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Day 4 Assignments
Reply to post your assignment.
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5 Replies
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Megan’s Character Story Lines
What I learned doing this assignment is…character storylines follow story structure just like a plot. And like a plot, a character’s storyline also needs carefully planned conflict, dilemmas, and turning points. The character storylines then get woven and layered into the plot structure.
I already knew I needed to brainstorm more of Alexis’s storyline and this assignment got me started, at least with the pilot.
CHARACTER: LEXIE
Beginning: It’s Lexie’s first day of high school. She is eager and optimistic. But her first day is terrible: she’s too afraid to speak up, the cafeteria is crowded, people are mean. At home she feels completely ignored.
Turning Point: Lexie contemplates running away.
Midpoint: Lexie gets a response to her email to her future self.
Turning Point 2: Alexis shocks Lexie with the things she knows about her.
Major Conflict: Lexie feels overlooked again by her mother, who doesn’t have time to teach her how to drive because she’s too busy helping her older sister with college applications.
Dilemma: Lexie has to choose whether or not to mess up her older sister’s college application. She does, but experiences instant regret.
Ending: Alexis reveals that she knows what Lexie did. Lexie finally believes her and takes her advice: stop caring what people think. Her next day at school goes much better.
CHARACTER: ALEXIS
Beginning: Alexis is a success at work but she doesn’t enjoy it: constant stress, pressure from her boss, competition from Sterling, innuendos from Brett.
Turning Point: Alexis’s life is empty. So empty she nearly commits suicide.
Midpoint: Alexis gets an email from her past self, Lexie. Ignores it at first.
Turning Point 2: Receives a birth announcement from her sister. Recognizes her emptiness again and decides to try to change her present by fixing her past.
Major Conflict: Alexis has to get Lexie to believe her, to trust her. But she has to do so without revealing what she actually does for a living.
Dilemma: Whether or not to be honest with Lexie
Ending: After convincing Lexie she’s trustworthy, she goes out and completes a mission where she lies and kills someone.
OUTLINE
TEASER:
Essence: Lexie getting dressed for the first day of school. It’s Lexie’s first day of high school. She is eager and optimistic. Checking her outfit and appearance in the mirror. Possibly recording herself on her first day of high school? Alexis, however, is the VO we hear, reflecting on the importance of trust.
Turning Point: Lexie walks outside to meet her childhood best friend Betsy, who makes a tactless comment about the outfit Lexie spent so much time analyzing.
ACT 1:
Essence: Lexie feels terrified at high school and shut out at home. Bus driver gets her name wrong. Cafeteria is noisy, crowded, nowhere to sit. Cafeteria lady gives her green beans after she says she doesn’t want them. Possibly a bully at school pulls a prank on her? Back at home, older sister and younger brother are happy and successful and have the full attention of mom and dad.
Turning Point: We see Lexie has been contemplating running away from home.
ACT 2:
Essence: Lexie’s English teacher gives the class an assignment: to write an email to their future selves.
Turning Point: After a particularly tense family dinner, Lexie not only writes the email but clicks send. In the morning, she finds she has received a response.
ACT 3:
Essence: Lexie probes to figure out if the email is real. Alexis’s email presents her as happy and successful. Alexis is a success at work but she doesn’t enjoy it: constant stress, pressure from her boss, competition from Sterling, innuendos from Brett. Alexis’s home life is empty and lonely. So empty she nearly commits suicide.
Turning Point: Alexis receives a birth announcement from her sister. Recognizes her emptiness again and decides to try to change her present by fixing her past.
She decides to continue emailing Lexie, ostensibly to help Lexie improve her life, but actually to better her present by fixing her past.
ACT 4:
Essence: Alexis shocks Lexie with the things she knows about her. Lexie isn’t sure whether or not she can trust Alexis. It might be another, more elaborate prank. Lexie feels overlooked again by her mother, who doesn’t have time to teach her how to drive because she’s too busy helping her older sister with college applications.
