azazel nameplate from the mouth of the
mummified skull, Azazel flees to the sarcophagus of Cushan and possesses his mummy.
Ned, Kaitlyn, and Bob take the mummified head and make the mistake of placing it in the
sarcophagus with the mummy. The head reunites to the body and now Azazel has a full body, he explodes out of the clay sarcophagus and pursues Ned, Kaitlyn and Bob. The invisible shield blocking cave entering is lifted so they escape through it and Ned climbs up over the cave entrance and drops a bolder on the mummy. Azazel then causes the cave to cave in, killing Ned but Azazel resurrects Ned and possesses him.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Forces of evil are clever and tenacious. There will be a sequel.
2. Build those Character Journeys into your outline.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere
of Evil establishedWhile on an unrelated archaeological expedition, Dr. Colin Kendrick, head of the Archaeology Dept at Buckridge University in the USA, is approached by two Arab goat-herding brothers, Hassan and Hussein, who, while searching for a lost goat, had discovered, in the sand, an ancient gold nameplate engraved with the demonic name Azazel – a desert demon of Jewish (Biblical) and Arabic lore. Kendrick insists they take him to the place where they found it which they reluctantly do. Hassan is in denial of any danger, but Hussein believes that there is evil in the place. The place is called the Hill of the Two Devils and they had found their lost goat dead on the slope of Tel Esh-Shaytaneen (which means the Hill of the Two Devils). Near the goat, they found the Azazel nameplate. Kendrick notices that just above them on the slope is a cave entrance that was sealed up by the last expedition that explored it – the French expedition led by Clement Leroux, President of the French Institute for Near Eastern Archaeology, who left a warning sign in French, English, Arabic and Hebrew: “WARNING! CAVE IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE! Already excavated – nothing within.” When Kendrick removes one brick from the cave entrance, a streak of lightning kills Hussein. Hassan, fearing more evil to come, begs him to do nothing further. Kendrick vows he will return with an expedition from Buckridge U. the following year to open the cave which he believes is a tomb with Neolithic skulls similar to what Kenyon discovered in the 1950’s a short distance away – a major archaeological discovery.
Connect
with the charactersWe have connected with Dr Colin Kendrick already, whose manner is professorial and professional but approachable. We are now at the Student Union of Buckridge University where we are introduced to three aspiring archaeologists: Ned Garner, Bob Barton, and Kaitlyn Randolph. Ned and Bob are playing chess and Kaitlyn joins them and watches. Ned is a chess enthusiast that Bob says shows his killer instinct as Ned defeats Bob at Chess with a Royal Fork move. Ned is still shy about joining Kendrick’s dig but Kaitlyn (Ned’s love interest) coaxes him, as she is going on the dig itself. That clinches it. He is an aspiring archaeologist. He has to go. Moreover, Kaitlyn is going. How can he not go?
The
characters are warned not to do it.The Phone Call: Kendrick wants to learn what happened to the French expedition that they
sealed the cave on Tel Esch-Shaytaneen. So he calls that expedition’s leader, Dr.
Clement Leroux in Paris to ask him to recount his expediiton’s experience. When
Kendrick tells him that he wants to excavate the cave/tomb on Tel Esh-Shaytaneen,
Leroux fears for Kendrick and his party if he does so. Leroux attempts to talk Kendrick
out of it for his own good and that of his expedition. To explain how concerned he is ,
Leroux describes how two of his party died, or maybe they were murdered and he threw
away the gold Azazel nameplate which he now wishes he had destroyed so that it would
never be seen again, instead Hassan and Hussein discovered it in the sand where he threw
it. The thing is a transmitter of evil. And he tells Kendrick to destroy it. But his words fall on Kendrick’s deaf ears. Kendrick believes he is about to make a major discovery like Kenyon’s in the fifties. Leroux tells him he is like Ahab and that cave/tomb is his White Whale. Ahab got his White Whale but at his own mortal expense and that of his ship and crew.
Ned visits Kendrick in his office and is welcomed by him to the expedition with enthusiasm as Ned is a gifted linguist in ancient Near Eastern languages. Kendrick tells Ned everything that happened at Tel Ash-Shaytaneen, the previous year. Kendrick even shows him the Azazel gold nameplate, which on the table, ominously vibrates like a cell phone – a warning that there is a malevolent supernatural presence connected with the Azazel nameplate and the cave on Hill of the Two Devils. Kendrick wants to share these details only with Ned, but Ned wants to tell the others as they should be told.
