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Lesson 7
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Susannah’s Monster Reveal Track
3. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.
What I learned doing this assignment is similar to what I learned last time. Breaking the script down this way is a good way to flesh out the script, making it better.1. A. Who is your monster and what is their terror? Louis, a human-snake killer with supernatural powers, is hellbent on getting revenge on the town that killed his mother
Powers? Voodoo, superior strength and toughness, variety of weapons and killing abilities
Limitations? Cannot blend into society, almost instantly regarded as a threat by others
Weaknesses? Voodoo
Plan/Purpose/Appetite? He wants to kill the entire townB. Sequence the reveals.
During first act: foreshadowing the killer’s presence, intentions, and killing method, find voodoo doll stuck to tree – alarming Magnolia
During first act: surprise reveal when killing the head cop, dressed in dark clothing hiding his features
First half of second act: still dressed in black while killing townspeople. During first main character death we see that he is wearing a mask
Midpoint: the main characters watch from afar as the killer takes on some of the townspeople who decide to fight back
Second half of second act: Two more main characters are killed, though little is revealed other than his carnival-related skills. However, it is during this time when the main characters find the killer’s lair and learn he is using voodoo. Before his death, and after finding his lair, Elijah tells the story of the carnival that was destroyed by the town some years ago
Act three: it is revealed during the fight between the main characters and the killer that he is not entirely human – his mask falls and reveals his snake eyes. It is revealed the main characters ran the killer out of town when they were children, which is why he has it in for them
Resolution: the killer, who is still alive, and the main character who was in league with him the whole time, leave the burning town together. The sole survivor crawls out of the swamp, determined to use her voodoo skills to bring them to justiceC. Create Demand for each clue/reveal.
During first act: foreshadowing the killer’s presence, intentions, and killing method, find voodoo doll stuck to tree – alarming Magnolia.
Escalates the terror, danger, and violence.
Creates interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through terror.During first act: surprise reveal when killing the head cop, dressed in dark clothing hiding his features
Escalates the terror, danger, and violence.
Creates interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through conflict.First half of second act: still dressed in black while killing townspeople. During first main character death we see that he is wearing a mask
Escalates the terror, danger, and violence.
Creates interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through curiosity.Midpoint: the main characters watch from afar as the killer takes on some of the townspeople who decide to fight back
Creates interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through characters trying to figure out the mystery.Second half of second act: Two more main characters are killed, though little is revealed other than his carnival-related skills. However, it is during this time when the main characters find the killer’s lair and learn he is using voodoo. Before his death, and after finding his lair, Elijah tells the story of the carnival that was destroyed by the town some years ago.
Give us hope that we might be able to solve this with the new information.
Creates interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through putting together the pieces.Act three: it is revealed during the fight between the main characters and the killer that he is not entirely human – his mask falls and reveals his snake eyes. It is revealed the main characters ran the killer out of town when they were children, which is why he has it in for them.
Escalate the terror, danger, and violence.
Create interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through discovery.Resolution: the killer, who is still alive, and the main character who was in league with him the whole time leave the burning town together. The sole survivor crawls out of the swamp, determined to use her voodoo skills to bring them to justice
Give us hope that we might be able to solve this with the new information.2. Lay that over your current outline and fill in each clue/reveal using the tag “Monster Reveal:.”
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
• Atmosphere of Evil established:
The film opens with a silhouetted scene of carnage – there is a fire, there are screams, there are gunshots. The image is only brief before we cut to our main character, staring off into the swamp. She is obviously upset.
Horror Situation: The memory shows things aren’t as peaceful as they seem.
Reaction: The main character is uncomfortable being in town.
• Connect with the characters:
The main social group of characters have gathered with other members of the community to search for a missing person – a town drunk who they think fell into the swamp during a drunken stupor. Though not a very productive member of the community, the drunk is one of their own and is therefore valuable.
Horror Situation: One of their people is missing.
Reaction: They deny anything more serious has happened.
• The characters are warned not to do it:
One of the townspeople suggests they should all leave the town and abandon it – it has nothing but woe to offer and is a remnant of the past. The main characters argue against this, saying it is their home.
Horror Situation: An ominous cloud befalls the town; there is something in the air.
Reaction: More denial about anything worse going on than just bad vibes.
• Denial of Horror:
The local cop/sheriff suggests the drunk could be dead and search efforts could become retrieval efforts after finding his one of his belongings shredded and covered in blood.
Horror Situation: The prospect of death becomes real.
Reaction: The main characters are worried and afraid they’ll come across a dead body.
• Safety taken away:
The drunk is found – murdered. The kill is deliberate and violent. Some of the townspeople think one of their own must have done it.
Horror Situation: The main characters find the body.
Reaction: They are sickened by the man’s remains.
• Character Death 1: Town Drunk (off screen)
• Why: Sets up the horror that is to come
• How: Stabbed and slashed dozens of timesMonster Reveal:
During first act: foreshadowing the killer’s presence, intentions, and killing method, find voodoo doll stuck to tree – alarming Magnolia
Escalates the terror, danger, and violence.
Creates interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through terror.• Monster: The nature of the beast:
The killer murders the local cop, destroying the town’s beacon of authority and safety.
Horror Situation: They witness the murder firsthand.
Reaction: They run.
