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Day 2 Assignments
Reply to post your assignments.
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20 Replies
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Lesley Harter’s Big M.I.S.
What I learned doing this assignment is…?
– Loglines really are the ‘strippy’ version of storytelling.
– How to define the MIS of my plot so that I can then build on each element and learn to layer them.
– Don’t sweat the assignment. You have time to refine your answers.
“Untitled Thriller” Logline:
While writing an article on Christian Sparrow, the convicted wife-killer released from prison on a technicality, “Sam” Reichek finds herself falling for him. Big mistake.
1. What are the conventions of your story?
Unwitting but Resourceful Hero:
It’s “kill or be killed” when Sam (Samantha) Reichek’s and her family’s lives are threatened after she get involved with sociopath Christian Sparrow. She has to come up with a plan to beat him at his own game.
Dangerous Villain:
Christian Sparrow presents as open, genuine, spiritual, and loving. He’s none of those things.
High stakes:
If Sam can’t stop Christian, he’s going to kill her and/or her daughter.
Life and death situations:
– Sam’s mother dies unexpectedly of unknown causes.
– The blood expert who is caught manipulating evidence and is responsible for Christian’s release reveals that he did not monkey with Christian’s blood to ‘prove’ him guilty.
– Sam learns that Christian may have killed his fiancé as well as his pregnant wife.
This story is thrilling because?
Each ‘reveal’ in the plot increases the likelihood that Christian is a murderer and is going to kill again.
2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
Big Mystery: Who is Christian Sparrow? Did he kill his wife? What does he want from Sam?
Big Intrigue: Christian is a conniving sociopath passing as a good human being. What is he up to?
Big Suspense: As long as Christian is alive and not behind bars, Sam and her family are in extreme danger. How can she stop him?
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Claudine Chalet’s Big M.I.S.
What I learned doing this assignment is how to break down aspects of my thriller plot, which is an adaptation of my novel, Nasty Disposition, published on Amazon and other digital platforms under the pen name Tamworth Grice.
Nasty Disposition Logline:
A twenty-something former juvenile delinquent Goth girl must solve the murder and save the reputation of her murdered cop brother, labeled a corrupt police officer who got what was coming to him.
1. What are the conventions of your story?
Unwitting but Resourceful Hero:
Goth-girl Carmen O’Malley is unruly, a liar, and a former juvenile delinquent. She never met a law she didn’t want to break, and her brother is a cop. But when he’s murdered and the police claim he was crooked, she resolves to clear his name—even though it means defying the Yakuza, a dangerous Japanese crime organization, and confronting her own painful past.
Dangerous Villain:
The unknown murderer, plus a series of shady characters from Carmen’s past, including the leader of the local Yakuza crime organization, who may be the killer.
High Stakes:
To save her brother’s reputation, Carmen must defy the Yakuza, a dangerous Japanese crime organization, and other shady characters, and confront her own painful past.
Life and Death Situations:
Carmen is beaten, raped, and left for dead as a result of her investigation into her brother’s murder.
This Story Is Thrilling Because:
Carmen repeatedly takes risks, confronts shady characters, trusts the wrong people, and is nearly killed as a result.
2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
Big Mystery: Who killed Carmen’s brother, why, and was he really a dirty cop who got what was coming to him?
Big Intrigue: The killer goes to great lengths to outwit and intimidate Carmen as she investigates her brother’s murder, even hiring someone to kill her. Will she become discouraged and give up? Or perhaps worse, will she hand things over to the corrupt police, as she’s being pressured to do?
Big Suspense: A naive twenty-something, Carmen repeatedly trusts shady characters and is eventually beaten, raped, and left for dead as a result of her investigations. Will she prevail and solve the murder, clearing her brother’s name?
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3. What I learned doing this assignment is I’m enjoying this process more than I thought I would and have several ideas for scenes coming through doing this assignment.
Angel of Fire log line:
Two boys, while seeking guidance from a beloved mentor in a program their parents have placed them in, are drawn into a satanic conspiracy with supernatural overtones.
