BWTV-AI Mod 3 – Lesson 5: Layers and Reveals

[Michael Jones]

M. Morgan’s Layers and Reveals

I learned to add entertaining dimensions to the structure and to think in ways that keeps an audience engaged. Knowing is easier than doing, so I’ve much work to do, but every improvement helps.

Season 1 Plot/Situational Layer and Reveal:

One suggestion that would work well would be great for the season one finale:

Surface: An archaeological excavation.

Layer Beneath: A trap to capture rivals.

How the Layer is Revealed: Dr. Mortimer Greenfield, the lead archaeologist belongs to a scientific society bent on using the idea of a magical helm to ensnare the popular mindset and create a new age of scientific rule, with AI assistance to avoid human emotion.

Character: Atticus’s brother is the one missing from the teaser.

Surface: A treasure hunter, Brock, goes missing.

Layer Beneath: Atticus’s brother, looking for the artifact.

How the Layer is Revealed: The photo of the ancient symbol taken by Brock is the same one on Atticus’s phone, later confirmed when Atticus finds his brother’s phone when he stumbles upon the symbol not realizing this is the same artifact Brock was after.

Others will include Morrigan’s struggle with his societal goals when he encounters friendship on the dig site, which will reveal itself when he saves Atticus’s friend, Thad.

Atticus’s brother was part of group vying for the power of the artifact and Atticus’s cousin was also part of it, hinted at when Atticus confronts Kieran for answers. I just need to make this encounter in an interesting setting, perhaps with some max entertainment strategies.

[Sylvia Krawczyk]

Replying here because the page won’t load.

BWTV-AI Mod 3 – Lesson 5: Layers and Reveals

Sylvia’s Layers and Reveals

What I learned doing this assignment is I had already added in layers. This added more layers and more depth. I had fun with this. I’ll rewrite the 5 act structure as I now have much more information to add. Also, Chat didn’t put a surface/cover-up layer. I did it a couple times—it used the Surface Layer as more of a “label” for the layer/reveal. Rather odd.

Tell us which Layers, Cover Ups, and Reveals you’ve added to the outline: Secret identities, dilemma’s, blackmail, intervention, Hidden plans, deception, past wounds, etc.

[Renee Miller]

Renee’s Layers and Reveals

I learned to use the information I have already figured out to create new layers and reveals to make my show more intriguing.

Character Layers:

Veronica’s Surface Layer: Veronica is an investigative journalist.

Layer: Secret Identity: Veronica’s deep ties to the cult through lineage, hinting she might be more involved than a journalist.

Reveal: her investigation and the discovery of her mother in the cult’s ritual picture hints at a lineage deeply embedded within the cult.

Isabella’s Surface Layer: An archaeologist discredited for her interest in cults.

Layer: Her ambition to control malevolent entities for power is masked as an academic curiosity.

Reveal: Veronica, in her investigative journalist role, digs into Dr. Stone’s digital footprint—emails, academic forums, and encrypted files. She discovers correspondence that hints at Dr. Stone’s dealings with questionable individuals and her search for specific relics. This digital trail showcases Dr. Stone’s hidden agenda and the lengths she’ll go to for her ambitions.

Father Malachi’s Surface Layer: a clergy member offering spiritual insights.

Layer: his internal conflict between redemption and the temptation of the stolen relics.

Reveal: Father Malachi faces a critical moment where he must choose between using the power of the relics for an immediate, seemingly righteous purpose or adhering to his moral compass and faith. This could be a situation where using a relic’s power could save a life or avert disaster, yet doing so would compromise his principles. His choice and the internal agony it causes reveal the depth of his struggle between the temptation of power and his quest for redemption.

Plot Layers:

Surface: Veronica’s investigation into the cult.

Deeper Layer: the cult’s plan that involves Veronica directly as the key to fulfilling the ancient prophecy.

Reveal: The cryptic symbols and their connection to Veronica’s lineage, and the revelation of the prophecy that points to her significant role, uncovered through her and Dr. Stone’s investigation.

Surface: Father Malachi’s assistance to Veronica

Deeper Layer: church officials involved in the cult history could be blackmailing Malachi with his past involvement with the cult.

Reveal: Through a series of investigative efforts by Veronica or another character, a hidden conspiracy within the church is uncovered that ties directly to Father Malachi’s past and his possession of the relics. This could involve secret meetings, coded messages found in church documents, or a whistleblower from within the church revealing the depth of the conspiracy. The discovery would expose Malachi’s personal stakes in the plot and illuminate his complex relationship with the church and the cult.

Situation Layers:

Surface: Veronica’s investigation into the cult.

Deeper Layer: the cult’s plan that involves Veronica directly as the key to fulfilling the ancient prophecy.

Reveal: The cryptic symbols and their connection to Veronica’s lineage, and the revelation of the prophecy that points to her significant role, uncovered through her and Dr. Stone’s investigation.

Surface: Dr. Stone’s discredited theories on cult symbols.

Deeper Layer: A trap – The public discreditation is part of the cult’s plan to keep their secrets hidden, orchestrated by high-ranking members including those in the academic field.

Reveal: A benefactor who has been supporting Dr. Stone’s research is revealed to have ties to the cult. Initially presented as a savior who believes in her work, it becomes clear that their financial and logistical support kept Dr. Stone’s research under surveillance and control. The benefactor’s true motives are uncovered through a leaked confidential meeting recording or a betrayal by an insider.

[Nat Melvin]

Natalie’s Layers and Reveals

WIL: Adding more layers and reveals make the story more intriguing

Surface: Teaser:

Layer: Ongoing conspiracies.

How the layer is revealed: The mesmerizing voice chanting the legend subtly hints at ancient conspiracies that still linger in the present, setting the stage for hidden agendas to unfold.

Surface: Sola experiments with forbidden magic to uncover her past.

Character Layer: Secret identity.

How the Layer is Revealed: As Sola delves into forbidden magic, hints of her hidden lineage and powerful ancestry begin to emerge, suggesting a secret identity beyond her orphan status.