• Character Death 2: Lead cop/sheriff
• Why: He is the town’s authority figure and beacon of safety and stability – he needs to go in order to stir chaos
• How: Surprise attack, decapitation with strange-looking knifeMonster Reveal:
During first act: surprise reveal when killing the head cop, dressed in dark clothing hiding his features
Escalates the terror, danger, and violence.
Creates interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through conflict.ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
• Isolated / Trapped / Abducted:
The road out of the town and all of the town’s boats are blown up, trapping the townspeople.
Horror Situation: Explosions. Flames. People screaming and running.
• Reaction: They panic – there’s too much going on at once.
• Character Death 3: Random townspeople
• Why: The killer’s time to shine is now, they must all die
• How: The killer uses his knife to slash and stab those within reachMonster Reveal:
First half of second act: still dressed in black while killing townspeople. During first main character death we see that he is wearing a mask
Escalates the terror, danger, and violence.
Creates interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through curiosity.• One of us killed:
One of the main characters, along with several townspeople, are killed in a surprise attack.
Horror Situation: In the confusion, one of the main characters is killed.
Reaction: The others, witnesses to his death, make a narrow escape.
• Character Death 4: Horace
• Why: The others count on his strength and size to help them
• How: He is beaten and then the killer slams a sledgehammer down onto his faceMIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
• Full pursuit by the killer:
The killer attacks any and all, breaking into people’s homes or killing them outside. No one knows how to handle it and even a group of gun-toting vigilantes can’t stop him.
Horror Situation: Gunshots ring out, enhancing anxieties.
Reaction: Hope is damaged when the vigilantes are killed.
• Terrorized:
The main characters attempt to hide and find another way out of town – but it seems like everyone is dying. Throughout their efforts, they are killed one by one.
Horror Situation: Screams fill the air and bodies litter the streets.
Reaction: They are forced to think outside the box in order to hide and figure a way out of town.Monster Reveal:
Midpoint: the main characters watch from afar as the killer takes on some of the townspeople who decide to fight back
Creates interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through characters trying to figure out the mystery.• Character Death 5: Zoe
• Why: She leaves the group in an attempt to survive alone -she feels she doesn’t need help
• How: The killer knocks her unconscious, ties her to a wall, arms and legs spread out, and he throws knives as he juggles them, the first knives terrorise while the last few kill
• Character Death 6: Elijah
• Why: His wisdom has gone unheeded and he feels like a failure, in this moment of weakness he is killed
• How: He is lifted into the air and his spine is bent backwards in a U shape like a metal rodMonster Reveal:
Second half of second act: Two more main characters are killed, though little is revealed other than his carnival-related skills. However, it is during this time when the main characters find the killer’s lair and learn he is using voodoo. Before his death, and after finding his lair, Elijah tells the story of the carnival that was destroyed by the town some years ago
Give us hope that we might be able to solve this with the new information.
Creates interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through putting together the pieces.ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
• Fight to the death:
The remaining main characters, namely a young man who is one of the main social group, decides to take the fight to the killer.
Horror Situation: The killer seems determined to kill this group of individuals.
Reaction: In response, one of them takes the fight to the killer.
• Character Death 7: Waylon (first death – he survives this encounter)
• Why: He decides to fight the killer
• How: The killer cuts Waylon to ribbons using a bullwhip and then strangles him with it• Hysteria:
They lose the fight, the young man is killed, and all hope is lost.
Horror Situation: They are alone, their friend is dead, and they are separated from any other townspeople.
Reaction: They run. All hope is lost.
• The thrilling escape from death:
The remaining heroes escape the killer a couple of times as they struggle to put distance between them and him.
Horror Situation: The killer is right on their heels.
Reaction: They run. Death hasn’t been closer.
• Death returns to take one or more.
The young man makes a surprise return, teaming up with the last two survivors to battle the killer one last time. They are about to be successful when the main character reveals herself to be in league with the killer.
Horror Situation: They are forced to fight the killer.
Reaction: It’s all or nothing.
• Character Death 8: Waylon (second, actual death)
• Why: He fights the killer once more, trying to save any survivors from him
• How: The killer uses his fire breathing skills to set him alightMonster Reveal:
Act three: it is revealed during the fight between the main characters and the killer that he is not entirely human – his mask falls and reveals his snake eyes. It is revealed the main characters ran the killer out of town when they were children, which is why he has it in for them
Escalate the terror, danger, and violence.
Create interest and/or a need to get this piece of the puzzle through discovery.• Resolution:
The young man dies his final death, the main character and the killer leave. However, one of the other main characters survives and crawls out of the swamp – alive but traumatised.
Horror Situation: The lose the fight, the bad guys win.
Reaction: The last survivor is barely alive. She crawls away.Monster Reveal:
Resolution: the killer, who is still alive, and the main character who was in league with him the whole time leave the burning town together. The sole survivor crawls out of the swamp, determined to use her voodoo skills to bring them to justice
Give us hope that we might be able to solve this with the new information. -
Time Winters’ MONSTER REVEAL TRACK.
What I’ve learned doing this assignment is that each of the pieces of an outline can add up to being able to define the story in a stronger way than improving all the way through. I am excited to see if I can fill in between the dots . . .
1. Create each part of this model:
A. Who is your monster and what is their terror?
• Powers? It eats the horrors of war. With fear and bloodshed it gets stronger. It contains the souls or spirits of those in the many battles it has experienced. And absorbed.
• Limitations? Humans have to be in contact with the truck to be affected by it.
