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Day 3 Assignments
Reply to post your assignments.
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75 Replies
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Claire’s Transformational Journey
MY VISION:
I have a fabulous career as a screenwriter working in both TV and film, and I have tremendous creative, financial, and personal success.
WHAT I LEARNED: I am one of those writers who, up until now, got freaked out by all I did not know about a story in the beginning. This tool, and all the tools Hal is giving us in this class, is helping me take baby steps to create the characters and their stories. I love this tool. It’s fantastic!
NOTE: I have two concepts I love and can’t decide which one to take through this class. I will take both of them (I’m retired, I have time!) until one of them jumps out as my favorite.
Logline 1:
Title: YOU ALWAYS KILL THE ONE YOU LOVE
Genre: Horror/Thriller
When the ghost of an evil psychiatrist possesses the lesbians on an isolated movie set, forcing each woman to kill her own spouse, a timid psychic must stop it before it possesses her or her wife.
Arc Beginning: timid and unable to stand up to her overbearing director wife
Arc Ending: being the leader of the group and exorcising the evil ghost
Internal Journey: timid to owning her power and intelligence
External Journey: hiding in the shadows as director’s wife to saving the group
Old Ways:
Kowtowing to the wishes of her wife
Hiding her psychic powers
Hiding how smart she is
needing approval of others
New Ways:
Confronting and disagreeing with her wife
Owning and using her psychic powers
Owning how smart she is and outwitting the ghost
Acting from what she believes is best and not caring about the approval of others
Logline 2:
Title: RESCUING LOVE
Genre: Thriller
When domestic terrorists kidnap her girlfriend and frame her for the kidnapping, a daring CIA agent must outwit the FBI and the terrorists before her girlfriend is forced into heterosexual conversion therapy.
Arc Beginning: not being able to commit to a relationship
Arc Ending: risks her life to rescue her girlfriend
Internal Journey: from emotionally closed to fully committed
External Journey: from unable to commit to risking her life to save her girlfriend
Old Ways:
Hesitant toward girlfriend
Emotionally guarded
Putting work first
New Ways:
Risks her life to rescue girlfriend
Tells everyone her feelings for girlfriend
Rescuing girlfriend is her only priority
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Claire, Both concepts are great. In YOU ALWAYS LOVE…, I particularly love that her wife is the antagonist. Gives a whole new meaning to the writer’s truism that you have to kill your darlings. 😉
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Linda Anderson’s Transformational Journey
Vision for your success from this program:
Audiences around the world view and love my meaningful screenplays—one of the most satisfying and energizing accomplishments of my life.
What I learned from doing this assignment is how terrific and helpful it is to identify these journeys and character arcs at the start of the outlining process.
Character Arc for Protagonist:
Arc Beginning: Allen is reliving a memory of an
incident as a cop with a gun pointed at his head when he was about to die.Arc Ending: Allen and his adopted dog, Leaf, have
become good buddies who formed a human-animal friendship that healed
them both.Internal/External Journey for Protagonist.
Internal Journey: From plagued by fear and anger to stronger,
more trusting, resilient, and lovingExternal Journey: From ex-cop with PTSD and two new threats to end his life to a person whose
relationship with a needy dog has pulled him through the toughest period
of his life.Old Ways at the beginning and New Ways at the end for Protagonist.
Old Ways: Distrustful, introverted, emotionally damaged
New Ways: Open, resilient, optimistic, in charge of
creating the life he wants for himself and his family -
Claudia’s Transformational Journey
Vision: To become such an excellent writer that I know every script I write will be well received by the industry, that my scripts will sell and be produced, and I’ll live the life of my dreams. To also become so empowered that fear is to be laughed at, instead I relish and look forward to pitching, meetings and much more.
What I’ve Learned Doing This Assignment: While I intrinsically felt my character’s journey, it was really helpful to write it all down, so I know what I am shooting for… and I’ll see clearly if the story doesn’t deliver on the promise of the transformation.
Arc
Beginning:
Designer who’s germaphobia is destroying her career.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Arc Ending: Is able to go on
a book tour and her brand out thereInternal Journey: from paralyzed
with fear to confident and strongExternal Journey: from hiding out
from her publisher to meeting people, saving her family’s business and
going on a book tour<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Old Ways:
Afraid and hiding
outMust wear
protective gear all the timeMust control
everythingTerrified of germs
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>New
Ways:Able
to be out and meet people/do interviewsAble
to go without protective gear most of the timeAble
to be more flexible, to trust and allow others to take chargeHas
a healthy respect, but no longer terrified of germs -
· Kevin Ash’s Transformational Journey
· Vision: I will be living in paradise, writing prolifically at my leisure, respected and sought after for my interesting and thought provoking films.
What I learned from doing this assignment is I have a very clear picture of my protagonist’s journey, but not really clear on how I’ll do this for the antagonist.
Tell us the Character Arc for your Protagonist:
Arc Beginning: Wild child causing chaos
Arc Ending: Guru to those around him, choosing others
over selfGive us their Internal/External Journey.
Internal Journey: From wild, irreverent, and random to
determined and intentional
External Journey: Acting out everywhere with abandon to
being a hero and guru to othersTell us their Old Ways at the beginning of the movie and their New Ways at the end.
Old Ways: Only
thinking of selfCausing damage to property
Ignoring authority
Being recklessNew Ways: Thinking mainly of others
Developing a philosophy
Becoming a thoughtful artist
Helping others to overcome personal doubt -
Andrew Kelm’s Transformational Journey
Vision: I am going to do whatever it takes to be a great writer of TV and movies who is sought after by people I respect within the industry and has multiple successful TV series produced
What I learned from doing this assignment is… how to nail the broad strokes of my character quickly and efficiently.
FATEMONGER: a psychic with a blind spot for abusive men uses subtle manipulations to murder a sexual predator who seduces her to get to her sons
Daphne
Arc Beginning: Insecure, penniless single mother who does card readings in her mother’s hair salon and lives in the apartment above.
Arc Ending: financially secure, well-known non-traditional therapist with a following
Internal Journey: from insecure victim to confident and controlling
External Journey: From poor psychic selling card readings in her mother’s beauty salon to successful therapist with wealth and a following
Old Ways:
- insecure victim
- dependent on her mother
- caught up in patterns of negative abuse from men
- undervalues her intuitive gifts
New Ways:
- powerful and ruthless
- independent
- dangerous to abusive men
- makes sure she gets paid what she’s worth.
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Ian Greenham’s Transformational Journey
Vision: I am confident that completing this program will significantly enhance my screenwriting skills.
Doing this assignment I learned the technique of developing a transformational journey.
Arc Beginning: An only child.
Arc Ending: Has a twin sister.
Internal Journey: From feeling totally devoid of real family to having a twin sister.
External Journey: From having no real family to having a twin sister.
Old Ways: Having no family members to celebrate with on special occasions.
New Ways: Having a family member to celebrate with on special occasions.
[WIM: Module 2, Lesson 3: The Transformational Journey – June 3, 2022]
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Bob DeCarli’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: To master my craft to the point where I’ve earned a reputation as the screenwriter top producers, directors, and actors can call on when they need someone to save the day, and get paid handsomely to do that.
What I learned: the importance of the transformational journey for reader/audience engagement.
JUNIOR JUDGE (Protagonist)
Arc Beginning: A newly appointed judge, not fit for the position.
Arc Ending: An ideal judge, fair, impartial, thoughtful.
Internal Journey: From egotistical and self-centered to open-minded and humble.
External Journey: From a criminal defendant’s nightmare to a person with the intellect and demeanor to make the best decisions.
Old Ways:
-heartless
-close-minded
-egotistical
New Ways:
-Open-minded
-Humble
-Compassionate
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Veronica Turowski’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: I want to be a successful writer who writes several scripts a year and sells them to producers who are eager to make my vision a reality by bringing my scripts to completion so everyone can watch my movies on the big screen.
What I learned from doing this assignment is there has to be a clear beginning and ending so it’s easier to navigate and come up with details between those points.
Protagonist: Eppsa Kestner
Arc Beginning: Professional mourner who doesn’t know she’s dead.
Arc Ending: Confident ghost who kills her son, the serial killer, for justice.
Internal Journey: From depressed and apprehensive to confident and dogged.
External Journey: From a professional mourner who doesn’t realize she’s a ghost to being a peaceful ghost who can pass on to the other side.
Old Ways:
· Always paranoid that something bad is going to happen to her.
· She thinks mourning at funerals helps her cope with her depression.
· She’s lonely since her husband died after the birth of their son and her son ran away as a teen.
· Doesn’t have self-confidence and feels invisible.
New Ways:
· Hunts for the serial killer.
· People/ghosts go to her for answers.
· Discovers she’s a ghost. Has confidence now that she knows she’s a ghost.
· Torn that she must stop her serial killer son but knows she must, or he will keep killing. She kills for justice.
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Eclipse Neilson
VISION: I want to be a great award-winning writer, known for my genre, who creates the most beautiful films that inspire others to feel deeply, pause, and ponder ways to make the world a better place.
WHAT I ‘VE LEARNED: I am letting this story unfold at the moment with some surprises appearing and I am seeing how the two protagonists are connected and reflective of each other and also that my “activist spirit” just won’t give me a break and write something easy. LOL
TITLE: THE NUN AND THE WITCH
Genre: Inspirational / Fantasy
Dramatic / Triangle
Concept:
An introverted Nun, destined to become a saint, bonds with a powerful Witchy Healer to achieve an ancient task – but all hell breaks out in the village in reaction to their love for each other.
LUNEA THUNDER
Arc Beginning:
Begins a new life in a small village hoping to belong and be loved for who she is but discovers she is demonized as she attempts to carry out an ancient sacred task.
Arc Ending:
Feels loved, honored, connected, and truly visible in her success in achieving her sacred task to stand side by side with her beloved friend and healer Sister Karina.
Internal Journey:
Powerful but vulnerable,
angry,
deeply wounded,
a loner who has never let someone love her
must learn to be willing to reach out for help.
External Journey:
She sets up a new age shop in a mostly close-minded village and bonds with an introverted nun who needs her psychic help and love in holding together a falling apart congregation reeling from the death of their overbearing minister.
Old Ways:
Fiercely independent
trusting none –
does not really believe she is lovable (except by her 13-year-old daughter)
Deeply connected to earth-based traditions and her warrior spirit.
New ways:
Standing as a gentle leader and protector of all.
Accepts she is lovable and lets others see her deepest vulnerabilities,
Expresses her deep love for Sister Karina.
