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Lesson 6
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Subject Line: Will Jennings: Character Profiles Part 1
My Vision: I will write movies that are extremely funny and entertaining and bring a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment to a world starving for true enjoyment.
What I learned from doing this assignment is developing big-time characters is a ton of work, but worth it.
Gwendolyn / Abigail
The High Concept: Two young princesses come from a Fairy Tale World to make Earth a better place. Whatever they envision on their cell phones and tablets, comes to life.
This character’s journey: Internal Journey: From scared stiff to skillful and ingenious.
External Journey: From little daughters to influential companions
The Actor Attractors for this character:
Lead Character Name: Gwendolyn
Role: Dual Protagonist
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A person from another world who is the most loyal of friends and with a wide grin, she likes everyone, and the world likes her right back.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She is the underdog and people empathize with her. Audiences root for her happy ending.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
She uses her other-worldly tablet to fly drones to scare off a motorcycle gang. Causing the antagonist to have major car trouble that looks like a smoke bomb went off.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Showing her the daughter of a Queen in a magical land with sprites and fairies blasting through a wormhole toward planet Earth.
What could be this character’s emotional range?
An optimist who urges everyone on to victory. She is cooperative and a true team player. Using her sarcastic wit, no matter what predicament she encounters, she always finds something to laugh about.
What subtext can the actor play?
She is clearly much more intelligent than her earthly counterparts and uses persuasion to enable them to follow her inspiration.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Her bond with her twin sister is a real us against the world scenario. Using her paranormal powers against the antagonist is a hoot in the hopes of reforming this egomaniac.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
She believes in being upbeat, although has too sharp a tongue, and is always going for the gusto in life. She helps her friends but does not stop living for their sake especially if they are undeserving.
What could make this character special and unique?
Always quick with a sarcastic joke, she’s the life of the party and can pull anyone out of a downer mood.
Lead Character Name: Abigail
Role: Dual Protagonist
The Actor Attractors for this character:
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A fun-loving person who only makes decisions with her emotions that have nothing to do with logic.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She makes the experience worthwhile in her zany, high-spirited way.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Traveling through the universe with planets, stars, and galaxies flying past. She uses her supernatural toys to help the oppressed while defeating the cruel people.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Showing her the daughter of a Queen in a magical land with sprites and fairies blasting through a wormhole toward planet Earth.
What could be this character’s emotional range?
Highly emotional, wild, and zany and never thinks before she acts. If you don’t jump on her bandwagon, she will tell you to your face you are a fuddy-duddy.
What subtext can the actor play?
She is clearly much more intelligent than her earthly counterparts and uses persuasion to enable them to follow her inspiration.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Her bond with her twin sister is a real us against the world scenario. Always conjuring wild schemes to overcome the actions of the antagonist.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Wild thoughts that come out of nowhere. Amazing insights that are astonishing.
What could make this character special and unique?
She is a trendsetter and is slightly eccentric. She is inclined to exaggerate.
Lead Character Name: Brandi
Role: Antagonist
The Actor Attractors for this character:
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
The love of playing the bad guy who attempts to steal the show from the protagonists.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She is a workaholic to promote her agenda. She is very arrogant and is always right, just ask her.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
She has a frightening stare that demands fear and respect. She is constantly telling people what to do and will lose her marbles if they do not obey.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
When the twins are introduced before the classroom for the first time, she cracks British royalty jokes that have the entire class roaring with laughter.
What could be this character’s emotional range?
Mean, self-righteous, abusive, manipulative, and narcissistic.
What subtext can the actor play?
A tone of voice and a look that says, Get with the program or you be out of the cool group pronto.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Her dominance over the girls in the clique she controls. Her absolute war with the goody-goody twins that are new at the school.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Cold-hearted barbs that hit like a bucket of ice water in the face.
What could make this character special and unique?
No one in the tri-state area demands this much attention and with her supremacy gets it.
Gwendolyn
Role in the Story: Dual Protagonist
Age range and Description: Teens
Core Traits: Spirited, Cheerful, Loyal, Sarcastic
Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To make oppressed girl’s lives better.
Need: To be everyone’s best friend.
Wound: Having strict parental control, she wonders if she can ever loosen up.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: She’s nice, everyone loves her.
Relatability: They all crave her never-failing loyalty.
Empathy: Her quirky sense of humor is out there but a lot of fun.
Abigail
Role in the Story: Dual Protagonist
Age range and Description: Teens
Core Traits: Meddling, Impulsive, Undisciplined, Fun-loving.
Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To make oppressed girl’s lives better.
Need: To have her enchanting stardust land on everyone.
Wound: Having little parental control, her parents loved her spontaneity and let her inspire other children into mischief. Thanks a lot!
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Her meddling is fun but annoying.
Relatability: Her zany antics are a riot to watch.
Empathy: A hippie chick stuck in today’s world of baloney sandwiches.
Brandi
Role in the Story: Antagonist
Age range and Description: Teens
Core Traits: Intolerant, Short-tempered, Egotistical, Arrogant.
Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To have everyone idealize her.
Need: To gain complete respect from each and every one of the lesser people or else.
Wound: I was raised by two idiots without any sense of morality and my future looks even worse. I’m doomed!
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Big girl on campus and don’t you forget it.
Relatability: Follow my lead if you want to stay on top.
Empathy: She survived her parents and still made juvenile detention parole.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by Will Jennings.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by
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Subject Line: Claudia’s Character Profiles Part 1.