• Weaknesses? It has a harder time manipulating innocence. But the damned thing can, with ease, corrupt anything within its proximity.
• Plan/Purpose/Appetite? The field of battle and a world devolving into chaos is the perfect feeding ground for this inauspicious Dodge Dc54 former ambulance.
B. Sequence the reveals.
Prologue: A group of Russian soldiers, when offered a ride back to their border, choose death rather than touch that infernal thing. They are shot.
During 1st Act: Chaz is led to the truck by Gray, and the reflection of Gray in the rearview mirror (is it even human?)
Chaz fights Ambrose to rescue the group trapped by Taliban in a building.
Mechanic Cousins has a vision when he first touched the truck: is it his own death?
Sikowski sees a uniformed Nazi in the empty truck with her.
Several catch sight of Colonel Gray in the ambulance with them, but then reflect that it was an illusion.
Act 1 Turning Point: He nightmares that he is in a medievel battle and is about to be beheaded. Upon waking, he sticks his head above the truck and a low hung radio wire contacts his neck. The Mechanic is decapitated.
2nd half of 2nd Act: Ambrose, their presumed leader dies in fire.
Chaz sees the beings in the truck clawing onto the exterior of the truck.
Act 3: The survivors decide to burn the Truck, regardless of the peril of no other transport to Mosul. The next morning, the truck is again road worthy and waiting for them.
Resolution:
Chaz is back in Texas (with young mother?) and the truck is being used by the US Government to continue the chaos.
2. Lay that over your current outline and fill in each clue/reveal using the tag “Monster Reveal:.”
2.
Prologue: A group of Russian soldiers, when offered a ride back to their border, choose death rather than touch that infernal thing. They are shot.ACT 1 –SET UP FOR HORROR
Chas Hopper kicked from the back of a pick-up in the middle of the night and in no-where Texas and beaten badly by thugs. MONSTER REVEAL: Chas crawls to Office of Surplus Vehicles lot and meets spectre Colonel Gray. Chaz is led to the truck by Gray, and the reflection of Gray in the rearview mirror (is it even human?) Chas sees Monster and wants to run but is unable.
Chaz gets into truck.Chas awakens handcuffed to the steering column of the antique war surplus truck in fucking Afghanistan and the war is still going on. Private Ambrose says the truck they are driving has to get to Mosul in less than 24 hours.
Chaz fights Ambrose to rescue the group trapped by Taliban in a building.Chaz and Ambrose rescue Sikowski, Howard, and a young mother and her baby from Taliban.
Ambrose goes in, guns blazing.
Chaz is getaway driver, waiting in the open. No keys for the others. Fired upon and the truck is damaged.
Ambrose gets the truck to mechanic Cousins. MONSTER REVEAL: Mechanic Cousins has a vision when he first touched the truck: is it his own death?
Sikowski sees a uniformed Nazi in the empty truck with her.
MONSTER REVEAL:Cousins can’t find any damage to the truck. Warns them they will not get to Mosul but as the enemy moves in on the station, he joins them on the trip.
MONSTER REVEAL:Cousins the mechanic nightmares that he is in a medievel battle and is about to be beheaded. Upon waking, he sticks his head above the truck and a low hung radio wire contacts his neck. The Mechanic is decapitated.
All have come into contact with Colonel Gray. Gray communicates with each of them.
Ambrose is touched by Gray and imagines an atomic inferno. Ambrose’s gas-soaked uniform is ignited and he, their presumed leader dies in fire.: Incineration.
Why: Profound Hawk. Dismissive of self-immolation. Has image of atomic blast, but finds the liquid dripping on him is gas. . .After dark, Chaz sees the beings of the truck clawing onto the exterior of the truck. For fear of improvised bombs and Avoiding Taliban ambush, and a possible IED, SENDS THE TRUCK INTO AN IED EXPLOSION.
James Howard, Blackwater war profiteer, now sees himself as the leader and promises rescue. MONSTER REVEAL: He sees a vision of Vlad Tsepes and has a nightmare of having his hat nailed to his head. He wakes and is Killed by enemy bullet.
Act 3: The survivors decide to burn the Truck, regardless of the peril of no other transport to Mosul. The next morning, the truck is again road worthy and waiting for them. The last of them make it to Mosul . . .
Resolution: Under US Surveillance, the WAR Surplus vehicle is placed in the center of a Taliban stronghold. The Colonel interacts with one of the fighters, just as Chaz was.
Chaz awakens from a night out in Texas, battered and bruised but…strangely, alive.
Chaz is back in Texas (with young mother?) and the truck is being used by the US Government to continue the chaos. -
What I learned doing this assignment is this was one of the harder parts for me. I'm not sure if I have too many monster reveals or am not creating enough interest but this part is one that I am sure I will come back to and most likely redo.
A. Who is your monster and what is their terror? Dylan Craft, a filmmaker who wants to capture the moment of death on film.
- What are its powers? Extremely charismatic, has a trusted reputation, is able to get to the emotional core of actors, and controls the environment.
- What are its limitations? Will only kill when cameras are rolling.
- What are its weaknesses? Is human so can be killed by normal means.
- What is its Plan/Purpose/Appetite? Plan is to lure unsuspecting actors to their deaths, in order to capture the moment on film to satisfy appetite for real emotion and artistry.
B. Sequence the reveals
- Dylan is shown to be a harsh director, who has a reputation for taking actors to the edge, but is considered a genius.