II
SISTER KARINA
Arc Beginning:
Has spent years as a silent dedicated Nun serving a domineering somewhat misogynist minister whose church has long lost its purity and its funding.
Arc Ending:
Feels loved, honored, connected, and truly visible as a leader. Feels successful in achieving her ancient sacred task as she stands side by side with her beloved friend and healer Lunea Thunder.
Internal Journey:
Deeply wounded from an abusive childhood
Strives to be a good nun but feels invisible
Feels something undefinable is missing in her soul.
Feels trapped at times maybe even angry.
External Journey:
Sister Karina must step in after the overbearing old minister dies leaving no plans on how to keep her beloved church-going while being haunted by him. She starts to realize how much damage and discrimination is emerging in their hearts and she must learn to stand in her power to heal the evil that festers among the townspeople.
Old Ways:
Mostly trapped in her subservience and haunted past. Never speaks up or stands up to people. Lost how to be playful humor. Humble with fear but pure of heart.
New ways:
Standing as a gentle strong leader, a fierce protector of all the young and vulnerable, and feels like a free woman.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Eclipse Neilson.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by
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Rebecca Sukle’s Transformational Journey
My vision for my success from this program is to be the go-to writer for producers looking for incredible scripts for successful movies enjoyed by a vast viewing audience.
I learned from this assignment that by building on the concept of designing a character description, I could use that to develop a transformational journey. Once completed, it became easy to fill in the blanks for arc, internal and external journey, old ways, and new ones.
Arc Beginning: Struggles with battle fatigue and moral injury, avoids conflict, vigilant, impatient, emotionally closed except with wife, fears losing control and killing someone.
Arc Ending: He channels his anger to craft a plot to kill the Commander and remains patient, controlled, and guilt-free to carry it out.
Internal Journey: Ragman finds ways to redirect his anger into cunning and self-restraint to kill the Commander to compensate for a mistake during the war.
External Journey: Ragman moves from indifferent to leadership.
Old Ways: short tempered, worried about loosing control and killing someone, avoidence, self-centered, not a joiner.
New Ways: Controlled, accepts responsibility, confronts evil, shows compassion, asks for help in crafting a plan, works well with others, uses humor to defuse his anger.
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KRISTIN’S TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY
VISION: “I want the personal, professional, and financial freedom and joy that come from writing so well that I’m in demand, selling beyond my wildest dreams, and making worthy projects—on a big scale and with my active, collegial participation.”
WHAT I LEARNED in this assignment is that identifying these important transitions will define…well, everything the character does. For me to write each thing he’s thinking or doing, I have to know where he’s going internally and externally. Sounds kind of obvious, but once it’s “part of my matrix,” it’s undeniable. And a great road map.
Arc Beginning: Self-absorbed but “nice guy” who spends all his emotional tickets on what he’s interested in—theories and ideas and science.
Arc Ending: A true Hero who sacrifices himself to protect and fight for his family, the honor of his colleagues, and a bigger-than-life fossil who has become a “person” to him.
Internal Journey: From selfish and indulgent to selfless, brave, and a role model for others.
External Journey: From a small-town businessman to a world-renowned poster boy for fighting government overreach.
Old Ways: Isolated, insecure, brow-beaten by his family, Peter Pan (never growing up)
New Ways: Involved, speaking his mind and heart, taking on the role of leader, fighting for what’s right
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Lauren’s Transformational Journey
My vision: I am a wildly successful, prolific A-list writer, creating profound bestselling, blockbuster, award-winning projects. I write, finish, and manifest projects in the world with lightning speed and ease.
What I learned from doing this assignment: I’m very grateful and excited to be developing the internal and external journeys with equal importance.
Protagonist Character Arc:
Arc Beginning: glib, over-confident, bored, numb, distracted, on auto-pilot
Arc Ending: alive, compassionate, open, present, good listener
Internal/External Journey
Internal Journey: from numb and on auto-pilot to compassionate and present.
External Journey: from renowned therapist who’s lost touch to compassionate true healer.
Old and New Ways
Old Ways: reliant on the Pandora Box, comfortable with modern conveniences, a shell of her younger self who invented the Pandora Box, takes relationships for granted.
New Ways: active and compassionate listener, shirt-sleeves kind of worker, appreciates others.
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Leona Heraty’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: To be the best family comedy screenwriter in the industry and have my many scripts produced into fabulous movies!
What I learned from doing this assignment is…My character’s transformational journey will make this a wonderful movie that I and the audience can really relate to.
TARA
Arc Beginning: Bumbling, directionless teenager
Arc Ending: Confident leader who destroys the giant termites and saves her tour group.
Internal Journey: From no sense of direction and lacking confidence to a fearless leader with total confidence in herself.
External Journey: From a bumbling, directionless teenager to a fearless fighter who kills the giant termites and saves her own life and the lives of her tour group.Old Ways:
· Bumbling
· No sense of direction
· No self-confidence
· Scaredy cat
New Ways:
· New sense of direction
· Total self-confidence
· Fearless
· Brave
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Leona Heraty.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Leona Heraty.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Leona Heraty.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by
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effrey Alan Chase’s Lesson 3 – Transformational Journey
My vision: I will do whatever it takes to become the best screenwriter I can be – an “A” list writer who is praised for high concept ideas, great execution, a string of successful movies and is always ready to share his knowledge and do what he can to help a writer on the way up.
What I learned from doing this assignment is: It has forced me, again, to really dig deep into my protag’s wants and needs and make sure that there is a clear “before” and a clear “after”
• Arc Beginning: Sarah is crushed by guilt, introverted with low self-esteem and has never had a loving, fulfilling relationship because she feels she is a bad person and doesn’t deserve to be happy.
• Arc Ending: Sarah is a vibrant woman who lives each day with the confidence that she deserves to be happy and can achieve whatever she desires.
• Internal Journey: from introverted and afraid to confident and outgoing
• External Journey: from not knowing what to do with all the pieces of her memory to putting herself back together
• Old Ways:
o Feels overpowering guilt
o Has a job putting other people’s broken art objects back together
o Low self-esteem
o Afraid
o Dependent on alcohol
• New Ways:
o Her soul is free of guilt
o She puts the pieces of herself back together
o Exudes confidence
o Courageous
o Relies on her spirit to show her the way -
Amechi’s Transformational Journey
MY VISIONI am going to be in the top 1% of action/comedy writers in the industry who writes major action films.
What I learned from doing this assignment is to design only my protagonist’s journey at this stage. The rest can be built around this later once it’s settled.
PROTAGONIST
Arc Beginning: A helpless civilian who is a target for criminals.
Arc Ending: A superhero’s sidekick who is feared.
Internal Journey: Awkward and afraid, to confident and fearless.
External Journey: A weak civilian who needs protection to a strong hero who can protect others.
Old Ways:
Afraid of the city
A nobody
Victim
Oppressed
Gives up easily
New Ways:
Knows he is dangerous
A feared superhero
In control
Determined -
Erik’s Transformational Journeys
My vision is to achieve true excellence as a screenwriter which causes me to be a consistently working writer, with actual movies made from some of my scripts, and to become wealthy as a screenwriter, develop relationships in the movie industry where I am recognized as a truly original writer, and to become indispensable in the market in which I want to write.
What I learned doing this assignment… This assignment opened up my characters’ stories to the next level, and the exciting part about completing this is that the journeys that I laid out, even though they are rough or ‘first draft’, feel right, like a crucial piece of the puzzle has been completed (for now).
PENNY
Arc beginning: Tough and doesn’t believe that having loving parents is something that she can have.
Arc ending: Allows herself to accept her wish to be loved and wanted.
Internal journey: From disbelieving and distrusting to letting her guard down and accepting loving parents in her life.
External journey: From an orphan thrust into a survival situation to a strong kid who can take care of herself and Mara too.
Old Ways: Tough with a protective shell / Doesn’t need anybody / Wary of the grown-up world
New Ways: Accepts love / Strong and believes in herself and in the love of the world
MARA
Arc beginning: She struggles to assert her own desires against Penny’s taking charge of both of their destinies.
Arc ending: Discovers her own strength in response to Penny’s more dominant personality and comes to develop an adult-like sense of confidence.
Internal journey: From being afraid of her cast-away situation with little confidence in her abilities to embracing the adventure and finding confidence in herself.
External journey: From a scared orphan thrust into a survival situation to thriving in the adventure.
Old Ways: Timid / Afraid / Subordinate to Penny / Needs more imagination
New Ways: Assertive / Sure of herself and her place in the world / Loves Penny
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Peter’s Transformational Journey
My vision is to be a prolific screenwriter who sells compelling stories that are made into TV movies for the LA and Vancouver markets.
CARLOS
Arc Beginning: Former drug dealer and murderer
Arc Ending: Resurrected driver of the hearse!
Internal Journey: From vicious thug to protective father
External Journey: From ex-convict to repentant servant
Old Ways:
• MS 13 gangster.
• Murderer of women and children.
• Power hungry drug dealer.
• Runs from the past.
New Ways:
• Damned to Hell.
• Thief on the cross.
• Husband & father.
• Sacrifices himself.
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Bobby’s Transformational Journey
MY VISION: A writing life that is mine to do with as I please. I am in control, relaxed, and utterly content – and constantly searching for the next world to create. Independently wealthy, always creatively engaged, sought after, and utterly fulfilled.
What I learned doing this assignment was … how to relax back into the creative mode (it’s been a little while)
CONCEPT: An aspiring serial killer is forced to join forces with the high school bullies meant to be his victims, when the cabin they’re partying in is attacked by zombies from the nearby Civil War graveyard.
Genre: Horror/Comedy
Title: JASON VS THE ZOMBIES<div>
CHARACTER: Jason (Protagonist)
ARC BEGINNING: A timid, bitter, wanna-be killer
ARC ENDING: A courageous hero who saves the day! (and makes friends!)
INTERNAL JOURNEY: From timid and bitter to courageous and hopeful
EXTERNAL JOURNEY: From a sad-sack loser, to a hero everyone relies on to find a way to beat the zombies and save the day
OLD WAYS:
hides out and fantasizes (avoids reality)
broods
bullied and frightened of everyone
never stands up for himselfNEW WAYS:
confronts reality
hopeful and optimistic for the future
takes action despite his fears
stands up for himself, and everyone else</div>
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Lori Lance’s Transformational Journey
Vision: I want to be a professional screenwriter recognized by the industry as the go-to for family-friendly scripts and have multiple successful movies produced.
