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Day 1 Assignments
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Claudia’s Actors Attractor for Sweet Home Alabama
Vision: To become such an excellent writer that I know every script I write will be well received by the industry, that my scripts will sell and be produced, and I’ll live the life of my dreams. To also become so empowered that fear is to be laughed at, instead I relish and look forward to pitching, meetings and much more.
What I’ve Learned Doing This Assignment: This was FUN! I love digging deep into character’s psyche and building them internally for what they need to do externally. While I’ve watched Sweet Home Alabama waaaay over a dozen times, looking for the Actor Attractors helped me to see many things that I’ve missed. I’ll be looking for these things in all movies I watch from now on!
Lead Character Name: Melanie Carmichael/Smooter
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
It’s a smart, fun character that hits many emotions and you’re able to root for someone with multiple foibles and watch her learn, grow and become the person she had always dreamed to be with the man she’s loved since she was 10 years old. Gets to play both high society and someone who can get in the mud with the best of them.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Melanie can easily live and navigate two very different worlds: the high society of NYC’s political class and the Fashion world, with the slow, sweet and easy down-home world of Alabama. However, she’s worked so hard to forget who she was that she barrels into town thinking she’s better than all of these “hicks” and that you need a “passport” just to visit this other world…. She’s quick to apologize but she’s also very hard-headed. She’s the one torn between two worlds, two men and has to make a big choice. She’s incredibly smart but running away from a past which has led her to living a lie… her entire journey builds to this revelation (for her fiancé) and then it blows up.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Kissing TWO handsome men. Taking on the good old boys at the pool game. Replacing all of Jake’s furniture. Walking through the fields, stepping over Civil War Reenactors. Punching Candice Bergan in the face. Running through the rain onto the beach during a thunderstorm. Dancing at a street fair.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Past: Sweet scene of kids, and then hit by lightning. She’s in the fast-paced world of Fashion Design preparing for Fashion week. She’s breaking through with her first show. This woman appears to have it all together.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
The character showcases a wide array of emotions, from the thrill of an engagement to guilt, anger, regret, mourning, tearful apologies to fun and sassy.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
She is always hiding a part of herself because she’s living a lie. In NY she hides her past. In Alabama she has to hide the fact that she’s completely lied about herself up in NY (changing her name, where she grew up and more). It’s a balancing act that wears on her. She is uppity to those in Alabama, but in actuality is really a girl who feel unworthy of her success and happiness because of her past (losing the baby and running out on Jake and all her friends).
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
She has a special relationship with Jake, whom she’s been in love with since 10. She wants to divorce him and escape her past completely, but she can’t get him out of her mind. Just when he signs the divorce papers and leaves, she kisses him doesn’t want to let him go.
Melanie also has a special relationship with Stella, Jake’s mom. Stella secretly wants the two of them to get back together, but she also wants the best for Melanie, whatever that might be. She’s the one Melanie goes to, apologizing and confessing… she’s her sounding board and the person she obviously trusted when she was very young. She didn’t have that relationship with her own mother. Stella is the one, in the end, at the wedding who happens to have the pen that Melanie could use to divorce her son… and tells her that “these things happen for a reason.”
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Her Southern Accent is unique and disarming up in NYC. Her vulnerability and truthfulness (once she tells the truth) is on full display (both places) and people in Alabama can’t stay mad at her, despite what she continues to do. This allows her to maintain her friendships and business relationships, even allow her fiancé to not be angry, but let her go.
9) what makes this character special and unique?
She’s the girl who made it out and made a huge success of herself. She’s the girl who has it all and trades the dream guy (for so many women) for the love of her life… BUT she’s also the girl who is living a lie and that makes the story interesting.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
That’s the wedding scene at the end. We start the scene with Melanie feeling unsure, she still loves Jake but is about to marry Andrew. Her mother has to convince her to go through with it, to get out of that town and Alabama.
As she walks down the aisle, torn between two men and two lives, the attorney, Mr. Buford runs towards her. He’s tackled and dragged away until Melanie stops her friends. Mr. Buford tells her that she didn’t sign the divorce papers. She says, “you mean I’m still married?” and he responds, “Only if you want to be.” The look across her face lets us know, she wants to be… but Andrew presses her, he’s upset. So she asks if anyone has a pen. The ONLY person who does is Stella, Jake’s mom. She is so wise and states that “… these things happen for a reason.” Prompting her with the ‘you can still change your mind.’
Melanie tries to sign the papers, her hand waivers back and forth… finally she tells Andrew he doesn’t want to marry her and he shouldn’t, because she gave her whole heart away a long time ago and never got it back.
He decides to let her go and walks off. Then Kate, Andrew’s mom, the Mayor of NY, calls her a little bitch and that she was not going to leave the future president of the united states at the altar. When Pearl (Melanie’s Mom steps in to de-escalate the situation, Kate responds with a derogatory remark (go back to your double wide and fry something). You don’t put down someone’s momma in the South… and Melanie hauls off and punches her in the face. As it starts raining and people run for cover, Melanie yells to the friends of the bride to stick around, she is going to find a groom.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that watching an in-genre movie that does it right gets the brain moving fast.
TITLE: Cousin Mitch
What’s Up, Doc?:
LEADS: Howard Banister/Judy Maxwell
1. Why would and actor WANT to be known for this role?
HOWARD BANISTER: An interesting straight man in a hysterical comedy.
JUDY: A live-action version of a Bugs Bunny like ridiculously zany carefree woman.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
HOWARD BANISTER: He’s a doctor of musicology. He’s brilliant. He’s befuddled. He’s the object of Judy’s undying and inexplicable affection and we want him to be with her. We want him to free himself from Eunice.
JUDY: An utterly unique woman who is beyond brilliant, if dangerous,.
3. What are the most interesting actions the character takes in the movie?
HOWARD BANISTER: Attends the conference with his special rocks. Plays his rocks.
JUDY: Stalks Howard throughout the Hotel. Insinuates herself into his life. She burns down the hotel room. She helps Howard get the grant through her brilliance. Charms everyone at the conference. Her father is the judge.
4. How is the character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
HOWARD BANISTER: He’s being controlled by Eunice – his head in the clouds. He’s particularly spacey.
JUDY: She has a magical way of wreaking havoc on everyone and everything around her. Cars crash. Motorcycles crash. She steals a meal from room service.
Also, she sings the credits song – a jazz version of Cole Porter’s ‘You’re the Top’.
5. What is the character’s emotional range?
HOWARD BANISTER: Repressed to fully in love. Humor. Confusion. Excitement. Despair.
JUDY: Optimism. Joy. Hurt. Embarrassment. Singy. Dancey. Charming.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
HOWARD BANISTER: Falling in love.
JUDY: Sexual agression. Extreme intelligence. Manipulative. Pretends to be Eunice.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has?
HOWARD BANISTER: With Judy – a Bugs Bunny like romantic interest who he’s never met.
JUDY: With Howard – a man who she falls in love with at first sight and relentlessly pursues until she makes him hers.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presence?
HOWARD BANISTER: Brilliant but a space cadette. He repeats what others say. He confuses words and rhetoric. Always a step behind in a conversation.
JUDY: A mile a minute whirlwind of brilliant linguistic rhetoric. A story teller. Fabricator.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
HOWARD BANISTER: A niche brilliance. A repressed handsome introvert who is slowly pulled out of his shell.
JUDY: A whirlwind of sex appeal and intelligence. She drives the story.
10. A SCENE THAT FULFILLS ALL OR MOST OF THIS.
EVERY FRIGGIN’ SCENE fulfills the hysterical potential of these two main characters and a parade of small but memorable smaller characters.
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Jen’s Actor Attractor
Vision: I will write every day, not only producing high volume but high quality scripts that will ultimately be made into great movies and television shows!!!!
What I learned doing this assignment is that the things that can make our characters great are the same things that will attract an actor to play that character.
Movie Title: THE GUILTY
Lead Character Name: Joe
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Funny, the reason I came up with are specific questions you have listed below – he plays a huge range of emotions and his character has a lot of subtext that an actor can tap in to (and of course it’s perfect for Jake Gyllenhaal who seems to be typecast as the “broken man” and this part fits that to a T). Also this character has an intense arc that I am sure an actor would want the opportunity to portray.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? This is very much a contained movie and he carries the whole thing. We mostly only see him (most others are just a voice on the phone) except for a couple of people who work at the call center with him, but they are minor characters with none to very little arc.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He is a rebel. There is a secret past that is alluded to but not revealed until the end of the movie. He has bits of conversations that give a little more information about that secret each time. He goes into a private room to take his calls so that he can does his rebellious (yet life-saving) techniques to make the calls he needs to without anyone else hearing,
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He is introduced being proficient at his job, high stress, yet fielding calls like a pro – the bit of rebelliousness with his boss may be a bit of a trope (the rogue cop, as rogue as he can be in a 911 call center) but it works and that’s why it’s huge in cop stories (plus it might be a mislead, making you think his rebellious streak is why he is banished to the call center).
5. What is this character’s emotional range? I would say this character plays everything but happy. Also, what is cool is that when you pick any emotion, he plays a huge range – so for example “mad” – he plays perturbed -> outraged and everything in between.
6. What subtext can the actor play? This is huge – he has some sort of issue – a court case coming up the next day – but the audience is fed this in piecemeal and he carries this subtext with everything he does.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? He has an interesting relationship with Emily – mostly because they are relating to each other on deep emotional level and then it is all based on a misunderstanding (on Joe’s part) and when it becomes known to him that she is actually a perp, not a victim, he feels the need to confess his guilt to her – she is also a change agent for him.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Jake always seems to play a broken man – he is broken in everything he does in this movie (and does it so well). His character subtext is always there under the surface in his actions and words (anger and distress).
9. What makes this character special and unique? He is being punished for something (we don’t know what until the end) yet he takes his banishment job seriously. He has deep feelings for his wife and his daughter, but isn’t able to have a relationship with them (something to do with what he did wrong, but the audience doesn’t know what) and that puts him potentially in the same position that he thinks the man is in (who he thinks kidnapped his wife). He uses his own tragic story to save Emily at the end (of course in real life it’s exposition) and it is an amazing cathartic moment for the characters in the movie and the audience members.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
At the end when Joe is trying to talk Emily from jumping off the bridge (and knows the truth now, so he is approaching everything with a subtext of bewilderment as he has just realized what really happened) he goes through the gambit of emotions – and then he breaks down and admits what he did to her (which he planned on lying about in court but he confesses to her and then ultimately tells the truth in court) – this is the moment of his arc.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Jenifer Stockdale.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by
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Andrew Kelm’s Actor attractors for LABOR DAY
Vision: I am going to do whatever it takes to be a great writer of TV and movies who is sought after by people I respect within the industry and has multiple successful TV series produced.
What I learned doing this assignment is… how to appreciate what makes an actor want to play a character.
Lead Character Name: Adele (Kate Winslet)
- Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Complex character who’s ordinary on the surface but full of huge emotions and contradictions underneath — it demands a lot of technical skill to play all of that, so it is a challenge and a tour-de-force if an actor can do it.
- What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? She is caught in a dilemma that is relatable. She is chronically depressed since her husband left her, and this man enters her life to pull her out of it but he is a fugitive from justice. She is a coiled spring: she is passive, but her reactions determine what will happen at every moment.
- What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? She falls in love with an escaped convict and prepares to go on the run with him.
- How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Quietly. She is an enigma. She is first with her son — an unhealthy dependence. She is agoraphobic; nervous in the car to the point where she can’t put the car in gear properly without her son’s help; she has to psyche herself up to get out of the car and go into the store. Once that is established, she is abducted.
- What is this character’s emotional range? From shut down to in love; devastated when the police come for Frank; timid and yet pushes herself to stand up for Frank to the police.
- What subtext can the actor play? There’s a whole tangle: everything is tinged by her depression; she is afraid of the convict and attracted at the same time; she is afraid of the influence he has on her son, but sees that he is the role model he needs. It is stated more than once that she “is in love with love.”
- What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? She falls in love with an escaped convict. She is afraid and law abiding, and yet he charms her; he is the person she needs.
- How is this character’s unique voice presented? She is withdrawn and hardly speaks, but when she does, she is sincere and loving.
- What makes this character special and unique? She is a good person who has shut down, but blossoms again when she is loved. Though she is a picture of timidity, she never wallows in emotion and is brave enough to follow her heart’s desire.
- The escaped convict convinces her to let him tie her to a chair to “pretend” that she is being held against her will… when actually she is being held against her will.
Lead Character Name: Frank (Josh Brolin)
- Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He is a complex character — menacing and yet a dream come true for both mother and son.
- What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He has to win over mother and son, and the audience — we do not know if he is going to murder them at first. He keeps subverting expectations by being this really nice guy.
- What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? I think with Frank what makes him interesting is that he does really ordinary things instead of what is expected from an escaped convict. So making an apple pie as an escaped convict becomes really interesting.
- How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He approaches the boy in a store and convinces him (threatens?) to get his mother to drive him back to their house. On the edge of charming and compelling and threatening.
- What is this character’s emotional range? Tough to loving and sensitive; from a threat to perfect lover and father figure.
- What subtext can the actor play? This is the family he lost. He is determined to escape, but he also is falling in love.
- What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? He forms a love relationship with Adele and becomes a father figure for Henry.
- How is this character’s unique voice presented? Strong, ruthless and tender at the same time. He speaks with gruff, short sentences but with kindness.
- What makes this character special and unique? He is a cipher. For a long time we don’t know if he is dangerous but he’s not — he’s perfection for these two people.
- Act 1 turning point. Before we really know if he is villain or hero, he has the three of them make a pie together — and he knows how to do it expertly.
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Ian Greenham’s Actor Attractors for “Sisters in Time”
Vision: I’m confident that completing this program will significantly enhance my screenwriting skills.
Doing this assignment I learned the importance of building actor attractors into the characters in my script.
Movie: The Monuments Men
Genre: Drama
Character: Frank Stokes (played by George Clooney)
Actor Attractors
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Stokes leads a team of hand-picked specialists to recover valuable artworks stolen by the Nazis during their occupation of Europe. It was a successful mission, based upon a true story.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie? He’s the leader of the group.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Overseeing the investigation of where the artworks were hidden and coordinating their recovery.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He’s the leader of the group.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? He remains calm and focused during the various challenges of the mission.
6. What subtext can the actor play? ????
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With the men in his group.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Through his steady and purposeful leadership.
9. What makes this character special and unique? His unwavering commitment to his mission and his effective leadership.
Move: Sisters in Time
Genre: Drama:
Actor Attractors
The characters for this movie are still being developed as this course proceeds, so I’m not yet in a position to complete the list of actor attractors for them. At this stage all I can say is what appears below.
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Ali Silvers, the lead character, is an effective defense attorney.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie? She has the most dominant role.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? She has her twin sister’s conviction for murder set aside.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? She opens with a successful plea for the defense of a client charged with murder.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? She is strong, resilient and compassionate.
6. What subtext can the actor play? She is able to contain her emotions beneath her outer strength.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With her newly discovered identical twin sister, Nicki Holder.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Through her everyday decency and strength.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Her decency and strength.
[WIM: Module 3, Lesson 1: Characters That Sell Scripts – June 17, 2022]
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Claire’s Actor attractors for SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
MY VISION:
I have a fabulous career as a screenwriter working in both TV and film, and I have tremendous creative, financial, and personal success. I specialize in writing female driven projects and I am the go-to-girl for writing lesbian stories.
WHAT I LEARNED: Look at all the little and big things that make a character amazing. They don’t have to be an outrageous characteristic. Sometimes vulnerability can make the character amazing. Clarice was vulnerable yet went to interview Hannibal anyway. Showed her inner strength and courage.
Lead Character Name: Clarice Starling
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
One of the greatest female protagonists of all time
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Young FBI trainee who goes toe to toe with a brilliant sociopath serial killer. She outwits the senior FBI agents and finds and kills the murderer. Outwits the cops that hold Hannibal and gets access to him to interview him again.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Rescues the kidnapped woman; battles the killer; goes toe to toe with Hannibal Lechter; goes to the prison to interview Hannibal; in a room full of male law officers, she takes control and tells them to leave the murder victim’s body to the FBI. She says that they will take good care of her. She is from a small West Virginia town and her father was a law man. She knows what to say. She pushes Hannibal to help her. She goes to visit him when he is taken out of the mental hospital/prison.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
She is a trainee brought to her professor and is asked to do an assignment. She is ambitious and wants to work with her professor, and is willing to take this dangerous assignment.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
From being vulnerable with a sociopathic homicidal psychiatrist, to confronting and facing a serial killer.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Trying to outwit Hannibal and knowing she is not telling the truth and it becomes clear to Hannibal. Also, at the killer’s home she realizes it is him and acts like her visit is just to ask a few questions. Also with the horrible doctor, I forget his name, she treats him nicely for a while but you know she hates him.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
By far with Hannibal. She proves to him that she is smart and he acts like her mentor in solving the crime. He is a heartless killer, yet he likes her and she sort of likes him.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
She has an endearing combination of intelligence, naivete, inexperience, vulnerability, courage and strength. You can tell she is inexperienced, but she takes on challenging situations and takes the lead when necessary.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
At the time, the first story about a female FBI trainee.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Scene where she pushes Hannibal to help her. First she outwits the police who hold him so she has access to him again, and then she questions him and pushes him when he is resistant. She is vulnerable with him to get what she needs. She makes herself vulnerable to a psycho because he has what she wants, even thought she was told not to let Hannibal get into her head.
Lead Character Name: Hannibal Lechter
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
He is a brilliant psychiatrist who uses his genius to manipulate and kill people. He is a cannibal.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
His mind is amazing. He can read people with precision. He understands killers and can predict their behavior. He loves killing.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Escaping from custody. He didn’t just escape, he
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Terrifyingly! She walks down a long corridor with crazy people in cells and gets to him at the end. I was so scared that I couldn’t look at Anthony Hopkins in other movies for several years.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Psychotic who loves killing to a mentor like relationship with Clarice in which he seems to genuinely care for her.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Pretending to be cooperating with the officers who are bringing his meal while he is preparing to kill them. Hiding his real thoughts and feelings with Clarice in the beginning and then smashing her with them. Pretending to care about the senator and her daughter and then being horrible to the senator.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With Clarice. He initially enjoyed taunting her, but he respected her courage to play the game with him to get what she wanted. Slowly their relationship changed from adversarial to almost a mentor-mentee relationship. He is a killer who LOVES to kill, yet he seems to care for Clarice.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
The precision with which he moves his body and he speaks. His ability to psychologically assess a person in a few moments. His seeming docility that turns to murder in a split second.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He is a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a serial killer. And he eats his prey.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
I would say the scene when Clarice visited him in the new location and he plays cat and mouse with her, getting what he wants from her regarding the killing of the lambs, and then helping her by giving her clues about the killer.
Then immediately following that, when the two guards bring him food, he acts docile and cooperate and then kills them, takes the face of one of them, and escapes.
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Eclipse Neilson Actor attractors for THE NUN AND THE WITCH
Movie: GIRL INTERRUPTED and CONTACT
VISION: I want to be a great award-winning writer, known for my genre, who creates the most beautiful films that inspire others to feel deeply, pause, and ponder ways to make the world a better place.
“What I learned from doing this assignment is I loved this exercise it totally inspired me and reminded me why I want to write. Also, it showed me how I could write a Sci-fi and keep it totally dramatic and inspirational. I have found two great characters to help guide me in this new task.
1. For the Nun
Genre: Drama – GIRL INTERRUPTED
Lead Character Name: Susanna (Winona Ryder) (for protagonist #1 the NUN character in my script)
Also Lisa the rebellious patient (Angeline Jolie) (for protagonist #2 the WITCH character in my script combined with Eleanor Arroway ( Jodie Foster) in CONTACT )
1.Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
A profound character that addresses so many emotional and political issues of the time and still even now. In her own way shows care for the other patients as she bonds with them while trying to find herself.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
The rebel versus victim character’s arc. She becomes a hero and has enormous subtext. Demonstrates deep emotional transitions with facial expressions and subtext actions. Experiences situations where she must sacrifice all to get better. (eg. When her boyfriend wants her to escape to Canada and she chooses to accept her reality to get better on her terms a theme that goes throughout the story.)
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Builds empathy, and such deep silent despair (all expressed in facial looks ) The introduction says it all – lets us know the why and what was going on- introduces the title – Girl interrupted – she has just attempted suicide. Ironically at the turning point, she experiences a hard reality of a friend killing herself. This becomes the catalyst for the beginning of her own healing and taking charge of her life.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Able to express so much through her responses to the world around her. Lots of “ in-the-moment” subtext expressions ranging from cool, detached, gentle, afraid angry, and fiercely compassionate. A character who doesn’t want to feel and yet must to grow into her powerful self through her feelings.
All facial and simple questions have deep meaning to her complex character. (Eg symbolic subtext- holds a burnt down cigarette- ashes still perfectly balanced like a column – while trembling inside .
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Wide range! All the emotions! Vulnerable to anger to moments of freedom and then gaining control of her life.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
All of what is suppressed in her! Her subtext speaks to sexism, society the lack of humanness in the psychological/medical world during the 60’s and is still relative. Her subtext is that she is on the path to becoming a powerful independent woman healing from a deep depression.
Most of the script is subtext.
Emotional pain, feelings of loss, anger, despair, then emerges slowly as a woman with a dream to become a writer.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With the rebel patient ( Angeline Jolie) who helps her discover her inner rebel in a deeper way and Whoopie Goldberg as the nurse, who believes in her and uses tough love.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Sees the world through her facial expressions. Slow emerging power with suppressed anger and vulnerability and broken innocence.
