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Lesson 5
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Mark Wakely’s Character Journey!
1. What I learned doing this assignment is to ensure the characters contribute to the story to the fullest extent possible.
2. All four characters share the same beginning, turning point and midpoint. The dilemma they share occurs almost immediately.
Beginning: The characters are getting along amiably, despite a potentially serious situation brewing.
Turning Point: The characters are forced to take immediate action to save themselves from imminent danger.
Midpoint: The characters realize their situation is seemingly hopeless and begin to turn on each other.
Character #1: Middle-aged male.
Turning Point 2: Something illegal he did years ago is discovered, something responsible for their shared dilemma.
3rd Act Climax: He finally admits to the wrongdoing, as well as other infractions.
Ending: He is killed by the other three characters in anger, who blame him for their seemingly hopeless dilemma. (Final twist: it wasn’t hopeless.)
Character #2: Male, late 20’s.
Turning Point 2: Discovers the illegal act the middle-aged character did that contributed to their shared dilemma.
3rd Act Climax: Manipulates the other two characters against the middle-aged man after a near-fatal accident caused by their shared dilemma.
Ending: Last to attack the middle-aged man, who’s already dead.
Character #3: Male, late 20’s.
Turning Point 2: Initially a defender of the middle-aged man, has his doubts after the discovery of the man’s illegal action.
3rd Act Climax: Is nearly killed by accident due to the dilemma they’re in and turns completely against the middle-aged man.
Ending: He’s the first one to attack the middle-aged man despite having defended him early on.
Character #4: Woman, late 20’s.
Turning Point 2: Also has her doubts about the middle-aged man when the illegal act is discovered.
3rd Act Climax: In love with Character #3, she’s horrified when she sees the Character #3 nearly die, and immediately turns against the middle-aged man.
Ending: She’s the second one to attack the middle-aged man, striking the fatal blow.
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Tom’S Character Journeys!
What I learned: Creating a three Act Journey for each main character strengthens the story, builds in the plot twists and simplifies the outline.
JUNIOR: Protagonist turns Antagonist
Beginning: Spoiled star
Turning Point: Plane crash
Midpoint: Afraid to rescue friends
Turning Point 2: Snowstorm
Dilemma: Save them or kill them
3rd Act Climax: Decides to kill them, falls to his death
Ending: Helicopter arrivesD’ANDRE: Antagonist turned protagonist
Beginning: Subservient Manager
Turning Point: Plane crash
Midpoint: Reveals Junior’s ruse
Turning Point 2: Snowstorm
Dilemma: Either attempt escape or plummet to death
3rd Act Climax: Fights Junior to death
Ending: Helicopter arrivesMEGHAN: Pubilcist, Love Interest
Beginning: Junior’s admiring Publicist and lover
Turning Point: Plane crash
Midpoint: Disheartened with Junior when D’Andre reveals Junior is a phony, affair with D’Andre
Turning Point 2: Snowstorm
Dilemma: She must pick a side
3rd Act Climax: Chooses to save D’Andre, kill Junior
Ending: Helicopter arrives -
Paul’s Character Journeys
2. What I learned from doing this assignment (and from watching 10 Cloverfield Lane) is the importance of keeping the tension up throughout the movie, particularly through the use of twists. What I did have difficulty with was having separate Turning Point, Midpoint, Turning Point etc for each character. It was easier to make the Beginning and Dilemma different for each character, but the other points seem to be the same for all 3 characters.
1. Character’s journey in 3 acts:
Real-estate agent:
Beginning: Discovers one client looking for a house is her former lover from ten years ago. Using a false name, she sets up a house visit. She wants revenge for the way he ruined her life.
Turning point: She reveals her true identity as client's former lover.
Midpoint: Threatens to kill him.
Turning Point 2: Client's wife turns up.
Dilemma: She can't kill her former lover and not kill wife. But the wife is pregnant.
3rd Act Climax: Reveals to wife her husband's true past, including drugs.
Ending: All three drive away, each in their own car.House-buyer:
Beginning: Receives details of house for sale and agrees with wife to visit it. He will go first and wife will join later.
Turning point: Is attracted to the real-estate agent, but then shocked at discovering her true identity.
Midpoint: Faces threat of being killed.
Turning Point 2: Wife is calling to join him for the house visit.
Dilemma: He wants his wife to stay away but cannot tell her why, first because he was hoping to have sex with the agent, and now because his wife's life could be threatened along with his.
3rd Act Climax: His wife reveals that she is pregnant.
Ending: They all drive away.House-Buyer’s Wife:
Beginning: Keen to see the house for sale, but has commitments so will turn up later.
Turning point: Husband not answering phone to confirm she can join for the visit. Starts to worry.
Midpoint: Arrives at the house and finds husband and agent.
Turning Point 2: Discovers what is at stake – both of them could be murdered.
Dilemma: Reveal her pregnancy or not.
3rd Act Climax: Reveals she is pregnant and that means the real-estate agent agrees to allow them both to go.
Ending: They all leave the house and drive away.END
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This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by Paul McGregor.
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This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by
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