My vision: To become the best screenwriter I can be, and to find success in the industry.
What I learned from doing this assignment is: this assignment is hard but I can see how it is going to make my life so much easier once we get to a more detailed outline and script drafting.
Grace O’Malley
A. The High Concept. A nurse in the WWII Women’s Army Corps battles racism, sexism
and incompetence as she tries to save the life of a badly injured Tuskegee
airman.· B. This character’s journey. From unquestioning of authority to thinking for herself. From a woman who does what she is told to a woman willing to defy societal norms to be with the man she loves
· C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
o What about this role would make an actor want to be known for it? Grace is a young, naïve woman who undergoes a profound change resulting from her exposure to the horrors of war – as well as racism and sexism. She emerges strong and independent, willing to defy societal norms to forge her own future.
o What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the story? Her transformational journey forms the backbone of the story.
o What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the story? In early scenes, Grace will be obedient and highly attuned to the expectations of others – but by the end of the movie, she will defy her parents, the Church, doctors and commanding officers to save Booker and seek a long-term relationship with him.
o How could this character be introduced that could sell it to an actor? Still working on this one. I’m thinking about her getting blessed by her priest and her father as she prepares to leave Boston for the Army – and then being shocked by her first encounter with another nurse, Ann.
o What could be this character’s emotional range? From accepting to questioning; from obedient to defiant; from thinking of herself as weak to learning how deeply strong she actually is.
o What subtext can the actor play? Grace gradually develops a deep, simmering anger at “the way things are” – things she always accepted – that contrasts with her normally sunny and accepting personality.
o What’s the most interesting relationship this character can have? Her relationship with Ann, who teaches her nursing – and how to stand up for herself. She thinks of Ann as her closest friend and only realizes Ann’s deeper feelings for her at the very end of the story.
o How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Through her treatment of others, her refusal to say or do unkind things even when faced with unkindness or injustice.
o What could make this character special and unique? She surprises everyone – including herself; she’s the last person anyone would expect to defy the demands and expectations of others.
1. Role in the Story: Protagonist. A new nurse who seeks to please and impress others, but ultimately comes to trust her own judgement and forge her own path.
2. Age range and Description: Early 20’s. A somewhat petite Irish Catholic young woman.
3. Core Traits: Sincere, dedicated, brave, insecure.
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
1. Want: To please others – her parents, the Church, the doctors, her commanding officers.
2. Need: To prove herself, and to be more than what society will allow.
5. Wound: Her ambitions and brains were discounted by her parents, who favored their sons.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
1. Likability: She’s kind, friendly and eager to please.
2. Relatability: In trying to do what others expect of her, she almost loses herself.
3. Empathy: She faces an agonizing choice: her family or the man she loves
Ann Wahl
A. The High Concept. A nurse in the WWII Women’s
Army Corps battles racism, sexism and incompetence as she tries to save
the life of a badly injured Tuskegee airman.· B. This character’s journey. From loving Grace and doing everything she can to make Grace abandon Booker for her, to sacrificing herself so that Grace and Booker can both live and be together.
· C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
o What about this role would make an actor want to be known for it? She’s smart, competent, bad-ass and cool – but also a hopeless romantic under the surface.
o What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the story? Notwithstanding her brash exterior, Ann is afraid to let others (especially Grace) know how she feels. She is afraid to die.
o What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the story? At the end of the story, Ann finally confesses her love to Grace, as she prepares to sacrifice herself so that Grace can be with Booker.
o How could this character be introduced that could sell it to an actor? Grace walks in as Ann reviews a patient chart. Ann is talking angrily to herself about all the errors the doctor made and what really needs to be done – while quoting Dickens and referring to the doctor by a disparaging Dickens-based nickname. Ann then edits the chart so that, in her view it is correct. She pushes back the curtain and her angry mood is immediately gone, replaced by compassion and competence as she treats the injured serviceman – while Grace watches in amazement.
o What could be this character’s emotional range? Ann’s emotions range from profound love to deep frustration, from resisting authority to deep acts of heroism.
o What subtext can the actor play? Ann is secretly in love with Grace but doesn’t dare to confess her love. Ann’s family – with whom she was very close – disowned her when they discovered she was a lesbian.
o What’s the most interesting relationship this character can have? Her most interesting relationship might be with Booker, a man she likes, respects and admires – but also is profoundly jealous of, because Grace loves Booker instead of her.
o How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Ann loves Dickens (an exterior sign that she’s a hopeless romantic at heart). She gives other people nicknames from Dickens novels and regularly intersperses quotes from Dickens in her otherwise blunt way of talking and behaving.
o What could make this character special and unique? Ann’s strength of character, coupled with her secret sexuality and her love of Dickens, make her special and unique.
7. Role in the Story: Antagonist. A tough-as-nails independent woman, Ann teaches Grace to make her own decisions – thinking (and hoping) that Grace will realize she is in love with Ann as well.
8. Age range and Description: A late 20’s-early 30’s White woman with an assertive bearing.
9. Core Traits: Frustrated, proud, fierce, bad-ass.
10. Motivation; Want/Need:
1. Want: For Grace to love her.
2. Need: To keep her sexual orientation secret.
11. Wound: Her parents disowned her when they discovered she was a lesbian.
12. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
1. Likability: Her devotion to her patients shines through whenever she interacts with them.
2. Relatability: She’s not afraid to speak truth to power.
3. Empathy: She’s been disowned by her family for who she is.
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Tony J Scott Character Profiles Part 1
2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
A. The High Concept. With the Vatican/Vampire peace talks failing, a
young black woman must time travel to a slave plantation in Savannah 1863
to alter her family history.· B. This character’s journey. Internal journey: from a sickly defiant girl who hates who she is to a strong proud and confident world leader.