Surface: Act 2:

Layer: A scheme to undermine.

How the layer is revealed: Hecate and Hera’s clandestine alliance against Zeus gradually becomes apparent as their manipulations behind the scenes sow discord and chaos among the Gods.

Surface: Hecate senses Sola’s growing power and sees an opportunity to manipulate the situation.

Plot Layer: Ongoing conspiracies.

How the Layer is Revealed: Through subtle conversations and clandestine meetings, viewers witness Hecate’s ongoing scheming and manipulation, hinting at a larger conspiracy to seize power and undermine the balance of the divine realms.

Surface: Act 3:

Layer: Deception.

How the layer is revealed: Anteros’ disguise as Antony and his hidden agenda to capture Sola on behalf of Hecate adds a layer of deception and intrigue to their forbidden romance subplot, leading to unexpected twists and betrayals.

Surface: Sola’s encounter with Antony sparks a forbidden romance.

Character Layer: Hidden relationships.

How the Layer is Revealed: Antony’s true identity as Anteros, banished and seeking redemption, is gradually unveiled as viewers learn about his complicated past and his connection to Sola, adding layers of intrigue to their budding romance.

Surface: Act 4:

Layer: Betrayal.

How the layer is revealed: As Sola grapples with her choice between embracing her destiny or retreating, the revelation of Ku’s betrayal and manipulation exposes the depth of deception and betrayal lurking within the Gods’ ranks.

Surface: Sola’s use of forbidden magic inadvertently banishes the Gods’ artifacts.

Situation Layer: A trap.

How the Layer is Revealed: Sola’s attempt to control her newfound power results in unintended consequences, leading to the banishment of the Gods’ artifacts and exposing her to unforeseen dangers, turning her actions into a trap with far-reaching implications for both mortals and Gods alike.

Surface: Act 5:

Layer: Major shift in meaning.

How the layer is revealed: The disappearance of the Gods’ artifacts and the unexpected portal to a mythical world signifies a major shift in the meaning of Sola’s quest, revealing deeper layers of the divine conspiracy and the true extent of the challenges ahead.

[Barbe LaPierre]

What I learned doing this assignment is that identifying reveals is a great way to reverse engineer the set-up. I continue to mine down into the story and find opportunities for intrigue.

DESTINY

Teaser

Surface: Mining facility attacked

· Layer: Attack is orchestrated by someone else

· How the layer is revealed: Aboard a spaceship above the planet, a figure in shadow watches the attack on a viewscreen.

Act 1

Surface: Nika meets with Dr. Asher and Dr. Darrow

· Layer: Ilyana Darrow is hiding something

· How the layer is revealed: A spirited but illogical argument about entering the chamber.

Act 2

Surface: Dr. Kellan and Dr. Darrow disagree on examining the ruins

· Layer: Ilyana Darrow is working for Vosskara Slyth – but is having second thoughts about her assignment. She can’t go through with it.

· How the layer is revealed: Ilyana causes the cave-in that is supposed to kill Nika and give Ilyana the opportunity to steal the artifact.

Act 3

Surface: A’lyx lends a hand helping to save Nika

· Layer: A’Lyx is more than just a passer-by.

· How the layer is revealed: A’lyx uses remote viewing to help save Nika. When A’Lyx and Noren enter the collapsed chamber A’Lyx covertly scans for the artifact and finds where it should be – but it’s gone.

Act 4

Surface: A’Lyx holds, looks at, and then pockets a small, but integral, piece of navigation equipment.

· Layer: Payback for Ilyana betraying her oath to Slyth

· How the layer is revealed: On the trip back to Lumor, Ilyana’s ship crashes.

Act 5

Surface: Noren invites A’Lyx to travel aboard the Destiny

· Layer: A’Lyx works for Slyth

· How the layer is revealed: Once aboard, A’Lyx sends a secret message to Slyth.

[Sunil Pappu]

Sunil Pappu’s Layers and Reveals

“What I learned doing this assignment is… that it’s not enough to have deeper layers but how you dramatically reveal them is very important and meaningful.”

LAYERS & REVEALS

Plot Layers in the Teaser

• Surface: A tense chase ending at a safe house with a counterfeit ledger.

• Layer: Ongoing conspiracies and a mole within the team.

• How the layer is revealed: The team’s safe house is raided shortly after Priya’s arrival, suggesting an inside leak. In the aftermath, hidden surveillance equipment is found, pointing directly to the mole, who has been silently observing and manipulating the team.

Situation Layers in Act 1

• Surface: Priya balances university life with caring for her ill father.

• Layer: The class project is a covert operation in disguise.

• How the layer is revealed: Priya’s professor is suddenly detained by intelligence agents in the middle of a lecture, and she is handed a classified dossier that reveals her project’s true nature, forcing her to make a public decision to join the operatives or walk away.

Situation Layers in Act 1

• Surface: Priya balances her university life while caring for her ill father.

• Layer: A good idea (class project) turns out to be a bad (covert operation).

• How the layer is revealed: The revelation that the class project is a front for a real mission pitches Priya into a world of espionage, raising the stakes of her everyday life.

Character Layers for Priya Rao (AKA Rookie)

• Surface: Priya is a young mathematical genius fresh out of college.

• Layer: Secretly working to exonerate her father implicated in a financial crime.

• How the layer is revealed: During an intense interrogation by a rival operative who has pieced together her connection to the ledger, Priya’s facade crumbles, and she’s forced to reveal her secret agenda in a tense standoff that threatens her father’s safety.

Plot Layers in Act 1

• Surface: Priya’s admission to a covert ops team as a cipher.

• Layer: Hidden plan involving Priya’s professor and the covert operation’s true objective.

• How the layer is revealed: An encrypted message that Priya deciphers points to a much larger conspiracy, with her professor playing a role that’s more than academic.

Character Layers for Meera Verma (AKA Ghost)

• Surface: Meera is a highly skilled hacker.