1. What are the conventions of your story?
• Unwitting but Resourceful Hero:
Gabe and Keith are the two boys who, at a young age, are placed into the care of Jack, who is the son of Judge Walls and is the town’s preacher.
• Dangerous Villain:
Outwardly, Jack is a loving father, preacher, and his town’s “Man of the Year”. Inwardly he has a dark secret that no one but the his father the Judge and the boys in his program know.
• High Stakes:
Will Jack be able to use the boy’s in his program to help bring about his transformation into the “Angel of Fire”?
• Life and Death situations:
Jack uses the boys to kill for him in demented and sacrificial ways. Out in the dark woods, Jack buries the boys up to their necks and tells them if they ever reveal his secret plan to anyone he will either burn them alive, bury them alive or do the same to their families and use his father’s connections to frame them for the murders. When one of the boys slips and tells his sister what’s going on, what will Jack do?
• This story is thrilling because the boys are good boys but they’re put into a situation where Jack is forcing them to commit horrific acts. If they speak out against Jack their family won’t believe them and they will be abused by their fathers for going against the town’s most powerful family. The story is thrilling because there are numerous underlying subplots. Jack’s satanic plan to become the Angel of Fire. Keith’s sister’s eventual involvement with Jack. The Judge’s covert actions to control the town and conceal what is happening.
2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
• Big Mystery: The main mystery of this story that will keep us wondering throughout is – What are Jack and his father up to? Why are they enacting a plan to turn Jack into the Angel of Fire? Will the boys stand up to Jack or become full accomplices to his plan? Who will be silenced along the way?
• Big Intrigue: The covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie is Jack and Judge Walls plan to control the town and manipulate it’s people to enable Jack to transition into the Angel of Fire.
• Big Suspense: The main danger to our two Heroes that will continue to escalate throughout the script is – Will they commit crimes for Jack? Will they be caught for the crimes they’re committing for Jack? What will happen to them if they disobey Jack? What will happen to their families once they are pulled in?
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Virginia’s “Untitled” Big M.I.S.
Logline: A rural farming community is rocked by horrific and inexplicable deaths.
What I learned doing this assignment:
· My story idea was not as well formulated as I initially thought.
· This process is helping me to solidify my story idea.
· I don’t know how to write a good logline.
1. What are the Conventions?
· Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: A seemingly “normal” Latina with a dark and dangerous secret.
Dangerous Villain: A large processing plant that has
released a deadly force on the local community and exploits the terror
that ensues for its own profit.
High stakes: The people of the community are in mortal,
economic and environmental danger.
Life and death situations: People of the community are
being killed. The Hero must confront the deadly force as well as the processing
plant officials, which is trying to frame her.
This story is thrilling because? The audience does not
know whether the Latina is the Villain or the Hero.2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
Big Mystery: Who is responsible
for the terror that the community is experiencing?
Big Intrigue: What is the
source of the mysterious deadly force and how are the processing plant officials
using it to its advantage?
Big Suspense: While all of the
members of the community are in danger, the Hero is specifically implicated
in the terror and must expose the company and neutralize the deadly force
in order to save the community and clear her name. -
Mary Emmick’s Big M.I.S.
What I learned doing this assignment is in order to thrill it’s necessary to stack Mystery, Intrigue, and Suspense throughout the story. I don’t need to get it perfect just yet.
Logline: A suburban housewife and social justice advocate who works to help immigrants in war torn Morlova, is thrust into an international plot to free the prisoner who can save Morlova and the western world.
1. What are the conventions of your story?
-Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Katie Green, suburban housewife and social justice advocate
-Dangerous Villain: Tajerkistan spy Olga Norikov working for brutal president Igor Stepanov and international international cabal headed by media mogul Aaron Stench.
-High Stakes: Someone is trying to kill Katie Green. Tajerkistan president Igor Stepanov and the cabal’s goal is to take over the world through propaganda and disinformation by controlling all media. Katie must connect the dots to save Western Civilization.