What I learned: I see the whole family as the protagonists in my story, so I feel like I need to do this lesson for each family member. Going through this lesson for the mom really helped define her character for me and will be a great help when I begin writing the script.
Character Arc for your Protagonist: Mom
Arc Beginning: disappointed with her life
Arc Ending: fighting to keep the life she’s built
Internal/External Journey:
Internal Journey: Mom is torn between what she wants and needs versus what others want/expect from her.
External Journey: Mom goes back to work after years of being a stay-at-home mom but has a battle on her hands when an AI wants to take her over her role as wife and mother.
Old Ways/New Ways:
Old Ways: Mom did everything for everyone in the family and always put her desires last.
New Ways: Mom finds common ground where she can have her dreams come to life and still be there for her family.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Lori Lance.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by
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(WIM) Renee Brown’s transformational journey
“My scripts are the cream that rises to the top: I am an A-list screenwriter.”
What I learned: This is moving target, and that’s ok. Also, I really liked typing; Renée Brown’s transformational journey.
(new working title)
STARCROSSED CHANCES
With help from a magical stone, star-crossed lovers are reunited decades later in a small Montana town that keeps big hearted secrets.
Protagonist: Ally
Arc Beginning: Apathetic wallflower.
Arc Ending: Passionate, self-possessed woman.
Internal Journey: From heartbroken and disillusioned in love to clear eyed and ready to love.
External Journey: From a life she doesn’t care about to creating a life that fulfills her.
Old Ways:
Bases her idea of love around hyper – idyllic post war stories from her grandmother. Abandons a professional dream because of a perceived insult. <div>
Runs away from love.
Believes in the hardships of life.
New Ways:
Bases her idea of love on realistic / imperfect beauty of true love right before her. Reconnects with her personal passion. </div>
Runs toward love.
Believes in magic.
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Tracy’s Transformational Journey
I will do whatever it takes to become a successful author and screenwriter with multiple screenplays produced.
What I learned from doing this assignment is even if the protagonist believes they are “just fine” at the beginning of the story, there can still be a heck of a transformation ahead of them.
ANNA ASBURY STONE
Arc Beginning: Wife, mother of small children, healer—thinks she is “liberated” for the 1770s
Arc Ending: Saboteur who foils a conspiracy and saves the American Revolution
Internal Journey: From being confident about her skill managing home and family, to learning to outwit soldiers, politicians, and spies
External Journey: From competent mother and healer in control of her domestic domain, to owning a place in the man’s world of war and politics
Old Ways:
-Usually accepted
the dominance of her elders-Dressed as a
woman-Orphaned* as a
child, indentured servant as a teen-Did not fit in
with her relatives who were part of planter class-Married for love
rather than for material comfort-Hears about the
war secondhand, from newspapers and returning soldiersNew Ways:
-Defies
convention and her elders’ disapproval-Vows to do anything
to keep her children from being orphaned the way she was-Puts herself in
harm’s way-Travels 200
miles alone on horseback, to a place she has never been-Dresses in disguise in her husband’s clothes
-Takes on the
responsibility of carrying an urgent message to General Washington-Interacts with some of the most important and influential figures of the day
-Witnesses and influences
history in the making*Orphaned at this time in history meant one’s father was deceased. The mother could be alive, but since she had no agency to work, etc. on her own, she was not considered part of the equation. Children whose fathers had not left inheritances that would support them until they were grown became wards of the orphan’s court and were assigned guardians, or placed in apprenticeships or indentures, often to the exclusion of the mother’s wishes.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Tracy Lawson.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by
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Jack P’s Transformational Journey
VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a script that is produced, recognized by the industry, and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS ASSIGNMENT: My lead characters must change internally and externally to create a compelling arc for the story.
Jay
CHARACTER ARC
Arc beginning: Macho American controlling male, “recovering Catholic” agnostic and skeptical about love and reincarnation.
Arc ending: In love and believing in soul mates
INTERNAL/EXTERNAL JOURNEY
Internal journey: From hard and jaded to empathetic and romantic
External journey: Cold divorcee to romantic lover
OLD WAYS/NEW WAYS
Old ways: Controlling, over-confident “ugly
American” skepticNew ways: Compassionate listener with a generous heart
Lina
CHARACTER ARC
Arc beginning: Timid lesbian unsure of herself and love and rejecting true love and soul mates.
Arc ending: In love and believing in soul mates.
INTERNAL/EXTERNAL JOURNEY
Internal journey: From insecure and immature to strong and self-confident.
External journey: From helpless victim to empowered and independent woman.
OLD WAYS/NEW WAYS
Old ways: Naïve and impetuous; self-destructive; closed off to emotion.
New ways: Self-aware and focused; overcoming additions and bad behavior; emotionally and spiritually aware.
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[WIM] Caroline’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: I will perfect my process of writing great scripts and be recognized by the industry as good at what I do and have successful movies produced.
What I learned: That the best way to start something is just to dive in and I don’t have to have all the answers now.
Arc Beginning: By-the-book loyalist
Arc Ending: Willing to break the rules to find the truth
Internal Journey: Goes from seeing things in black and white to discovering the nuance.
External Journey: From a somewhat timid analyst to a great field operative.Old Ways:
-Did everything by the book
-Feels he always has to prove himself
-Doubts his skills
-Believes all people are good
New Ways:
-Willing to break the rules that need breaking
-Self-confident
-Trusts in his skills
-Drops his naivete and sees people as they really are
-Not suspicious but more worldly
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CJ’s Transformational Journey
Vision: I am a confident and empowered writer who embraces challenges and changes and writes highly sought-after projects with fresh and exciting ideas. I will be produced and hired to write projects that get produced.
WIL: This was really thought provoking for me. Really made me think about the old ways vs new ways as well as keeping internal and external struggles in mind.
Title: MEMORY HUNTERS
Concept:
In a future with technology to retrieve memories, a Memory Retrivalist, caught in the mind of a psychopath struggles to find a way out before he destroys her mind and kills her.
ASSIGNMENT
Protagonist: Mya Ortega
Tell us the Character Arc for your Protagonist:
Arc
Beginning: young naïve trainee scared from her past
abuse <div><u style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Arc Ending: the only
one who can stop the psychopath from escaping into another mind.Give us their Internal/External Journey.
Internal
Journey:
From afraid and self-centered to
confident and collaborative and healing her “scars” from internal abuse. <div><u style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>External
Journey:
From a immature trainee to highly intuitive memory hunter and able to
learn how to stop the psychopath’s rampage.Tell us their Old Ways at the beginning of the movie and their New Ways at the end.
Old Ways: </div>
Naïve
Self-centered
Afraid
Practices avoidance
Didn’t
understand the true value of what they could doNew Ways:
Confident
Collaborative
Courageous
Believes in
what she is doingUnderstands
what happened to her</div>
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Veleka’s Transformational Journey
My work is respected and produced, and I am rewarded with success and great wealth.
What I learned from doing this assignment is how often my characters’s journeys mirror my own.
2. Tell us the Character Arc for your Protagonist:
• Arc Beginning: Judd believes he has no value unless he is rich
• Arc Ending: Judd embraces the wealth within himself of a lifetime of experience helping his patients
3. Give us their Internal/External Journey.
• Internal Journey: From feeling feckless and unworthy to finding out he has a true gift for healing
• External Journey: From being an average shrink and husband to being his ancestors’s hero and his wife’s romantic Prince Charming and that she actually, really loves him
4. Tell us their Old Ways at the beginning of the movie and their New Ways at the end.
• Old Ways: Judd doesn’t believe anyone really cares about him or respects him, just for himself.
• New Ways: He discovers that he has a lot to offer his family and community.
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Tina’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: My writing enables me to live an exuberantly creative and productive life in prosperity.
It’s beautiful to discover more of the story and hard not to start writing.
ARGUS’ EYES
A teenage girl has her disfigured face reconstructed at a beauty clinic in the Black Forest, only to discover that her new face is just a mask and she is now the livestock for a blind demon who has stolen her eyes for himself.
HERO: VALENTINA FLEMMIN
Character: Valentina Flemmin, 16 year old runaway, one-eyed
Logline: Valentina has her disfigured face reconstructed at a beauty clinic run by her estranged grandma, only to discover that her new face is just a mask and she is now the livestock for a blind demon who has stolen her eye for himself.
Unique: Val’s other eye was stolen by the demon when she was a baby.
2. Character Arc for your Protagonist:
Arc Beginning: lonely orphan, rejected
Arc Ending: powerful witch with a family
3. Give us their Internal/External Journey.
Internal Journey:
Feeling rejected and powerless to loved and mighty.
External Journey:
Discarded orphan to powerful witch who saves her grandmother and slays the demon.
4. Tell us their Old Ways at the beginning of the movie and their New Ways at the end.
Old Ways:
stays quiet when mistreated
runs from her opressors
doesnt believe anyone wants her because she is one-eyed ugly
“life is shit and then you die”
schemes to get what she needs
doesn’t trust anyone
steals from ‘friends’ – doesn’t believe anyone could be her real friend
rejects her witchy grandma because she rejected her
New Ways:
confronts authorities
risks her life to save the others
embraces her witchy heritage
sacrifices her newfound beauty to kill the demon
stands up for herself
accepts friendship and love
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Edward Brown intentional Lead characters
Write a blockbuster movie series to create trimaran sailing and world influence
I am completely committed to having my characters deliver powerfully on my concept
Creator setups up romantic experiment of total opposite prissy structured Siberian professor Tanya with creative but undisciplined messy Detroit roofer George. This fits concept that for these two uber romantics to get together, jit will take obviouslu negotiations and accommodation which it what will that for nuclear powers not to destroy earth’s protective uv ionosphere which happened on extinct Mars. Of course there is more.
Creator
Badgered by Tanya’s caseworker saints to find her a romantic lover, Creator setups parable experiment of making love to learn how make nuclear peace to save Blue Planet from being extinct Mars.
Creator is unique with god-like powers which are limited to persuasion via free-will biped
Tanya
Disciplined Siberian professor who turns down unromantic billionaire’s marriage proposal, self-centered Tanya seeks to be Czarina administrator at her University — rule men
Tanya is uniquely an effective vamp
George
While breaking up with classy sexy dame, George seeks synergy partner
While unfocused with no habits, Detroit roofer George conjures up unique creative solutions — except for his self
I learned to focus intentions more
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Pat Fitzgerald’s Transformational Journey
Vision: I have the courage and confidence to write contest winning screenplays and will go on to have my scripts optioned and produced.
What I learned: I’m enjoying this process of slow but sure character building. It trying to figure everything about them all at once, but I’m also keeping an open mind that they may change as they continue to blossom in my mind.
