Day 4 Assignment

[Emmanuel Sullivan]

Emmanuel Sullivan’s Character Story Lines

What I learned doing this assignment is the character’s storyline helps move the plot along but breaking it down to a storyline structure helps with future outlining.

[Daniel Melin]

Daniel Melin’s Character Story Lines

What I learned doing this assignment is the value of constantly filling out the antagonist. I’m constantly amazed at how often I find that some problem I’ve agonized over turns out to be solved by adding greater depth to the antagonist. The first thing I constantly find myself doing is giving them more power so that they are capable of generating greater conflict, and the other thing I constantly do is give them as many good reasons as I can for why they do what they do. Giving my antagonist their own turning points and dilemma has already pushed this pilot forward from the last lesson substantially.

Levi

· Beginning: Levi practices magic safely within the confines of Everlasting Summer, and goes to a new job during the day.

· Turning Point 1: Miguel asks Levi to take on more responsibility at work.

· Midpoint: Levi performs magic for Miguel, which opens a portal between Everlasting Summer and Athens.

· Turning Point 2: Levi erases Miguel’s memory of the magic he performed.

· Dilemma: Levi has to choose between helping Titania hunt down the deer that is now loose in Athens, or allying himself with Mark and trying to end Titania’s curse.

· Major Conflict: Levi has to feign loyalty to Titania while working with Mark to end her curse.

· Ending: Levi has now decided to work against Titania with Mark, attempting to lift the curse she has placed on what he now knows to be werewolves under her control.

Titania

· Beginning: Titania rules over Everlasting Summer, which seems impenetrable from outside influence.

· Turning Point 1: The huntsman tells Titania that Puck has gone missing.

· Midpoint: Titania finds out that the boundaries of Everlasting Summer have been punctured.

· Turning Point 2: She finds out that not only one of her wolves, but the deer has now crossed over into Athens.

· Dilemma: Titania must choose between sending Levi to hunt the deer without her direct supervision, or risk letting the deer go.

· Major Conflict: Titania has to use her huntsman to accompany Levi on his now monthly hunts in Athens.

· Ending: Titania has no choice now but to hunt down the deer as quickly as possible so that she can return Everlasting Summer to the way it was.

[David]

David Stam’s Character Storylines

What I learned – There are a lot of scenes and pieces of the story that are already formed and visualized in my mind. When I write them down and order them, there are blank spots. Furthermore, making all of the 4 storylines mesh AND be intriguing is a challenge. At this point getting them formed is most important. Every pass of exercises I accomplish finds new and exciting aspects of how to tell the story.

What I learned Part 2 – When I added the storylines to the Acts things really opened up for me. I had 4 characters and they were loosely connected. Writing the pilot story arc allowed me to figure out how to get them all in the same space. All the connections added intrigue and helped to propel their storylines throughout the season. Brilliant.

1st rough draft of Pilot episodes storylines

Lukas

Beginning: Excited to see Rebecca

Turning Point: Finds out she want to know about UFO’s – information he swore to protect

Midpoint: Realizes he has to lie to her – but also tells her he never stopped liking her

Turning Point 2: Makes it appear to be USAF – sets up Jakob

Dilemma – Between his job duties and getting close to Rebecca

Major Conflict: Between his duty and his caring about Rebecca

Ending: Keeps Rebecca off of a report to his superiors – is reminded about why he has his position and it can come all crashing down in an instant.

Jakob

Beginning: Starts a new case of a UFO/Paranormal wave in the small-town USA

Turning Point: Meets Rebecca who doesn’t believe

Midpoint: Is arrested for fighting with a scientist/debunker – but also for child support

Turning Point 2: Has to tell Rebecca about his past.

Major Conflict: Gets fake Top Secret information set up by Lukas

Ending: Asks Rebecca to check on the sources for the information using her UN contacts.

Julianne

Beginning: Is leaving Doctors office and finds out she is pregnant again

Turning Point: Julianne is a Lesbian

Midpoint: A person following her unexpectedly jumps in front of a speeding car.

Turning Point 2: Rebecca says she looks familiar

Dilemma – She is a reluctant collaborator but can’t trust Rebecca/Jakob.

Major Conflict: Between her keeping the Alien/Hybrid secret

Ending: She regresses Rebecca – but tells her it could all be false memories – lies.