Turning Point: In a fit of jealousy, Lexie messes with Lily’s college application essay. She experiences instant regret. Alexis knows about it, moments after it happens. Lexie finally believes Alexis is her future self. Alexis gives Lexie her first piece of advice: Stop caring what other people think.
ACT 5:
Essence: Lexie goes through a school day with this advice: corrects the bus driver who gets her name wrong, speaks up to the cafeteria worker who tries to give her green beans, speaks up when Betsy gets too tactless.
Lock In: For the first time this school year, Lexie actually enjoys school and it’s all thanks to Alexis. Return to Alexis’s VO about the value and importance of trust. Lexie is starting to trust Alexis, but the final scene reveals what Alexis really is: an undercover agent. After convincing Lexie she’s trustworthy, she goes out and completes a mission where she lies and kills someone.
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What we learned doing this assignment is that the process of making sure the character’s storylines wove into the plot of the pilot really tightened things up and brought it all together. For the first time, it seems like everything is working from a story and character arc perspective and now we can just enhance it by adding layers and intrigue. We are pretty excited after completing this.
Liz
Beginning: Liz’s VO while she’s having sex with someone in the swinger club with the door open while a bunch of people including her husband watch. We get her POV and expertise about the lifestyle.
Turning Point 1: When a woman shows up in their doorway on her phone, Liz yells “no phones” and slams the door on her ending her and Eric’s night early (Eric never saw who the woman was).
Midpoint: Liz devises a plan to take Michelle and her husband to a house party so they can have their first swinger experience.
Turning Point 2: Liz has to call Eric for help and he finds out about her secret plan.
Major Conflict: Liz feels alive for the first time with this secret off her chest and able to help others, but the more she pushes, the potential exposure can negatively affect her husband and daughter plus she would have to deal with being judged and shamed by family and society. If she doesn’t pursue this, though, she will be full of regret and resentment.
Dilemma: Liz can decide not to help Michelle and watch her friend fail miserably or at least try and help her navigate a world that she’s an expert in even though she knows she’ll still probably fail miserably.
Ending: Liz gives a random woman advice at her hair salon and a sexpert is born!
Eric
Beginning: he’s upset at Liz because once again she ruined his one night a week of fun (cause he’s miserable at his job and is always just working for the weekend)
Turning Point 1: Eric tells Liz and Michelle this needs to be squashed now so they aren’t exposed further.
Midpoint: Eric has to bail Liz out and is pissed that she helped Michelle behind his back.
Turning Point 2: Eric agrees to let Liz continue helping people from the hair salon if she keeps it on the down low.
Major Conflict: Eric wants Liz to forget about helping people, but this is something she needs to do.
Dilemma: If Liz continues to help people, they risk being further exposed and it may negatively impact his marriage (and life), but if he gets his wish and she shuts it down, she may resent him and that could also negatively affect his marriage (and life).
Ending: Eric has to trust Liz while getting used to being comfortable with the uncomfortable (and the unknown).
Michelle
Beginning: She promises Eric and Liz that their secret is safe with her.
Turning Point 1: Michelle tells Liz that she is considering swinging to save her marriage.
Midpoint: She convinces Liz to help her and her husband have their first swinger experience by telling her that she’s going to do this without or without her.
Turning Point 2: Michelle bails on her first swinger experience.
Major Conflict: Michelle leaves the house party but her husband stays.
Dilemma: If she doesn’t pursue swinging, her marriage will probably fail. If she does start swinging just to appease her husband, her marriage will probably fail.
Ending: Michelle buys her husband’s explanation that he didn’t know where she went and thought she was coming back, then blamed her for leaving without him.
OUTLINE:
Teaser
Essence: (Liz Opening) – Liz’s VO while she’s having sex with someone in the swinger club with the door open while a bunch of people including her husband watch. We get her POV and expertise about the lifestyle.
