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Day 4 Assignment – LOST
Provide your insights/breakthroughs into what makes this character great from a writing perspective.
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12 Replies
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Insights/breakthroughs – I am one of the few people out there who has never seen the show LOST, but the whole notion of everyone having a secret is very intriguing. The drama is demonstrated in each scene through the character behaviors as well as the dialogue, and the secrets take their time to come out, and leave the audience with more questions — aka intrigue. The set-up playing the ‘I never’ game was really well done. Using the inane questions to get them warmed up, until one hits a nerve and leads to the big question, without ever revealing any details, the gestures say it all. No explanation asked for or offered. I love that. Keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.
I will experiment with pacing since the big difference between a feature film and a TV series is the time the writer has to deliver the information. Pacing and setting up secrets are my key insights.
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Insight: What makes Sawyer’s character great is how his casual demeanor of introducing a ‘get to know you better game’ reveals not only aspects of Kate’s character but also his. They both have killed a person. Sawyer is a scavenger and uses what he has acquired as a means of controlling others.
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Assignment Week 1 – Day 4
How is Kate’s secret set up?
It begins with the discovery of the Wanted notice in Jack’s pocket. What is she wanted for?
The next part of the set-up is playing the game, “I Never…” We know why Sawyer is playing this game. It is a smart trick and he makes a great detective. He extracts so much information about Kate in a playful way.
The “I never…” game has a dual function. It allows a lot of “talking heads” dialogue but without the boredom. It also allows a gradual reveal of Kate’s secret as the questions, getter nearer and nearer to the bone.
The other part of the set-up is Sawyer’s prompting her to admit she has killed a man with his, “I never killed a man.” We are in brief suspense, waiting to see if she’ll take a drink and we also wonder whether Jack knows the answer in advance.
What causes demand to know what that secret is?
We know she is Wanted, but not what for. The night-time setting contributes to the demand. Just as she sits in the dark, her past is also dark. And we know that Sawyer is manoeuvering to find out what Kate did, so we are in expectation of what “I never…” will lead him to it.
How is Kate’s secret revealed?
Without a word being spoken, using Sawyer’s skillful use of the, “I Never…” game. She just takes a drink, meaning, “Yes, I killed a man.” Dramatic.
What drama was this scene built around?
The earlier scene where we learn that Kate is wanted for something. The relaxed atmosphere created by Sawyer, saying “Call it a way to get to know each other.”
What traits showed up in these character words and actions?
Kate: Certain vulnerability (we know she is hiding something and that she is at the mercy of Sawyer); takes relationships seriously (never had a 1-night stand); smart and able to read people (e.g. “I never implied I’ve been to college.”) plays her cards well (refers to Sawyer’s secret about the 20 year-old letter, to put him on the back foot and show he may know things about her, but she knows things about him); tough (she has killed a man.)
Sawyer: Devious (uses the “I never…” game to get the info he wants); wounded (the letter he’s been carrying around for 20 years); cold (never been in love); reads people well (he knew Kate would want some alcohol, the requirement for playing the game); tough (he has killed a man.)
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First of all, considering LOST is considered to be one of the greatest TV dramas ever, it will be naïve to draw conclusions without upsetting someone who is way more qualified than me. If you are likely to be upset about my ignorance, it will be a-ok to not read this, and my sincere apologies. Regardless, I am going to presume only the set-up explained in this lesson and from these three scenes.
Insights
If these scenes are in sequence, then the first insight/petit-breakthrough is that secrets are revealed progressively, in a quickly escalating sequence. The first one results in us wondering along with JACK, as to what KATE did, and are probably not imagining anything more than minor trouble. Next, in her scene with SAWYER just we are almost falling in love with her innocence and vulnerability, there is this stunning reveal.Done to us at the very moment we were nearly ready to trust her with our life, only to then next find in the third scene that she is a standard issue demolition machine — in spite the soft blithe-spirit psyche cast (Evangeline) into that role. Can’t believe that was adventitious, and definitely hope it wouldn’t be left to chance in my stories.
Second, there is an impact on her relationships with Jack in the first scene, which from my ignorance I can’t really measure, and I am imagining it is what I thought, nothing too terrible. Even then we know Jack the idealist is definitely going to be rattled and arguably the audience worried about their relationship.
