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Day 4 Assignment
Post your Day 4 assignments here!
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Christina Parker Character Profiles
What I learned from this lesson, was one of my lead characters had a great backstory but no core character traits. After a brainstorming session, I came up with lots and got a better idea about the character. Also, their wants and needs can and usually are different.
Logline:
When 14yro Connor finds a mysterious Egyptian box he unknowingly unleashes the Biblical ten plagues of Egypt on the town. Now Connor and his friends have to come against two bumbling criminals and their evil boss to stop the plagues before the last plague, “death of the first-born.”
(All improvements are bold)
1. Character Name: Connor Peters
Role: 14yro protagonist, friend, brother, son
Core Character Traits: Natural-leader, visionary, smart
Character Subtext Logline: Connor 14, is a future pilot and born leader confined by poverty, a small town and a father’s love.
Flaw: Selfish
Want: He wants to leave Creede so he can one day learn to fly planes.
Needs: a father’s love
Secret: He lies to his friends
What makes this character unique: He is a cool kid who is the leader of a bunch of misfits.
Character Arc: Connor Peters is a teen who’s lack of a father figure has made him a leader who wants control at any cost until the plagues which causes him to trust others and be able to do what’s right instead of what he wants.
Improvement– We like Connor because he befriends kids who are different. The character arc was added and a character subtext. This will be an interesting change as a love interest for his mother in later episodes creates tension.
2. Character Name: Danny Souza
Role: 14, Connor’s best friend,
Core Character Traits: reliable, trustworthy, Christian, moral.
Character Subtext Logline:
Flaw: He is afraid of everything
Want: Wants to do the right thing.
Need: to find the courage to stand up.
Secret: He has trouble being heard at home.
What makes this character unique: He knows Connor’s flaws but likes him anyway.
Character Arc: Danny is a teen who wants to do the right thing but fear stops him. The plagues force him to face those fears.
Improvement – Character Arc, Unique. Secret will help him in facing his family it will help him to face the demons in later episodes.
3. Character Name: Baxter Firth the 3rd
Role: 15, friend
Core Character Traits: Intelligent insecure geek
Character Subtext Logline:
Flaw: Judgemental (Danny’s low status)
Want: one of his experiments/inventions to work
Needs: to forgive the bully in his life
Mission:
Secret: He is unsure of anything he can’t explain, scientifically.
What makes this character unique:
Character Arc:
Improvement – Needs, Secret it will complicate the process of forgiveness which will add drama.
4. Character Name: Jacinta Cresswell (Jak)
Role: 14, The pastor’s daughter and friend to boys
Core Character Traits: feisty, flamboyant, witty, brooding.
Character Subtext Logline:
Flaw: has a temper
Wants: Attention
Need: Her father’s love and understanding
Mission:
Secret:
What makes this character unique: her shock value.
Character Arc:
Improvement – Brooding, Wants, unique. Make her dialogue more shockable.
5. Character Name: Steve Cresswell
Role: Local pastor and father to Jak ex faith healer
Core Character Traits: Aloof, observant, charismatic, moody, melancholic, adventurous.
Character Subtext Logline: Steve is a local pastor who has lost his faith when his wife died.
Flaw: Drinks, is too entrenched in his own pain to see that Jak needs him to love her.
Wants: an easy life
Need: to find faith in God
Secret: He is hiding his pain with drink and apathy
What makes this character unique:
Character Arc:
Improvement – his wants, and I struggled to initially have core character traits, although he had a huge backstory we didn’t know him until I added these. I think this will add a new dimension to Steve and the story.
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“What I learned doing this assignment is…?” There’s a good reward for hard work. Excellent work!
Alfred Travis Character Profile
Logline: A man explores his memory loss and faith.
Role:
Protagonist: Bo. Traits: Loner. Down on self. Soft spoken.
Bo’s subtext logline: Believe….???
Antagonist: Karen. Traits: Self-righteous. Defensive.
Optional:
Bo doesn’t want to admit about himself: mentally ill, living on Social Security and in public housing.
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Harvey’s Character Profiles
What I learned was how to further flesh out my characters.
When the Statue of Liberty comes to life as a normal woman to stop her exploitation by an anti-immigration campaign, a refugee sculptor struggles to help her prevail as she confronts deportation, a mental ward, Homeland Security, as well as being human. Most challenging, they fall in love.
Idris Rahim
Role:
Idris is the protagonist who helps Liberty accomplish her mission and return to her pedestal.