Rebecca

Beginning: Cognitive dissonance of 1670 dream sequence, waking in a disoriented state, in a strange place, with ill-fitting clothes.

Turning Point: Blacks out and goes to the hospital – Find a strange object in her sinus

Midpoint: Is told she is probably an abductee herself

Turning Point 2: Lukas goes out with her to find answers. Shows her report of USAF activity

Major Conflict: Has a UFO paranormal encounter with Jacob on the Farm

Ending: Has a regression and remembers seeing a UFO abducting another person.

2nd Draft with Storylines added

Rebecca = (R)

Julianne = (Ja)

Lukas = (L)

Jakob = (J)

Teaser:

Essence: A Woman is running with dogs heard barking in the background 16th Century Europe. She is cornered, laying on the ground in fear as dogs have her surrounded and men with torches. We have the Witch now. Make her pay for conspiring with demons and evil spirits. Take her dead or alive. A light shines down on the witch and Rebecca awakes. Disoriented.

Turning Point: suddenly wakes up at early dawn to a strange noise outside of her window. Then silence and only a baby crying. She is wearing cothes that don’t fit her and she doesn’t know where she is. Passes out.

Act 1:

Essence: MRI. Calls husband – suspicious of ulterior motives. Lawyer Job missed appointment.

(R) Husband thinks it is her cheating on him

(Ja) – Is called about a new case and he should go there immediately before the clues get covered up.

(L) – Gets a report of a possible UFO landing.

(Ju) – Leaving the hospital telling her she is pregnant.

Turning Point: MRI found a small object embedded in her sinus. Impossible place. Other than that she is fine.

Act 2:

Essence: Hears strange hearsay stories from the area. Says doesn’t believe. She is a Church going, person.

(R) Told by Jacob she is probably an abductee. Says there must be a nuts and bolts explanation. Says she must find the kidnapped person and bring the culprits to justice.

(Ja) Interviews Rebecca – helps her escape the hospital

(L) -Gets a response team active. Sees a police report with Rebecca’s name on it.

(Ju) You find out she is a Lesbian making pregnancy near impossible

Turning Point/Midpoint: Tells Rebecca she was probably abducted – suggests meeting Julianne. (Nuts and Bolts)

Act 3:

Essence: Jacob gets a Dashcam video from the rental car company. – Rebecca Is introduced to the paranormal world. Goes to the farm where other supernatural events have been happening for the past week. Investigates meets White Bear. sees physical evidence and interrogates witnesses as only a lawyer can.

(R) Hears fantastic stories that cause her to think there is more to this.

(Ja) Arrested for stealing Dash Can from rental company

(L) While in town coordinates the coverup

(Ju) A person from the CI is following her when suddenly he runs in front of a car and is instantly killed

Turning Point: Dream of mass Alien abduction with humans helping.

Act 4:

Essence: Calls Lukas. Rebecca hasn’t spoken to Lukas since childhood but feels like she needs deeper help. A connection that won’t say anything and expose her to ridicule and jeopardize her job position. Lukas, who is in town investigating mass sightings takes Rebecca to a water tower with lights by the side of the road. Debunks.

(R) Goes out with Lukas who has set up an elaborate debunking effort to stop Rebecca from further involvement.

(R) Has a personal UFO experience with others she decides to meet Julianne

(Ja) Tells Rebecca about his past. Police officer family. Like a warning.

(L) Says he is nearby and can meet Rebecca to help her out.

(Ju) Walking in town helping a hybrid learn how to shop Julianne catches Rebecca’s eye.

Turning Point: White Bear dragging Elizabeth into the shelter after being left in a field.

Act 5:

Essence: Rebecca is still obsessed but also worried because Jacob thinks she is an abductee. She goes to see Julieanne, a trauma specialist that works with abductees. She suspects that Julianne is the Woman she saw by the side of the road.

(R) Meets Julianne and is regressed

(Ja) Gets what he thinks is Stolen Top Secret Information about UFO’s from a CI operative

(Ja) Asks Rebecca to return the favor and do deep source info on the people in the report.

(Ju) Meets Jakob and Rebecca to do a regression. The 3rd time Rebecca says she recognizes Julianne. Memories are very fragile and elusive.

(Lu) Kidnaps Elizabeth from the Farm – Keeps Rebecca off his report to superiors.

