Day 2 Assignments

[Lisa Paris Long]

Module 3 – Lesson 2 – Roles That Sell Actors

Lisa Long’s Actor Attractors!

My Vision: I will do whatever it takes to be comfortable saying that I am a writer by creating impactful stories with amazing characters in order to sell my scripts.

What I learned from this assignment is the power of each character is in my head and hands. I can create interesting and powerful characters that any actors would like to play.

Lead Character Name: MOLLY

Role: 10-year-old girl

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Molly is a ballet dancer so the actress will need to be able to dance well. She has a range of emotions to play including sadness, fear, braveness, manipulation, joy. This could be a tour de force character for a young actress.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Molly has to figure out how to survive in a new place with a new parent and still pursue her dream.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Molly is forced to work in a restaurant. She meets a choreographer who teaches her while she hides it from her father’s unapproving eyes. She sneaks out of the house. She tries to steer a boat in a hurricane. She dances in the Nutcracker at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. She butts head with her father and later in the story her mother too.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

The script begins with Molly being dropped off at Al’s against her will by her mother who thinks says she can no longer take care of her. She’s never known Al. She is a fish out of water from the first scene. She has a break down and chases behind her mom’s car as it zooms off.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Molly goes from being afraid and in survival mode to finding her voice and her way in a new place. She goes from shy to brave.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

The actress will need to show a brave front while terrified inside. She will play tenacity despite her fears. The character begins the story not being able to express herself, so there will be a lot of subtexts to play under the dialogue.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

First, Al, her father whom Molly is forced to figure out and fights with often. Secondly, Mars, the choreographer whom Molly learns to rely on for love and support. Thirdly, April, Molly’s mother whom she is angry with for abandoning her.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Molly grew up on the road with her mom leading the life of a dancer gypsy, so her voice is one of street smarts and yet she’s still just a kid. Her dialogue will reflect both.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Besides Molly being a great dancer, she has tenacity, gumption, and a plethora of hurt. She has to deal with abandonment, being a fish out of water, possibly giving up dancing, finding a way to connect with others whom she doesn’t know well. This is a lot for a child to navigate, but Molly pushes on!

Lead Character Name: EDGAR (ED)

Role: 69-year-old father of Molly

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Edgar is a broken man who must find a way to open up. He has a powerful character arc.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Edgar is the strong silent type. (Think Sam Shepherd) He never wanted children and now he’s been given a young daughter to keep alive. Edgar must figure out how to relate to Molly. He isn’t used to having to express himself to anyone. His only role has been as a restaurant boss for years. Molly’s mom, April was the love of his life and he’s never moved on. Edgar shows prejudice to Mars who is gay and black. Eventually, he learns from Molly to set aside his ancient views and accept Mars.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Edgar comes at Molly to get her to do what he wants…he doesn’t know how to speak to a child. He tries to protect Molly, but Molly grew up on the road and isn’t listening to him. He’s actions are extreme, but he thinks he’s saving her.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

In the opening scene, Edgar is standing in a doorway behind a screen door looking out as April his former love drops Molly off. He slowly comes out of the door. He has to speak to April for the first time in a long time and is terrified. He says very little as Molly has a break down when April abandons her.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Edgar has a large character arc from the emotions from crying in his room at night over his lost love, to being stoic around Molly, to being a boss and yelling at people. He eventually exchanges his hurt for love of Molly. By the end, he is a new man emotionally who realizes he deserves the love he is receiving from Molly and April. And he passes away a happier man.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Edgar is all subtext because he is not good at communication…as a strong silent type. Similar to a soldier who doesn’t want to talk about the war. Because Edgar doesn’t know how to speak to people, he is often misunderstood. So, frustration is something that the actor will need to play.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

First, with Molly whom he has to figure out how to get her to do what he wants without her ever ending push back. They need to get along and find a way to survive with each other. Second, with April, the love of his life who left him too. He is so very hurt by her, but his love hasn’t dimmed. He is beside himself on how to communicate to April. Thirdly, Mars, the choreographer who is teaching Molly and Edgar adamantly disapproves of because he is gay and black. As an older man, Edgar grew up in rural Virginia with backwoods beliefs. Molly helps Edgar to turn around his old timey views.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

As an older character, Edgar will convey an older set of beliefs. He has a strong work ethic and expects others to be like him. This clashes with the younger generations. His age will be reflected in his dialogue.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Edgar is a hard guy on the outside, but a super soft guy on the inside who is desperately trying to not let others know how close his emotions are to the surface.

[Monica Arisman]

Subject line: Monica’s Actor Attractors

Vision: I will continue to learn everything I can through all different media to apply what I learn to become the best screenwriter I can be. To be successful in getting my movies made and to win awards in the process.

What I learned doing this assignment is to look at your main characters
through a series of character traits that would be applicable to a character in
that position in a story.<div>

ACTOR ATTRACTOR TEMPLATE

Lead Character Name: CONALL
COFFEY

Role: Protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

· Highly decorated military intelligence officer who has seen it all. Except he hasn’t until now. This mission will blow what he thought the world was to pieces and make him re-think his place in the world and how he can protect those close to him.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

· His total disrespect for those who have so much money they think they are above the rest of us.

· His transformational journey from undying loyalty to the military industrial complex to savior of the world through the extermination of the elite.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

· When he realizes the Antagonists are going to manipulate the timeline to bring about an event to send civilization into chaos and he steals the artefact and its quantum computer.

· Kills whomever gets in his way without remorse.

· When the Elites want to make their security more pliable they want to outfit them with shock collars and he outfits the Elite with shock collars instead.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

· Because he’s Irish show his ancestors IRA roots and the trouble they caused to change the world. He draws on that to stop the current madness.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

· A brilliant, highly-intelligent, stoic guy who is also sensitive when things dear to him are threatened. Piss him off at your peril!

6. What subtext can the actor play?

· At the beginning he observes, to find the real meaning behind the op, and when he figures it out, it appears he is doing what his “masters” want but really he’s doing what he knows needs to be done to stop them.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

· With the Alien because he’s so intelligent he understands what the Alien is trying to do.

· With his ex-partner and ex-lover.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

· By treating the Elites to the exact circumstances they have in store for the average person – shock collars, slavery, steal their money and give it to the average person just trying to live.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

· His ruthlessness for a just cause.

· Realizes there are many faces to the goings on in the world.

ACTOR ATTRACTOR TEMPLATE</div><div>

Lead Character Name: HARRY
BERNHAM

Role: Antagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

· Bernham leads the group of 5 who want the planet for themselves and their family.

· He’s evil incarnate. Trust him at your own peril!

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

· He’s highly intelligent and successful and ruthless.

· Although he gives the masses what they want, more and more technology, he and his buddies plan to use that technology to rid the planet of most of the population.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

· He’s fascinated with Nazi Germany and fascism and the experiments they did on people.

· But he’s more interested in the supposed time travel that Hitler and gang engaged in.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

· Through his “experiments” with what he deems undesirables.

· The way he interacts with his little gang of Elites.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

· Charming to a fault but manipulative and sociopathic.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

· Basically evil but disguises this as someone who truly wants to save humanity.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

· With his elite buddies. Thinks if he pulls off their agenda he will benefit. Maybe.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

· Through the contrast of his charming self and his philosophical drive to be master of the world.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

· His charisma, his “Hitler” philosophy and his drive to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal.

ACTOR ATTRACTOR TEMPLATE</div><div>

Lead Character Name: JAY
(ALIEN)

Role: Triangle Character

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

· This is a human time traveler who has come back in time to warn humanity about the path they are on.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

· His total disrespect for those who have so much money.

· His mandate from the galactic counsel is to interfere if warranted.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

· He knows how to manipulate the timelines but he keeps that information to himself.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

· Flew his spaceship out of a portal and intentionally crashed it to be taken to the leaders of the world.

· He closed the portal and hid its location in case he needs to use it to escape.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

· A highly-intelligent, technologically superior being with the patience of Christ.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

· He knows that if Conall cannot fix the situation he will interfere. But keeps that secret to himself.

· He reads minds so can manipulate the characters but this is disguised by making suggestions based on this ability to make the characters think it’s their idea.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

· With Conall, Conall’s partner and his handlers in the government.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

9. What could make this character special and unique?

· He says very little.

· Reads minds and can also implant suggestions into human’s brains.

</div>

[Mary Lynn]

I think this is going to be a terrific script. I am interested to see where you take this story and these characters. I quite like them. 😀

[Lynn Vincentnathan]

Lynn Vincentnathan’s Actor attractors!

VISION: I am determined to become a great screenwriter capable of getting my screenplays in various genres produced into movies that inspire vast audiences to mitigate climate change.

I LEARNED how difficult this is, but necessary to lay out beforehand. The conflict/drama isn’t great enough now and I COULDN’T COME UP WITH MUCH ACTION for the characters (though the scenery and backdrop is pretty good). Even though this isn’t an action flick, but a rom-com, at this point it doesn’t come near the great action in the rom-com, THE PROPOSAL. I truly believe (empowering myself here) I’ll come up with more conflict and action ideas perhaps also during the writing process if not before.

Concept: WEATHERING IT (Rom-Com): Two college students try to overcome family fights about global warming and get married during the worst ever Texas freeze.

Lead Character Name: Ellie Ferris

Role: Protagonist or Antagonist)

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

A climate activist who through family and romantic conflicts brings about climate solutions.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She’s ice regarding future despair and romance, but in sleeping beauty fashion awakens to love and hope.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Leading trips to a turtle rescue center and whacky off-the-grid farm. Beach party antics. Kissing under a huge Jesus statue. Hugging, snuggling lead man during a freeze and black out. Being left at the altar by wedding guests. Rescuing cold stunned turtles.

I need to ORGANICALLY BUILD IN MORE INTERESTING ACTION for Ellie. Lots of great scenes, but not much interesting action so far (as in THE PROPOSAL), mostly talking heads and kisses.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

She’s putting up turtle rescue posters, expressing to her sidekick Luz her climate despair, their next event to an off-the-grid farm, and her lack of interest in romance. Wears sweaty summer clothes. All the while lead man Jim and his sidekick follow and overhear the “hot babes.” She confronts them. Jim protests he’s interested in the turtle rescue and wants her to talk about it to his class, but later tells his sidekick he’s going to save that turtle (Ellie). In the class denialist students give her a rough time, but Jim tries to rescue her. Afterwards she rants to Jim about denialists and her climate despair, but he perks up her interest when he focuses on her events, especially the off-the-grid farm.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

Despair, to fear of connecting, to blossoming sexuality, to anger, to hope and maturity.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

She is mainly interested in Jim as someone who can take over Uncle Ely’s off-the-grid project and help in the climate effort, but hides that pretending she’s only into him. She later has to hide her activism when they’re with his Uncle Fred (oil engineer), and hide Jim’s connection and obligation to Fred with her Uncle Ely, who hates Fred. Throughout the movie she puts climate change in subtext to avoid controversy and confronting it.

Since I’m steering more to a G or PG Hallmark movie, there may not be much R-type sexy subtext ???

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With Jim as her relationship with him helps draws her out of her shell, sexually, romantically, and spiritually.

With her two uncles: Ely the bitter grump, with whom she’s closer, and Rudy the positive, long married pastor.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

She abhors hurting people (and animals) but is okay with using them…. For the greater good of saving the earth (inner conflict). But she’s finding nothing seems to work, until she herself changes toward the end.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

She fears involvement, lives in despair, and has rejected religion because her father abandoned her at age 5 and her mother. This layer underlies her climate despair layer.

————————————————-

Lead Character Name: Jim Higson

Role: Protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Hot, sexy guy, with a sensitive, religious side, but conflicted by an obligation.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Falls for a climate activist, who draws him into environmental activities and concerns. However, he’s under an obligation to his oil engineer uncle that will tear them apart.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Follows the “hot babes.” Beach party antics. Kisses lead lady under a huge Jesus statue. Into off-the-grid farm. Hugging, snuggling lead lady during a freeze and black out. Being left at the altar by wedding guests. Rescuing cold stunned turtles.