Since this is a buddy movie, I’m doing the protagonist journey for both my lead characters.
Jaki Sue:
Arc beginning: Broke and lonely.
Arc ending: Financially secure and in love.
Internal Journey: From being feeling like a loser to realizing she’s worthy of being loved.
External Journey: From being a has been stripper/pole dancer to being a respected member of her community.
Old ways:
Taking crappy temp jobs to pay the bills.
Conning men into thinking she’s attracted to them, to have a chance to get at their money.
Tired of her life.
New ways:
Willing to settle for comfort over riches.
Able to accept and give true love.
Living an honest life.
Judee:
Arc beginning: Tricks herself into believing she enjoys her little con schemes.
Arc ending: Finds her true path in life as a caregiver.
Internal Journey: Acting like life is a carnival to taking herself seriously.
External Journey: From always being the silly, fun-loving one to stepping up to a responsible job.
Old Ways:
Lives day-to-day, doesn’t think about her future.
Shoplifts and feels entitled to what she takes.
Borrows money with no intention of paying it back.
Ignores the fact that her irresponsible behavior hurts her loved ones.
New Ways:
Realizes how deeply she can care for others.
Has a responsible job.
Earns the respect of her family members.
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Kelly’s Transformational Journey (Your name’s) Transformational Journey
I want to be an empowered writer who consistently produces salable scripts.
I learned to just fill in the blanks and give myself permission to explore and discover.
Tell us the Character Arc for your Protagonist:
Arc Beginning:aimless, rebellious,confrontational
Arc Ending:Purposeful, drive,
3. Give us their Internal/External Journey.
Internal Journey: from being this aimles rebellious
External Journey:get out of Blood Lake alive
4. Tell us their Old Ways at the beginning of the movie and their New Ways at the end.
Old Ways: looks for fights, confrontational, self centered
New Ways: focused, selfless, fighting for a cause
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PETER’S TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY
VISION: MY SCRIPTS ARE SO GOOD THEY COULD BE PUBLISHED ON THEIR OWN AND WILLIAM GOLDMAN WOULD WANT TO WRITE THE INTRODUCTION.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that by taking things one step at a time I am able to stay focused on the immediate task and complete my mission.
Character Arc for DAVID VILLERS
Arc Beginning – seriously wounded, obstinate, cynical, betrayed
Arc Ending – fights through his wounds, seeks change, has faith
Internal Journey (mind and emotions) – from wounded and cynical to vital and bold
External Journey (action and experience) – from forcibly retired commander who is part of the status quo to independent iconoclast
Old Ways
Blindly follows orders/status quo
Intentionally overlooks questionable scenarios
Won’t allow himself to be vulnerable
Despises female authority
New Ways
Learns truth about botched mission that left him for dead
Recognizes genuine love for one-time fiancé
Fights for a cause he never believed in
Stands up against his own government
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Lesson 3 transformational journey
Susan Arnout Smith’s Great Amazing Vision: I co-create with God projects that are produced, win awards, heal hearts and bring me financial abundance and time to explore the world with my family and friends.
What I learned doing this assignment is: I’m loving the exercise and it’s becoming ‘what I do’ every day…before I ‘do what I do.’
Arc Beginning: Impulsive Halfing kid
Arc Ending: Heroine and ruler of a healed country
Internal Journey: From impulsive and needy to strong and fearless
External Journey: From naïve child, unsure of her abilities, to respected warrior able to defeat Evil
Old Ways:
· Reckless
· Naïve
· Careless
· Disregards cost to others
New Ways:
· Thoughtful
· Sacrifices for others
· Fearless
· Understands ancient knowledge
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BOB SMITH’S TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY
My vision for success after this program:
I want to become a great writer who delivers entertaining, informative, and uplifting movie scripts that sell and get produced.
What I learned from doing this assignment is…?
To craft the transformational journey is to shape the road map and contours of the movie and live out the concept.
PROTAGONIST: LOU TASCA,
ARC BEGINNING:
· He is a slain gangster who can’t get into heaven because of his life of crime.
· He is given a mission by which he can redeem himself: persuade his killer to leave the mob and join Witness Protection.
ARC ENDING:
· He talked his killer into ‘turning rat’ and joining Witness Protection and convinced him that what mob culture considers ‘turning rat’ is to make the world a better place because you’re helping the law. .
· He has secured his place in the World to Come.
· In fact, he has set off a chain of events in which a whole group of gangsters quit the mob and join Witness Protection. A “jackpot of souls.”
INTERNAL JOURNEY
· Goes from a mob thug to a soul-rescuer.
· Goes from a mobster to a caring person.
EXTERNAL JOURNEY.
· He leaves the mob mentality and culture.
· He goes from thug to spiritual hero.
OLD WAYS:
· Thought of cooperating with the FBI as ‘turning rat.’
· Believes in violence and revenge as normal transactions in life..
· No regard for the disposition of his soul for good or ill.
· Even good he did was mixed with mob criminality, e.g., he helped a neighbor with the rent by “making his landlord an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
· No concern for spiritual matters.
· Believes in total submission to the rules of mob life, e.g., omerta, silence, and that once you are in La Cosa Nostra, you cannot leave the life..
NEW WAYS:
· Sees that what the mob calls ‘turning rat’ is actually making the world a better place..
· Sees that violence and revenge only cause more violence and revenge, and so.
· He comes to believe in peace and reconciliation.
· By making many gangsters ‘turn rat’ by the old way of thinking he has become a spiritual hero, in other words,
· He does redemptive good for his own soul and the souls of other gangsters.
· He has rejected the mob culture and demonstrates that you can leave the mob life and get a real life.
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Terrie’s Transformational Journey!
I write screenplays that get turned into crowd pleasing successful films using a process that allows me to enjoy my equestrian hobby.
What I learned doing this assignment is that although I think my transformational journey needs refinement, coming up with these pieces helped me gain insights into my characters and the story.
Rom-Com so the main characters are both protagonist and antagonist to each other.
Character: Paige
Logline: Paige, a US Marshall behavioral analyst, is tasked with getting a witness (her ex) safely embedded in his new identity.
Arc Beginning: All work all the time. No interest in a personal life.
Arc Ending: Recovered from her bad break up with James, she’s open to a relationship and allowing fun back into her life.
Internal journey: From cut off from others to open and engaged with others.
External journey: Something of a road trip as she gets James to safety.
Old ways: clinical, remote, avoids interacting with people due to inability to trust
New ways: able to trust and connect with her peersCharacter: James/Jason
Logline: After blowing his first cover identify, James is convinced that only his former fiancé can keep him safe as he testifies against domestic terrorists that want him dead.
Arc Beginning: believes conspiracy theories, thinks the US Marshall’s conspired against him, thinks Paige is naïve, doesn’t see his role in their break up.
Arc Ending: He and Paige don’t reconcile but they work through their issues and both are able to move on.
Internal journey: From angry & paranoid, only testifying to save himself to seeing his role in negative outcomes of his life and testifying because it’s the right thing to do.
External journey: From hiding from the US Marshalls to safely ensconced in his new identity.
Old ways: paranoid but gullible, angry, self absorbed
New ways: sees how his beliefs in conspiracy theories has harmed his life -
(Teresa Rodriguez’) Transformational Journey
-MY VISION: I will become a highly respected and influential writer/producer with my own successful production company that I can leave as a blessing to my children and many generations to come.
-What I learned from doing this assignment is to focus on one piece of the puzzle at a time and it won’t be so overwhelming.
• Arc Beginning: A weak, reluctant princess
• Arc Ending: Confident, princess warrior/hero
• Internal Journey: From weak/reluctant princess to confident and fearless
• External Journey: From awkward princess to princess warrior/hero
• Old Ways:
• – Ignorant of life outside of perfect fairytale land
• – Afraid, timid
• – Unconfident
• – Let her dad/the King intimidate her
• New Ways:
– Can survive in a new world
– Courageous
– Wise/Skilled
– Fights and Saves her friends
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Jill Clifford’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: I am going to become skillful enough as a screenwriter that I can to get my scripts into the hands of producers, and ultimately get one or more into a produced feature film.
What I learned from doing this assignment is a deeper understanding of my protagonist and how to place him in the right emotional state throughout the script. I think this will make a more powerful role for whoever plays this protagonist.
Character Arc for Protagonist Hagen Stravos:
Arc Beginning:
Hagen is a loner, basically distrustful of women, having been dumped by his girlfriend for a Hispanic guy. He hates Hispanics, having a child he rescued aimlessly killed by a Hispanic kidnapper and die in his arms, and his only sister raped and killed by two Hispanic men. He rubber-stamps all Hispanic illegal immigrants deportation papers without regard for their circumstances or peril.
Arc Ending:
Hagen learns to respect the Hispanic population, and even falls in love with a Hispanic woman who has had to make the same survival trip with him. He no longer wants to live alone. He tries to help the illegal Hispanic immigrants he deals with in his work as an INS agent.
Hagen’s Internal Journey:
Hagen lives with anger at those around him, alone and unhappy. He learns to respect and treat others fairly, falls in love and no longer wants to live alone.
Hagen’s External Journey:
Hagen goes from being a “hachet man” at INS to one of compassion for the plight of the illegal Hispanic immigrants he deals with.
Old Ways:
Angry at the world
Hating Hispanics
Distrustful of women
Alone and lonely
Rubber-stamping deportation of any illegal Hispanic immigrants
New Ways:
No longer angry at the world
Accepting and respecting Hispanic people
In love with a Hispanic woman
Taking consideration for circumstances and peril of illegal immigrants in his INS work, instead of outright deportation of all
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Micki’s Transformational Journey
My vision: Be recognized as a writer that will work with the industry and would do what it takes to be that WRITER.
What I learned from doing this assignment is understanding my character and her arc, internal and external journey and old and new ways. It is like having a chart of the character and coming alive in the script.
I am EMPOWERED!
Title: FIREWORKS
Genre: Comedy
Concept:
Let the fireworks begin; a worn-out family is fed-up with the sisters’ feud; so they plan to lock them up until the feud is over during the holiday.
Arc Beginning: People Pleaser
Arc Ending: Self Pleaser
Internal Journey: Meek and seeking approval to Strong and no approval
External Journey: Standing up for what she wants.
Old Ways:
Protect sister’s feelings
Try to please everyone
Deny herself of happiness
Vowed to be a widow for the rest of her life.
Live her life for everyone but herself.