Lock-In: Shows the night of the abduction, Rebecca stops by the side of the road. Gets out of the car. Turns off the dashcam. Is hit by a beam of light and knocked unconscious.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by  David Stam. Reason: Added storylines inside of Acts
• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by  David Stam.

[Sherri Coffee]

Sherri D. Coffee Module 3 Lesson 4 Character Story Lines

What I learned was to look at specific characters and differentiate each journey and role in the story.

Teaser:

Essence: (Grace opening) High level VO with Grace review bad dates and how long it took her to find Sam. She plans a trip for them to go to Paris to celebrate their 5^th anniversary and surprises him at dinner.

(Sam opening) Sam watches his estranged son (Carlton opening) Carlton provide financial advice in a TV segment advertising his Hedge Fund. (Sam TP1) He turns to his computer and begins editing his Last Will and Testament.

(Sam dilemma) Sam makes a trip to the basement of their High-rise Building to gather a box. He grabs a special bottle of wine from the cellar. Upstairs, he gives the box to their housekeeper with written instructions and $ 500, “Please keep safe. If anything happens to me, please make sure Grace gets this box. Thank you, Sam”

Turning Point: At dinner, Grace presents the trip to Paris. (Grace TP1) Sam tells her he is dying and asks her to be the executor of his will.

Act I

Essence: Sam executes documents to make her the executor of his estate and sets an appointment with his attorney.

With the new knowledge, Sam and Grace hasten plans to leave at the end of the week for Paris. They plan and pack for the trip.

Grace schedules meetings to tie up any loose ends prior to their departure.

Sam schedules another MD visit prior to their departure.

Turning Point: (Sam Midpoint) With Grace by his side, Sam falls into a coma.

Act II

Essence: (Grace Midpoint) Sam’s estranged son Carlton plans to take over Sam’s affairs.

Carlton sits in his hedge fund office and watches the market close. A receptionist lets in an attorney who serves him with papers. (Carlton TP1) His ex-wife sues him for more money. And he gets a call about his father Sam’s coma.

(Sam TP2) Grace stays at Sam’s bedside and waits for any sign of life. Sam can hear her but cannot speak or move to answer.

(Carlton Midpoint) Carlton arrives at the hospital with an attorney and confronts Grace. He plans to take control of his father’s affairs.

(Sam major conflict) Sam recognizes Carlton’s voice and can hear the conversation with Grace. He is furious that he cannot speak or move.

Turning Point: (Grace major conflict) Grace hires an attorney to prevent Carlton from gaining control of Sam’s affairs.

Act III

Essence: The attorney exhausts all options for her to remain executor.

With no other option, Grace hires an unscrupulous political operative to investigate Carlton.

(Carlton TP2) Carlton’s mother calls to threaten him. Unless he gets control of Sam’s finances and gives her the money, she will expose his offshore accounts to his ex-wife.

Turning point: (Grace TP2) Grace loses the battle to remain executor and Carlton forces her to move out of their shared home.

Act IV

Essence: The investigator hired by Grace uncovers a disturbing pattern in Carlton’s hedge fund activities and a political party.

Grace settles into her new home. Carlton has her banned from the hospital and their High-rise building. He hires detectives to follow her every move.

(Grace Dilemma) The investigator meets with Grace in her new home and shares information related to Carlton’s hedge fund activities and a political party. He informs her that this information may be the tip of the iceberg.

Grace knows she is in danger. She no longer tries to call or contact Sam.

(Sam ending) Sam is moved back into his home to die. The housekeeper remembers the box and delivers to Grace.

(Carlton dilemma) Carlton begins to explore Sam’s affairs and discovers there is money missing.

He hires detectives to investigate Grace and find the missing funds.

Turning point: Accidentally, she delivers the box for Grace to her next-door neighbor.

Act V

Essence: Grace’s next-door neighbor is a reluctant psychic. She receives the box and immediately senses danger. She is very reluctant to get involved.

(Carlton’s conflict) Carlton gets another call from his mother. She wants more money to keep his secret.

(Carlton ending) If his mother exposes him, Carlton will lose everything. He instructs the detective to threaten, even kill Grace to get the money.

Turning point: (Grace ending) An attempt on Grace’s life propels the psychic to save her and transport her to her past life to find the answers.