(L TP 1): When a woman shows up in their doorway on her phone, Liz yells “no phones” and slams the door on her ending her and Eric’s night early (Eric never saw who the woman was).
Act 1
Essence: In the car on the way home, Eric and Liz argue about her ruining the night (again) because she always has to be the swinger police. Then, Liz tells him who was at their door and he panics.
(Eric Opening) – he’s upset at Liz because once again she ruined his one night a week of fun (cause he’s miserable at his job and is always just working for the weekend).
Liz defends herself as we see that she’s a stickler for the swinger code/rules and knows her shit.
Turning Point: Liz tells Eric that she slammed the door because it was her best friend Michelle standing there.
Act 2
Essence: Liz and Eric are in their normal world, a birthday party for her dad where we see how problematic the exposure of their lifestyle can be for them. Michelle is also at the party as she is considered family too.
(E TP 1): Eric tells Liz and Michelle this needs to be squashed now so they aren’t exposed further.
(Michelle Opening): She promises Eric and Liz that their secret is safe with her.
Then, at her hair salon with Michelle…
(M TP 1): Michelle tells Liz that she is considering swinging to save her marriage.
(M Dilemma): If she doesn’t pursue swinging, her marriage will probably fail. If she does start swinging just to appease her husband, her marriage will probably fail.
Liz tells her that’s a recipe for disaster because that’s not going to fix a marriage already on the rocks.
(M Midpoint): She convinces Liz to help her and her husband have their first swinger experience by telling her that she’s going to do this without or without her.
(L Dilemma): Liz can decide not to help Michelle and watch her friend fail miserably or at least try and help her navigate a world that she’s an expert in even though she knows she’ll still probably fail miserably.
Turning Point/Midpoint: Liz decides to help Michelle with her first swinger experience.
Act 3
Essence: Liz comes up with a plan to help Michelle without Eric knowing.
(L Midpoint): Liz devises a plan to take Michelle and her husband to a house party so they can have their first swinger experience.
Turning Point: She convinces Eric that she should go to this house party without him so she can have a naughty experience and send him the video of it. He agrees.
Act 4
Essence: Liz’s plan fails, and Eric finds out, but Liz feels that she’s found her purpose.
(M TP 2): Michelle bails on her first swinger experience.
(M Major Conflict): Michelle leaves the house party but her husband stays.
(L TP 2): Liz has to call Eric for help and he finds out about her secret plan.
(E Midpoint): Eric has to bail Liz out and is pissed that she helped Michelle behind his back.
(E Major Conflict): Eric wants Liz to forget about helping people, but this is something she needs to do.
Liz and Eric have a heart-to-heart where she explains to him her ambition and how she doesn’t want to live with regrets or resent him. He understands but tries to get her to see that neither one of them may be prepared for how more potential exposure will negatively impact their lives.
(L Major Conflict): Liz feels alive for the first time with this secret off her chest and able to help others, but the more she pushes, the potential exposure can negatively affect her husband and daughter plus she would have to deal with being judged and shamed by family and society. If she doesn’t pursue this, though, she will be full of regret and resentment.
(E Dilemma): If Liz continues to help people, they risk being further exposed and it may negatively impact his marriage (and life), but if he gets his wish and she shuts it down, she may resent him and that could also negatively affect his marriage (and life).
(E TP 2): Eric agrees to let Liz continue helping people from the hair salon if she keeps it on the down low.
(M Ending): Michelle buys her husband’s explanation that he didn’t know where she went and thought she was coming back, then blamed her for leaving without him.
(L Ending): Liz gives a random woman advice at her hair salon and a sexpert is born!
(E Ending): Eric has to trust Liz while getting used to being comfortable with the uncomfortable (and the unknown).
Lock In/Turning Point: In helping Michelle, Liz feels like she’s finally living her truth and purpose so she is now going to help others with sex and relationship advice using her hair salon as a front.
Act 5/Tag
Essence: After hours at her hair salon, Liz helps her dad style his wig for a night out.