-Life and Death Situations: A series of murder attempts on Green and the head of the Morlov foundation, Natasha Petrov ensues. Natasha is from the country of Morlova which is being attacked by Tajerkistan.
-The story is thrilling because an unwitting hero that we can identify with tackles an international cabal set to take over the world.
2.
– Big Mystery: Who is trying to kill Katie Green?
-Big Intrigue: Tajerkistan president aligned with international media cabal is trying to take over the world by controlling the media world-wide.
– Big Suspense: Katie’s quest to connect the dots and uncover the plan to reveal the actors cause her to be hunted down and there is a target on her head.
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Bob Gebert’s Big M.I.S.
Buried in Blickwood
Logline: A brilliant, modern-day sheriff must move past her technophobia to find her missing daughter by studying the origins of the video blogs she posted about the legends of beings that threaten to awaken and destroy their beloved small California town.
1. What are the conventions of your story?
Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: A technophobic sheriff
Dangerous Villain: Long-hibernating entities awakening under the town
High stakes: Sheriff’s daughter is missing
Life and death situations: The mysterious entities are indiscriminate and unfeeling about life and death as they explore the current state of humanity in the small town of Blickwood.
This story is thrilling because? The town’s past legends begin to manifest in horrifying ways.
2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? What happened to the sheriff’s daughter and why her?
Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie? The sheriff’s daughter inadvertently awakened the entities. They have been hibernating waiting for humanity to be technologically <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>ready <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>to communicate.
Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>The closer the sheriff comes to her saving her daughter, the more the entities retaliate.
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Julie’s Big M.I.S.
What I learned:
The differences between mystery, intrigue, and suspense.
This story needs some refinement but the basics are there.
Logline:
A high school senior battles ghosts, zombies, and ruthless sex traffickers as she searches for her best friend who goes missing in a haunted house.
1. What are the conventions of your story?
<div>
Unwitting
but Resourceful Hero: Popular high school girl in over her head finds her
courage and uses her knowledge and skills to outsmart her attackers.</div><div>Dangerous
Villain: A vile human trafficker who is overconfident, having gotten away
with his crime for some time.High
stakes: Emotional and psychological threats as the girl is alone in a
haunted house.Life
and death situations: kidnapping, escaping from cages and fire, being drugged,
and being shot at.This
story is thrilling because? It will have different, escalating levels of
continuous danger.</div>
2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
<div>
Big
Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us
wondering throughout the story? A girl’s friend is kidnapped in the middle
of a haunted house. Will she be able to find her?
</div><div>Big
Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live
under the surface for most of the movie? The haunted house is a front for
traffickers who kidnap girls every Halloween season.Big
Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to
escalate throughout the script? Can she find her friend and get out of the
haunted house alive?</div>
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Pat Galbraith’s Big M.I.S.
What I learned doing this assignment is… Learned more about conventions and how they should be Intertwined in the story.
Logline: Three ATV riders don’t come home after a trail ride.
Three questions:
1. What are the conventions of your story? Intrigue, Mystery, Suspense
Unwitting but Resourceful Hero:
Detective and family of those killed feel threatened.
Dangerous Villain:
Redneck landowner.
High stakes:
The threat of death
Life and death situations:
Detective is placed in life threatening situations as he investigates.
This story is thrilling because?
The story keeps us worried that the redneck landowner will kill again.
2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story? Who killed the three riders and can he be convicted.
Big Mystery: What is the main
mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story?The riders are missing and catching the villain.
Big Intrigue: What is the
covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for
most of the movie?A redneck Landowner tired of people coming on his property has a firearm.
Big Suspense: What is the main
danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script?That the redneck landowner will kill the detective.
Will the redneck get away. Will they find the riders dead or alive.
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Budinscak Big MIS
What I learned Doing This Assignment:
How defining/refining the story at this level makes for a much better first draft. I can see the essential elements falling into place. Exciting to craft a story from this perspective – it’s brand new for me.