- Dylan tells the union guys and car service to make sure they don’t come back until morning.
- Dylan passes the whole thing off as not meaning much and demands better performances from the actors.
- The union worker reveals a little story about Dylan and how one of the actors he worked with quit acting completely because she was so traumatized.
- We see Dylan locking the door to the room Virginia was last seen in.
- Dylan shows what he’s capable of and it’s up to and past the point of death.
- Despite the previous incidents, Dylan knows how to charm an actor. He uses that against Amanda, showing he is extremely persuasive.
- Dylan not only controls the actors, he controls the environment.
- Dylan is not only vicious to those he is filming, he’s cruel to those watching him work.
- Dylan really is a psychopath, not some genius director.
- Dylan only wants to see the deaths on film. When James breaks Dylan’s camera he snaps back to normal momentarily. But he finds a cell phone to use for footage and is right back to being a psychopath.
- While Dylan has control of the environment, he seems to forget actors have agency and can think outside of their assigned roles.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR</P
Atmosphere of Evil established: Dylan is on a movie set and he is pushing the boundaries of Amanda, an actress who has had a recent scandal, telling her to do things that cross ethical lines and putting her in physical danger. When she pushes back he reminds her of the paycheck she has waiting for her.
Horror situation: Dylan has a frank meeting with the actors at the beginning to tell them he wants everyone to be in method, and react to what they hear but understand that everything is fiction. Only, it is not fiction.
Reaction: Denial. The actors understand they will be challenged but also believe they are in a safe situation.
Monster Reveal: Dylan is shown to be a harsh director, who has a reputation for taking actors to the edge, but is considered a genius.
Create interest: Through conflict with the director.
Connect with the characters: The actors are shown rehearsing dialogue, practicing their screams, putting makeup on etc.
Horror situation: There are some actors who are more famous than others and the more famous ones look down on the newcomers.
Reaction: Try to solve it. The peacemakers among the group, Chuck, Alessandra and Virgina try to cool down the tension.
The characters are warned not to do it.: Amanda tells the other actors how difficult Dylan is being and says they should all walk out in protest. But these are young actors who want stardom and fame and know they are working with a legendary director so they decide to stay, even though there will be no car service for the remainder of the night.
Horror situation: It gets dark, the roads get blocked by downed trees, and rain is constant.
Monster reveal: Dylan tells the union guys and car service to make sure they don’t come back until morning.
Create interest: Through discovery. One of the actors overhears the exchange and finds it odd.
Reaction: Escape. Some of the actors look for ways to leave, just in case.
Denial of Horror: Ravi who has worked with Dylan talks about how ultimately it was a good experience for Dylan to push him to his limits and that Dylan knows what the rules are.
Horror situation: Dylan purposely injures an actor to elevate their performance to make it more believable.
Reaction: Hide. Several actors disperse and try to get their thoughts together.
Monster reveal: Dylan passes the whole thing off as not meaning much and demands better performances from the actors.
Create interest: Through terror. This action scares some of the actors into rethinking what they are doing.
Safety taken away: Union workers leave due to regulations, the car service that takes actors to the woods leaves, and Dylan says he will take over camera and directing duties.
Horror situation: Chuck is warned away from Dylan as a director by union workers and/or drivers. He wants to stay to further his career.
Reaction: Denial. Chuck is sure things will work out.
Monster Reveal: The union worker reveals a little story about Dylan and how one of the actors he worked with quit acting completely because she was so traumatized.
Create interest: Through putting together the pieces. Chuck is beginning to have an understanding of how far this could go.
Monster: The nature of the beast.: After Virginia goes to shoot a scene, she doesn’t come back. Dylan insists she just went somewhere to be alone but there is blood on Dylan’s clothes. He says it’s just makeup.
Horror situation: Virginia is taken by Dylan to do a scene and locked away.
Reaction: Try to solve it. The remaining actors try to look for Virginia.
Monster reveal: We see Dylan locking the door to the room Virginia was last seen in.
Create interest: Through characters trying to figure out the mystery. Some of them think Dylan has to have done something bad to Virginia. But a makeup person went into the room as well, so it could be nothing, Dylan, or the makeup person.
Character Death 1: Virginia, the innocent one is stabbed over and over but the other actors think she’s just acting and they only hear her screams.
Why? It starts the horror
How? Surprised/blindsided
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: The actors are told the rest of the scenes will be filmed inside the house and so they all need to go in to get ready for their scenes. But once inside, the doors and windows automatically lock.
Horror situation: Dylan gets an actor locked into a bear trap and refuses to let them out. He keeps rolling the camera and takes a knife and stabs into the actor.
Reaction: Escape. The actors attempt to find ways out of the house but the house is trapped.
Monster reveal: Dylan shows what he’s capable of and it’s up to and past the point of death.
Create interest: Through terror. Dylan has everyone at a fear level that he wants for his movie now.
Character Death 2: Amanda – The obnoxious one dies off screen when Dylan takes her to do a scene and stabs her to death.
Why? She is overconfident in her acting abilities because of her fame but Dylan knows she’s a terrible actress.
How? Betrayed by Dylan
Monster reveal: Despite the previous incidents, Dylan knows how to charm an actor. He uses that against Amanda, showing he is extremely persuasive.
Create interest: Through curiosity. What won’t Dylan do?
One of us killed: While looking for ways out of the house, an actor stumbles upon the dead body of Virginia from the first death, her throat slit.