COULD USE MORE ACTION HERE.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Follows the “hot babes” but protests he’s only interested in the turtle rescue and invites the lead lady to give a talk. Talk backfires, upsets her, and he then cheers her with interest in her uncle’s off-the-grid farm.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Guy sexy-hot for a gal, sensitive and willing to go along with her, meek and obliged to his uncle, angry when gal tells him not to invite his uncle, stubborn in reestablishing the relationship, very down about the break-up (still in love), angry with his uncle.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Pretends to be environmentally concerned to get it on with the lead lady. Doesn’t tell her about his commitment to his oil engineer uncle. Says he can get out of that obligation or change his uncle, when he knows he can’t.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With the lead lady, falling for her, going to great lengths to be the man she wants, then it snaps when he just can’t go along anymore. But by then he loves her so a arduous effort to win her back and prevent family conflicts from interfering.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Hot, sexy guy, but with a sensitive, religious side. Meekly agreeable to please everyone, then strong to get what he really wants and needs.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Sexy but religious and family-oriented.

——————————————————

Lead Character Name: Ely Perez

Role: Antagonist — Triangle Character – Ellie’s great-uncle

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Grumpy, argumentative old man into alternative energy who disrupts others’ plans and relationships

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Flies off the handle regarding his arch enemy, the leading man’s oil engineer uncle. Wants to save the earth, but fails at efforts to outreach. Depends on his grand-niece Ellie, the only one he gets along with, to carry on his project.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Hosts the club’s field trip to his off-the-grid farm, a hilarious grove of weird wind generators, solar arrays, batteries. Hosts the wedding in his barn during the worst freeze and black out in Texas history. Helps with the rescue of cold stunned turtles.

COULD USE MORE ACTION HERE.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

After coming upon his crazy alt energy farm he comes out swinging in anger against various issues.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Angry, grumpy, with a soft spot for Ellie, and changes to being more friendly, inviting, and helpful. Gives some serious heart-felt advice to Ellie, practically in tears over issues in his life.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

He’s angry that no one seems to be saving the earth, especially at denialist obstructionists like the lead man’s uncle, so even when he’s calm and nice, this comes out as subtext. Underlying this is his hurt from his enemy tricking the love of his life, Sarah, away from him.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With Ellie, loving, dependent relationship. With Jim hopeful, then suspicious re Jim’s relationship to his uncle. With Jim’s uncle shear anger and hatred. With Ellie’s Uncle Rudy and her mother, contempt.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through his expression of environmental concern various frustrations and angers, and underlying this his life-altering hurt from losing his love.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

He is anti everything, except the environment and Ellie, but pushes her away and fails to do much positive for the environment because of his anger and frustrations.

——————————————————-

Lead Character Name: Fred Higson

Role: Antagonist — Triangle Character – Jim’s uncle

Much the same as for Ely Perez, grumpy, angry, opposing ideology to Ely’s, hates Ely, domineering and controlling of Jim (his substitute son), pushes people away. One difference is that he is deceitful, having tricked Ely’s love away from him, but she also left him so he’s also grumpy-bereaved.

[Frances Emerson]

MODULE THREE LESSON TWO

FRAN’S ACTOR ATTRACTORS

MY VISION: I want to write great movies. Movies that are magical, movies that move people and tell the truth. I want to write movies that stars will want to be in.

WHAT I LEARNED: Just keep going. Get something on paper. Don’t give up. Don’t give in to the nay-sayers or those who really want to give you a hard time with your writing. You’re the one in at the helm of your ship. You know where you want to go. JUST DO IT!

1. The power of self and to heal yourself. The “I can do this!” moment. From the battered mentality of the neglected wife to the empowered career woman, screenwriter who shines through. Who wins. Who shows the world “you can do this, too!”

2. She follows her heart, her instincts. She learns to trust the one person she relies on for her career.

3. She buys the diary anyway, despite the objections from Jerome. She reads it and she goes to her agent with her idea for a story. And she deals with her philandering husband as she should. She also listens to her daughter—how she feels about all of it.

4. She becomes a kind of “Aaron Sorkin” through her process.

5. From a wimpy—dutiful—I don’t love myself wife to a powerhouse, confident woman who can do.

6. The questioning herself at the beginning. Questioning her interests, her loves. Questioning “Am I worthy?”

7. Mother-daughter. Olga-author/screenwriter, agent-client, woman-new love.

8. Through her work, Olga’s story and her relationship with her daughter.

9. She’s an “every woman” who’s suffered through a debilitating relationship and has to crawl out and upward to become the new, empowered woman she turns into.

[Mary Lynn]

Mary Lynn Mabray

WIM2 – Module 3 Lesson 2

Actor Attractors

Vision: In demand high concept creator and writer

What I Learned: Why actors are attracted to certain roles and how to create them.

Actor Attractors

1) What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Helen Hunt – American’s Most Beloved Dessert Chef

To show that women fifty and older are not dead as lead actresses and don’t have to be relegated to character parts. It’s an opportunity to portray a sexy older woman of fifty or older and play off a much younger actor who isn’t a son or a grandson or a young neighbor but her romantic match.

Nick (Santa Claus)

This character has to portray a young man in love with an older woman…on the outside but internally, he is hundreds of years old…so he looks young but thinks old and has to think young and look young all the while aging back to his old self.

Stuart McCall – Helen’s business manager and the man responsible for her success. He’s a marketing guru. This character is anal, coldhearted while all the while longing to be kind-hearted and well thought of instead of being considered an obsessive SOB. He wants his wife, children to love him as they do Helen.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the story?

Helen Hunt

She hides her personal light under a bushel and only shows who she really is around her daughter and grandchildren. To the world she is America’s most beloved chef while she longs to go back in time when she was baking in her kitchen and having the neighbors over for dessert.

Nick (Santa Claus)

Santa Claus has not been portrayed on screen as young sexy guy…especially not one in love with an older woman.

Stuart McCall

Stuart is the kill joy…always practical, controlling

and always thinking of ways to make money off Helen’s career even though he is her son-in-law. He can’t seem to look at Helen as any other thing other than as a dollar sign.

3. What are the most interesting actions the lead could take in a script?

Helen Hunt

Think for herself and follow her heart.

Nick (Santa Claus)

Act young while thinking his age…hundreds of years old

Stuart McCall

Let his real emotions show.

4. How could you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

I have to think about this one…appeal to their adventuresome side. Take them back to that wondrous feeling of being a child and still believing in Santa Claus.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Helen Hunt

From feeling that life is as good as it’s going to get to experiencing the miraculous.

Nick (Santa Claus)

From knowing that everything he believed was real to discovering that it was not, to feeling ill at ease with himself to being confident and in love for the first time.

Stuart McCall

From one track thinking, time is money and more money is better and Christmas is just a marketing ploy to experiencing the miracle of Christmas and belief that Santa Claus does exist.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Helen Hunt – realizing that she isn’t close to being dead, realizing that love with a much younger man isn’t such a bad thing after all, subtle flirting that leads to a real romance.

Nick (Santa Claus) – he is much older than he looks, astonished that he is seriously attracted to Helen, can Santa Claus actually get away with falling in love, will he forever ruin his image and Christmas

Stuart McCall – disbelief that he has actual feelings, realizing that money and fame is not what is important in life, acting like a kid again.

7) What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Helen Hunt

Connecting with her fans. Letting her hair down with her family. Friendship with Nick’s Chief Elves, Ralph and Wilbur, loving and being amazed by the reindeer.

Nick (Santa Claus)

Believers all over the world, ultimate trust in Rudolph, Ralph and Wilbur, convincing Stuart that he has good intentions, and then convincing him to believe in Santa once again.

Stuart McCall

His evolving relationship with Muffy, Alexann and Will, letting Helen go.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

The three characters…wardrobe, dialogue that fits each character’s personality, feeling their true selves at long last, the imagination come to life. I still have to think about this one.

9. What could make this character special and unique.

Helen Hunt

Being the celebrity chef that everyone loves. Loving and fun relationship with Muffy, Alexann and Will, becoming a woman to love for Nick.

Nick (Santa Claus)

Going from sheer panic of a disastrous situation to realizing it is the best thing that ever happened to him. Renewing his own belief in the joy of Christmas by showing Helen his world.

Stuart McCall

Showing his warm and cuddly side. Showing his family that he finally understands their value.

[Amy Falkofske]

Amy’s Actor attractors!

ASSIGNMENT

Today is about applying the Actor Attractors to your lead characters.

Vision: I want to become known as an expert in the family-friendly genre and make a full-time living as a screenwriter.

What I learned from doing this assignment is to focus on just filling in the blanks, not trying to come up with the perfect answers right away.

Lead Character Name: Stephanie

Role: Protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

She goes from childish and selfish to responsible and giving.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Her whole world is turned upside down and she struggles to deal with it, but comes out stronger and better in the end.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Fight for her right to the throne. Help the homeless woman who’s really the princess.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Having a childish meltdown in front of her niece.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

Having a childish meltdown to laughing hysterically

6. What subtext can the actor play?

She’s self-centered yet ultimately benevolent.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With her love interest Jack who she has a love/hate relationship with

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through her desire to keep her role as princess contrasted with her benevolent spirit.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Despite her selfish desires, down deep, she is a very caring and empathetic person.

Lead Character Name: Jack

Role: Love interest

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

He’s an affable and charming prince with a sense of humor who enjoys getting Stephanie all riled up.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He has charisma and charm and a sense of humor. He does funny and sometimes outrageous things when with Stephanie.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

He conceals his identity at the masquerade ball. He takes Stephanie (a princess) grocery shopping. He tries to help Stephanie learn how to live as a commoner.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Asking Stephanie to dance at the masquerade ball and coming on to her, then revealing himself and sparing with her.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

Laughing hysterically to crying

6. What subtext can the actor play?

He’s arrogant yet caring.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

His relationship with Stephanie because they have a love/hate relationship and he enjoys getting under her skin.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through the witty and charming things he says

9. What could make this character special and unique?

He’s a royal, but he has the ability to fit right in with commoners.

[Deleted User]

Karen Crider’s Actor Attractor’s

My vision is to become a better writer.

What I learned: To recognize what each character brings to the movie. Why they are necessary; What subtext role each embodies, the character- specific dialogue unique for that character. How they fit, how they contrast, how they fulfill plot and carry a story that only they are capable of fulfilling. Thanks…

Movie: Ice Age

1.What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Manfred the Mammoth-protagonist. Actor: Ray Ramona/ humorist. I love the comedy of Ray Ramona. Everything he touches is accurately portrayed. There’s an honesty in the man that comes through with his comedy. Manfred is no exception. He’s in control, a mammoth with a personality. One fixed in his thinking backed up by his size. He’s matter of fact. Calls a spade a spade. Goes his own way. Does his own thing. Thinks for himself. Doesn’t want to be disturbed in his lifestyle. Doesn’t need anyone. Tells Sid the Sloth to get lost. Doesn’t like or trust Diego. All these things make up his personality.

