BWTV-AI Module 1 – Lesson 3: Engaging Main Characters That Sell Your Show Copy

[dave korr]

What did I learn from engaging characters? I learned that not only my hero but all my major characters needed to have intrigue. 
Sue’s journey in SHARK STANK is: to avenge sister’s and mom’s deaths by getting even with shark and serial killer who killed them and finally with Satan, who at the end was uncovered to be behind it all.

A. Sue role in show: Sue must save pals from certain death by a sadistic shark, his serial killer master, and finally from fate worse than death from Satan himself
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Sue threw javalin in track and is driven by revenge to save pals from shark, Bakey & Satan
C. Intrigue: why did mom run away & cuz Sue relentless guilt?
D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Is it OK for Sue to try to kill shark and master to exact revenge?
E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? How will Su save pals by killing shark, serial killer, and Satan himself?
F. Empathetic: Why care? Sue lost sis & maybe mom to shark who stalks Sue with serial killer as they & Satan stalk her

A. Rob Role in the show: tries to help Sue save everyone without killing
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Rob is moral, loving compass for Sue
C. Intrigue: Satan is blackmailing Rob to get him Sue but Rob is resisting
D. Moral Issue: will Rob defy Satan and keep Sue from killing for revenge?
E. Unpredictable: will Rob: kill to save Sue and pals and defy Satan?
F. Empathetic: he loves Su and wants to get back with her but must defy Satan

A. Snappy Role in the show: sadistic killer wanting revenge on Sue for eye loss
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Snappy is a drug-smartened hit shark
C. Intrigue: how did his master drug and train Snappy to be hit-shark?
D. Moral Issue: shark has no morals as an instinctual killing machine
E. Unpredictable: will Snappy turn on his hit-man drug-pushing master?
F. Empathetic: shark is being drugged and abused by his master

A. Bacon Face in the show: unstopable killer wants revenge on Sue for maiming
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Bakey vengefully stalks Sue to kill her, get even
C. Intrigue: how did Bakey get a shark to train to be a hit-shark?
D. Moral Issue: is Bakey’s vengefulness warranted as is enslaving a shark?
E. Unpredictable: will Snappy turn on his hit-man drug-pushing master?
F. Empathetic: Sue maimed Bakey as he was trying to save Sue

A. Satan Role in the show: Satan was behind all mayhem from start to finish
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Satan uses super powers to get back into Heaven
C. Intrigue: why did Satan pick Sue to replace him on throne of Hell ??
D. Moral Issue: is evil really way to get back into Heaven?
E. Unpredictable: what will Satan do the get back into Heaven on a deadline?
F. Empathetic: God keeps striking Satan with lightning to keep him out of Heaven

[dave korr]

Also, Laree, can you please get me the download link for the free CHATGBT that has the left-side menu for deleting history? Thanks!

[Tom B.]

What I learned doing this assignment is there is quite a bit of work, thought, deliberation, and strategy involved in constructing your main and supporting characters to create a BW show.

1. Tell us the journey of your show:
Todd is a 17 year old boy that realizes the only way to help his mother and older brother is to expose the corruption in bank where she works and at the sheriff’s department that framed his brother.

2. Who are the main characters that will sell your show? See below.

3. Answer these questions for each of those characters.

Todd:
A. Role in the show: See above

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Highly observant, analytical

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Everyone thinks he is quiet and uninterested

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Using a gun in a bank

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Nothing to lose

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Lost his father, feels compelled to take care of the remaining parts of his family

Trish:
A. Role in the show: Pregnant young lady that wants to get out of this small town and is daughter of sheriff

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Serves as motivation for boys’ characters

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Is she really pregnant?

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Either lying about being pregnant or using it to her advantage

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Willing to deceive to get what she wants

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Father is overbearing sheriff in town

Madeline:
A. Role in the show: Mom that is trying to take care of her two boys, but is broke and about to lose the house

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Demonstrates how the bank is corrupt

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? She owes more than money

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Lying to her boys

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? What will she do to protect her boys and their home?

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Single mom that is struggling

Sheriff Bufford:
A. Role in the show: Law enforcement figure that threatens all main characters

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Antagonist

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? He is covering up his own illegal money making scheme

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Allowing drug gangs to operate in the town

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Willing to do anything to avoid being caught

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? He is past the point of no return

Barry Wipple:
A. Role in the show: Bank president and manager that is profiting on loans and foreclosing houses

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Insensitive

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Is a white collar crook

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Illegally taking people’s homes

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Crossed point of no return, maybe in partnership with Sheriff

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Can cross line to be dangerous

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ai RESPONSE:

Sure, let's brainstorm the Character Basics for each main character based on the given TV series concept:

**Todd**
A. Role in the show: Protagonist turned antagonist; starts as a bank robber.
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Rebellious teen caught in a web of family secrets and crime.
C. Intrigue: Secret beneath the surface is his troubled home life and conflicted loyalties.
D. Moral Issue: Crossing the boundary of family loyalty versus legal responsibility.
E. Unpredictable: His actions are driven by emotional turmoil and the pressure of his circumstances.
F. Empathetic: We care because he's a young man pushed to extremes by his family's criminal ties, struggling to find his own path.

**Trish**
A. Role in the show: Sympathetic figure caught between family loyalty and doing what's right.
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Represents the human cost of crime and the impact on innocent lives.
C. Intrigue: Secret beneath the surface is her conflicted feelings for Todd and her own uncertain future.
D. Moral Issue: Crossing the boundary of loyalty to her boyfriend's family versus protecting her unborn child.
E. Unpredictable: Her decisions are influenced by fear for her child's future and the desire for a stable life.
F. Empathetic: We care because she's trying to navigate an impossible situation with compassion and bravery.

**Madeline**
A. Role in the show: Key link between the robbery and the personal lives of the characters.
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Juggling the roles of a single mother and a responsible bank employee.
C. Intrigue: Secret beneath the surface is her hidden knowledge of the bank's operations and financial struggles.
D. Moral Issue: Crossing the boundary of ethical duty to her job versus protecting her son.
E. Unpredictable: Her choices are influenced by her protective instincts as a mother and her fear of losing everything.
F. Empathetic: We care because she's a strong woman trying to hold her family together while facing overwhelming odds.

**Sheriff Bufford**
A. Role in the show: The law enforcement figure trying to unravel the mystery behind the robbery.
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Represents justice and order in the small-town setting.
C. Intrigue: Secret beneath the surface is his own personal connections to some of the involved parties.
D. Moral Issue: Crossing the boundary of personal relationships versus professional integrity.
E. Unpredictable: His actions are driven by his commitment to justice and his ties to the community.
F. Empathetic: We care because he's torn between his duty as sheriff and his personal connections, trying to do what's right.

**Bank Manager Barry Whipple**
A. Role in the show: Initially a secondary character, but becomes pivotal as the plot unfolds.
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Represents the face of authority within the bank and the local community.
C. Intrigue: Secret beneath the surface is his involvement in financial misconduct and desperate attempts to cover it up.
D. Moral Issue: Crossing the boundary of financial ethics versus personal survival.
E. Unpredictable: His decisions are influenced by his fear of exposure and the consequences of his actions.
F. Empathetic: We care because he's a flawed character grappling with the consequences of his choices, trying to protect himself and his reputation.

These character basics should provide a solid foundation for each character's role and motivations within the crime, mystery, and suspense genre of the TV series concept.

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• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by  Tom B..
• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by  Tom B..