External journey: From time traveling to kill her ancestor to protecting him and joining him to kill his enemies and bringing peace to the future world.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character. Protagonist Najah Blackman.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
· Najah is a young black woman who on the night of her 21<sup>st</sup> birthday celebration she is to commit to living her life as a vampire. She is outspoken, disobedient and her family traditions repulse her. She refuses. Najah becomes deathly ill because she refuses to drink human blood. She evolves into a true hero and defender of her family heritage and dynasty leading the Vatican and Vampire worlds into a peace agreement.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
· In the present she is weak and sickly but also defiant and determined, troubled black history major who gets firsthand experience of how her family history evolved when she time travels to the past. In the past she is strong, healthy and becomes a courageous protector of her family patriarch.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
· She discovers how to prevent herself from becoming a vampire. She has to kill her ancient ancestor, the vampire patriarch of the family, while he is lying in a century long sleep. She steals away to the family mausoleum to kill him but is caught by her uncle. She time travels to Savannah Ga 1863 where the same elder ancestor is a slave with intentions of killing him in the past.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
· A young black woman refusing to conform to family norms travels back in time intent on murdering her elder ancestor. She thinks she has to lie and deceive everyone she comes in contact with to find the person responsible for her torment in the future only to come to love him in the end and must save his life for her to have a future.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
· From empathy to compassion concerning the treatment of humans, to anger and embarrassing to depression when it comes to her father.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
· In the present she is scheming to kill her elder while he sleeps, in the past she is hiding who she is so she can find her elder and kill him. To in the present scheming to make sure her father never becomes the family head of state to in the past making sure the vampire hunters don’t kill her elder.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
· She is in conflict with the way her father is running the family and the war and wants to do everything she can to have him removed from power. In the past she’s intent on killing her elder but ends up loving and respecting him and willing to die for him. In the present she has respect for her uncle and thinks he should run the family to end the war. She has a love interest of sorts but he is devoted to her father and is the spitting image and descendant to her enemy in the past which begins to affect her feelings for him in the present.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
· She is a defender, protector and conscientious objector to the war but at the same time hates what she is and plans to kill her elder ancestor to free her from the curse.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
· Her outspokenness, her sympathies, her anger and determination, her empathy for humans, her defiance, and her ability, with all of her empathy she wouldn’t hurt a fly but is willing to kill her ancestor to be free from the curse.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Protagonist Najah Blackman
Age range and Description: 21, Light Skinned black woman,
athletic build, short hair
Core Traits: Brave, Haunted, Intolerant
Motivation; Want/Need: She wants to live as a human, she needs
to kill her ancestor
Wound: Witnessing her mother and other humans being processed
for food in her father’s plant.6.
Old Ways.
· Likability: Before the ceremony her uncle visits her in her room. She looks at a picture of her and her mother together when she was a child and wishes her mother was still around for her big night.
· Relatablility: She has always been of a free mind, disobedient, stubborn. She really misses her mother and asks her uncle why she left her all those years ago.
· Empathy: During the ceremony, Najah has a traumatic memory triggered seeing her mother sealed in a plastic bag and hanging from a hook in the secret food processing plant owned by her father.
New Plan
· Likability: Preferring to live her life as a human, she’s determined to kill her grandfather and end the curse.
· Relatability: The more Najah denies who she is meant to become the sicker she gets.
· Empathy: She is willing to die rather than become a Vampire like her Father.
Newer Plan:
· Likability: Najah discovers that she can time travel.
· Relatability: She wants to discover her family’s roots
· Empathy: When she returns to the present, her and her uncle bond over what she’s learned from the past. They can research the archives together to help her with her quest.
Newer Plan:
· Likability: Najah discovers that her grandfather’s life is in danger from the Vampire hunters.
· Relatability: She tries to help her grandfather fight them off but he is losing to them.
· Empathy: She has to bite a soldier and become a vampire to save her grandfather’s life.
2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following: Antagonist Horace Blackman
A. The High Concept. A. The High Concept. With the
Vatican/Vampire peace talks failing, a young black woman must time travel
to a slave plantation in Savannah 1863 to alter her family history.B. This character’s journey. Internal Journey from an angry
betrayed husband to a corrupt power hungry family leader to planning the
execution of his own father.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.Movie Title: IN THE BLOOD Antagonist Horace Blackman
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
· He thinks of himself before anyone else but comes off as considerate of others. He won’t hesitate to order someone to death while making a jest about it. He is the interim ruler who rules by fear but claims he rules out of duty and love for the people. He believes his kingdom is as devoted to him as he is to himself. A truly selfish dictator who secretly wants to rule all the vampire clans and believes he has full support.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
· In the opening scene he as someone sent to the sun room. The only voice he needs to hear is his own. It’s his world everyone else exists because he allows it. He chooses to see things the way he wants and doesn’t consider there is any other way to perceive things.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
· He has one of the towns leaders executed and holds his young son as captive. He has one of his generals spy on his daughter while pretending affections for her. Even though the vampires are clearly losing the war with the Vatican he refuses to acknowledge it. In the past he had his human wife preserved in the food processing plant and lied to his daughter about why she left the family.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
· He’s the egotistical current head of the main Vampire clans who is totally upending centuries of peace with the humans established by his father who is currently in a deep sleep. He’s stealing money raised for the war effort to secretly build a human food processing plant.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
· From the cock on the block because everything is in some way about him to a hurt puppy when in the end his father, the true king is awakened and assumes the throne.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
· But what is this saying about me?