Turning Point: Liz’s dad is secretly trans.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Dave Arena.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Dave Arena.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by
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Sharilyn’s Character Story Lines
What I learned doing this assignment is…plot layers build on character layers
2. Create a beginning, middle, and end of the character’s story for the pilot.
ERIN: Comfortable in her safe eating space until she falls and can’t get up without 1st Responder help who fat-shame her. Disgusted with herself she vows to lose weight after discovering she was pregnant but didn’t know it.
PATTY: Protector and #1 besty to Erin prances around until walking up on the scene at Erin’s. Erin’s pregnancy news stuns her into empathy and regret for her inability to chose between being Patricio or Patty
WALLEY: A recluse computer-creeper-hacker “alone” in his trailer conversing with his blow-up doll girlfriend, Kandy Kane. He compiles a pitch for porno that goes viral which propels his ego and $$drive
MS. CHEN: Supportive but stern/meticulous caretaker of Erin who is appalled by Erin’s weight gain, fall and inability to self-help. She enacts a tough love plan for Erin.
*MI-YA: As besty #2, she’s a dutiful assistant to her mom, Ms. Chen, until she realizes, yet again, how Erin’s fall keeps her mom tied to Erin. This encourages her secret rivalry/jealousy toward Erin.
3. Add the rest of the structure to the characters for the Pilot.
ERIN
• Beginning: In her bedroom, safe. Chillin’ and eating.
• Turning Point: She falls out of bed, reaching for a snack. She can’t get herself up.
• Midpoint: Fat shaming 1st responders, neighbors, family, friends make her see herself as they do
• Turning Point 2: Erin bleeding from somewhere. The “examination” of the blood flow is humiliating
• (Dilemma is optional.) Erin has to leave the house to see the doctor about her bleeding
• Major Conflict: She refuses to leave/see a doctor.
• Ending: Erin discovers she was preggers.
PATTY
• Beginning: Super sexy and confident in preparing Erin’s hair & make-up for the day
• Turning Point: She can’t help Erin get up
• Midpoint: Patty and Ms. Chen fight over call/not call the 1st Responders
• Turning Point 2: Patty’s DAD shows up as one of the 1st Responders. She fights with him.
• Major Conflict: Patty’s dad refuses to help his colleagues lift Erin
• Ending: Erin consoles Patty who leaves her in a huff
WALLEY
• Beginning: Dark hours of the night or day? Face lighted by computer glare. Talking to himself? Hacking.
• Turning Point: Hacks Erin’s room thru her phone
• Midpoint: Watches the whole 1st Responder fiasco while simultaneously editing footage
• Turning Point 2: Kandy Kane blow-up Doll girlfriend resents the time he spends hacking. They argue.
• (Dilemma is optional.) Walley can’t convince Kandy that his hacking will pan out
• Major Conflict: Walley reviews, edits and sends off his Erin pitch
• Ending: Chubby Chasers, porno folks blow up Walley’s phone
MS. CHEN
• Beginning: Fussing over Erin. Washing her. Weighing her.
• Turning Point: She calls the 1st Responders against Erin’s wishes
• Midpoint: Ms. Chen doesn’t defend Erin’s weight nor protect her during fat-shaming
• Turning Point 2: Ms. Chen drags Stu&Lu into ganging up on Erin
• (Dilemma is optional.) Help Erin by coddling or hurt her by making her face the truth? Tough Love.
• Major Conflict: Mi-Ya defends Erin against her mom, Ms. Chen, who has 2nd thoughts about how she handled Erin
• Ending: Ms. Chen face in security camera caught by Mi-Ya
*MI-YA
• Beginning: Sassy while assisting her mom in washing/weighing Erin
• Turning Point: She doesn’t wanna help Erin get up because it helps her mom
• Midpoint: She sides with her mom about Erin’s weight taking over her life
• Turning Point 2: She presents more fashionable muumuu’s to Erin’s dislike
• (Dilemma is optional.) Tell Erin that her mom has a camera on her or not?