Profound intelligent, deep, deep insights into life, oppressed by upper-class society’s expectations, mental illness and one girl trying to find her way.
When she befriends the rebel in the hospital and must finally accept she is truly crazy and harsh when out of control, we see the emergence of a strong character.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
Through everything that happens, she never loses empathy.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Protagonist 2
Genre: Sci-Fi /Drama-
CONTACT
Eleanor Arroway- (Jodie Foster )
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Eleanor demonstrates the brilliant scientist mind of a strong woman filled with vision and the emotional ability to take in new concepts must fight with everything she has to carry out her lifetime dream trying to be squashed by the sexist establishment , government’s authorities and religious right.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She is the Seeker of truth, a powerful woman and represents humans to the universe
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Never stops exploring with curiosity and emotional subtext fights sexism and nonbelievers and struggles to be a spiritual.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Powerful woman standing in her truth, Carries wounded childhood, and is willing to take risks against the establishment and fight for intelligence.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
From a curious scientific-analytical mind to emotional-filled spiritual awareness and fighting for a dream.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
1. Her deep loss of her father when she was nine. He believed in her and taught her passion for star research. In some ways his death is the loss of her faith and yet the foundation of her faith.
She is a women trying to establish her in a sexist society.
Must prove she is not crazy and fight sexism.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With her boyfriend a writer, who has a divinity background and is a dreamer and cares for her.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
A fighter for knowledge, persistence courage, a representative of humanity as she battles and seeks understanding of the universe.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
She is a scientist embodying integrity and embracing a spiritual reality versus a religious one. She is not valued by her peers but she fights all to be who she is – a woman with a vision wanting to travel to the stars to represent humanity.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
When she arrives through the wormhole and sees, feels, and experiences beauty – the heavens in a visceral way. Her scientific understanding, the child-like innocence, her brilliant mind, and a newfound spiritual understanding as her father’s image speaks to her – and gives her a profound message from the aliens.
2
She is at a hearing defending her findings. The that is trying to make her look delusional and she courageously, powerfully, and emotionally delivers a monologue that is core to her character arc – from scientific – to emotional to another form of spiritual awareness. She risks it all but with extraordinary integrity stays true to herself and her passion. Two Powerful scenes like many in this film!
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Lori Lance’s Actor attractors for Mrs. Doubtfire
Vision: I want to be a professional screenwriter recognized by the industry as the go-to for family-friendly scripts and have multiple successful movies produced.
What I learned: to think of my characters in terms of how they might attract actors.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS Template
Movie Title: Mrs. Doubtfire
Lead Character Name: Daniel/Mrs. Doubtfire
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
This role gave Robin Williams a chance to show off all his best comedy, plus stretched his acting skills as he had to be a convincing woman.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Daniel goes to extreme highs and lows emotionally, and the movie’s running gag is entertaining as he has to keep up appearances as a woman.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
He disguises himself as a woman to spend time with his kids after his wife asks for a divorce. In the process, he learns to be a better husband and father.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Daniel is introduced at his workplace doing voice-over for an animation. This allowed him to show off his comedic skills as well as show his concern for children.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? He goes from frantic funny improv to extreme sadness.
6. What subtext can the actor play? The subtext was how divorce affects families. Can he become a better man by becoming a woman?
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Daniel has to learn to communicate with his wife and see her side. He has to learn not to be just the fun dad; there are responsibilities he must learn.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? In the beginning, the zany, fun guy feels like Robin is playing himself. As Mrs. Doubtfire, he must become responsible, considerate, and serious.
9. What makes this character special and unique? He has to disguise himself as an elderly nanny to get to spend time with his kids after his wife asks for a divorce.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The scene occurs at a fancy restaurant where Mrs. Doubtfire is having a special dinner with the family and the wife’s new “boyfriend.” Daniel also has an important dinner meeting at the same restaurant with a tv exec that could give him the role of a lifetime. It’s a hilarious scene filled with intrigue and suspense as Daniel must frantically switch back and forth between himself and Mrs. Doubtfire. The audience is highly entertained during what is the climax of the movie and the point when Mrs. Doubtfire’s true identity is sadly exposed.
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Veronica Turowski’s Actor Attractor
My Vision: I want to be a successful writer who writes several scripts a year and sells them to producers who are eager to make my vision a reality by bringing my scripts to completion so everyone can watch my movies on the big screen.
What I learned from doing this assignment is it is important to introduce lead characters by having them do something unusual, exciting, or intense so an actor will want to play the role from the beginning of the script.
Movie Title: The Call
Genre: Thriller
Lead Character Name: Jordan (Halle Berry)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? As a 911 operator, Jordan goes through a lot of tense and emotional moments.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Jordan messes up a 911 call causing the child to get abducted. She has a meltdown and no longer can take 911 calls until another child is abducted and takes over for a trainee who panics during the call.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Jordan freaks after the call and has an emotional breakdown. She steps down to become an instructor because she thought she could take the pressure of someone possibly dying again.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Jordan is a confident 911 operator who answers various calls about break-ins, stabbings, and talking someone down from killing themselves.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? She goes from strong to weak and broken. When she has to step in to help a trainee, she is weak at first but gets stronger and more confident than she was in the beginning.
6. What subtext can the actor play? She is hiding the fact that she is terrified of doing something wrong and causing the second kidnapped child to die.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? Joran is focused on connecting with Casey to help her survive a kidnapping.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? She is a competent and knowledgeable 911 operator. She thinks quickly and stays calm under stressful situations. She is great at distracting and calming the kidnapped teenager and helping the teen focus on what is around her so Jordan can help the cops can find her.
9. What makes this character special and unique? She is more resilient than she thought she was.
10. Jordan is talking to Casey who is locked in a trunk. Casey notices a shovel and knows she’s going to be buried. Casey is crying and becomes hysterical. Jordan tries to calm her. When it doesn’t work, she asks Casey what’s her favorite movie. Casey is confused and stops focusing on being buried. She tells her BRIDESMAIDS. Jordan loves the movie, too. Jordan tells her they will go to the movies this weekend. Now that Casey is calm, Jordan has her look around the trunk and use paint to pour out of the taillight hole so a police helicopter can see it or another vehicle might report it.
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Pat’s Actor Attractors for Hustlers
Vision: I have the courage and commitment to write contest winning screenplays and will go on to have my scripts optioned and produced.
What I Learned: Characters need complexity and a range of emotions to give them appeal and interest, though they don’t necessarily need to be likable, just interesting. I also saw the benefits of having two characters with contrasting personalities being put together for a common goal.
Lead Characters: Destiny (played by Constance Wu); Ramona (played by Jennifer Lopez)
Why would an actor want to be known for this role:
Destiny: She’s a woman on her own, trying to support her grandmother and later her daughter. She’s strong, but flawed and makes bad choices, but she’s a survivor.
Ramona: A hardass stripper, out for herself no matter what it takes. She’s a true hustler, but has a daughter to support, no matter which route she takes to do this.
What makes this character the most interesting in the movie?
Destiny: She doesn’t like what she’s doing, but she’s without an education and is committed to helping her grandmother, and stripping is her best path for good money.
Ramona: She’s ruthless, will befriend others only if they benefit her cause, which is to make as much money as possible, no matter how she accomplishes this.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in this movie?
Destiny: She befriends Ramona as a way to learn to be a profitable stripper. She continues to support her grandmother and her daughter, even when she’d doing the shadiest of deals. She follows Ramona’s lead by drugging me in order to get to their credit cards. After she’s finally arrested, she takes a plea deal in order to stay out of prison.
Ramona: A stellar stripper/pole dancer. After the2008 stock market crash she organizes a gang of women to drug and rob Wall Street workers. Along with Destiny, makes her own roofie cocktail. Loves her daughter.
How is this character introduced to sell it to an actor?
Destiny: A reluctant stripper who goes home to her grandmother and hands Grandma the money she made that night by stripping.
Ramona: Does a wild, sedective pole dance while men shower her with cash.
What is the character’s emotional range:
Destiny: From unhappy and almost timid, even though she’s stripping, to confident, then unethical when she participates in drugging men, to feeling guilty about what she’s mixed up in but trapped because it’s her only way to make good money, to doing the right thing for her daughter by taking a plea deal.
Ramona: She remains a hardass driven bitch throughout the film, but shows her softer side when having a Christmas party for her gang of Wall Street robbing women. She never appears remorseful, though she forgives Daisy for taking a plea deal.
What subtext can the actor play?
Destiny: A reluctant stripper, trapped because she has no other skills. Does this work to support her grandmother and daughter.
Ramona: What to give her daughter a better life than she has.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
The friendship between Destiny and Ramona. Though Ramona is unabashedly in it for herself, she remains loyal to Destiny and vice versa. No matter how unethical they behave, their friendship/partnership remains strong.
How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Destiny: Even when she’s at the top of her money making game, she remains unsure if she’s doing the right thing.
Ramona: She powers through, using every trick available to her, to continue making as much money as she possibly can.
What makes this character special and unique?
Destiny: She might be looked down at by “proper society,” but she’s making an honest living, until the stock market crash and she allows Ramona to take her down an unethical path.
Ramona: She knows what she wants and how to get it and won’t let anything, no matter how unethical, stand in her way.
Scene: Ramona teaches Destiny some pole dancing tricks, training her to be better at her job, so she can use Daisy as a means to coerce men into giving her more money.
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Terrie’s Actor Attractors for Lost City
I write screenplays that get turned into crowd pleasing successful films using a process that allows me to enjoy my equestrian hobby.
What I learned doing this assignment is that for RomComs the best moments happen in scenes with both characters (sleepless in Seattle defies that convention). They even created a prologue opening to let us meet both leads simultaneously.
Actor Attractors:
Movie: The Lost City – a Rom/Com with action elements
Lead Character: Loretta
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Not sure Sandra Bullock needs to be known for this role – but Loretta is successful, extremely intelligent woman who aids her own rescue.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She is complicated – she is a widow, a hugely successful romance novelist (which they have a supporting character talk about how that’s the most lucrative genre), extremely intelligent but dealing with grief and now sure what to do next with her life.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
She solves the translation of the hieroglyphics. Aids in saving herself from the evil billionaire.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
There are really two introductions. One her writing the novel with her book leads Dash &, romance action scene with both of them that is a rip off of Indiana Jones. Then she deletes the scene. This lets us meet the two main characters in scene one in a funny way. Once she deletes the scene we cut to her at her writing desk and we get her full introduction. It’s a great introduction – we see her alone struggling to finish her latest novel and hear her agent on voice mail discussing get it done, deadline, etc. Give us all the backstory we need from believable voice mails and watch her struggle to get her work done.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Sad, angry, happy, frustrated, shy, frightened, awkward
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Her attraction to Alan, her grief. I think the intellect is out there not subtext. Feelings of failure & selling out when she switched to romance writing when her academic book wasn’t published.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With Alan she’s the boss but she is hurting and needs help. She’s intellectual he’s physical.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
She has extensive knowledge of archeology and uses archeological terms but also sophisticate language frequently.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
Her intellect, being able to translate the hieroglyphics
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
She tells Alan she’s done writing and he can transition to the shirt on phase of his modeling career and she can be left alone. He argues – she could visit ancient Greece, she says no she can’t, he says because your afraid to fly? No, it’s ancient. He tells her she’s human mummy. Mummies are human. Again, we get some insights into both characters with this scene.
Lead Character: Alan
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
It’s a gender spin on the dumb blonde, he’s the gorgeous cover model not too bright. Allows Channing to show off his comedic skills.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Despite not being too bright he really wants to help Loretta and be more than a pretty face. He gets some great comedic moments.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Lots of comedic moves but he goes all in to save Loretta even though he is basically incompetent.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
He’s in the prologue sort of opening in his Dash character. When we meet Alan it seems this part was written with Channing in mind. He opens on stage strutting his stuff for the nearly 100% female audience. Thanks to Loretta’s clumsiness he falls off the stage and losses his wig.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Confused, happy, in love, hurt, confident, jealous
6. What subtext can the actor play?
He’s kind, loving, and caring – shown by his yoga/meditation retreat activities.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With Loretta he’s subservient to her but wants to be useful and helpful to her.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
The mistakes he makes – verbal vocabulary mistakes, physical mistakes.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
His underlying sweetness and eagerness to save Loretta
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Scene between them. He calls her out for taking the map fragment it will get them killed. She’s looking for a volcano but she didn’t clue him in he thought he was saving her. She points out he’s not Dash which hurts him. Cuts him down, saying he just came to LA and he’s just a not very successful model and just luck he got her cover.
He comes back- he’s from Sarasota discusses his background. Admits being embarrassed by the first book cover, but then one day a woman yelled out hey Dash and it made her happy to see him. Why be embarrassed for making someone happy? Don’t be mean to people who love your books. Ends: you of all people shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover.
So this scene gives us insight into both characters.
Inciting incident is the kidnapping which happens at 15 min.
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Peter’s Actor attractors for RED DAWN (2012) w/ Chris Hemsworth
Vision: My scripts are so good they could be published on their own and William Goldman would want to write the introduction.
What I learned doing this assignment is to pay attention to what matters to an A-list actor.
Lead 1
1. Why would an actor want to be known for this part? Heroic action figure who makes the ultimate sacrifice in a story with super high stakes.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie? He is the first to stand up against impossible odds, and teach guerilla warfare tactics to a ragtag group of high school kids.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He’s the first one to stand up against the invading enemy; he’s the first to come up with guerilla warfare tactics; he leads numerous undercover missions into enemy-occupied territory.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Under enemy fire, he’s decisive and saves his brother and others in a high-speed escape from suburbia.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? He’s tough, decisive, physical, with lighter moments, a romantic streak, and struggles to communicate with his brother..
6. What subtext can the actor play? There is an unspoken trauma of having lost his mother to illness, and dealing with his trauma by serving in the military.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? He has a complicated relationship with his brother, who both idolizes him and resents him; he has a mostly unspoken love interest with an old high school crush; he’s the de facto leader of a group of high school kids who he takes responsibility for.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He speaks in terse, commanding tones but lets his actions speak loudest.
9. What makes this character special and unique? He attempts to instill heroic, patriotic values in his younger brother, and makes the ultimate sacrifice.
Lead 2
1. Why would an actor want to be known for this part? The star HS quarterback gets a second chance to prove his mettle on the guerilla battlefield. Super high stakes.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie? He is the star quarterback who has a lot to prove when it comes to guerilla warfare and working as a team..
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He risks a well-planned mission of sabotage to rescue his girl friend from a POW camp; he becomes part of the team and works his family issues out with his brother; he takes over the fight after his brother dies.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He’s trying to win the football game with seconds left to play; the coach orders him to play for a tie, and they miss the kick..
5. What is this character’s emotional range? He’s tough, but wears his heart on his sleeve; once he learns to be part of the team, he becomes a real leader and inspires others.
6. What subtext can the actor play? There is an unspoken trauma of having lost his mother to illness, and at the same time deserted by his brother who joined the military.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? He has a complicated relationship with his brother, who he admires but who he wants respect from..
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He’s commanding, but emotional; once he becomes the leader, he reiterates a speech his brother made.
9. What makes this character special and unique? He picks up the baton after his brother dies and chooses to keep on fighting rather than going off to comfortable safety.
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CJ’s Actor Attractors for MEMORY HUNTERS
Vision: I am a confident and empowered writer who embraces challenges and changes and writes highly sought-after projects with fresh and exciting ideas. I will be produced and hired to write projects that get produced.
WIL: Really liked the focus to really dig in on the conventions and really think through ways to improve the story – already feel like this is 100% better than what I had first imagined – can’t wait to see how this plays out!
Title: MEMORY HUNTERS
Concept:
In a future with technology to retrieve memories, a Memory Retrevalist, caught in the mind of a psychopath struggles to find a way out before he destroys her mind and kills her.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS
Movie Title: JACK REACHER
Lead Character Name: JACK REACHER (Tom Cruise)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Based on a popular novel series
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
He is ex-military police, he is a nomad, he is fast, observant and well respected
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
He sees things differently and he doesn’t play by the rules – he does what is right not what is legal.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
The man arrested for the mass shooting was warned by Reacher – if he screwed up – he’d be back. And the man’s only comment was “Get Jack Reacher” – a man who is facing the death penalty’s only wish – so this add intrigue.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Even, calm – moves to rage / justification
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Every sentence he says – he means.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With the lawyer as he challenges her beliefs and reasons
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
His unique voice is his rapid recall, memory, and ability to read people factually – coolly.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He is the right person for this “job” as he knows the defendant and told him if he ever screwed up – he’d kill him. But he also knows statically as much as he wants the kill the defendant the defendant didn’t commit the murders and he has a desire to always see justice – without answering to the law.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
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ACTOR ATTRACTORS
Movie Title: JACK REACHER
Lead Character Name: Helen Rodin (Rosamund Pike)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
A role with an unwinnable case
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She’s naïve, a pacifist, and yet isn’t afraid to go up against her father – DA
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
She wants to go up against her father and win – she wasn’t really trying to exonerate the defendant
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
She bulldozes a meeting with Reacher and her father – and you find out that the defendant and the DA are related
Confrontational with her father, a pacifist
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Determined, scared, naïve to being aware
Determined, emotional when talking to the families,
6. What subtext can the actor play?
She wants to defend the defendant but not because she thinks he’s innocent it is to be a thorn in her father’s side – Reacher is the one who has to convince her – her client is innocent
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Besides Reacher it is really her father – she wants his help, but she scorns his concern, she wants to beat him in court and she thinks he could be dirty.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
She’s afraid yet she will still try to do the right thing
9. What makes this character special and unique?
She access to the information and the DA’s office that Reacher needs to find out who the real killer is
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
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ACTOR ATTRACTORS – MY MOVIE:
Movie Title: MEMORY HUNTER
Lead Character Name: MYA ORTEGA – Takes most interesting actions – range of emotions / relationships
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
The character arc allows for a wide range of emotions and growth
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She comes wounded from a childhood drama which is related to her brain tumor
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
She hides her wounds through denial and then becomes confident and not only confronts her past but becomes a spokesperson for others who have been abused
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
The ordinary world shows her in denial about her past – yet she has an intriguing job in find lost, missing, or hidden memories.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Growth from timid to confident and assured. Uses her anger from her past to drive her future.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
The subtext is how her past defined her until she learns to master her past.
6. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
A. relationship with her partner – She relies on his for advice (he betrays her)
B. Psycho – they have a past no one knows about – this time she wants to finish him
C. with her boss – She trusts to listen to her concerns – thinks he is the one who set her up (red-herring)
D. with her sister – Who pushes her to let her past go
E. with her friend – Who offers her an unbiased view of the world
F. CEO – who is making deals with the criminals and set Mya up
7. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
She champions those who have been abused or are in need to fill her own want.
8. What makes this character special and unique?
She is unique in that she is the only survivor to escape from this psychopath – and knows how he will behave – eventually she can use this against him
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
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ACTOR ATTRACTORS
Movie Title: MEMORY HUNTER
Lead Character Name: Dr. Catherine Harpie – Relationships that are interesting
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
She is a devious conniving yet congenial face to the public
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She is very convincing to the public of the service they provide while making deals with the criminals as she helps them cover up their misdeeds. Often deceiving the criminal and taking all the money for herself.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
She wins over the public and the criminals to build her empire and tries to eliminate Mya when she stumbles on her plans.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
TBD
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Conniving, devious, soft spot for older people,
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Hides her real agenda to use the company for her own gain.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With Terry and Freddie
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Confident and commanding she controls everything
9. What makes this character special and unique?
Only she can do what is being done and she sets up Frank Yorgen as the fall guy
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
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ACTOR ATTRACTORS
Movie Title: MEMORY HUNTERS
Character Name: Alfred “Freddie” Detton – notoriety
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Free reign as a character who takes pain and his behavior to the extreme
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
The psycho with nothing to lose and is offered a chance to move his “mind” into another
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
He knows Mya is coming and he can’t wait to reclaim her – as she was the one that got away
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
We meet him “virtually” by how shaken Terry is when he comes out of his mind
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Limited – only enjoys watching other suffer at his hands
6. What subtext can the actor play?
His platitudes are his way of playing with his victims
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Mya and lying and playing with Dr. Harpie
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
His single tracked mind to torture others for his own enjoyment
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He helps Mya overcome her own memories to teaches her past doesn’t have to define her future – that she may have been a victim once… but she didn’t have to stay that way – then he thinks she’s his but it’s what she needed to goad her into action.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
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ACTOR ATTRACTORS
Movie Title: MEMORY HUNTERS
Character Name: Terry Sullivan – Subtext and interesting actions
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
A duplicitous role – friend and foe for Mya
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Terry’s duplicitous role isn’t discovered until almost too late
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
He gains Mya’s trust and then betrays her to hide his partnership with Dr. Harpie
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
As a seasoned memory hunter, he is sent in to comb through the memories of psycho killer and it overwhelms him it is so twisted.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Beguiling too treacherous and vicious
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Being Mya’s friend – many of his discussion later reveal his way of warning her.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Mya and with Dr. Harpie
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
He is the most experienced memory hunter, so he is the most knowledgeable
9. What makes this character special and unique?
His ability to win over the “minds” that he offers secret deals with and Mya
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Sister: Stella – interesting relationship
Friend: Jeremy – relationships
Mya’s Boss: Dr. Frank Yorgen – interesting actions
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Jeffrey Alan Chase’s Actor attractors for “Basic Instinct”
My vision: I will do whatever it takes to become the best screenwriter I can be – an “A” list writer who is praised for high concept ideas, great execution, a string of successful movies and is always ready to share his knowledge and do what he can to help a writer on the way up.