[Barbara Gilmore]

What I learned from this assignment is that I really enjoyed this approach this creative process…it was a true lightbulb moment for me…I just need to pull character storylines and Pilot Structure together…

Senior Detective Jess Pearson’s Storyline

Senior Detective Jess Pearson is a former big city Detective sent to partner with a local County Sheriff to solve a gruesome murder and disappearance with the same MO as that of her brother’s case five years before as she aspires to take over the County Sheriff’s small but powerful office

Beginning:
Jess Pearson, a confident Senior Detective, prepares for a high-profile
court case with her colleagues at the bar.

Turning
Point: The Judge throws the case out after she discovers that Jess obtained
crucial evidence against the accused illegally by using her secret hacking
skills.

Midpoint:
Having disgraced the department, Jess’ boss decides to offload her to
another jurisdiction way out in the boonies.

Turning
Point 2: The day after Jess arrives, she gets called to a double murder
and disappearance at Green Lake.

Major
Conflict: Green Lake is where she used to summer vacation with her parents
and her brother before his disappearance in similar circumstances to the
current case. Jess must work with Sheriff Moore, who she believes botched
her brother’s case five years before.

Ending: Jess
reads file after file in the basement and uncovers Sheriff Moore’s little
black book of Green Lakes actual crime statistics.

Dilemma: Should
Jess confront the Sheriff or use her hacking skills to find out whether this
is just an innocent error or as she suspects the Sheriff is corrupt.

Sheriff Linda Moore’s Storyline

Sheriff Linda Moore is close to retirement but can’t afford to retire. Indebted to a Trafficking Network she has little choice but to destroy aspiring Sheriffs like Jess Pearson.

Beginning:
Sheriff Linda Moore gets a call about two bodies found at a nearby Trail
Head in Green Lake.

Turning
Point: Sheriff arrives at the murder scene and realizes the double murder
and disappearance have a similar MO as one 5 years before.

Midpoint:
Sheriff calls Captain Anderson to find out if he can send in a Senior
Detective to help with the investigation.

Turning
Point 2: When Senior Detective Jess Pearson arrives, Sheriff Moore
realizes her Sheriff days could be numbered.

Major
Conflict: Green Lake is where Jess’ brother Adam disappeared in similar circumstances
to the current case. Sheriff knows that Jess and her family blame her
incompetence for having never found Adam.

Ending: Sheriff
Moore is on her way back to the office to hide some files when she gets a
call from Captain Anderson about a Trafficking Network meetup.

Dilemma: Should Sheriff
confess to Detective Pearson about her involvement with the Trafficking
Network or stay loyal to Captain Anderson thus remain under his
protection.

Sarah Watson’s Storyline

Local architect and artist, Sarah Watson, is on a mission to green Green Lake, but is facing opposition from the local oil producers. Besides, she doesn’t have a right to tell others what to do, her family has owned the only gas station in town for the last 50 years. But Sarah is determined to lead the town to a more sustainable future that is until Jess Pearson walks back into her life. She finds herself in constant fight or flight mode and wonders whether she’ll ever be able to finish what she started.

Beginning:
Sarah Watson is in bed with her boyfriend, Nick Milburn.

Turning
Point: After Nick leaves, she checks her phone and sees that she received
a voicemail message. She listens to it.

Midpoint:
She calls Starman back but it goes straight to voicemail.

Turning
Point 2 She gets a call from Nick to say that he just discovered two dead bodies
it looks like our friends and the Sheriff is on her way.

Major
Conflict: Sarah knows that Nick is possessive, but murder?

Ending: Nick
calls her back from the station to see he’s being interviewed by Jess
Pearson, remember her?

Dilemma: Should Sarah confess her affair with Starman to Nick?

Teaser:

Essence: We see three friends in their truck pull into a rest stop area. Luke Smith goes to the washroom. He exits to find his two friends, a married couple dead, the killer flits behind him.

Turning Point: ?

Act 1:

Essence: Senior Detective Jess Pearson is in court to give evidence on a high-profile money laundering case when she becomes unstuck by one of the judge’s questions.

Turning Point: Jess is reassigned to another jurisdiction because her illegal hacking skills cost the department a high-profile case.

Act 2:

Essence: Jess arrives at her new office and within a day is sent to Green Lake to investigate a double murder and the disappearance of Luke Smith.