• Major Conflict: She fights with Erin
• Ending: She challenges Erin to get fit for her fashion
5. Create the first version of your outline by adding the character story lines to the structure from Lesson 3.
Teaser:
Essence: Over black, moans, groans, clicking keyboard sounds. Eating? Fucking? Typing? An excited “Yes!” Climax reached.
• Erin-Beginning: In her bedroom, safe. Chillin’ and eating.
Turning Point: A deep belch. Snoring.
• Walley-Beginning: Dark hours of the night or day? Face lighted by computer glare. Talking to himself? Hacking.
Act 1:
Essence: Song like Weird Al Yankovich’s “Eat it!” awakens grossly obese Erin who barely moves in a sunken twin bed. She feeds the birds and herself. Kids clamor at her window.
• Patty-Opening: Saunters up for Erin’s snack order for the day. Kids admire Patty
Turning Point: Walley reviews Erin footage in his trailer alongside his blow-up doll girlfriend
• Walley-Turning Point: Hacks Erin’s room thru her phone
• Walley-(Dilemma is optional.) Walley can’t convince Kandy that his hacking will pan out
Act 2:
Essence: Erin gets weighed and washed by her caretaker, Ms. Chen & besty#2 Mi-Ya. Besty #1 Patty prances around, pumping Erin up for the day
• Patty-Beginning: Super sexy and confident in preparing Erin’s hair & make-up for the day
• Ms. Chen-Beginning: Fussing over Erin. Washing her. Weighing her.
• Mi-Ya-Beginning: Sassy while assisting her mom in washing/weighing Erin
• Mi-Ya-Ending: She challenges Erin to get fit for her fat fashion line
• Walley-Turning Point 2: Kandy Kane blow-up Doll girlfriend resents the time he spends hacking. They argue.
Turning Point/Midpoint: Later, alone, Erin falls and she can’t get up.
• Erin-Turning Point: She falls out of bed, reaching for a snack. No one in her room. She can’t get herself up.
• Patty-Turning Point: She can’t help Erin get up, too concerned about her look
• Patty-Midpoint: Patty and Ms. Chen fight over call/not call the 1st Responder.
Erin’s bleeding from somewhere. Parents Stu&Lu, Ms. Chen rush to her aid
• Ms. Chen-Turning Point: She calls the 1st Responders against Erin’s wishes
• Mi-Ya-Turning Point: She doesn’t wanna help Erin get up because it helps her mom
• Erin-(Dilemma is optional.) Erin has to leave the house to see the doctor about her bleeding
Act 3:
Essence: 1st Responders can’t get Erin out of her house. Convince her to leave. She’s humiliated.
• Patty-Turning Point 2: Patty’s DAD shows up as one of the 1st Responders. She fights with him.
• Erin-Turning Point 2: Erin’s bleeding “examination” is humiliating.
• Ms. Chen-Midpoint: Ms. Chen doesn’t defend Erin’s weight nor protect her during fat-shaming
• Erin-Major Conflict: She refuses to leave/see a doctor.
Turning Point: Her besty Patty protects, while Ms. Chen and Mi-Ya push Erin to do better for herself. Patty confronts her Father, an ambulance driver. Walley previews his “Fat Bitch Pitch” for porno
• Walley-Midpoint: Watches the whole 1st Responder fiasco while simultaneously editing footage
• Patty-Major Conflict: Patty’s dad refuses to help his colleagues lift Erin’s limbs
Act 4:
Essence: Erin confides in Patty about her fat-shame. Erin & Patty reminisce
• Ms. Chen-Turning Point 2: Ms. Chen drags Stu&Lu into ganging up on Erin
• Mi-Ya-Midpoint: She sides with her mom about Erin’s weight taking over her life
• Mi-Ya-Turning Point 2: She presents more fashionable muumuu’s to Erin’s dislike
• Mi-Ya-Major Conflict: She fights with Erin
Turning Point: Walley’s Erin footage goes viral
• Ms. Chen-Major Conflict: Mi-Ya defends Erin against her mom, Ms. Chen, who has 2nd thoughts about how she handled Erin
Act 5:
Essence: Erin vows to lose weight. Porno press flags Erin footage.