New Ways:
No longer denying her feelings
No longer vowed to be widow
Her happiness means the world to her
Live her life for herself
No longer protecting her sister’s feelings
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Hope McPherson’s transformational journey
Vision: To be a working, trusted screenwriter who supports herself by writing smart films that are produced and enjoyed, while also working on writing assignments for other industry professionals.
What I learned: Taking the steps and filling in the blanks had me discover the first layers of my protagonist. As I’m considering her journey, glimpses of future scenes are beginning to come to mind.
Title: A NOVEL REVOLT
Concept: One week before her wedding, an author’s characters escape her book and insist on rewriting her life.
Protagonist: Shelby Jordan
Arc beginning: Shelby’s perfectionism has stopped her cold.
Arc ending: Shelby can move forward with her career and her life, accepting her own imperfections as strengths.
Her internal journey: From unproductive and scared to confident and daring.
Her external journey: From failed novelist/bridezilla to creative and kickass.
Old ways:
· Isolated from fiancé and friends due to writer’s block.
· Low self-worth (has her 7th grade bully in her head).
· Trouble dealing with emotions (even little things set her off).
· Trouble making decisions.
New ways:
· Accepts her own and others’ imperfections.
· Makes decisions and rolls with the results.
· Learns to laugh at herself (finds joy).
· Discovers inner courage to stand up for herself and current bully.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that clarifying the arc is so simple and so important to everything that comes after.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
CHARACTER STRUCTURE: Buddy Comedy – between a guy and himself.
ARC BEGINNING: Cynical senior outcast
ARC ENDING: A guy with a bright future
INTERNAL jOURNEY: From pessimistic and afraid to optimistic and fearless
EXTERNAL JOURNEY: From timid stress ball to a confident baller
OLD WAYS:
Anti social
Victim of bullying
Afraid of intimacy and friendship
Doesn’t believe in himself
Doesn’t like himself
NEW WAYS:
Charismatic
Forgiving
A good friend
Has a sense of humor about himself
Has the courage to talk to Sophie
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John T’s Transformational Journey
Vision: to become an industry new face known for reliable box office successes and concepts that intrigue and entertain audiences the world over.
What I learned doing this assignment is that it takes some thought to come up with a character profile most compelling and one that best fits the concept – more will come.
Protagonist: Captain Phil Conner
Arc Beginning: distraught, obsessed, unsettled loner
Arc Ending: hero, crime solver, ready for a new relationship
Internal Journey: from guilt-ridden, impatient to grounded and happy and fulfilled.
External Journey: from a suspected serial killer to hero
Old Ways: lets no one in, ignorant of other’s motivations, ignores the rules, close-minded to other possibilities, doesn’t trust law enforcement
New Ways: open to other points of view, approachable, open to new relationships, crime consultant, lifesaver, absolved and vindicated.
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Vision: I am a talented, highly regarded, efficient, relaxed, happy, WGA screenwriter
What I learned from doing this assignment is that Romcoms run deeper than I thought as they delve into love in all its aspects, not just romance. Stating the arc, journey, the old and new ways, clarifies my vague concepts of the characters and their issues; what drives their behaviors.
Title: Will This Angel?
Concept: A future female president has a guardian angel who abandons his mission when he falls in love with her.
Character Structure: Romcom
Protagonist #1: Max
Arc Beginning: Overbearing and interfering with the human he’s assigned to guard
Arc Ending: Loves the human
Internal Journey: From overbearing to giving freedom
External Journey: From not knowing how to love to being in love
Old Ways:
· micro-manages situations and people
· creates and forces situations
· acts like a helicopter parent
New Ways:
· allows people the freedom to act on their own
· stands back to allow situations to unfold
· acts like a lover
Protagonist #2: Jane Presdon
Arc Beginning: Acts independent of others and their feelings
Arc Ending: Loves another
Internal Journey: Rejecting intimacy to love
External Journey: Political aide to president
Old Ways:
· treats her constituency like a herd vs. individuals
· runs from situations she can’t control
· stridently single
New Ways:
· loves her constituency
· sticks with situations where she is not the one in control
· has a loving relationship
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Aaron’s Transformational Journey
MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.
What I learned doing this assignment is my protagonist’s journey will completely change the core of who they are by the end of the story.
PROTAGONIST
ARC BEGINNING: A felon, a nobody with no education, no money, no standing in life.
ARC ENDING: The most powerful man in the county.
INTERNAL JOURNEY: Subservient to the “system”. Afraid to take action, or have the Will strong enough to challenge the most dangerous and powerful man in town.
EXTERNAL JOURNEY: From a nameless nobody tow truck driver to a local vigilante hero who has finally found civil justice for his community.
OLD WAYS:
He has the prisoner mentality- ‘go along to get along.’
Compliant with or backs down from authority.
Does as he’s told.
Accepts things as they are.
NEW WAYS:
Defiance.
Contempt.
Fury.
Accepts nothing.
Won’t back down.
Would rather die than see the Sheriff get away with these crimes.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Aaron Can Hoff.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Aaron Can Hoff.
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Jaelle’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: I am an award-winning screenwriter that is sought after by people in the industry, who creates screenplays that change lives and creates a vision for a better world, and I’m richly rewarded.
What I learned: Putting the puzzle together takes consideration of character’s hero’s journey.
Madame Blavatsky
Arc Beginning: well-known psychic that has to have public attention and admiration
Arc Ending: writer and activist that works for the common good of humanity.
Internal Journey: from suffering spiritual arrogance, doing whatever it takes including hurting people because she has a right to change other’s path to fit her vision to realizing that…
External Journey: her way isn’t the only way
Old Ways: Publicly wants to stand out, seeks attention of media, values self based on what other’s think
New Ways: is content to be her true self, understands her place in the universe is no less nor more than anyone else’s
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Jane’s Transformational Journey
MY VISION: I will make my living as a screenwriter by selling my own narrative scripts and successfully fulfilling writing assignments.
By doing this assignment, I began to think more seriously about what my job is with this story. It’s a parody of a much-loved genre with beloved characters. So my task is to stay true to the characters while also making it fun. This exercise got me thinking about what Hercule Poirot’s life and Jane Marple’s life is like when they aren’t involved in solving a crime. I feel like that is a good place to start in finding out who these two characters are. Then all I have to do is try to kill them!
Protagonist: June Marvel
Arc Beginning: Armchair sleuth who cracks cases by mere observation of people’s behavior
Arc Ending: Active participant in solving mysteries through a variety of methods.
Internal Journey: From resentful adversary to tolerant friend.
External Journey: From solving crime from the sidelines to active participation in catching a murder
Old Ways: – Always observing from the outside
– Insists on being right; intolerant of being questioned
– Is judgmental in a very kindly way
– Refuses to be vulnerable
New Ways: – Excited to be directly in the scrum of the case
– Okay with being wrong
– Empathetic
– Accepting that other methods of catching criminals work too, including making herself vulnerable
Protagonist: Percival Heriot
Arc Beginning: World re-knowned detective who believes his own publicity.
Arc Ending: Man who appreciates that others have gifts too.
Internal Journey: From vain and singular to part of an extraordinary team
External Journey: From total dependence on his power of reasoning to dependence on another’s approach to the problem.
Old Ways: – Completely dependent on his own cerebral power and reasoning
– Vain; only he has the right answer
– Intolerant
– Obsessive/Compulsive
New Ways: – Willing to be wrong
– A bit more tolerant of other people’s untidiness
– Appreciates knowledge of the human heart as a way of reasoning
– Willing to work as a team
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Valeriya’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: I am a masterful, ahead-of-the-game, and out-of-the-box writer full of ideas and creative energy. My writing is fresh, impactful, iconic, beautiful, and effortless, and my projects deliver outstanding commercial and artistic success. I create a lot, it’s fun, quick, and easy. My whole life is that way.
What I learned from doing this assignment is…
– I want to get really good at creating transformational experiences.
– Old ways and new ways are simple keys to creating action for a transformational journey and keeping the story focused on the theme.
7RDRD4: LO
Arc Beginning: Lo feels worthless as a human being and wants to be like other people.
Arc Ending: Lo is empowered, grateful for her life, changed the world by being who she is.
Internal Journey: From hating her life and herself to loving life and who she is.
External Journey: From an outcast to the leader of humanity.
Old Ways:
Trying to fit in
Feeling inferior and making herself smaller
Hiding
Isolated
New Ways:
Taking risks, brave
Confident
Doing her thing
Caring for others
WHAT DOESN’T KILL ME: IRENE
Arc Beginning: Lonely, depressed, and scared freelance designer.
Arc Ending: A creator who is free from fear, and not holding back.
Internal Journey: From sad and scared to empowered.
External Journey: From being a victim of a monster to setting the monster and herself free.
Old Ways:
Confused
Scared, living in fear and anxiety
Lonely
Low self-esteem
Suppressing her feelings
New Ways:
Free
Creative
Empowered
Clear
Trusting herself
In love with life
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Kevin’s Transformational Journey
MY VISION: Develop a successful methodology for writing screenplays resulting in: completion of this/other screenplays which all ‘read’ at a PRO/story-telling level, culminating in the selling of my screenplays… produced projects (films or series), worthy compensation -and more screenwriting opportunities. Rinse and repeat- many times over.
What I learned: ‘Mapping-out’ my Protagonist’s journey, conflicts along the way, presumptive attitudes, events to take place- really bringing puzzle into focus. In the end we all want brilliant works of art on the page vs. a head scratching, Rorschach test of a finished product.
FINDING DOCTOR FUNK
Character Arc – Protagonist Vince Guaraldi
Arc Beginning: bashful, unsure of his abilities, though some eagerness to learn piano; plays as others play, learns their songs, emulates what they do well (…and in so doing- is completely unoriginal).
Arc Ending: Now in full possession of an original sound and style; sanguine about reinventing himself again (…no problem!) , even in the midst of dying 1960’s Jazz scene while Rock-n-Roll is exploding all around him.
Internal Journey: Self-doubting, overwhelmed by accomplishments of current Jazz greats -to- discovering and delivering fantastically original Jazz compositions of his own.
External Journey: Struggling to find non-paying musical gigs -to- winning a Grammy, ‘scoring’ a Network Television Special.
Old Ways:
Lax, cocky, anxious: thinks he knows more than he does. Winging it with other’s music and it shows, detrimentally. Timid, reluctant- missing opportunities to ‘shine’. Lacking confidence, does what he is told. Afraid of his overbearing Father. Does not risk displaying his own creativity.