Horror situation: Dylan isolates pairs of actors but tells the others what doom is in store for each set of actors.
Reaction: Try to solve it/fight. Some actors try to figure ways out of the trap while others decide to look for weapons.
Monster reveal: Dylan not only controls the actors, he controls the environment.
Create interest: Through terror. Dylan has everyone off balance here.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Full pursuit by the killer: Ravi sets off a trap in a room and instead of helping, Dylan just keeps encouraging him to act like someone in the situation would.
Horror situation: Dylan gets an actor locked into a trap and refuses to let them out. He keeps rolling the camera and takes a knife and stabs into the actor. Alessandra has to watch.
Reaction: Hide/fight. Some hide while others fight.
Monster reveal: Dylan is not only vicious to those he is filming, he’s cruel to those watching him work.
Create interest: Through terror. Dylan knows how to push the buttons of Alessandra and knows hurting her is less painful for her than watching someone else get hurt.
Terrorized: Dylan takes glee in chasing actors around, setting off traps, and stabbing whoever he can corner.
Horror situation: Dylan cuts the throat of an actor right in front of the others. There is no denying he is actually killing people at this point.
Reaction: Denial. The remaining actors can’t believe this is real and think Ravi is just pulling off some major acting.
Character death 3: Ravi – The rule breaker dies when his throat is slit in front of the other actors
Why? It increases the horror and shows Dylan willing to go to extremes in front of everyone.
How? Charge blindly into action
Monster reveal: Dylan really is a psychopath, not some genius director.
Create interest: Through terror. Anyone who was still denying the situation is now confronted with the awful truth: there is a psychotic killer who controls their environment and is in hot pursuit of them.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the death: The remaining male actors decide they can take Dylan down if they team up. Dylan cuts them down in the attempt but they survive, injured and weakened.
Horror situation: Dylan has the lovers trapped. Their only escape is to sacrifice the other or die.
Reaction: Fight/Escape. Some fight Dylan and lose, while others try to get out but die in traps.
Character death 4: Carrie – One of the lovers dies when her boyfriend chooses to stab her rather than die himself
Why? She’s confident James loves her and will not kill her.
How? Sacrificed/Betrayed
Character death 5: James – Is killed by Dylan with a knife immediately after he kills Carrie
Why? Dylan punishes James for not acting how a hero in a movie would act
How? Surprised/Blindsided
Monster reveal: Dylan only wants to see the deaths on film. When James breaks Dylan’s camera he snaps back to normal momentarily. But he finds a cell phone to use for footage and is right back to being a psychopath.
Create interest: Through discovery. Dylan is obsessed with the camera and without it, he has less power.
Hysteria: Dylan is telling the remaining characters what a wonderful film they are making as he cuts into them.
Horror situation: As the actors are quietly whispering to one another, trying to figure out what to do, Dylan pumps extremely loud music through the house, making it impossible to communicate verbally.
Reaction: Try to solve it. Chuck figures out how to cut the sound to the speakers.
Monster reveal: While Dylan has control of the environment, he seems to forget actors have agency and can think outside of their assigned roles.
Create interest: Through discovery. The systems Dylan has in place can be overridden.
The thrilling escape from death: The actors who are left try to flee only to find more trapped rooms. But, they maneuver around so Dylan himself falls into the trap.
Horror situation: Alessandra and Chuck are the only ones left. Chuck goes to pray at a cross when the floor gives way. Alessandra tries to save him but is hit from behind by Dylan.
Reaction: Escape. Chuck dives through the hole in the floor to get away from Dylan.
Death returns to take one or more.: Chuck figures out how to open the doors to the house but when he presses the button to release the doors, a fatal electric shock is delivered.
Character death 6: Chuck – The moral one dies when he is electrocuted trying to escape instead of helping Alessandra
Why? To show Dylan has power even after he is dead.
How? Escape attempt takes them into it
Horror situation: Alessandra is the last one remaining after Dylan has killed everyone else.
Reaction: Escape/Fight. Chuck dies in the attempt to escape but Alessandra, who Dylan thought was dead, regains consciousness. She stabs Dylan to death.
Monster reveal: Dylan regrets what he’s done once the cameras are off.
Create interest: Through discovery. This scene may give a bit of Dylan’s background.
Character death 7: Dylan, the monster is defeated by Alessandra who catches him in a moment he is distracted.
Why? To kill the monster and resolve the conflict
How? Surprised
Resolution: The last surviving member is in hysterics as she leaves the house to find the union workers and car service have returned and she is given treatment and asked to tell what happened.
Horror situation: We see some found footage of the film Dylan was making.
Reaction: Denial. Alessandra is in shocked disbelief over what happened.
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This reply was modified 1 year ago by Adam Wright.
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Carole Avila – Monster Reveal Track
What I learned doing this assignment is the continued necessity of structure and revealing the monster just a bit at a time to build tension.
ASSIGNMENT 2
A. Who is your monster and what is their terror?
• Powers – In order of appearance: Can project a mist, manifests in a deformed skeletal hand that crawls like a spider, can project a voice, whips out a rope tongue and can strangle a person, manifests into physical form as a skeletal creature, has acidic saliva, and sharp claws/fangs. When it breaks, it can reform itself like a magnet. It’s awareness becomes more apparent as it grows stronger.
• Limitations – It’s confined to Adley’s room, and later, to the hematite handle that was on her bedroom door.