Sawyer on the other hand in the second scene, seems to bond with her more with that revelation if he is telling the truth. The genius here seems to be that both men go in different directions, Sawyer calmer and more settled than ever, however now our demand for reveal is more intense. Killed someone? This Evangeline? What happened? Was it in self-defense? What was done to her by the idiot(s) she killed?
Lastly, her relationship with us, the audience is completely up-side down after the last scene. Started with her seeming a victim and turns out she ate lunch with Rambo. Now we are wondering why she did it, and did she get away with it? What is she capable of? What else has she done and what will she do next? The questions we are asking at each “emotional turning-point” with them, remarkably aren’t even anywhere close to the previous one. Oh JJ.
Finally, not counting that IBV model is useful even in these scenes where there is not much push and pull, the third — clearly this escalating intensity of demand, is also not accidental but manifesting the “rising action” dictum, emotionally.
Breakthroughs
First box-breaker for me — secrets have a typology, dimensions, and grade, and so, not entirely sure if most insights listed above don’t belong here instead.-
This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Sandeep Gupta. Reason: oh, not just the browser. i also miss typos until my ignorance is public. typos are my allies. sometimes
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This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by
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This was tough because I’d never seen this show! That being said…
How is Kate’s secret set up?
A dying man, Marshall, on a beach, being treated by Jack, says “She’s dangerous – you have to find her and bring her back”. Marshall tells Jack to get a ‘mug shot’ flyer from his jacket pocket nearby. Jack realizes Kate is a fugitive
What causes demand to know what the secret is?
Because “she’s dangerous” we need to know what the danger is – what the secret is
Through a game of “I never” a drinking game with Sawyer, Kate admits she killed a man. And so did Sawyer – but we still don’t know why or what happened.
How is Kate’s secret revealed?
In flashback? – we see her put a drunk guy to bed and then blow up his house.
Watch 2nd time for:
What drama was this scene built around?
1) The marshal, in a fever warns about Kate – he’s concerned about his handcuffs. The other guy finds the picture of Kate as a fugitive.
2) The second scene is relaxed around the campfire where the two play a “get to know you” game – which turns ugly when they both reveal they’ve killed someone.
3) Finally, we see what Kate did – all up in a fiery blaze.
What traits showed up in these characters’ words and actions?
Jack – concerned, wanting to help, conflicted
Kate – reserved, contemplative, tough, methodical
Sawyer – manipulative, likes games, not ashamed
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Character Mastery: Week 1, Day 4—LOST
Karyn Laitis
· How is Kate’s secret set up?
The marshal is wounded and dying yet desperately attempting to find this fugitive or warn Jack. Directing Jack to the flyer with Kate’s picture and proclaiming that she is very dangerous. There is a sense of urgency, a dying man’s wish to apprehend her and warn everyone.
· What causes demand to know what the secret is?
The seed has been planted by the marshal as relayed to Jack about Kate. Sawyer senses that Kate is hiding something and cons her into a drinking game-“I Never…”. The tension builds as the questions pass back and forth until the question “have you ever killed a man?” is asked by Sawyer. They each drink, acknowledging their shared secret. “Something in common”.
· How is Kare’s secret revealed?
During the drinking game “I Never…” with Sawyer. The third scene has a flashback: she assists her husband into the bedroom as he comments on the smell and her brushing it off as his alcohol breath. She puts him in bed, removes his shoes and then leaves and rides off on a motorcycle as the house blows up.
· What drama was the scene built around?
The drama is built in the three scenes. From the wish of a dying man and warning that this woman is dangerous and should be feared. The tension and curiosity builds with her choice of companions – Sawyer, who is a bad boy image, shady and has his own secrets. That piqued her interest, as well as her wanting a drink. Sawyer’s quid pro quo was a drinking game “I Never…” and drink if you acknowledge. It was a perfect way to build more drama and increase the stakes for Sawyer’s challenge. She answered having been married, but only a short time; a clue to what might have happened. Then the follow-up question “have you ever killed a man?” implied that she killed her husband. Scene 3 implies he was a drunk and an abuser. Sawyer also confirming he has killed makes for a bonding moment.