• Erin-Midpoint: Fat shaming 1st responders, neighbors, family, friends make her see herself as they do
• Ms. Chen-(Dilemma is optional.) Help Erin by coddling or hurt her by making her face the truth? Tough Love.
• Major Conflict: Walley reviews, edits and sends off his Erin pitch
Lock In: Medic calls Erin revealing she lost a baby. WTF!?! She didn’t even know she was preggers!
• Ms. Chen-Ending: Ms. Chen face in security camera caught by Mi-Ya
• Patty-Ending: Erin consoles Patty who leaves her in a huff
• Erin-Ending: Erin discovers she was preggers.
• Mi-Ya-(Dilemma is optional.) Tell Erin that her mom has a camera on her or not?
• Ending: Chubby Chasers, porno folks blow up Walley’s phone
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Tom’s Character Story Lines
I feel like my characters and setting are so tightly spun that the the majority of the events I am outlining apply to all the main characters. There were a few discoveries in terms of beats, but I felt like too many of the events were duplicates from different perspectives.
Florida Man
Beginning: Florida Man is an incredibly intelligent and seemingly misguided individual who struggles to keep a handle on reality. He is entirely alone in the world he investigates searching for a deeper meaning behind the veil of conspiracy. By society’s standards, he’s a train wreck.
Turning Point 1: The judge gives Florida Man an ultimatum, community service and group support or jail time, he accepts the prior reluctantly.
Midpoint: Meeting the group, Florida Man is forced to interact with eight participants that he doesn’t know or trust, causing him to retreat.
Turning Point 2: The group begins to share what they’ve lost. Florida Man feels like a fraud since he really only lost his freedom temporarily due to his choices, where others have lost loved ones, jobs, and hope. He retreats inward hoping not to have to participate.
Dilemma: Seeing that he is not participating, Elliot raises the stakes, indicating that he not only needs to participate but he also needs to lead the group in the next exercise, or he will not be welcome back.
Major Conflict: Florida Man steps up when he recalls a memory that fear is false evidence appearing real in our minds. He leads the group on a simple first trust building exercise.
Ending: Florida Man hears from Elliot and Twyla that the common bond of the group is that they are all seeking revolution, and wonders if it’s possible that they mean they all desire seeking the truth in the way he does.
Elliot and Twyla
Beginning: Elliot and Twyla are inspecting the church basement and talking about the experiment. They are both students competing for a permanent staff position.
Turning Point 1: As Elliot and Twyla are talking about whether or not to use name tags, the Janitor appears and they both stop talking immediately. They both seem nervous around him. He grabs a broom and begins sweeping.
Midpoint: As the group arrives, Elliot establishes himself as the likable facilitator who likes to wing it, and Twyla is the “by the book” sidekick. Twyla begins to realize what she’s in for.
Turning Point 2: Twyla and Elliot demonstrate that they can work together and get everyone to begin talking about the losses they experienced from the pandemic—everyone except for Florida Man.
Dilemma: To Twyla’s disapproval, Elliot gives Florida Man and ultimatum, step up, or step out.
Major Conflict: Twyla gives the group a trust building exercise that Florida Man leads with relative success, but they see that he lacks the ability to inspire the group.
Ending: Twyla and Elliot tell the group that they are all here because they share a common bond: revolution.
OUTLINE
TEASER
Essence: We weave through the crowd on both sides of the protest as the tension rises.
Turning Point: The police begin to move in, gunfire erupts, chaos ensues.