• Weaknesses – Special rituals using salt, crystals—primarily hematite—and incense will keep it confined to an area and protect a home from it.
• Plan/Purpose/Appetite – It kills the first born every generation after a curse was made. Once it gets too powerful, it can kill victims who aren’t even part of the curse.ACT 1
• MONSTER REVEAL: An old lady sticks her head out her bedroom door, obviously scared to pieces. She steps out in her night gown and robe clutching the neck. She’s near tears and steps barefooted to the top of the stairs, looking down at the foyer. A sharp, skeletal finger pushes her down the stairs.
• Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: Adley and her parents arrive at her deceased grandmother’s home in the New Mexico desert. The nearest neighbor is a mile away. They are greeted by a burst of cold air when they open the front door.
• Connect with the characters: Adley and her mother explore the house and Adley hears strange noises above the kitchen. Her father enters with their bags, optimistic about their stay.
• MONSTER REVEAL & safety taken away: Adley picks a room upstairs, not knowing the freezing cold handle (that only she can feel) keeps something contained in her room. She realizes the room is directly above the kitchen, where she heard the strange noises.
• MONSTER REVEAL & Denial of Horror: A dark mist hovers in front of Adley’s bedroom door, but only she can see it. Once Adley thinks she sees a strange skeletal hand crawling under her bed, and her parents convince her it’s only mice.
• The characters are warned not to do it: Adley meets Victor in the town library. He warns her of an ancient demonic curse that haunts the home, a thing that kills the first born child in every generation on their 16th birthday, and she’s about to turn 16. She admits she hears and sees things, but doesn’t want to believe it’s more than mice.
• One of us killed: Victor tells Adley that her grandmother was attacked by the creature, and although it didn’t kill her, her health declined from her injuries.ACT 2
• MONSTER REVEAL: Adley can hear it whisper her name.
• MONSTER REVEAL: Adley refuses to sleep in the room, but has to go in to get clothes. One time while her mother is waiting for Adley to get clothes, Adley falls asleep and her mother turns off the light and closes the door. The powerful clawed hand crawls on the covers and tries to drag Adley under the bed into a dark portal. Her parents hear her screaming and enter the room. They’re convinced she’s having nightmares. They think her cuts are carpet burn and the blisters from the icy handle are from her fever.
• MONSTER REVEAL: Adley has to get clothes from her room and the skeletal hand tries to attack her. While standing on the bed, Adley discovers a broken slat on her nightstand. Her mother enters the room and looks under the bed and screams. She tells her husband a mouse ran under the bed.
• MONSTER REVEAL: The next day, Adley’s parents refuse to let her sleep downstairs in the maid’s quarters. Her mother keeps putting Adley’s laundry in her room, so Adley has to go in to get clean clothes. (She’s meeting Victor on the trail out back the next morning.) She hears noises under the bed and leaves the door open. She runs and grabs her clothes, but when she turns to leave, the door is closed behind her. She jumps on the bed, calling for her parents, but they don’t hear her. Adley is on the bed and throws a sock ball a decoy so she can run to the door. Adley jumps off the bed and runs into the hallway, she turns around and the skeletal rope with the hand attached is flying at her face. She slams the door on it, and hears it break to pieces.
• MONSTER REVEAL: Another night, she must go into her room when her mother finds Adley’s clothes stashed downstairs, and her mother puts all her clothes away in the bedroom. Her mother has agreed to let Adley keep her clothes downstairs. She waits with Adley, but needs to use the restroom. In moments, the monster backs Adley up onto the bed. Adley lifts the broken slat and finds the gypsy manuscript with the counter-curse tucked inside. She fights the skeletal hand for the book and manages to get outside her room before it drags her under.
• During another visit with Victor, she learns his father was killed when the creature grabbed his horse’s hoof and caused it to rear, throwing Victor’s father, who hit his head and died from blood loss.MIDPOINT – The monster is worse than we thought:
Adley learns the truth about the curse, how it started and how it has manifested into something physical with all its power gained from killing its victims over the years. She learns from Victor’s uncle, Great-uncle Pablo, that a counter curse must be said by her, the descendant of the gypsy who said the curse, and Victor must touch it to destroy the monster, as he’s the descendant to the man who was cursed.ACT 3
• MONSTER REVEAL: Adley’s parents surprise her and remove the handle from the bedroom door so she’ll stop complaining how cold it is, but they unknowingly released the demon from the confines of the room. It chases them out and Adley, who just returned from Victor’s house on a trail behind the grandmother’s home, meets them on the trail and takes them to Victor’s house.
• MONSTER REVEAL & fight to the death: Her father still has the handle and Victor’s great-uncle explains how it was used to contain the demon. Adley, her father, Victor, and his great-uncle confront the demon in the grandmother’s house, where Adley will say the counter curse and Victor will touch one of its bones to destroy it.
• MONSTER REVEAL: After it attacks and knocks out the two men, Adley and Victor run, but he goes up the stairs, and she runs down the hall toward the kitchen. She has to fight it off and ends up throwing a meat tenderizer at it that breaks it apart. She runs back to the stairs while it’s piecing itself together.
• MONSTER REVEAL: Adley and Victor are at the base of the stairs. The monster throws its bony tongue at his neck and he’s choking while the monster drags him down the hall toward it. Adley is able to stomp on the skeletal rope and it breaks apart. They run back to the foyer, but the fireplace explodes from the living room where the men are unconscious. If they run outside, they won’t be able to do their part in destroying the monster, so they run upstairs.