What I learned from doing this assignment is:
Movie Title: Basic Instinct
Lead Character Name: Nick Curran1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? It is gritty, wide-ranging and – based on the content – sexy and ground-breaking.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Nick is conflicted about his addictions, about how much power he has and, about what his life-vision is.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Goes after Catherine as a suspect, can’t help but be drawn into her seduction and still be a cop.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He comes off as in control, ornery and doesn’t like to toe the line.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? From blah to over the top.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Great physical reactions, eye contact and body language, great “sexual” action and the ability to deliver lines great.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With himself.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? As a guy suffering to compete mentally, psychologically and emotionally with his supposed suspect.
9. What makes this character special and unique? He won’t take bullshit from anyone, except from Catherine who is playing him.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)The scene where Nick and Catherine first meet. She is playing him and he is trying to remain cool under pressure.
Lead Character Name: Catherine Tramell
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? It is over the top both in terms of sexuality, facets of the character and dialogue delivery.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? We can’t take our eyes off her in every scene.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Seduces Nick out in the open with no shame or excuses.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? She undresses – not in front of him – but on purpose in a mirror. It comes off as accidental, but she knows what she is doing.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? From staid to wild.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Great subtext in dialogue and actions. Her actions are all seemingly normal with no effort. She brings life to the character.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With everyone around her. She enjoys playing people and living life to the fullest – although she has a deep sense – almost out of character – when she learns that Roxy has died.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? In every action, sexual scene, line of dialogue and subtext.
9. What makes this character special and unique? She is driven to always win. She has multiple subtext traits that give her character much more depth.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)Same scene as above. It nails Catherine’s character’s wants, needs and plans in the first 5 pages.
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BOB SMITH’s ACTOR ATTRACTORS (for “Analyze This.”)
My vision for success after this program:
I want to become a great writer who delivers entertaining, informative, and uplifting movie scripts that sell and get produced.
What I learned from doing this assignment is…?
That a writer must intentionally include elements in the script that would adhere to the principals of the 9 things that would cause actors to say yes to the script and playing a certain character.
ACTOR ATTRACTOR
MOVIE EXAMPLE: “Analyze This.” GENRE: Gangster Comedy.
LEAD CHARACTER: PAUL VITI, gangster.
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
De Niro got the part. Essentially he played Jimmy Conway of “Goodfellas” meets a shrink with an opportunity to mix gangster clichés and shrink clichés to hilarious effect. He is a funny bad guy.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie?
He’s a parody of Tony Soprano who needs a psychiatrist for panic attacks but his issues go much deeper, namely is repressed guilt that he couldn’t save his father when he was assassinated in full view of him and the rest of his family having dinner in a restaurant. While seeing the shrink, his personality softens, e.g., he is about to club a rival gang member for information, but decides to let him go much to the dismay of his assistants who believe he is going weak. Instead of being ruthlessly deadly, he is out-of-character empathetic.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
He is about to shoot the shrink because he wore a wire for the FBI but he is counseled by the shrink to get in touch with his feelings about his father’s murder and he immediately cries about how sorry he is he couldn’t save him. He decides he will not shoot his shrink. The great catharsis has happened for him. He interrupt his shrink’s wedding twice in Miami and NY, because he needs his counsel even though his Shrink wants to end the counseling relationship.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
He splashes into the film in a spray of gunfire as he is attacked by a rival gang in which he survives but his Consigliere is killed.
5. What is the character’s emotional range?
Every emotion from a ruthless and deadly Mafioso to a weepy wounded soul dealing w/ the death of his faher years later.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
His inner conflict between his need to be the tough, no nonsense mob boss while dealing with his emotional neediness which makes him vulnerable..
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With his shrink (Dr. Ben Sobel [Billy Crystal]) with whom he becomes an
empathehic person while, in contrast, he continues his bullying relationships
with his underlings.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented ?
Through his conflict between his role expectation to be tough and yet be vulnerable for this therapy. He refrains from whacking another mobser and tells his hrink aobut it as a breakthrough. “(Give me credit) I was going to whack him, but I didn’t!”)
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He is a funny gangster without losing any of the gangster-like characteristics. He is funny because he plays up his deadly serious gangster characteristics that it’s funny. .
ACTOR ATTRACTOR
MOVIE EXAMPLE: “Analyze This” GENRE: Gangster Comedy.
LEAD CHARACTER: DR. BEN SOBEL, psychiatrist.
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
He is a funny shrink. He is funny through his professional seriousness and fear of his threatending mob boss client.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character?
He is a shrink with a mob boss patient (PAUL VITI)with whom he tries to discontinue therapy, but the gangster keeps coming back because he is being helped and he likes him. They have what is called in psychology, a “positive transference.” He has fantasies that are enacted in the film as fantiasies, of what he’d really like to say to weepy patients which by the end of the film he is saying, but to a gangster which only heightens his anxiety for his and his wife’s safety.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead character takes in the movie?
He finally gets the Paul to acknowledge his underlying problem is that he grieves his father’s death (by mob execution) and guilt that he couldn’t have saved him. He does this by telling Paul about a dream he had (which is a shot for shot reenactment of the attempted slaying of the Godfather in “The Godfather” (with him in the role of the Godfather and Paul Viti in the role of son, Fredo) who when he can’t help his father, he sits on the curb and says, “Papa.” Viti says, “No I’m not a Fredo.” But this does begin to turn him to acknowledge that he felt as helpless when his follow was executed by a mob hit-squad.
4. How is this character introduced so that he could attract an actor?
He is in a season with a weepy patient and in his mind enacts his desire to stand up and yell to the patient to get a life. Next patient, the mobster Paul Viti interripts the session to get therapy on demand.
5. What is the character’s emotional range?
Every emotion from a desperate to upbeat. Fear to joy.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
The conflict between his need to be the professional and the fact that he needs to discontinue therapy with the menacing mob boss Viti.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With his the mob boss (Paul Viti) with whom he becomes, after his fears are
resolved, in the end, a competent Therapist for Viti, while Viti is in Sing Sing
Prison.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented ?
Mostly in fear of Viti for his own safety.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He is hilarious as he mees every gangster cliché with a psychiatric cliché.
He trys to keep his patient, Viti, at a distance, but can’t, and yet in a
transformational journey with him, comes to terms with his fear and actually has a
good therapeutic relationship with him.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Robert Smith.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Robert Smith.
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Hope McPherson’s actor attractors for A NEW LEAF
Vision: To be a working, trusted screenwriter who supports herself by writing smart films that are produced and enjoyed, while also working on writing assignments for other industry professionals.
What I learned: Actor attractors can be subtle and they have to work together in some way to make a movie work.
Lead character name: Henry Graham (Walter Matthau)
Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
This character, a snobby rich playboy, was completely in Mattahu’s wheelhouse. I suspect Elaine May, his co-star and writer/director of the movie, made sure this part was everything that he’d want to play – a man who, although once filthy rich, was aimless but by losing his wealth discovers a purpose he’d never have found if he hadn’t first lost everything.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Henry Graham goes from bored rich guy to a broke rich guy who’s out to manipulate everyone around him on his way to marrying – and murdering – for money.
What are the most interesting actions the lead takes in this movie?
Henry Graham, a pure hedonist, goes on a mission to find a rich wife that can be killed, so he has to continually lie and manipulate everyone around him.
How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
A concerned Henry Graham is watching a surgery of a loved one; he’s scared and anxious that the surgery go well. When the camera pulls back from the tight close up, we see the “surgeon” is a mechanic and the “patient” is Henry’s ultra-expensive sports car – which breaks down constantly throughout the movie.
What is this character’s emotional range?
Bored, to suicidal, to hunting for an expendable rich wife, to managerial and concerned, to protective, and ultimately submissive when he saves his rich wife’s life and then agrees to become a professor like she is.
What subtext can the actor play?
Matthau’s character was always manipulating someone in this film, so he was rarely saying what he actually meant and always as manipulative as possible.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With his butler, who knows what’s going on and ultimately very much likes clumsy heiress Henrietta Lowell, and who tries in his own way to help her. With Henrietta Lowell, whose innocence and devotion gives Henry a new look into his own life.
How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Droll, snobbish, but ultimately much more qualified to take charge of a situation than even he expected.
What makes this character special and unique?
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Henry never had to lift a finger to do anything of merit, but once he decides to find someone to kill, he ultimately falls in love and discovers he does have “real-world” gifts/strengths.
Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor-Attractor model:
Henry’s and Henrietta’s (hilarious) wedding night when he fixes her Grecian-styled nightgown while explaining how their more intimate parts of their marriage will work.
Lead character name: Henrietta Lowell (Elaine May)
Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Elaine May wrote and directed this film, and it gave her a chance to play a brilliant, trusting innocent woman who had her own way to get what she wanted ultimately.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Henrietta is ultra wealthy and completely alone in the world. Everyone takes advantage of her: her lawyer, her housekeeper and servants, Henry Graham. But she’s ALSO a brilliant botany college professor at the top of her game.
What are the most interesting actions the lead takes in this movie?
With her own deep-seated insecurities (knowing she doesn’t fit into the usual social circles), Henrietta takes a chance on love, trusts Henry to run her household, shows him what it means to have a passion for something other than money, and ultimately in doing so saves her own life and has him fall in love with her.
How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Henrietta, clumsy and out of place, immediately idolizes Henry when she meets him and he sticks up for her when she’s being dressed down by their hostess.
What is this character’s emotional range?
Not huge, but she is trusting and brilliant in her career as a botanist.
What subtext can the actor play?
Henrietta is manipulative in her own ways. She soon has Henry running her estate and when she names a new plant after him, he realizes that he’s in love.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With Henry, with her dishonest housekeeper, and her underhanded lawyer.
How is this character’s unique voice presented?
She’s a nerd, filthy rich, but has a childlike trust in those around her. She’s also a brilliant botanist/college professor.
What makes this character special and unique?
Henrietta is an heiress who’s been isolated her whole life and never matured socially. But it’s her innocence that ultimately disarms Henry and causes him to protect her.
Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor-Attractor model:
In the final scene, Henrietta has been swept away in a roaring river. After Henry saves her (rather than let her die), she convinces him to take on the humble new role of being a professor like her, so they can some day grade papers together.
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Tom’s Actor Attractors for THE QUICK AND THE DEAD.
My Vision: When I discuss projects with producers, I see myself coming up with excellent alternatives quickly.
Doing this assignment, I learned it’s great fun to pull out all the stops and have characters perform over-the-top extravagances to attract A-list actors for my movie.
Movie: THE QUICK AND THE DEAD
Genre: Drama – Thriller
Lead Character — Named for the Roman ruler who ordered Jesus’ crucifixion, Antagonist Herod is a killer who controls the town of Redemption whose townspeople do what he says or he kills them.
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Herod is an unbelievable skilled gunfighter who controls his gang. Kills anyone who defies him unless they’re his favorites. Will eventually kill them too.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
He controls everyone. Only in the end does the Protagonist kill him.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Enslaves and tortures his favorite gang member. Kills anyone who defies him. Is ready to deal a tongue lashing, torture and/or death to anyone who questions him. Makes up live or die gunfight contest rules arbitrarily. Everyone must kiss his ass or else.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Herod makes the Protagonist, a little girl at the time, kill her own father, the marshal.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Always in control, he jumps between understanding and maniacal. Listens to his victims then kills them without batting an eye.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
His words hide the fact he’s one jump ahead of everyone. Only at the end when the Protagonist springs her trap, is he outsmarted and dies.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
He’s the father of a young gunslinger named the Kid (Billy the Kid). He tortures his favorite gang member Cort so he’ll continue to kill and stop claiming he’s given it up. He doesn’t know till it’s too late Ellen was the child he made kill her own father.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
He manipulates each character using his or her weakness — pride, greed, fear — to make them do his bidding.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He always has the cleverest dialogue and controls everyone right up until the Protagonist changes the rules in her favor and has her revenge on him.
10. (Fill in a scene in which the character fulfills much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The climax when Herod is abruptly stripped of all his strengths and gunned down by Protagonist Ellen who dynamites the town and kills him in the manner he made her kill her father the marshal when she was a child.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Tom Wilson.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by
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Leona Heraty’s Actor attractors for SHAUN OF THE DEAD
My Vision: To be the best family comedy screenwriter in the industry and have all of my screenplays produced into fabulous movies!
What I learned from doing this assignment is…even comedy spoof movies have protagonists that go on a transformational journey and they have subtext and emotional range!
ACTOR ATTRACTORS Template
Movie Title: Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Genre: ComedyLead Character Name: Shaun
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Shaun’s character arc is amazing! He starts out as a passive, clueless clerk in an electronics store who floats through life and he ends up as a fearless, inventive warrior who goes face-to-face with zombies and wins!
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Shaun is an average guy who is called upon to do extraordinary things…he does hand-to-hand combat with a hoard of zombies, and he although he suffers loss of his Mom, Step Dad and best friend, at the end, although he is tougher and wiser, he’s still a nice guy, and he has won his girlfriend back.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Rescues his girlfriend and her roommates from zombies who surround her building. Rescues his Mom and Step Dad from zombies. Continually devises ways to outsmart and then kill some of the zombies to stay alive. He even stays friends with his best friend, Ed, after Ed becomes a zombie.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Shaun gets up and goes to work every day and is literally oblivious of his surroundings. His highlight in his day is drinking with his best friend, Ed, at the Winchester Bar in his neighborhood. He so oblivious of his surroundings when he goes to his local convenience store, and gets a soda out of the fridge, he doesn’t even notice bloody hand prints on the fridge’s glass door.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Shaun remains calm, cool and collected in the beginning but then he takes action and becomes a brave warrior and fights the zombies and wins, then in the end, he’s calm and cool and happy just hanging out with his girlfriend, and then in the final scene, he’s happy hanging out with his best friend, Ed, who’s now a zombie, and he’s still Shaun’s best friend, and they play video games like they always did!
6. What subtext can the actor play? Shaun still misses his father, who passed away when he was 13, and that’s why he’s never accepted his Step Dad, who has been married to his Mom for more than 15 years.
Because of the emotional trauma of losing his Dad when he was so young, he’s spent his teenage years and adult years avoiding any change. He wants everything to stay the same and he avoids conflict. He’s happy with the same-old same-old day after day because it’s safer than losing people or his world.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Shaun remains loyal to his best friend, Ed, who is his roommate, although he rarely pays rent, is a slob and lays around all day and doesn’t work…Ed just wants to eat and drink and play video games.
Shaun will never say anything about Ed because they’re childhood friends. Shaun is so loyal to Ed that in the final scene, even though Ed is now a zombie, Shaun goes into the backyard shed where Ed is in chains, and they start playing their favorite video game!
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Shaun is kind and never criticizes anyone! He even refuses to end his friendship with his best friend, Ed, who is a mooch and a slob, even though Shaun’s girlfriend is fed up with Shaun’s avoidance of change.
Shaun just wants to stay at his boring job at the electronics store and then go meet Ed at their favorite neighborhood bar, The Winchester. Shaun is oblivious of his surroundings every day! He goes through his days on auto pilot.
For example, when Shaun walks down to the corner store, and gets a soda out of the refrigerator, he doesn’t even notice the bloody handprints on the glass door! He’s oblivious of his surrounding and doesn’t even notice the bloody hand prints and the zombies in the street until there are a lot of them.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Shaun is kind, oblivious of the world around him, and he’s very likable, however, he’s able to go from a passive, mellow guy is loyal to his loser friend, Ed and who hates any kind of change to a courageous warrior who can kill zombies. Then at the end, he goes back to being mellow, but he’s braver, because he can still be best friends with Ed, who is now a zombie!
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) In the final scene, when Shaun has killed the zombies in his house and the authorities have arrived and killed the rest of the zombies in London, Shaun goes out to the shed in his backyard, and we wonder why.
He opens up the door, goes in surprise! There is Ed, who we thought was killed by the zombies! However, Ed is now a zombie, but Shaun is still loyal to Ed as his best friend, and he admonishes Ed from trying to bite him, then laughs and the two start playing video games again, just like in the beginning of the movie. Shaun is still loyal to his childhood friend, Ed, even when Ed is zombie.
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Rebecca’s Actor Attractors The Irishman
Vision: My vision for my success from this program is to be the go-to writer for producers looking for incredible scripts for successful movies enjoyed by a vast viewing audience.
What I learned for this assignment is that by filling in this template, I gained insight into the important parts of each charater.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS Template
Movie Title: The Irishman
Lead Character Name: Frank Sheeran (Robert DiNero)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He mascarades as a regular truck driver, but is a unremorseful killer. Of irish decent becomes a top gun hit man for the Italian mafia. After he becomes Hoffa’s bodyguard, the two become close friends yet when the Dons order Sheeran to kill him, he does.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He can be likable despite being a hit man, and gets along well with his mafia bosses despite not being Italian.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Sheeran shows his expertise as a hit man with his choice of guns to match the hit and no qualms about wheather his target is friend or foe. His hits are well planned, quick, and deadly. He becomes Hoffa’s best friend, yet kills him when ordered.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He starts as a truck driver delivering prime meat but uses his charm clever ways to steal sides of beef and not get caught even when his truck shows up empty.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Friendly, likable, to a scary indifferent hit man who just does his job.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Acting as Hoffa’s friend while knowing he will kill him. Being friendly with his hits before “painting their kitchen.”
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? His friendship with Russell Bufilino. The strained relationship with his daughter Peggy who he frightens and the disconnect after Hoffa disappears.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Through narrations of his memoirs.
9. What makes this character special and unique? He can compartmentalize normal life with that as a hit man.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) Sheeran is given the word that the don’s want Hoffa gone. “When someone has to go, no one ever says, “he has to go.” They tell you to do it by not telling you not to. Or at most they say “it’s what it is.” Sheeran tries to warn Hoffa, but he remains defient, unafraid. Sheeran gives him a bit of advice hoping to change his mind. “If they can whack a President, they can whack a president of a union. You know it and I know it.”
Movie Title: The Irishman
Lead Character Name: Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Hoffa is a colorful character, tough, ready to fight, and leader of the giant teamsters union that controls billions of dollars of pension funds. His supposed death with no body managed to fuel speculation for 50 decades of who killed him and where the body was hidden.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He can be tough yet nice, a self made man and boss of the teamsters. He’s not afraid to play with the mafia for his own gain.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He shows affection towards Sheeran’s daughter Peggy by buying her a sundee and other presents. He loves icecream.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Jimmy Hoffa, who is already a famous public figure, is also Irish in heritage but has a complicated relationship with the Italian crime families but resents them calling the shots with his union. He appears unaffraid; but just in case, hires Frank Sheeran as his bodyguard.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Calm, to sarcastic, to anger and not afraid to stand up to his mafia buddies.
6. What subtext can the actor play? That his interest in Peggy might be more than patronly.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? His friendship and trust with Sheeran his body guard, a spy for the mafia.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? His use of sarcaism and in his angry vents.
9. What makes this character special and unique? He likes ice cream, cares about the union and its members, fearless weather facing the mafia bosses or congressional hearings.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The scene where Chuckie (Hoffa’s adopted son) picks up Frank and Sally. The back seat is wet, frozen fish. Sally suggests Frank sit in the front seat, Frank declines because he remembered that Sally choked his hit from the rear seat. When they pick up Hoffa, to take him to a meeting at a house, he hesitates when he sees Sally, and suspicions a set up. When he spots Frank in the back seat, he gets inside. Chuckie leaves them off at the house. As soon as Hoffa gets inside he suspects the worse and turns to leave. Frank shoots him in the back of the head.
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Paul Mahoney’s Actor attractors for There’s Something About Mary
Movie Title: There’s Something About Mary (Comedy)
Vision: My vision is to be a successful full-time writer with a good steady income, who constantly learns, enjoys life, creates employment for others and brings joy, fun, fulfilment, health, happiness, inspiration & an attitude of gratitude to my partner and others.
What I learned doing this assignment is the more range you give actors the more they are attracted.
Lead Character Name: Ted
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Because this role had many funny laugh out loud moments, that were memorable. It also showed Ted as being a loveable guy.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Because Ted is a loveable guy, who is so pure of heart, clueless and luckless. He has others take advantage against him, yet he keeps on trying. Sometimes it gets him closer to his goal, but not always.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Gets mistaken for masturbating in his date’s bathroom, gets his scrotum stuck in his zipper, hires a private detective to find the girl he loved years ago, almost gets killed by a hitchhiker, then gets arrested at a gay haunt and is suspected of being a serial murderer, has a fight with a dog that latches onto his groin. When he finally does meet Mary again, he gives her away to Brett Favre.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He’s introduced as a gawky teenager and that none of his friends can believe that he will get Mary to go to the prom with him.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Ted goes from glee to embarrassment, frustration, clueless, misery, deep sorrowful pain and joy.
6. What subtext can the actor play? That he’s happy for Mary in her new life, even though deep down he knows that living without her will make him very miserable. He knows his life is incomplete without Mary.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? He doesn’t realise that his best friend Woogie is the reason why the girl of his dreams shifted away. He is also unaware that the Private Investigator he hired has been lying to him as well.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Ted is pure of heart and thought. He remains clueless that the hitchhiker he picked up is serial killer, that his best friend Woogie is a stalker that drove his girl Mary out of town, and that the detective he hired has been lying to him. He also has a great relationship with Mary’s brother Warren.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Ted’s a loveable loser that has some truly embarrassing moments such as his zipper mishap, getting arrested outside a toilet,
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) Ted goes to pick up Mary for the prom, only to find out that her dad is black and he loves messing with Mary. When Ted goes to the bathroom to urinate he gazes at some birds, but when he sees Mary and his mother they think he is perving at her and masturbating. He quickly does his zipper up resulting in him catching his scrotum. Much to his major embarrassment nearly everyone gets a good look see at the problem and his prom night ends when he is carted away in an Ambulance as Warren yells, “He was masturbating.”