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
· His relationship with his brother Winston, who is very close with Najah, is one of self worship. He thinks his brother worships the ground he walks on. Even when he takes his brothers advice he’ll think his brother is only looking out for him. He despises Winston because he knows he had a long going affair with his wife. His relationship with his daughter is fire and ice but he thinks he can fix her. He knows that Najah is not his daughter but keeps the secret out of shame for himself. The relationship with his elder father, the patriarch of the family, Josiah, he knows better than his father about what needs to be done about the humans in this century.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
· He only hears the sound of his own voice because he is the sitting ruler.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
· He can come off sounding like he has the good of the kingdom at heart but is really only thinking of himself because he’s the ruler.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Antagonist, Najah’s father, Interim Vampire
Head of Family’s
Age range and Description: African American, 50’s, ageless
Vampire
Core Traits: Corrupt, hateful, power hungry
Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to be the One Ruler of all Vampire
Clans, needs to kill his father.
Wound: Witnessing his father being captured by slavers,
witnessing his wife’s affair with his older brother.Antagonist: Horace Blackman
· Likability: He misses his dad when he was younger only.
· Relatability: Competed with his older brother as kids. Loved his father.
· Empathy: His happy childhood changed when he witnessed his father being captured by slavers.
· Likability: He admires his father’s accomplishments.
· Relatability: He falls in love with a human even though he hates them.
· Empathy: He witnesses his brother is sleeping with his wife and is heartbroken and believes Najah isn’t his daughter.
· Likability: He tries to help Najah forget seeing her mother hanging dead in the food processing plant.
· Relatability: No matter what he does he can’t get Najah to like him.
· Empathy: Horace had Najah hypnotized to help her forget what she saw.
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Anna’s Character Profiles, Part 1
My personal vision: to get my writing mojo back.
What I learned from this assignment: I’ve been doing a ton of extra-curricular work researching role models, archetypes, and motives for my three main characters. This exercise helped me nail some of those pretty shiny things onto some sort of framework (before I forget it all).
Title: La Sirène (The Mermaid)
Concept: A Coast Guard maverick suspects that his wheel-chair-bound oceanography professor, who holds the fate of his career in her hands, is involved in a series of terrorist attacks against poachers by killer dolphins.
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Character: Jacob Staats
Role: Protagonist
Description: Late twenties. Surfman. Adrenaline junkie and hero. Highly intelligent, but speaks with the twang of an Appalachian hillbilly.
Character’s Story Arc: Jacob moves from always being the first on the scene, no matter how dangerous the surf, to an understanding of the bigger picture — that he must safeguard the lives of both the people – and also sea animals — who used to be protected by the merfolk – a species who only a handful of people know even exist.
Actor Attractors: Involuntarily “promoted” to lead investigator of what, at first, appears to be a simple boat fire, our fish-out-of-water maverick must not only learn how to do his new job, but also figure out that the reason somebody figured out how to communicate with dolphins is because mermaids taught them.
Core Traits:
- Courageous
- Resourceful
- Underprivileged
- Impulsive
Motivation / Want / Need:
- Wants: To stay on “this boring pond” just long enough for his wife to deliver her high-risk pregnancy, and then head back into the open ocean.
- Needs: To move from generic hero to a champion with a cause.
Core Wound:
- Core wound #1: Jacob was out at sea, performing heroic deeds to save the lives of strangers, each of the previous four times that his wife miscarried. He’s determined that this time he will be there for her.
- Core wound #2: Jacob’s father died after being buried alive in a coal mine. Fear of being “buried alive” is his greatest fear.
Likeability / relatability / empathy: Jacob grew up one of 8 kids, dirt poor, in an Appalachian coal-mining town, reared by his widowed mother and grandfather. His cockiness and bravado are offset by a genuine desire to help his fellow man.
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Character: Lorelei Saba
Role: Antagonist / Mentor
Description: Early fifties. Has the high cheekbones and black hair of a Native American, but her iridescent-green eyes, regal demeanor, and hypnotic voice hint she is something more. Horribly scarred, missing two fingers. Uses a wheelchair which secretly conceals her tail.
Character’s story arc: Lorelei recently assumed the role of Matriarch (ruler) of the northeast “pod” and must deal with the fact that her people’s falling numbers have left vulnerable their human “kin” with whom they share a symbiotic relationship. Ostensibly she’s come to “lecture” at the WHOI, but she’s really here to recruit allies.
Actor attractors: Lorelei isn’t just a mermaid, she’s the mermaid “queen” (pod matriarch).
Lorelei’s Traits:
- Intelligent
- Regal
- Secretive
- Skeptical
Wants vs. needs:
- Wants: to recruit human allies.
- Needs: to trust there are humans who will protect her “kingdom” like she does.
Core wound: she lost the love of her life in the same accident which took her fingers (and part of her tail). Its hard for her to trust the military – even “pond hoppers” like the Coast Guard.
