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Day 10 Assignments
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Lesson 10 — Janeen’s Plot and Character Layers
What I learned doing this assignment is that it is pretty easy to build lots of layers using the techniques provided. I can see more all of the time that can be used in individual episodes.
Assignment 1
Plot layers:
Major scheme revealed — Someone was killed on the school grounds at a school function
Mystery revealed — Celeste is being abused by her husband
Thought the story was one thing, but it is another — Jane was raped by the abusive husband, her child was accused of abuse at school while it was one of the abuser’s other sons that did it.
Hidden history — the rape, the abuse
Hidden plan — Jane wants to murder the guy she thinks did it.
Major Betrayal — When Bonnie pushes the abuser and he dies, they all lie about it at Madeline’s insistence, making it worse.Character Layers: Madeline
Secret Identity — has a lust-less marriage, has a bad relationship with her older daughter, is secretly jealous her ex and his wife are so happy
Character intrigue — jumps into any conflict with both feet even if it’s not hers to fight
Hidden relationships and conspiracies — secretly had an affair with the play director.
Hidden Character history — Cheated on her husband.Assignment 2
List of possible Plot Layers:
1. Major scheme revealed — Randy wants Cara to move to the farm, user her powers to improve the farm and help it survive, and take care of him as his Alzheimer’s progresses.
2. Mystery Revealed — Why is Cara so reluctant? She says she’s not sure what Mindy was doing with her powers was ethical and doesn’t want to do unethical things
3. Thought the story was one thing, but it is another — Jim is furious all of the time for a number of reasons — he thought Mike still had feelings for Molly, but he was trying to get her to leave Jim for her own safety.
4. Hidden history — Mike and Molly dated through high school but broke up when he went off to school and she would’t come with him. She rebounded to Jim.
5. Hidden plan — Jim has always suspected that Mike and Molly produced his son who was born about 9 months after Mike had come home from college and broken up with Molly. His plan is to do in Mike and Mindy, claim their farm as his son’s heritage as well and farm all of the land with his son.
6. Major Betrayal — Jim’s surly son saw what Jim did to Mike and Mindy’s car and is not sure what to do about it since volatile Jim may kill him if he tells and what will become of his little brother who is the same age as the twins.
Plot Surface: Mike and Mindy have died in a car/train wreck at the same place that Jim’s wife committed suicide a six months before. Mindy, having a premonition that she and Mike were going to die, made out a new will for them which left her bestie Cara to take their place as a farmer, parent for their twins and, little did they know, a caregiver for Mike’s dad, Randy, who has found out he has early onset Alzheimer’s but has not told anyone. Mindy has been using her powers to help the farm out — influencing people to rent/sell to them, maximizing crops and milk yields, helping the kids through rough times, smoothing things over at meetings, influencing big Ag reps.
Layer 1: Cara is reluctant to use her powers because she’s not sure what Mindy was doing was ethical.
Layer 2: Cara loved Mike in college when they were freshmen and just friends (before he met Mindy), but while he was still dating Molly back home.
Layer 3: Cara has always said she was jealous of Mindy (her college friend who clicked with Mike just before he went home and broke up with Molly) and used to say she “wanted her life”, but never visited the farm because she didn’t want to meet Molly who Mindy was ambivalent about and she was afraid people would see that she still cared for Mike who generally didn’t hang out with Mindy and her when they were all in Chicago for vacations/holidays.
Layer 4: Randy knows a LOT more about Mindy and Cara’s relationship, interest in their powers and use of them, and Cara and Mike’s relationship as well as Mike and Molly’s relationship. He’s not telling, but he’s influencing Cara based on what he knows.
Layer 5: Cara wonders if she caused Mike and Mindy’s death since Mike wasn’t originally supposed to go with Mindy the night they died. Is she so powerful that she accidentally caused Mindy’s (and Mike’s) death?
Character Layers:
Cara:
Secret Identity — loves Mike. Has powers.
Character intrigue — helps the twins and others, the farm and herself using her powers by telling herself it is the equivalent of prayers
Hidden relationships and conspiracies — secretly loved Mike and envied Mindy. Knew about all of the times Mindy used her powers and sometimes helped her.
Hidden Character history — Always jealous of Mindy since they were little kids. Wasn’t willing to introduce Mike to her until after he had broken up with Molly. Then, he was immediately romantically attracted to Mindy and left Cara in the dust.2. Randy:
1. Secret Identity: Failing old man at a young age.
2. Character intrigue: Knows how much Mindy helped with her powers and pushes Cara to continue. Knows about Mike and Molly.
3. Hidden relationships and conspiracies: Buddies with Jim’s oldest son since he was little since he was around when Mike and Jim were working. Has a rapport and has his suspicions about his pedigree
4. Hidden Character history: Cheated Molly’s dad (Molly had the land, not Jim) when they were young so always felt somehow responsible for Molly not becoming his d-i-l to make up for it.
3. Mindy:
1. Secret Identity: Family puppet master
2. Character Intrigue: Deliberately kept Mike and Cara apart all those years out of jealousy.
3. Hidden relationships and conspiracies: Was Molly’s confidante about Jim’s abuse of Molly and her oldest son. Spied on the kids to gain info. Used her powers to keep Molly safe and empower her where possible, but it wasn’t enough. The land was hers and she had no skills and nowhere to go.