• Layer: Hiding her past affiliations and possible ties to the mole within the team.

• How the layer is revealed: Her secret online romance and past connections to the cybercriminal world threaten to surface, creating a web of deception and potential betrayal.

Situation Layers in Act 2

• Surface: Team members navigate their roles in the heist.

• Layer: A trap is set by the Hawala network, luring the team into a false sense of security.

• How the layer is revealed: The team’s tech specialist discovers real-time surveillance feeds that were previously undetected, indicating they have walked into a trap, forcing the team into immediate action to escape or counteract.

Character Layers for Mandeep Singh (AKA Shadow)

• Surface: Mandeep is a skilled operative known for his precision.

• Layer: Torn between his duty and his growing affection for Sofia.

• How the layer is revealed: Mandeep’s flawless execution of tasks is compromised when his emotions for Sofia cloud his judgment, especially as he stumbles upon clues that suggest she might be involved with the mole.

Plot Layers in Act 2

• Surface: The team prepares for a complex infiltration.

• Layer: Hidden relationships and personal vendettas interweave with the heist plan.

• How the layer is revealed: The team’s infiltration is nearly compromised when two members unexpectedly encounter a figure from their shared past, forcing them to improvise and bringing their secret vendetta to light amidst the operation.

Character Layers for Meera Verma (AKA Ghost)

• Surface: Meera is a resilient hacker with a secretive past.

• Layer: Struggling to erase her digital footprint and sever ties with her past.

• How the layer is revealed: Meera’s old ally-turned-enemy hacks into the team’s system during a critical moment of the operation, exposing her past affiliations live on their screens, which turns the team against her until she proves her loyalty on the spot.

<b style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Character Layers for Meera Verma (AKA Ghost)

• Surface: Meera is a highly skilled hacker, an asset to the team’s cyber operations.

• Layer: She is concealing her past affiliations with a cybercriminal network and her connections to the team’s mole.

• How the layer is revealed: The team is in the midst of a tense operation when suddenly they’re ambushed. Meera’s workstation lights up with a flood of incriminating evidence planted against her. Accusations fly as trust disintegrates. In a desperate bid to clear her name, Meera uses her hacking skills in real-time to unmask the true mole, revealing it to be a setup by an old associate from her dark past who has infiltrated the mission. This betrayal hits its peak when Meera, cornered and with a gun to her head, has to choose between saving her own life by aiding the mole or risking everything to help the team. She chooses the latter, cementing her loyalty but at a cost — her secrets are now out in the open, leaving her vulnerable to both the team and her past enemies.

Plot Layers in Act 3

• Surface: The team grapples with the implications of the ledger implicating Priya’s father.

• Layer: The resource dries up, leading to a betrayal within the team.

• How the layer is revealed: When the ledger is stolen under mysterious circumstances, Priya’s desperate attempt to retrieve it results in a confrontation with a team member, who reveals their betrayal by trying to leverage the ledger for personal gain.

Character Layers for Lina Chen (AKA Oracle)

• Surface: Lina is the financial analyst with a mysterious past.

• Layer: Wound from past misdeeds and a hidden agenda to make amends.

• How the layer is revealed: Lina is recognized by an adversary during a financial transaction. She must then publicly confront her past actions, compelling her to disclose her true motivations to the team.

Character Layers for Arjun Nair (AKA Raven)

• Surface: Arjun is a stoic and strategic planner for the team.

• Layer: Hides a personal vendetta to avenge his sister’s death.

• How the layer is revealed: Instead of flashbacks, Arjun’s vendetta is revealed during a heated argument with another team member who accuses him of compromising the mission for personal revenge. His reaction is uncharacteristically emotional, hinting at his deeper motivations.

<b style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Character Layers for Arjun Nair (AKA Raven)

• Surface: Arjun is the composed and strategic mind of the team, always seen in control.

• Layer: Concealing his struggle with PTSD and a history of taking morally ambiguous actions.

• How the layer is revealed: In the midst of a critical operation, the team encounters an unexpected crisis—a hostage situation with civilians, reminiscent of the incident that caused Arjun’s PTSD. Arjun freezes, his stoicism cracking under pressure. The situation escalates rapidly, forcing him to either overcome his trauma or risk the mission and lives. His actions result in saving the hostages but at a great personal cost, revealing his past as he confesses to the team afterward about the similar situation where he once failed, leading to his sister’s death. This disclosure aligns the team more closely with his vendetta, cementing their loyalty but also raising questions about his future decisions under stress.

Situation Layers in Act 4

• Surface: The mission’s ethical boundaries blur as the team faces their past.

• Layer: Hidden plans and blackmail as each character’s secrets come to light.

• How the layer is revealed: A key team member is captured and blackmailed with their dark past, live-streamed to the team. To save their comrade, the team must execute a risky and morally ambiguous rescue that exposes everyone’s secrets and unites them against a common enemy.

<b style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Character Layers for Raghav Patel (AKA Hyena)

• Surface: Raghav is the shrewd leader of the Hawala Network.

• Layer: Conspiracy and hidden agendas to increase his power within the global crime syndicate.

• How the layer is revealed: Raghav’s interactions and secretive meetings hint at larger plans, with his seemingly irrational superstitions and rituals revealing a calculating mind planning a significant financial coup.

Situation Layers for Raghav Patel (AKA Hyena)

• Surface: Raghav is the charismatic leader of the Hawala Network.

• Layer: Conspiracy to orchestrate a major financial heist and protect the network’s secrets.

• How the layer is revealed: Raghav’s superficial charm belies his ruthless nature, as his interactions with subordinates and allies gradually reveal his grand plan for global financial domination.

Character Layers for Sofia Petrovna (AKA Chameleon)

• Surface: Sofia is a master of disguise, integral to the team’s infiltration efforts.

• Layer: Secret identity with a personal quest to find her missing sister.