Denial
of HorrorAccordingly, Kendrick calls a meeting of the team (Ned, Bob, and Kaitlyn and tells them also the whole story of Tel Esh-Shaytaneen. Bob, the comic relief of the show betrays some superstitious proclivities, but in the end science prevails especially after Kendrick tells them that the site is not far from ancient Jericho where Kenyon in the 50’s discovered cultic skulls from the Neolithic era which assures Kendrick that they will make a similar discovery, perhaps of Teraphim (skulls used as household gods for necromancy and divination in Biblical times and quotes the Bible as evidence and other tradiions in support. He shows them the Azazel nameplate which explains, was used b sorcerers who would insert the plate into the mouths of the skulls so that they could speak to the necromancer. Bottom line: All the team wants to proceed with the expedition which they believe will yield a major discovery in Near Eastern Archaeology. Very Bottom line: The horror is denied.
Safety
taken awayIn the cave at Tel Esh-Shaytaneen the team is joined by Hassan. When the bricks left by the French expedition are removed and they enter the cave tomb, they discover a clay Egyptian style anthropoid sarcophagus marked King Cushan. They realize they have found the tomb of the Biblical villain, Cushan Rishathaim, Cushan the Doubly-Evil, of Judges 8. His mummy is headless and a sword is beside him in the sarcophagus. In another chamber they find a mummified head, a Toreph (singular of Terraphim) – obviously the skull of Cushan the Doubly-Evil. Kendrick inserts the Azazel nameplate into the skull’s mouth. At that instant an invisible barrier descends over the entrance to the cave. They are trapped inside with the Toreph that now begins to speak. .
Monster:
The nature of the beast.The Toreph (Azazel) speaks and knows each person by name and his agenda is to wreak torment and evil on all of them whom he has trapped in the cave/tomb.all the world. Then Azazel produces a supposed apparition of Hassan’s dead brother Hussein begging him too join him in the afterlife, where he needs him. Hassan asks whether or not he is in Jinnah (garden of paradise, in Islam) or hell. Hassan grab’s Bob Barton’s gun to commit suicide and join his brother. Ned pleads with Hassan not to kill himself, it’s not your brother who is speaking to you. Your brother would not want you to kill yourself. This is a demon conjured by Azazel who is a leader of demons.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated
/ Trapped / AbductedThe Archaeology team is trapped in the cave/tomb.
One
of us killedThe Toreph tells Hassan that his brother is calling him to go join him.
Hassan: In Jinnah?
Toreph: No, not the Garden of Paradise. The fire of Hell.
Ned: Don’t listen. He is Azazel, a liar.
The Toreph conjures an apparition of Hussein who beckons Hassan to join him.
Hassan grab’s Bob Barton’s gun to commit suicide and join his brother. Ned pleads with Hassan not to kill himself, it’s not your brother who is speaking to you. Your brother would not want you to kill yourself. This is a demon conjured by Azazel who is a leader of demons. But Hassan says he “would do anything for his brother if he needs me.” He shoots himself.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Full
pursuit by the killer AND terrorizedBob grabs his gun from Hassan’s lifeless hand and fires, but the bullet ricochets off an te invisible barrier that protects the Toreph. The ricocheting bullet mortally wounds Kendrick.
Toreph: I am Azazel, I taught humanity the use of weapons. Of course I would protect myself from weapons first. Serves you right that the evil you intended for me would come to you.
Before Kendrick dies, he tells Ned, weapons are useless. Kaitlyn suggests that if iinserting the Azazel nameplate into the head’s mouth made Azazel possess the skull, then extracting it would exorcize Azazel. The invisible shield protects the Toreph only from weapons but you have none. Kendrick praises and agrees with Kaitlyn’s assessment.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight
to the deathIt proves to be true, with no weapon, Ned can pass unobstructed through the protective barrier around the Toreph,
Toreph (Azazel): Trying to play Chess with me? This is no Chess game.
Ned: We’ll see about that.
Ned grabs the Toreph and pulls the Azazel nameplate out of his mouth. Azazel no longer possesses the skull, all the invisible barriers he erected are eliminated. Azazel no longer possesses the skull. Not seen by Bob and Kaitlyn is that Ned pockets the Azazel nameplate. Ned, Bob, and Kaitlyn return the skull to the clay sarcophagus with the headless mummy of King Cushan.