Core Character Traits:
Sincere
A gentleman
Creative
Has strong convictions, when he’s in touch with them.
His need to make a living prompted him to lose sight of his values.
Character Subtext Logline:
Idris rediscovers his values, which he had misplaced to make a living, when he meets Liberty and helps her on her quest.
Arc: Idris goes from having his values, which are rooted in his origins as an immigrant, go from dormant to vividly real and important. In other words, he rediscovers who he is.
Flaw: Because of his need to make a living as an artist, Idris has misplaced his ideals and convictions.
Need: Idris needs to recall that his father taught him to always do the right thing.
Liberty
Role:
Liberty is the Statue of Liberty who leaves her pedestal to stop her exploitation in an anti-immigration campaign and triggers a frantic search to recover her.
Core Character Traits:
An incorrigible idealist
Passionate
Naïve
Clueless
Open to new experiences
Character Subtext Logline:
Liberty is determined to fulfill her mission, but she didn’t expect to be so enthralled with being human, being a woman, and, finally, being in love.
Arc: Liberty goes from being a statue to being an activist. In the process, she goes from being inanimate, to being human, to being a woman, and finally, to being a lover, all in several days.
Flaw: Liberty is clueless about being alive, let alone human, other than what she’s observed over the years from her pedestal. She’s more than a fish out of water; fish have lives before they leave the water. Liberty’s never spoken, laughed, slept, eaten, or even swallowed.
Need: Initially, Liberty needs to stop an anti-immigration campaign from using her likeness, but she also discovers a need to be human, then to be a woman, and finally, to be in love.
Dorkman
Role:
Dorkman is the manic advertising executive who uses the Statue of Liberty as the symbol of an anti-immigration campaign by a cynical Senator, prompting the statue to confront him as Liberty.
Core Character Traits:
Successful
High energy
Witty
Self-centered
Cynical
Arc: Dorkman goes from being disillusioned to having his internal values awakened.
Flaw: Dorkman’s not an evil man, but he has lost sight of his values in pursuit of the dollar.
Need: Dorkman thinks he needs to make more money, but comes to realize that he needs to be a whole and centered human being.
Character Subtext Logline:
A successful but cynical advertising man who’s lost touch with his values, Dorkman made the Statue of Liberty as the centerpiece for an anti-immigration campaign, but will atone for this by the end of the story.
Flak
Role:
Flak is an effective, black, female, NYC detective who is assigned to work with Homeland Security to recover the Statue of Liberty.
Core Character Traits:
Street smart
Street savvy
Open to sometimes outlandish ideas
Capable of thinking outside the box
A New Yorker through and through
Arc: Flak goes from distrusting super-straight Cornfield, the FBI agent she’s assigned to work with, to liking and respecting him.
Flaw: She’s open to outlandish notions, which isn’t that much of a flaw in this story.
Character Subtext Logline:
Flak represents New York City in the story as she wrestles with squeaky-straight Cornfield to find an impossible explanation for an impossible theft—that of the Statue of Liberty.
Cornfield
Role:
Cornfield is a super-straight, cornfed, midwestern FBI agent of dubious competency who’s assigned to work with Flak in recovering the Statue of Liberty.
Arc: Although perceived by others as being incompetent, including Flak, Cornfield proves to be capable and sincere. He comes to like and respect Flak.
Core Character Traits:
Sincere
Earnest
Dedicated
Wicked straight, but a decent human being
Limited imagination
Flaw: Cornfield finds thinking outside the box to be very challenging.
Need: Cornfield needs to serve his country as a competent FBI agent.
Character Subtext Logline:
Cornfield is a straight, cornfed midwesterner who must work with a funky NYC detective in, for him, the alien world of Manhattan to solve an impossible theft.
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Fred’s Character Profiles
What I learned from this lesson is that the core of each character determines what kind of actions, attitude, or dialogue they choose to portray throughout the story. Having this down by heart and writing it out will also help me figure out points where I am stuck structurally.
Logline: After a Mother suddenly uproots herself amid his Father’s infidelity, the son must reevaluate his loyalty to his privileged family and decide if he wants to remain a part of it or not.
JIN
Role: Jewel of the family, eldest son with big expectations to live up to, also a faithful boyfriend to Emma (they got through long distance)
Core:
Grounded (not arrogant about wealth)
Justice seeking (vengeful)
Can’t lie?