Likeability / relatability / empathy: despite her no-nonsense manner, Lorelei goes out of her way to make sure her students (including Jacob) truly understand what she has come to teach.
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Character: Capt’n Jack
Role: Villain
Description: Early sixties, built like a Viking bezerker. Heavily scarred with an eye-patch (though sometimes he wears a glass eye). Highly intelligent. Likes to play the cello. Absolutely hates “the modern machine.”
Character’s Story Arc: Capt’n Jack is a shadowy figure, seen only through his acts of eco-terrorism and the admiration he earns from young, idealistic collaborators who are inspired by his “manifestos” to commit their own acts of “monkeywrenching”. Who is he? How did he train dolphins to blow up ships? And could he be there, lurking quietly in the background?
Actor attractors: Captain Nemo meets the Unabomber.
Character Traits:
- Methodical
- Brilliant
- Reclusive
- Vengeful
Wants vs. Needs:
- Wants: to destroy the “machine” which abandoned him to die.
- Needs: to discover that the person he thinks is dead is really still alive.
Core wound: We never get to find out exactly what drives Capt’n Jack, but from his manifestos, it can be discerned that he bears grudges against the U.S. military, the military-industrial complex, the oil industry, and anyone who abuses sea-life.
Likeability / relatability / empathy: The only time we meet Capt’n Jack, he is either blowing something up, or in a life-and-death struggle with our hero. But idealistic, young “tree huggers” absolutely love him – or at least his ideas about taking direct action to destroy the “machine.”
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Mahee’s Character Profiles Part 1
My Vision – I want to be a great writer who is well-respected and recognized in the industry, with successful books published and blockbuster movies produced. I want to create a successful movie franchise that audiences all over the world will love, rave about, look forward to, and continue to enjoy many years from now.
What I learned from doing this assignment is creating engaging character profiles for my lead characters.
Character: Trevon Campbell (Protagonist)
High Concept: When a prominent black historian studying an ancient tribe is brutally murdered, his son must must embark on an interdimensional journey to find the assassin.
This character’s journey: In the pursuit of his father’s assassin, Trevon must rebel against Reverend DuVernay, find his way back, and realize his purpose.
The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
He’s an intelligent kid with a bright future but going down the wrong path influenced by an evil man. A search for his father’s murderer takes him on an interdimensional journey into a parallel world helping him re-discover his purpose.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
He’s a young man on the verge of breaking apart and wasting away the productive years of his life before realization hits him and puts him back on the right track.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
He’s an intelligent and well-educated kid who is influenced by an opportunistic and corrupt politician. The man puts him on a path of danger and destruction. His father’s murder gives him a wake up call. He must find the killer. More importantly, he must find himself. An interdimensional journey fulfills his goals and puts him on a path of self-realization. He needs to fight for a greater purpose. He runs against the corrupt politician and defeats him in the elections.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
A high-strung, agitated young man must give up his violent ways to embark on an interdimensional journey to find his father’s murderer. But the journey takes him to a parallel world and puts him on a path of self-realization.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
From a confused, agitated, and ignorant follower to a confident, knowledgeable and able leader.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
His interdimensional journey to a parallel world is a look in the mirror of the current state of his life.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
His relationship with Sean Madden. Without his help, the path to self-realization may never happen.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Through his line – I represent my people.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He breaks down a big problem to smaller, more manageable ones. He always cuts to the chase.
Role in the Story: In his fight against Reverend DuVernay, Trevon embarks on an interdimensional journey searching for his father’s assassin.
Age range and Description: A young kid in his late teens, bright but rebellious, walks into a large packed conference hall with a gang of mobsters intent on destroying everything.
Core Traits:
– Aggressive/High-strung
– Never say die attitude
– Methodical and cuts to the chase
– Confident
Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To find the assassin who killed his father
Need: To put an end to Reverend DuVernay’s political career and carry on his father’s purpose.
Wound: What they can’t face: His father has been brutally murdered.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: No matter how big the problem is, he is ready to face it head on. He’s methodical, calculated, and always cuts to the chase.
Relatability: A bright young kid, who has been taken advantage of and led down the wrong path, is now trying his best to find his way back as he searches for his father’s killer.
Empathy: He has lost everyone in his family and is now the only one standing.
Character: Reverend DuVernay (Antagonist)
High Concept: When a prominent black historian studying an ancient tribe is brutally murdered, his son must must embark on an interdimensional journey to find the assassin.
This character’s journey: To realize his ultimate political dream, he will ruthlessly bring down his opponents while shamelessly lying, using, and deceiving his followers.
The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
He’s an opportunistic hypocritical pig and a rabble-rouser. His extreme fondness for bacon. He’s a typical perverted, power-hungry, two-faced politician.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
He puts up a front like he’s fighting for others’ cause. He’s actually fighting for his cause.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
He ridicules Professor Cedric Campbell in front of his son. He pounds the table arguing that peace is an outdated concept. He instigates and takes advantage of his followers. He speaks good but does evil. He’s a notorious womanizer and is extremely vindictive.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
A notorious power-hungry politician who enjoys taking advantage of his followers to move ahead.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Calm and pious on the outside; violent, ruthless, and wicked on the inside.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
His usage of the word bacon for anything he has a fondness for.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
His dysfunctional relationship with Professor Campbell. He goes out of his way to discredit his theories and suppress his ideas.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
His line – On your plate or on your bed, nothing beats a fine piece of bacon.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
In public, he’s a charismatic leader with a magnetic personality and a tremendous following. In private, he’s a perverted, ruthless, and hegemonic scumbag.