4. Hidden Character history: Knew Cara was in love with Mike before she met him, but “couldn’t help herself” and threw herself at him, doing whatever she could to make him love her. Encouraged Cara to join her for classes in hopes of helping her find her prince charming so she could come clean about stealing Mike.
4. Mike:
1. Secret Identity: WYSIWYG — loved first Molly, then Cara and then was dazzled and fell in love with Mindy. Wanted to be her superhero
2. Character Intrigue: Still loved Molly as a friend and wanted to help her get out of a bad situation with her kids. Didn’t really understand what had happened to his friendship with Cara. He’d missed her a lot and didn’t understand why they couldn’t spend more time together in Chicago and why she never came to the farm. She had been so interested when they had talked when he first got to college.
3. Hidden relationships and conspiracies: Tried to help Jim’s oldest to find a way to “get around” Jim when he was angry. Talked to Molly more than Mindy knew because she needed help.
4. Hidden Character history: Loved Molly, but then fell in love with Cara at college. As soon as he broke up with Molly, Cara introduced him to Mindy and he thought she was dumping him on her friend. Had no idea she was just introducing him to one of the most important people in her life, not pawning him off on her. Was always hurt that Cara had rejected him and shied away from him as soon as he started dating Mindy.
5. Jim:
1. Secret Identity: Green with envy about everything. His dad had not expanded at the time everyone else was making the In/Out decision in farming. He married Molly to get her land and didn’t care that she was on the rebound from his buddy Mike.
2. Character Intrigue: Has always seen a continuing relationship between Mike and Molly as love, not lifelong friendship and has always been jealous and determined to break it up.
3. Hidden relationships and conspiracies: As a kid, he hung out at Mike’s a lot as his own dad was a drunk or depressed — depressed is less obvious — and he still goes to Randy for advice on a lot of things. Randy encouraged him to marry Molly who was heartbroken over Mike when Randy found out Mike was dating someone else — Cara, he assumed.
4. Hidden Character History: killed Molly by accident — but driving after her. Killed Mike and Mindy deliberately.
Cara:
Character Surface: Misses her life in LA and her old job. Is trying to learn to be a mom, learn to run a farm household (yeah, farmwives are different than housewives) and learn to be a farmer.
Layer 1: Cara misses her bestie, Mindy, and wishes she could consult her at every turn, but finds that Mindy used her powers more than she let on to Cara.
Layer 2: Finds out from Randy that Mike had really liked her (Cara) and was sorry not to be able to talk to her more at holidays in Chicago because Mindy was jealous.
Layer 3: Begins to wonder if Mindy had something to do with Molly’s suicide since Mindy had expressed concern about the number of times she sought out Mike.
Layer 4: Wonders how much of the farm’s prosperity is due to good farming vs. powers (hers and Mindy’s)
Layer 5: Feels extremely guilty that she may have caused Mike and Molly’s death with her powers. Can she really continue to use them?
Randy:
Character Surface: 60+ yo farmer who runs his $60M operation with kindness and enjoys teaching Cara and the twins the farming business. Misses his son and Mindy terribly.
Layer 1: Has Alzheimer’s and hasn’t told anyone yet.
Layer 2: Imagines that Mindy knew and that is why she convinced Mike to put Cara in charge if anything happened to them.
Layer 3: Can see that he is slipping and feels he must convince Cara to use her powers and to become a farmer at heart.
Layer 4: Believes that Mike would have been better off with Cara than with Mindy or Molly and sees why he always craved her company.
Layer 5: Fears he is losing it and knows that he is losing capabilities as the months/years roll on. Is petrified.
Mindy:
Character Surface: Great mom, loving wife, good d-i-l, neighbor, member of the church and community. Good friend to Cara. Loves parapsychology techniques and practices good self-care.
Layer 1: Wonders if Jim is mistreating Molly. She is growing distant and disappears for days/weeks at a time from public view.
Layer 2: Begins to think Cara might like Mike a little too much and maneuvers to keep them apart. Somewhat discourages Cara from visiting the farm since it would be harder there than when they are both in Chicago visiting their parents.
Layer 3: Suspects Jim of bad behavior to his wife and his oldest son.
Layer 4: Uses her powers to get Jim’s youngest son to share what’s going on in the house with her and her twins.
Layer 5: Strongly suspects Jim of murdering Molly and making it look like a suicide.
Mike:
Character Surface: Molly was his first love in high school, but when he got to college, he talked a lot with Cara who became his best friend. Then he met her friend Mindy and was instantly and permanently in love with her.
Layer 1: Never suspected that Molly’s oldest was his. Never suspected that Cara cared about him.
Layer 2: Worried that Molly was being abused and tried to help her get the courage/wherewithal to escape from Jim.
Layer 3: Had known Molly all through school — were next door neighbors (next farm) as kids so he knew her writing style and sign-off on notes and the suicide note didn’t sound right. Plus, she hadn’t been suicidal when they spoke last.
Layer 4: Suspects Jim staged the suicide and has no way to prove it.
Layer 5: Thinks Jim realizes he is suspected and may take action. Approves having Cara take over if something happens to both of them.