ACT 1
Essence: 3 weeks earlier: At home we see Florida Man’s life, he’s an organized disaster, who’s life is revolving around solving conspiracy mysteries big and small.
Florida Man Opening: Florida Man is an incredibly intelligent and seemingly misguided individual who struggles to keep a handle on reality. He is entirely alone in the world he investigates searching for a deeper meaning behind the veil of conspiracy. By society’s standards, he’s a train wreck.
Turning Point: Florida Man receives a mysterious email alluding to an upcoming protest that is actually a false flag event.
ACT 2
Essence: Florida Man is in court defending himself for what feels like a senseless crime to everyone except him.
Elliot and Twyla Opening: Elliot and Twyla are inspecting the church basement and talking about the experiment. They are both students competing for a permanent staff position.
Elliot and Twyla TP 1: As Elliot and Twyla are talking about whether or not to use name tags, the Janitor appears and they both stop talking immediately. They both seem nervous around him. He grabs a broom and begins sweeping.
Florida Man TP 1: The judge gives Florida Man an ultimatum, community service and group support or jail time, he accepts the prior reluctantly.
Turning Point: The judge tells him that the only way he isn’t going to jail is if he does community service and joins a support group that actually does good for the community.
ACT 3
Essence: Florida Man meets Elliot, Twyla and the rest of the support group that will keep him out of jail.
Elliot and Twyla Midpoint: As the group arrives, Elliot establishes himself as the likable facilitator who likes to wing it, and Twyla is the “by the book” sidekick. Twyla begins to realize what she’s in for.
Florida Man Midpoint: Meeting the group, Florida Man is forced to interact with eight participants that he doesn’t know or trust, causing him to retreat.
Elliot and Twyla TP 2: Twyla and Elliot demonstrate that they can work together and get everyone to begin talking about the losses they experienced from the pandemic—everyone except for Florida Man.
Turning Point/Midpoint: He finds that each person has experienced loss during the pandemic that won’t allow them to return to the world they knew.
ACT 4
Essence: Florida Man is reluctant to open up about his life as he is accustom to being on his own and blending in.
Florida Man TP 2: The group begins to share what they’ve lost. Florida Man feels like a fraud since he really only lost his freedom temporarily due to his choices, where others have lost loved ones, jobs, and hope. He retreats inward hoping not to have to participate.
Florida Man Dilemma: Seeing that he is not participating, Elliot raises the stakes, indicating that he not only needs to participate but he also needs to lead the group in the next exercise, or he will not be welcome back.
Elliot and Twyla Dilemma: To Twyla’s disapproval, Elliot gives Florida Man and ultimatum, step up, or step out.
Elliot and Twyla Major Conflict: Twyla gives the group a trust building exercise that Florida Man leads with relative success, but they see that he lacks the ability to inspire the group.
Florida Man Major Conflict: Florida Man steps up when he recalls a memory that fear is false evidence appearing real in our minds. He leads the group on a simple first trust building exercise.
Turning Point: Elliot and Twyla see the reluctance of Florida Man to participate personal information and in turn make him the leader of the group.
ACT 5
Essence: As the first session is winding down and Florida Man seemingly fails at inspiring the group, Twyla and Elliot offer a powerful piece of insight.
Florida Man Ending: Florida Man hears from Elliot and Twyla that the common bond of the group is that they are all seeking revolution, and wonders if it’s possible that they mean they all desire seeking the truth in the way he does.
Elliot and Twyla Ending: Twyla and Elliot tell the group that they are all here because they share a common bond: revolution.
Lock In: Elliot and Twyla reveal that the group has a common bond, they are all craving revolution, but to each of them that means something different, and in order to achieve that revolution in their lives, they must learn to work together. The group all agrees, but for different reasons.
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Suzanne’s Character Story Lines
What I learned in this assignment is — this was one of the most useful assignments. It made everything very concrete.
Beginning: Tilda in her “tiny rebellions” of making beauty from chaos, using a different name than her powerful family
Turning Point: Her grandmother shoots a family member and demands loyalty oaths from the rest.