Turning Point/Midpoint: Jess reads file after file hidden away in the basement, she begins to realize that Green Lake is not the sleepy town she thought it was. Crime rates are high, yet the reported statistics are low.

Act 3:

Essence: Jess reconnects with her ex-lover, love of her life, and best friend, Sarah Watson for support.

Turning Point: Sarah’s boyfriend, Steve Beresford, who found the victims bodies, is now the department’s prime suspects.

Act 4:

Essence: Jess doesn’t believe that Steve Beresford is the killer.

Turning Point: Jess uses her hacking skills to delve into the lives of those involved in the unreported crimes in Sheriff Moore’s little black book.

Act 5:

Essence: Jess uncovers a Trafficking Network that may be connected to the recent murders and other unsolved cases, including that of her brother, Adam.

Lock In: She goes along on a planned meet up to find out who is involved: Sheriff Moore, Captain Anderson, Dave Smith (Luke’s father), and Sarah Watson.

[Renee Brown]

Renee Brown’s Character storylines.

I learned in this assignment that my characters are coming alive.

Aliens’ Earth Character storylines

Tallas:

Beginning: Mundane teaching of initiates Gets frustrated board, ends class

Turning point: Goes into isolation for gazing ceremony

Midpoint: Visits Steelman with Saltar and Anauk.

Dilemma: Does he kill Saltar or hear what she has to say?

Turning point 2: Senses an intruder

Major Conflict: Fight with Saltar

Ending: Reads Dauntus’ mind

Dauntus:

Beginning: Furious with Anauk for uncloaking Planet X

Turning point: Realizes this is his chance for human domination

Midpoint: Takes over world communication

Dilemma: Shoot down his son’s ship or just disable communications?

Turning point 2: Declares himself earth ruler.

Major Conflict: the other earth aliens and the XUS

Ending: Subdued in his own palace

Anauk:

Beginning: Falsely blamed for his older sister’s mistake. Beaten by his father

Turning point: Father declares his plan, Anauk tries to warn Tallas, can’t get to him.

Midpoint: Cannot use coms. Flies into ocean to Saltar

Dilemma: Go to the palace entry or directly to Saltar’s chambers.

Turning point 2: Ship can’t fit where Saltar is going so he flies right into Tallas’ cathedral cave.

Major Conflict: With Father

Ending: Confronts his sister, then collapses.

Saltar:

Beginning: Being groomed by her handmaids.

Turning point: Anauk bumps at her bio window.

Midpoint: allows Anauk to enter against her? protests.

Dilemma: Reveal her secret knowledge of the way to Tallas’ inner cave?

Turning point 2: Decides to help Anauk inform Tallas.

Major Conflict: Tallas Fight

Ending: Gets torn off Tallas by Anauk.

Steelman:

Beginning: Monitors the world view screens with his team. Shit is going down.

Turning point: Tallas, Saltar and Anauk come up the forever elevator.

Midpoint: After Dauntus does his take over speech, Steelman initiates the POTUS brief.

Dilemma: Confront Dauntus alone or with others

Turning point 2: Takes Tallas, Saltar, Anauk plus an armed escort.

Major Conflict: Alien standoff when they get to Dauntus.

Ending: Steelman threatens to cut off supply of gold to Dauntus’ ships.

[Renee Brown]

Aliens’ Earth working outline with character story lines added.

T: Tallas, A: Anauk, D: Dauntus, S: Saltar, ST: Steelman

Teaser:

Essence: (A opening) (D opening) (A major conflict) Anauk Falsely blamed for his older sister’s misdeed. Is blamed for uncloaking Planet X. Now all of earth can see it. Before Anauk can recloak it, Dauntus beats the crap out of Anauk – breaks his wing.

Turning point: (D TP1) Dauntus stops, considers. Realizes this is his chance for human domination …Says it’s time. Right now. Leaves Anauk bleeding on the floor.

Act 1: Tallas’ underground world. Ceremony, reverence, cathedral caves. (T opening) Tallas teaching initiates. He becomes board with the tedious questions. (T TP1) Retreats to his chambers, dresses for the gazing ceremony. Into water chamber. Not to be disturbed.

Turning point: Tallas’ ritual is interrupted by visions of the ancient ancestors.