Hysteria
As they walk away from the sarcophagus, the mummy of Cushan explodes out of the sarcophagus assailing them with his sword. The mummy of Cushan is possessed by Azazel, who speaks: “Now, I have found his entire body in which to dwell.”
The
thrilling escape from deathWith the invisible barriers gone, Ned, Bob, and Kaitlyn escape. Ned and Kaitlyn exit the cave/tomb. Ned directs Bob and Kaitlyn to join him as they climb up above the rocky surface around the cave entrance and push a bolder down on the mummy of Cushan, crushing him.
Ned: You see, it is a chess game. Royal Fork on you Azazel.
Bob and Kaitlyn climb down from above the cave entrance leaving Ned on top.
Death
returns to take one or more.
Azazel through Cushan’s mummy says to Ned: “Fork you!” As Azazel/Cushan point to Ned, a seismic
event happens, the cave/tomb collapses, taking Ned with it. Supposedly, it kills him. Azazel/Cushan crushed as he is beneath a
bolder, dies.
ResolutionKaitlyn mourns Ned, comforted by Bob. When Ned suddenly pulls himself out of the rubble. He is resurrected by and now possessed by Azazel which Bob and Kaitlyn sense but then they react with denial. Ned shows Bob and Kaitlyn that he has the Azazel nameplate.
Kaitlyn: Why did you save that?
Bob: Yeah, that’s what started everything.
Ned: It is the only artefact from this location that survives.
This is the final horror: That Azazel will still operate from through a friend and lover, possessed by the demon.
It also sets up a sequel.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by Robert Smith.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by
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Subject line: Pamela’s Character Journey Track
What I learned doing this assignment is…?
Plugging characters into a profile is a great exercise but it is challenging and takes time to think through. It was worth the extra time to start understanding the motivation of my characters and if they make sense at all.
Sybil’s Character Profile
Role:
Protagonist who is the gateway to the horror
Traits:
cautious, introspective, alert
Fears:
exposing her secrets, emotional closeness
Wants/Needs:
calm environment, solitude
Likability
/ Rooting factors: smart, tries to make decision that benefit the group
How they
react under stress: takes charge but also works with the team
Relationship
with other characters: some trust her and some don’tSybil’s Character Journey for this story
Character
Intro: Chased through the woods to her presumed death
Denial:
She was rid of her past with Carras
Their
reaction at first horror: confusion, anxiety, not sure what it is or what
to do
Relation
to group after first horror: let’s dominate personalities take over
How they
fight back: shares what she knows about Carras and her past interaction to
find a solution
End Point:
Care Center takes Carras away and she finds relief in believing he is gone
for good
What
insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? You
can’t run or hide from your past and need to face it head onMarie Slope’s Character Profile
1. Role: obstacle to making decisions, sometimes steering the group to the wrong decisions, one of the causes of the group fracturing
3. Fears: not being center of attention, not being heard
4. Wants/Needs: to control others and make herself feel like a leader to mask her self- esteem issues
5. Likability / Rooting factors: loud, annoying, but her esteem issues make her somewhat sympathetic
6. How they react under stress: freaks out and is very emotional
7. Relationship with other characters: Clara understands her the most given her psychology background, the others find her drama unhelpful and somewhat dangerous to the task at hand
Marie Slope’s Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: as a member of the volunteers willing to stay and man the evacuation center
2. Denial: she calls bull on a murder and thinks its supernatural from the beginning
3. Their reaction at first horror: hysterical
4. Relation to group after first horror: her over the top behavior has alienated some in the group, others are willing to go with her ideas since she is so adamant and this causes the rifts and factions in the group to unfold
5. How they fight back: seeks out the danger to see if she can commune with it and get it on her side
6. End Point: the Care Center does away with her
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? She might have been right about the threat but her behavior caused some in the group to reject her and the threat could have been neutralized earlier if others could have listened to her
Jacob & Jill Thibodeaux’s Character Profile
1. Role: antagonists with a hidden agenda to exploit the hurricane chaos
2. Traits: poor judgement, erratic, insensitive, bullying to some, threatening to others
3. Fears: getting caught in their scheme
4. Wants/Needs: easy way to make a living
5. Likability / Rooting factors: not many other than comic relief
6. How they react under stress: avoid helping and leave if they can and run to safety
7. Relationship with other characters: only character that cares for them is Lily, Clara stills thinks she can help turn their lives around
Jacob & Jill Thibodeaux Character Journey for this story
1. Character Intro: show up at the school before the doors close
2. Denial: they are not concerned with the threat, single focus on stealing electronics and getting out during the worst of the storm