• MONSTER REVEAL: Adley manages to say the counter-curse while staring at the monster on the landing while she’s standing at the top of the stairs. It can still harm her and kill Victor. They run down the hall and are trapped. The only place to go is inside her bedroom. It chases them and hits the wall at the end of the corridor and breaks apart. After Victor shuts the door, he realizes he can pick up a piece of bone and destroy it. He opens the door and is standing face to face with a skeletal creature. He slams the door shut.
• Hysteria: Victor has an idea and leaves Adley on her bed and crawls beneath to confront the monster as it pounds on the door, trying to get in. She begs him not to leave and hugs the headboard made of bones from past victims. He crawls under the bed.
• MONSTER REVEAL: The monster breaks into the room and throws out its bony rope, latching onto Adley’s ankle. She tries to kick it off, but she has used most of her strength holding onto the bed. It drags to off, and then begins to drag her under the bed.
• Her dad and Victor’s uncle regain consciousness and hear screaming from the bedroom. They run upstairs and drag Victor out from under the bed. He had the hematite handle that now contains the demon.
• Death returns to take one or more: Great-uncle Pablo is going to perform a ceremony to end the creature once and for all. While the family is inside the grandmother’s house, celebrating the end of the curse, a demon animal removes the box with the hematite handle inside from Pablo’s truck and jogs into the woods with it.
• MONSTER REVEAL & Resolution: Years later, a young family finds the box while digging a pool for their new home. They see it as a good omen and have the handle installed on the front door. -
Jessica Tremblay’s monster reveal track
What I learned doing this assignment is information about the monster but be sequenced properly so monster can be revealed bit by bit.
A.
• Powers: Strong. Inflates to make itself look bigger and scarier. Long teeth. Long claws. Relentless in its pursuit.
• Liimitations: Seems to be protecting / blocking the exit, so never stays far from that spot. If he goes far from that spot, it quickly returns.
• Weaknesses: Lavender if like catnip to the monster. It wants to eat it, cuddle with it. It slows him down.
• Plan/Purpose/Appetite: Protect its lair from intruders. Eat the intruders.• Who or what the is the monster: An animal captured by the lonely Mrs Larsen at the pond and brought to storage locker to serve as a pet.
B. Sequence:
• The monster guards the exit
• The monster roams storage
• The monster rams against locker to get to her and eat her.
• The monster has a weakness for lavender (it acts like catnips)
• The monster inflates and towers over herC
DEMAND: She needs to test the theory that monster is guarding the exit
MONSTER REVEAL: It’s guarding the exit.DEMAND: Why does the monster roams storage
MONSTER REVEAL: It’s hungry and wants to eat her.DEMAND: Can we distract and slow down the monster?
MONSTER REVEAL: When she throws an object, beast catches it. (beast ability)DEMAND: Can we distract and slow down the monster?
MONSTER REVEAL: The monster has a weakness for lavender (it acts like catnips)DEMAND: can she scare the monster by making herself look bigger?
MONSTER REVEAL: the monster inflates even bigger and towers over herDEMAND: She wants to know why there is a monster in storage? Where did it come from?
MONSTER REVEAL: Mrs Larsen reveals the origine of the creature: how she captured the animal in the pond and brought it here as a pet. But when it bit her, she stopped feeding it, hoping it would die soon.DEMAND: Why does monster stop fighting and leave, moaning in pain?
MONSTER REVEAL: the monster is pregnant and about to give birthDEMAND. What’s in the locker (near the exit) that it’s protecting?
MONSTER REVEAL: The locker was the entrance of its lair — where monster slept at night, where it wanted to give birth.ACT 1
Atmosphere of Evil established: a CREATURE attacks a MAN (60) in a storage area (in the basement of an apartment building)
Character Death 1: John, Joanna’s father, is attacked by monster.
Why? The audience needs to see how vicious the monster. John is the first one to die.
How? John breaks in a locker, thinking he’s rescuing an animal, but get savagely attacked by a monster.Connect with the characters: JOANNA (20s), the man’s daughter, is a shoplifter who discovers her one night stand is a cop. When his dog accidentally dies in her kitchen, he blames her. Few days later, when she gets news her father died, she has one goal: rescue her father’s dog and redeem herself.
The characters are warned not to do it: In her father’s apartment, she can’t find any trace of the dog. Her father’s neighbour MRS LARSEN warned her to get out as soon as she can.
Horror Situation: She finds BUILDING MANAGER going through her father’s stuff. He demands she goes to storage to empty her father’s locker in basement otherwise he’ll charge her one month’s rent.
Reaction: She has no choice but to go. Also, earlier she found a message written by her father (STOR-) and wonders “What’s in storage?”
Denial of Horror: After emptying the locker, she sees an opportunity to make money by stealing valuables from surrounding lockers.
Horror Situation: As she tries to leave, the pile of boxes and stolen goods collapse outside, blocking the exit. Joanna is trapped in storage.
Reaction: She tries the door several times. Tries to find another exit and finds none.
She’s stuck in a creepy dark basement. When manager comes, he’ll know she’s a thief and call the police. Her life is over.
Horror Situation: Lights turn off, except emergency lights. It’s dark.
Reaction: She plugs in Christmas lights.
She finds a locker with a door ajar, creaking, and closes it.