• How the layer is revealed: A target of the heist recognizes Sofia despite her disguise, not as herself but as her sister. This confrontation not only jeopardizes the mission but also reveals Sofia’s personal quest to the team under high-stress circumstances.

Character Layers for Harsh Mehta (AKA The Cobra)

• Surface: Harsh Mehta is a loyal enforcer within the Hawala Network.

• Layer: Secret identity and a haunted past with collateral damage from his actions.

• How the layer is revealed: Harsh is forced to deal with a victim of his past actions, a survivor seeking retribution. The encounter is intense and reveals his conflict and depth of character to the audience.

Plot Layers in Act 5

• Surface: The climactic operation against the Hawala network.

• Layer: Ongoing conspiracies and deception as true motives are unveiled.

• How the layer is revealed: The team’s confrontation with the network reveals layers of deception, with the ledger serving as a façade, suggesting the existence of a more insidious plot.

Situation Layers in Act 5

• Surface: The operation to confront the Hawala network escalates.

• Layer: A bad person (Priya’s father) turns good; a solution (the ledger) is uncovered.

• How the layer is revealed: The ledger that the team secures serves as a ruse, and the mastermind behind it remains unknown, overturning assumptions about Priya’s father and leaving the team’s victory hollow.

<b style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Situation Layers in Act 5

• Surface: The climax of the operation against the Hawala network.

• Layer: The discovery of a deeper conspiracy as the ledger is a ruse.

• How the layer is revealed: The team’s supposed victory is undercut by the revelation that the ledger they’ve been chasing is a decoy, leading to a cliffhanger that casts doubt on everything they thought they knew.

[Jerry Robbins]

JR’s Layers and Reveals
What I learned doing this assignment is that the timing of reveals is as important as the reveals themselves. The right timing heightens the suspense and the effects of the reveal and keeps the audience engrossed in the story.

Teaser:

• Essence: A holographic riot unfolds in the underbelly of Holo-Network City, hinting at a deeper unrest within the cohabitation of humans and robots.
• Turning Point: Alexia, investigating the tip, encounters Cipher saving her from an assailant, setting the stage for their mysterious connection.

1st Act: Introducing Surface and Hidden Layers

• Essence: Alexia delves into the world of conspiracies and cover-ups as she begins her investigation. Cipher’s elusive nature and Mara’s pursuit of perfection are highlighted.
• Turning Point: Nat Chambers, Alexia’s boss, uncovers a hidden layer of Mara’s activities, hinting at a scheme to undermine.

2nd Act: Conflict Unveiled

• Essence: The conflict escalates as Alexia discovers the rebellion’s roots. Cipher’s allegiance is questioned, and Mara’s hidden plan to modify the Robobs comes to light.
• Turning Point: The Midpoint reveals Ryker, a figure from Cipher’s past, adding a personal element to the rebellion and exposing a secret relationship.

3rd Act: Layers Unraveled in Uncertainty

• Essence: The uncertainty deepens as Alexia’s investigation unveils ongoing conspiracies, pushing her further into the city’s underbelly. Cipher’s hidden layers come to the forefront.
• Turning Point: A holographic entity connected to Cipher’s past resurfaces, revealing unexpected secrets and creating a major shift in meaning.

4th Act: Complications and Betrayals

• Essence: Major complications arise as Alexia’s efforts to resolve uncertainty worsen the city’s chaos. Cipher’s loyalty is tested, and Mara faces a betrayal within her own plans.
• Turning Point: Mara’s attempt to regain control backfires, leading to a trap that heightens the conflict and exposes the characters to deception.

5th Act: Locked Into the Journey

• Essence: The characters are locked into an irreversible journey as Holo-Network City teeters on collapse. Alexia, Cipher, and Mara are entangled in a complex web of alliances and conflicts.
• Cliffhanger: In a shocking twist, the holographic realm connected to Dr. Black’s experiments evolves, revealing a new layer of complexity that leaves viewers desperate for answers.

Character Layers:

1. Alexia Black:

   • Surface: A determined investigator.
   • Layer: Secret identity as the daughter of Dr. Adrian Black.
   • Revealed: When Mara confronts Alexia about her true identity, questioning her motives.

2. Cipher:

   • Surface: A captivating and elusive entity.
   • Layer: Hidden relationships from his past, specifically with Ryker.
   • Revealed: Ryker’s unexpected appearance in the rebellion, causing tension with Cipher.

3. Mara Vossheimer:

   • Surface: Wealthy entrepreneur and biochemist.
   • Layer: Conspiring to modify the Robobs secretly.
   • Revealed: Nat Chambers uncovers Mara’s hidden plan, leading to potential blackmail.

4. Nathan “Nat” Chambers:

   • Surface: Magazine owner and conspiracy theorist.
   • Layer: Investigating Mara’s activities for potential cover-ups.
   • Revealed: Nat discovers Mara’s hidden layers, creating a dilemma in their dynamic.

Situation Layers:

1. A good idea turns out to be bad:

   • Situation: Mara’s plan to modify the Robobs for marketability.
   • Revealed: The modifications lead to unintended consequences, sparking the rebellion.

2. A resource dries up or is taken away:

   • Situation: The holographic realm as a resource.
   • Revealed: The evolving holographic realm becomes unpredictable, creating chaos.

3. A trap:

   • Situation: Mara’s attempt to regain control.
   • Revealed: Mara falls into a trap, worsening the conflict and exposing the characters to deception.

4. Betrayal:

   • Situation: Cipher’s loyalty is tested.
   • Revealed: Ryker’s unexpected actions alter the rebellion’s trajectory, testing the limits of loyalty.

[Bob Creager]

Bob’s Layers and Reveals

What I learned: This added a little more intrigue to the outline.

1. Existing Layers and Reveals

Character Layers

Surface: Leisa is a dedicated corpsman and sister on a mission to rescue her brother.

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[Margaret]

Mar4garet’s Layers and Reveals

What I learned: I can’t hold on to my Pitch Bible the way it is. I thought I was done with that. Now I will have to revise (for the better).