Act 2: (A TP1)Anauk flies to earth to warn Tallas. Dauntus sees him go. (D Dilemma) Shoot down his son’s ship or just disable communications? Chooses communication. Anauk is trying to get to Tallas when his coms go down. (A midpoint) Anauk flies his ship deep underwater to Saltar’s palace. (A Dilemma) Go to the palace entry or directly to Saltar’s chambers. Chooses chambers. (S opening) Being groomed by her handmaids. (S TP1) sees Anauk bumping his ship at her Bio window. She lets him in. Anauk tells her about Dauntus’ plan. No one can get to Tallas …he is in seclusion.

Turning point: Saltar knows a secret path to his water chamber cave. (S Dilemma) But does she reveal this? (S midpoint) Swims to Tallas’ water cave.

Act 3: Saltar sneaks up on Tallas rather than announce herself. (T midpoint) (T major conflict) (S major conflict) Tallas attacks: big alien kung foo fight ensues. (T Dilemma) Does he kill Saltar or hear what she has to say? (A TP2) Ship can’t fit where Saltar is going so Anauk flies right into Tallas’ cathedral cave so he can be ready when Saltar brings him out.

Turning point: it turns hot. (S TP2) Obvious attraction between two sworn enemies. Saltar breaks the tension by telling Tallas about Dauntus’ coup.

Act 4: (ST open) Steelman monitors the world view screens with his team. Shit is going down. Screens show humanity in chaos – Planet X obvious in the sky. (ST TP1) (T TP2) Tallas, Anauk and Saltar ride the forever elevator up to Steelman’s HQ.

Turning point: (D midpoint) Dauntus takes over world communication. All screens go black – all over the world. Phones, TVs, Time square — everything. Then Dauntus’ booming voice and scowling face on all screens. Tells the world he is taking over. The planet disappears from the sky. –Dauntus recloaked it.

Act 5: (ST midpoint) Steelman initiates the POTUS brief – sending his man to the Whitehouse to confirm that it was all an elaborate hoax by a genius hacker. Meanwhile (ST Dilemma) Steelman considers — Confront Dauntus alone or with others. (ST TP2) Decides to take Tallas, Saltar, Anauk plus an armed escort. They all head to Dauntus’ palace to shut down his coup. They cram into Anauk’s ship.

Lock in: Skyflier palace: (St major conflict) Alien standoff when they get to Dauntus. Just as the confrontation gets out of hand (D major conflict), they are all summoned to the base on the dark side of the moon by the Extraterrestrial United Species. They will all have to answer for this debacle. (D TP2) Dauntus refuses. (T End) Tallas reads Dauntus’ mind – Gold. (St end) Steelman threatens to cut off his supply of gold. His men have orders if he does not return. (D end) Dauntus hands his weapon to his man.

(A end) Anauk tries to confront his sister but collapses. (S end) Saltar puts a bio bandage on Anauk’s wing. Steelman is told by XUS that this is Earth Alien business. He need not come. Tallas follows up with Steelman: oh you’re coming.

[Donna Stockwell]

Donna Stockwell’s Character Story Lines

What I learned doing this assignment is the story is more intriguing and more intense than ever before… and I get more excited exploring the character’s life… and the beginnings of each of their individual voices is starting in my mind.

BEN
Beginning: Family man and home-security salesman getting berated and belittled by wife and boss
Turning Point: Introduced to Patrice’s old friend/prostitute — looks for solace in this prostitute
Midpoint: prostitute ends up dead
Turning Point 2: buries prostitute in same grave as his mother, spotted by his brother
Dilemma: how to convince brother this never happened or convince him he’s part of this
Major Conflict: goes home with power only to find evidence of wife’s affair (what’s good for the goose is not good for the gander; what does he tell Patrice, if anything?
Ending: he feels the need to find another prostitute — remembers past clients and clients who refused getting service, and the pattern of killing starts

Patrice
Beginning: Dutiful but bored wife and home makeup retailer; berates husband before work
Turning Point: phone call from husband — late again, can’t do jobs around house again; impatient with waiting
Midpoint: meets daughter’s boyfriend
Turning Point 2: asks Luke to do some handyman jobs around the house
Dilemma: seeing that her daughter is not treating Luke well, she decides to show daughter how to treat a man, and Patrice & Luke kiss
Major Conflict: Does she continue paying attention to Luke
Ending: Patrice and Luke end up in bed