· What traits showed up in the three characters:
o Jack
§ Leader/responsible
§ Concern
§ Protective
§ Confusion
o Kate
§ Chameleon
§ Manipulative
§ Secrets
o Sawyer
§ Cavalier
§ Angry
§ Guilt-ridden
§ Manipulator
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1. Please watch this scene and provide your insights/breakthroughs into what makes this character great from a writing perspective.
Scene 1: Jack is troubled and tired and worried about the plane crash and worries about the Marshall as he treats his wounds.The Marshall isn’t worried about his own wounds, rather, he’s determined to tell the truth to Jack about Kate being wanted. Both want different things, but in the end, the Marshall convinces Jack to look in his pocket and find the wanted poster, with Kate’s photo on it, and then he says that Kate is dangerous!
Scene 2: Kate reluctantly plays the I Never game at Sawyer’s requests. She’s tough and doesn’t want to reveal her background to Sawyer.
Sawyer is so charming and inventive, he asks Kate to play the I Never game with him and he eventually reveals that he’s killed someone, and then Kate reveals that she too has killed someone.
Scene 3: Kate is very mysterious throughout the scene…why would she wait up late for a drunk guy to come home, and then tuck him in bed, despite the fact he stinks and his making unwanted advances at her?
Who is the drunk guy and why would Kate wait up for him and tuck him in bed? What is the drunk guy’s history with Kate?
2. Read the other writers comments and make notes of any
insights/breakthroughs you like.
Scene 1: I realized the writer has a
lot more time to reveal secrets in a TV show, vs a feature film. I also
realized that the action of the scene when Jack is treating the Marshall’s
wounds, sets up the need for the Marshall to reveal Kate’s secret quickly to someone,
Jack, in case he dies before the scene ends.Scene 2: I learned from another
student’s comments that Jack is a scavenger, and he finds out other people’s
weaknesses and could use them against the other character later on, for his benefit.Scene 3: I learned that Kate is a
patient person, because she’s willing to wait up late into the night for the
drunk guy to come home. I learned that she is determined and ruthless, because
after she tucks the drunk guy in bed, she blows up his house and kills him! -
1. Please watch this scene and provide your insights/breakthroughs into what makes this character great from a writing perspective.
I accidentally posted this twice. Please see my post above.-
This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Leona Heraty.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Leona Heraty.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by
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LESSON 4 – WK 1 – CHARACTERS ASSIGN
What I learned re-writing my scene/character is that several re-writes are necessary because the layering of ideas, motives, depth, and vision are complex. It can be occurring on the first write, but complexity is revealed as the mind works, the subconscious brings up hidden connections, memories, and results. It’s actually exciting to see what else can be revealed to the writer of my/our own creativity and exploration into the darkness of my imaginary campfire.
INSIGHTS AND BREAKTHROUGHS about what makes this character great: For all three characters, Just because you love someone doesn’t mean that everything they do is okay. If the person violates a standard or expectation, they may not be forgiven. For Kate: Best beware of what you reveal around a cozy campfire in the dark when confessions seem easy and confidence in the other person is not questioned. She appears shy and vulnerable at the campfire. Perhaps her secret is too heavy for her to carry alone anymore, if in truth she is guilty. Her motives are different from Sawyer’s and Jack’s, as are their motives. Jack is conflicted because if he loves her, how is he ever going to accept that she is wanted for murder? Sawyer seems a bit too cool for someone who’s supposed to be in love with Kate. His challenges in the drinking game seem random, but are geared to finding out Kate’s secret through trickery. If one of the rules is honesty, then presumably Sawyer is not being honest while Kate seems to trust him with her secret.
How is Kate’s secret set up? Kate’s secret is set up in the love triangle, and the jealousy that the two men are experiencing. It seems highly important to them to find it out, but neither one expects it to be something so portentous.
What causes demand to know what the secret is?: In the set up section of the assignment, Sawyer and Jack both want to know what Kate’s secret is, thinking that it must be something about each of them or one of them, or about her or about the love triangle relationship perhaps probably who’s on first. But they have no idea and don’t have a clue as to how wrong they are.