3. Their reaction at first horror: run and hide thinking it may be one of the criminals they know also trying to steal the electronics
4. Relation to group after first horror: they distance themselves from the group with their behavior and this begins the division of the groups that will make it easier for the Care Center and Carras to start killing them
5. How they fight back: try to strike a bargain with who they think is the killer
6. End Point: die together at the hands of Carras
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Lily might be better off without them
Lily Thibodeaux Character Profile
1. Role: innocent that needs protecting
2. Traits: quiet, pensive, uneasy, street smart
3. Fears: chaos, insecurity
4. Wants/Needs: safety, security, emotional warmth
5. Likability / Rooting factors: smart, mentally strong
6. How they react under stress: curious
7. Relationship with other characters: evokes a protectiveness in the adult characters
Lily Thibodeaux Character Journey for this story
1. Character Intro: In Carmel’s classroom
2. Denial: thinks the monster is one that her parents would tell her to keep her from snooping too much into their illegal dealings
3. Their reaction at first horror: fear, panic
4. Relation to group after first horror:
5. How they fight back: uses herself as a decoy to help the group
6. End Point: she lives and is hopeful even without her parents
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The evil is not totally evil
Clara Knox Character Profile
1. Role: pivotal character who anchors the children emotionally during the chaos
2. Traits: calm, intellectual, nurturing, curious
3. Fears: losing control of her emotions, letting others see she is vulnerable, reliving another school massacre
4. Wants/Needs: control over her fears of shutting down in a crisis, being a hero to the children
5. Likability / Rooting factors: kind, team player, thinks in smart ways
6. How they react under stress: shuts down for a few minutes but bounces back with solutions
7. Relationship with other characters: Jacob and Jill don’t like her for her influence over their daughter Lily, Sybil looks to her for answers, the rest like her but also have their own agenda so dismiss
Clara Knox Character Journey for this story
1. Character Intro: as a member of the volunteers willing to stay and man the evacuation center
2. Denial: she logically thinks that one of the remaining people at the school is dangerous
3. Their reaction at first horror: upset and panicked but has rational solutions to understand what is going on
4. Relation to group after first horror: she gains trust of most but is still not aligned with Jacob and Jill
5. How they fight back: protective mode with the kids and makes smart decisions to keep them out of harm’s way
6. End Point: sacrifices her soul for the kids
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? She is one that you thought would make it so it is a shock when she doesn’t
Potter Character Profile
1. Role: minor character to add muscle to the fight against the Care Center
2. Traits: Optimistic
3. Fears: death, dark emotions
4. Wants/Needs: to get home to take care of his alligator
5. Likability / Rooting factors: nice enough, not offensive
6. How they react under stress: disbelief
7. Relationship with other characters: most find him likable and helpful in the situation
Potter Character Journey for this story
1. Character Intro: Putting up the boards on the windows of the gym
2. Denial: wants to find a rational explanation as a science teacher
3. Their reaction at first horror: confusion
4. Relation to group after first horror: steady and solid approach with ideas of how to get a handle on the terror
5. How they fight back: using his brains
6. End Point: Falls from the roof a hero
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? No one is safe
Coach Ogilvy Character Profile
1. Role: rulebreaker and creative thinker
2. Traits: confident, commanding, natural leader, communicator
3. Fears: not finishing his mission
4. Wants/Needs: wants to be seen as the hero in the chaos
5. Likability / Rooting factors: appears to be a motivator, stabilizing demeanor
6. How they react under stress: overly helpful, very coach-y with pep talks
7. Relationship with other characters: some see him as bossy, most find calm in his leadership and cooperation
Coach Ogilvy Character Journey for this story
1. Character Intro: pep talk to his players before sending them home
2. Denial: tells the group the storm is a mountain out of a mole hill
3. Their reaction at first horror: believes a game plan or strategy can get them to safety
4. Relation to group after first horror: some are drawn to his ability to come up with a strategy, Jacob and Jill think he may thwart their plans so resist his leadership
5. How they fight back: singles out innocent group members, unleashes his power at the last minute to survive
6. End Point: Terrance skewers Ogilvy with a large hand and rips out his intestines
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? He was wolf in sheep’s clothing and should not have been trusted
Terrance Character Profile
1. Role: a sleeper agent for the Care Center
2. Traits: chatty and charismatic
3. Fears: he is part of the Care Center but his role is not known in the beginning
4. Wants/Needs: fulfill his mission
