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Day 11 Assignments
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5 Replies
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Denice’s Full-Out Characters
What I learned that is improving my writing: I realized that by changing a couple of traits and one character’s subtext, the situations and emotions can elevate. They can still be humorous, but more over-the-top. I was inspired to do something with the plot and characters of another script, too, and wondered why I didn’t see the obvious long before now. These lessons provide new perspectivees.
CURRENT PROFILES
EVERETT
Description: He escapes his coffin, but doesn’t know why he’s not a normal ghost. He’s still bent on killing the fairy he thinks had an affair with his wife, but doesn’t know Finn is his son.
Traits: Stubborn, angry, confused, loving
Subtext: He’s blinded by anger and desire for revenge.
ANN
Description: Ann is Everett’s daughter, a ghost hunter who doesn’t believe in the supernatural and can’t see her father or Finn’s wings.
Traits: Stressed, determined, skeptical, caring
Subtext: She hides her hurt and needs to learn the truth behind her father’s rejection.
FINN
Description: Finn is a fairy who’s been unjustly trapped in a chest for five years. His mother was Everett’s wife, but he doesn’t know Everett is his father.
Traits: Charming, protective, loner, magical
Subtext: He won’t leave until he finds out what happened to his mother.
REVISED PROFILES
EVERETT
Description: Same as above
Traits: Loving, furious, unreasonable, devious
Subtext: He needs to know why his wife cheated on him, no matter the cost.
ANN
Description: Same as above.
Traits: Stressed, stubborn, skeptical, caring
Subtext: She’s afraid to love after losing her parents and ex-boyfriend.
FINN
Description: Same as above.
Traits: Charming, protective, loner, calculating
Subtext: His revenge will be to make Everett’s daughter fall in love with him.
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Lesson 11- Robert Kerr – Full Out Characters
What I learned that is making a significant improvement in my writing is the real value of developing traits and subtexts of my leading characters before I write the screenplay. As my script is based on a true story, I was far more focused on the accuracy of the historical linear timeline than the compelling opportunity to flesh out the characters.
Current Profiles:
FRAN:
Description: Fran is a 21 year old soon to be divorced woman who has submerged her life to the needs of her husband. Now he is filing for divorce, Fran must look to her family to help her and her 3 year old daughter. She wants to return to college but doesn’t know how to make it happen.
Traits: Scared, determined, frustrated and needy
Subtext: Fran has been blindsided by the divorce and now finds herself backed into a corner and forced back to her family farm and the aid of her father. She is grateful but determined to be self-directed.
MIKE VESPOLI:
Description: Mike is a 24 year old member of the national rowing team and looking for a place to build a rowing program done his way and not the traditional manner he has been groomed in and finds it in Wichita, Kansas. The only catch is he must also build a woman’s crew from scratch.
Traits: Perfectionist, demanding, independent and confident
Subtext: His desire to go his own way puts Mike in a situation where he is revered and feeds his ego of his abilities in the sport. When he is part of the world championship crew, it fuels his belief that he can overcome any obstacle.
CALVIN:
Description: Calvin is a 50ish farmer who believes men are supposed to be in charge. When Fran returns home, he see’s an opportunity to once again be in charge of Fran’s life and too be the savior of his 3 year old granddaughter.
Traits: domineering, helpful, high standards and impatient
Subtext: Calvin see’s the return of Fran has an opportunity to reclaim his aspirations for her as a concert musician. He is willing to support Fran in her return to college but uses that has leverage to force her to study music.
NEW PROFILES
FRAN
Description: Same as above
Traits: Rebellious, independent, Daddy’s girl and focused
Subtext: Fran finds her “voice” in college and blossoms as a leader when she joins the rowing program.
MIKE VESPOLI
Description: Same as above
Traits Confident, encouraging, isolated and perfectionist
Subtext: Mike knows all about rowing but he struggles with the personal isolation he feels despite being a World Champion.
CALVIN:
Description: Same as above
Traits: Confused, forceful, relentless and “Old School”
Subtext: Calvin experiences for the first time challenges to his parental authority and almost loses his daughter and granddaughter.
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Ed. Gillow Full-out Characters
What I learned that is making a significant improvement in my writing is going back to my original process of developing character diamonds (characterization) but including subtexts for my lead characters before I write the screenplay.
CURRENT PROFILE:
Moses Eagle Heart
Description: Infamous tracker of men. Native American. Hero of story. Found religion and true love and gave up tracking.
Core Traits: Spiritual, committed to family, bigoted, and honest
Subtext: “Everything I do in life, I do for my family.”
Boone Turner
Description: Epitome of bounty hunters. Has a past with Moses. True Anti-hero in every sense.
Core Traits: cynical, racist, selfish, and unpredictable
Subtext: “I have little to no remorse for my bad actions.”
Jose Villa
Description: Uncle to Pancho Villa. Loves to work both sides of the border. Epitome of a gunslinger.
Core traits: ruthless, intelligent, calm, and arrogant
Subtext: “I am invincible, no man can kill me.”
REVISED PROFILES
Moses Eagle Heart
Description: no change
Core Traits: Spiritual, committed to family, conflicted, and hot tempered
Subtext: “A stronger spiritual faith will solve many problems. My challenge is to develop that strength.”
Boone Turner
Description: same
Core Traits: witty, racist, selfish, and unpredictable
Subtext: “How do I work with and respect a man who killed my brother?”
Jose Villa
Description: same
Core traits: ruthless, intelligent, unpredictable, and arrogant
Subtext: “What I do is for a just cause.”
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Alfred Travis’s Full-Out Characters
“What I’ve Learned that is improving my writing is…?” To push beyond to get the thinking about my story vision/purpose and characters.
CURRENT PROFILES
BO
Description: 25 year old black male who wants to be a music composer.
Core Traits: Depressed, Ashamed, listless, feels unworthy.
Subtext: Bo is fearful to express his truth.
KAREN
Description: She’s a Swedish blonde, cut-throat PR Representative
Core Traits: Self-important, deceptive, sullen, sad, racist.
Subtext: Karen is neurotically obsessed with Bo.
JACK
Description: Elderly Real Estate Restorer.
Core Traits: Perceptive, sharp, effeminate, expert, fashionable.
Subtext: Secretly aware of Bo’s life.
REVISED PROFILES
BO
Description: A down on his luck wanna be Music Composer.
Core Traits: Depressed, Ashamed, feels defective and unworthy.
Subtext: Doesn’t stand up for himself or speak his truth, his heart.
KAREN
Description: Swedish blonde, cut-throat PR rep.
Subtext: Obsessed for Bo to “see” her.
JACK
Elderly Real Estate Business man.
Core Traits: Spiritual, a seer, expert.
Subtext: Plans for Bo’s conversion.
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Zev Ledman
Judah – King Antiochus – Eleazer
Revised Profiles: I think the listing of traits and knowing the subtexts that drive them keeps your story focused and the characters aligned as the story develops.
Judah -Twenty yr old religious Jew who wants to right wrongs done by the Greeks – Adventurous, Protector, Reactionary, Holier than thou
Judah feels guilty for getting his friend/teacher tortured to death over his antics.
King Antiochus – Mi-fifties ruler of the eastern Greek kingdom – Ruthless, Demanding, Intolerant, Enraged
Because of the growing Roman influence, Antiochus must keep his kingdom strong and united requiring him to quell any unrest that the Romans might exploit.
Eleazer Eighteen yr old religious Jew, Judah’s dedicated younger brother – Caring, Courageous, Loyal, Judgmental
Eleazer idolizes his brother and will do anything to help him succeed.
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