Logline:
Following up on UFO sightings, a rookie Forest Ranger stumbles upon a clandestine operation where she falls back on all her Girl Scout training to survive the night.
1. What are the conventions of your story?
Unwitting but Resourceful Hero – Forest Ranger Vicki. She’s an upbeat rookie who relies ‘almost’ exclusively on her extensive Girl Scout training to navigate life’s challenges.
Dangerous Villain – the Commander. A prick who leads a small, select force – both human and technology – winding down a very secret and profitable operation.
High Stakes – The Commander will eliminate anything or anyone who’s viewed this operation. He promises to make a group of captured campers disappear.
Life and Death Situations: Vicki’s dead colleague, her boss, the captured campers, caged animals.
The Story is Thrilling Because: Vicki faces increasingly complex obstacles to overcome to save herself, then has to find another gear to save the animals and humans while evading capture.
2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story.
Big Mystery – Will Forest Ranger Vicki survive the night?
Big Intrigue – the Commander will stop at nothing to neatly wind down the operation and make it disappear like it was never there.
Big Suspense – to survive, she must evade humans, the mechanized animals on the ground, the specially outfitted drones above and the UFO high in the sky.
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Bree Barton’s BIG M.I.S.
LOGLINE:
Skye, a charismatic up-and-coming influencer visiting an isolated Italian town, gets his big shot at fame when his Airbnb host is murdered. After live-streaming the body to crowdsource the investigation, Skye attracts the attention of the killer and must race against time before his body is the one trending.
(3) What I learned doing this assignment is… maybe I’m writing a mystery, not a thriller? Haha. If the Big Intrigue is “the cover, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie,” I guess my central question is: HOW clandestine can it be? Like do we need to have a sense of who is perpetuating it? Because in my envisioning of this story, that’s sort of the big reveal/twist (or one of them) toward the end. I think of thrillers like Bourne Identity, etc.—or even Kimi which I used for the Day 1 Assignment—and we absolutely are privy to the villain’s POV for a lot of the movie. We know from THEIR side what’s happening, and at least in part what they’re up to. But then I look at thriller books/movies like, say, Gone Girl, and they absolutely do not give the game away until well into the book. Using GG as an example, is it okay that we don’t know till halfway through what the Big Intrigue has been all along?
(1) What are the conventions of your story?
✴ Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Skye Bowman, an influencer on Flik (this world’s equivalent of TikTok). Or at least, an up-and-coming influencer—Skye only has 1.2 million followers, and he’s desperately thirsting for more. Skye has been hired by a tiny Italian town for an endorsement deal: he’ll be documenting their flower festival on social media. But when a woman is murdered the night of the festival, he resolves to solve the mystery—along with the help of his eagle-eyed fans—and become the influencer he is destined to be.
✴ Dangerous villain: This won’t be revealed until near the end (and now I’m wondering if that’s a problem for a thriller?? does that mean I’m really writing a mystery? see existential musings above), because she’s the least likely villain of all: Lorna Pudney, a buttoned-up British tourist, age 38, who’s come to the flower festival with her two kids in tow.
✴ High Stakes: If Skye is successful at revealing the murderer, it isn’t just Lorna’s future on the line… it’s her daughter’s, too. That’s why Lorna will stop at nothing to stop Skye from solving the murder.
✴ Life and death situations: Lorna will kill Skye if she has to. Anything to keep him quiet. Hell hath no fury like a mother protecting her little girl.
✴ This story is thrilling because: Again, I don’t know if this means this story isn’t actually a thriller… if for most of the book Skye is getting veiled threats and warnings, does that make it thrilling enough? Or do we have to SEE the villain, to get their POV directly—whether for a script or a novel—in order to understand the Big Intrigue? I guess my question is: can the Big Intrigue remain covert, unseen to the audience/reader, for the bulk of the story?