How is Kate’s Secret Revealed?: Her secret is revealed by trickery from Sawyer in a “simple” game where one of the rules is honesty. Kate is unaware that she is being set up and strung along by the innocuous nature of Sawyers questions, until he plays her by saying he’s never killed a man. He either doesn’t know what her answer will be, or he suspects it. He definitely wants to know it. Perhaps he knows about the wanted poster too. This would be a good place for Kate to lie.
What drama is this scene built around?: The drama is built around honesty, and trickery.
What traits showed up in these character’s words and actions?: For Kate: a certain vulnerability, trust in Sawyer, trust in a silly game, and perhaps honesty about killing her husband. Or pathetic weakness. For Sawyer: conniving, user, insincere, a player = dishonest and manipulative. For Jack: passionate, caring, unforgiving, cruel, betrayed and wounded.
3 DIFFERENT REVEALS ABOUT KATE
A. DEMAND: Marshall dying, giving Jack the wanted poster on Kate.
B. ADMISSION: Sawyer gets Kate to admit her secret.
C. WHAT Kate does: Kate tells the truth about her secret because of the way Sawyer phrases his questions in a silly drinking game. She’s honest, he’s deceptive.
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Secrets and Reveals LOST
What I learned rewriting my scene/character is to make the secret a dangerous one. And set it up in the opening, even if it’s disguised, to make the audience want to see where it leads the character and/or what’s driving the character. When it’s revealed, many of the plot pieces should fall into place.
I’m writing a new script for this class. So far, I’ve mapped out most of the outline, but am still inventing characters and secrets. The more I learn how to develop my characters, the stronger the plot.
1st Watch
1) Kate’s secret is set up by her driving away as the house blows up in the opening. There seems to be a history of him abusing her.
2) Jack’s shock at Kate’s wanted poster and Marshall saying she’s dangerous.
3) Her secret is revealed while playing “I never” with Sawyer, as she gets loosened by the alcohol, and she confesses because of Sawyer upping the secrecy/stakes of each confession. Several secrets are revealed by this game, building emotion with each new reveal.
2nd Watch
1) Drama is built around the confession scene as we and Jack know she’s dangerous. Sawyer and she are alone at night around a campfire. The game builds suspense as several layers of subtext are peeled away until her truth comes out that she killed a man
2) Traits
Jack – insightful, clever, subtle
Kate – confident, brave, daring, spiteful/vindictive (picks on J’s weakness), playful
Breakthrough
I never saw the show, never knew the slightest thing about it, except that a lot of people had watch parties and really got into it. Now I can see why.
A hidden secret that’s damaging / hurtful / dangerous to the character hidden can drive the plot through that character’s subtext. Once revealed, and the subtext comes to the surface, it doesn’t have to come to the surface for everyone, just a select few. If only one other person learns the secret, the two become either cohorts or dangerous to each other.
I missed that Jack had also killed a man. I mean, I saw it, but it didn’t register until I read other people’s posts.
Also, I didn’t catch that Jack is charming, but seeing it in another person’s post, it’s oh so evident to me now.
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Insight – we get a deeper understanding of kate’s backstory
Breakthrough – kate and sawyer have killed before
From a writer’s perspective, just one secret was used to reveal traits and create suspense/intrigue about three different characters.
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This series secrets and reveals were well written; no wonder the great success.
Drama develops with the dying man’s insistence of knowing what’s in his pocket. The written Poster set the whole thing off, as now someone besides the dying man knows who Kate really is – but does Jack or any of us, the audience?
This Kate is a complicated character – beauty attracts but her secretive, evasive nature intrigues and repels. That game, “I never” was subtly explosive as more was revealed than expected – yes, Kate did kill someone. On a minor note, she’s relatively uneducated, but is street smart instead. She’s never voted or had a one-night stand. Kate is a closed character on many levels, coldly methodical, as shown in the explosion/fire scene as she simply rides off. Being vulnerable, she’s not going to reveal anything too quickly.
Sawyer plays well, as the sneaky narcissist, someone not to trust. He loves being selfish.
Watching Jack’s disappointed and disillusioned face when he found saw the poster was heart breaking – Jack’s deeply infatuated with Kate and probably falling in love.
Gestures, facial expressions and the actor’s eyes show more than dialogue in some scenes. Silence is deadly. Three reveals helps deepen the character and builds tension. I
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