Places too much pressure/responsibility on himself
Afraid of shame/dishonor
Character Subtext Logline: Jin makes it his mission to find out how his mom has been mistreated this whole time and get revenge for her.
Flaw: Thinks he has to carry this burden by himself. Doesn’t tell others or ask for help.
Want: To hurt Han like he hurt Mother.
Need: To know that he is not the same person as his father.
Secret: He cheated on Emma once.
Doesn’t want to admit that he is the same cheating bastard as his father.
What makes this character unique?
American background, has the chance to change the system for once, before the tradition/culture has been stuck in the past
Character Arc: Starts as stand out individual who resists help (could use Emma and American background to expose this), but finally lets go and allows himself to be surrounded by family.
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MOTHER
Core:
Polite
Doesn’t show pain to others
Independent
Role: Daughter in law to Han’s family. The one person Jin needs for everyday things. Her uprooting herself causes him to clean and order takeout.
Life Metaphor/Identity: She never signed up for all of this. (or is this Jin’s idea), in truth she is grateful for everything his grandparents have provided.
Actual life metaphor is don’t ever expect something in return, that way you’ll never be disappointed
Want: To be free. Need: To be part of her own family again.
Character Arc: Goes from serving others to serving her own needs.
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HAN
Core:
Massive pride in himself
Values classy, luxury, wealthy lifestyle
Condescending to those that are inferior to him
Sees himself as the head of the family now that Grandpa is aging
Family man, does what needs to be done in order for the best outcome (maintaining balance/stability)
Role: Natural successor to Grandpa’s business and place at the head of the family. Supposed to be the perfect role model for Jin, good husband, faithful family man.
Flaw: Infidelity, lies
Want: For Jin to look up to him. Need: Allow himself to be seen outside the context/title of a father.
Life metaphor: I have to take care of my family at all costs by any means possible.
Secret: Had an illegitimate son with a Mistress.
Doesn’t want to admit that he screwed up his marriage, that his life is perfect (others envy him for this)
Unique: Chef background? Dynamic, makes him uphold tradition and class/culture, doesn’t cook at home
Have Jin ask him if he can cook at home, Han avoids this because it is beneath him
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EMMA
Core:
Bubbly, radiating personality on others
People pleaser, wants to make those around her happy
Validating, supports people’s decisions and forgives their flaws
Sees the good in people no matter what
Role: Jin’s girlfriend, possible new daughter in law to fill Mother’s shoes(?), direct like for like replacement? Grandparents see her as a target? Or just a possible addition to the family, how dramatic do I want it…
Flaw: Is ready to do anything to make Jin happy, places priority on his happiness/wellbeing over hers
Want: For Jin and his family to accept her and love her Need: Love herself
Unique: American girl in Korea, facing tradition and culture head on directly, wants to face it and assimilate herself
Doesn’t want to admit that she’s an outsider?
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GRANDPA
Core:
Leader, alpha, successful businessman
Integrity, classy, honorable, treat people with respect (not family)
Upholds tradition, places huge importance on ancestors, family line, sons
Sees himself as the head of the family, despite his fading health
Role: Provide what’s best for the family, even after he is gone, but not quite ready to let go of the reins yet. Setting up the future, hopes it remains well and good in other’s hands.
Flaw: Everything that happens with his offsprings is his fault. Thinks he’s directly responsible. Consequence of bad parenting.
Want: Family to be perfect Need: Be okay that it isn’t
Unique: Old generation but not quite stuck up, is trying to adapt to new generation with Jin
Life metaphor: Don’t ever tarnish the family name.
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GRANDMA
Core:
Coddles Jin, her favorite, with love, sees him as a baby still
Food is the way to people’s hearts
Never does a wrongdoing on anyone, kind to mother(?), how to show
Doesn’t want to hear anything slanderous, avoids truth if it hurts
Buddhist, only wishes to remain in a peaceful state of mind
Role: Leader for the ladies, but always subservient to Grandpa and even Han, unhelpful for Jin’s plight, looks past Han’s mistake and ignores it, instead focuses her attention on the new toddler
Flaw: everything is fine when it isn’t
Want: Jin to be a kid still. Never grow up. Need: let go and find a new project, toddler
Unique: Buddist religion
Life metaphor: everything can be cured with food.
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Anna Harper Old Buffalo Hospital
What I learned from this exercise. I should have done this before writing the script!
Small changes in the outline make the character more fully dimensional.