New Ways:
Studied in his craft as a pianist. Knows every other musician’s part as well as his own. Believes in his talent as a composer. Uses solo opportunities to shine on stage. Courageously stands up to his Father. Confidently displays more creativity than ever.
As mentioned in previous assignment: The ‘Past-Present’ approach to telling this BIO-PIC story is part of my plan to take readers (and eventually viewers of the film) on this journey.
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Edward Brown transformation
I am completely capable of dramatic transformation of charactersw
Creator gos from hardly no intervention to romantic experiment with rigging to making parable movie
Old ways only minor interventions as let evolution pick winners and losers
Did try prphets, Jesus
Jesus was powerful because his parables
New
Intervene as parable makers with romance experiment
Hen keeps rigging help
Creator internally realizes need to intervene or his creation will self destructs so Creator creates Go giving experiment
TANYA goes from vamp seeking to be Czarina to partner with Goeroge in Detiot
Old ways
Self centered Czarina
Vamp
Used to men fawning over her
Demands George live in Siberia
Go getter
New
Learns to compromise
Even look out for George as Go Giver
Decides to mive to Detroit despite getting administrative University job in Siberia
Tanya realizes if she wants unique creative lover rather than toady, Tanya must respect and go Givie please George
Stuck in rut George goes from disorganized slob to neat organized taking a flyer on a vamp and winning partner
Old ways
Slobs,
Ignores deadlines
Place messy
Ungroomed
Too vampable
To much ignores self for women and others
New ways
Organized office
Meets deadlines
Grooms self
Better habits
Loses weight, gets fit
Realizes cannot be vamp slave, must demand partner
Part of go giving is loving self maybe before others
I learned listing character elements clarifies
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Reginald’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: I am going to utilize my talents as a writer to catapult myself to the A-list, causing people in this industry to consider my writing among the best in the business.
What I learned from doing this assignment is by early identification of the lead character’s transformational journey, I am able to bring audiences to a point of loving my story.
ANSON HALEY
Arc Beginning: Disabled Army Veteran.
Arc Ending: Takes matters into his own hands.
Internal Journey: From self-pity to determined and unyielding.
External Journey: From vulnerable grumbler to capable terrorist who takes back the neighborhood.
Old Ways:
· Angry
· Disappointed
· Afraid to make matters worse
· Attempts to look the other way
New Ways:
· Fed up.
· Determined to rid his community of scum.
· Fights fire with fire
· Relentless in his pursuit
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David Scott Smith’s Transformational Journey
MY VISION: I am going to do whatever it takes for me to become a legend in both the filmmaking community and popular movie culture, so much so that audiences will stand in lines around the block to see my movies the way I did for Star Wars, ET and Raiders, and I will be buried with the 5 Academy awards given my work, and a tombstone that reads, “Awesome as fuck!”
Title: Connect the Dots
Concept: The true story of the only man in the military who believed in a signals intercept trainee and helped her expose the largest network of Soviet spies ever uncovered – ultimately answering the question, “Who really brought down the Soviet Union?”
I’ve chosen the Dramatic Triangle character structure.
Transformational Journey Assignment
What I Learned Doing This Lesson: It’s easy to write words down, it took longer to realize the importance of the words.
STORM
Arc Beginning: naive, insecure, self interested rookie black op
Arc Ending: Storm has become “Psycho” (The One!)
Internal Journey: From weak, insecure and self interested to strong, fearless and empathetic
External Journey: from a rookie black op to a full fledged “Psycho” who fights for a cause, runs vengeance missions behind enemy lines, and can manipulate the Soviet network of spies.
Old Ways:
- Small time rookie black opSelf interested
- Didn’t believe in himself
- Afraid of his superiors
- Accepted the dominance of others.
- Ignorant of the large secret network of high level soviet agents
New Ways:
- Can read the Morse Code
- Manipulates the Soviet Agents
- Runs vengeance missions across enemy lines
- Courageous
- Fighting for a cause
- Has empathy
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Tom’s Transformational Journey
My vision is that when I discuss projects with producers I come up with excellent alternatives quickly.
Doing this assignment, I learned lead characters must develop quickly if they are to succeed.
Sara’s Character Arc –
Beginning: Timid, mousy. Fearful Taliban will find out she teaches girls.
Ending: Take-no-prisoners seriousInternal Journey: Paranoid, fearful to cunning, analyses everyone and everything
External Journey: Shy, nervous to bold, coldly analyticalOld ways: Afraid to say anything that will cause men to be angry with her
New ways: Kicks ass and takes names
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Marcus Armstrong’s Transformational Journey
MY VISION: I am going to be so disciplined in the daily writing process and become such an adept writer that my successful screenplays will launch me into a full-time writing career.
What I learned from doing this assignment is how a character’s internal and external journeys are developed and how the transforming character is the most interesting part of the story.
EDMUND
Arc Beginning: Helpless, almost incapable environmentalist.
Arc Ending: Calculated killer and animal rights avenger.
Internal Journey: From helpless to methodical and calculated.
External Journey: From refusal to get involved against the cruel poaching to becoming a lethal vigilante.
Old Ways:
• Insecure
• Avoids conflict
• Incapable of dealing with his anger toward animal poachers
• Refusal to get involved
New Ways:
• Confident
• Deadly animal rights avenger
• Calculated eye for an eye mentality toward victims
• Incapable of walking away
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VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!
What I’ve learned is that it is much too early to see the full picture of my character but this is a start in the development and I know it will change again and again.
Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE
With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.
PROTAGONIST
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>ARC BEGINNING A controlling woman who knows what is best for everyone.
ARC ENDING She begins her own new journey and writes her first article.
INTERNAL JOURNEY – From she needs to be needed to feel worthy to accepting that others need their own life lessons and she doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone expect herself.
EXTERNAL JOURNEY From she is a woman who many depend upon, to a woman who detaches with unconditional love and reclaims her life dreams.
OLD WAYS
Is self-sacrificing and altruistic.
Sacrifices her personal life, career and daughter for the needs of others.
She doesn’t trust the medical and legal system and most people.
Is at odds with her daughter.
Doesn’t believe that she is worthy of having a life of her own.
She afraid of success.
NEW WAYS
She knows what she wants in life.
She surrenders to the reality that the medical and legal systems are bigger than she is.
She discovers she can let go of others needs and still be in relationships with them.
She bonds with her daughter in new ways.
Success is a new adventure.
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Sandra’s Transformational Journey
Vision: I am doing what I love to do as a writer with several successful produced movies.
What I learned doing this assignment is how to create each of the components of the transformational journey for the protagonist.
Arc Beginning: Young naïve sea captain.
Arc Ending: He becomes a top smuggler and then gives it all up for an honest life.
Internal Journey: From timid and afraid to confident and fearless.
External Journey: From a struggling new sea captain to running a top smuggling operation
Old Ways:
· Naïve, blindly obeys
· Dedicated and driven to be the best
· Insecure and self-doubting
· Ignorant of the smuggling world
· Afraid and anxious, drinks alcohol to steady his nerves
New Ways:
· Self-confident and accomplished
· Serene and courageous in any situation
· Relaxed and optimistic
· Honest and trustworthy, legitimate profession helping others
· Clean and sober, recovers from his wounds and addictions
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Kevin Cunningham’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: By making my high-quality writing and speaking known in many venues (the Industry, Youtube, podcasts, books), I will create a reputation as a profoundly powerful, thoughtful, and skilled writer, and be sought after for new and rewrite activities at the highest levels.
What I learned from doing this assignment: A transformational arc certainly gives definition to the story structure. It’s the backbone. I also saw how the other characters will echo this arc, because an arc suggests the theme of the story, and everyone’s progress or failures reflect that theme.
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Character: Mukki, the Native American teen called on to run the town (protagonist)
Arc Beginning: Mukki is an ignorant slacker, who would rather play video games than honor his culture; he has no responsibilities and no future
Arc Ending: Mukki is a respected, mature leader, who runs the town wisely, and profoundly honors his own culture and that of others
Internal Journey: from skillless, ignorant, clueless, to knowledgeable, brave, responsible
External Journey: from “low man on the totem pole” in his tribe, to leader of the town, defeater of the venal villains, and honored within his tribe
Old Ways:
– lazy, would rather just play video games
– inarticulate, mumbly, doesn’t even know his own language
– ashamed of his heritage, but also an outsider to mainstream culture
– awkward with the opposite sex
– buried in a “can never win” dead-end attitude
New Ways:
– visionary, responsible, moving forward great goals
– helpful to people, as a leader
– an honest, powerful speaker, including in his tribe’s tongue
– honoring all cultures deeply, including his own
– has mature relationships with women
– steeped in an “everyone can succeed” mentality
– does things, doesn’t just think things
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Elizabeth’s The Transformational Journey
My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.
What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that characters must fit the story. By developing characteristics that service the story helps. Also this creates the back bone to the story arc.
Character: Rizzo (protagonist) is a memory scientist
Arc Beginning: Isolated and anti-social and can’t forget and let go
Arc End: Can lead a team to save her brother and stop and invasion.
Internal Journey (mind and emotion): afraid of stepping out and letting go to fearless and actually letting go
External Journey (action and experience): Forced to interact with people when she hates it, to willing to be a team player and ends up stopping a doppler invasion.
Old ways
· Thinks she can’t do anything without her twin brother
· Afraid of leaving her secure apartment
· Doesn’t socialize.
· Egocentric
· Holds on to people and things. Afraid of letting go
New Ways
· Can tell that Marcus Doppler is an imposter
· Willing to overcome her agoraphobia and travel to the parallel world
· Courageous
· Willing to let go
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Michelle Damis’ Transformational Journey
I will be a prolific writer that is sought out because of my ability to truly touch people and create memorable stories and I will have financial freedom and time with my family as I travel the world.
What I learned from doing this assignment was this was a nice way of starting to clarify the character.
Tell us the Character Arc for your Protagonist:
Arc Beginning: Jo has been trying to change her life
but is still timid and unsure.
Arc Ending: Jo finally claims her life as her own and
stands up for herself.Give us their Internal/External Journey.
Internal Journey: timid, afraid, unsure, unconfident. But
knows there is more to life.
External Journey: walked on at work and by everyoneTell us their Old Ways at the beginning of the movie and their New Ways at the end.
Old Ways: Never says NO, settles, lacks confidence,
stays quiet. Accepts mediocrity.
New Ways: Puts her foot down. Wants more-choose more.
Brave. Speaks up. -
Paul Mahoney’s Transformational Journey
My vision is to be a successful full-time writer with a good steady income, who constantly learns, enjoys life, creates employment for others and brings joy, fun, fulfilment, health, happiness, inspiration & an attitude of gratitude to my partner and others.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that I still get a bit confused with Internal and External journey, but I’m getting better at it. Internal relates to how they feel, whereas external is what the world sees.