Jim:
Character Surface: Deeply insecure after Mike and Mindy move to the farm after college, but loves Molly to distraction and is jealous. Has always suspected that his oldest son may be Mike’s, but has never let Molly know he suspects and until Mike moves back, is comfortable that he is the only dad the kid will ever know.
Layer 1: Molly expressed surprise to him that Mike was marrying Mindy, not Cara.
Layer 2: As Molly and Mindy grow closer, Jim thinks it is because Molly wants to be close to Mike or close to his new kids with Mindy — perhaps his oldest son’s half-siblings.
Layer 3: Jim’s jealousy, fueled by Molly’s help with getting farm land by sale or rent, makes him angry and he becomes drunk and abusive the worse it gets.
Layer 4: Jim sees Molly sneaking to Mindy and Mike’s and thinks it is to see Mike. It’s not. He takes it out on what he thinks is Mike’s son too.
Layer 5: He is chasing Molly when she runs into the train. She is so focused on him that she doesn’t even see it. He writes the suicide note on her computer.
Layer 6: When Mike and Mindy begin to suspect him and his oldest son becomes more withdrawn, Jim plots to kill Mike and Mindy and tinkers with the brake line on their vehicle and his oldest son sees him do it.
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Wow Janeen,
Your story looks awesome with so much detail for your characters you are going to rock out a great story.
all the best in your writing,
Ron
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Lesson 10
What I learnt – After looking at the Handmaid’s Tale I could see there were so many subplots and layers in each episode. There is so much going on, so many questions and each character having conflict with others that we wouldn’t expect them to have. So I learnt that while you always have to have the big mystery/plot line, the layers are what keep you riveted in each episode and in fact sometimes you forget about the overall big picture when you become engrossed in the smaller layers.
Assignment one: ‘the Handmaid’s Tale’
Layers – Janine has been moved to another post but still believes her Commander will come for her. Why has he told her this? Is this a lie?
When June approaches her partner to say she wants to join the resistance, her partner tells her she does’t know what she’s talking about. Is this because its too risky or she doesn’t trust June?
Her partner later comes back to her and tells her she knows June went to the nightclub – when June asks her how she knows this she does’t answer. She asks June to do something, to go back there and collect a package. Does June trust her? Is she being set up? She is told it must happen tonight but how can she with the commander’s wife back in the house?
Emotional layer – nick is confused and jealous as to why June is acting so eager to get to the nightclub, why she is all over the commander?
The commander shocks June by saying he knows that she really came to see her friend. He has shown his coldness by making her sleep with him before he reveals this. Still, he leaves the two women alone, so there is part of him that wants to please June. But by him knowing, June now realises he is smarter and colder than what she initially thought.
Now that Serena suspects her husband is cheating with another handmaid, what will she do. We also see conflict between her and another wife, which we hadn’t seen before.
Assignment Two: My TV show ‘Stroke’
Plot Surface: Zoe’s once best friend, Nadine, re-enters her life after being missing for 25 years. Nadine offers to help Zoe take care of her sick father and to help her find the truth about her husband’s whereabouts.
Layer 1: mystery: mystery of what Zoe’s husband is up to. Where has Nadine been? Who was the dead woman? Why did Janine give up journalism? <div>
Layer 2:
Mystery revealed. We learn of James’s infidelity. Learn why Janine gave up journalism and her link wth the dead woman.Layer 3: Hidden history – we start to see bits of Nadine’s life, why she went missing. The child that was taken from her. Her connection with Leo.
Layer 4: hidden plan: Nadine’s true intention is not to help Zoe’s father but to seek vengeance.
Layer 5: major betrayal. the betrayal Zoe feels on finding out about Nadine. The betrayal nadine feels that Zoe does not believe her story.Level 6: major shift in meaning: our beliefs are questioned when we see the final reveal of what happened to Nadine, why she is doing what she is doing.
Character Surface: Zoe is married to a successful film director, has a charmed life. Nadine is her close friend wanting to help her. James and Alex have perfect happy families, Janine is content with teaching journalism at a local college.
Layer one: secret identity – Nadine comes back after 25 years BUT she is not the same person. In the time she has been away, she has changed her identity to sneak into her son’s family home. Janine and Daniel (her student) pretend to be other people in order to investigate a cold case. Zoe keeps up a pretence of being happily married.
Layer two: character intrigue; why did Nadine disappear? How will James react to his wife filing for divorce. He is dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality and needs to control everything and has to have a perfect public persona. How will he behave when is no longer in control? Who does Alex secretly ring? Why is Zoe’s mum so distant and cold with her?
Layer three: hidden relationships and conspiracies:
Nadine had a relationship with Zoe’s father and had his baby. Alex, the son of a famous couple, is their child. Zoe’s mother is not her real mother.
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EXAMPLE: BIG PICTURE LAYERS FROM WESTWORLD
We are going to look at the show WESTWORLD from two different perspectives. First, we’ll look at the big picture plot layers, then the character layers connected to a character referred to as the Man in Black.
In this version, notice how each plot layer could be the answer to a question like, “How could they sabotage the hosts?” Or “What secret identities might provide a new layer?”