So why would anyone play this part or want to? Because he’s a powerful character, brave, strong, one who makes us laugh. One who has values and battles for them. He’s capable of change because he does transform. His dialogue is amazing, his actions back them up. He is a true character that makes us reflect on ours. When he starts caring about others, is when he starts growing and stops focusing on himself. That is amazing in itself. Most individuals who are self- absorbed seldom change, but Manfred does. We see ourselves in great characters. Manfred is such a character. He makes the movie. One worthy of our time.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

It’s obvious he’s the lead. He has the best dialogue. He fits the part. His actions fit his character. His traits are specific to his who he is. His values are defined. And he stands up for what he believes, even risking his life to save Diego’s, the saber- toothed tiger, as well as defend Sid, the sloth’s, life. He battles for the baby’s, and develops a bond with him. A sense of protection and love beyond himself. Before this, he did not value any of their lives. I like that Manfred’s dialogue is requoted out of Diego’s mouth, after he saves Manfred, and is identical to Manfred’s that he quoted when he saved Diego’s life. “You defend the lives of your herd.” They now belong together as a family. Something that defines a relationship and a trust– something they now have in common which creates a bond. Diego walks away from his predator friends and shows he now has adopted a new value–loyalty. This shows they have both transformed. Manfred cares for someone that before he disliked intensely. They are both growing. But Manfred is impressive, not only because of his size, but because he’s capable of seeing himself as a mammoth drawn on some cave wall, as one who needs to change. As one who should have a female and a baby of his own. While all this time, he’s been a loner. He has depth and appeal. His dialogue and action define who he is and contrasts him from other characters in the story, not only making him stand out, but defines the difference in motivation, insightsand subtext which lends depth to the overall movie.

3.What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

You mean the ones he did take? Manfred fought for his friends before they became his friends. He’s stuck with Sid who realizes no one loves him. Syd finds acceptance with Manfred, though he rebuffs him many times– even leaves Syd alone in a hailstorm. Manfred fights off the sabers. He survives the avalanches, risks the ice chasms, chases the baby who is almost lost to them. Deals with Diego and his sad, fellow sabers. Challenges the mongooses for their food and almost loses his life for his friends, which in the Word is defined as the greatest love any can have on earth or heaven. All these actions, defined by his characters, defines who Manfred is. A true hero.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

A writer can blend it in with action like they did, which I think is the best way, because that way the character is not in your face. The movie opened with the prehistoric squirrel chasing the acorn, and after a few minutes he is almost toppled by Manfred the Mammoth’s huge feet. That’s the best way to do it. Shuttle him in with his characters and give him the great dialogue they wrote for him. I’m more prone to start with their birth and lead them in a rite of passage type story, but I believe it is in the hands and talent of the writer to come up with their own ploys, to bring out the hero in every protagonist as well as the evilness in the antag.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Manfred went from aggravation to being perturbed, to anger, to frenzy, to total dismay/ rage. He delivered well on all of them. He used subtext to get across perceptible language to make his point.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

One that comes to mind is the fish out of water. Manfred learns to tolerate all the interruptions in his life, even a howling baby. He took on the role of a father in several places. When Sid and the baby were poking each other and howling, Manfred hollered at them saying, “Do I need to come back there? And Sid replies, “It’s his fault,” which is so typical of family. Manfred’s dialogue was amazing, and he used a lot of sarcasm in his replies, He hinted. he inferred, he used sarcasm, and politeness. He inferred what he meant without being mean. Though he was insulting in a subtle way. Most of his quotes were so funny and realistic, one took it as humor more than sarcasm.

He was suspicious of those about him. Especially, Diego who did betray them. He did not want to oversee anyone. He was isolated and liked it, (which reminds me of me.) lol. So his character drives a perspective into ourselves. He was evasive, concealing, and crafty. He was a hero and just wanted his space. But they forced him to change and change he did.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Manfred had relationships with all his characters. But I think the best one was with the baby,

His mother was swept away in water after escaping a saber, and she did everything she could to save the baby. Manfred found the baby and Sid the Sloth insisted he save the child and bring him back to his kind. Manfred didn’t want no part of this deal. What happens to your solitary when you let folk in? Well, there goes your solitary, your freedom to do whatever quirky thing you do every day. Now, he’s at a hindrance and he rebukes it. But not for long. After all, how do you rebuff a helpless baby? But when Sid proves he’s as helpless as the child, Manfred is guilted into it. From that point on, he will never be a loner again. His freedom is shot all to heck, but he doesn’t realize the rewards that come from caring for another being, or the depth of love, of connection one makes when one gives up a part of their life for another, These are lessons Manfred has yet to learn.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

As something consistent with who he is. The use of his traits, his expressions, his actions. The unique ways he has of expressing his views. His rebuffs, his insights. He is his own character. For the most part he has the best dialogue, the actions that declare he’s a survivor, capable of leaping tall buildings (glaciers) saving the innocent, (A Superman without a cape.) A competitor capable of sustaining his own life and those he does not actually like, but defends them anyway. Which shows he’s generous, He has been exposed to his own kryptonite, in that he’s fallen for the kid and is willing to die for him. But it’s the best kind of kryptonite to possess.

9.What could make this character special and unique?

All the above. Everything I have mentioned. There was even a symbol in the movie, the baby’s mother had a necklace the husband carried after the saber chased her for her life and the child’s. At the end of the movie the necklace was given to Manfred as a gift, a bond between hearts who loved a baby and all that’s beautiful in life…

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for being Sid the Sloth?

Who wouldn’t want to be the voice over for such a fun, zany character? One who is totally content in his freedom? A spirit with a big heart. One who loves freely and expects nothing in return, who fights for the innocent and those most in need of help—a baby.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He is a supporting actor. But he is interesting because we identify with him. We all have areas that make us nuts. For me, it’s computers. But he is neurotic about the environment he lives in. It’s similar to ours; dangerous, full of predators, a dog- eat- dog world. So, I can identify with that. But when he cares about something as he does the baby and Manfred, he changes and you can see the stubbornness behind the caring. The dedication beyond the neurotic. He is a caring creature, a good friend, loyal and kind.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

His devotion is defending the baby, keeping it safe from the sabers, setting himself up as a target to divert the sabers from it. Those qualities are seen in nature more these days than in humans. His ability to point out to Diego, how no one had ever put his life on the line for him, not even his uncaring family. This establishes Manfred’s reputation and helps Diego to realize Manfred is a good guy. One worthy of friendship and respect, which is the basis of most friendships.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Needing a actor with a great voice over voice. One capable of harnessing the insecurities of his characters; as well as, exemplifying his trusting, caring capabilities needed on screen along with his neurotic personality and nervous laugh. To play his traits to the hilt and do it so it comes across naturally is the key. Not everyone has that capability, that high toned nervousness with sincerity that hallmarks this actor.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

From nervousness to frenzy, from frenzy to desperation, from begging to demanding, from trusting to disappointment. He plays all ranges and does a good job.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

He is the victim. No one loves me, not even my family. And he is possibly right when Manfred leaves him alone out in a hailstorm. He is the beggar. The one who begs Manfred to sleep with him. The one who dogs him daily following, when all Manfred wants is just to be left alone. He is neurotic, obtrusive, needy, incompetent, and a pest, a pain in the neck, the thorn in Manfred’s backside, with the need to be accepted and appreciated like every other being on the planet.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

The relationship with the baby. The diaper thing was hilarious. The bond he developed with a member of a different species, one capable of growing up and perhaps taking their lives,–knowing it, yet loving the child enough to be willing to die for him. A perfect example of loving your enemies—even their offspring.

I also loved his relationship with Manfred. The dialogue was so snappy and meaningful. That takes skill and knowing what traits magnify their effect, coupling their tones of voice to give the words life and yet remain credible to the audience. So many skill sets must be in place to hold an audience with meaning, entertainment and depth.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

See number 7.

9.What could make this character special and unique?

His traits, his personality, his tone of voice, how he reacts to other characters, how he contrasts in relation to them, which yields his reputation. The way he presents himself, his subtext, his relationships, his needs, his fears, his values.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for Diego, the saber-toothed tiger?

Abe Lincoln once said, If I were two faced, you think I’d choose this one? We have one face. To be a great actor requires many faces, many lifetimes. Diego is such a predator, one ruled by his stomach instead of his heart. He’s full of subtext, but he’s also capable of change. He’s ferocious, dominant, overwhelming, threatening, demanding, self- centered, Machiavellian. He is the opposite of Sid the Sloth. He contrasts most of the characters. He is selfish but some would say, so is Manfred. But it’s not for blood. Diego requires a growly voice that exemplifies authority, power, one that induces fear, terror. How can any trust a saber? Yet, Manfred puts him in the lead to find the baby’s parents. Perhaps, he does that to keep an eye on him. Maybe he senses Diego is up to no good. BTW, the name Diago means a supplanter, a teacher—one who plants, a deviator is another verb for it. He kind of fits his name. He is a deviant teacher, lol.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He is the antag, He reeks with devilment, with the need for feed. He lies and tries to steal the baby for dessert with his cronies. He has an attack planned, and he does not deviate from his plan until after Manfred saves his life. Maybe he learns with through that kind of sacrifice, he has value. Maybe, that’s what we all need to learn for any of us to change.

Diego continues to lead them to their demise until he decided he cannot go through with it. Up to this point he planned every chance he could to have Manfred for lunch and the baby to go with it. He is devious, heartless, incorrigible. But he changes and realizes It’s time to be fed in more meaningful ways. He needs to belong. He needs those who care for his life. And he realizes it in the nick of time. He even learns to love a baby.

3. What are the most interesting actions Diego could take in the script?

Diego fulfilled his character by his traits. See #1. His dialogue showed his corrupt nature. The dialogue of other characters illuminates Diego’s essence. They show his reputation, his errant ways. And yet his traits define the character of a saber. One who lives to kill, one that shows no mercy, no heart. As far as his actions, they were portrayed in his scheming with his cronies. The essence of how to divide a baby, The vision of a mammoth on a platter. One of immense size. Diego had only known corruption. How do you reach a creature who only knows the word, take. In this case, Manfred saved his life and showed him caring is mor powerful than killing. Love greater than hate. Mercy is deeper than judgment. In the end, Mortimer fights his cronies to save a baby and his new friends. Devotion is deeper than kin. My Mortimer, my rabid lion is similar to Diego. I see him here.

4.How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

I would write it out, and advertise with the traits, the voice needed, the handling of the dialogue which will be much more antagonistic than the other vocals. It demands uniqueness as does all characters, But an actor like Bruce Dern could accomplish it well. An actor with experience in being a saboteur, a rascal, one fixed in his own skin. One needed in a strong personality, one ferocious and mindless of the needs of others. A narcissistic personality would work well. But they must be adaptable to change. One with great dialogue and being able to function with a relative amount of action.

5.What could be this character’s emotional range?

From placidity to rage, from deception to diseased, to impatience magnified in killing. An electric rod temperament, He knows only to kill or be killed. Only hate and suspicion around his own kind. Only acceptance and kinship manifests Manfred, and Sid contrasting Diego. To instill loyalty and love distills the old nature, the new nature thrives beneath it.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Diego is underhanded, he is a saboteur. The manipulator, the competitor, the con, the lawyer advocate trying to lawyer for himself. He’s someone who hides who he really is—a narcissistic jerk whose ruled by his stomach instead of his heart. Of course, in real life that’s what sabers are. But in fantasy they can be whoever they want, (which is one reason I am drawn to fantasy. Comedy lives in this script as well.)

Diego is conniving, concealing, covert treacherous, devious, underhanded, and does not change until he finds a friend willing to die for him. That is the essence of friendship. And Diego recognizes it.

7.What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

I found the one with the baby the most profound. Diego went from plotting to eating him to falling in love with him. He learned to value life instead of taking it. He learned the value of his own life when Manfred was willing to die for him. This had an extreme effect on him.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

He has the voice of a politician who tells you, with a pat on your tiny head, everything is going to be alright, while he’s busy planning the type of seasoning he will sift on your rib cage. His voice carries a timbre of deception like a rusty hinge that carries its own grit– a corrosion that’s present from all the damaging elements its been exposed to, Diego needs a voice that can carry such subtext without going on the nose. One that says his character is just as rusty as his voice…

9. What could make this character special and unique?

His mode of attack, His justifications for his actions. His two-faced mentality, His way of coming across like he’s only trying to help, when he’s really trying to help himself. He is flawed and shows it in his actions, his duality, his motives that are not honorable. His actions speak louder than his words. Thanks…

[Dana Abbott]

WIM2 – Dana’s Actor Attractors!