2. Tell us the Character Arc for your Protagonist:
Arc Beginning: Dan wanting to end his life.
Arc Ending: Dan celebrating his life and trying to get the most out of it.
3. Give us their Internal/External Journey.
Internal Journey: From miserable and unconfident, to confidant and happy.
External Journey: From not having a relationship, to finding the one.
4. Tell us their Old Ways at the beginning of the movie and their New Ways at the end.
Old Ways: Depending on God (others) for making his life better, unconfident, scared of women and relationships, embarrassed.
New Ways: Knows his happiness depends on himself, confident, not scared of anything, proud
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Holli’s Transformational Journey
My vision: I am going to do whatever it takes to write amazing, resonating, Oscar-winning movies so I am respected in the professional writing world and can quit representing derelicts and perverts for a living.
What I learned doing this assignment is this is an evolving process and I don’t have all the answers quite yet, but am not concerned because it’s getting there step by step.
Character Arc for Lucy, Protagonist
Arc Beginning: Suspended rule-following rookie officer
Arc Ending: Apprentice bounty hunter with her own new code
Internal/External Journey.
Internal Journey: From staunch rule-follower who sees things in absolutes to trusting her own instincts in her own new moral code.
External Journey: From being a suspended rookie to an apprentice bounty hunter.
Old Ways at the beginning of the movie and New Ways at the end.
Old Ways: Follows rules
Never questions authority
Sees everything is right or wrong, black or white
Completely trusts the law
New Ways: Questions the entire criminal justice system
Follows her own moral code
Realizes some rules need to be broken and breaks them
Completely trusts her own instincts
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Jenifer Stockdale’s (well, Dacey’s) Transformational Journey
Vision: I will write every day producing not only high volume but high quality scripts that will ultimately be made into quality television shows and movies.
What I learned doing this assignment is I guess to make sure you click “post” – because I was sure I did this assignment (2x), but it’s not here. I am also doing all my assignments on Google Docs so I have them when I have to refer to them for subsequent lessons. What I learned about the actual lesson (which is the important thing!) is that I behooves my character and my story (and probably all stories) to dig deep when looking at character arcs – examining not only how there are external but internal changes (many movies only have one or the other predominantly shown). Since my character is actually mentally ill throughout the whole script, I need to have hints of this – even when she is doing fine, there needs to be a hint of neuroses at all times.
SPLICED: When a psychiatric nurse is blamed for murder of a former patient, she has to fight to maintain her freedom, her job, her family and her sanity.
Arc Beginning: Dacey is popular, self-assured, able to look at the bright side of things, let small things go – but here’s the thing – her life is going well. Of course she is doing fine, everything is good in her life, why wouldn’t she be doing well? When her world gets difficult, her kids are fresh, her marriage breaks down, she is in trouble at work, she doesn’t do well – she is unsure, pessimistic, fearful and unable to stand up for herself.
Arc Ending: Dacey, with the help of Tom, stands up for herself. She proves that it was her husband who killed Tom instead of taking the blame for it (as she was doing in the beginning)
Internal Journey: goes from accepting the fact that she is crazy to fighting her way to stop the gaslighting/medicating that her husband is doing to her, internalized horrible things children say to put her down
External Journey: Investigates murder of Tom instead of taking blame for it – even though she knows she didn’t do it, disciplines her children
Old Ways: apathetic, depressed, delusional, non-assertive, lets people walk all over her, accepts things as they are
New Ways: fights for her rights, doesn’t allow people to walk all over her, doesn’t take the blame for something she didn’t do, makes things better.
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Sassy’s Transformational Journey
Vision: I am a HAPPY, respected, masterful, and in-demand writer, who is also an A-list hit maker!
What I learned from doing this assignment is…. It’s fun fiddling with puzzle pieces, knowing it doesn’t have to be concrete right now.
Title: MARRiAGE NIGHT
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Concept: A lowkey Seamstress must rescue her newlywed MMA fighter husband when he gets kidnapped on their destination wedding day/ honeymoon by terrorists, revealing her secret CIA skills previously unbeknownst to him.
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Arc Beginning:
Meek conservative Seamstress
Hides from the spotlight
Peacemaker
Let’s people walk all over her
Thinks this is what happiness is until…
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Thinks hiding her past and having a traditional routine life will make her happy.
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Scared she will be found out and her fiancé would get hurt. Emotionally physically
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Worried about her lover’s safety.Arc Ending:
Not afraid to appear confident and rock the apple cart
Confides in her husband, honest
Stands out and becomes a fashion designer?
Sparring practice with hubby for fun.
Trusting that her husband. Maybe he’s a blabbermouth.Internal Journey: From thinking a boring life would make her happy, to HER LAST BOYFRIEND OR BEST FRIEND GOT KILLED, HE WAS ALSO A SECRET AGENT?
External Journey: From low-key seamstress to being okay to be a bold confident adrenaline loving person that she really is, going back to work for the CIA, or maybe become husbands new trainer.
Old Ways: PTSD from old partner’s tragic death, afraid to show herself and display skills. Couple took each other for granted with old-fashioned traditional roles. Pretends to be perfect housewife.
New Ways: They open a training center for MMA. He makes dinner and learns how to sew. She trains other women how to be kick-ass, too.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Susan Chan.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by
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Linda’s Transformational Journey
My Vision is: I will do whatever it takes to be a sought-after profound writer with many successful movies produced and an Oscar on my mantel.
What I learned doing this assignment is old ways/new ways will help keep the transformational journey on track throughout the story and make it more compelling.
Joaquin
Arc Beginning: Low-level falcon in the Cartel who keeps his head down.
Arc Ending: Cartel Lord.
Internal Journey: From afraid and protective of his morals to sacrificing his morals and becoming a leader.
External Journey: From low-level Falcon to powerful Cartel Lord who kills his competition.
Old Ways:
· Values morals and does all he can to not cross a line.
· Not ambitious.
· Accepts situation and keeps his head down.
· Refuses to entertain a coup.
· Allows cartel heavyweights to disrespect his family.
New Ways:
· Determined.
· Strong.
· Sacrifices morals to protect family and community.
· Fights to stay in power for the greater good.
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Marianne’s Transformational Journey
Vision: To empower myself to smile at today’s writing challenge and have fun solving it. Why? Because that’s how I’ll craft screenplays industry insiders are itching to read and produce. That’s how I’ll get my movies made.
What I learned from doing this assignment is using this simple formula to plug in the transformational journey is helping me clearly see the movie start to end and help me elevate the script
Concept: Feuding twins must team up to honor their terminally ill father’s wish — finding the family’s treasured time capsule — before his time ends
JANE
Arc Beginning: She irrationally believes her brother stole the love of her life and lets this sabotage her love life
Arc Ending: She forgives her brother and is ready for a healthy romantic relationship
Internal Journey: From hating her brother for stealing her one true love to understanding the guy was never into her
External Journey: From doing whatever it takes to find the time capsule first to teaming up with her brother to find it
Old Ways:
Negative attitude toward love
Doesn’t trust guys
Relies on work to succeed
Success driven by doing better than the men in her field
Lets competitive nature drive the treasure hunt
Pretends she doesn’t need her family thrive
New Ways:
Open to love
“Forgives” her brother
Decides to trust the new guy in her life
Partners with her brother to find the time capsule
Enlists her family to help her patch up the damage she caused with her soulmate
JOHN
Arc Beginning: Lacks confidence to run a successful business out of fear he can’t live up to his sister’s success
Arc End: Embraces his success as a family man and gets out from under his sister’s shadow to mold his version of business success
Internal Journey: From feeling like a disappointment to his father to empowering himself to run his business
External Journey: From wanting to finally beat his sister at something to partnering with her to find the time capsule and ask for business advice
Old Ways:
Blames his failed business on not having the same educational opportunities as his sister
Avoided contact with his sister because she blames him for stealing her boyfriend, who’s his husband
Feels he’s not enough because he just wants to be a family-man in the hometown he loves
New Ways:
Embraces his successes — building a successful family in the hometown he loves
Uses his realization that an ivy league education doesn’t equal business success to fix his business
Confides in his sister for business help
Initiates the conversation that mends her broken heart
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Natalie’s transformational Journey<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>My vision is to create and produce award winning stories that make an unforgettable emotional impact on a worldwide audience.
What I learned from this assignment is that this is another worthy tool to dive deeper into characters.
Protagonist: Emily Kingsley
Arc Beginning: Insecure, lost in her own beliefs
Arc Ending: Confident in her choices, go getter, bold
Internal Journey: From confused, easily manipulated closed up hermit to a strong willed heir of the estate
External Journey: from being in a confinement to complete freedom
Old Ways: Paranoid, submissive, hopeless, living in her past
New Ways: Trusting, open to a relationship, accepting love
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David’s Transformational journey
Vision: I will learn this craft and be successful at telling and selling my stories to world audiences
What I learned from doing this assignment is… be patient, the pieces will come together, at the outset you can’t see the whole thing necessarily all at once, which is why you need to build it piece by piece…
Genre: true life/drama
Title (s) : Pablo and Me OR Money has No Friends
Concept: Emilia, a 17 year-old “collector” for Pablo Escobar shoots and kills one of his main lieutenants (Santi) when he drunkenly attempts to rape her; convinced she will pay with her life, she gets Pablo to spare her by triggering a memory of when she knew him as a child.
2. Tell us the Character Arc for your Protagonist:
Arc Beginning: in awe of Pablo, easily manipulated, victimized by men
Arc Ending: demands to be treated on equal terms by everyone, stands up for herself, comes out of the “closet” as Lesbian
3. Give us their Internal/External Journey.
Internal Journey: from shy to admit she likes girls, to proud Lesbian
External Journey:from rags to riches to rags and then working honestly, legally, a comfortable happy life
Tell us their Old Ways at the beginning of the movie and their New Ways at the end.
Old Ways: rules are for “stupids” nobody follows them, why should I?
I can do whatever I want and get away with it…
New Ways: it’s better to live by the rules and not have to look over your shoulder all the time
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WIM – Michael L Harris – Transformational Journey
My Vision: To create insightful, life changing stories that will endure for generations and which I can easily greenlight for self-production.
What I learned from this lesson: … Being able to define the core characteristics of lead characters and how those characters fulfill the central concept of the story is paramount to creating an incredible screenplay.