Monster: First signs of the beast: claw marks on the floor. Then, a lapping sound, a bucket of water spills, then scampering noises, grunting.
The beast rummages inside a locker and comes out, puling sleeping bag out. Stuff spilling everywhere.
Horror Situation: Her childhood toy, Bunny, is alone in the hallway
Reaction: She picks up Bunny and takes shelter inside locker.ACT 2
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted. She creates a barricade and hides inside a locker.
Horror Situation: Monster roams in storage. She hears noises.
Reaction: She hides in locker, creates a barricade.
Horror Situation: The monster breaches barricade and comes closer. It can smell her. Attacks. Monster tries to enter locker, ramming it with its body.
Reaction: She crawls over wall of adjacent locker.MIDPOINT
Full pursuit by the killer: the creature rams into the door of the locker to break in and get to her.
Terrorized: she must flee from locker to locker, crawling over the shared wall between lockers in the small space between pipes and top of lockers, using a short ladder to cross to the other side of the hallway. She falls in the hallway. Close encounter with the creature.DEMAND: Can we distract and slow down the monster?
MONSTER REVEAL: When she throws an object (eg. Tennis ball), beast catches it. (beast ability)One of us killed: She throws Bunny, her favorite childhood toy, and creature eats and destroys it.
Character Death 2: Bunny, her childhood toy, is destroyed by Monster
Why? The toy represents the past she needs to let go of.
How? Beast eats it. Bunny if full of lavender and makes the beast sleepy (Lavender is the Beast weakness and acts like catnip)DEMAND: Can we distract and slow down the monster?
MONSTER REVEAL: The monster has a weakness for lavender (it acts like catnips and it slows it down)
ACT 3
Fight to the death: She is being chased, trapped, attacked, and wounded.
Horror Situation: Beast chases her
Reaction: she escapes and hides to a locker.
Horror Situation: chased by beast in hallway, she used phone flash to blind beast
Reaction: and ends up taking weird selfies with beast
DEMAND: can she scare the monster by making herself look bigger?
MONSTER REVEAL: the monster inflates even bigger and towers over herHysteria: she straps a doll to herself and talks to it. She loses doll.
The thrilling escape from death.
Horror situation: Mrs. Larsen arrives to check on her, creating a diversion. The door is now open.
Reaction: She could leave, but she decides to stay to help Mrs. Larsen.
Horror situation: Mrs. Larsen can’t climb over the wall. Monster eats Mrs. Larsen
Reaction: Joanna escapes.
Character Death 3: Mrs Larsen, her father’s neighbour.
Why? She has committed a sin by bringing the monster in storage to serve as a pet. She stopped feeding it after it bit her.
How? She’s not physically able to follow Joanna to safety by climbing a wall, so she gets eaten by beast.Horror situation: She has a giant wooden splinter
Reaction: Removes splinter. She’s bleeding heavily.
Horror situation: Seriously injured by beast, she crawls in to a locker,
Reaction : She sows her wound.
Horror situation: The sound of beast feasting on Mrs. Larsen is disturbing.
Reaction: She puts on noise cancelling headphones to block the noise.
Horror situation: The beast kidnaps the doll. The sound of crying doll yelling Mamma awakens her maternal instincts.
Reaction: she goes to rescue the doll.
Mrs Larsen not dead!
DEMAND: She wants to know why there is a monster in storage? Where did it come from?
MONSTER REVEAL: Mrs Larsen reveals the origine of the creature: how she captured the animal in the pond and brought it here as a pet. But when it bit her, she stopped feeding it, hoping it would die soon.
Mrs Larsen dies.
She uses the broken A/C unit to knock out the beast.
Death returns to take one or more. The creature is not dead and grabs her one more time. Final fight. Mano a mano.
Horror situation: The beast approaches her nail to her stomach. She punches it in the stomach. Finds a tit. The beast is female! Joanna is suddenly drenched in bloody mucus.
Reaction: Beast stops fighting and leaves, moaning.
DEMAND: Why does monster stop fighting and leave, moaning in pain?
MONSTER REVEAL: the monster is pregnant and about to give birth
Beast gives birth. She locks it up.
DEMAND. What’s in the locker (near the exit) that it’s protecting?
MONSTER REVEAL: The locker was the entrance of its lair — where monster slept at night, where it wanted to give birth.
She’s now free to leave, but faints before she can reach the exit.
The Manager arrives, sees the mess in storage. She tries to leave without being seen.
Horror situation: Manager wants to kill her to keep his secret (she discovered he steals pension cheques from deceased residents).
Reaction: she uses monster against manager.
Character Death 4: Building Manager
Why? He’s a thief (stealing deceased resident’s pension cheques) and wants to kill Joanna who knows his secret.
How? Joanna turns the monster against himHorror situation: Manager chases her, blocks the exit.
Reaction: she has no choice but to crawl into the beast’s lair, not knowing what she’ll found at the end of the tunnel. Their final fight takes place in the creature’s lair.
Horror situation: Manager pretends to be hurt. She tries to help him, but he turns against her.
Reaction: They fight.
Resolution: Neighbour is dead. Manager is vanquished. She exits storage with the doll, having accepted her pregnancy. She frees the beast and puppies outside. She calls the cop she slept with. Tells him about pregnancy. She wants to make it work. She discovers a lost puppy on the back seat and decides to keep it. Drives to meet the cop. They can be a family.-
This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by j T.
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This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by
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