BWTV-AI Module 1 – Lesson 4: Layers of Character Intrigue

[dave korr]

lesson 4 taught me how to create depth for my main characters.
Sue:Role: hero – Hidden agendas: wants to revenge kill Bakey for stabbing her sister and feeding her to his sadistic shark, Snappy – Competition: Bakey wants to kill Sue for burning his face and Snappy wants to kill Sue for kicking out his eye – Conspiracies: Sue is trying to trick Satan out of taking her dad to Hell after Satan tricked her dad into it –
Secrets:  3-year old Sue told all that mom ran off but was ashamed to tell she was responsible for Snappy eating mom – Deception: Sue will lead Satan ’til she can save dad from Hell – Wound: responsible for mom and sis being eaten by Snappy – Secret Identity: none
Bakey: Role: wants revenge by killing Sue, Snappy’s master – Hidden agendas: hit-man training Snappy to kill godfather – Competition: he and Sue trying to kill each other – Conspiracies: will team up with Satan to drag Sue to Hell – Secrets: he wanted to steal coke from godfather & Scarfatche – Deception: he’s always stalking Sue – Wound: Sue maimed him – Secret Identity: none – Snappy: Role: Bakey’s sadistic hit-shark enhanced & enslaved by drug addiction – Hidden agendas: Snappy resents Bakey addicting & enslaving him – Competition: Snappy wants to revenge kill Su for kicking his eye out Conspiracies: wants to kill Bakey too – Secrets: he’s enjoying the sadistic effect drugs have on him – Deception: he’s always stalking Sue – Wound: Sue kicked his eye out – Secret Identity: none – Satan:Role: Sue’s ultimate big bad and source of her troubles – Hidden agendas: only God & Watchy know Satan’s tired of Hell and wants back into Heaven. He bets God he can get Sue to replace him in Hell to get back into Heaven & get even with the angels who laughed when God booted Satan – Competition: Satan competes with God & Sue to win – Conspiracies: Satan bet God he’d get Sue to replace him in Hell to get back into Heaven – Secrets: the bet with God and that Satan was responsible for Sue’s woe to get her to replace him in Hell – Deception: he always tries to deceives everyone, especially Sue & God – Wound: angels laughed at him when God booted him from Heaven – Secret Identity: pretends to be helpful but is evil – Rob:Role: Sue’s ex-boyfriend – Hidden agendas: he’s been blackmailed into reluctantly helping Satan get Sue to replace Satan in Hell for $s – Competition: Bakey stalking him – Conspiracies: he’s secretly helping Satan get Sue to replace him for a billion bucks – Secrets: he’s selling Sue out Deception: he pretends he’s helping Sue but is selfish – Wound: Sue blew him off after Cher got eaten – Secret Identity: agent for Satan

[Tom B.]

What I learned doing this assignment (Lesson 4) is that characters without layers are boring and can make the show one dimensional, uninteresting, and unwatchable. Going through the main categories to create layers in characters helps push me to explore what can be more meaningful and compelling for the journey of each character, for the audience and for the story.

Character Name: Todd
Role: Help his mom and help his brother.
Hidden agendas: Get revenge on sheriff and bank president
Competition: Sheriff and sheriff’s son.
Conspiracies: With brother and Trish.
Secrets: He has a violent streak and waited years for revenge.
Deception: Deceiving mother, classmates, sheriff and bank president.
Wound: Father was also falsely imprisoned and killed.
Secret Identity: Closet genius.

Character Name: Trish
Role: Girlfriend of Todd’s brother (Joey)
Hidden agendas: Wants to expose father/sheriff’s criminal activities.
Competition: Other workers at bank and sheriff’s office.
Conspiracies: Working with Joey and Todd.
Secrets: Pregnant but who is the father?
Deception: Father, Joey, Madeline and co-workers.
Wound: Neglected by father and unappreciated.
Secret Identity: Bank president.

Character Name: Madeline
Role: Todd and Joey’s mother.
Hidden agendas: Help Joey and Todd.
Competition: Bank president.
Conspiracies: Joey and Trish.
Secrets: Wants to lose the house.
Deception: Backs up all the bank records.
Wound: Lost husband and supporting children by herself.
Secret Identity: CPA.

Character Name: Sheriff Bufford
Role: Father of Trish and law enforcement for town.
Hidden agendas: Become wealthiest and most powerful figure in town.
Competition: Bank president.
Conspiracies: Working with gang members.
Secrets: Killed father of Todd and Joey.
Deception: Wants to bring down bank president.
Wound: Jealousy.
Secret Identity: Leader of criminal enterprise.