Midpoint: Tilda travels into 18th c New Orleans
<strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Turning Point 2: Her ancestors are in same meeting, and learn that Tilda’s time is the last battle for supremacy
Dilemma: The talisman that has been their power suddenly speaks.
<strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Major Conflict: To save the city she loves, she must destroy the family she loves
Ending: If she doesn’t rebel, the whole Gulf will be destroyed.
Zephyr
Beginning: Refusing to read her cousin’s cards
Turning Point: Realizing she’s jealous that Tilda is “managing” family & real life
Midpoint: Grandmother shoots. (Coup.)
Turning Point 2: Zephyr takes loyalty oath
Dilemma: Her brother and cousins are looking for Tilda, she keeps Tilda’s secrets
Major Conflict: What are her family really involved in?
Ending: Zephyr sees Tilda return to Looking Glass and covers for her
Stefani
Beginning: With Zephyr and Tilda, reading Tarot and anticipating/reflecting on state of New Orleans this Mardi Gras
Turning Point: “unforgettable” can have two meanings
Midpoint: Rats flee the Quarter
Turning Point 2: Chaostrophobia New Orleans goes viral/tourists leaving
Dilemma: Native who really wants to suddenly escape
Major Conflict: The image of NOLA that her business as city PR pushes, vs. signs that something big is/has changed
Ending: Asked to cover up TK
Grandmere
Beginning: Expansive and lovely, enjoying her granddaughters on the eve of her family’s ritual
Turning Point: (Possession, which no one will know for QUITE a while)
Midpoint: Shoots her TK.
Turning Point 2: Demands oath
<strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Dilemma: How to stay in control (of GM)
<strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Major Conflict: Her family’s benefit, vs. the rest of the city & Gulf
Ending: Nothing is off-limits
ACT ONE
Essence: Tilda is descended from powerful family, who essentially own her and she resents that.
(Z Opening) Works a bar, and has a testy relationship with Tarot cards
(S Opening) Expectations for NOLA in the cards (two ways to read)
TP: Tilda and Z are the same family
(Z TP) realizes she’s jealous of T
(G Opening) KInd and nostalgic, she teases with her grandchildren as everyone prepares for a once-in-a-generation event
ACT TWO
Essence: A family gathering gets divisive and violent
Rats race across the city
(S TP) unforgettable has two meanings
(Looking Glass Opening) Everyone in family troops to it, past it
(TP T) feels like she “hears” it
Family divides, argues, half about to leave
(GM MP) Shoots one of her children
Tilda runs
ACT THREE
(S TP2) goes to sinkhole house/where the rats came from — “Chaostrophobia” NOLA is viral
J-P in Mardi Gras crowd, sees T in costume and she pulls him through a puddle into an alleyway
GM demanding loyalty oaths and sends cousins after T
Z gives oath but (crosses her fingers? eh)
(T MP) and J-P in old New Orleans, go to her family’s house. She slips into meeting, notices its all men, they think she is a slave
(T TP2) Her time period is the last battle for supremacy.
(S TP) Talking to her grandmother while selecting/deselecting flights out of the city
ACT FOUR
T and J-P fleeing her ancestors, step through puddle into current NOLA. J-P takes off mask and he’s black. He yells at her.
(S Dilemma) enters meeting with her boss the mayor and misses plane
T sneaks back to mansion, to Looking Glass
(Z ending) sees Tilda and distracts their cousins who are searching
(S ending) is told to cover up the “sinkhole” story; it won’t happen again
(G ending) is arguing with herself in a mirror
LOCK-IN
T touches the Looking Glass and it pleads “free me.” She pulls her hand back, I can’t.
(T ending) “You must, or” T has a vision of oil and seawater all over the city, the Gulf, everyone & everything she loves dying. She whispers “how?” and hears gunshots
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This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Suzanne Frank.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by
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