Layers/Cover ups/Reveals:

Surface: Jack’s Father is a tele-evangelist

Character Layer/Deception: Jack’s father is keeping money sent for a dummy cause

How the layer is revealed: Revealed by Jack’s girlfriend during his proposal.

Surface: Jack has fallen down during an earthquake into a crevasse

Plot Layer/Major Shift in Meaning: Jack is no longer on Earth but in a parallel universe.

How the layer is revealed: When he wakes up being attacked by snakes.

Surface: Imara is a Hedeon spy

Character Layer/Hidden Relationship: Imara is not a spy, but meeting with her brother to find out about her son.

How the layer is revealed: After Jack rescues Imara from a would-be killer, she reveals her attraction to him. When he kisses her, she backs off. He assumes it is because of Taron and she reveals he is her brother.

Surface: Imara is angry with Alo for letting a stranger into their home.

Character Layer/Hidden Relationship: Imara is married but attracted to Jack.

How the layer is revealed: After Jack rescues Imara, the attraction is revealed.

Surface: Taron is a spy for the Donek

Character Layer/Hidden Relationship: Taron is actually Imara’s brother

How the layer is revealed: Imara reveals after Jack yells at her for playing with his emotions.

Top of Form

SurSuSurface: Arkuji wants the Donek attacked as revenge for Alo taking in Imara, an affront to the Hedeon tribe.

Character Layer/Secret history revealed: Arkuji was rejected by a Donek woman he was in love with, Imara was instrumental in destroying that relationship.

How the layer is revealed: Taron reveals it to Alo when he shares the plot to attack the Donek.

Surface: Alo is a Donek, adopted because his tribe was wiped out in a plague

Character Layer/Secret Identity: Alo is an Earthling

How the layer is revealed: As Alo pressures Jack to become a prophet for the Donek.

Surface: Alo wants Jack to take a role as prophet

Character Layer/Hiding past transgressions: Alo was brought to this planet by the Orb in a portal to be a light to the inhabitants of this planet but segregated himself only to the Donek and now is afraid he will be sent back to Earth.

How the layer is revealed: Alo pleading with him after Jack returns from seeking the portal.

S

[Lenore]

BWTV -AI Mod 3 – Lesson 5

Lenore Bechtel’s Layers and Reveals

What I learned from this lesson

Pilot Episode for HYPNOTIZED BY HOPE: Invisible Angst

Teaser: Montage of Joshua on stage at the intimate Reincarnation, Travelers Tower’s nightclub. In the audiece, Lilly’s stern face contrasts with the highly appreciate audience, especially when Joshua puts beautiful, sexy Sally Singleton under his arm and walks gloatingly around while her feet and hair both barely clear the stage floor.

Turning point: Show over sneaky Quinten smirks as Lilly tells Joshua these shows diminish his essence and the reputation she’s been trying to help him build. He protests that they’re fun and bring in lots of clients. Layer and coverup: Joshua appears to be a superficial person more interested having fun than helping clients. At the very end of the pilot, we’ll find out how truly devoted he is to helping those in need.

Hook: Then Joshua shoots his bullet: He’s hired Sally to help Lilly in the office. Lilly’s aghast face says, “Not again!” Hidden agenda: Sally is not the inept ditzy blonde she’s pretending to be. We won’t find out until the last episode of the season who she really is.

Act I: Invisible Angst

Essence: Lilly knows Quinten Quebeck is coming to uncover a scandal and fears his story will hurt her chances of finding a publisher for the book she’s ghosting for Joshua. She’s skeptical about the treatment Joshua prescribes for Timothy, Dr. Dan’s schizophrenic who thinks he’s invisible. Wound: Timothy has many, the biggest being he scared to be around other people. Another being a distrust of banks because of an account he forgot about once being dropped from $500 to zero because of maintenance fees.

Actions: Dr. Dan briefs Joshua about Timothy. Tyrell gets free appointment. Sally ruins Joshua’s masters. Lilly reluctantly sets up fake bank robber. Secret identity: Tyrell is Joshua’s former cell mate. His relationship to Joshua will not be revealed until later seasons, but he’ll be revealed as a safecracker in the last scene of the pilot.

Turning point: Lilly forces herself to set up a fake bank robbery for Timothy’s treatment. Joshua hypnotizes Timothy to believe that both he and Dr. Dan can also be invisible so Timothy can get caught robbing the downstairs bank.

Hook: Timothy runs away, saying Joshua is crazy.

Act 2: Crime and Visibility

Essence: Lilly’s transgender ex’s visit doesn’t distract her from protecting Joshua and the office’s reputation. Wound: Lilly was devastated both by the marriage and divorce, the details of which she keeps very secret.

Actions: Joshua decideds Sally will teach exercise. Ugh! Timothy comes back, and the farciical bank robbery scheme succeeds. Bernadine engulfs Timothy, and does what Joshua suggests—takes Timothy to lunch. Fake-fat Maudie is exposed. Ongoing conspiracy: Bernadine wants Joshua to hypnotize her for past life regressions, but he refuses. She thinks her soul group will move on without her if she doesn’t find and pay off her karmic debt from previous incarnations in this present life.

Turning point: As the three invisibles escape from the bank to the office, Dr. Dan bumps into Maudie, exposing Maudie’s fat disguise. Hidden relationship history: At a C of C show, Joshua hypnotized Maudie to want to help him on stage, and she liked the suggetion too much to give it up.

Hook: Quinten sees Maudie’s fat disguise fall out when Dr. Dan bumps into her. Maudie was the subject on the just-filmed TV show.

Act 3: TV Tomfoolery

Essence: Lilly spars with Quinten, and Joshua hires Shay and will keep his true identity secret. Deception: Shay is the son Lilly gave up for adoption, but no one except Joshua will know his identity until late in season one.