CONVENTIONS
Bolded text indicates character changes or additions.
Traditional knowledge refers to First Nations/Aboriginal spiritual practices and cosmology, ie spirit animals.
Small changes in the outline make the character more fully dimensional.
Log line What would happen if an unemployed single mother accepted a job in a Yukon bush hospital?
Character Profiles
1. SARAH WARWICK unemployed social worker. British. Single mother.
Role: Main protagonist, takes on the role of a mental health worker in a Yukon bush hospital.
Core Character Traits: Loving, empathic, insecure, is reluctantly brave.
Character sub text log line: A harsh upbringing, soul wounds. She heals through loving her son and providing him with a more nurturing home life. She feels called to work in the helping professions.
Flaw: She tries to hide her issues. Her friends know exactly who she is.
Wants/Needs Prefers to maintain the status quo. She wants love and security.
Mission: to raise her son in a happy home.
World view: All you need is love.
Metaphor: Wounded Healer
Secret: She wants a man in her life but will never admit that to herself as she perceives it as a weakness.
Doesn’t want to admit: She has an anxiety disorder and sometimes drinks to cope and has not sort out help.
Unique: She is a foreigner, in another layer of foreignness in a new environment.
2. DR TEDDY SULEMAN
Role: Antagonist: Chief of Medical Staff, Drug Dealer
Core Traits: Delusional, narcissistic, sociopath.
LL sub text: Lives in an unreal world in his head.
Mission: Power:
Worldview: People do not understand his greatness. He should at least be a Minister back in his homeland.
Character Arc: Is only a one way escalation of evil.
Life Metaphor: Admires and models himself on Desmond Tutu. Despot.
Secret: He has E.D. His wife has affairs. Unknown to him, his kids are starting to use recreational drugs.
Doesn’t want to admit: His family hate him
Unique: He is very handsome, well built, tall, deep voice. He is an honorary member of the Hell’s Angels.
DR PAUL CONNOR
Role: Junior Doctor, Secondary Protagonist, one of Sarah’s romantic interests. Irish.
Key Traits: A genuine, really decent guy. Intelligent, romantic.
Subtext Logline: He wants to be a healer, not just a doctor. Still waters run deep. Don’t judge the affable exterior of this book by it’s cover.
Flaw: He doesn’t have any. Yet. He is the perfect man, almost. He has zero insight into his needy personality
Mission: To do his expected life tasks; be a good son, a good doctor, get married (Catholic) have 2.5 kids, have his own practice. Would also like to runaway on a motorbike.
World View: The world is his oyster.
Life Metaphor: A ‘lost’ healer, waiting for a magician with magic beans to show up and show the way.
Secret: He watches MASH reruns every night, and wants to be Alan Alda.
Unique: He’s an an expert lover; but hasn’t gotten any in over a year and doesn’t know why.
BONNIE
Role: Secondary Protagonist, Sarah’s assistant.
Core Traits: Integrity, loving wife and mother, very competent at anything she puts her hand to, traditional knowledge.
Subtext: I don’t feel appreciated. I’ll try harder.
Flaw: Doesn’t have any. Well, maybe one secret flaw.
Mission: To care of and save my community.
World view: I love my community; the changes out there in the larger world, are here and I don’t like those changes.
Life metaphor: A potential leader; ignored, wasted potential.
Secret: I secretly want to run for town council. My husband would not approve. I have had an on and off affair with Cody
CODY
Role: Secondary Protagonist, Youth Group Leader, works with inmates.
Core Traits: Heroic, traditional knowledge and beliefs. An adventurer.
Subtext LL. Tough outside, fragile inside.
Flaw: Alcoholic. He is currently sober attends weekly AA meeting in a town 100 kilometres away. He is on the fourth step.
Want/need He wants to stay sober and heal his relationships with his children.
Character Arc: The story commences with Cody being a hero and a flirt. He gets involved with saving the community from drugs. He is genuinely attracted to Sarah. End point he is thwarted in his romantic pursuits, has to cope with disappointment without drinking..
World view: Confused. He does not know the next step in his life, the bigger picture. He is considering becoming an environmental advocate.
Identity/life metaphor: Wounded/healing Warrior.
Secret (s) He has a lot of secrets. He would like to stop his compulsive over compensating womanizing and settle down.
Does not want to admit: Sometimes he gets depressed and feels like a failure. He thinks about leaving the community and starting over. He has made several suicide attempts.
Unique: He writes poetry and paints
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