Plot Surface: Westworld is a Frontier theme park. There are guests (paying vacationers) and hosts (robots). It is an adventure where guests can kill the hosts, but hosts cannot hurt the guests. There is a whole support system of admin people who program the hosts, corporate management that runs the business side, and the surviving founder of the park, Robert Ford.
Layer 1: Sabotage: The hosts are perfectly safe for the guests, until…the new program update causes some hosts to go aberrant; even psychotic. Is this just a normal programming issue or sabotage? With each episode, Delores is able to take steps outside her programming. Where will this go?
Layer 2: Conspiracy: Management has covert plans to take the park that Robert and his partner founded 34 years ago.
Layer 3: Mystery: The mystery of how the other founder, Arnold, died…and what his death really means to everyone at the park.
Layer 4: Hidden Agenda: Robert, the surviving founder refuses to tell corporate management about the “new storyline” he is creating in a hidden part of the park. He has a shocking experience planned for the new owners.
Layer 5: Future Consequences: At the “goodbye speech,” Delores kills Robert in front of the crowd in a similar way that she killed Arnold. But it seems to be intentional on Robert’s part. Hosts come out of the woods and shoot the Man in Black in the arm for real. It leaves the question about whether Robert has sabotaged this park with his new Hosts. Great cliffhanger to set up Season 2.
MAN IN BLACK
Character Surface: Man in Black is a guest who has no fear and takes what he wants.
Layer 1: Hidden Agenda: MIB is playing a different game than everyone else. He is looking for The Maze; the ultimate secret of life.
Layer 2: Hidden Character History: He has been coming here for 30 years. He knows everything about Westworld, including Robert Ford and Arnold.
Layer 3: Secret Identity: He is William…the man who loved Delores 30 years ago.
Layer 4: Wound: His wife committed suicide after he returned from Westworld.
Layer 5: Competition: He has bought up controlling shares of Westworld. Why?
LESSON 10 – BIG PICTURE LAYERS FROM BIG LITTLE LIES
Plot Surface – The lives of five women in Monterey, all with young children, are changed when one of the husbands is killed. The victim nor the murderer is revealed until the end of Season One.
Layer One – Sabotage:
When Mary Louise White, Perry’s mother arrives on the scene (Season Two,) the story that he just tripped and fell to his death. Mary Louise keeps pushing trying to find out the truth.
Layer Two – Conspiracy:
The five women make a pact not to tell anyone who pushed Perry White down the stairs.
Layer Three – Mystery:
The victim is not revealed until the last episode of Season One, nor is the murderer revealed.
Layer Four – Hidden Agenda:
The fact that Perry was violent and abusive, and that Celeste is often complicit in the sexual excitement that happens at the end of the abusive attacks is kept hidden until the couple sees a therapist.
Layer Five – Future Consequences:
Celeste rents an apartment as she’s going to leave Perry, Madeline confesses to her affair and gets Ed back as well as her daughter, Abigail, Ranata must face bankruptcy and learns more about being humble and honest, Bonnie is deeply depressed as she pushed Perry; discovers the reality that she’s not in love with Nathan, and Jane discovers the man who raped her and fathered her son, Ziggy, was Perry White.
BIG PICTURE LAYERS FROM ELEMENTS OF BETRAYAL
Layer One – Hidden Agenda:
Lane Baer is hired to teach literature at the Caroline Russell Brown School for Girls. Margaret Gilgood, the head mistress, is insecure and his good looks cause her to be off-balance. She’s hard on him. In the classroom he meets Laylah Hafez, the senior boarding student who falls obsessively in love with Lane. His relationship with his wife, Marta, is aloof. He’s hungry for the physical attention Leylah wants to provide. He tries very hard not to accept it. Leylah is willing to just be in his company, to sit in his office while he works. Her presence seems to provide him with the ideas he needs. She operates as his muse. He doesn’t want Marta to know about this strange entanglement.
Layer Two – Hidden Character History:
Lane’s father a successful biographer. Lane is desperate to achieve his approval. His first book landed mid-list. His father accuses him of being a two-bit romance writer. This crushes Lane. He’ll do anything to get his father to see him as a serious writer. Lane needs a bestseller. When Christian Savage is murdered, his wife, a talented editor, suggests this event is a story for him in front of his nose. Lane burns the draft he’s been working on to write the new book about murder.
Layer Three – Mystery
When Lane brings Christian Savage home for dinner, Marta is attracted by this southern gentleman. Paige the sixteen-year-old daughter of Lane and Marta, finds him ugly and distasteful. Plus, she hates the way her mother fawns over him. Paige adores her father and fears this man will cause their family to crack apart. Paige goes to Savage’s apartment and threatens him. “Stay away from my mother or else…” When she returns home she claims Savage raped her. This provokes Lane to warn Savage if he discovers he hurt his daughter, he’ll kill him. Same night Marta goes to Savage’s apartment with Lane’s gun to scare him into telling her the truth if he is guilty of the rape. That night Savage is murdered.
Who killed Christian Savage?
Layer Four – Future Consequences:
Initially Lane is accused as a person of interest.
Leylah says she’ll be a witness and tell them Lane was with her the night of the murder. Lane says no. Leylah runs up to the third floor. She threatens she’ll jump if he doesn’t leave his family for her. He denies her and she jumps.