My Vision: I intend to perfect my skills to become a successful screenwriter, scripting acclaimed and profitable films, recognized by my peers, and living an adventurous life.

What I learned during this assignment:

I learned more about my protagonist’s depth andcharacter than I had originally considered and her relationship to the antagonist and the supporting characters.

Lead Character’s Name: Ruth Griffin

Role: Hostage

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Ill-prepared by a privileged lifestyle, she must adopt survival skills in a life-or-death situation transforming her from victim to heroine.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Her transition from pampered, helpless victim to an empathetic, tough woman.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Her verbal battles with the antagonists
Her desperate attempts to keep hidden while a drug gang tortures one of their own
Her battle with a rattle snake
Fighting off a drug addict with immoral intentions
Her escape from the smelting pot prison
Her final battle with her kidnapper

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Trapped in a no-way out situation and emotionally helpless and overwhelmed by her circumstances.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

From fear to rage to courage.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Fearing of her captor, she cedes to his demands while plotting a way to escape

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Her battle of wills with the antagonist
Her interaction with the young gang member who discovers her and tries to help

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through the transition from fear and rage at her kidnapper
Softly singing Bible hymns in moments of misery

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Her experience as a hostage transforms her from self-importance to finding the deeper meaning of her life and empathy for the other victims.

Lead Character’s Name: The Custodian

Role: Kidnapper

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Psychopathic serial kidnapper

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Cool and sadistic, he appears and disappears at will, always at the right moment, watching over his victim to protect her until the ransom is paid. His final intentions are never known until the end.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

His sadistic methods to keep his victim controlled
Saving his victim from being sexually assaulted by a drug addict
Playing cat and mouth with the victim after she has escaped her prison

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

He stands over the victim on a platform gazing down at her, cloaked and masked. He instructs her to cooperate by simple hand gestures.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Cool and calm to volatile rage.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

He shows empathy and a protective nature toward his victim.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

The relationship with his victim.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

By total silence, body language and his eyes.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Never knowing his identity, communicating through hand signals and body language.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  Dana Abbott.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  Dana Abbott.

[David Penn]

David’s Actor attractors!

My vision is to increase my skills to become an A list writer

What I learned from this assignment was the necessity of creating unique, dynamic characters that an actor would love to play.

PAST DUE: Chas Chandler, protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? The epitome of a Gen Z college grad: wants to do great things- knows he has something great inside- but doesn’t know what it is… and is buried in student loan debt.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? He’s a study of ironies: he’s a good hearted, moral person but he lies to everyone, including himself. He eschews reality, preferring to live in a fantasy world.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? Becomes a sperm donor to pay rent. Lies to a beautiful girl and says he’s a doctor. Drives his friends car and stays in his apartment, saying they’re both his. Mentors a young teenager.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? Lives in a dinky, messy boat, avoiding calls from his student loan collector, and gives his last food to his cat. We know that he’s a kind hearted guy deeply in debt and that his life is a mess.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range? Sincere to funny to deceptive to cunning to regretful.

6. What subtext can the actor play? That he lies to protect his own dignity, not to harm others. That despite his current situation, he has a lot of offer and talents not yet realized.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? With Christie, who’s sweet and naïve and a hopeless romantic. And Keith, the vicious collector, who’s his exact opposite in almost every way.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Through his actions and dialogue and the guilt he has for leading Christie on and his parents.

9. What could make this character special and unique? The dichotomy of his character: he’s honest, but lies. He’s lazy, but ambitious. He’s good hearted, but leads a sweet, naïve girl on.

PAST DUE: Keith Holmes, antagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? Keith is the epitome of white, middle-aged working class guy who feels left behind.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? He’s a brutal, take-no-prisoner collector, a former Marine with a soft spot for his mother and animals.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? Threatens Chas with violence and gets fired. Duct tapes a grenade to a student’s head. Fights an army of frat boys. Threatens the life of an IRS guy. Ties up Chas. Pulls knife on homeless guy.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? Leaves violent messages on Chas machine, then explodes in a rage after getting fired.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range: from violent rage to nogstalgic to subdued and sweet to regretful.

6. What subtext can the actor play? That he’s really a good guy underneath trying to save his childhood home. That though he hates college kids, he wished he had the opportunity to go.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? Cat and mouse game with Chas. The sexual relationship with the receptionist at the sperm bank. The sorta friendship he makes with Dicker, who both hate Chas.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? By his colorful, obsenece language, his military attire and aresnel of weapons. His violent nature and adoration of his departed mother.

9. What could make this character special and unique? His combination of ruthlessness and compassion, of vindictiveness and regret. The journey of breaking out of his comfort zone and changing his attitude.

[Andrew Boyd]

Andrew Boyd’s WIM2 Module 3, Lesson 2, Roles that Sell Actors

My Vision:

For Hitler’s Choirboys to be such a compelling screenplay that Steven Spielberg and Mel Gibson will battle it out to produce their best WW2 blockbuster since Hacksaw Ridge or Schindler’s List.

What I learned from this assignment is:

How to develop a role and how to describe that role in a way that will make it compelling to a top actor or a great actor wanting to further their career.

ACTOR ATTRACTOR TEMPLATE

Lead Character Name: Henry Gerecke

Role: Protagonist / US Army Chaplain

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Henry Gerecke is a decent Everyman, tasked with the mission impossible of winning his battle of wills with the world’s worst mass killers. Somehow, he has to get inside their heads and their hearts and turn them around so they denounce everything they believe in and have fought for.
He’s a man determined to do the right thing in the face of hostility from his colleagues and at huge personal risk. At stake are his marriage and his health; he’s battling with guilt over sending his sons to war to be wounded in action, and with his own desire for vengeance against the very men he now has to win over, rather than destroy.
Henry is a river that runs deep; often underestimated by his colleagues, who put him down as that frustrating, naive nice guy. Beneath that warmth affability, Henry Gerecke is as shrewd as he is tough and knows how to play the long game. But first, he must overcome his inner demons and his reluctance to humiliate other men the way he was humiliated by his own father.<div>

<div>

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Gerecke is a fish out of water, propelled by circumstances to be a major figure behind the scenes in the world’s greatest trial, a player whose actions could determine not only the outcome of that trial, but the future peace of the world – literally. He has to get the leading Nazis to denounce Hitler and all he stood for, to break the Nazi legend before they go to the gallows.
He has to hold on to his humanity in the face of the most inhuman crimes against humanity and the men the world calls monsters who perpetrated them. He has to understand them, win a place in their hearts, confront them and utterly defeat their ideology. Somehow…</div><div>

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the script?

Henry Gerecke has to confront Hitler’s deputy, the cunning and manipulative arch-Nazi Hermann Goering, who has the other defendants firmly in his grip. Gerecke must hold his nose and his nerve and win over this man of colossal vanity who set up the concentration camp system and passed the Nuremberg race laws condemning millions of Jews. And even while this battle is raging, he has to find a way of getting through to the others…

4. How can you introduce the role in a way that sells it to an actor?

We first see Gerecke at Dachau concentration camp, confronting his own sidekick, the drunk and broken Sam Fuller, whose brother was murdered in cold blood by the Nazis. Fuller is pointing a cocked and loaded pistol in the face of the army chaplain and screaming at him to stand aside. Staring down the barrel of that Colt, Gerecke has a choice: to save his own skin, at the cost of the life of a hated Nazi SS guard. Or he can keep staring into that barrel and talk Fuller into laying down that Colt.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

From a warm and folksy friend and father, to cool-headed, courageous and utterly determined. From self-doubt to steely conviction; from affable to aggressive and unrelenting in confrontation. A man of compassion who has to learn how to administer the toughest of tough love.</div><div>

6. What subtext can the actor play?

A skilled negotiator, beneath a friendly poker face, who can read between the lines, knows men, and is willing to play the long game. Who is confronted with arrogant, self-obsessed Nazis the world condemns as monsters, who have committed appalling horrors, and yet who are steeped in self-justification: these are the men he has to know and understand in order to turn them around.

Gerecke is a man who has to hold on to his humanity and self-control, and who must keep a lid on his understandable anger and disgust which is boiling below the surface.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?

Gerecke is like a father to his sidekick, Sam Fuller, who has come to hate him for standing in his way.
He is roommate to the intense and furious Jewish psychologist Gustave Gilbert, who loathes the Nazis, works for military intelligence and is trying to persuade Gerecke to cross the line and spy on the Nazis.</div><div>

8. How was this character’s unique voice presented?

We see his self-control and affability under intense provocation. His honesty and decency emerge in heated arguments with Nazi mass murderers who are bent only on saving their own skins.

His determination to stand up and do the right thing emerges under confrontation with his own colleagues who accuse him of being a Nazi-lover; while that anger is always there, threatening to break the surface and overwhelm him.

9. What made this character special and unique?

Henry Gerecke is a real figure. A Lutheran chaplain of German extraction, who cared for prisoners in the US, before being dispatched to Nuremberg to ‘keep Hitler’s henchmen alive until we can kill ‘em’.

He’s a man whose almost boundless compassion is stretched to its very limit in Nuremberg.

He’s a man who has to overcome himself, his past and his wounds, if he is to overcome the barrage of self-justification thrown up by the manipulative Nazis who are trying to save their necks. He is a man on the brink of being overwhelmed, who must, above all, hold on to his humanity.

ACTOR ATTRACTOR TEMPLATE

Lead Character Name: Hermann Goering

Role: Antagonist. Hitler’s Deputy

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Goering is a Nazi Hannibal Lecter: highly intelligent, scheming, manipulative – and extremely dangerous. He is running rings around the Nuremberg prosecutors and fighting not only for his life, but so the Nazi legend will live on.

He is vain, narcissistic, and utterly ruthless. He believes in his cause, and is working to turn the military intelligence operatives who are working to turn him. His aim is to persuade the Allies to join forces with the surviving Nazi leaders and German military to fight the Russians and perpetuate World War Two.

He wants to ensure that the rest of Germany ­– including the next generation ­– sees him and the Nazis as their national saviours. If he fails, he will certainly hang ­– which would be an ignominious end for a true hero of the Third Reich.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

His intelligence, his ruthlessness, his arrogance and his vanity – all giftwrapped in the charm and the guile that seduced a nation. He is fighting for the life, and the life of the legend he has devoted himself to.

3. What are the most interesting actions the antagonist takes in the script?

Herman Goering dominates the trial and runs rings around the distinguished American prosecutor, Robert Jackson. He dominates and rallies the dispirited Nazi leaders and is staging his counterattack before a watching world in Room 600, the courtroom for the world’s greatest trial in Nuremberg.

Behind the scenes, he is working relentlessly to tighten his grip on the wavering Nazis, and manipulate the allied team who must get him to renounce the Fuhrer and destroy the Nazi legend.

Hermann Goering is a powerful egotist, who is winning his battle of wits. What Goering hasn’t reckoned on is the honesty of a US Army chaplain, the determination of a Jewish psychologist – and the unanswerable truth.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Herman Goering dominates the stage at every occasion, from his courtroom battles, to his battles of wits with US officers in his cell in Nuremberg. He plays mind games with everyone – and makes sure he wins.

This monstrous man is portrayed as a complex, fatally flawed human being, whose father figure was the Fuhrer, and who is desperate to hold on to his self-belief in the face of what he sees as cynical victors’ justice.

Goering, the man the world sees as an arch villain, considers himself a hero whose legend must live on – even if it costs him his life.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

From avuncular good humour to murderous manipulation: A real-life Hannibal Lecter with a Nazi armband.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Goering is constantly scheming and manipulating. There is subtext to everything he says. He is seeking allies and supporters at every turn. He builds his power base with a mixture of menace and the sheer weight of his oversized ego.