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Erik’s Actor Attractors for MATILDA
My vision is to achieve true excellence as a screenwriter, which causes me to be a consistently working writer, with actual movies made from some of my scripts, and to become wealthy as a screenwriter, develop relationships in the movie industry where I am recognized as a truly original writer, and to become indispensable in the market in which I want to write.
What I learned doing this assignment…Well, I was a little “in the weeds” here, because my best movie model and character does not have a big-name actor and is only a semi-well-known movie. But I had to go with it, because it is the best match to both my genre and my dual leads. This was a little more challenging and in-depth than it seems at a glance. The best thing I learned here is that until you can answer each of these questions with some depth, there is more knowledge and understanding needed in order to develop a lead character to the point where a great actor wants to play it.
Movie: MATILDA
Lead Character Name: Matilda Wormwood
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
It is the title character; does the most interesting things in the movie; is the character that has the most important and interesting arc; has funny and endearing traits; has emotional range; and is clearly the most stand-out character of the whole cast.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She has a formidable gift which she must discover on her own and then learn how to use it in the best ways. Her circumstances are constantly challenging and bring out her wit, her abilities, and opportunities to adapt and grow. Also, she is a young child who is forced to take on only grown-ups.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
“Breaks into” her evil principal’s house; explodes her parents’ TV; calls her dad a “crook” to his face; uses her “gift” to imitate the actions of a ghost, freaking out her evil principal; encourages and helps her teacher to do what she needs to in order to be happy; moves out of her parents’ house at the age of 7.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
She is introduced with another character’s perception of her that builds intrigue, and is then shown to be an amazing child prodigy.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Delight, spirit of fun and adventure, irritation, consternation, resolve to fight, humor, anger
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Struggle and determination to rise above her stifling circumstances—as well as the knowledge that she possesses a spirit that is different from everyone else.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With her teacher, who knows what Matilda is and is the only one who appreciates her.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
–In each of her interactions with her parents and her home life by showing how she responds to her seemingly impossible situation (with humor, frustration, and coping)
–by using her gift responsibly to help herself rather than using it to get back at her parents
–in her relationship with her teacher, where her other traits come out
–traits of genius, sweetness, and unusual determination for a 6-year-old
–actions motivated by desire
9. What makes this character special and unique?
She is a child prodigy with a gift of telekinesis and with parents who do not appreciate her nor understand her and who has a spirit of determination to find someone who understands her and find a better life. Also, she is a different sort of underdog.
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Sandra’s Actor Attractors for “Catch Me If You Can”
Vision: I am doing what I love to do as a writer with several successful produced movies.
What I learned doing this assignment is how to create characters that will attract major actors by using the nine actor attractors.
Actor Attractors
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this movie? It’s an interesting and intriguing true story. The lead character Frank (protagonist) is a brilliant young misdirected conman who forged millions of dollars of checks while posing as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer before he was 19.
Carl (antagonist/protagonist) is the FBI agent who tracks Frank down, and is amazed at how intelligent, crafty and creative the kid is.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie? Frank’s irony is his youth and how he looks innocent, but he is subtly seducing others in order to scam them. No one so young had ever done this before.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Too many to list all of them. The scene where he looks like he is dying in a French prison, when Carl comes to get him out, Frank escapes (cat and mouse game). The way he was able to pass checks and get pilot uniforms. How he was surrounded by stewardesses to avert being captured by the FBI.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Frank is introduced on the tv show “To Tell the Truth”. Frank and Carl in the French prison.
5. What is this characters emotional range? Frank goes from calm and friendly to scheming and swindling.
6. What subtext can the actor play? When Frank is talking, he’s scheming and it’s disguised by his youth and innocence.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? The relationship between Frank and Carl goes from conman and FBI agent to Frank losing one father and finding a new father.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Frank has the ability to confidently impersonate a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer by speaking their lingo and language of each smoothly. He’s very believable.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Frank is very intelligent, confident, charming and brazen in the way he hides and escapes capture for someone so young.
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Jill Clifford’s Actor Attractors for “Double Jeopardy”
My Vision: I am going to become skillful enough as a screenwriter that I can to get my scripts into the hands of producers, and ultimately get one or more into a produced feature film.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that underlying emotions and motivations can be played out subtly in the characters actions and conversations. It will be my job to build those kinds of factors into my own characters.
Criteria:
A. In your genre: Thriller
B. Has big actors: Ashley Judd, Tommy Lee Jones and Bruce Greenwood.
C. Is a well known movie: Seen by hundreds of thousand of people; grossed over $177,000,000 (budget around $70,000,000).
ACTOR ATTRACTORS
Movie Title: Double Jeopardy
Lead Character Name: Libby Parsons, played by Ashley Judd
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Libby is a caring mother, determined to regain her son, in spite of being wrongfully convicted of murder, being pursued by her probation officer Travis, and confronting Nick, the husband who wants her dead.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Her attitude of hope and persistence, her courage and conviction, and her intelligence in finding resources and adaptation all allow her to proceed.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Libby displays the horror of her husband’s “death” from the sailboat trip, and amazment over her conviction. She works to strengthens herself physically while in prison, and takes advice from fellow prisoners on how to gain a parole and what she can do once released. She outruns a jeep on the beach, showing her physical prowess, although she gets captured. She escapes from her parole officer Travis and steals his gun after driving them off a ferry in a car. She manages to hunt down her “dead” husband to get back her son. She finds a way to steal a dress and attend an affair where she successfully bids to “buy” Nick, her husband, for a night. She breaks out of the coffin and tomb where her husband thinks he has buried her for good. She enjoys shooting her husband’s valuable artwork and laughing about how good it made her feel, while holding a gun on him and demanding to know where her son is being kept.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
She is shown as the loving mother of her son, a caring wife and friend of the people who subsequently betray her.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
She shows a deep emotional connection to her son both at the beginning and end, a raging hatred for Nick, the husband who framed her for his faked death, a desperation and fear of failure, but a sense of hope and conviction throughout her mission to find her son.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
She hides who she is throughout the movie, pretending to be whomever she needs to be for the situation. In her trial she makes an earnest plea for her innocence. After that, she learns to be very adaptive for the parole board, her parole officer Travis, the art dealer, the hotel clerk, and others.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
She has a love and then hate relationship with her husband who sends her to prison with his faked murder, yet does not seek to kill him. She has a difficult relationship with her parole officer Travis until he finally finds she was telling the truth and helps her find her son.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
She adapts her voice to the situation as well as her actions. When in prison, she has to be tough and defensive; in New Orleans, she adds a little southern drawl for the hotel clerk. She kids around with the husband she hates for framing her telling his “girlfriend” that she is just passing through to pick up her son.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
She is a woman of strength and determination, who succeeds to regain her son despite all odds against her.
10. A scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model:
While at the library, searching for the friend who adopted her son, a guy helps her and then hits on her, asking her out for a drink. She agrees, but must check with her parole officer first. She proceeds to tell him she was convicted for slice and dice of her husband. Needless to say, the guy has something else he has to do. (She shows a sense of humor in spite of her situation.)
Lead Character Name: Travis Lehman played by Tommy Lee Jones
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Travis is an ex-law professor on journey from a lowly parole officer, distrusting everyone, to a strongly convicted man who has to help an innocent woman get revenge on the husband who framed her for his faked murder and regain her son.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
He is unrelenting in his pursuit of his escaped charge Libby, but slowly realizes that she is actually innocent, and can help her regain her son and bring her justice.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
He is unhappy with his job and life and drinks on the job. He risks his life to save Libby when she drives them off the end of a ferry in a car into Puget Sound. In his pursuit of Libby, he uses some of the same resources she has used, like the art dealer, to find where she is going. He threatens Nick Parsens with prison, pretending to blackmail him, after he identifies him as Libby’s “missing” husband. He helps Libby regain her son.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Travis is an unhappy parole officer running a halfway house of parolees. He is a mean and unmovable master, hauling a parolee off back to prison for a first offense against his rules. He thinks Libby will be a problem for him because he finds a picture of her son in her clothing box.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Travis displays a hidden anger about his life and toward his parolees. He shows humility, but with a sense of humor, when working with the New Orleans police, and enlisting their help to find Libby. He is confident and deceptive when he pretends to set up blackmail of Nick. He is sympathetic with Libby when he finally catches her, and works with her to regain her son.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
He hides his anger about losing his family, but takes it out on others, and secretly drinks on the job. Travis plays cat and mouse with Nick, knowing he is the husband who framed Libby, but not wanting him to know, until he has found Libby. At that point, he can get justice for Libby.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Travis has an adversarial relationship with his boss, who doesn’t think Travis should pursuit Libby at all. His relationship with Libby changes over time from one of anger that she has tricked him, stole his gun, and likely cost him his job, to one of respecting her for her innocence and wrong conviction, and wanting to help her.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
He states facts in an almost humorous, humble tone, as when he asks one of his former parolees on the job if her boss knows she used to perform the art of fellatio for a living. Then she is willing to give him what he wants. Another example, is when he is soliciting help from the New Orleans police to locate Libby, and he tells the police chief that he is only there as a professional courtesy, since she’s in New Orleans, and came here to kill one of his prominent citizens. When asked how she would do that, Travis tells him, “Oh, I don’t know, probably with the 38 special she stole from me.”
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He’s a lonely guy, who makes it his mission to bring back one of his runaway parolees, especially after she almost drowns him. But he changes over time to a more friendly person, as he slowly finds that Libby is in fact telling the truth about her innocence and being framed for a murder that never happened.
10. A scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model:
Travis confronts Nick with Nick’s driver’s license photo to prove he was never killed by Libby. He pretends to blackmail him, but suggests that Libby is still a problem, walking around out there. Nick says he’s buried the problem – she is not a problem, I promise. At which point, Libby enters and states that Nick is not good at keeping promises. Travis tells Nick that he will be going to prison for murder of Libby, as Travis has taped the conversation that Nick buried the problem. Travis says they will put evidence in the truck of Nick’s car, blood, hair, shovel, gasoline.
After the ensuing battle, with Libby saving Travis’ life, Travis tells her that she is going back to Seattle with him, where he will where he will demand a full pardon and a parade, and a little pink poodle on a key chain.
When they drive up to the school where Libby son is attending, Libby is afraid to get out of the car; afraid her son will not know her after six years. Travis tells her, “Dammit, woman! Because of you, I have lost a perfectly good used car, and a not-so-good job. If you don’t go to this kid right now, I’m gonna have you arrested for stupidity. Go on.”
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MOD 3 LESSON 1 Jamie’s Actor attractors for Good Luck to you, Leo Grande
VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!
What I’ve learned in this lesson is it gave me a deeper understanding as to the “why” in finding the right actor for a film. It’s like the module is another subtext lesson, in and of itself, in the course of scriptwriting. We keep layering as we write. This made a big difference in the importance in who you are writing for, and not just the audience.
MOVIE- Good Luck to you, Leo Grande
A. In your genre. Comedy/Drama
B. Has big actors. No, it’s a contained film.
C. Is a well-known movie. She’s so big as an actress but is best known for two films, Sense and Sensibility and The Remains of the Day.
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? She’s made women of a certain age real and true-to-life. Something that “Hollywood” doesn’t support. Ageism is a huge issue in this industry and I think she nailed it, not on in this film but for the future of filmmaking. She’s open the door a wee bit more. LONG OVERDUE in Hollywood.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Simple to answer because it is contained but, the character is human and so very interesting and with so many layers and subtext. All which is timely as well.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? She drops all her clothes in the end, butt naked, but who is a women in her sixties.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Most appropriately, nervous, anxiety filled waiting for her male sex teacher/escort to knock at her hotel door.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Bigger than life! She exposes all her fears, frustrations, brings her family and deceased husband into the conversation and discusses all the topics that concern women, especially those that are so inhibited by nature, nurture or in general.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Her fear of being vulnerable in all her conversations with “Leo”. Her lack of knowledge and experience when it comes to sex. She’s never had an orgasm. Sixty years of faking it. Her sex life was beyond boring with her husband, it was a wham-bam-thank-you darling experience. Who does that? A lot of women do it all and go without having pleasure.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? In this case, it is more interesting with her character, Nancy. The relationship she has with herself. It’s what really moves the story forward consistently.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Sometimes it is too on-the-nose but then again it had to be. The demons that live within her and the relationship she has with her two grown children. She is consistently nervous, that it makes you nervous for her. Sometimes to a fault but again, it had to be to make her case in the film.
9. What makes this character special and unique? By the end of the film she is more relaxed, did she have her orgasm? With each list of special desires she wished to accomplish she shows her growth and gave herself permission to experience a bit of joy. The ending scene is what made it out-of-the-box!
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Valeriya’s Actor attractors for Archive and The Descent
My Vision: I am a masterful, ahead-of-the-game, and outside-the-box writer full of ideas and creative energy. My writing is fresh, impactful, iconic, beautiful, and effortless, and my projects deliver outstanding commercial and artistic success. I create a lot, it’s fun, quick, and easy. My whole life is that way.
I have so much fun discovering what will cause actors to sign onto my movies!
What I learned from doing this assignment is…
– To keep in mind the actors’ perspectives.
– I need to have special scenes designed for actors to shine.
– Monster movies and robot movies are not famous for attracting stars but they are great for creating them, so they must be even more powerful in actors attracting and building.
– Both of those sub-genres have a character-driven story as the subtext to a plot-driven story, which is super cool and unique.
– It’s the part of writing that’s easy to elevate but can be a game-changer in greenlighting process.
Movie Title: Archive
Lead Character Name: George
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Cool inventor. Deep trauma. Unique situation. The twist ending reveals the truth about the character. Empathetic and evoking empathy. Most of the screen time.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
His actions drive the story. Very clever. Loving and caring.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Building a robot and interacting with his creations. Having a mission of romantic nature.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Living alone with robots in a secret unusual facility.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Caring, loving, having fun to angry, egotistical, and cruel.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
All of the movie is his subtext that’s revealed at the very end!
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With the robots who are jealous of one another.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
He treats robots like real people and real people like robots.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
His replica of reality he no longer belongs to. He tries to bring back to life his loved one.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The last scene, where he thinks he achieved his goal and we discover what’s going on with him.
Movie Title: The Descent
Lead Character Name: Sarah
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Dramatic transformation under immense pressure.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
The change she is going through.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Fighting the monsters, saving and killing friends.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
An extreme sportswoman who has great friends like herself and a supportive family. Her husband and daughter die.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Grief and fear to zero fear or mercy, extreme cruelty.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Fighting through the fear caused by her loss.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With her friends — they save and kill each other.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Readiness for everything since she lost it all and has nothing else to lose.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
Her behavior in extreme situations. Lost her human tribe and joined the monster tribe.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Slaying three monsters like she is more of a monster than them.
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Micki’s Actor attractors for SISTERS (2015)
My vision: Be recognized as a writer that will work with the industry and would do what it takes to be that WRITER.
What I learned from doing this assignment is fun and challenging. I had fun re-watching this movie a dozen or so.. This time, I look at the main character and see how she clicks.
I am EMPOWERED!
Movie Title: SISTERS (2015)
Lead Character Name: KATE ELLIS (TINA FEY)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Party-hardy gal, who is irresponsible with job and family. She gets kicks out of the house and heads to her parents.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She goes from irresponsible to trying to be a responsible person, then converting back to her old self.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Kate becomes a party mom where she can’t drink or do drugs. After a phone call, Kate starts partying.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
She dyes a man’s eyebrows, which are removed when she wipes it off, while on the phone with her sister.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
She has a mixture of emotions when she discovers that her family doesn’t believe in her. Disappointment of her parents, upset with her sister. Mad at her daughter for hiding. She ends up restoring the home.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
She is hiding the fact she has no job and no home and is broke.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has?
Her sister, Maura Ellis, who is a nurse, They have one more party at their parents’ home. They invite their friends from the past.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Through the party, house being sold, and saving her daughter from a sink-hole.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
Her journey of transformation: responsible person, who learns to be trustworthy.
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Joe McGloin’s actor attractors for You’ve Got Mail
Vision: I am a talented, highly regarded, efficient, relaxed, happy, WGA screenwriter
What I learned from doing this assignment is the complexity and broad range of emotions and behaviors that blend to form the complex characters needed to make a story powerful.
Movie Title: You’ve Got Mail
Lead Character Name: Joe
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
He follows his nudges. He’s excellent at his work.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
He does what he knows best to do – put mom and pop bookstores out of business with his mega bookstores. He uses and abuses his power. He questions his own actions. He breaks up with a woman he doesn’t love to pursue true love. He has 2 personas and uses both with the woman he courts.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
A rich man who is searching for love in the only ways he knows.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Cold-hearted business man to warm-hearted lover.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
A playful approach to someone he initially appears to have no feelings for who he keeps coming back to until he realizes he loves
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Son, grandson, boss, lover, internet friend.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Through the internet he expresses his true feelings.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
How he interacts with the woman he courts – even while living with another
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
He brings flowers to the woman he put out of business and tries to befriend her, while starting to use words his internet persona uses, and finally expresses his warm-hearted side.
Movie Title: You’ve Got Mail
Lead Character Name: Kathleen
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
She’s witty, successful, determined, independent, willing to do what’s necessary to achieve her goal.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She is the one everyone wants to help toward her goal. She is an expert in her field. She is David taking on Goliath, and then when she loses that battle, it doesn’t kill her. She puts herself out there in ways only a courage individual would and she is not afraid of failure.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
She takes on Goliath, breaks up with her live in boyfriend at the same time she quits the only business she has ever known and start with, essentially nothing.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
A successful single bookstore owner who needs true love in her life and is going for it in a non-vulnerable, innocent way that she is fooling herself into believing is not that.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
On top of the world to crushed to back up on top in a different, more fulfilled way.
6, What subtext can the actor play?
Not caring on the surface to, as we read her, truly caring deep down about a relationship that appears odd (online completely) until she is forced to let go of all she has known to follow a dream..
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Romantic, mentee, boss, friend, businesswoman, fighter. loser
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Children’s bookstore owner who has a need for love that gets expressed online.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
She is in love with someone she doesn’t see and who she thinks she hates because she only sees his rough exterior in person.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
As she closes her store she shows a range of emotions and memories that she is able to let go of as she starts over again while pursuing a potential relationship on the internet.
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KRISTIN’S ACTOR ATTRACTORS
VISION: “I want the personal, professional, and financial freedom and joy that come from writing so well that I’m in demand, selling beyond my wildest dreams, and making worthy projects—on a big scale and with my active, collegial participation.”
WHAT I LEARNED in this assignment: It’s fun but a bit more challenging than I thought. I realize I assume a lot—that is, when watching a great actor doing something, I “feel” it all, and can describe the dynamics, but labeling it analytically and enumerating the aspects required a bit more thought than I anticipated.
Movie Title: OH, BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
NOTE: In this film, I chose just Ulysses, because he is by far the biggest driver. The other ensemble characters (his chain-gang partners) are more unidimensional.
Lead Character Name: Ulysses Everett McGill
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
He is both clever and naïve, and his dialog is articulate and in direct contrast to everyone he’s around. His schooling and attitude are hilariously out of sync with everyone else, and he’s also daring (and in love) enough to risk everything for his wife. He is endearing and we cheer for him.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
His drive and creativity. His leadership is also impressive. He has a mixture of used-car-salesman and old-time-crooner that makes him irresistible and indefatigable.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Orchestrating the escape; convincing his chained partners to do his bidding; thinking on his feet in general; falling for the sirens; constantly worrying about his hair; saying stuff that is so “above” his compatriots’ knowledge, and not learning from that; being driven by true love; having true talent and willing to use it.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
That opening scene is vintage. The lines to the dudes riding the train are the first spoken words, I think (“Any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin’?) This dialog cements our guy immediately. The next revealing thing is what he says a moment later when challenged by the others, who ask why they should follow his lead. “I figured it whould be the one with the capacity for abstract thought. But if that ain’t the consensus view, then hell, let’s put it to a vote.”
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
He’s crafty and always trying to get back to his wife, but he shows fear occasionally. He also challenges authority, and is brave. I wouldn’t say he gets awfully angry; he’s too contained for that.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
In this case, our guy is full of subtext (wants his family back), but holds that card close to his vest. His outward persona is all about “sales,” getting people to do what he wants for a fictitious fortune. Inside, he’s just a mushpot willing to do whatever it takes to win back his wife.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
The funniest are with his chain-gang compatriots, but the most interesting is with his wife. She’s the only one he cares about, and she obviously loves him—but is torturing him so that he will “heel.”
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Through his observational skills, and his BS. He is manipulating everyone in his environment, constantly evaluating, looking for what he needs to succeed. But the “voice” comes through the endless lines of dialog. He’s a BS factory.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
It’s the way he uses language, and his naivete in pursuing his wife. When the BS is stripped away, he’s just a boy who loves a girl—but he faces the world with bravado, and Dapper Dan.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The opening scene, described above, is extremely iconic. The scene in the restaurant, where Big Dan T. sets his sights on him. Ulysses remains naïve here, “I don’t get it, Big Dan.”
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Bobby’s Actor Attractors – “21”
Vision: A writing life that is mine to do with as I please. Independently wealthy, always creatively engaged, sought after, and utterly fulfilled.
What I learned doing this assignment is: just how powerful a clear, and clearly stated, goal and obstacle can be.