Role in the Story: A corrupt, immoral, and crooked politician, Reverend DuVernay will stop at nothing to achieve his goals in his pursuit to climb the political ladder.
Age range and Description: A forty-something politician, handsome with a magnetic personality, is standing in front of a town hall, giving a pugnacious speech to a large gathering of vulnerable, impatient, and agitated supporters.
Core Traits:
– Narcissistic
– Conniving
– Perverted
– Determined
Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To sow the seeds of hatred, violence, and social disharmony among his young and innocent followers and feed off of their support to gain political power.
Need: To win the congressional seat in the upcoming elections
Wound: As a child, he grew up in a bad neighborhood, abused, beaten up, and sodomized by thugs.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: He is charming, well-spoken, clean-cut, and a devilishly handsome man.
Relatability: His unwavering focus, relentless desire, and unstoppable mindset to achieve greatness in life.
Empathy: He had lived a childhood of poverty, walked the harsh road, and ain’t going down that route ever again.
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Maureen’s Character Profiles, Part 1
MY VISION: By nurturing fun and curiosity in the writing process, I will do my very best to create a successful writing career full of love, full of awe, full of productivity, and full of joy!
What I learned doing this assignment: The previous exercises had already given me a lot of the Profile Material. It feels good to begin to put it all together.
1. Start this assignment by empowering yourself using our
State-To-Activity empowerment process.State: I’m highly motivated…
Activity: …to create engaging character profiles.
2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
Movie
Title: THE SOVEREIGNTY CODEA. The High Concept.
When
a psychologically damaged genius invents a new mode of hacking, and
stumbles upon a plot to trick the nations of the world
into giving up their sovereignty, he pushes himself to embark on
the impossible– to somehow warn a world where no one can be
trusted, while an omnipresent network of AI hunts him down.B. This character’s journey.
From psychologically crippled shut-in, to brave Hero who publicly
exposes a major conspiracy to consolidate world power to a few
elites.C. Actor Attractors:
Lead
Character Name: DANIEL (Protagonist)Why
would an actor WANT to be known for this role?Daniel
is a unique, unexpected Hero, who overcomes deep psychological issues
when he understands what the stakes are for humanity.What
makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the
movie?He
is an oddball genius, thinks way ‘outside the box’, and takes unusual,
offbeat actions to stay alive, solve the
mystery, and stop an
horrific plot from succeeding.What
are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?When
he witnesses a murder online, instead of shutting down and
protecting himself, he continues to dig for the
truth, putting his whole life on the line.
2) When they find him, he
deserts the bunker he hasn’t left in 4 years and goes on the run-
while still digging to find out who the villains are.3) He tries to save a Rooky Cop’s life instead of running away.
4) A recluse who goes on a world stage in the end to expose the
corruption that is trying to gain World Power.How
is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?As
a genius recluse living in a sealed bunker. In the midst of his
obsessive compulsive paranoia, he
argues with a delivery man through the intercom when the man refuses to
spray disinfectant on the delivery boxes. Comical and Sad, he’s
in deep.What
is this character’s emotional range?From
an obsessive compulsive paranoid shut-in, to a brave, confident hero
who risks his life to reveal a
villainous world plot. In between is a huge range of emotions from
intense fear and disorientation, to concern over others being hurt,
to bouts of bravery followed by hiding, to a brilliant intelligence
trying to figure out what he is up against internally and externally.What
subtext can the actor play?In
the bunker- he tries to keep the delivery guy talking because he’s
so starved for human
contact. Outside the bunker- he as to lie about everything to almost
everyone he meets- and he’s a terrible liar.What’s
the most interesting relationships this character has?At
first, the most interesting relationship he has is with his devices
and his Code. After he
discovers REBOOT, his most interesting
relationship is with them. In the end, is most interesting
relationship is with his ex-Professor, Gideon.How
is this character’s unique voice presented?Daniel’s
unique voice is colored by his psychological issues as well as
the uniqueness of his
thinking. Pressured thinking and speech, sudden
unexpected pauses for deeper thought,
actionable habits and tics, etc- are all things the actor can enhance to bring Daniel
to life.What
makes this character special and unique?Everything!
Daniel is a truly different and exceptional Hero. He has to
overcome monumental
internal roadblocks to become the Hero that he does
in the end, and his intelligence and
charm come through the rest, making him
incredibly compelling.3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your
lead characters.DANIEL:
Role in the Story: Protagonist
Age range and Description: late 20’s to 40’s but child-like
in many ways. A psychologically damaged genius.Core Traits:
Paranoid/Suspicious/Obsessive-Compulsive
Self Protective/Traumatized/Secretive
Inventive/Brilliant/ Resourceful.
Motivation; Want/Need:
Wants: To stop Reboot
Needs: To re-enter the world, trust again.