His fatal flaw is his vanity, and he is constantly appealing to the ego, vanity and insecurity of others. He is oblivious to just how narcissistic he truly is.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?

Goering’s key relationship is with the kind-hearted US chaplain Henry Gerecki, who is as much a shadow figure to Goering as Goering is a shadow figure to him.

Goering knows only too well how to manipulate the ambition of egotists like himself. But how will he get through to and turn this straight-forward, honest, everyman?

Goering’s other battle of wills is with the angry Jewish psychologist, Gustave Gilbert, who is determined to cut his ego down to size and limit his oppressive influence over the other Nazi leaders on trial.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Goering must justify himself to the court and the US military in a way that will win both over. To snatch victory from the jaws of defeat will take every ounce of his outsized ego, his cunning and his undoubted intelligence to succeed.

Goering has the advantage of speaking excellent English. In court, he can understand the questions put to him by the prosecution even before the interpreters translate them into German. It gives this brilliant and scheming man twice as long to prepare his rebuttals, justifications and deflections – and unsettle and unnerve his illustrious adversary from US Supreme Court.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

See above. Hermann Goering is a real figure, a decorated war hero from World War One, who 20 years later helped lead the charge to conquer most of Europe – and came perilously close to winning the Second World War.

ACTOR ATTRACTOR TEMPLATE

Lead Character Name: Samuel Fuller

Role: Sidekick and Shapeshifter

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Fuller is a wisecracking huckster, a bar-room piano player, who knocks out tunes of the day hot and fast. He’s given a stark choice: play hymns on an organ or stay in jail. He opts for playing hymns so he can keep playing the black market.

Fuller is a black 20-something, who’s taken under the wing of the chaplain, Henry Gerecke. Gerecke treats him like his son ­– which means Fuller comes to hate him – almost as much as he hates the racists in US army at the time.

But nothing matches the hatred Fuller has for the Nazis who captured and murdered his brother at the Battle of the Bulge. Fuller, who has a line in near-to-the-knuckle jokes, has an axe to grind. He wants his revenge.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Fuller is a complex and conflicted character, who tries to wisecrack his way out of most situations. He’s a kid with a mischievous sense of humour. He’s the character the audience is most likely to relate to.

But beneath all that is a fury and a loathing towards the Nazis, and anyone who tries to treat these monsters like human beings. And that includes his boss, Henry Gerecke.

Fuller is man on fire, and those around him are likely to get burned.

When one of the leading Nazis dies, the question is – did Fuller provide the cyanide?

3. What are the most interesting actions Fuller takes in the script?

We begin with a drunk and furious Fuller at Dachau concentration camp. He’s just found out his brother has been murdered by the Nazis. And now he’s pointing a gun in the face of his boss, Henry Gerecke, who has stepped in to save the life of a young SS prisoner of war. Fuller doesn’t care about the rifle pointed at his own head. Right now, it doesn’t matter if he lives or dies. If he has to shoot his boss in order to kill the Nazi, so be it.

Fuller is switched to guard duty outside the cells of the leading Nazis in Nuremberg – where he teases and torments them at every opportunity.

Fuller is subject to racial abuse by both the Nazis and his own bullying Sergeant, who tries to cut him down to size with an army knife in a back alley in Nuremberg. What happens next lands Fuller in Menard.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

The concentration camp scene is the opener. Fuller is so appalled by the horror at Dachau that he is determined to make a Nazi pay – even if it costs Fuller his life. It’s the scene where his boss, Henry Gerecke, stands in his way – and where Fuller comes to hate him like a father.

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

Wisecracking good humour, a kid with talent and an ego to match, to a depressive drunk determined to get revenge. Fuller is a shapeshifter who provides both comic relief and a furious counterpoint to his principled and warm-hearted boss.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

In the scene in Dachau Fuller is driven. We pick that up, but only he knows why. He knows, but we don’t that his brother was racially murdered by Nazis after he was captured. As Fuller goes round the concentration camp, he is boiling at what he sees. And his determination builds ­– unseen – to get revenge.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Fuller’s key relationship is with Henry Gerecke, the US Army captain and chaplain who has taken him under his wing. Gerecke is his father figure. The problem is, Fuller’s own father was a dangerous drunk. So Fuller has a problem with father figures and anyone in authority.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Samuel Fuller’s voice is crucial to this movie. He’s cool and young with audience appeal and states out loud what the audience is thinking. He constantly challenges his boss and other viewpoints. He’s a crucial counterpoint to the protagonist, Henry Gerecke, who is a warm-hearted father figure.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

The wide emotional range demanded of Sam Fuller will challenge any actor. Fuller also needs to be played by a talented singer with street appeal, capable of lighting up the screen in every scene he plays.

And he has some of the most powerful scenes in the movie, where he confronts his boss with a gun at Dachau concentration camp and later his murderous sergeant in an alley in Nuremberg.

Fuller is far more than simply a sidekick to the protagonist. The movie can’t work without him. That’s why he’s listed here as a lead character.

Many thanks, Andrew

</div></div>

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  Andrew Boyd.

[David Holloway]

Dave Holloway’s Actors Attractors

My vision: I would like to be a successful writer in Hollywood, with a number of successful movies to my credit that put forward a core belief about environmental, political, or personal development.

What I learned doing this assignment is that going through these specifications allows me to give the characters more depth and authenticity.

Character: Livia Williamson, wife of protagonist Nigel Williamson

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Because she is under duress throughout the story, but displays remarkable courage, endurance and intelligence throughout. Her courage and undying love for her husband make her as heroic as either of the two males in the other two lead roles.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Because she has grown up in a normal, English home and has never been in serious trouble before, but when she is imprisoned and sentenced to execution in a military state, she never succumbs to despair, never weakens in her resistance to the prison and its warden, and her love for her husband remains steadfast.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

When offered a way out of the prison, she refuses to name any of the local people who told her of the prison’s crimes, and instead insults the warden who made her the offer. At the end of the story, she risks her life in a daring escape.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

By having her first appearance be in a SKYPE call she makes to her husband from the military state, in which she expresses great anxiety about her survival; and having her second appearance be in another SKYPE call, during which she is arrested by military officers and taken away. In both instances, she maintains her courage and dignity.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

From despair when she’s sentence to execution in a military state far from her husband to declarations of love for her husband, to empathic sorrow for another woman she meets in the prison, to rage at the prison and its warden, to jubilation when she escapes it.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

A sense of desperation about her condition, to deep longing for the husband she fears she’ll never see again, to despair that her execution is imminent, to wild joy about a possible escape.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?’

Her relationships with her husband (they’ve been married a short time), her friendship with another woman in the prison whose husband has already been executed at the prison, and her acquaintance with a female prison guard, who carries out a surprising act of sympathy that helps her escape.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

In her communications with other characters, in which her eloquence, courage, loyalty, passion, and idealism are heard.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

She has exceptional courage and character, as well as an idealism that makes her risk death, along with intelligence that helps her intuitively understand others.

Roger Darby, beat friend of Nigel Williamson, who offers to accompany him on his journey across what was formerly the U.S. to try to rescue his wife.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Roger plays a heroic role as a naturally courageous, adventurous friend who volunteers to accompany Nigel partly because her enjoys adventure. He’s also deeply loyal to his friend and risks his life several times to save him. Without his courage in the face of danger, his friend’s quest would have ended in failure.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Because his courage doesn’t lead him to great egotism; he remains down to earth and genial throughout. Also, because he joins the adventure without his friend asking him to come along, and because his loyalty to his friend is so deep that he’s willing to risk his life for him. And because he begins a love affair during the course of the story with an American girl.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

When his friend is discussing his wife’s predicament, he volunteers to accompany him without any prompting; when the two are embroiled in a dispute between laborers and police, he punches a policeman and knocks him out; he volunteers to participate in an armed battle with Native Americans against hunters from a neighboring nation-state; and he risks his life to help his friend’s wife escape from prison.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

He’s introduced playing rugby, a rough and tumble, colorful sport, and excelling at it. In the next scene, he has drinks with his friend and volunteers to accompany him to the military state, without being asked.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

His range goes from sympathy for his friend, to good-natured jocularity, to sympathetic allegiance with three Native-Americans he meets, to deep sorrow when one of them is killed, to anger and rage when he fights for his friend’s wife’s release, to exhilaration when they’re free again.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Loyalty and love for his friend motivating him to accompany him; dislike of hunters for killing animals for sport; growing attraction to a girl they meet on the journey, and ultimate willingness to give his life for his friend and his wife.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

His friendship with Nigel, which is revealed to be deeper and stronger than apparent at first; to his friendship with and willingness to fight alongside three Native-Americans he meets; to his romance with an American girl he meets.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

By emphasizing his rough and ready nature and natural courage, his good-heartedness, the profanity he uses freely, and the simple but sincere way he expresses deep emotions.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

The fact that he volunteers for a potentially dangerous mission very easily and confidently; the fact that he risks his life for his friend; his willingness to join a gun battle between Native Americans and hunters because of a friendship he’s made with one of them; and the fact that he risks his life to save his friend’s wife.

[Joe Donato]

My vision is to persevere and stay the course of building steady daily routine, and disciplines that produce consistent writing of exceptional quality. Ultimately, the fruit of those habits and disciplines will be a track record of great marketable scripts that will make other successful talented pros seek me out.

What I learned: I learned that making the character unique, particularly for Rom Coms, does NOT necessarily mean they’re going to outrun a bolder after stealing an idol from a sacred temple, or do a vicious hit job while talking politely about a tasty hamburger. Most successfull rom-coms I’ve watched are practically the opposite; a below-average person falling in love, and making a fool of themselves in the process. But they have stand-out scenes, like how well they sing when they’re alone home drunk in their underwear, etc. I’m still exploring this because it perplexes me to some degree. It seems to me that the character attraction rules for “Romancing the Stone” are different than character attraction rules for, say “Bridget Jones’s diary”, but I’m still trying to figure this question out and I think I need to study a few more classic Rom Coms over the course of this module. “Moonstruck” is next on my list.

Lead Character Name: Emily Wakefield

Role: Entrepeneurial dance studio owner and ex-broadway dancer.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

She is an extremely beautiful dancer and performer but is also an excellent down-to-earth teacher.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She is not afraid to rise to the challenges of owning and running her own business. She refuses to be put in a box, and will accept any challenge thrown at her.

She goes through the journey of the initial clash with Lorenzo, to finally wanting to build a life with him as a lover AND a business partner.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the script?

She signs the lease and starts her own business (partner leaves her hanging on the phone)

She takes on the shapeshifting landlord and takes him down

She encourages a student to overcome a major obstacle.

She persuades Lorenzo to come back to the states and buy a building with her.

4. How was the role introduced in a way that sold it to an actor?

– A woman who doesn’t take crap from anyone and who will rise to any challenge presented to her.

– She is revered by her students for her caring nurturing spirit

– She’s got a lot of great funny one-liners.

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

ambitious to defeated to rising again.

falling for someone she intially thought was her enemy

going from blindly trusting to feeling betrayed.

6. What subtext did the actor play?

Hiding how she really feels about Lorenzo. First part of the movie she’s hiding that she has pre-judged him and despsises him. The second part of the movie she’s hiding that she’s falling for him.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character had?

Lorenzo, but if some think the relationship with the landlord is even more intriguing, then that’s ok too. Let them debate it at the water cooler at work the next day.

8. How was this character’s unique voice presented?

I have no idea yet… phrases that start with “when I was on broadway” should change over time to something… maybe “when I go to broadway” or “when I visit brodway” or “when I think of my friends still stuck on Broadway”

9. What made this character special and unique?

all of the above.

Lead Character Name: Lorenzo Locatelli

Role: Pizza shop owner.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

-He’s a blue-collar guy with lots of loveable energy, who ultimately wins the heart of the “Uptown girl”

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

-He seems like an extroverted opinionated control freak at first but he’s really got a huge heart.