MOVIE: 21
ROLE: Ben (Protagonist)
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Get to play a genius, and go from social misfit to stylish, in command “player”
What about this character makes them one of the most interesting in the story?
Ben is smarter than ANYONE – and is pure and good… and corruptible. We know WHY he does everything he does, and see the box he’s trapped in.
What are the most interesting actions this Lead takes in the script?
Becoming the “Big Player”; coming up with ideas that impress Mickey; taking OVER the team from Mickey; executing the final con
How was the role introduced in a way that sold it to an actor?
Through VO, we see Ben’s brilliance, pulling a con – it shows the danger he’s in in the flash forward, then the desperation he has in the opening interview: this socially inept, straight-A student has to “dazzle” with life experience to win the scholarship he needs to go to Med School – and, ironically, because he’s dedicated his life to going to med school, he HAS no life experience
What is the character’s emotional range?
From innocent and pure, and pessimistic, to arrogant and confident, to desperate and destroyed – and back again
What subtext did the actor play?
Once he joins the team, Ben leads a double-life; suddenly, all his classes at MIT are besides the point – VEGAS is where it’s at! And in Vegas, of course, he is playing a role all the time. He’s also deeply in love with Jill Taylor, and all the early scenes with her convey that. Without a father, Mickey is a father-figure to Ben initially. And the whole last act, he’s putting on a show for Mickey (and the audience), as he works to betray him.
What are the most interesting relationships the character has?
The love/hate dynamic with Mickey: a man who “sees himself” in Ben (and may actually care for him/see him as a surrogate son) – but is also threatened by Ben, and uses his position of power to destroy him when he oversteps. Ben is proud to have Mickey’s approval, but stands up for himself, creating the final “duel of wits” that plays out at the end.
How was this character’s unique voice presented?
Seeing Ben’s effortless ability with Math (adding up clothing items in his store, besting everyone on the team from the start, solving the problem of cashing in chips when the casino is on to them); also, his dilemma, and desperation, is presented right from the start (“some kids dream of playing baseball, or… being a fireman. I always dreamed of going to Harvard Med.”)
What made this character special and unique?
The smartest guy at MIT – by a long shot. Maintains his “goodness” – the real battle of the film for Ben – and makes up for his lies and deceit in the end.
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Edward Brown) Actor attractors for (Movie Title).
Movie Title: Shakespeare in Love
Lead Character Name: Viola
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Playing iconic stage role interpretation
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? A romantic beautiful protptype of Juliet LOVE interest protagonist partner IT IS HER STORY OF FINING LOVE AND WISHING WILLIAM WELL IN FUTURE THE MUSE
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Plays Romeo, fools Will, then romantic love challenges but learns script DOES BIG STAGE AS HERSELF
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Infatuated with poetry BEAUTIFUL DESIRABLE TAKES ROLE AS ACTOR kENT
5. What is this character’s emotional range? CHEERS, GLEE, TEARS , TRAGIC
6. What subtext can the actor play? PLAYS MALE, PLAYS SECRET LOVER, PLAYS ROMEO WHEN SHE IS FEMALE MODEL FOR JULIET
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? WITH WILL, nurse, Westli, actors
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? TALKS OF LOVE, APPRECIATES BEYOND NORMAL ASPIRATIONS
9. What makes this character special and unique? ROMANTIC BUT REALIST , GIVING AS HEALS WILLS HEART, LOVING
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) WHEN SHE ASKS WILL HOW HE FILLS ABOUT VIOLA WHEN SHE IS VIOLA / PLAYING JUIET
William Shakespeare
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Playing iconic stage role interpretation
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? CLASSIC ROLE PLUS GREAT WINNING SCRIPT SHOWS TALENTS
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? WRITES SCRIPT MIRRORING HIS LOVE AFFAIR, BIG DANCE, SWORD FIGHT, LOVE MAKING, CLIMBS VINE, WOOS HER WITH POETRY
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? WORKING ON TRI DREAMING OF San Diego in winter, rejects sexy ANNA
5. What is this character’s emotional range? CHEERS, GLEE, TEARS , TRAGIC
6. What subtext can the actor play? PLAYS SCRIPT WRITER AND DIRECTOR WHEN KNOWS ROMEO ACTOR IS VIOLA
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Poetry,
7.What’s the most interesting relationship ps this character has? Viola, actors, producer,
9. What makes this character special and unique? Adaptable, romantic, proactive lover/wooer, great writer
Creator
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Big POWERFUL CHARACTER
2. 2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie EXPLAINS GOD AND FREE WILL TO SELF DESTRUCT, HISTORY OF MANKIND VIA GODS, SALVATION FOR MANKIND — MAYBE
3. . What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie POWERS TO MANIPULATE SAINTS, PUT TOGETHER PROPECTTIVE LOVERS, NUKE CONCERN. MNIPULATE
4. Introduced by another planet then float down with ragtime, mocking but in command
5. Emotional range: concern, mocking, upset, thunder, glee,
6. Subtext: knows answers others don’t, plans to make movie series, Rus vs USA, parables are the human path
7. Introduced: as powerful source of life via Jesus, spirit, Saints, lovers,
8. Unique voice mocking
9. Special cares despite human failings
George
1. why want role? Comic everday man who transitions
2. why interesting: adaptable, romantic, vampable, will go for it
3. most interesting actions: propose kissing at midnight, valentine, winning sailor, Alice, Senorita, not just sex
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Working on tri, mocking ever going to Moscow, rejecting Anna., maybe arrival of glitteria and Tanya
5. Emotional range: argumentative, despair, joy, calculating
6. Subtext: emotions not shown verbally or implied
7. Most interesting relationships: Tanya, God, little voice, Vincent, Son
8. How unique voice presented: mischievous, creative, little voice
9. Special and unique: history, sailor, adaptive, romantic, vampable, believer, make rain, slob, messy, not care for self enough
Tanya
1. Why actor want role: play vamp, woman in man’s world, want to rule, romantic
2. Why interesting? Vamp, beauty, standards, romantic, Czarina, concern world, cares for son/father, dancer,
3. Most interesting actions: refuse Boris, teach ballet, world culture, NYE kiss, researches George, rejects as old, learns to bird
4. Emotion range: glee, despair, energy, focused, taker
5. How introduced: train, ball
6. Subtext:
7. Interesting relationships: George, Dad, son, ex, ballet class, Putin
8. How unique voice presented? Orders,
9. Special ‘n Unique: vamp, wants power, romantic, mother, daughter, schemer
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Laura Koons’ Actor Attractors for THE JUDGE.
My vision: I am an Oscar winning Screenwriter known to elevate the careers of A-list actors and directors.
What I learned from doing this assignment is to simply write without restrictions in regards to budget or anything else out of the writers control. Only concentrating on intriguing characters that are multi-dimensional.
Movie Title: THE JUDGE
Lead Character Name: Hank Palmer (Robert Downey, Jr.)
Why would an actor WANT to be known for this
role?
Hank has the confidence and intelligence to outwit anyone in the courtroom.
What makes this character on of the most
interesting characters in the movie?
He’s the black sheep of the family.
What
are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?He steps up to care for his sick father who he has learned to hate since his teenage years.
How
is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Hank is introduced as a very successful big shot defense attorney in Chicago. He went to Law School at Northwestern University which is historically known to be one of the best in the country.
What
is the character’s emotional range?
The character gets to play a whole spectrum of emotions… from hostile, ashamed, hopeless, despair, confident, love, content, reflective.
What
subtext can the actor play?
He cares even though he his actions say otherwise.
What’s
the most interesting relationships this character has?
The most interesting relationships are with the amazing ensemble cast: Robert Duvall playing his father, Billy Bob Thornton playing the Prosecutor, Vera Farmiga playing his high school girlfriend, and Vincent D’Onofrio playing his older brother.
How
is the character’s unique voice presented?
Hank is ever present with his sharp wit which he brings everywhere… even to the bar with his brothers.
What
makes this character special and unique?
His ability to change after reflecting about the affects he has on others and his new found love for the town he grew up in. He’s become proud and no longer ashamed.
Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model:
Hank puts his father on the stand and asks him to clarify why as a judge he was tougher on him than he was the kid who drowned the teenage girl. Powerful creative dialogue where the father says, ” When I looked at him, I saw you… and when I looked at you, I saw him”.
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Kevin Patrick Goulet – Actor Attractors for BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
My Vision: Develop a successful methodology for writing screenplays resulting in the completion of this / other screenplays which all ‘read’ at a PRO/story-telling level, culminating in the selling of my screenplays… produced projects (films or series), worthy compensation -and more screenwriting opportunities. Rinse and repeat- many times over.
What I learned with this assignment: Quirks, foibles, short comings visible in the script can be the seeds Actors will recognize, can build on and into their own unique vision of the lead character.
Movie Title: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Lead Character Name: Butch Cassidy
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Butch is a thief and a villain- but he is charming, handsome, quick-witted, possesses empathy, some regret, has a loyal gang who believe in him and -despite robbing trains and banks- He does have scruples.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie?
Though Butch is on the run from the law throughout the film, He is in charge at every turn, out-thinking the lawmen in pursuit. His Partner -the Sundance Kid- is also a very compelling co-protagonist, but Butch calls the shots. In the end, they go out -believing it to be- on their terms.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Changing the room dynamics in the opening scene/poker game. Fight with Logan for ‘who calls the shots’. Concern for Woodcock of the Union Pacific RailRoad. Butch’s relationship with the Sundance Kid’s woman, Etta Place. Butch likes to try ‘new’ things… example: The Bicycle! When he and Sundance are trapped on the mountain trying to outrun the mob of lawmen chasing them, Butch decides at the last second -rather than give up or be killed, the will jump into the river (possibly to their deaths) about 100 feet below to avoid the lawmen. Deciding to ‘go straight’; become Payroll Guards to avoid incarceration. Tying up Sheriff Bledsoe to make him appear a victim of Butch & Sundance. Finally convincing Sundance (and & Etta) to go to Bolivia to rob fresh banks, never expecting the Federaliés to be lying in wait- for ‘Bandidos Yanquis’…
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Butch appears first on camera. He is ’casing’ a local small-town bank; admiring its improved level of security, which the bank hopes will be enough to combat the growing number of robberies. In the bar where Sundance is in a Poker match, Butch tries to be the diplomat, has the funny lines of dialogue. He demonstrates his charming, clever and ruthless side too… in a matter of a just a few moments. And then allows his Partner to do his thing.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Butch can be intensely specific -with a dose of anger in one moment- and then he often shifts into a charming, smooth-talking rogue. And he does it all and turns on a dime when it needs to happen that fast.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Butch is always thinking ahead. He reads the room -his adversaries- very well. He instinctively knows what the next move needs to be -for him, Sundance, The Hole in the Wall Gang- always in the desire to stay ahead of the law and those trying to catch them- and most likely kill them.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Butch’s competitive but playful relationship with the Sundance Kid (this is really the original buddy film), His flirtatious but ‘draws-the-line’ interaction with Etta Place, His willingness to help Sheriff Bledsoe save face, knowing if Lawman Joe Lefors in the White Skimmer (hat) tracking Butch & Sundance knew the Sheriff helped Butch and Sundance, Lefors would probably kill Bledsoe too. Butch and Sundance ‘going straight’ by working for Percey Garris (head of the Payroll Company) as payroll guards, instead of continuing to rob the Payroll. Butch has a way of getting what he wants from these people but still exudes kindness and empathy. It seem he cares about all of them enough to not completely exploit any one of them.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
By assessing the other’s strengths, Butch figures out what their weakness’ are. Then he uses their weakness against them, outsmarts them to get what he wants -and also keep the upper hand. He remains the smartest guy in the room, in charge of everything.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
Butch firmly believes he sees the world differently from everyone else. He even proclaimed early in the film, “Boy I got vision and the rest of the world wears bifocals’. Because of this special gift he thinks is his -and perhaps his alone- Butch exudes confidence, carries himself with an air of superiority and defies being challenged, caught or anything worse.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Kevin Patrick Goulet.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by
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Amechi’s Actor Attractors for (TOP GUN: MAVERICK)
MY VISION
I am going to be in the top 1% of action/comedy writers in the industry who writes major action films.
Movie Title: TOP GUN – MAVERICK
Lead Character Name: PETE “MAVERICK” MITCHELL
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
He’s a hero, a cool character, and he is a legendary pilot with a rebellious streak.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
He’s haunted by a failure that cost his best friend his life, and he’s still flying planes to their limit years later.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Destroying an expensive new jet during a test flight
Showing all the hot shot pilots that he’s still much better than them
Coming up with a plan to attack the nuclear facility
Demonstrating that the plan can be successful after all of the pilots fail
Keeping a secret that the decision to keep his friend’s son out of the program was made by the son’s mother and not Maverick but he’s taking the blame.
Stealing an F-14 from the enemy base to get back home.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
He flies an experimental jet against orders before the general shows up and goes faster than any man has gone before, before destroying the jet by going too fast.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Confident, cocky, determined, caring, wounded.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
That he’s not in pain, that he’s not afraid, that he’s confident no one will die, that he is to blame for keeping his friend’s son out of the Top Gun Program.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With Rooster, his best friend’s son, who is angry at him for his father’s death, for keeping him out of the academy, and who now thinks that he won’t pick him for the top secret mission. Maverick wants to be a mentor to him but it’s difficult with their history.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Iconic lines repeated from the first movie. Some of his actions are a result of who he is (flying the plane too fast, giving people looks when they ask him to do something, explaining how things can be done and knowing he’s the only one who can do it.)
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He’s the best fighter pilot there is and has kept his life as simple as possible to keep his life this way, even though the world is changing.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Cyclone replaces Maverick as the mission trainer and as he goes through his new plan a jet appears on the radar. It’s Maverick, who has been fired, making an unauthorized flight in one of their jets. He flies the course perfectly, proving that his riskier plan can be done and will get them all home safely. Cyclone again wants to get rid of Maverick, but instead tells him that he’s going on the mission.
This scene shows Maverick acting without thinking of the consequences, showing confidence in his plan that looked impossible, defying authority, proving he’s still the best pilot, and also that he cares by proving his tougher plan, that will get all of the pilots home safely, can work. -
Elizabeth’s Actor Attractors
My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.
What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by studying actor attractors, you can give them interesting character traits as well as interesting scenes and situations to play in.
Movie Title: The Arrival
Lead Character Name: Louise Banks
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? This role shows a strong willed, linguistic expert with a broad horizon and a great deal of empathy. She can connect with alien creatures on an honest and authentical level which contrasts from the people around her. She can play from loving mother who gives birth and sees the death of her child to capturing the trust of aliens through genuineness. The range of emotional and physical states demonstrates a huge character arc and acting skills.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? She is the only one who can connect on a deep level with the aliens using her intuition and instinct, while others use science and power and primal concepts of fight or flight.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? She is able to be calm and live aa a mother to riding helicopters and playing in weightlessness. There are explosions and confrontation with alienspecies as well as standing up to Colonel’s and idiot government people.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? She starts as a loving mother giving birth to crying at the loss of her daughter to cancer. She is also a professor at a university who teaches the unique subject of language and linguistics.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Huge!
6. What subtext can the actor play? She shows everything on the surface. All her emotions lay bare. This one is interesting because she is experiencing time shifts where she is able to see her future which may perplex her actions but also guide them today. Therefore she knows what’s going to happen in her future and because of this she uses it to inform her just as the aliens have informed her.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? The relationship with the aliens- heptapods.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Throught voice over and flashbacks. She also speaks from fragility and strength all at once. She accepts the future as it comes but is prepared to change it when she can.
9. What makes this character special and unique? She is able to speak many languages and is able to connect with aliens through her own ability to determine their language. She has flash forwards.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Louise steps onto the lift with Ian and Col Weber to enter the spaceship. Through this experience, they constantly refer to her opinion. She also experiences flashforward loving moments with her daughter.
Lead Character Name: Ian Donnelly
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? This role shows a rational theoretical physicist. He sees everything through facts based on science.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He starts off as the hard core mathematics type of man and ends up understanding that there are non-explicable ways to operate in a world or communicate with aliens.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He’s in an explosion. He gets to work with weightlessness.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He walks in like a typical macho who has to show his stick is bigger than everyone’s including Louise’s. He quotes her and then verbally knocks its essence down.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Good range from Macho to father.
6. What subtext can the actor play? His character hides all his thoughts and emotions underneath just like a macho man. But when he’s given the worst news of all, his daughter’s imminent death from cancer, he collapses and runs away from the family.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? The relationship with the aliens- heptapods and his relationship with Louise. He starts of as a macho with her and ends up marrying her.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He is an expert just like Louise. Both at eye level. At first he doesn’t accept it but then he defers to her.
9. What makes this character special and unique? He is a mathematician who later figures out the riddle of the language based on a physicists protocol.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
His opening scene when he shows his stick is bigger than Lousie’s.
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Linda Anderson’s Actor attractors for “Jerry and Marge Go Large”
Vision for success from this program: Audiences around the world view and love my meaningful screenplays—one of the most satisfying and energizing accomplishments of my life.
What I learned from doing this assignment is it felt authentic to envision creating a role that would attract big-name actors.
Movie Title: Jerry and Marge Go Large (Paramount+)
Lead Character Name: Jerry Selbee
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Jerry is a complex character who goes from being a person who is isolated in his retirement to the person who saves his small town and everyone likes and admires.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He’s a math whiz who combines his skill with intuition in ways that are uncharacteristic. He’s feeling irrelevant and having trouble adjusting to retirement.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He uses math to identify a flaw in the state lottery and hides betting their retirement saves on winning big money.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Jerry and Marge drive their beat-up truck through a dying small town while laughing and talking about luck. The next scene shows him presenting a complicated math code he’s broken at a meeting of managers for the company he’s worked at for 42 years. It’s clear he’s appreciated for being a line manager but no one is sorry to see him retire.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? He’s enthralled with math and has a compulsive need to understand the reason behind everything but this is softened by his social awkwardness and dry sense of humor.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Jerry needs to learn how to have fun and take risks. He’s hiding his lottery gambling from Marge and chokes when she tells their friends that they never play the lottery. He must figure out how to deal with the Harvard U. student antagonist who wants to demolish him and his chances of helping his town have a comeback.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Jerry’s relationship with his wife, Marge, drives the movie forward.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He explains his actions and the mathematics behind them to the town’s bank teller as he’s secretly withdrawing savings to play the lottery.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Mathematical genius who has issues relating to his wife, son, and daughter because he’s so poor at picking up on cues about their needs.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Jerry tells Marge he’s playing the lotter y and has won $15,000 due to finding a flaw in the game. He’s shocked and delighted when instead of being angry, Marge wants them to follow this lottery strategy and have fun. It will do wonders for their relationship and give him a purpose in his retirement.
Movie Title: Jerry and Marge Go Large
Lead Character Name: Marge Selbee
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Marge is determined to move from the staid and rigid life she’s living now into taking risks, having fun, and revitalizing her marriage.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? She has a great sense of humor that she shares with Jerry. They find the same things to be funny. She makes unexpected decisions.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? She totally goes for winning the lottery by using Jerry’s math code-breaking skills. She gives 100% to their journey of renewal—going over the top as if it’s a crime caper and they are on the run.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? In their beat-up truck with Jerry, laughing, and wondering about their future. Then at the dinner table with friends while Jerry speculates what he’ll do in retirement. She wants nothing to do with him horning in on her role of running the household or supervising.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Marge starts as an older housewife who has everything just-so to using her creativity to win the lottery repeatedly.
6. What subtext can the actor play? She sees her husband is hiding something from her and tries to get him to talk. She knows he’s awkward with relationships and repeatedly helps him find ways to show others the qualities she loves about Jerry.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With Jerry
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? In the scene where he confesses he’s betting on the lottery, she says, “It’s time to take a risk. . .Be a little stupid. . .We need something for us to talk about.”
9. What makes this character special and unique? She plays against what you’d expect the wife of a recent retiree would do, given they’re not financially independent and need more money.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) (Same as Jerry’s #10 above.)
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Module 3 Lesson 1
· Kevin Ash’s Actor Attractors for Steel Magnolias
· Vision: I will be living in paradise, writing prolifically at my leisure, respected and sought after for my interesting and thought provoking films.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that it’s really difficult to find a comp that meets this criteria for my film. That’s probably a good thing.