(2) Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
✴ Big Mystery: Who killed Francesca Innocenti, the woman who was pushed to her death from the bell tower of her own apartment. (Which by the way is a converted nunnery from the 1600s! Cool!) And then, of course, why did they do it?
✴ Big Intrigue: Why did Lorna murder Francesca? Why would she kill the sweet little 50-something proprietress of the inn where Lorna and her two kids are staying on their Italian vacation? Did Lorna come to this village with the intent to kill Francesca, or did she discover or reveal something that pushed her to a breaking point—and filled her with murderous rage?
✴ Big Suspense: Skye thinks it’s all for likes and funsies when the story begins. But as he genuinely gets closer to solving the murder—and his follower count goes WAY up as he enlists his fans, effectively crowdsourcing a murder investigation—he starts to feel he is being watched. He gets a note under the door telling him to stop. Words of warning are scrawled across his bed. Skye is a bit of a happy-go-lucky Midwesterner (I have to decide how buffoonish to make him, or if that saps the suspense), so he’s a bit slow to realize that, if he doesn’t stop his investigation, he’ll die, too.
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Hi Bree – reading your post I thought of the movie Se7en, which is definitely a thriller, in which the villain (Kevin Spacey) doesn’t appear until 40 minutes into the movie.
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Oooh I loved that movie! God, opening the BOX… I should rewatch it when I’m not a terrified teenager, haha. Thank you for this reminder, ‘cuz I forgot how late Kevin Spacey joins the fray. And then that also made me think of The Usual Suspects, where I think the reveal comes rven later… IS that a thriller, though?
I also realized I forgot to add my logline (whoops) so just put it above. Thanks to you, Dylan, since your message jogged my memory!
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Sometimes the Real villain is not revealed until even later in the movie. Someone can be in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game without knowing exactly who is putting them in such danger for most of it. Unseen villains are usually the scariest for the viewer.
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This is good to hear! Thank you so much, Busy! It’s true, if I can tease it out the right way, and keep building suspense, then maybe it will make the villain even more sinister when they are finally relieved…
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Alfred’s Big. M.I.S.
What I learned doing this assignment is:
Mostly I was able to refine the definitions into a better, more workable knowledge of what I’m supposed to be doing.
I also learned how to set up the Big M.I.S.
Logline (first draft):
An undercover operative is sent to a mountainous wilderness area to ascertain what is happening to those who enter the area and disappear into thin air. Will he discover an answer to the riddle, or will he simply become the next victim?
Conventions:
a. Unwitting but resourceful Hero: Spencer is a competent mountaineer posing as an inexperienced hiker.
b. Dangerous Villain: The Lodge Owner appears to be interested in finding an answer to what is happening to her guests, but she is actually trying to discourage them from coming. This makes her extremely dangerous.
c. High Stakes: For both Spencer and the Lodge Owner, it is all or nothing – life or death.
d. Life and death situations: Spencer is forced to deal with a veritable gauntlet of near-death experiences that the mountains seem determined to throw at him.
e. The story is thrilling because: Spencer is facing danger at every turn but does not realize that the least suspected individual in the story is behind the riddle. Thus he is in mortal danger to the very end of the story.
The Big M.I.S.:
a. Big Mystery: What is happening to all those disappearing people? And why is it happening?
b. Big Intrigue: The least suspected person, the Lodge Owner, is the culprit. She is trying to spook people into NOT coming to the mountains.
c. Big Suspense: The Lodge Owner is trying to kill Spencer and make it look like an accident.
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Busy’s Big MIS
What I learned doing this assignment is that I needed a solid reason for the psychological manipulation of young Maisie and her investigation into how Steffi murdered Ron (i.e., the Intrigue).
Logline: When a man is murdered at a summer resort, a young girl must prove who the real killer is before her only friend goes to prison.
1. What are the conventions of your story?
Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: 12-year-old Maisie
Dangerous Villain: Lorelei (although it appears to be Steffi throughout most of the story.