-He slings pizza dough and other culinary delights like a master sculptor but never talks about how awesome he is (only how awesome the food is)

– He is alone for noble reasons, but he is blind to the fact that he should give Emily a chance

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the script?

– He stands up to the landlord and comes to Emily’s defense when she needs it.

– He knows how to draw a crowd of devoted customers.

4. How was the role introduced in a way that sold it to an actor?

– He’s very much an everyman, so we all can relate to him because he lives and works on our level, but is a master crafsstman in the kitchen… turns out in the bedroom too!

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

From extroverted and “king of the castle” in his domain of the pizza parlor, but take him out of that comfort zone, like on a dance floor, or courtroom, and he’s introverted and sinks into his shell.

He thinks he’s making the most mature, somber decision of his life to leave pizza store, but by leaving Emily in America, he realized he made the biggest mistake of his life. At that point, he’s ready to swing in on a vine (or Elevator cable) to rescue her, no holds barred.

6. What subtext did the actor play?

Very little subtext at first: everything’s out on the table; on the nose; guns blazing, which is a turn off to Emily, but his actions make him a hypocrite, when he tells people he’s not int0 Emily.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character had?

His change of heart and mind over Emily. Also, with his pizza parlor, as he’s ready to give it all up, as much as Abraham was ready to give up Isaac to sacrifice to God.

8. How was this character’s unique voice presented?

He’s such an extrovert, but is a creative and passionate soul, so he’ll probably use colorful metaphors with the things he loves the most: his food, his pizza parlor, and his livelihood, like it’s fine artwork, a sanctuary, and a sacred order. His family and his homeland are next in line as well: his trip to the motherland of Italy is a “pilgramage”, and to make Emily his clan would be the ultimate expression of acceptance and inclusion into a most sacred order.

9. What made this character special and unique?

Everything I said above.

[Renee Miller]

Renee’s Actor Attractors

My Vision: I will work hard to become a well-respected screenwriter who gets their movies produced and I will have enough work to keep me busy and the light on.

What I learned doing this assignment is how to think about what can make my characters appealing to A-list actors.

Lead Character Name: Claire Levine

Role: Protagonist

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

She tougher than she looks and is the only one who can rescue the girl and defeat both the antagonist and the creature.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She takes on a government entity and a mysterious creature to save a missing girl.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

She saves a fellow search and rescue team member even though he is working against her. She manages to escape from the members of the group that are working to capture the creature alive. She outwits the bad actors in the group and manages to defeat the creature and save the girl.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?What could be this character’s emotional range?

From irritated, to concerned, to scared, to courageous.

What subtext can the actor play?

She’s incredibly concerned about her missing niece, but acts unattached and unconcerned. She still is in love with one of the team members, but acts like she really doesn’t care.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

The most interesting relationships she has is the one with her sister and one of the other volunteers.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

She’s able to get the group calm after the first person is taken and she is able to convince them to ignore the supervisor’s plan and do whatever it takes to rescue her niece.

What could make this character special and unique?

She seems self-centered on the outside, but in reality she is incredibly caring toward those she cares for the most. She hides behind her party girl exterior to keep from getting close to anyone after her heart was broken.

Lead Character Name: Mark Thompson

Role: Antagonist

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

He’s a ruthless government official who will do anything to get what he wants, include sacrificing a young girl.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He appears concerned for the missing girl but is behind the scenes orchestrating a plan to capture the creature without concern for whether the girl lives or dies.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

He will instruct his “men” to sabotage the efforts to rescue the girl. When the protagonist thwarts his plans he will go into the woods himself to complete the mission.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

He is instructing two of his men that they need to take the creature alive, and not to stress over rescuing the girl.

What could be this character’s emotional range?

From calm and collected to enraged and out of control.

What subtext can the actor play?

He acts like he is interested in saving the girl, but in reality he couldn’t care less whether she lives or dies as long as he takes the creature alive.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

The relationship with one of his men.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

He will be overbearing and dominant with everyone.

What could make this character special and unique?

He will be ruthless in his pursuit.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  Renee Miller.

[ROBERT Ingalls]

Module 3, Lesson 2 – Roles that Sell Actors

Rob Ingalls’ Actor Attractors!

MY VISION:

To be a Talented writer that delivers quality fast, with the film industry seeking me out.

WIL: It’s hard to do this portion when not fully sure what each character will do.

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

Lead Character Name: JOSH HIGHLANDER [Popular Influencer]

Role: Protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

This is a popular TikToc Influencer who travels the world in seach of new adventures, but in reality is faking it with a green screen.

He’s scared of heights and hates vaccine shots. His insecurities and fake life are the only reality he knows.

And he’s about to lose his followers when they find out the truth (presented by the Antagonist).

From creating fake adventures (green screen) to an actual adventure deep in Thailand jungles in search of a mysterious golden Buddha statue.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Popular Influencer on TikToc/Instagram whose life is fake and his followers abandon him.

Loves/cares for Grandmother in nursing home. She gives him map from his granddad.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in this script?

Death-defying adventure that turns out to be fake with green screen.

Later, a true death-defying adventure walking a rope bridge across a wide gorge and raging river.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

A fake Influencer who loves his grandma and wants her to be proud. Struggles with reality and the internet world he creates.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Being abandon by his followers to having a deep inner change that brings truth and reality into forfront, as well as true followers.

Transformational journey from narcisistic showman on TikToc to caring for others even if it goes against his ego world.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

His actions hide the fact he’s insecure, has strong need for affection. His grandma is dying and doesn’t know how to express his feelings.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Holly, the triangle character, feels hurt from Protagonist and creates unnecessary turmoil between Protagonist and Antagonist.

Protagonist is still in love with Holly but afraid to getting close, since that also means losing them at some point (eg Grandma)

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Self-created Got-it-made positive attitude that hides his insecurities.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Charisma/Pride ego (that also looks down on others, in beginning) in the beginning that later becomes humbled, caring for others beyond self.

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

Lead Character Name: CASHUS KING [Competitor – Fake name]

Role: Antagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Hot TikToc Influencer who is envious of Protagonist’s success and is willing to knock him down.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He’s being fed info from the Protagonist’s former girlfirend who was hurt that he cheated (misunderstanding)

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in this script?

Finds gold statue first. Steals it by removing (melting gold) beneath it.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Jealous/angry that protagonist is rated higher than himself, thus less ad revenue, less girlfriends, etc

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Jealous/angry to winning after destroying protagonists ratings to excited finding gold statue first, to giving up after losing battle

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Insecure/Jealous/angry

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

He and protagonist used to be best friends. When they discover ex-girlfriend caused problems, they bonded stronger

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Precise, intelligent, but not too social (thus his real problems with social media)

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Techno-nerd

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

Lead Character Name: HOLLY

Role: 3rd character

TRIANGLE CHARACTER (Creates a Competition or Conflict between Protagonist/Antagonist)

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Spurned ex-girlfriend of Protagonist who can’t stand to see him with another girl.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Former girlfriend and fellow Influencer, hurt that he cheated (misunderstanding). Feeds antagonist with info (false info)

Revenge? Getting even? Payback?

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in this script?

Devious plans to wreck havoc with protagonist by using antagonist (without either knowing she’s the one)

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Angry/hurt ex-girlfriend with attitude.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Angry/hurt to vengeful to apologetic to needy (he forgives but doesn’t want to go further)

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Know-it-all

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Ex-girlfirend of protagonist. He still cares for her but in the end, decides not to pursue again

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Know-it-all

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Had other boyfriends that she caused turmoil afterwards

[Paul Dees]

Paul Dees’ Actors Attractors

My Vision: I am a writer/director/producer that writes and makes films of all kinds, and I am recognized by the industry as both a highly successful filmmaker and as a person that’s easy to work with.

What I learned from doing this assignment is how to use a series of questions to create an unforgettable character that an actor would absolutely love to play.

Lead Character Name: Rick O’Brien

Role: Protagonist

What about this role would cause an
actor to want to be known for it?

Rick is cool under fire, is no one you want to get in a fight with if you’re one of the bad guys, and always gets his man.

What makes this character one of the
most interesting characters in your story?

Rick has some vulnerabilities. He’s afraid of heights, which makes his job harder in those situations, and he also blames himself for a botched hostage situation where both the hostage and his partner were killed.

What are the most interesting
actions the Lead could take in the script?

Rick investigates a series of terrorist attacks, where a bomb went off on the 20^th floor of a skyscraper. He has to battle his fear of heights as he checks out the crime scenes, where half of the floor was destroyed, and he’s forced to stand on the edge and look down 20 stories. He also puts together the pieces of the case by making use of his photographic memory. Lastly, he gets into an insane car chase while trying to catch the villain that culminates in a final faceoff at the top of a skyscraper.

How can you introduce this role in a
way that could sell it to an actor?

Rick is also a musician, and we are first introduced to him tearing it up on an electric guitar at home.

What could be this character’s
emotional range

Rick is calm, cool and collected, but there are times when he snaps without warning due to the trauma he’s been through. He genuinely loves his family, and also broods over feeling responsible for the death of his former partner and the hostage in a previous hostage situation.

What subtext can the actor play?

Rick is battling feeling responsible for a botched hostage situation, and it’s always lurking beneath the surface as manifest by the things he does and the things he says.

What’s the most interesting
relationship this character can have?

Rick’s relationship with the antagonist is particularly interesting, because the antagonist calls him on a regular basis using a disguised voice, to taunt him as the terrorist attacks pile up.

How will this character’s unique
voice be presented?

By how Rick goes about the investigation, and we see the different sides of his personality through the choices he makes.

What could make this character
special and unique?

His being assigned to a case where many lives are at stake, while trying to process the emotional baggage he carries around as a result of the deaths he was unable to prevent during a previous case.

Lead Character Name: Sean Gray

Role: Antagonist

What about this role would cause an
actor to want to be known for it?

He is invisible in the sense that he’s not seen for most of the film, at least we think he’s not.

What makes this character one of the
most interesting characters in your story?

He’s a dual character, because he’s Special Agent Sean Gray who also happens to be a megalomaniac and a terrorist that’s the mastermind behind the bombing going on throughout the country.

What are the most interesting
actions the Lead could take in the script?

Sean’s ability to make Rick think he’s one of he good guys, when in reality, he sends him down the wrong path ever so slightly, so it looks like he’s trying to help catch who’s behind the bombings.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Sean is very charismatic and has it together. So when he is introduced in the film, he commands the room.

What could be this character’s
emotional range

Sean is confident, likeable, always has a joke handy, and he enjoys the thrill of the job.

What subtext can the actor play?

Because Sean is also a terrorist, there’s a sense of menace and danger that is underneath all of his likeable qualities.

What’s the most interesting
relationship this character can have?

Sean’s relationship with Rick, as he’s been secretly taunting him the entire time they’ve been on the case.

How will this character’s unique
voice be presented?

By the duality of his character, which comes full circle when it’s revealed that he and the terrorist are one and the same.

What could make this character
special and unique?

His motivation for carrying out the attacks, which is to help the FBI become more skilled at preventing terrorist incidents by responding to real life situations. In his mind he’s doing something good even though there’s a certain number of people that will die as the FBI learns how to spot and prevent the attacks, because eventually they’ll be really good at it, thanks to him providing them with lots of practice.

[Wynona Bice-Stephens]

Bice-Stephens’ Actor Attractors

2022 is my year to break through!

What I learned: need to define Protagonist character more to interest an actor.