Movie Title: Steel Magnolias
Lead Character Name: Shelby
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Complex role with high drama
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She gets to chew up the scenery while staying vulnerable and likable.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Goes into insulin shock, embroiled in emotionally traumatizing situation, suffers a coma and dies
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Wedding day, has hypoglycemic attack getting her hair done.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
From sweet and innocent, a victim to strong but ready to die.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
All over the place. She wants to get married, but doesn’t feel she should because she can’t have children, then gets pregnant but has doubts about the baby’s health, then baby has kidney failure, thinks it’s all her fault.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? She and her mother, who dotes on her, her fiancé, who she has second thoughts about marrying, then her child who is born anyway and the dynamics between her husband and family.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Through the opening on her wedding day, before when she’s irreverent and confident to her doubt filled private life, to her attack and the severe underlying doubt brought about by it.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Her medical condition which runs her decision making and guilt.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The opening scene follows her preparation for the wedding, her encounter with her fiancé in which she nearly calls off the wedding again, through her attack at the beauty parlor and remorse after the attack. Sums her up in a relentless gauntlet of emotional and subtext filled existence.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Kevin Ash.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by
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<div>Note: unable to post by copy and paste from a Word document. Only workaround is to click on Aa and then the link symbol which opens a small window. Pasting to that window results in this red unchangeable text. Never had this problem before. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.</div>
Vision: to become an industry new face known for reliable box office and concepts that intrigue and entertain audiences the world over. <div>
</div><div> John T’s Actor attractors for Wind River </div><div>
</div><div>What I learned from doing this assignment is that studying a movie for actor attractors reveals missed clues that lure top actors. </div><div>
</div><div>Movie Title: Wind River Lead </div><div>Character Name: Game Warden Corey Lambert </div><div>1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Vulnerable yet strong, faithful to a creed of justice that brings him outside the norm. Every scene and most dialogue with subtext. A man thrust into a world of hunting humans instead of animals. His wound is opened yet again, reliving the death of his daughter Emily. Hero story where he apprehends and metes out justice – helps heal a wound he himself suffered. </div><div> 2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Reveals his true character through his actions, man of few words knows what he must do. Inner wound drives him to do things he wouldn’t normally do. </div><div> 3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? White lawman showing his allegiance to an Indian cry for justice by taking the law into his own hands – with plenty of warning. </div><div> 4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Family man with a troubled history who inhabits a troubled world and yet still makes a difference. </div><div> 5. What is this character’s emotional range? From stoic to self-effacing to vengeful. Relives his pain of losing his own daughter (revealed through subtext at first) so we sympathize with him </div><div> 6. What subtext can the actor play? He’s planning on achieving justice for the victim, justice he failed to achieve for his own daughter. Along the way, he relives the pain as the story builds to a foreshadowed but still jarring conclusion. </div><div> 7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Primarily with Agent Banner. From two different worlds yet share the same values that propel both of them to seek justice the Indian way. He praises her natural instincts of survival, something he highly prizes on the reservation. There’s a spark of romance behind his visit in the hospital where she recovers. </div><div> 8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? “She died like Emily.” Plain spoken in the local vernacular; succinct yet heavy with intent. </div><div> 9. What makes this character special and unique? Lives in both a white man’s world and a Native world </div><div> 10 (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) When Corey talks to the Indian father, he bridges the void between white and native – both men lost daughters to the lawlessness of reservation life. Corey advises his friend that he must endure the pain or rislck forgetting the memories of their daughters. </div><div>
</div><div> Lead Character Name: FBI agent Jane Banner </div><div> 1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Alone, thrust into a foreign environment, fish out of water, not appreciated. Mocked and ridiculed yet she got the job done. 2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Female FBI agent thrust into an unfamiliar environment and in immediate danger. Assaulted with bug spray, shot, almost dies but comes out on top. </div><div> 3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? She’s the chief murder investigator who must think outside the box and recruit the tracker to pursue the criminals. Not afraid\ to venture into a foreign world – rides the snow sled to the clues, and diffuses the initial gun fight by taking over as the lead authority. </div><div> 4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Pivotal role who forges ahead to solve the murder despite native animosity and resentment. We feel for her unwelcome welcome. </div><div> 5. What is this character’s emotional range? From sympathetic to brave to undeterred. She wanted Justice for Emily as much as Corey. </div><div> 6. What subtext can the actor play? She implies that she’s okay about breaking the rules when outside her world. </div><div> 7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? She forms a bond with Corey – understands that there are different rules on the res. Interesting dynamic with the victim’s parents – not appreciated. </div><div> 8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Professional with a woman’s touch, appropriately sly and a bit sarcastic. </div><div> 9. What makes this character special and unique? Her bravery and resilience.</div><div> 10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) After diffusing a deadly gunfight, she herself gets shot, survives and gives Corey the go ahead to pursue the guilty and met out Indian justice.
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Renee Brown’s Actor Attractors for POSSESSION
“My scripts are the cream that rises to the top: I am an A-list screenwriter.”
What I learned: Watching a movie with these things in mind is a real eye opener.
Movie Title: Possession
Lead Character Name: Rolland Mitchel (Aaron Eckhart)
Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? The swaggery American in London who beats the Brits at their own game.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Rolland is a English Poetry grad student who says he is not interested in Love.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Steals love letters from the London Library, but you really don’t care because he is so earnest.
How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Stealing a handwritten love letter from the pages of a well known 1800’s poet’s book.
What is this character’s emotional range? Cocky, to hopelessly romantic, to shell shocked lover, to hero, to modest.
What subtext can the actor play? Being in love with the very woman he is annoyed with.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With his own heartache and his high-strung research partner.
How is this character’s unique voice presented? Cocky, Romantic American in London.
What makes this character special and unique? He’s a bad boy rebel with a marshmallow heart.
Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model:
When Rolland seduces his fellow research assistant, and we are like: YES! And then stops and says he does not want to mess this up, but really is saying: I’m scared as hell to get hurt.
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[WIM] Caroline’s Actor Attractors for Casino Royale
My Vision: I will perfect my process of writing great scripts and be recognized by the industry as good at what I do and have successful movies produced.
What I learned: It’s all about the Action, Action, Action
ACTOR ATTRACTORS Template
Movie Title: Casino Royale
Lead Character Name: James Bond
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? The role is iconic
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? James Bond is suave, debonair, smart, athletic, has a cool job and gets the girl.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He is an epic chase scene, he emerges from the ocean dripping wet, he breaks into his boss’s home, he wins an Aston Martin in a card game.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He kills a bad guy in the first scene, which is shot in black and white; very noir.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Anger, calm, a little regret
6. What subtext can the actor play? Regret
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? The most interesting relationship he has is with his boss.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Bond is not a big talker. He is an action man.
9. What makes this character special and unique? He really can do it all.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) Right after he is nearly fatally poisoned, he realizes that Mathis is the enemy and Vesper is in danger. He runs out of the restaurant and a chase begins.
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Joaquin “Ibn Gray’s” Actor attractors for Inside Man
My vision for the completion of this class is to write A plus intriguing screenplays that will be produced into extremely profitable movies, which I will cash large checks from.
What I learned from doing this assignment is to think about unique ways a character can be flushed out before creating them.
INSIDE MAN (2006)
Protagonist Detective Keith Frazier
Antagonist Dalton Russell
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Detective Keith Frazier– This character is smooth, intelligent and climbing the ladder in his career.
Dalton Russell – This character is witty, clever, three steps ahead of law enforcement and the leader of a heist.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie?
Detective Keith Frazier – works strictly by the book, is in charge and doesn’t back down to those who may challenge his authority.
Dalton Russell – This character is calm, knows exactly what he is pursuing and doesn’t deviate from it.
3. What are the most interesting actions the lead takes in the movie?
Detective Keith Frazier attempts to drags Dalton down a flight of stairs outside of the bank being robbed.
Dalton Russell meets with a hired broker inside of the bank and shows her that his knowledge is greater than hers.
4. How is the character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Detective Keith Fraizer is introduced with a need to lead an investigation of a bank robbery in progress.
Dalton Russell is a straight shooter, clearing in control of and executing a thought-out plan.
5. What is the character’s emotional range?
Detective Keith Fraizer slips into an everything is lost moment when a hostage appears to be shot.
Dalton Russell went from calm to a maniac when a hostage lied to him about not having his phone. He snapped and beat the crap out of him.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Detective Keith Fraizer has a certain level of cockiness to him.
Dalton Russell is shrewd
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has?
Detective Keith Fraizer’s relationship with his girlfriend is interesting.
Dalton Russell’s relationship with his girlfriend, his crew member, is interesting.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presence?
Detective Keith Fraizer – Knows he’s in charge but listens to his crew.
Dalton Russell is calm and not out to hurt anyone.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
Detective Keith Fraizer was accused of a crime he swears he didn’t do until the end of the movie.
Dalton Russell stayed true to his word of walking out the front door of the bank to escape.
10. The scene.
Detective Keith Fraizer convinces Dalton to let him in the bank to check on the hostages. On the way out of the bank Keith pulls Dalton down a flight of stairs to get him out of the bank. Keith is met with a rifle to his head from a member of Dalton’s crew. The next scene Keith seems confident and excited by his actions although his partner thinks he is nuts.
Dalton and a child hostage sit in the vault on stacks of cash. Dalton gives the child pizza then views a video game console. The child explains the object of the game. (Grand theft auto, extremely violent) Dalton assures the child everything is going to be okay, then says. I’ll have to talk to your father about this game.
Joaquin “Ibn Gray”
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Aaron’s Actor Attractors for BLACKLIGHT.
MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.
What I learned doing this lesson is that there are some subtle character traits that are easy to take for granted as a viewer, but are very important to and significant to actors as they evaluate roles to accept.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS – HERO
Movie Title: BLACKLIGHT
Lead Character Name: Travis Block, FBI Extractor
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
– They have a very, one-of-a-kind position in the FBI, they are extremely skilled for the position as is demonstrated in the first extraction, and they have grown disenfranchised by the agency they have dedicated their life to.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
– He is flawed, handicapped, sincere, caring father/grandfather who is trying, a super skilled worker at a very specific job who can challenge the Director of the FBI because they are old friends, and he’s brave enough to fight the corruption from within. And, he has impressive extraction skills to overcome what seems to be unsurmountable odds.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
– Extracting the undercover agent in the trailer, defeating the mercenaries in the Director’s house, chasing the garbage truck through downtown.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
– In a situation where there were a lot more bad guys guns than good guys, he comes up with a creative plan with the resources at hand and extracts an agent deep in trouble.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
– Cold, calculated, warm & caring grandfather
6. What subtext can the actor play?
– The great tension that there is with his daughter, and he brings all of the subtext to the lengthy and complex relationship he has the Director.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
– With the antagonist – Of all the people he knows that should have the most loyalty to him, this is the person, and he is using the protagonist as a tool and doesn’t care anything about him. And the fact that the hero has such a close relationship with someone so powerful in the worl.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
It is sincere – when he speaks to his family, when he speaks to his coworkers, and when he speaks to the reporter, it comes across as genuine.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
= His skill set, he background and the circumstances he finds himself in, in this story.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
– The scene were he extracts the undercover agent from a trailer surrounded by armed rednecks. He is creative and resourceful, compassionate to the agent, decisive and effective – covering many of the points above, but especially being what an actor would WANT to be known for this role.
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ACTOR
ATTRACTORS – VILLIANMovie Title: BLACKLIGHT
Lead Character Name: Gabriel Robinson, FBI Director
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
– It’s a good villain role where the head of the largest law enforcement agency in the world is corrupt with power and running a covert unit that conspiracy theories are made of. This character’s power is in subtext – his lines, the leverage he uses on people, and the fact that he is directing all of these covert mercenaries. He’s an extremely powerful man in a very surreptitious way.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
– The power he has to control others. Professionally, albeit illegally and unconstitutionally, he is controlling the narrative of activists and whistleblowers, and in a personal level, he has a stash of files, dirt, that he has collected on everyone he has worked with, to use as blackmail if he needs it.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
– The errands he sends his ‘Unity’ crew on – their actions are at his behest. To get them to go out, break the law by murdering innocent civilians, violate constitutional rights, and to keep them coming back for more orders – that’s some crazy power.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
– Whitehouse calls for favors against a capitol riot. FBI Director gives his philosophy of controlling with fear – shows his overt power… then later…
– It was a very behind the scenes, frank and private conversation with the hero, discussing the hero’s unique job of bringing in rogue undercover agents. I felt like a classified conversation that we weren’t supposed to be hearing – a true look at the life of the FBI Director.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
– From stoic and collected, measured to charming and endearing to a controlled anger.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
– He is domineering in character and by way of the power of his position. He doesn’t really come right out and make direct threats, but they are very implied and very serious.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
– The one with the hero – they are old war buddies and he has dirt on the hero from way back then.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
– With the power behind everything he said and did that would be commensurate with his rank and position. He is a powerful man, one you don’t cross.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
– He’s the FBI Director and he’s corrupt.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
There is a scene when the hero shows up at the Director’s house and the Director is gardening – he goes from startled, to friendly, to serious, bossy, and commanding, to threatening.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Aaron Can Hoff.
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Jaelle’s Actor attractors for The Unforgivable
My Vision: I’m an award-winning screenwriter that is sought after by people in the industry, who creates scripts that change lives to bring a new vision to the world, and I’m richly rewarded.
What I learned: ya gotta make characters that are incredibly interesting and show it.
Movie Title: The Unforgivable
Lead Character Name: Ruth Slater
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Multi-dimensional woman who is strong, yet vulnerable; who has accepted the shooting of a man she didn’t kill to save her sister.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Most interesting because she’s learned to be tough, yet she’s kind and gentle. She takes risks, learns the hard way, never gives up. Ruth Slater is trying to find her sister. She’s convicted of killing a cop, spent time in prison and survived; son of cop out to get her.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Stands up against one of the sons of the cop who is going to kill a young woman. Protects young sister. Shows how good she is as a carpenter. Shows cell mates they can’t mess with her. Gets beat up by a fellow worker. Destroys her carpenter work.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Cut off, standoff-ish, to soft and loving.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Says she guilty but not why.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With her sister, the lawyer’s wife, the son of the killed cop, her parole officer.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? She’s mostly introverted and closed off. Lots of nonverbal clues. Many flashbacks.
9. What makes this character special and unique? She grows from leaving the prison to finding her sister. Audience doesn’t know she’s innocent until the end.
10. Scene dead cop’s son is going to kill the young woman. Slate goes to see her sister for the first time in 20 years, gets a call, goes to save the young woman that he thinks is her sister. Slate shows anger, presence of mind, compassion for the son, and gets the young woman out of harm’s way.
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Peter’s Actor attractors for The Autopsy of Jane Doe
MY VISION:
I want a fulfilling career as a prolific screenwriter and producer in both film and streaming platforms and financial freedom to live in both Canada and the US.
WHAT I LEARNED: even playing must be done with conviction.
Lead Character Name: Tommy Tilden
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Typically, A-List actors aren’t attracted to horror movies. But in 2015, Scottish actor Brian Cox took the lead role in the movie The Autopsy of Jane Doe. The role was originally offered to veteran actor Martin Sheen who passed based on the subject matter. Cox who would later win a Golden Globe for his role as media mogul Logan Roy in the HBO series Succession, took the role because it offered a realistic portrayal of a father and son relationship in the context of a supernatural horror movie. “They’re both victims of grief, which is the loss of the mother and the circumstances in which she killed herself.”
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
There’s so much tragedy in the subtext of the script. Tommy Tilden’s wife killed herself. Tilden put his work before family. His need to be the perfect coroner makes him a horrible husband and father. He finally meets his match in a woman burned at the stake in 1693 at the Salem Witch Trials.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Takes on the case of discovering her cause of Jane Doe’s death. Belittles his son’s ambitions outside of being a coroner. Won’t admit he played a part in his wife suicide until the end. Continues the autopsy even when he knows it’s becoming dangerous for his son. For example, when the dead rise and start attacking! Why not run? He accidently kills his son’s girlfriend. Finally, he asks the witch to possess him and let his son live.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Lead county coroner who’s pressured by the local sheriff to determine the cause of death for Jane Doe.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
From being the stoic man of science to a disapproving curmudgeon failed father and husband to a man who finally meets a tragic end because of his pride.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Guilt for his wife’s suicide. Arrogant presumption that his son will follow in his footsteps. Also, as it becomes clear that the witch has placed a curse on all who would try to solve the mystery of her death, he finally asks the witch to take him and let his son live.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
His son and the witch.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
He’s crotchety and still has his moments of tenderness.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
A coroner who meets the ultimate mystery – determining the cause of death on a corpse that’s still alive!
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Scene where Tommy asks Jane to ‘take him’ and leave Austin. After taking her body apart slice by slice, he knows that she’s still alive and listening. We watch as all the tortures endured by Jane at the Salem witch trials happens to Tommy. His wrists and legs break. His lungs are scotched. He begs Austin to end his suffering with a scalpel – which he does. In the end, Tommy resurrects and kills his own son.
Lead Character Name: Jane Doe
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Nothing like playing dead by lying naked on a cold slab of marble. It takes remarkable resilience and self-confidence as an actor to play the role of Jane.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She’s dead. But she still manages to terrorize Tommy and Austin Tilden.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Revealing her cause of death slice by slice of her tissue during the autopsy and then healing.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Half buried in the dirt of a basement.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Limited. She’s dead.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Playing dead.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
With Tommy and Austin.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
The scarring symbolism on the inside and outside of her body.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
She’s a corpse that’s still alive and hiding a curse.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
When Jane Doe is lit on fire and puts it out by herself.
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Kevin Cunningham’s Actor Attractors for “Election”
My Vision: By making my high-quality writing and speaking known in many venues (the Industry, Youtube, podcasts, books), I will create a reputation as a profoundly powerful, thoughtful, and skilled writer, and be sought after for new and rewrite activities at the highest levels.
What I learned from doing this assignment: This exercise brought to my attention the importance of having really intriguing actor roles. At the same time, I realized that for my genre — social satire / dark comedy — this is actually something of a challenge. But the movie I chose has “unlikeable characters” who still drive the story and which actors would love to play. My lead is a Native American, so it’s not really open to many actors. So I need to have some of the other parts be attractive, and I’m starting to think how best to do that.
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Movie: Election
Genre: Black Comedy
Big Actors: Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick
Character: Tracy Flick, overachieving student running for student body president
1 – Actor notoriety – Wants to be known for this part.
Tracy is an assertive self-directed young female. She is strong-willed and dominates every situation she’s in.
2 – Character that is most interesting in movie.
Tracy is brazen and over-the-top. She’s like people you know: string, scary, unbearable!
3 – Takes most interesting actions in the story.
Tracy is the one who creates the action of the movie. It is her choice to run for president, her wild responses to what’s happening that creates action. She’s the one who rips up the posters of her rivals, sleeps with the other teacher, and works like a force of nature.
4 – Outstanding Introduction.
First of all, Tracy introduces the story with strong assertive voiceover narration, then we see her first coming in like a hurricane, setting up her election station, attending to every detail: she’s ready in a way that no high school kid usually is: she’s going places and she knows it. Unstoppable from the outset.
5 – Range of emotions the actor can play.
Tracy is often just jarringly strong-willed, but she’s lso clever, and sometimes unexpectedly vulnerable. She appeals to God in need and ambition, and considers herself right, but has doubts.
6 – Subtext the actor can play.
Tracy has secrets: she’s slept with a teacher, she ripped up the posters, she has information she can use to manipulate others, and she wants to win even as she’s smiling politely.
7 – Relationships that are interesting.
She’s not a standard high school kid with just jock/nerd/clique friendships: she is different, has questionable relationships with teachers.
8 – Unique Voice expressed through dialogue and action.
Tracy is a dogged woman in a one-down environment (school, a woman, etc.). She is an embodiment of female power, but also insufferable.
9 – Something truly special about this character.
She won’t be stopped, and will do anything to win.
Character: Jim McAllister, popular social studies teacher
1 – Actor notoriety – Wants to be known for this part.
At first glance, not an attractive character. But in fact, this moral ambiguity is complex and delightful. He’s a schlub matching wits with an intense woman. Not a part perhaps for a newcomer, but someone who wants to go from doing only “nice guys” to a more complex portrayal.
2 – Character that is most interesting in movie.
Technically the protagonist. While Tracy may have the more fireworks, McALlister has to deal with an onslaught of crap hitting the fan — much of it self-inflicted.
3 – Takes most interesting actions in the story.
He’s a nice teacher, pushed by circumstances to violate all his ethical rules: falsifies the election, sleeps with his friend’s wife etc.
4 – Outstanding Introduction.
He tries to be a likeable guy, working out, saying hi, but is on his back immediately, metaphorically trampled by the arrival of his nemesis. He deals with the squalid numbing daily routine of the school. Kind of like Breaking Bad.
5 – Range of emotions the actor can play.
He will be in over his head, daring, a liar, angry, flummoxed, calculating, scheming, a jerk who thinks he’s a nice guy.
6 – Subtext the actor can play.
He has secrets galore, and will bend the rules to prevent his nemesis from winning: he’s petty and hides it.
7 – Relationships that are interesting.
He has shallow friendships with staff and students, and ill-formed liaisons with women that go off-kilter.
8 – Unique Voice expressed through dialogue and action.
As a fake, he’s smarmy, vaguely charming, and kind of a jerk.
9 – Something truly special about this character.
He thinks he cares, but he’s really a hack.
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Holli’s Actor Attractors for The Heat.
My vision: I am going to do whatever it takes to write amazing, resonating, Oscar-winning movies so I am respected in the professional writing world and can quit representing derelicts and perverts for a living.
What I learned doing this assignment is character choices have to be deliberate. Often, even when I’ve done the work and character traits, etc, the characters try to take over and write themselves, and I really think that’s how some things sometimes go off the rails.
Movie Title: The Heat
Lead Character Name: FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
She’s smarter and better at her job than everyone else, competitive, and thinks she knows better than everyone else.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She always one-ups her male counterparts, but her attitude makes the other agents not like her. She always tries to control or diffuse the situations.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
She finds evidence other agents can’t find; she pursues her lead and butts heads with Mullins; she seduces a drug lord in a club to plant a bug in his phone after her first plan to pull the fire alarm fails; she gives an unnecessary tracheotomy;
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
She leads the other FBI agents in the execution of a warrant and when the men are ready to give up after finding nothing, she finds hidden evidence, outsmarting the bad guys and her fellow agents.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Prudish and uptight, emotions under controls, never curses, to blowing her stack and cursing out the room full of other agents. Fear when she’s about to be tortured, uncomfortable when her messes up.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
She has a tough facade but she’s overcompensating for her insecurity. She was an unpopular nerd in school with no friends and now she’s an unpopular agent with no friends. She tries to conceal that. Uses her job to compensate for her lonliness.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
The relationship between her and Mullins. She starts off feeling superior to Mullins and is always trying to reign Mullins in, but realizes Mullins knows how to handle people and starts to respect her and like her.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
She’s straightforward and condescending, but misses social cues.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
She’s smart and aggressive, but also prudish and not as street savvy as she should be.
10. Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.
Ashburn gives a tracheotomy to a choking customer at a Denny’s and when he bleeds out Mullins saves him by pounding his chest and forcing the pancake out of his throat. The EMT tells Ashburn she could have just pulled the pancake from his mouth.
Second Lead Character Name: Detective Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
She’s balls out crazy. And a cop/detective. She’s tough and vulgar, a combo usually reserved for men. She’slarge and in charge and unapologetic for who she is.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She’s a cop with her own rules. She’s super obnoxious and rude but really good at her job.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
She beats up a suspect, she makes over Ashburn so the agent won’t stick out at the club, she crashes into the table when Ashford needs to bug his phone, she saves herself and Ashburn when the bad guys have them at gunpoint, she gets information from a suspect by playing Russian roulette with his genitals. She holds guns on people. A lot.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
She disparages her boss while she’s surveilling a john trying to pick up a hooker, calls his wife on his own phone, arrests him, and then takes down a second perp for being the pimp and selling drugs.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Angry and crass, devastated when her brother gets shot and her family is against her, fear when she’s about to be tortured.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
She acts tough and crass and has no filter but she loves her brother who is being dragged back into the criminal life and actually likes Ashburn.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Her relationship with Ashburn. At first she sees her only as someone standing in her way and stealing her case, but she grows to like her.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
She’s tough and crass with very salty language, she does whatever she wants to catch her criminal.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
She comes off as lower class and not as book smart but more street smart, but manages to get the upper hand over the FBI agent and the criminals.
10. Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.
Instead of calling for backup or alerting her bosses or the FBI she convinces Ashford to go to the hospital with her to save her brother, and after cursing out the doctor races to save her brother.
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Tracy’s Actor Attractors for Poldark
I have so much fun discovering what will cause actors to sign onto my movies!
I will do whatever it takes to become a successful author and screenwriter with multiple successful movies produced.
What I learned from doing this assignment is there are NO movies set during the American Revolution that have female lead characters.
Character: Ross Poldark (Poldark, PBS Masterpiece)
1. Tragic character who comes home from war to find his father dead, his estate in ruins, and the woman he thought was his fiancée about to marry his cousin.
2. Instead of fighting for the girl, he congratulates the couple and sets about rebuilding his life, his estate, and his copper mine.
3. He rescues an urchin girl and refuses help from his family.
4. He is introduced in an action scene—an ambush—where he goes from supposed rogue to hero, and the sole survivor.
5. Anger, hurt, depression, resolve, honor, humor, rising above
6. Irony, makes fun of his own situation, not above the law though he has been a soldier
7. His unrequited love for his lost fiancée Elizabeth, his taming of Demelza, his constant bucking of authority, his good relations with his tenants on his estate. He is philosophical and responsible to a fault, yet he can react in anger and make his situation worse.
8. Wry sense of humor balanced with dark, brooding temper.
9. He is a gent, but he doesn’t disparage the poor. He can cross over and be one of them, work alongside them.
10. Having survived an awful ambush, and sporting a disfiguring scar on his face, Ross returns home from the war on the stagecoach. He appears to be asleep. We know it’s him because he’s wearing on his pinky the ring Elizabeth gave him when they parted. The other passengers gossip about him, his father’s death, his ruined fortunes, even his father’s status as the less-favored younger son–a wastrel. When Ross snaps awake and asks if his father is dead, he is calling out the society people who only appear to be “concerned.” He goes to his uncle’s house, as he must “seek welcome there.” The welcome is awful—they are glad to see him, but he is surprised to find Elizabeth among those at the dinner table. He acts as though they are still attached, but then finds out his cousin Francis is about to be married. To whom? Why, Elizabeth. He doesn’t react, just congratulates the couple, asks his uncle to borrow a horse, and rides home, to a desolate and empty farm.
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Gisele Frazeur’s actor attractors for “Nocturnal Animals”
My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!
What I learned doing this assignment is: How important it is not to leave this to chance. Attractors need to be “crafted” into the script.
Movie Title: Nocturnal Animals
Lead Character #1: Tony Hastings/ Edward Sheffield
1. Why would an actor want to be known for this role? It is a “juicy “role with an EXTREME emotional, spiritual and psychological journey for the character to take.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? His supposed “weakness” is also what is most attractive about him.
3. What are the most interesting actions the lead character takes in the movie? Sending the note to his wife. Hiding from his assailants. Shooting Ray. Standing his ex-wife up at the end.
4. How is the character introduced that could sell it to an actor? The character is introduced in a heightened situation – – wherein his weaknesses could cause his family great harm – – even death.
5. What is the character’s emotional range? From sensitive and afraid to ruthless.
6. What subtext can the actor play? He knows that his “nice guy” routine is a cover for his spinelessness.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? The relationship with the police detective, Bobby. Bobby seems to act as his subconscious mind and his alter ego – – egging him on to do the things he knows he should do.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Through the way he makes his novel a metaphor for the death of his marriage.
9. What makes this character special and unique? His ability to craft pain into art. His weaknesses are also what makes him attractive and are some of his better qualities when reframed. His reluctance in all situations: good and bad. The craftiness with which he takes revenge on his ex-wife.
10. Scene showing actor attractor model: The scene where he falls to his knees and screams “I should have done something!” He takes the entire emotional journey of the script in that short scene and monologue. It requires great acting.
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Lead Character # 2: Bobby Andes
1. Why would an actor want to be known for this role? He is a modern-day crime fighting “Robinhood”. When the system doesn’t work – – he turns to street justice.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He is a gruff, tough as nails, softie. He works within a system that is broken. He is a dying man and willing to “go out with a bang” – – and avenge the rapes and murders of Tony’s family as his last hurrah.
3. What are the most interesting actions this lead character takes in the movie? Making Tony confront his assailants again and again. Going rogue. Choosing to kill the men who will otherwise walk free.
4. How is the character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He is walking subtext. In the scene where we first meet him – – he obviously needs to consider Tony as a suspect as he begins to investigate. He immediately places Tony in the most difficult of positions by making him literally relive the previous evenings events. We see the wheels turning as he always assimilates new information. We immediately see he doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks of him.
5. What is the character’s emotional range? From suspicious to righteous.
6. What subtext can the actor play? He can play suspicious when first investigating the murders. He can play empathetic while plotting vigilante justice.
7. What is the most interesting relationship this character has? His relationship to Tony. First, he suspects him. Then he is repulsed by his weakness. Then he feels for the man – – even comforts him. Then he plans vigilante justice on his behalf.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Always through actions. Every action taken is outside of the box.
9. What makes this character special and unique? The dichotomy of him. He is “all man”…..all “Southern man”…..all “Law enforcement”. He is a gun slinging, smoking, spiting, nails against the chalk board good old boy. He also possesses a heart of gold and feels deeply.
10. Scene showing actor attractor model: Scene where he approaches Tony to get revenge on Ray. He tells Tony he is dying – – and is willing to put it all on the line to avenge the murder of Tony’s family. He proposes “street justice” as a salve for the broken justice system.
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Linda’s Actor Attractors for Mission Impossible
My Vision is: I will do whatever it takes to be a sought-after profound writer with many successful movies produced and an Oscar on my mantel.
What I learned doing this assignment is the character introductions were truly unique and powerful. Throughout the movie the characters were strong, multidimensional and had very interesting relationships.
Ethan Hunt
Actor notoriety – An IMF agent who outwits his boss when he tried to set him up to take the fall for his death and stealing the NOC list.
Character that is most interesting – He must see through is colleagues, friends, and those who think he’s guilty to exonerate himself and catch them red-handed.
Most interesting actions – The disguised interrogation, blowing up a fish tank with a piece of chewing gum, hanging from the ceiling of the vault to steal the NOC list in a pressure sensitive area, crazy train battle.
Outstanding introduction – In a disguise, he’s interrogating a Russian agent.
Range of emotions – Accomplishment, amusement, fear, panic, sadness, trapped, determination, anger, mistrust, gotcha, etc.
Subtext – He knows his boss and his wife have set him up but must play along to catch them in the act.
Interesting relationships – With his friend/boss who sets him up. With his boss’ wife who cares for but doesn’t trust. With the director who thinks he’s the mole.
Unique voice – Keeps information to himself, is playful, sees through the lies and manipulations.
Something truly special – Super spy and acrobatic action skills.
Jim Phelps
Actor notoriety – Fools his team to believe he was on the right side and killed, but is alive and the mole. A dominate and interesting character who is “present” the entire movie although his screen time is less than expected since he is considered dead much of the movie.
Character that is most interesting – Sets up his most loyal agent to steal money and run.
Most interesting actions – Fakes his own death then comes back in a surprising way.
Outstanding introduction – On a plane flight, he’s offered a movie. Suggests the flight attendant choose it for him – it is an IMF mission briefing.
Range of emotions – Cocky, injured, greedy, etc.
Subtext – He acts like a victim but he’s the mole, is pulling the strings and has team members killed.
Interesting relationships – Apparently loves his wife but puts her in a position to sleep with Ethan. Sets up his best agent and close friend.
Unique voice – In charge.
Something truly special – A mastermind.
Claire
Actor notoriety – Is an IMF agent married to the mole and seducing his enemy.
Character that is most interesting – She’s the tie between them, the one with information on both of them.
Most interesting actions – Plays a murdered woman at the beginning, helps to set up Ethan, seduces him, then double crosses him.
Outstanding introduction – Appears dead then wakes wanting to know if they got him.
Range of emotions – Relief, fear, uncertain, angry, etc.
Subtext – Is deceiving Ethan and in on the set up with her husband.
Interesting relationships – With her husband who pushes her to seduce Ethan. With Ethan who she cares about but is deceiving him.
Unique voice – An accent, is the one who
Something truly special – Love interest of both men.
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Jane’s Actor Attractors for Sherlock Holmes
MY VISION: I will make my living as a screenwriter by selling my own narrative scripts and successfully fulfilling writing assignments.
By doing this assignment I learned how to really pinpoint specific things that would draw talent to my story. I am now going to do this same exercise for a romantic comedy I’m currently rewriting. This is great groundwork for creating a character that resonates with an audience as well as the team that brings the script to life.
Movie Title: Sherlock Holmes
Lead Character Name: Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? The character of Sherlock Holmes is iconic. This film takes the character and shows us another side, one that is a bit bumbling, self-centered and needy. It makes an iconic character funny and human while still remaining the hero. Who wouldn’t want to play this role?
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? The title says it all, it’s about Sherlock Holmes. The focus is not one of his cases, although there is a mystery to solve, but rather him as a person, with all of his quirks magnified. Not exactly the way we’re used to experiencing a character that has always been larger than life.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? While this is an action/comedy/thriller, the most interesting actions (at least for me) are the actions he takes to try and keep John Watson from being with Mary. These actions are shockingly selfish and childish. Not what we expect form a super-sleuth. And, it makes him very funny.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? The opening scenes include Holmes running like mad through the streets of London. Watson follows in a cab and seems disgruntled. Holmes runs into an old, abandoned church. The cab stops, Watson steps out and enters the church. Holmes dashes through the building and down into the crypt. There he watches a macabre scene of a robed figure preparing to sacrifice a young woman on an alter. Watson silently joins Holmes and says “You forgot your pistol.” Holmes replies “I knew I was missing something.”
This scene encapsulates the entire movie – one character brave and brilliant but not very careful, totally needing someone to watch over him. The other character measured, calm – the babysitter. It’s a chance to play two iconic characters with a twist that is fun and entertaining to watch and, I would imagine, to play.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Sherlock Holmes is often understood as not having any emotion, only reason. This version of Holmes is fraught with emotion. He’s jealous. He’s caring. He makes mistakes that he can’t own up to. This humanity makes him funny. Unlike another movie (MR. HOLMES) that attempts to make Sherlock Holmes seem more human, it is a drama and while a lovely film, does not have the fun factor that this one does. This one shows emotions that are more like a spoiled little boy which just comes across as funny when it is played against a brilliant mind.
6. What subtext can the actor play? The needy little boy and the dash of unrequited love as Irene comes into the film provides huge opportunity for dialogue and action that has nothing to do with solving the mystery. He continually bungles his clever (not so much) attempts to part Watson from Mary which allow for subtext regarding his need to have Watson all to himself. It also shows that, like many of us, he doesn’t do well with change.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? His most interesting relationship is with John Watson. It is interesting because the tables are turned on what we are used to seeing as the Holmes/Watson relationship, where Holmes is brilliant but somewhat omnipotent and Watson scurries behind being amazed. Here, Watson just wants to marry Mary and live a quiet life. Holmes works really hard at trying to convince him otherwise.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? The funny and great thing about unique voice with this version of Sherlock Holmes is that of his rightness, even when he is dead wrong. There’s surety and confidence in everything he says and throughout the film, this leads both him and Watson into danger.
9. What makes this character special and unique? This version of Sherlock is meant to be funny. We laugh at him and his mistakes. This is a unique and special take on an iconic character.
10. Scene: In addition to the opening scenes, the scene where Holmes joins Watson and Mary in a restaurant for a meal. Holmes proceeds to “expose” Mary as a possible divorcee among other shocking things that he feels will turn Watson against her. The scene culminates with Mary throwing a glass of wine in Holmes face and storming out. Watson tells Holmes that he already knows all about Mary’s past and, for his information, Mary is not a divorcee. She’s a widow. Watson leaves. Holmes decides that he could have been right and proceeds to eat his meal alone.
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Bob DeCarli’s Actor Attractors for PASSENGERS
My Vision: To master my craft to the point where I’ve earned a reputation as the screenwriter top producers, directors, and stars can call upon when they need someone to save the day.
What I learned: At least based on this movie, playing a wide range of emotions is what most attracts A-list actors.
Jim Preston:
1. Actor notoriety – Wants to be known for this part: A very flawed hero, whose heroic actions at the end still do not entirely make up for the horrible thing he did.
2. Character that is most interesting in movie: He’s a good person who does a horrible thing for selfish reasons, albeit understandable given the circumstances.
3. Takes most interesting actions in the story: He does the unthinkable: awakens Aurora, his fellow passenger, so that she, too, will die on spaceship before it reaches its destination.
4. Outstanding Introduction: Him struggling with being awaken from hibernation 90 years to early and being the only human awake on the ship.
5. Range of emotions the actor can play: Almost the complete range of emotions: anger, sadness, suicidal, happy, vulnerable.
6. Subtext the actor can play: For almost half of the movie/screenplay, every interaction with Aurora is guilt-ridden, knowing that he put her in the situation that she’s in, and he’s HIDING that from her.
7. Relationships that are interesting: With Aurora: first obsession with an image, then actually coming to know and love the real person.
8. Unique Voice expressed through dialogue and action: He’s a mechanic, a handyman, who gets pleasure from building and fixing things.
9. Something truly special about this character: Not a highly educated man, but smart, earnest, hardworking, yet too weak to handle loneliness to the point that he’s willing to ruin someone else’s life to save his own.
Aurora Lane:
1. Actor notoriety – Wants to be known for this part:
2. Character that is most interesting in movie: A smart, driven woman who finds out that the man she’s fallen in love with is responsible first for destroying her life: how does one deal with that?
3. Takes most interesting actions in the story: She rightfully lashes out – and comes close to killing – him, when she learns he took her out of hibernation. Then, at the end, risks her own life to save Jim, after he has sacrificed his own life to save the ship.
4. Outstanding Introduction:
5. Range of emotions the actor can play: Again, a very wide range of emotions: love, curiosity, joy, sadness, rage, fear.
6. Subtext the actor can play: She views her life as a writing assignment, viewing everything she experiences as potential subject matter.
7. Relationships that are interesting: With Jim. First she pities and sympathizes with his suffering, then she begins enjoying his company, she begins to love him, then intensely hates him once she learns what he did to her, and finally returns to living him after forgiving him for what he did when she witnesses his heroics
8. Unique Voice expressed through dialogue and action: She’s a reporter, interviewing and investigating.
9. Something truly special about this character: She’s strong, and was willing to go on this great adventure, but in actuality was running away from herself and her life.
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Teresa Rodriguez’s Actor Actractors for “FROZEN”.
MY VISION: I will become a highly respected and influential writer/producer with my own successful production company that I can leave as a blessing to my children and many generations to come.
What I learned doing this assignment is that there are a number of unique and intriguing ways to get a top actor to sign onto your project.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS
Movie Title: “FROZEN”
Lead Character Name: Elsa & Anna
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Elsa: magical, great songs. Anna: the hero that saves her sister and the day. Hans: nice guy who is really evil.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Elsa: magical young queen. Anna: unconfident but stubborn enough to be brave, face her sister, and saves the day. Hans: secretly manipulates Anna and almost gets away with taking over the kingdom.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Elsa: runs away, makes an ice palace and gets free from what everyone thinks of her. Anna: brave enough to go after her sister when everyone else is afraid of her. Hans: locks Anna away to die then goes after Elsa.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Elsa surprises us with her amazing magical powers and makes it snow inside the castle. Anna is a fun, happy, go-lucky little sister. Hans is the handsome, charming prince who almost runs over Anna.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Elsa: scared, cold, strong, moody, angry, brave, loving. Anna: fun, sad, lonely, confused, goofy, unconfident, awkward to brave hero. Hans is kind, goofy, loving, evil, and cunning.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Elsa: afraid she’ll hurt someone. Anna: lonely and unconfident. “I’m completely ordinary.” Hans wants to take over the kingdom.
7. What are the most interesting relationships this character has? Elsa and Anna love each other but are afraid to show it, confused about their relationship and how to love each other. Anna and Christof dislike each other at first but go on an adventure to find Elsa, and fall in love although they don’t admit it until the very end. Hans: with Anna, he gets her to fall in love with him in just one day.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Elsa: is told to be a “good girl” but just wants to be herself and be free from all the rules and fears. Anna: wants to be loved, not alone anymore. Hans appears to be kind but is really a manipulator.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Elsa: magical, powerful but scared. Anna: feisty, never gives up, optimistic. Hans is handsome, and charming but evil.
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Reginald’s 4 Actor attractors for Burying The Hatchet
My Vision: I am going to utilize my talents as a writer to catapult myself to the A-list, causing people in this industry to consider my writing among the best in the business.
What I learned from doing this assignment is This was a fun exercise to help me get to better know one of my lead characters which happens to be the antagonist.
Movie Title: Burying The Hatchet
Lead Character Name: Leon Hatchet
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Bad guy who is pushed to the limits and changes his ways.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie? Although he is the bad guy, he experiences fear and vulnerability to the extreme.
3. What are the most interesting actions the lead takes in the movie? Orders members of his gang to terrorize the neighborhood. Refuses to leave the neighborhood. Threatens the lives of anyone who opposes their way.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He takes pride in terrorizing the neighborhood but comes down hard on a couple of renegades who attempt to sell drugs to school kids.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Fearless when it comes to the police threatening to take him down. Becomes emotional when talking about his late father.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Although he comes off as being heartless, he hints towards giving a better life to his son.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Has a very turbulent relationship with his dad’s old friend, SSgt Anson Haley, the protagonist.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He is feared by everyone in the neighborhood but soon realizes that he may never get to see his son grow up and begs for an opportunity to make things right.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Although he sports a tough exterior, conversations about his father reveal a more sensitive side to him.
Scene:
SSgt. Anson Haley exits the dry cleaners and slowly walks over to where Leon (The Hatchet) is standing, smoking a cigarette.
Anson
Young man, why must you stand there with your pants hanging off of you like that?
Tossing the cigarette into the street, Leon turns abruptly and stares at the old timer dressed in worn out Army fatigues.
Leon
(grinning)
Who are you talking to old man?
Anson
I’m talking to you, young buck.
Anson adjusts his grip on the stack of flyers in his hand.
Anson (cont.)
You know, I wonder what your daddy would say if he could see you now.
Leon shakes his head and sighs.
Leon
Come on old man…why are you always bringing my father up.
He ain’t here, so why don’t you just shut up about him!
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Natalie’s Actor Attractors for THE CELL (2000)
My vision is to create and produce award winning stories that make an unforgettable emotional impact on a worldwide audience.
What I learned from this assignment is that sometimes main character doesn’t change, but the unique world of the story can provide intrigue and satisfaction of the well structured and written story.
Movie Title: THE CELL (2000)
Lead Character Name: Catherine Dean (Jennifer Lopez)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? This is one of the unique stories that has merits on its on where the lead is a positive character which can set a certain actor stereotype (like Tom Hanks’s roles).
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Catherine’s unique ability to gain trust and to access other person’s world
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Makes her own decision to jump into a very dangerous situation when two save a child from his own dark side.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Catherine appears as a mysterious horse rider in a desert where she symbolically climbs sand mountains to save a child stuck in his perpetual coma. We later realize that this is her unique job.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Calm, confident, sometimes uncertain and insecure, to going back to gaining confidence and control to overpower the patient’s dark side.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Understanding what her patients are going through via her compassionate nature.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With the antagonist, Carl, inside his dark and torturous world.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Catherine speaks from confidence and is recognized by her special talent.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Her ability to gain trust and befriend patients with difficult illnesses.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) Catherine’s strength is mostly portrayed at the showdown scene where she returns into a criminal patient’s mind to save his pure inner child from torture.
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Lauren’s Actor attractors for ARRIVAL
What I learned from doing this assignment: How truly profoundly affected I was (re-)watching this movie. It felt life-changing. I want to do that with my own writing.