Actions: Quinten snoops around. Joshua fixes Maudie and lures Timothy into taking her out. . Lilly hates having another new hire, but likes Shay instantly. Unable to talk Joshua out off his treatment for Tyrell, Lilly finds safe that can’t be opened. Reveal: Joshua tells Lilly that Tyrell came for hypnosis to get his safecracking skills back, so he wants to confirm in reality that the skills are los. Dr. Dan chides Joshua for Timothy’s dates with Maudie. Vicki flirts with Shay, and he’s flattered. Wound: Vicki’s steady high school boyfriend dumped her when he left for college. This will be revealed in later episodes.

Turning point: Sally offers to show Quinten Maudie’s show, amusing Joshua, infuriating Lilly.

Hook: After seeing the show Quinten announces he’s well on his way to putting Joshua out of business. While Vicki, Sally, and Shay wail about how much they need their jobs, and Lilly looks near collapse, Joshua laughs at the preposterous idea.

Act 4: Exercise Aggravation

Essence: Quinten outsmarts Lilly and discovers items she’d rather keep hidden.

Actions: Lilly puts safe in Dr. Dan’s office. Sally’s exercise class is a hit. Timothy has crisis that demands another bank prank, which Lilly arranges, and Dr. Dan participates in. Tyrell and Joshua fail to open safe. Quinten eavesdrops as Lilly and Kathy have lunch at the cafeteria.

Turning point: As the three invisible buddies return from getting caught again as they returned money, Berrnadine is having a breakthrough and recognizes Timothy from a previous life—all with Quinten listening.

Hook: Quinten confronts Lilly about her relationship with Kathy and rejoicingly tells he’s close to having his story. Reveal: Lilly lets Quinten know that Kathy was a man when the two were married.

Act 5: Public confession

Essence: Quinten takes another giant step toward finding the scandal he needs.

Actions: Dr. Dan scolds Joshua for Timothy’s treatment—two dates too much too soon. Bernadine’s new show is attended by Vicki and Shay with Dr. Dan and Joshua on the front row. Quinten and Sally sit behind them. Lilly and her transgender ex Kathy sit separately. Police arrest Tyrell trying to crack safe.

Turning point: Near the end of Bernadine’s show, police drag in Tyrell, who blames Joshua for his crime.

Hook: Bernadine’s breakthrough gets Tyrell’s confession on stage, which Quinten gleefully films.

[Gayla Betts]

Gayla Betts Layers and Reveals
What I learned doing this assignment is to bring it down to its simplest level and not make it too complicated – stick with the story.

Teaser

Surface: Jess Harper goes over notes at the Starlight Café.

· Layer: She is surrounded by magic.

· How the layer is revealed: She discovers a glimmering portal.

Act 1

Surface: Jess seems to be a normal college student.

· Layer: Her magical abilities are revealing themselves.

· How the layer is revealed: She removes a bracelet her mother has given her.

Surface: Jess meets Lilah and Gabriel, who seem normal.

· Layer: They are magical creatures.

· How the layer is revealed: They perform magic.

Act 2

Surface: Jess and her father have a normal relationship.

· Layer: Her father knows all about the Sideral world.

· How the layer is revealed: When he notices her bracelet is missing, he freaks out.

Surface: Caroline seems to care about Jess.

· Layer: Caroline is surveilling Jess.

· How the layer is revealed: Caroline gives instructions to Jess’ secret service detail, Raif.

Act 3

Surface: Jess’ father has been kidnapped.

· Layer: This might have something to do with Jess.

· How the layer is revealed: A conversation between Caroline and an unknown confirms Caroline knows about the Sidereal world.

Act 4

Surface: Lilah wants to help Jess.

· Layer: Lilah is protecting her secret human husband.

· How the layer is revealed: Lilah and her husband have an argument – he doesn’t know she is a Sidereal.

Surface: Gabriel offers to help Jess.

· Layer: He needs her to help his dire situation.

· How the layer is revealed: He makes a promise to someone in the Sidereral world.

Act 5

Surface: Jess agrees to accept Gabriel’s offer.

· Layer: She has no intention of marrying him.

· How the layer is revealed: She leaves his ring on the table when she goes to the portal.

[Jeff Chase]

Jeffrey Alan Chase’s Layers and Reveals

What I learned doing this assignment is that every time I think I’ve fleshed out my story, I come up with a whole new list of cool things, like these layers and reveals, that makes the story much deeper and interesting.

(NA) stands for Noah Adams

(KK) stands for Keith Kane

(AK) stands for Abel Kane

(JJ) stands for James John

(CS) stands for Catherine Schaffer

(GM) stands for Gino Morelli

(MA) stands for Mary Adams

(FZ) stands for Father Zeke

Teaser:

Flashback: Noah on Humvee patrol in Afghanistan, makes crass jokes about God with Corporal ABEL KANE, they come under sniper fire, Noah sarcastically asks Jesus for good aim, Abel stares at Noah with hate-filled eyes, draws his pistol to shoot Noah but jerks steering wheel forcing Noah’s machine gun to unintentionally blast apartment building, killing innocent civilians.

Lock in: The Humvee rolls over an IED and blows up. Abel and 4 other GI’s dead. Noah is barely alive, a bad cut on his forehead, before he goes unconscious whispers, “Jesus please save me”.

Teaser Plot Layers:

Surface: Noah and his men are on patrol to find snipers.

Hidden: Abel is monitoring Noah to make sure he isn’t a messenger from God.

How revealed: Abel tries to kill Noah but fails.

Teaser Character Layers:

Surface: Abel and Noah are best friends.

Hidden: Abel is possessed by a demon.

How revealed: Abel’s expression fills with pure hate as he draws his pistol to kill Noah.

Teaser Situation Layers:

Surface: Noah mocks Jesus and God and is cynical of anyone who claims to be a Christian.

Hidden: Noah is unaware he’s one of God’s special envoys with a mission to save souls.

How revealed: When he asks Jesus to save him.

Act 1:

Essence: Introduction to the World and the characters.