Protagonist—Alex, 20s male

Antagonist—Brandy, 20s female

1. Actors want to be known for?

Alex—being the nice guy everybody loves and roots for

Brandy—portraying a truly damaged person who could be your neighbor next door—you definitely pass on the street

2. What makes most interesting?

Alex—just out for a good time snd lost everything, could happen to any of us

Brandy—no filters, no boundaries, no conscious, never know she will do next

3. Most interesting actions?

Alex—accepting a baby as his without question because he’s supposed to be upstanding and responsible

Brandy—talking to embryos

4. Introducing role to sell to actor?

Alex—bright college student, full of life

Brandy—scribbling all night, walls covered with taped-up papers and floor littered with wads of paper by morning

5. Characters’ emotional range?

Alex—winner to loser

Brandy—damaged victim to victimizing others

6. Subtext actors can play?

Alex—smiling to sobbing

Brandy—broken heart to no heart

7. Most interesting relationships!

Alex—friendship with party boy, Jacob, who always escapes consequences in contrast to Alex’s one night stand that ruined his life

Brandy—mothering lifeless babies in the closet

8. Unique voices presented?

Alex—nice to everyone so always picks up Needies

Brandy—acts out her desperate loneliness in crazy sad ways

9. Characters special and unique?

Alex—Forrest Gump nice without his luck

Brandy—her father murdered her mother but she never accepted the death

[Nancy Meyer]

Nancy’s Actor Attractors

My Vision: To create a polished portfolio and do whatever it takes to get a manager, and then sell multiple TV and or feature scripts.

What I learned doing this assignment is that characters can not be one dimensional but must have many facets in order to attract actors to play them.

Lead Character Name: FREYA

Role: (Protagonist or Antagonist): Protagonist

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

A strong independent woman tormented by the guilt of her husband and child’s death that she could not prevent (because she can’t swim). Faces her fear of water to grieve on a deserted island, must overcome many obstacles of being alone and fighting to discern between her mind’s games and reality. Ultimate, she faces the man who killed her and her child in her past life.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She’s tormented but strong. Obsessed with solving the mystery surrounding the island that she is on – the death of a mother and child – alleged to be the husband/son. She feels she must solve this to absolve her own guilt. She exhibits anxiety and diminishing health as she comes face to face with a killer. Highly capable on the outside, Freya struggles with what is reality.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Face fear of water, force herself to swim

Confront a killer/spirit of a killer to find the answers to a mystery

Set out on the ocean to get to mainland in deadly storm

Have relationships with characters that are not alive

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Open to the scene where Freya is fighting off the elements in a failing boat to escape deserted island to reach the mainland/fighting off the Caretaker who is turning on her

Create tension: the scene where she drives the car off the bridge, killing her husband and child because she tries but is unable to swim to save them

What could be this character’s emotional range?

Tormented by guilt to finding the will to live again

Deathly afraid of the water to overcome fears to survive

Sad, broken, feeling sorry for herself to tuned in, resourceful and driven to succeed

What subtext can the actor play?

On the outside, controlled, strong … inside/subtext – wracked with guilt and insecurity about her abilities

Tormented by dreams and unable to discern her reality

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Cantankerous relationship with her boss/editor

She’s afraid of the caretaker, then befriends him, them has to defend her life with him, then against him

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

As an investigative reporter, pushes peoples buttons, takes things one step further, finds the weakness in other characters, digs until she has the answer

What could make this character special and unique?

Quick witted, ability to cut someone with words, goes for the jugular, wishes she had been a better mother/wife

Lead Character Name: The Caretaker

Role: (Protagonist or Antagonist): Antagonist

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Mysterious, strong, man of few words but obviously holding secrets, believes he is living at a different time

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

The audience doesn’t know if he exists or is a figment of Freya’s imagination

Tells great stories about legend/lore of the island

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Stalk Freya without being seen, creating tension

Manipulating her to believe he is innocent

Kidnap Freya, mentally manipulate her based on her guilt weakness

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

See him living day to day as a loner, stalks Freya – hope/fear – we don’t know if he is interested in her/or wanting to hurt her

What could be this character’s emotional range

Quiet/reserved withholding info/secrets to angry and manipulative to prevent Freya from learning the truth

What subtext can the actor play?

He realizes who Freya is and loves her, even though he manipulates her

He’s the killer, lying about the truth

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Stalks, then befriends, then tries to kill the one woman he loved from his past and lost

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Will use common speech from 30 years ago, he’s stuck in the past

What could make this character special and unique?

A cantankerous loner that has destroyed himself/life by being driven by a love he could not have

[JOEL STERN]

Module 3 Lesson 2 Actor Attractors

My Vison: To write eight screenplays that become Hollywood blockbusters (and get a speaking line too).

What I learned From This Assignment: Creating a lead role that for a name actor is too interesting to pass up.

What about this role would cause an
actor to want to be known for it?

He would be a hero AND in the end a
villain.

What makes this character one of the
most interesting characters in your story?

“Ace” is a World War Two
battlefield hero; a post war successful TV reporter after who slowly
unravels into a psychopathic killer.

What are the most interesting actions
the Lead could take in the script?

His tense scenes
where he pleads with the voice on the phone (a ruthless mobster with
a comical persona) to give him more time to pay back his massive
gambling debt.

How can you introduce this role in a
way that could sell it to an actor?

A likable war hero whose suppressed rage
and depression creates a series of illusions that lead him to
commit several heinous crimes that he’s forced to report on TV news.

What could be this character’s
emotional range?

From easy going, the “life of the
party”, solid citizen to an emotional wreck.

What subtext can the actor play?

He maintains his patriotic likable
self on camera but after his wife dies his outer shell cracks
revealing a scared emotional wreck who can’t tell the difference
between reality and fantasy.

What’s the most interesting
relationships this character can have?

His relationship with the mobster who
bombards him with threatening (albeit friendly sounding) phone calls.
He later considers the gangster “a friend”.

How will this character’s unique
voice be presented?

In the beginning his personality is
one of confidence, pride, a poster child for American values. But
as the story progresses his true self emerges.

What could make this character special
and unique?

Virtually everyone in TV land loves him
– war hero, patriot, family man. But his battlefield experiences
and the tragic death of his wife turn his life into a horror show.

[Alan Wood]

WIM2 – Alan’s Actor Attractors

My Vision:

I do whatever it takes for me to be a true wordsmith that spins wildly original and entertaining screenplays that are passionately sought out by top industry professionals who turn them into critically and publicly acclaimed major motion pictures distributed by the top studios in Hollywood, all while writing from wherever I may be leisurely traveling the world at the moment.

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

What I learned: This is a really important process that I don’t usually do outside of SU classes. I need to make this a regular part of my process.

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

Title: Ninja Burgers

Genre: Action/Comedy

Concept: A down on his luck, thirty-something fast food employee finds a high tech bracelet that turns him into the world’s deadliest super soldier.

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

Lead Character Name: Tiberius Truman

Role: Protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Large transformational journey. Wide range of emotions. Gets to be depressed, clumsy, and awkward as well as confident, brave and badass. Gets to participate in several cool action set pieces including fighting, BMX style bike riding, and other cool action. Gets to be the hero.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He’s a unique character with a unique journey. He is the fulcrum upon which the entire story rests. He’s not a traditionally ‘successful’ guy but his success and his life goals are important to him and his success is his success.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

A high tech bracelet is fused to his wrist. The training is a true fish out of water moment. Fighting. Bike riding. High tech breaking and entering. Stealth. Dangerous moments while sneaking through the bad guy’s evil lair. Taking down the evil henchman and then the ultimate showdown with the bad guy.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

He’s late for work and in the opening sequence we see him riding his bike to work during which, he is nearly his by a bus, a dog chases him and bites him, he misses a jump he thinks he can make and is then hit by a car. It’s an action set piece right out of the gate set on his bike.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

From sad and depressed to scared to terrified to determined to belonging to tragic loss and heartbreak to resolve and vengeful to rage to confidence to happy and successful.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

He hides who he is and what he wants from both to his initial co-workers to his cohort at the training facility to the antagonist.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

His best friend at the fast food restaurant. His group of cohorts at the training facility.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Unknown at this time.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Aside from all of the above…unknown at this time.

Lead Character Name: Crypto

Role: Antagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Supervillan in charge of an evil organization. He’s evil and funny. He has a dream that he feels can never be his so there’s depth. He’s not a one note character.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He’s a unique character with a unique journey. He is the center of the dramatic question.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Confrontation with the good guy in the end. A spectacular death. Fighting. Furious tantrums.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Grand presentation of his evil lair. The rage and tantrum at the news that the henchman has somehow lost the bracelet that he is under tremendous pressure to secure.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

From confidence to rage to sadness to insecurity to melancholy.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

He hides what he really wants in life from everyone except his pet (unknown). He’s trapped in his current role and really doesn’t want to be the head of an evil organization. He’s under tremendous pressure from an even bigger fish to secure this bracelet.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

His best friend is his pet unknown. Or maybe he’s married and he’s a completely different person around his wife.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

He speaks and dresses differently when in evil mode and when he’s behind the scenes.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Aside from all of the above…unknown at this time.

[Joyce Davidson]

MODULE # Lesson #2:Actor’s role

I want to write scripts that are memorable which actors want to portray.

Genre: Drama

Title:

1. An actor would want to be known for this role for the character’s confidence in his own ability with research and deductions, but how he fails with women. Gorgeous classmate latches on to him until she admits it is only to pass the course.

2. He is most interesting because of Irony. Although he loses the girl, he accepts the challenge of finding the professor’s attacker and his lost/stolen manuscript although he suspects it will go against everything he believes.

3. A scene evolves from his passion to protect Shakespeare’s legacy from those who insist the bard’s identity is a false claim to the plays and sonnets. When he encounters villains, attackers, and other kidnappers, he discovers he can fight them.

4. His introduction can be his breakup with the hot classmate or the arguments with the professor, who, actually, likes opposition.

5. Emotional range is that of a relatively shy, but stubborn graduate student who is uncomfortable with other classmates, especially women, who rises above his own convictions to save his professor.

6. What subtext can actor play comes from failure to have self-worth.

7. Interesting relationships arise from his crush on the attractive classmate, his dislike for the egocentric one, and his unfortunate professor who has enemies the main character has to fight with another volunteer from the class, a women who is opposed to him.

8. Unique voice is that of a grammar policeman and a bookish sense of humor.

9. What makes this character special and unique is his emotional arc and personal view of himself. His confidence soars when he completes his mission and takes the professor where the man can redo his manuscript.

0

[Marcus Wolf]

Marcus’ Actor Attractors!

My Vision: I have well-founded confidence that what I write is excellent and will be acknowledged as excellent by everyone who reads it.

This lesson taught me to really focus on developing interesting characters and how to make them so. I found it extremely difficult.

Title: “Beyond the Faded Trail”

Concept: A builder and his team go to a ghost town to dismantle it for wood and find thieves’ treasure stored there. His men mutiny over the treasure, then the thieves themselves show up.

Jake Barnet

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

An ex-soldier who designs his life around hiding PTSD.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

He walks his horse wherever he goes, never rides. Takes meticulous care of the animal.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Tries to buy the contract of a local whore from the saloon keeper with a wanted poster. Claims he’s going to catch Lucien Rickey, then he’ll make good on the cash.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Raucous partier to sly businessman to teary-eyed defender of the weak.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Always looking to sell, Jake analyzes everything people say and probes for possible interests.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Isaac Castle (aka Holland Whitaker)

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

A criminal hiding in plain sight determined to get restitution and revenge.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He’s philosophical and well-read. He tries to mentor his younger workers in spite of their short-comings.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Walks out into the street and fearlessly confronts the outlaw Lucien Rickey in front of all Lucien’s men.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Confronts the Sheriff who is hanging wanted posters all over town. Explains why it is stupid to do this (causes inexperienced men to want to be bounty hunters for a quick buck, then get killed). Starts tearing them down and gets thrown in jail for the night.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

6. What subtext can the actor play?

He constantly guides his workers to do a better job, all the while encouraging them to keep up with target practice and other skills that are good in a fight but worthless to carpentry.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

His relationship with Lucien Rickey.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

He frequently speaks like a college professor, but then has to dumb it down when speaking to less smart people.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

[George Petersen]

George Petersen – Actor attractors!