Movie Title: ARRIVAL
Lead Character Name: Louise Banks
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Wise linguist who learns to communicate with aliens, saves the world, and gets a download about her own future.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? She keeps moving forward in communicating with the aliens, despite her fears and the strange things happening to her.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Takes off helmet to speak to aliens, speaks Farsi, Chinese, and now Heptopod, puts hand up to aliens, is transported into alien space.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Louise is introduced as her baby is born then dies as a child.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? numb, playful, brave despite extreme fear, grieving, in love.
6. What subtext can the actor play? She knows future for her child.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With the aliens.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Always trying to communicate and thinking about language; seeks unity.
9. What makes this character special and unique? She can communicate with aliens; she knows the future.
10. Scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model:
– First meeting with aliens – Louise is terrified but keeps moving forward.
Lauren’s Actor attractors for ARRIVAL- Louise is in field then suddenly inside the aliens’ space, speaking with them and learning that she will have child who will die young.
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Marcus Armstrong’s Actor Attractors for Taken
MY VISION: I am going to be so disciplined in the daily writing process and become such an adept writer that my successful screenplays will launch me into a full-time writing career.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that watching a movie for not only entertainment, but also with the intent to identify reasons actors would find the role attractive is very beneficial for learning. Breaking down the lead actor attributes for Taken will help me build in such actor attractors in my own project.
Movie Title: Taken
Lead Character Name: Bryan Mills
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
An ex-CIA agent, now a bit of an underdog, is forced to apply his special skills to save his daughter.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie?
Now divorced, rarely sees his daughter, the most important person in the world to him, is now working odd jobs in security. When his daughter is kidnapped by an Albanian sex trafficking ring, he gets to apply his special CIA skills to rescue her.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Makes a bold statement to the kidnapper that he will find and kill him. Calmly coaches his daughter on what to do and say before she is kidnapped. Infiltrates the armed Albanian gang and takes them all out, including the lead kidnapper. Car chase to beat a yacht to a bridge to jump on board and save his daughter.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Down on his luck, divorced, alone, missing his daughter. Takes a routine security job to escort a young pop singer to and from a concert and helps foil an attack and takes her to safety.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Sadness over being estranged from his daughter to elated when he gets to see her. Calculated, especially with potential danger. Intense rage when is daughter is kidnapped.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
While appeasing his controlling ex-wife and going along with her poor decision to allow their daughter to go to Paris, he always attempts to mitigate risk. He expresses focused determination throughout his pursuit of his kidnapped daughter.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
He loves and dotes on his daughter, who is the most important person in his life. He tolerates his ex-wife even when she demeans him and is polite to her new husband. He tortures the main antagonist, the Albanian kidnapper and once he gets the information he needs, although he could release him, he kills him as he promised he would.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
The cold manner in which he threatened to track down and kill the kidnapper when talking to him on the phone. The way he coached his daughter when her kidnapping was imminent. The way he tortured the kidnapper.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
Although he is likely panicking inside, he remains poised, determined and extremely focused when rescuing his daughter.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The scene in which he poses as the French police officer and enters the Albanian gang’s house to presumably raise the rate for protection, interrogates them until he finds the leader, takes out the entire gang and tortures the leader to get key information before killing him.
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Susan Arnout Smith’s Vision: <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>: I easily create powerful produced works that bring me financial abundance and professional respect as they heal the world, while providing me time to explore that world in comfort with my family.
What I’ve Learned Doing This: Wow. This was a very helpful assignment. I learned that the throughline has to be powerful and sturdy enough to drive the entire movie, and that deepening OFF that throughline is the way to do it: not going off in other directions that don’t mesh with the main drive.
Movie Title: Stardust
1. Lead Character Name: Claire Danes plays Yvaine, a Star.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Yvaine is a Star, and not just any Star…the Evening Star. As such, she has a unique perspective on humans. She’s spent a very long time observing their actions. She’s fresh, funny, and forthright.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? We first meet her as she literally falls from the sky. She rides a Unicorn. She’s tossed over the side of a ship—and lives. She has honest and deeply personal conversations with her beloved—when he’s been transformed into a mouse. She’s fearless. She’s curious. She’s vulnerable. She puts herself at risk of being incinerated by in a grief-state wandering toward the Wall. If she’d crossed the Wall, she’d have been turned into crumbling stardust and carbon.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? See #2.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Loathing and bewilderment to love and sacrifice.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Deep attraction, conflicted, shattered heart, loyalty.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? The youth, Tristan, who journeyed through the Wall in order to find a Star and take her back to win his girlfriend, is a beautiful nuanced dance as they gradually change how they feel about each other. In the beginning, Tristan only thinks of Yvaine as a prize to use to win his home town love. By the end, Yvaine’s own actions and words have completely won him over.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Yvaine is given the most profound parts of the script, where the deep questions are revealed and answered. It creates a character that’s profoundly original (a real Star), with a wise point of view and moments that spur other characters to change and grow.
9. What makes this character special and unique? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Star portrayed before. Once she’s on screen, she is very seldom off, and when she is, the other characters are discussing her. This puts her and her issues in our minds at all times. And it’s interesting to use such an unusual POV to ask profound questions.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Tristan and Yvaine have been captured by a pirate ship that rides the clouds gathering lightning to sell. They’re tied up in the hold. She’s almost casually telling him truths he didn’t know: that people often aren’t what they seem, and that he could either be a ‘shop boy’ or ‘a boy who works in a shop.’ And then she adds, ‘And you’re no shop boy.’ A beautiful way of almost carelessly showing us she’s fearless (she’s not a hot mess being captured and tied up by pirates), she’s a truth-teller, and she is able to help Tristan see himself for the first time the way he actually is, and not the way he’s been portrayed by others. Which makes her infinitely kind and worthy of love.
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Christopher Dalbey’s Actor attractors for the movie ARRIVAL
What I learned from doing this assignment is an entirely other level of analyzing movies now that include the mystic of actor attractors for actors. I really enjoyed jumping into the protagonist’s journey and unearthing all of their incredible attributes, both internally and externally. I love the movie ARRIVAL and have watched it many times. But this time around, with the lesson at hand, it had a bigger impact on me, giving me ideas on how to approach the characters in my own scripts.
Movie Title: ARRIVAL
Lead Character Name: LOUISE BANKS (Amy Adams)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? She is a gifted linguist who breaks new ground by being able to communicate with an alien life source that seems to want to communicate with us. When she breaks through the barriers of communication, she is able to transport into the vision of her own future!
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? No matter the level of her apprehensions and the uncanny things happening to her – possibly a result from making contact with the aliens – her internal drive keeps her moving forward to have ground-breaking success in communicating with them that could potentially save the world.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Her bravery of being elevated into the alien base to make contact with them. She risks exposure by taking off her helmet to show a sign of peace and making it more possible to speak to aliens. She is a super linguistician who speaks Farsi, Chinese, and eventually Heptopod.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Louise is a linguistics professor, speaking to class while chaos ensues with an alien life source that has been detected on earth.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Highly intelligent, courageous, fearful, fearless, grieving, loving, supportive, gutsy, heroic.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Having knowledge of the future. Empathy for the aliens.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? The bond between her and the aliens.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? The means to have success communicating with aliens that seem eager to communicate with her. She is always thinking outside the box to communicate on a level that can unify humankind with their kind.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Her uncanny ability to communicate with aliens and foresee the future.
10. Scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model:
The impactful scene where she is immersed (transported) inside the alien space and breaks ground by communicating with them telepathically and learns that she will birth a child who will live a very short life.
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Actor Attractors for Link In Bio movie
what I learned here is that my processing time for an assignment can stretch out a while
I had never considered this part of script writing, which doesn’t make sense (to not consider)
Character: Savannah
Actor notoriety – Wants to be known for this part.
enigmatic former southerner determined to understand and change right wing views
Character that is most interesting in movie.
even though she is older, her grit and determination are captivating
Takes most interesting actions in the story.
Follows heart to see old flame; discovers estate cheating and hires big gun law firm; gives speeches to former classmates and friends; saves psyches and physical bodies in a shelter
Outstanding Introduction.
Meets up with old flame, goes to bed with him and then discovers he is a white supremacist when she can’t sleep and snoops around his house
Range of emotions the actor can play.
from subdued to passionate
Subtext the actor can play.
Deeper meaning under her conversations
Relationships that are interesting.
With old flame; with brothers; with former teachers, she takes in all their anger over a changing world
Unique Voice expressed through dialogue and action.
Through her questioning and observations, she comes to understand their fear based beliefs
Something truly special about this character.
With no family support and many detractors, she becomes successful in the North, yet remains compassionate to her hometown.
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Jacqueline Murphy Actor attractors for (Snow White and the Huntsman) August 1, 2022
VISION: To empower myself to go for my dreams to be a great writer, actress and filmmaker who is “Admired”, recognized and sought after by the industry and has many successful TV & Film projects produced that make a difference and inspire others to go for their dreams.
What I learned: By watching the movies I saw where my heart leaped, moments of surprise, intrigue and where I was thrilled at the twist and want to add this to my script. Lots of work yes but that’s what’s required and the analyzing and breaking down with ? was awesome.
Today is about watching a movie to discover what might cause actors to sign on. 1. Start this assignment by empowering yourself using our State-To-Activity empowerment process. State: I have so much fun…Activity: …discovering what will cause actors to sign onto my movies!
2. Watch a movie that matches this criteria to see what would attract the actors to be in that movie. Criteria:
A. In your genre. Drama with Fantasy Elements TWISTED FAIRYTALE
B. Has big actors. Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth
C. Is a well known movie (but not a Marvel or DC movie).
3. For each lead character, list out the 9 Actor Attractors as I did with 3:10 TO YUMA. Use the Actor Attractor questions below.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS Template
Movie Title: Snow White and the Huntsman
#1 Lead Character Name: Kristen Stewart
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Based on iconic fairytale role of Snow White, Kristen looks the part with her dark hair and is age appropriate, a tale that’ll last for ages and it has a modern take on it. She made a splash as Bella in Twilight so a lead like this would keep her on top of her career and increase her fanbase even more. Besides the movie is done with a Modern Twist and we see Snow White as a stronger female the the initial Disney version. In this version Snow white has to fight for her life in the “dark forest” so it’s not all butterflies and flowers.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? She’s kind, compassionate and fair and even though she’s being hunted she stays true to her values and fights evil with her goodness. A strong loving woman who stays grounded especially as she’s being “hunted” and has to figure out how to survive and when she wakes up and is seen as “the one” to rule she leads the fight in “armor” and doesn’t hesitate. She has a strong purpose like Joan of Arc which in the initial version the Snow White doesn’t encounter life threatening obstacles that she must rise to the occasion for and protect her life and her kingdoms to bring back a kinder more abundant, hopeful way of living.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? When she meets the hunter she questions him in a unique way: Why are you hunting me? She doesn’t accept things on face value and has a depth and strength to make changes and fight for what is good even if it means risking her own life. She’s heroic and an inspiration because she keeps fighting and looking for ways to survive and bring back the good kingdom to her people, a true leader. Her speech to rally her army to bring down the Evil Queen was like Joan of Arc fighting for the good.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? First image: Her mom touches Snow Whites heart and tells her this is your strength your heart. I think the modern “twist” on a heroine who is strong and learns how to survive, overcome and make a huge positive change in the evil world that was stolen from her and her people is appealing. Snow White gets to actually fight and stand up to Dragons by not running away but literally facing the demon. A good example of a modern day women versus a princess who has all done for her and is pampered. Also: She has 2 love interests: William the duke’s son she grew up with and this new scruffy Hunter whose tears and story about his loss wakes her up. The loss of King Magnum and her mom the Queen connects with his loss and her people and she is not in her own world but part of a compassionate sou.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? From sweet young girl torn away from her life with the loss of her parents, kingdom and thrown into a prison she must figure out how to live by her wits, look for ways to survive and she finds a lot of answers in nature: The birds who guide her to escape through the “sewer” and to find a nail to hurt the Evil Queens brother who tries to take her to her to take her heart to keep from ageing. She goes from pampered, loved to imprisoned, to hunted and on the run, surviving in the dark forest to rebirth and reclamation of her own purpose, self and getting her kingdom back from evil to restore fairness and goodness again.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Trying to trick the evil brother to think she’ll go along with him only to outsmart him. Facing the Evil Queen with fear inside but displaying strength to fight and endure pain of seeing her army hurt. Keep on the brave face until she wins. Falling in love with the Huntsman but having to maintain her Queenship at the end and keeping it a secret. Fear of the Dragon but standing strong and standing her ground.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Relationships with her childhood friend the Duke’s son William and seeing him come back to rescue her. The Huntsman and Snow White bond on their losses of their loved ones. He’s gruff, she refined but they connect. The wily Brother to the Queen she outsmarts. The Evil Queen and Snow White fierce competitors but one fights with evil and treachery the other with steady focus on what is good, right and kind.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Quiet expression and actions to survive in a tough world. Love and kindness displayed to dwarfs, the stage, and her appreciation of nature, her army and the women who scarred themselves to keep the Evil queen from going after their daughters.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Her refusal to accept the sentence the Evil Queen puts on her to be a “prisoner” she puts up a fight no matter the obstacles and comes out a winner after many tough trials.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Snow White makes her way to the top of the castle tower and confronts Ravenna, just as William, the huntsman, and the duke’s soldiers arrive. Ravenna causes the ceiling in the hall over the soldiers to turn into shards of sharp, black glass. The soldiers use their shields to keep from getting cut to ribbons, but the shards transform into fighting monsters. While the soldiers are thus occupied, Snow fights the queen, who overpowers her. She is prepared to kill Snow and consume her heart when, using a move the huntsman taught her, Snow White stabs her in the heart instead, causing Ravenna to wither and die. Hammond’s army is victorious. Snow White is crowned Queen as the kingdom is restored. At her coronation, Snow White looks across the cathedral to meet Eric’s gaze. Many acknowledging looks ensue between her and the huntsman.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS Template
Movie Title: Snow White and the Huntsman
#2 Lead Character Name: Charlize Theron
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Iconic Evil Queen who’s a DIVA and gets to act like a spoiled princess. Charlize Theron has said she wanted to be able to really yell and act like a Diva. The modern twist and visuals accompany who she is: The black crows and CGI effects. She mentions how they shot the first scene of “mirror Mirror on the wall” the first day and she was sweating bullets because she didn’t want it to be like Bond James Bond line and here she is able to put her own STAMP on the role
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Her obsession with beauty and aging “mirroring” our culture today and her total narcissistic way and uncaring about even her brother. Diva Lady everyone is there for her and she takes being the Queen to the limit while all around her dies. Eating the hearts of blood with her CLAW finger jewelry and young girls without any conscious at all is shocking. A statement on leader of Russian today & what he’s doing to Lithuania.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Underestimating the power of Snow White and her goodness. Acting like a POW and creating a “false army” to trick King Magnus and killing him on wedding bed then taking the palace without one iota of sympathy for Snow White. Interesting she didn’t kill her….why?? Did she want to sabotage herself? Flashbacks show how a “spell” was put on Ravena the Evil Queen to help her stay safe and use her “beauty” to stay in power. Maybe there is an ounce of care in her left or is it killing herself if she kills Snow White/
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Diva with a modern twist, who rules and the CGI of the mirror, crows as her cape and morphing into a bird or age reversing back and forth as she eats the birds and young girls heart as well as making a statement about ageing and beauty. THE most Iconic evil character in Disney films made moderns.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Goes from prisoner, to seducer of King and tricking him, to killing and shocking him on marriage bed, to taking over the whole kingdom with all at her beck and call, unnerved as another is more beautiful and hiring a huntsman, to being foiled by Snow White but thinking she’s invincible to being beat and brought down in the end.
6. What subtext can the actor play? From lover to killer, standing ruler to crow, tricking all with different versions of herself. Bidding her brother to do dirty work by playing on him and lying to Huntsman to let him think she can bring his wife back. Misrepresenting the whole time who she really is and hiding her deepest fear by keeping up her beauty with elaborate costumes, yelling and demands to prop herself up. Hiding the true ugliness and evil inside of her pretending she’s in control but loses control alone in her room as she collapses and ages.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? King Magnus: Tricks a warrior man and kills the love while making love. Underestimates Snow White and the effect SW has on her. Thinks Huntsman will go along with her but once he sees the truth of her not bringing wife back he sides with SW> Most of all SW standing firm at the end SW killing the Evil Queen is shocking because she represents goodness but sometimes you must kill a part of self that’s bad.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? In the demeanor, costume imperious capes, thrones and claw jewelry, CGI and the DIVA ness and reaction with her mirror
9. What makes this character special and unique? She appears omnipotent but is empty and shallow inside. She has a power but abuses it and it backfires.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
the King grieves her death but has to fight against a dark invader army. He rescues a beautiful prisoner, Ravenna, and on the next day he marries her. On the wedding night, Ravenna stabs King Magnus in the chest and brings the enemy army led by her brother Finn that destroys the King’s army. Ravenna imprisons Snow White in the Northern Tower of the castle while William, his father The Duke and a few survivors escape from the castle. Years later, the kingdom is completely depleted and Queen Ravenna, who is an evil witch, keeps her beauty by draining the youth of young ladies. When the Magic Mirror tells that Snow White would be the source of her immortality, she asks Finn to bring the princess to her. However, Snow White escapes and flees to the Dark Forest. Queen Ravenna brings a Huntsman that misses his wife and she promises to bring her back to life provided he catches and brings Snow White to her. But when he captures Snow White, he discovers that the evil Queen lied to him and he becomes the protector of the princess.
#3 Movie Title: Snow White and the Huntsman
Lead Character Name: Chris Hemsworth
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Scruffy hunter who is a king and savior deep down and the one who steals SW hear.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Taking the Evil Queens offer but shrugging it off when he sees he’s been duped and becomes the right arm of SW to help her succeed. He goes from drunk to guy with a mission to help get goodness back in the world.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Discarding his old way to help SW. Sharing his loss and being vulnerable to actually falling in love shedding tears at SW and it’s that which causes her to awaken.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He comes FLYING out of a bar as a drunk, cut to in a water trough being pulled out by the Evil Queens brother to kill Snow White as he knows the “dark Forest”
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Drunken, sobbing in his drink, brawling lost man to Sober to love, right hand of SW fighting back for what he’s lost and loyal servant to SW.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Covering his feelings for SW, fear of the Queen, indifferent as he changes, walking away because he’s falling for SW to wanting her but letting her take her place as Queen
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? SW his growing love, patronage and wanting to put her on the pedestal she deserves. Calling the Evil Queen on her lies and fighting her giving up a hefty reward. Sticking with SW and going from worthless to sense of self again. With William his competitor for SW he bonds to help SW putting his feelings aside.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? As a scruffy, ill bred oaf who goes from slob to someone valued in the court.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Love changes him and he changes because he has a reason to do so . His speech pattern goes from sloppy to more eloquent and guides Snow White.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) Eric the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), a drunken widower who has survived the Dark Forest, is brought to Ravenna who orders him to lead Finn in pursuit of Snow White. In exchange she promises to revive his deceased wife Sarah.
The Huntsman locates Snow White in the Dark Forest, but Finn admits that Ravenna cannot resurrect the dead. The Huntsman then helps Snow White to escape, promising to escort her to Duke Hammond’s castle in exchange for a reward of gold. Hammond, meanwhile, learns that Snow White is alive and has fled into the Dark Forest, and his son William (Sam Claflin), Snow White’s childhood friend, later infiltrates Finn’s band as a bowman to find her.
Snow White and Eric leave the Dark Forest, crossing a bridge where a monstrous troll resides. In the ensuing scuffle, Eric is incapacitated. As the troll moves in for the kill, Snow White manages to calm the troll. They come across a fishing village where all the women have disfigured themselves in order to escape Ravenna. While being nursed back to health, Eric is informed by the women of Snow White’s true identity. They are taken in, but he then leaves her in the care of the women, saying she’s better off without him; he returns when he sees the village being attacked and burned by Finn’s men.
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I have so much fun digging and finding depth and a compelling nature to a character.
My vision is to learn how to create characters that are interesting to more than me and be able to get others(actors) excited about them.
What I learned from this assignment is what to consider when fashioning a character to make them appealing to play.
Actor Attractor
Movie Title: Michael Clayton
Lead Character: Michael Clayton
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
He’s special, a fixer, the coolest, smoothest guy in any room.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie?
He’s the guy with all of the answers, knows all of the angles and is the specialist that gets called in to solve the big problems. To the point that the character is actually told so in the movie.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
He is constantly exerting control in almost every scene with physical menace. He talks and give the other characters the perspective that he has it handled
and he’s really the one in control.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
The movie opens with a visual introduction to the world the story takes place in. While we are being introduced to the world, a character off screen is confiding to Michael somethings that sound very important and that could also be quite troublesome. And when we actually first see Michael he is playing in what is clearly an underground(illegal) poker game, which just adds more cool and also makes you wonder, “Who is this guy?”.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
From cool and contained to clearly hiding stress and frustration.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
He is always thinking and scheming, planning. But he also wants to be and for his life to be different. He is coming to the realization that his life is not what he wants.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
He has compelling and interesting interactions with every character he has a scene with but the most interesting is with him mentor/friend Arthur Edens. Arthur is also the character that confides in Michael at the beginning of the movie. There relationship is interesting because he is the one who really holds up a mirror to Michael while he tells him I know who you really are.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
It is his ability to shift peoples perspective by showing them what would be in their best interest.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
That at first glance his life should be great, and with little inspection you come to find out that its empty and he is coming to terms with that. That everyone around him thinks that he has it down and all the balls are lined up for him and has come to realize that the fraud of his life can no longer continue. Can he make the change without losing everything?
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