(KK Beginning) US Army Major, respected head of CID and twin brother of the late Abel Kane learns Noah Adams has escaped custody before being sentenced for war crimes. Kane has a “seizure” when alone in a men’s room. His mien changes from terror to evil calm.

(NA Beginning) Close up of healed cut on forehead of…Noah, now back in the U.S., bearded and homeless, seeks shelter in an abandoned warehouse, discovers a battered backpack containing a small cross with “God loves you” on it and several other worthless items.

(KK TP1) Suddenly resigns his commission, ostensibly to, “bring Noah to justice for killing Abel”.

(NA Beginning cont’d) Noah tries to sell the backpack on the street, but no one wants to buy it.

Noah is about to toss the backpack into a dumpster when he sees a homeless woman trying to commit suicide on the freeway. He pulls her to safety, gives her the cross from the backpack and words of encouragement. She glows with the happiness of a born-again Christian. Noah wanders the streets, confused, desperate to understand what just happened.

Act 1 Plot Layers:

Surface: Kane’s going after Noah to arrest him for war crimes and the death of his twin brother.

Hidden: Kane is possessed by a demon who must kill Noah.

How revealed: in Act 3 when Kane “speaks” with the demon.

Act 1 Character Layers: Keith Kane

Surface: Keith Kane is a respected US Army major.

Hidden: He has just been possessed by the demon who possessed his late twin brother.

How revealed: When he has a “seizure” in the men’s room, his terror becomes evilly calm.

Act 1 Character Layers: Noah Adams

Surface: He is a homeless vet with PTSD and rapid onset diabetes.

Hidden: Unknown to him, he has God-given talent for helping to bring others to Christ.

How revealed: when he saves a homeless woman from suicide on the freeway.

Act 1 Situation Layers:

Surface: the cross in the backpack is just a cheap knickknack.

Hidden: It has a special power to redeem a soul.

How revealed: The words on it mean the world to the woman who had nothing to live for.

Act 2:

Essence: Conflict introduction that leads to midpoint.

(JJ Beginning) Long haul trucker doing his job, picks up Noah hitchhiking. James mentions he’s seen the backpack before.

(NA TP1) Noah is shocked to see that several new items have mysteriously shown up in the backpack. Or did he just not notice them before? He pulls out a page torn from a Gideon bible.

(JJ TP 1) The bible page has words on it that forever changed James’s life. He is certain that Noah has been chosen by God to spread the gospel to those who need to hear it.

(MA Beginning) Learns Noah escaped custody and is on the street somewhere in the city.

(CS Beginning) Excited, she’s on the trail of a clue back to her Jewish heritage in time of Christ.

Act 2 Plot Layers:

Surface: The page Noah pulls from the backpack is the same one James has seen before.

Hidden: After his family’s murder, James was angry, burned the page. Can’t be the same one.

How revealed: The effect the page has on James when Noah shows it to him. It’s come back into his life to remind him where he needs to be with his faith.

Act 2 Plot Layers:

Surface: There must be a limited number of items in the backpack.

Hidden: There is no limit to new items that will show up in the backpack.

How revealed: Noah pulls out a torn bible page that he’s sure wasn’t in it the day before.

Act 2 Character Layers: Mary Adams

Surface: The spoiled, rich widow shows no emotion as she learns Noah is in the city.

Hidden: She is still deeply in love with him and wants him back in her life.

How revealed: She tells her father she wants to apologize to Noah for divorcing him in his hour of need. Her father is irate and says she will do no such thing.

Act 2 Character Layers: James John

Surface: He is nothing more than a kindly, heavily tattooed trucker.

Hidden: Once a major drug dealer, he was reborn due to the backpack after his family’s murder.

How revealed: When he first meets Noah, he reveals he’s seen the backpack before.

Act 2 Situation Layers:

Surface: James claims to know very little about the backpack.

Hidden: He hides critical knowledge as revealed by the previous caretaker of the backpack.

How revealed: The name of the previous caretaker, “ELLA”, is tattooed on his arm.

Act 3:

Essence: Uncertainty and deepening of character layers.

(GM Beginning) Gino is inside his car, arguing loudly with himself. Noah intervenes, asks what’s wrong, pulls a short piece of rope from backpack. Noah is stunned that to Gino, it is a lifeline.

(NA Midpoint) Noah rejects his mission from God, throws the backpack from an overpass, but it ricochets back at him off a freight train engine and knocks him silly in the middle of the road.

(CS TP1) Driving her car, nearly hits Noah who is lying in the middle of the road.

(KK Midpoint) Keith, now controlled by demon that possessed Abel, has orders to kill Noah.

(JJ Major Conflict) Trying to be a Christian but battles addiction and memories of family trauma.

(CS Midpoint) Must use medical skills and stolen insulin to save Noah from diabetic shock.

Act 3 Plot Layers:

Surface: Noah can choose to do what he wants with the backpack.

Hidden: The backpack has mysterious power and will choose who it belongs to.

How revealed: Noah throws it away, but it hits a train, ricochets back and knocks him flat.

Act 3 Character Layers: Catherine Schaffer

Surface: She is a dedicated traveling nurse.

Hidden: She is obsessed with tracing her Jewish heritage back to the time of Christ.

How revealed: She excitedly confirms it on a phone call right before she meets Noah.

Act 3 Character Layers: Noah

Surface: He is just a typical homeless veteran.

Hidden: He is unaware he’s been given a mission from God.

How revealed: He will somehow, inadvertently help every person in crisis he encounters.

Act 3 Situation Layers:

Surface: The people Noah meets are all trustworthy.

Hidden: There are other misled and satanical people out there who will betray Noah.

How revealed: At a truck stop, Keith introduces himself to several truckers, says he wants to help a homeless vet with PTSD (Noah).

Act 3 Situation Layers:

Surface: Gino is a whacko who talks to himself.

Hidden: He’s a retired homicide detective who does crazy things to hang on to his sanity.

How revealed: With his “lifeline” from Noah, he swears to take down a corrupt police captain.