Jasper
Beginning: a little slow but has steady job as gravedigger; idolizes his big brother, who is more educated and has everything an ideal man should have; loyal to his brother and by extension Patrice & kids
Turning Point: mother died and needs to talk to her – goes to grave/vault to talk to her, and makes up what she might say
Midpoint: sees brother come into mother’s vault with body
Turning Point 2: tells brother that mother can’t have company at this time, she is a little under the weather
Major Conflict: for the first time argues with Ben
Ending: agrees to allow visitor for mother — so she has company when Jasper has to work
(Dilemma is optional.) How long will Jasper accept this arrangement for his mother to have company, and not make a fuss with cemetery director & Patrice

Barbara
Beginning: boss of the home-security org; very hard on Ben to sell more
Turning Point: close friend/former colleague asks for security system since lots of cash stored; is reminded of former life and money
Midpoint: introduces Ben to organize installation
Turning Point 2: can’t find her after installation
Major Conflict: accuses Ben of not installing properly and something happened to her
Ending: Barbara expects Ben to go find friend
(Dilemma is optional.). What is Barbara going to do when she learns that her friend is dead?

[Cooper James]

Cooper James – Character Story Lines

What I learned from this assignment is you can always go deeper with your characters and the discoveries that come from doing the work.

(S) stands for Simone. (SG) stands for Senator Green.

ACT 1:

Essence: (Simone Opening) Simone is the single mother of twin boys dealing with the demands of a disagreeable, aging father.

(SG Opening) Senator Green is running in a close re-election campaign and sends a team of assassins to kill his former partner Simone who stands in the way of his building a promised new capital.

Turning Point: Her aging father demands that they sell Edgemont and move to Region 26 leaving behind the homeless kids to fend for themselves.

ACT 2:

Essence: Simone is invited by her father to a dinner meeting with a group of developers.

(S TP 1) Her father tells her he is selling Edgemont to back her son Roman for a run for Senator in Region 26. He wants power, not real estate.

Turning Point/Midpoint Simone realizes the developers are assassins sent by Senator Green to kill her. She kills several assassins and takes one prisoner.

ACT 3:

Essence: Simone tries to talk her son Roman out of running for Senator. He tells her he’s not scared or weak like her. He’s on his grandfather’s side and that he’s going to win.

Simone tells her other son, Remy, she needs him to stand with her. He agrees.

(S TP 1) Simone tells King they need to prepare for battle against Senator Green. King tells her there won’t be a battle if they sell, then mentions that he’s freed the prisoner.

(S Dilemma) After her father and Roman tell her they are against her, she must decide if she’s going after the prisoner by herself.

(SG TP 1) Senator Green learns that his re-election numbers are sliding.

(S TP 2) Remy tells her he overheard her conversation with his grandfather and that he will go with her to re-capture the prisoner.

(SG Dilemma) Must decide if he risks losing another team rescuing one man or sacrifice him for his re-election.

(S Major Conflict) She talks to the great spirit who tells her that Senator Green is planning to destroy one of the last power centers on this land. She must go capture his brother and use him to take down Senator Green if she wants to save her family.

Turning Point: Simone is shot by Senator Green’s rescue team as they track the same man.

ACT 4:

Essence: Simone teaches Remy how to remove a bullet from her arm and clean it with leaves.

(S Major Conflict) An injured Simone must choose whether to risk her son’s life going after the assassin or let her bargaining chip escape.

(S Ending) The rescue team attacks their position, she and Remy kill them.

Turning Point: During a Mexican standoff, Remy wants to kill the prisoner, but Simone stops him when she recognizes him as Senator Green’s younger brother.

ACT 5:

Essence: Simone tries to negotiate a deal with Senator Green for his brother. He tells her to kill him. He hates his brother, then he tells her he’s sending Region 26’s military to destroy her and Edgemont.

(SG Ending) Senator Green receives a visit from his mother. She tells him to bring her son home alive.

(S Ending) Simone has been shot. Her father and son Roman have turned against her. The great spirit told her she must save Edgemont to save her family.

Lock In/Turning Point: Simone’s pawn (Senator’s brother) won’t stop him from sending his military. Simone’s father and son have bigger plans and are against her. She must prepare the homeless kids for battle. This may be a losing battle but there is no going back.