Marta confesses to the murder using the ruse of a different personality.
Lane gets wind that Margaret Gilgood had an affair with Christian Savage. He sneaks into her office. When Savage broke it off with her, she becomes so disoriented and desolate, she does her usual and writes down her feelings. She thinks she killed him and confesses.
This move forces the police to free Marta.
In the end of the season, Detective Pearl is not convinced. He wonders why Lane and Marta Bear are so protective of their daughter, Paige.
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Rob’s Plot and Character Layers
What I learned doing this assignment is the value of giving plenty of layers to each character, even, and in some ways especially, the most incidental ones, because they can step from the background into the limelight when they have intriguing elements to them.
Also, how much fun it is to just make stuff up off the top of your head and see if it might fit somewhere. A bit like splattering paint against a wall and seeing if it sticks, runs or washes away.
ASSIGNMENT 1: Plot and character layers in “The Vampire Diaries” as at Episode 10.
Plot Layers:
Layer 1 (Surface): A vampire is attacking people. Is it Stefan? No, it’s his brother Damon. He’s back to torment Stefan. They think no-one in the town knows about them but …
Layer 2: The Founder’s Council knows about vampires and is hunting them.
Layer 3: Stefan’s first love from 150 years ago was a vampire, the one who turned Stefan and Damon. Damon is in town again ….
Layer 4: … because he wants to resurrect Katherine using Bonnie’s crystal amulet, but Bonnie’s witch ancestor Emily intervenes to prevent it.
Layer 5: Logan, whom we thought dead, turns up out of the blue and is a vampire too. Who made him? He knows about Stefan and Damon being vampires and about a tomb beneath the church where Katherine is trapped in a spell.
Layer 6: The new history teacher in town, Alaric, knows about vampires too, and kills Logan. Is Alaric a vampire too?
Layer 7: Another, unknown, vampire stops Elena’s car on the highway. Who is it? Is it the one who turned Logan? Keep Bingeing to find out!
Character Layers:
Stefan:
Layer 1 (Surface): A vampire who feeds on animals not humans
Layer 2: Has a bad-boy brother who feeds on humans and was a romantic rival for Katherine’s affections long ago
Layer 3: Has a ring that allows him to survive in daylight
Layer 4: Katherine was the vampire who turned him and Damon
Damon:
Layer 1 (Surface): A ruthless vampire
Layer 2: Seeking to infiltrate the Founder’s Council and find out how much they know about vampires
Layer 3: Seeking to resurrect Katherine, his lover from long ago
Elena:
Layer 1 (Surface): A teenage girl grieving her dead parents
Layer 2: A determined investigator, wanting to uncover Stefan’s secrets
Bonnie:
Layer 1 (Surface): A teenage witch with psychic powers
Layer 2: Descendant of Emily, Katherine’s handmaiden
Katherine:
Layer 1 (Surface): Stefan and Damon’s love-interest
Layer 2: The vampire who turned them both into vampires
Logan:
Layer 1 (Surface): A TV newsman, ex-boyfriend of Jenna, Elena and Jeremy’s aunt / legal guardian.
Layer 2: A member of the Founder’s Council, intent on hunting vampires
Layer 3: A vampire himself who was turned by an as-yet-unknown vampire.
Alaric:
Layer 1 (Surface): The new history teacher …
Layer 2: … with a strong sense of justice and preparedness to stand up to a bully …
Layer 3: … who also knows how to kill vampires.
Sheriff:
Layer 1 (Surface): The local sheriff …
Layer 2: … who is also Caroline’s Mum …
Layer 3: … and a member of the Founder’s Council
ASSIGNMENT 2: Plot and Character Layers in “Mirage”
Plot Layers:
Layer 1 (Surface): A mysterious figure, given by the media the moniker “The Mirage” as a result of his hazy features that cannot be captured on camera, rescues people from crime and disaster. The cops investigate but are baffled. Julia Lockhart, a savvy but prickly young archaeologist takes an interest …
Layer 2: … and after witnessing a demon attack discovers that demons are at large in the city. Is the Mirage one of them?
Layer 3: After being attacked by the same demon Julia is rescued by the barman in her local bar, the Mirage in disguise. The Mirage is investigating …
Layer 4: … some strange occurrences around the city: bank vaults being robbed by mysterious, supernatural beings, women being kidnapped, and corpses coming to life in the morgue. He follows some mysterious symbols to a murder scene where he finds Vincent Chamberlain, Julia’s boss, a renowned archaeologist, dead. The Mirage investigates the murder and finds it relates to a tomb that has been uncovered in the desert, from which an ancient coffin was exhumed.
Layer 5: The Mirage and Julia discover that the coffin contained his own skeleton and is being used by someone for some unknown purpose.
Layer 6: The investigation reveals that the skeleton has been exhumed by Vincent Chamberlain himself who faked his own death and is seeking to trap and torture the Mirage for information about how he became immortal. The reanimated corpses are the result of his earliest experiments to defeat death. Vincent has information from some mysterious sheets of parchment that identifies the Mirage with snippets of his history, previously unknown even to the Mirage himself. The parchment allows him to control various demons to do his bidding – steal, kill, infiltrate, etc.