Act 4:

Essence: Major complications and efforts to resolve uncertainty.

(GM Midpoint) Gino realizes his path to redemption is in taking down a corrupt cop.

(NA TP2) Still woozy, Noah offers to pay Catherine for the ride, reaches into the backpack, and laughs because he knows there’s no money in it – but pulls out a small piece of ancient pottery.

(CS TP2) With shock, Catherine sees that it is a piece of a clay lamp from the time of Christ, suddenly realizing that Noah may well be the prophesized messenger in her family’s history.

(KK Major conflict) Keith battles doing what is right versus what the demon wants him to do, painfully loses control of his body as the demon punishes him for disobeying.

(JJ Dilemma) If James aids Noah in any way it will rip open the horrific memories of his past.

(CS Dilemma) Catherine will lose nurse’s license if she continues to provide Noah with insulin.

(MA TP 2) Her father is desperate to keep her away from Noah, will send her overseas to manage one of his companies.

Act 4 Plot Layers:

Surface: Noah tries to come to grips with his new-found but unwanted gift for helping people.

Hidden: He is sure he’s either going crazy or is part of a government or religious conspiracy.

How revealed: He accuses Catherine of being something other than a just helpful nurse.

Act 4 Plot Layers:

Surface: James promises he will meet Noah at a predetermined time to help him.

Hidden: James has no intention of showing up to help Noah.

How revealed: James scores drugs, battles with himself over taking them, forgets abouts Noah.

Act 4 Character Layers:

Surface: Gino comes across as looney tunes when he visits his old police precinct building.

Hidden: He’s using his bipolar issues as a cover to gain entrance to the evidence room.

How revealed: He takes several burner phones from the evidence room, “for Noah”.

Act 4 Character Layers:

Surface: Catherine is trying to be objective and rational about Noah and who he might be.

Hidden: She is feeling an overwhelming physical attraction to him.

How revealed: She holds his hand, gives him a look that reveals her uncontrollable feelings.

Act 4 Situation Layers:

Surface: Keith Kane walks calmly along the narrow edge of a wall atop a tall building.

Hidden: The demon is punishing him for disobeying.

How revealed: A gust of wind buffets him, he falls on the roof, his face a mask of terror.

Act 5:

Essence: Characters are now locked into their journey.

(CS ending) drops Noah near a homeless shelter, gives him money, desperate to stay in touch.

(FZ Beginning) Kane meets with Father Zeke at the shelter, mentions he’s looking for Noah.

(NA Ending) Noah sees Kane walking from the shelter; reacts like he’s seeing a ghost. Quick FLASHBACK of best friend, ABEL, being blown up in Afghanistan. How can Abel still be alive?

(NA Major Conflict) Noah is dealing with thoughts he’s going crazy and now, he’s just seen Abel, who he knows was killed in Afghanistan.

(FZ TP1) He sees Noah at the door of the shelter, seems to recognize him.

(NA Dilemma) Does he enter the shelter or go after Kane?

Act 5 Plot Layers:

Surface: To Zeke, Kane looks like a friendly guy who wants to find Noah to help him.

Hidden: The demon’s hatred boils just under the surface of Kane’s facial expression.

How revealed: Kane wipes an angry sneer, and a drip of spittle from his mouth.

Act 5 Character Layers:

Surface: Father Zeke seems to be good natured, helpful and honest.

Hidden: He is in financial trouble and desperate to raise money to keep the shelter open.

How revealed: He asks Kane if there is a reward offered for Noah.

Act 5 Situation Layers:

Surface: Father Zeke is a good guy.

Hidden: He will do what is necessary to keep the shelter open.

How revealed: He glances again at Noah’s photo as he stuffs it into his pocket.

Lock in: Father Zeke offers Noah a meal and a bed for the night. Noah is physically exhausted, mentally overloaded, and emotionally drained. Noah accepts.

[Joan Macbeth]

(Just replying here because the reply page isn’t loading for me…)

Joan Macbeth’s Layers and Reveals – Lesson 5

What I learned doing this assignment is… coming up with layers and deceptions is fun!

Layers, Cover Ups, and Reveals added to the outline:

• Surface: May Dugas is a wealthy, orphaned debutante, newly engaged to a Chicago banker’s son, Dale.
• Layer beneath: May is not wealthy, orphaned or a debutante. In fact, up until recently she was working as a prostitute in a high-class Chicago brothel. (Revealed at midpoint)
• Layer beneath: May left her home in a small lumber town in upper Michigan to avoid a scandal that was not of her making. (Revealed at end of pilot)

• Surface: May is worried about two men who attended her engagement ball – she tried to get Dale to throw them out, but one was Dale’s ne’er-do-well uncle Andy and the other Andy’s friend Reed Dougherty.
• Layer beneath: May has seen the two men at Carrie’s brothel.
• Surface: May’s friend Claude Montcrief assures her that the two men are no problem.
• Layer beneath: Claude has plans for an investment scheme, and the two men are involved. He wants May to help, because he thinks her father was a successful mining engineer (Act 1)
• Layer beneath: Her father being a mining engineer was a lie May told Claude when they met. (Reveal when? – maybe open loop for another episode)
• Layer beneath and new Surface: The investment scheme is a swindle, where Claude intends to get money from Andy and Reed, and he’ll split it with May.
• Layer beneath: The swindle is actually a set-up by Reed Dougherty, who is a Pinkerton Detective. (Reveal – Act 3)
• Layer beneath: Dale’s father, the banker, hired Dougherty to investigate his own brother, Andy. (Reveal – Act 5 )
• Surface: Dougherty isn’t actually Andy’s friend but a detective hired by Mr. Andrews.
• Layer beneath: Dougherty knows May’s secret past, and wants to save his boss’s son from marrying her.
• Surface: May needs to get out of town fast.
• Layer beneath: May has one more errand – get some money from Dale’s father. She threatens blackmail and succeeds. (Act 5)