My Vision is to direct one of my screenplays as a low-budget indie feature.

What I learned is the importance of giving your characters free space to become themselves

Longfellow:

Role: Protagonist

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

It’s his dogged detective work. His relentless pursuit to find his friend or what happened to him no matter what.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

His insatiable curiosity

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

He gets to dress up undercover as a hippie. He gets to kill the bad hippie.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Longfellow is introduced on Hyde Street, San Francisco, observing police secure the scene of a homicide: the body of a strangled flower girl.

What could be this character’s emotional range

Introduced as easygoing, charming, super intelligent without a care in the world and moves toward the one who kills the devious hippie

What subtext can the actor play?

When confronted with his former girlfriend, Maggie, feelings run suppressed

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Longfellow has an intense love for Jonathan and an intense hatred for the hippie, Youngblood.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Sharp. Witty. Detached intellectual.

What could make this character special and unique?

He loves the fog as it reminds him of his former home in London, where he was happy

Youngblood:

Role: Antagonist

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Short, pale, young and handsome, but lacking all forms of social grace, Youngblood presents himself at times as pure animal — a quality that some nubile flower girls find irresistible

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

The mystery that surrounds him. Who is he? Where did he come from? What did he ever do to deserve all this money?

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

He gets to frolic with attractive flower girls. He gets to intimidate everyone he speaks to.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

He is introduced living it up at the Fillmore doing body painting. He covers himself with DayGlo paint, then splays his nude body over long sheets of butcher paper creating abstract “art.” Laughing gleefully through it all.

What could be this character’s emotional range

His words convey all good things but his actions are all bad

What subtext can the actor play?

When he speaks, he conveys the uneasy feeling that he would like to lunge for your throat

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

He has an inexplicable relationship with Jonathan that no one can explain

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Intense. Measured.

What could make this character special and unique?

He’s a character with no recorded history of any kind

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s Actor attractors!

MY VISION IS (living as if it is already fact): I am an award-winning produced Hollywood screenwriter with an excellent reputation that is represented by an outstanding manager and whose life is filled with creativity!

What I learned from doing this assignment is…slowly the characters are forming and becoming three dimensional people.

Lead Character Name: Marc

Role: (Protagonist or Antagonist) Protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? He is a hero—he saves his daughter, he kills aliens, he finds the truth.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? He is an underdog. We feel sorry for him. He’s a very good dad who loves his daughter. We connect with his unending fight to rescue his child.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? He will go on the run from the police. He will break into a secret government facility. He sneaks on a top-secret flight. He disguises himself. He uses his mental powers to defeat aliens. He hangs out with the smartest tech nerds in the world.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? We first meet Marc in the dessert. Explosions go off around him. He hides and a bright light falls from the sky. He instantly awakes and we see him standing in traffic in his pajamas.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range? He is distraught that his daughter is missing. He’s shocked that his wife thinks he did something to her. He is terrified when he is hunted by the police and the FBI. He is determined to find his daughter. He is elated when he rescues her.

6. What subtext can the actor play? He hides that he’s wanted for murder. He was abducted as a child. He hears static and strange gibberish voices in his head.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? With his daughter. And with Lilly, a UFO/Alien Abduction expert who he befriends.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? He’s focused on one thing… FINDING HIS DAUGHTER.

9. What could make this character special and unique? He discovers he has telepathic powers. He was in the military and knows how to fight.

Lead Character Name: Jordan (female)

Role: (Protagonist or Antagonist) Antagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? She’s a bad ass who’s great at her job.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? She commands a room. People listen when she speaks. She’s born leader. Expert at thinking like a criminal and hunting them down.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? Digs up a dead body. Car chase. Helicopter chase. A race through a UFO convention. She can access any security camera in the country. She (her team) can access any camera on any phone or computer.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? She arrives at Marc’s house after Tyme’s disappearance and puts a couple local cops in their place. She takes over the investigation and discovers some interesting clues right off the bat.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range? Serious and focused on catching a criminal to empathy and helpfulness once she discovers that Marc didn’t do it.

6. What subtext can the actor play? When she speaks she’s always thinking five steps ahead. She acts like a therapist, always digging deeper into her targets mind and thought process.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? Her relationship to Marc. She can’t quite figure him out like she’s usually able to do.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? She seems kind but is really treating those around her like children. She never asks a question she doesn’t already know the answer to.

9. What could make this character special and unique? She has fought her way to the top and sacrificed everything. She works harder than everyone else. She has a photographic memory.

[Dawn C Crouch]

Dawn C Crouch’s Actor Attractors

Vision – In WIM, I will write a screenplay that will be optioned and produced.

What I learned from doing this assignment is character traits determine organic character actions.

Lead Character Name: Kingsley Welles

Role: Antagonist

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

· A nurse practitioner who is also a grieving widow. She is seen as virtuous and kind, a credit to her profession but believes revenge is best served cold.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

· Playing one character while having hidden motives

· Her transformational journey revolves around the reclusive bioengineer Tallis. She planned her life as a model of revenge and did not expect to fall in love again.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

· A chilling scene in the OR where just before she puts one of her targets to sleep, she explains in detail how he will die

· The final scene where she thinks she is about to accomplish her revenge but then realizes that Tallis will be in danger, so she rushes to save him only to find out that he has ruined her plan.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

· A young widow who is known for her compassion and care continues her vocation so she will be in the best position to act as an executioner of those responsible for her husband’s death.

What could be this character’s emotional range

· Caring, competent, and empathetic to judge and jury executioner who wants to explain why, when, and how.

What subtext can the actor play?

· Her outward concern and ability, her interest in new medical technology belie her real intentions, so everything she says and does is subtext.

What are the most interesting relationships this character can have?

· Carling was her husband’s best friend and wants to be more than a friend to Kingsley.

· Tallis is difficult and reclusive but sparks Kingsley’s interest in living again, something she never thought would happen.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

· Kingsley lost her husband and the life they had created due to negligence on the part of the hospital administration. She believes that everything she does is totally justified, that she is retribution.

What could make this character special and unique?

· Kingsley’s reawakening to love. Her outward persona as caring and kind becomes what she wants to be but is it too late?

<hr size=”0″ width=”100%” noshade=”” align=”center”>

Lead Character Name: Tallis Porter, Biomedical engineer.

Role: Protagonist

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

· Quirky and brilliant, Tallis invents medical devices that help mankind; he just has trouble with individual people.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

· Tallis is concerned with the equipment but repulsed by the sight of blood, human suffering, rehabilitation, etc.

· His transformational journey involves stepping out of his comfort zone and learning to love only to realize that many people’s lives are at stake and he is the only one who can stop the impending disaster.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

· His efforts to avoid interaction with those on his team.

· He is willing to put himself at risk to save others in the final scenes.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

· Tallis has an interest in saving lives but no ability to live one.

· Brilliant but within his narrow niche, like a virgin in everything else.

What could be this character’s emotional range?

· From fear and disgust to wonder and full emotion. Imagine a person coming out of his shell and discovering the best in the world then being confronted with the worst.

What subtext can the actor play?

· Authoritative, commanding personality that hides insecurity and ignorance of certain situations.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

· The relationship with Kingsley and friendship with Carling.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

· Through the investigation of the accidents at the hospital and the forced interactions with fellow human beings.

What could make this character special and unique?

· Tallis will go full circle – from reclusive genius to sacrificing his newfound love for his fellow men.

<hr size=”0″ width=”100%” noshade=”” align=”center”>

[Erin Ziccarelli]

Erin Ziccarelli’s Actor Attractors!

Vision: I am going to create meaningful scripts that leave audiences remembering my movies and leave me excited to keep writing and moving up in the industry.

What I learned from doing this assignment is: I find the emotional range element most interesting – I’m going to give my lead more emotional range to make him more attractive to a leading actor.

Role: Alex Donovan, protagonist

What about this role would cause an
actor to want to be known for it?

A varied character with a variety of personal and professional roles. He’s wresting with his past as an inmate, counterfeiter, and drug dealer, while trying to build a new identity as a businessman and a father. He wins in every gambling scene/poker game. He even wins at roulette, a game of complete chance.

What makes this character one of the
most interesting characters in your story?

His ties to crime families, his struggle to stay sober.

What are the most interesting
actions the Lead could take in the script?

Doing drugs, counterfeiting, being around cars a lot, and final speech where he rejects his old way of life.

How can you introduce this role in a
way that could sell it to an actor?

Introduce him as intimidating/muscular/hardened, but still weak and vulnerable underneath. He’s been beaten down but he’s not dead yet.

What could be this character’s
emotional range

From angry/bitter/resentful to normal to change-maker.

What subtext can the actor play?

He knows he’s going to have to make a public stand and reject his criminal ties. Before accomplishing that mission, he tries to hide behind his new identity and play it safe.

What’s the most interesting
relationships this character can have?

Uneasy and suspicious relationship with Roger Tate, a social worker on his case. Charged relationship with his daughter, Scarlett Caden who struggles to accept him after finding out his identity. Difficult relationship with his colleagues who look down on him because of his past.

How will this character’s unique
voice be presented?

Unique voice shows hurt and resentment. Character’s loyalty comes out in his unique voice and through interactions Roger, Will, Scarlett, and his old friends. He treats people a certain way based on their family name.

What could make this character
special and unique?

His confidence, loyalty, ability to go from angry to compassionate and reasonable in a scene once he has connected with his fellow character(s).

Role: Scarlett Caden, antagonist

What about this role would cause an
actor to want to be known for it?

A seemingly normal DMV worker who is a witty counterfeiter and excellent card player. She knows how to get the best of anyone in a card game. Has a great poker face.

What makes this character one of the
most interesting characters in your story?

She has a complicated family history – she’s the product of an affair between star-crossed lovers.

What are the most interesting
actions the Lead could take in the script?

Her allegiances are tested after finding out her identity. She has a transformation on her definition of family.

How can you introduce this role in a
way that could sell it to an actor?

A woman with a double life – DMV customer service by day and drinker, gambler, and counterfeiter by night.

What could be this character’s
emotional range

Character spends a lot of time drunk, high, or hungover. She’s loyal, manipulative, and a product of her system. Can go from charming to backstabbing within a scene.

What subtext can the actor play?

Subtext involves hidden dislike of the head of the family, animosity towards her family members, and a well-hidden desire to even destroy Alex after his identity is revealed.

What’s the most interesting
relationships this character can have?

Interesting relationship with Will. She respects him and his law-abiding ways. She and her boyfriend have a transactional relationship.

How will this character’s unique
voice be presented?

Presented showing bitterness, animosity, frequently slurring her words because of her inebriated state.

What could make this character
special and unique?

Her hidden talents, her acts of betrayal, and her devotion to the family business.

[Christopher Blanchett]

Chris Blanchett’s Actor Attractors

I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.

What I learned from this assignment: A very useful check list to assist in building great characters.

ACTOR
ATTRACTOR TEMPLATE

Lead Character Name: Tim Walters

Role: Protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Opportunity to display vast emotional range.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Goes from extreme of timid victim to borderline potential fascist dictator ultimately finds an empowered center,

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Reverse expectations. Instead of apologizing for his perceived political incorrectness he wears it as a badge of honor.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

We open with him walking down a corridor to his office. The short walk is an obstacle course of non-stop situations/accusations requiring extreme diplomacy and walking on egg-shells to avoid a politically incorrect transgression. He gets to his office. Closes the door behind him and exhales a sigh of relief. Then a warning of some kind via computer or cell phone.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

From timid victim to hero of the masses.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

How much is an act how much is real?

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

The political operative assigned to his case is a beautiful woman. Is there a true mutual attraction or is it part of her keeping him on-track with the media strategy?

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Contrasted between private conversation and public speeches and media events.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

He is remade by circumstances then reinvents himself consciously.