5. Likability / Rooting factors: he seems affable and concerned
6. How they react under stress: helpful, full of ideas
7. Relationship with other characters: supportive
Terrance Character Journey for this story
1. Character Intro: Driving into the parking lot of the school
2. Denial: the storm is just a storm is his reaction to the group
3. Their reaction at first horror: acts concerned but knows more than he is leading on
4. Relation to group after first horror: one of the group, not a threat
5. How they fight back: participate in plans to defeat the terror
6. End Point: Returns back to the Care Center by disappearing
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Even the Care Center has rules that need to be enforced
Carmel Washington Character Profile
1. Role: a warrior in the making
2. Traits: meek, quiet but when she speaks she has sage advice
3. Fears: unsure of her place in the world, insecure with her teaching career
4. Wants/Needs: to be more confident and true to herself
5. Likability / Rooting factors: a good person, non-threatening
6. How they react under stress: fearful, anxiety, nervous
7. Relationship with other characters: they silence her thinking she is weak, don’t listen to her in the beginning
Carmel Washington Character Journey for this story
1. Character Intro: Teaching in her classroom at the end of the day
2. Denial: believes the storm is dangerous but willing to stay in an uncomfortable situation for her personality
3. Their reaction at first horror: overwhelmed, frightened
4. Relation to group after first horror: others think she is too weak and will be a detriment to survival
5. How they fight back: puts herself in harms way to defeat the threat
6. End Point: she is one of the only ones left after the horrific night’s events
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Warriors can be made even if they are not born to it
Marcus Pitney Character Profile
1. Role: type A, detached onlooker
2. Traits: analytical, egoistical
3. Fears: looking stupid or not prepared
4. Wants/Needs: to be seen as an authority
5. Likability / Rooting factors: smart
6. How they react under stress: demanding
7. Relationship with other characters: most find him self centered
Marcus Pitney Character Journey for this story
1. Character Intro: on his cellphone talking to a LSU math department head berating him for not getting a job he interviewed for
2. Denial: thinks everyone is overacting to the storm and that an evacuation center is a stupid idea
3. Their reaction at first horror: shows is fear and is underwhelming in helping to figure out what is happening
4. Relation to group after first horror: ignore him and this bruises his ego and he stews about it
5. How they fight back: tries to take control as a way to manage his own fear
6. End Point: he makes it out but with a lot less hubris
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? He was a loud mouth but a coward in the end
Principal LaPierre Character Profile
1. Role: Power hungry and obsessed with control and keeping power
2. Traits: brash, insufferable
3. Fears: losing control over the people participating in the evacuation
4. Wants/Needs: to be seen as an authority which clashes with Marcus
5. Likability / Rooting factors: audience will root for him to die
6. How they react under stress: starts finger pointing and blaming random people
7. Relationship with other characters: rocky
Principal LaPierre Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: he sees Carmel in the hall and makes an inappropriate suggestion about being locked in the school together
2. Denial: he has been through hurricanes his whole life and this is just one more, nothing to worry about
3. Their reaction at first horror: uncharacteristically quiet and fearful
4. Relation to group after first horror: ignore him in favor of Coach Ogilvy and Potter for guidance
5. How they fight back: complaining and bullying others into his way of combating the chaos
6. End Point: found in the swimming pool filled with blood instead of water
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Good riddance, he was a predator
Chantel & Miles Character Profile
1. Role: students, another potential innocent victim the group needs to protect
2. Traits: good students, polite, but a little rambunctious
3. Fears: not understanding all the death around them
4. Wants/Needs: to see their parents again, to play with their favorite video games
5. Likability / Rooting factors: fun, humorous, ability to see through the adults and their many issues
6. How they react under stress: a lot of questions about what is going on and if they will make it
7. Relationship with other characters: they want to protect them
Chantel & Miles Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: sitting in Carmel’s classroom
2. Denial: believe their parents will come soon to get them
3. Their reaction at first horror: worry, panic, and anxiety
4. Relation to group after first horror: some see them as another thing to worry about, others feel responsible for their wellbeing
5. How they fight back: take direction from the adults but add their own ideas from video games to help
6. End Point: Clara sacrifices herself to save them
7. What
insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? That children
are sacred and even the Care Center and Terrance believe this
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