State: I am completely capable…
Activity: … of designing a great transformational journey for my Protagonist.
Arc Beginning: Naïve country girl ready to take on the world
Arc Ending: Reserved, Wise, Mature elderly woman, the survivor, the last of her kind… the one to tell their story.
Internal Journey: From naïve and immature to wise and noble/ regal
External Journey: From a flamboyant show girl to a humble and powerful woman with the glint of knowledge in her eyes.
Old Ways: Flamboyant, Caddie, immature, out for a thrill, willing to risk it all, willing to drink it all, caution to the wind, phony
New Ways: Reserved, professional, witty, educated, mature, able to dodge life’s curves, real, seen it all.
Rio is the velveteen rabbit incarnate.
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Gisele’s Transformational Journey
My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!
What I learned doing this assignment is: The character arc is “designed” – -not “hatched”.
Arc Beginning: A broken, grieving, lonely alcoholic.
Arc Ending: Has fulfilling work with a happy family.
Internal Journey: From broken to invincible.
External Journey: From binge drinking to avenging her sister’s murder.
Old Ways:
Hides behind work. Avoids meaningful relationships. Selfish. Self loathing.
New Ways: Caring. Vulnerable. Unafraid. BAD ASS!
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Laura Koons’ Transformational Journey
My vision: I am an Oscar winning Screenwriter known to elevate the careers of A-list actors and directors. I am financially abundant and have the flexibility to write wherever and whenever I want.
<div>What I learned from doing
this assignment is by keeping the focus on my lead characters transformational journey allows continuity and intrigue for my audience to follow.</div><div>Protagonist: Heather Harrington
Arc Beginning: Is afraid to love
Arc Ending: Takes risks in her lovelife and profession.
Internal Journey: From scared, closed off to courageous
External Journey: From hiding her accomplishments to building an architectual empire
Old Ways: Refuses to date, cuts off relationships, distant, doesn’t believe in love
New Ways: Learns to trust, allows herself to be more feminine and open to receive blessings to flow to her.
</div>
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WIM Module 2 Lesson 3 Transformational Journey
I am a sought after writer, who creates memorable characters, whose scripts win academy awards, allowing me to dream for a living, (Spielberg is not the only one), providing an affluent lifestyle while living respected by friends, family, movie industry pros. I am consistently brilliant, writing the most important movies of our time.
What I learned: printing out character traits that identify who my protagonist was and who she becomes is easy to use as a hit list – assuring I can check the differences show up in the script – allows me to see the weak one vs the strong.
Character Arc Protagonist:
Arc Beginning: Alexis is afraid of confrontation
Arc ending; Alexis guides a Navy Seal team to avert a war with Korea
Internal Journey: From timid and powerless to outspoken and fearless
External Journey: From quiet player who takes orders to being the one the Seals accept orders from
Old Ways: – Performed as she was instructed to perform (dance)
– Too afraid to speak up when she knew better that certain moves cannot be performed
together (which set her up for failure)
– was a follower
– cried easily –too quick to be emotionally overcome
New Ways: – Asks pertinent questions that points out flaws in an instruction
– Speaks up when moves should be questioned
– now a leader
– stands her ground and takes action
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My vision: I am going to become admired, glammy and very well-compensated for telling heartfelt stories that resonate through people enough to motivate them to ardently support my ultimate goal of ratification and implementation of the UN CRC in my lifetime. What I learned here is that I spook myself unnecessarily and all I need to do is sit down and do the work.
Protagonist SAVANNAH
arc beginning: milktoast journalist with pre-conceived ideas and judgments about changes in rural hometown and family
arc ending: understanding generational toxicity with choice of how to respond
internal journey: from naive and passive to understanding, wise and strong
external journey: from retiring journalist to dynamic leader and matriarch
old ways: bitter, confused, passive, weak
new ways: proactive and strong. a healer
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Joaquin “Ibn Gray’s” Transformational Journey
My vision for the completion of this class is to write A plus intriguing screenplays that will be produced into extremely profitable movies, which I will cash large checks from.
What I learned from doing this assignment is, the beginning stages of an outline. This assignment is making the outline process clear and is allowing me to see the roadmap.
Brewford Dickson Character Arc:
Arc Beginning: Docile family man. <div>
Arc Ending: Active defender of a community
Internal/External Journey.
Internal Journey: From a passive man avoiding confrontation to a confident fighter. </div>
External Journey: From a submissive man to a fearless warrior on the battlefield.
Old Ways: soft spoken, not confident in his knowledge of the law, passive.
New Ways: No longer intimidated, active towards justice, strategic planner.
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Farrin Rosenthal’s Transformational Journey
Farrin’s Vision: To do what it takes to become a highly paid A-List Hollywood writer whose produced movies will entertain audiences around the world.
What I learned doing this assignment is how important it is to have the audience go on a journey and they do that by following the protagonist’s journey. He or she starts in one place with his or her old ways and by the end transforms into something new and different. The character changes both internally and externally by how they take their journey.
Title: TRAPPED
Genre: Thriller
Concept: Claustrophobic and trapped in a box at the bottom of a pool for stealing $3.6 billion in Bitcoin from the Russian mob, a Los Angeles retail store manager has just 60 minutes to
prove his innocence and save his family.Transformational Journey
Protagonist: TOM
Arc Beginning: Trapped in a box with one hour to escape and save his family.
Arc Ending: Defeated his captors and saved his children.
Internal Journey: From claustrophobic, weak, afraid, and clueless to strong, fearless, and knowing.
External Journey: From being trapped in a box to saving his children by defeating his captors and bringing them to justice.
Old Ways:
Trapped. Afraid.
Penny pincher.
Does not see the big picture.
Clueless to the truth of what is happening.
New Ways:
Free. Strong.
Wealthy.
Can overcome his fears.
Knows the truth.
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Christopher Dalbey’s Transformational Journey
MY VISION: to have success from this program and be one of the go-to writers in the industry for writing assignments and scripts that are both memorable and ground breaking.
What I learned doing this assignment is that the character’s transformational journey is the backbone to the story, that the arc is the core for audiences to engage and want to come along for the journey.
Concept: In the future, a top psychologist is assigned a transcriber with empath and supernatural abilities who puts herself in the shoes of the world’s deadliest criminals, covertly becoming their judge and jury.
Character Arc for NIA COLEMAN
Arc Beginning – wounded in her personal life, tragic, obstinate, scholarly & professional.
Arc Ending – tenacious, hopeful, seeks light at the end of the tunnel, a warrior.
Internal Journey (mind and emotions) – from betrayed and tragic to essential and courageous.
External Journey (action and experience) – from esteemed scholar working with the world’s most celebrated psychologist to an empath with supernatural abilities that seeks justice on her own terms.
Old Ways
Refuses to let anyone in
Close-minded to seek help
Distrusts the law and new world order
Has intimate issues
Questions the future
New Ways
Recognizes her potential with newfound powers
Fights for a cause she never thought possible
Stands up against the new world order
Covertly seeks justice on her terms
Vindicated
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This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Christopher Dalbey.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by
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Jacqueline Murphy Transformational Journey WIM Mod 2 Lesson 3 July 19, 2022
VISION: To empower myself to go for my dreams to be a great writer, actress and filmmaker who is “Admired”, recognized and sought after by the industry and has many successful TV & Film projects produced that make money, a difference and inspire others to go for their dreams.
What I learned from doing this assignment is once again just to “do it and get started”. Have faith in myself the same way I want my Protagonist to. I had fun with this and encourage to see what a great transformation I could create. Very freeing assignment and went from can’t do to wow this is possible!
1. Start this assignment by empowering yourself using our State-To-Activity empowerment process.
State: I’m completely capable… Activity: …at designing a great transformational journey for my Protagonist!
2. Tell us the Character Arc for your Protagonist:
Arc Beginning: Olivia is a serious but small-time wannabe actress who is insecure, helpless, frustrated by trying to make it in Hollywood.
Arc Ending: She has stepped into her True Purpose she was born into when she stumbles on her hidden “genetic trait” for magic and becomes “The One!” who is a top Movie Star and the Promised Ruler of the Old Hollywood Dimension and Universe.
3. Give us their Internal/External Journey
Internal Journey: From weak and at the mercy of others and the Hollywood Machine to fearless well-respected leader and trendsetter who makes changes to benefit herself and others.
External Journey: From insecure small-time actress to being Powerful Sorceress who is fearless “Ruler of Old Hollywood Dimension and Trendsetter in New Hollywood” that benefits all.
4. Tell us their Old Ways at the beginning of the movie & New Ways at the end.
Old Ways:
Ignorant of The Old Hollywood Dimension and who she really is. Afraid to confront those in power and subjugating her own personal power. Searching, lost and not believing in herself. Accepted the dominance of others.Dedicated and driven to be the best.Blind to her own motivations and shaped by how others see her.
New Ways:
Can see and use her own “personal Power” to the max and make major changes in Real World and Old Hollywood Dimension. Can subvert evil with her magic & alchemy and make good out of it.Courageous and in her own command..Fights for a cause to help others to be free & empowered to go for their dreams. Masters magic and her hidden talents released, self-confident and accomplished.Learns to master and operate well in the magical realm of Old Hollywood AND the Real world of modern-day male-dominated Hollywood.Released from her wound and finds out who she really is, making peace with her true purpose and her real father!
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Jon’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: I’m going to develop my process and professionalism in writing so that I can become represented as a writer for hire and writer/director.
What I Learned: how to clearly breakdown and define the transformation
The Boyfriend
Arc Beginning: Easily manipulated, a follower, wanting to be liked
Arc Ending: Strong in Self, able to love and be loved
Internal Journey: His value system places importance on things; wealth, power, prestige
External Journey<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>: From follower to leader, from blaming others to taking responsibility.
Old Ways: easiest path, not worried about how it impacts others, who it might hurt
New Ways: do what’s right, do what’s fair, even if it hurts
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Daniel Turner’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: My vision is to become a consistent, produced and overall well received writer.
What I learned from doing this assignment is how to create that all important journey that takes the viewer/reader on a journey along with the characters and keeps them engaged.
Arc Beginning: Detective who believes that God will work everything out, and that evil is just a concept and just have faith.
Arc Ending: Finds that evil is real and that he must be proactive and make evil go away.
Internal Journey: from unsure and skeptical of his own judgment to believing that he can do the job and trusting his judgment.
External Journey: From someone who was in over his head to the star of the department.
Old Ways: Avoided conflict, distracted, always seeking praise.
New Ways: Engages in actions needed to get job done. Less amiable. Trusts own judgment.
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