Layer 7: After the Mirage defeats Vincent we learn that he was never in control of the demons but being manipulated by them, and that their Queen is hiding from the Mirage’s supernatural sight, using the Mirage’s own skull as a mask.
Layer 8: A secretive government organisation, AXIS, has been monitoring the Mirage and wants to recruit him for his powers.
Layer 9: The Queen of the demons is running AXIS.
Level 10: A mysterious, overwhelmingly powerful being made of fire and light destroys demons and appears to threaten the Mirage. He cannot stand against it. Is it a friend or foe? Some other force is at play here that neither David nor the demons know about.
Layer 11: The Mirage learns more of his history – that he had a family who were killed by the demons.
Layer 12: The Mirage learns that he is the one who created the demons through his own betrayal of his family and his resultant guilt and suffering. The Queen of the demons is not seeking to destroy the Mirage but to awaken him to his true powers as their leader by getting him to betray his own values – kill people, succumb to temptation, etc.
Level 13: We discover that the being of fire and light is the spirit of David’s dead loving wife guiding him back to her, urging him to discover the truth about himself, let go of his guilt, and accept her forgiveness.
Character Layers:
Julia:
Layer 1 (Surface): Julia is an archaeologist investigating reports of The Mirage, a mysterious figure who has been sighted by criminals and their victims across the city in recent years. She encounters David and after being rescued by him from a demon attack, discovers that he is The Mirage. David seems to know everything about her …
Layer 2: … but discovers that she has secret knowledge of him, hand drawings of him and the demons who have been terrorising the city. She has been seeing him and them in her dreams and drew the pictures. She doesn’t know why she has been having the dreams.
Layer 3: As a result of previous emotional abuse in her relationships Julia is cautious about any future romances. But she finds a connection with David / The Mirage who cannot engage in physical intimacy with her but share a different kind of love, a connection without physical contact.
Layer 4: Aware of no possibility of a physical relationship with The Mirage, Julia becomes romantically involved with Jonas Brooks, an agent of AXIS, the mysterious Government organisation that is seeking to recruit The Mirage. The Mirage is jealous …
Layer 5: … but Julia is using Jonas to get information about what is really going on in AXIS with a view to …
Layer 6: … finding the missing piece of a mystical blade that can kill demons …
Layer 7 … which can also kill The Mirage.
David / The Mirage
Layer 1 (Surface): David is just a normal 21<sup>st</sup> century guy, a friendly bartender whom Julia knows. But after he rescues Julia from a demon attack she discovers …
Layer 2: … David is “The Mirage”, the mysterious figure who has been intervening to rescue citizens in trouble throughout the city, and throughout history.
Layer 3: The Mirage is not a man but an ancient spirit. He can see into the spirit world, uses his powers to see through illusion and disguises but …
Layer 4: … he does not know himself at all! He has no memories of where he came from, burdened by doubt about who he is and why he exists. He is in search of his identity and purpose. He and Julia begin to fall in love but …
Layer 5: … David / The Mirage cannot engage in intimacy. His touch is deathly cold, repulsive to humans. As a result of this affliction …
Layer 6: … David is in search of a cure for his immortality, a way to become human …
Layer 7: … when he discovers, after his skeleton is unearthed from an archaeological dig, that he was once human. Can he be again? Who was he? He goes in search of more information and discovers …
Layer 8: … that he was a blacksmith over 1500 years ago, and had a family who died under mysterious circumstances. He discovers that demons were involved. He hunts down the demons in search of vengeance, and more answers, and discovers …
Layer 9: … that he himself betrayed his own family through having an affair with another woman. His own family died as a result of his betrayal and out of the intense suffering of his own guilt the demons he has been in conflict with were born. In the present day he can choose to sacrifice himself to end the demons’ existence in the world, or succumb to temptation and unleash an army of demons across the Earth. Which will he choose?
Madeleine:
Layer 1 (Surface): Madeleine is a woman in her eighties, the live-in companion of The Mirage / David.
Layer 2: David befriended Madeleine when she was a little girl. They have been friends ever since.
Layer 3: Madeleine tests Julia emotionally, seemingly hostile …
Layer 4: … but is really seeking to find a suitable replacement for herself as a companion / confidante for David after she dies. She fixes on Julia as a possibility.
Layer 4: Madeleine betrays David, who is devastated that his lifelong friend would do such a thing until he realises that …
Layer 5: … she was really protecting him from her housekeeper, Evie, who is the Queen of the Demons in disguise.
Evie:
Layer 1 (Surface): Madeleine’s housekeeper and secretary who visits regularly to assist Madeleine …
Layer 2: … is really the Queen of the Demons in disguise, manipulating all events around The Mirage for her own ends.
Layer 3: She appears to be trying to destroy the Mirage …
Layer 4: … but is actually testing and pushing him to realise and embrace his potential as Lord of the Demons and ruler / destroyer of the world.
Detective Brendan White:
Layer 1 (Surface): A brilliant by-the-book detective with a prosthetic arm, a contempt for anything woo-woo / supernatural and a deep hatred of the Mirage and a desire to expose him as a charlatan.