High stakes: Lorelei going to prison/Maisie losing her only friend.
Life and death situations: Lorelei being arrested, Maisie investigating a murderer, Lorelei almost getting murdered, Maisie almost dying, and Lorelei trying to kill Maisie outright.
This story is thrilling because? Maisie finds herself deep in a dangerous murder mystery where the murderer influences the child and her investigation, causing twists and danger around every corner of Maisie.
2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
Big Mystery: How did Steffi kill her husband?
Big Intrigue: Lorelei and Steffi manipulate Maisie to taint her investigation so much that no one will be able to bring the actual evidence against them.
Big Suspense: Are the attempts on Lorelei’s life actually attempts to silence Maisie as she gets closer to the truth?
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What I learned doing this assignment is that the perfect is the enemy of the good.
I’ve been ruminating about these ideas for years and this is the first time I’ve isolated these elements of my concept. I probably just need to have more fun with this project and try not to worry about whether it’s all there yet. Plenty of time for that later, and I should try to stay loose and keep things fluid enough to be able to change it up if it doesn’t quite work.
What are the conventions of your story?
Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Henry– a teenager living alone at his parent’s lake house during a Covid summer.
Dangerous Villain: The US Army’s covert weapons chief located in the woods near Henry’s home.
High stakes: Periodic explosions rock the area and scare wildlife and humans alike.
Life and death situations: When a beautiful neighbor’s dog escapes into the woods, Henry must find the dog and save the search party that went after it.
This story is thrilling because? Everyone could die?
Remind us of your CONCEPT and the Big M.I.S. of your story.
• Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story?
I’m still a bit unclear but at this point, the main mystery of my story is what is the source of the random explosions in the woods near the protagonists home that is scaring both wildlife and humans alike.
• Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded part that will live under the surface for most of the movie?
The secret army base nearby is experimenting with dangerous weapons systems that will be harmful to anyone who comes close.
• Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script?
Will Henry discover the Army’s secret to save the neighbor’s dog and the search party that went after it and will he or anyone get harmed doing so?
2. Tell us the Intriguing World you have selected for this story.
The world is an insulated lake community a little too near a major metropolitan area.
3. With your top 2 or 3 characters, tell us the role they play and then answer these three questions:
Henry, the loner protagonist:
• A. What is the mystery of this character? Is Henry a loser or a hero?
• B. What is the suspense of this character? Will he be able to save the dog, the search party, and himself?
• C. What is the intrigue of this character? What happened to Henry’s family that leaves him on his own at the lake?
Emma: the object of every teen’s desire:
A: the mystery of Emma: Is there more to her than meets the eye?
B: Will she ever appreciate what Henry attempts for her?
C: What happened to Emma that makes her so self-serving?
Brandon: The jock/nemesis
A: Is Brandon a simpleton or a not?
B: Will he make matters worse or help Henry?
C: Is Brandon in cahoots with higher ups at the Army base?
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Gollob’s BIG MIS
what i learned is: let your imagination run wild
Kill, as instructed
A contained political action thriller
Logline: while his estranged adult daughter is held hostage, during the war with Ukraine, a Russian intelligence officer is personally assigned by Vladimir Putin to the largest nuclear plant in Europe. What is his mission beyond “kill, as instructed”? what is Putin’s plan for the plant? Why does he want to crush Ukraine? and why is he determined to “save” the Jews?
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What are the conventions of your story?
• Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Solly Golubic does not know he will save the nuclear plant from destruction
• Dangerous Villain: Vladimir Putin is the evil mastermind of the invasion of Ukraine, working on the justifications for years: “All doers of evil feel they are justified in their actions, and will invent fables to prove themselves right.” If jews had not existed, hitler said he “would have invented them.”