Character Name: Barry Wipple
Role: Bank president.
Hidden agendas: Own all properties in town.
Competition: Madeline, sheriff.
Conspiracies: Bank manager and sheriff.
Secrets: Gambling habit and debt.
Deception: Bank staff and sheriff.
Wound: Never married and without kids.
Secret Identity: Irresponsible and careless.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ai Response:
Certainly! Here are the brainstormed intriguing layers for each main character in this crime, mystery, and suspense TV series about a small-town bank robbery:

1. Todd
Role: 17-year-old son of Madeline, caught in the bank during the robbery.
Hidden agendas: Todd may have a hidden agenda related to his father’s mysterious past or debts owed to dangerous individuals.
Competition: Faces competition from other desperate individuals who are also involved in the robbery and have conflicting interests.
Conspiracies: Unknowingly drawn into a conspiracy involving local criminals and possibly law enforcement figures.
Secrets: Hides the truth about his knowledge of the robbery’s planning or his involvement with individuals linked to criminal activities.
Deception: Pretends to be a naive teenager caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, but secretly has deeper knowledge or motivations.
Wound: Harbors deep emotional wounds from his family’s troubled history and his brother Joey’s wrongful imprisonment.
Secret Identity: Potentially connected to a secret identity or past that complicates his involvement in the robbery.

2. Trish
Role: Bank teller and pregnant girlfriend of Joey (Todd’s older brother, wrongly imprisoned).
Hidden agendas: Trish might have a hidden agenda involving securing her future and the well-being of her unborn child, which could lead her to make questionable decisions.
Competition: Competes with other bank employees or customers who are desperate enough to consider participating in the robbery.
Conspiracies: Unwittingly becomes part of a conspiracy involving the bank’s president or other influential figures in the town.
Secrets: Conceals her true feelings about Joey’s imprisonment and her doubts about the baby’s father.
Deception: Maintains a facade of normalcy and stability despite the chaos caused by the robbery and her personal struggles.
Wound: Carries emotional wounds from Joey’s wrongful accusation and the pressure of being a single mother-to-be.
Secret Identity: Potentially has a secret identity or past that could be exposed during the investigation into the robbery.

3. Madeline
Role: Mother of Todd and Joey, assistant manager of the bank on the verge of losing her home.
Hidden agendas: Madeline’s hidden agenda might involve desperate measures to save her home and protect her sons from the fallout of the robbery.
Competition: Faces competition from the bank president and other officials who have their own agendas and may exploit the robbery for personal gain.
Conspiracies: Is inadvertently involved in a conspiracy involving corrupt local officials or influential town figures.
Secrets: Keeps secrets related to financial troubles and her attempts to protect her sons from the town’s darker elements.
Deception: Presents a facade of stability and authority while hiding the extent of her desperation and involvement in the robbery.
Wound: Has deep emotional wounds from the pressure of being a single mother in a small town with limited options.
Secret Identity: Could have a secret identity or past that could be revealed through her desperate actions during the robbery.

4. Sheriff Bufford
Role: Law enforcement officer for the town, secretly involved in criminal activities.
Hidden agendas: Sheriff Bufford’s hidden agenda involves protecting his criminal enterprises and maintaining his reputation despite his involvement in illegal activities.
Competition: Faces competition from other corrupt officials and criminals who may use the robbery to further their own agendas.
Conspiracies: Is a central figure in a conspiracy involving local crime syndicates or influential individuals in the town.
Secrets: Hides his involvement in criminal activities and his true motives for his actions during the robbery investigation.
Deception: Maintains a facade of lawfulness and authority while secretly manipulating the investigation and protecting his interests.
Wound: Carries emotional wounds from his past involvement in criminal activities and the pressure of maintaining his facade as a respected lawman.
Secret Identity: Could have a secret identity or past connection to the robbery that complicates his role as the town sheriff.

5. Barry Wipple
Role: Bank president, greedy and manipulative.
Hidden agendas: Barry’s hidden agenda involves using the robbery to cover up his financial mismanagement or to eliminate potential threats to his position.
Competition: Competes with other influential figures in the town who may exploit the robbery for their own gain.
Conspiracies: Is involved in a conspiracy to manipulate the investigation and protect his own interests at the expense of others.
Secrets: Hides his true financial situation and the extent of his involvement in shady dealings within the bank.
Deception: Presents a facade of authority and respectability while secretly orchestrating events to benefit himself.
Wound: Has emotional wounds from past business failures and the pressure to maintain his position of power within the community.
Secret Identity: Could have a secret identity or past connection to criminal activities that are uncovered during the investigation into the robbery.

These layers add depth and complexity to each character, intertwining their personal struggles and hidden motives with the unfolding mystery of the bank robbery.

====================================================================

• This reply was modified 10 months, 1 week ago by  Tom B..