Wound: Death of Father, Vindictive and Insane Mother, His
betrayal of Gideon.Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability:
ACT 1: As he hacks into computers and
cameras, he sees people in need or in danger and finds inventive ways
to help them from his keyboard. Example: A female jogger who Daniel
likes and ‘follows’ online. He likes to think that he is watching
over her on her jogs. When he sees she is about to be mugged by thugs
waiting on her usual path, he hacks into a nearby Male Athlete’s
phone and talks him into warning her from going down that path. OR
Hacks into her heart rate monitor and makes her heart-rate soar, so
she doesn’t take the steep path.MIDPOINT: Daniel tries to save the
Rookie Cop, putting his own life in greater danger.THROUGHOUT THE FILM: Despite the grave
danger he is in, Daniel is always aware that innocent bystanders
could be hurt, and avoids that possibility vigilantly. Is he usually
successful? Does anyone else get hurt? Die? How does Daniel respond?Relatability: In the above ACT 1
example, he’s jealous when the Athlete gets the jogger woman’s
gratitude, and they exchange numbers.Empathy: As soon as Daniel witnesses
the Reboot murder, his distressful situation causes us to have
empathy for him. This becomes even more intense when he has to leave
the safety of his bunker, and go on the run from Reboot, and
accelerates from there.In ACT 1 Likability example above with
the jogger, we empathize with Daniel’s distress trying to save her
from mugging, then with his distress that he sent her into the
Athlete’s arms, then with his genuine caring about her when he tells
himself ‘ Don’t be like that, Danny. At least she’s ok.”In the MIDPOINT Rooky Cop example above, We
empathize with Daniel’s distress at being cornered and in danger of
being killed. Then again when he becomes concerned for the Rooky cop
and risks his own safety to try to save him, and then the additional
distress of seeing that the Rookie is killed despite his effort,
followed by intense fear of what is going to happen to Daniel now if
the FBI Goon gets to the gun before he does.CHARACTER- GIDEON
ROLE IN STORY- Mentor/Red Herring
A. The High Concept.
When
a psychologically damaged genius invents a new mode of hacking, and
stumbles upon a plot to trick the nations of the world
into giving up their sovereignty, he pushes himself to embark on
the impossible– to somehow warn a world where no one can be
trusted, while an omnipresent
network of AI hunts him down.B. This character’s journey. Gideon goes from fence
sitting, working for Reboot and against Reboot at the same time, to
a decisive and brave whistle-blower, who risks his life to speak out
against a looming and seductive authoritarianism.C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for?
Gideon
is a warrior held in check behind the deliberative thinking of a
Scientist. He got into trouble with his temper in his early life,
turned himself around, and went on to become a preeminent scientist.
Now, he is at a new precipice of his life with 2 questions to
answer: 1) Will he let the warrior out? And 2) What principle will
that warrior serve- the principle of freedom, or the principle of ‘intelligent’ autocracy.What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in
your story?His
sense of humor and sense of awe for the universe. His down to earth
personality and his way of straight-talking science so it is
understandable. His character, and the depth of the choice he has to
make- to stick with his wife and Reboot to take world power ‘to do
good’, or continue to work against them in favor of humanity’s free
choice.What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the
script?1)
Even though Daniel betrayed him in a troubling way, he remains loyal
and caring, and does not turn him into the Reboot Cops. 2) He has
been involved with Reboot for decades, and his wife is one of their leaders, yet he now secretly works against them because he sees the
deep flaws of their plans. 3) He risks his life to help Daniel
expose Reboot before it is too late.How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an
actor?Teaching
a physics class. He is absolutely amazing and creative as a teacherWhat could be this character’s emotional range
From
grief over the child he and Johanna lost, to deep caring for Daniel and empathy
for his problems, to passionate love for his wife- who he is still
ready to ‘betray’ for his principles, and love of truth.What subtext can the actor play?
Since
he is living a double life, pretending to be a Reboot advocate,
while working against them, his inner life is full of subterfuge and
lies.What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With
his wife first. Then with Daniel.How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Gideon
is a brilliant scientist and teacher, who has a witty and colorful
way of expressing complex ideas, as well as simple daily exchanges.
His sense of awe with life itself is always with him, and apparent
in his Unique Voice.What could make this character special and unique?
His
Brilliance, his caring nature, his awe and reverence for life and
the universe we live in.3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your
lead characters.Role in the Story: Mentor/Red Herring
Age range and Description: 40’s to late 60’s.
Core Traits: Thoughtful/Scientific, Caring, Conflicted,
Humorous.Motivation; Want/Need:
Wound:
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Gideon genuinely cares for Daniel, and has always tried to help him. Even though he was part of Reboot, he realizes their dark intentions and has been working against them.
Relatability: Gideon feels torn between his love for his wife, and his growing fear of what she and Reboot are trying to do.
Empathy: Loss of his son. Daniel’s betrayal, which was that when Daniel’s Mother falsely accused Gideon of seducing Daniel, Daniel was too afraid of his Mother to tell the truth – that nothing like that ever happened. Gideon was cleared, but Daniel was never able to face him again- until now. (Question: Did Gideon ever mention to Daniel anything about “People who would take our freedoms.”
Johanna – Role: (Antagonist)
A. The High Concept.
When
a psychologically damaged genius invents a new mode of hacking, and
stumbles upon a plot to trick the nations of the world
into giving up their sovereignty, he pushes himself to embark on
the impossible– to somehow warn a world where no one can be
trusted, while an omnipresent network of AI hunts him down.B. This character’s journey.