Layer 2: Detective White has a gambling problem that makes him vulnerable to …
Layer 3: … manipulation by AXIS agents who want him to sabotage police investigations and …
Layer 4: … betray his values by embracing the supernatural and consorting with demons to bring the Mirage down …
Layer 5: … But White finally embraces his values and helps the Mirage to defeat the demons.
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Jean’s Plot and Character Layers
What I learned doing this assignment is designing the layering before creating the show is very important to making a show appealing to producers. It will help me make the right decisions when putting all this information together to create the pilot.
Assignment 1:
THE VAMPIRE DIARIES
Major scheme revealed: Stefan falls for Elana,
but she finds out that his past girlfriend looks just like her and is a
vampire.Mystery revealed: Stefan and Damon are
vampires turned in 1864 and their father was one of the original Mystic
Falls founding fathers.Thought the story was one thing, but it is
another: Daman is back to free Katherine from a tomb under an old church
ruins.Major shift in Meaning; Katherine, whom Stefan
thought had died back in 1864, is alive.Hidden history: Stefan and Damon were both in
love with Katherine.Hidden plan: Damon is using anyone/anybody at
whatever the cost to free Katherine.Major betrayal: Damon puts Elana in harm’s way
to make Stefan and Bonnie help him free Katherine only to discover that
Katherine isn’t in the tomb but the 26 other vampires from 1864 are and
now they are free in Mystic Falls.Assignment 2:
THE VAULT
Plot Surface:
Layer 1: Vault Agency is a time travel agency that fixes the past to make the future better.
Layer 2: Lazarus has recruited Sharra because his future self told contacted him that she will fix the Vault.
Layer 3: Sharra breaks the rules to try to save her parents, creating a paradox.
Layer 4: Two separate timelines – Faolan’s and Sharra’s – crossover and finally converge at the end.
Layer 5: The Head Director has kept the truth from everyone that the agrylium infused in their head is actually alien material and now their lives are attached to it.
Layer 6: Sharra’s family is the crux of the Vault Agency problem – a time loop.
Character Surface:
Layer 1: Sharra thinks she killed her parents 10 years ago and can’t get over it.
Layer 2: She joins the agency, sabotaging her assimilation, for the sole purpose of changing her timeline.
Layer 3: Sharra’s assailant is her sociopathic brother who hated her from birth and has secretly infiltrated into the agency.
Layer 4: She is the catalyst and cure to the Vault’s ailment.
Layer 5: She has been caught in a time
loop and only she can break it. -
David’s Plot and Character Layers
What I learned from the assignment is the value of digging deep and having multiple layers that emerge during the course of the series. These layers/secrets keep us intrigue and invite obsession.
ASSIGNMENT 2: Your Show
Discover the layers that could exist for your show.
1. Brainstorm a list of possible PLOT layers. Dean has a tortured past/reason why he wants home… Dean has shady business deals going on… Steve had affairs with other coeds, maybe in cahoots with the dean… Emily’s boss has shady dealings… could be a killing that happens on-campus, turns out dean had a hand in it… Emily has vendetta against Madison/mean sorority girls. Has secret in her past that comes out- she’s not the innocent woman we thought she was…
PLOT LAYERS – Story beneath the story.
Major scheme revealed: Dean has shady business going on, turns to murder to keep secret intact
Mystery revealed: Financial scam dean headed
Thought the story was one thing, but it is another: It’s not just about the house, it’s about keeping secrets
Major shift in Meaning: Dean wants more than house. Steve involved, too.
Hidden history: Dean and Steve had shady partnership for years…
Hidden plan: To sabotage Emily and reclaim house
Major betrayal: Steve betrayed him, so he had him fired
2. Brainstorm a list of possible CHARACTER layers.
CHARACTER LAYERS – identity beneath the identity.
Secret identity: Dean corrupt
Character intrigue: Dean pretends to be about students, but uses for own gain
Hidden relationships and conspiracies: Shady dealings with Steve and Emily’s boss.
Hidden Character history: Dean needs money for wife/mother. Dad was brutal to him.
1. Organize them each into a possible sequence of reveals.
Plot Surface:
Layer 1: Steve fired, Emily goes back to college
Layer 2: Dean sabotages for control of house
Layer 3: Dean has shady business dealings with Emily’s boss
Layer 4: Steve was actually good guy about to expose dean
Etc.
Character Surface:
Layer 1: Dean upstanding man
Layer 2: Hypocrite
Layer 3: Finds shady dealings
Layer 4: Murder?
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Ron Reid Jr. Plot and Character Layers
“What I learned doing this assignment is having layers really reduces the work I will execute later by have meaningful layers to dig deep with the characters to enrich my plot and overall stor(ies).”
ASSIGNMENT 1: Example Show: Lost
EPISODES NEAR ORIENTATION SEASON 2
Layer one -MAJOR SCHEME-Four people on the Island set out on a raft they made after their first one was burned-mysteriously.
Layer two-The four have their differences but they are working together.
Layer three-They turn on their radar and see there is a ship in their scope.
Layer four-they argue briefly about what it could be. There is a timer before the ship is out of sight. They forcefully launch their last flare.
Layer five-Rescue with a ship sees their flare and comes toward them.
Layer six-MAYOR BETRAYAL-The twist. they have guns and demand the boy they have by pointing their gun. They shoot one of the guys on board to show they mean business. They also blow up the boat.