• High stakes: seen with suspicion by everyone, Russians and Ukes alike try to kill him, while he thinks he can save Masha, his daughter, from torture, abuse and death. Also at stake is the nuclear plant and safety of Europe, and of Ukraine…
• Life and death situations: Conscious of his apparent personal connection with Putin, enemies must work in underhanded ways to kill him. Such as using the nuclear poison “Fortuna,” produced at the plant. And when that appears to fail, guns…
• This story is thrilling because? We never know what’s going to happen next,,,
2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
• Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? Putin’s plan: nuclear havoc, but get the Jews out. And why the Jews? Because saving them buttresses his fable about Ukraine run by neo-nazis…
• Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie? Saving the Jews serves Putin’s ends,,,a secret deal with Israel… and his “heroism” as saviour of Jews… a neo-Schindler? But they will all be killed in the end as if he were a real nazi…
• Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? That Putin betrays him… and he does, small time to big time. Betrayal is his middle name. (Book of Job…) And hero is a Jew too…Putin really hates them!
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What I learned doing this assignment is that it forces me to have a clear understanding of what the conventions of a thriller mean, in terms of my story. It certainly makes me re-look at my hero and villain and question can I do what I would to do with this story? (I dont know yet! )
BOUND – Logline
A cheating husband Dan DUNBAR finds himself the main suspect in a series of murders of young women . The only person who can prove his innocence is his brilliantly successful Attorney General Wife ALISON DUNBAR.
What are the conventions of your story
Unwitting but resourceful Hero
Deeply religious, kindhearted, married DAN DUNBAR has played by the book all his life. The one time he “sinned” by falling in love with a good woman SADIE, he finds himself the main suspect in a series of murders of young women who work at the place as Sadie.
Dangerous Villain
ALISON DUNBAR the beautiful, successful Attorney General, and mother to shy teenager DAISY but also the covert narcissist who will stop at nothing to make sure her husband keeps his marriage vows.
High Stakes
Dan finds himself the main suspect in a series of murders of young women who work at the same place where he met SADIE, a good woman who loves him. Will Dan be found guilty of the murders? Will Sadie be murdered next? Is it God’s fate to punish him for his infidelities?
Life and Death Situations
Dan is looking at life in prison. Sadie is the one person who knows he is innocent. When she is murdered and the police find Dan leaning over her body, murder weapon in his hand, he is arrested and charged for all the murders. The only person who can help him now is his wife, who swears by his innocence and vows to spend the rest of her life trying to clear his good name.
This story is thrilling because the story builds on suspense, intrigue and mystery as it takes unexpected twists and turns to reveal a viillain with an exceptional plan which appears to be, like the villain herself, perfect. But is it?
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Big Mystery – who is the killer of these young women and why are they being killed
Big Intrigue – A highly successful Attorney General, beyond reproach, wife, loving mother and covert narcissist will not allow a cheating husband to break their marriage vows and make her look bad in public, even if it means killing a few ‘loose’ women and framing him for the murders.
Big Suspense – Will Dan prove his innocence of will Alison outwit him having the full sympathy of the Public on her side?
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Alex Dower’s Big MIS
What I learned doing this assignment was all the MIS: how to distinguish these elements, why they matter …
Thriller: The Swan
Logline: A British woman working as a high-class prostitute in Dubai is with a client when he is assassinated. Fearing for her life she goes on the run, pursued by ruthless forces determined to cover their crimes and make billions from a new oil project
1. What are the conventions of your story?
Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Natasha <div>
Dangerous Villain: Yakob (Head Oil Investor)
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High stakes: Massive oil deal, whistleblowers, murder, threats, very damaging oil project
Life and death situations: They want to kill Natasha to silence her
This story is thrilling because? Natasha is thrown into a terrible situation and simply tries to flee. However, realising she can’t escape and that her pursuers want her dead, she needs to know who is responsible and why. The ‘company’ stand to lose billions if their corrupt deal is exposed.
2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? </div><div>
Who killed Ibrahim and why? Why do they want Natasha dead?
Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie?
The Oil investors plan to sabotage a renewables project and cause civil war, in order to justify their oil project
Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script?
They want her dead and chase her from Dubai to London, then into the countryside
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