From a ruthlessly driven elitist, who never veers from her goal, to a woman who has a change of heart when faced with her own human loss.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for
it?Johanna
is a Power Player. A strong, Brilliant woman who believes that those
like her- an Elite Class of exceptionally intelligent scientists,
thinkers and corporate leaders- would have a better chance at saving
the planet if they were able to amass worldwide political power for
themselves.What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in
your story?She
is a force of nature. Charismatic, compelling, decisive- and unlike
her husband – she is not emotionally or intellectually torn. She
is fully committed to her goals.What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the
script?She forbids
talking about their dead son because it causes her too much pain.
-She secretly goes to visit her Son’s favorite place on the anniversary of
his death, telling no one. -Despite proclaiming that keeping Reboot
going is important above all else, when faced with the death of her
husband, she sacrifices herself to save him.How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an
actor?Overseeing
a long awaited Nuclear Fission experiment. The most powerful,
charismatic person in a room full of Power-Players,What could be this character’s emotional range.
Very
interesting range emotional range, from completely shutting down of
emotion, to experiencing deep levels of emotion. Alive and
controlling. Enigmatic and unpredictable.What subtext can the actor play?
She secretly knows Gideon is working against Reboot, but she hopes he will back
her and the project in the end. She covers her husband’s ‘betrayal’
of Reboot. Both these realities lead to situational subtext.What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With
Gideon. With their dead son.How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
She
is ruthless and certain, so she speaks succinctly, clearly and
quickly, using the least amount of words to convey both simple and
complex ideas.9. What could make this character special and unique?
She
is an enigma. A deeply feeling woman, and a controlled scientist and
conspiratorial elitist at the same time. She is always feminine and
sensual, but she keeps the emotions under lock and key.3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your
lead characters.Role in the Story: Johanna – Antagonist
Age range and Description: 30’s to 50’s or a young 60’s.
Core Traits: Driven, Controlling, Charismatic, Powerful, Enigmatic.
Motivation; Want/Need:
Johanna wants: To implement Reboot for the ‘good of the world.’
She needs: To accept her own and others’ humanity. ( To acknowledge and honor her suppressed instinctual understanding of the value of each human life.)
Wound: Death of her son with Gideon.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Johanna is a horsewoman. Loves her horses and other animals.. Great rider.
Relatability: Johanna works hard on her marriage, as well as her passion for her work. (Nuclear Fission. ) She believes her work will save the world some day.
Empathy: She and Gideon lost their young son years ago. She holds her grief back, and resents Daniel, because she believes Gideon is trying to use him to replace their son. Unknown to Gideon, every year on the anniversary of their son’s death, she drives hundreds of miles and spends the day on the beach where they had shared their best times as a family.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by Maureen Tilyou.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by
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Ron’s character profiles part 1
My Vision: I want a space that is dedicated to writing, so I can have an entire wall for notecard storyboarding. I want my projects to advance in competitions and then be requested by the studios. I want to see those projects in festivals, in theaters, on streaming platforms. I want writing and producing to be my full time job.
What I learned doing this assignment is that my antagonist is much more human that I imagined and that makes it tougher on both leads.
Protag-Eddie
Concept
After Eddie kills a drug dealer in self-defense, a dirty cop forces Eddie to take the Dealer’s place. Eddie does as he’s told and begins pulling on a thread that leads to corruption at the highest levels.
Character’s journey-a meek stay at home loner gets forced into a crime network and exposes a governmental conspiracy.
What subtext can the actor play? Compassion for friends and co workers, fear, anger, vengeance.
Role in the Story: Protagonist-allows things to happen and must fight to regain his freedom
Description: early thirties, hockey hair
Core Traits: reserved, empathetic, honest, observant.
Motivation; Want/Need: wants to protect those around him, needs to find his manhood
Wound: dad was died during a home invasion, triggered trauma response
Likability: party time, break time at work he’s fun loving, tells jokes, has trivia.
Relatability: hard working guy at work, helps the newcomer get adjusted to the job.
Empathy: lives alone trying to get by. loves his two ferrets and talks to them like people. Has an incredible computer system with multi screens.
Det Taylor
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? The bad guys always get the best one liners. Freedom to have fun being bad. His goals are about doing good but has strayed from the path.
Role in the Story: Cop who bends the rules to meet his goals
Description: early 40’s and undercover dresses like a trucker, in the office, like a cop.Core Traits: controlling, analytical, manipulative, sadistic
Motivation; Want/Need: to make up for a past mistake, needs to ensure his future.<div>
Wound: someone got seriously hurt from an op he put together.
Likability: trying to help the victim of a previous crime or op that went bad.
Relatability-stuck in a work system where he’s just a cog
Empathy: lays out the plan again for his boss who’s a career long desk jockey. The Boss want’s results for his press conferences in front of the media even though he himself has no practical field work experience
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by Ron Johnson.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by
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KAVISH MANDAL
1. protagonist.
2. early 30’s. dresses conservative-looking, zero creativity at all, total safety picks.
3. thoughtful, scared, caring, linear.
4. want: get rid of ghost, marry Lacy. need: to be loved surely/fully/safely.
5. can’t face: that his fully true and honest and open self wasn’t enough and got rejected. by his dad, whose job was to love him, that’s how not enough he was.
LACY PETERSON
1. protagonist.
2. early 30’s. a cacophony of patterns.
3. funny, depressed, empathetic, restless.
4. want: help the ghost, leave this town forever. need: validation, permission to fly.
5. can’t face: that cause and effect were taken from her, that logic was corrupted, that hope for change was vilified and then obliterated, and that as a result she just does not know what the fuck to do, in general or daily.
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