Layer Seven: -one boy is kidnapped, one guy shot overboard and the raft is in pieces as the two characters argue about who’s fault it is.
Layer Eight: it is day again and they see the Island they left as they are brought in by the current. they land on a new part of the Island and see the guy missing tied up and running.
Layer nine: tired, they are attacked by the others and dragged to below ground jail.
Layer ten: the three prisoners are given another prisoner a girl who bleeding from a head- wound. She wakes up and talks with the other passengers. They talk about the other survivors (and others things you tell another a fellow prisoner). The prisoner with a guy wants to shoot his way out of the pit by faking an illness.
Layer 11 : HIDDEN PLAN-ANOTHER TWIST. the girl prisoner with the head wound suddenly takes the gun and points it at all the guys and yells to be taken out of the pit. As she is being helped up with the gun, she confirms they know nothing. Boom it ends.
Layer one A hatch is discovered in the middle of the jungle and five characters em
Watch the next episode of your Example Show and notice how layers show up in this show — both in this episode and throughout the episodes you’ve already seen.
Tell us the layers you have discovered in the Example Show.
Deadline: 24 hours
ASSIGNMENT 2: Show: SIGMA 2619
Discover the layers that could exist for your show.
1. Brainstorm a list of possible PLOT layers.
PLOT LAYERS – Story beneath the story.
Major scheme revealedMystery revealedThought the story was one thing, but it is anotherMajor shift in MeaningHidden historyHidden planMajor betrayal
2. Brainstorm a list of possible CHARACTER layers.
CHARACTER LAYERS – identity beneath the identity.
Secret identityCharacter intrigueHidden relationships and conspiraciesHidden Character history
3. Organize them each into a possible sequence of reveals.
Plot Surface:
Layer 1:Layer 2:Layer 3:Layer 4:Etc.
Character Surface:
Layer 1:Layer 2:Layer 3:Layer 4:Etc.
ASSIGNMENT 2: #2 Show KIDNAPPING OF CASEY K.
Discover the layers that could exist for your show.
1. Brainstorm a list of possible PLOT layers.
BIG PLOT AT THE BEGINNING IS WHEN THE MAIN CHARACTER: CASEY IS TAKEN/KIDNAPPED AT HIS OWN ANNUAL EVENT WHERE EVERYONE WHO KNOWS CASEY IS EXPECTED TO SHOW UP AT HIS COSTUME PARTY.
PLOT LAYERS – Story beneath the story.
HOW PEOPLE AT THE PARTY RESPECT HIM-MELONY- HE GOT HER OUT OF ABUSIVE SITUATION.
KEN IS AT THE PARTY BECAUSE CASEY FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED HIM WHEN HIS BUSINESS WAS DOWN.
Major scheme revealedMystery revealedThought the story was one thing, but it is anotherMajor shift in MeaningHidden historyHidden planMajor betrayal
FROM THE REVEALS OF THE CHARACTERS WHO WANT TO BE THERE AND DON’T AND THOSE WHO ABSOLUTELY HATE CASEY WE SEE AN ARRAY OF PEOPLE AND MYSTERY WHY PEOPLE ARE THERE.
2. Brainstorm a list of possible CHARACTER layers.
CHARACTER LAYERS – identity beneath the identity.
KEN HAS A GREAT IDEA FOR A NEW DIGITAL BUSINESS.
KEN’S PERSONAL LIFE IS TANKING
KEN’S BUSINESS TANKS
KEN GETS A LIST OF POTENTIAL NEW of new clients.
KEN’S AT THE PARTY OUT OF RESPECT
Secret identityCharacter intrigueHidden relationships and conspiraciesHidden Character history
CASEY K WHO IS HE AND WHY DOES HE HELP AND RUIN PEOPLE?
CASEY K IS MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.
CASEY HELPING OTHER SUCCEED IN LIFE
CASEY DESTROYING EVIL DOERS AND RESCUING PEOPLE WHERE THEY LIVE.
SOME PEOPLE RESENT CASEY’S HELP BUT THEIR BUSINESS OR LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON CASEY’S HELP.
3. Organize them each into a possible sequence of reveals.
Plot Surface:
CASEY IS KIDNAPPED
GIRL FRIEND AT THE PARTY REVEALS THE GUY AT THE PARTY IS NOT CASEY.
THE PERSON IMPERSONATING CASEY IS BEING PAID BY THE CATERERS TO STAY THERE WHILE CASEY K HAS BEEN TAKEN.
FRIENDS ASSESS WHAT THE SITUATION OTHERS WHO DON’T LIKE CASEY CONTROLLING THEIR LIVES SAYS TO LET THE POLICE DO SOMETHING.
A CLUE FROM THE KIDNAPPERS IS LEFT AT THE SCENE THAT CAN GIVE A CLUE AS TO WHO THESE KIDNAPPERS MAYBE.
CLEARLY THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO RESENT AND OTHERS WHO ARE GRATEFUL FOR CASEY BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT NOT ONE PERSON CAN HELP CASEY K, IT MUST BE A GROUP OF PEOPLE. AND THIS GROUP IS A MIX OF FRIENDS AND FRIENEMIES.
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