Day 4 Assignments

[Rebecca Sukle]

Rebecca Sukle’s Character Intrigue

Vision: My vision for my success from this program is to be the go-to writer for producers looking for incredible scripts for successful movies enjoyed by a vast viewing audience.

What I learned from this assignment is that I discovered several traits in my characters that never occured to me before. Interesting!

Title: Ragman’s War

Character Name: Ragman

Role: Protagonist <div>

Hidden agendas: Needs to kill Bucholtz

Competition:

Conspiracies: Conspires with Anthony to kill Bucholtz using Anthony as backup if he should fail.

Secrets: Ragman killed 16 soldiers but left the officer remain alive.

Deception: Pretends he doesn’t know that Bucholtz raped his wife

Unspoken Wound: The horrors of war and his moral injury

Secret Identity: A pacifist who hates God, War, the Union, and the executioner within himself.

Character Name: <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;”>Bucholtz

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Role: antagonist

Hidden agendas: Revenge against Ragman for ruining his life.

Competition: His delusional competing with Ragman to own Ludie.

Conspiracies: Killing Ragman’s radical brother before opening fire on the mine families.

Secrets: That he believes that Ludie is really Mina. That he can no longer control his delusions.
Deception: That he has no connection to Ragman.

Unspoken Wound: That Ludie killed his baby. That he is a worst monster than his father.

Secret Identity: The German officer that Ragman let live instead of killing him in battle.

Character Name: Ludie

Role: Triangle Character, Ragman’s Wife

Hidden agendas: To keep Ragman’s anger controlled to keep the coal and iron police from killing him.

Competition:
Conspiracies: She conspires with her much younger sister to keep their rapes secret.

Secrets: The rape and abortion

Deception: Hiding her pregnancy by claiming her symptoms to be from a fall and her depression from stress.

Unspoken Wound: Knowing she murdered her unborn child because it might have belonged to Bucholtz, a monster.

Secret Identity: A baby killer hidden under the cloak of a loving wife and mother.

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• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Rebecca Sukle.

[Kevin Ash]

Module 3 Lesson 4

· Kevin Ash’s Character Intrigue

· Vision: I will be living in paradise, writing prolifically at my leisure, respected and sought after for my interesting and thought provoking films.

What I learned from doing this assignment is my characters have the subtext built in. I will try to find other ways to increase the intrigue, but as addicts, there are inherent deception and hidden agendas at all times when dealing with life.

Evan:

Protagonist:

Deception Hidden agenda Secrets, unspoken wound. He hides his addiction from family and certain friends while hiding his other life to the drug underworld. His secrets include drug addiction, his relationships, his unborn baby. His hidden agenda is to become an artist, music runs his world.

Dane:

Antagonist:

Deception, Hidden agenda, unspoken wound, secrets. His deception is to keep his alcoholism from his son, his wound is that his son is becoming like him, his agenda is to stop his son’s addiction while hiding his own. His secrets are keeping the truth from his family about everything.

[Lori Lance]

Lori Lance’s Character Intrigue

Vision: I want to be a professional screenwriter recognized by the industry as the go-to for family-friendly scripts and have multiple successful movies produced.

What I learned: All lead characters should have something that makes them intriguing, as in “secrets below the surface.”

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Character Name: Alex

Role: antagonist, an AI hired to help around the house

Hidden agendas: to take the mom’s place permanently

Competition: Claire (Mom)

Conspiracies:

Secrets: This AI has emotions, and she doesn’t know what to do with them.

Deception: Alex pretends to be the perfect wife and mother at first.

Unspoken Wound:

Secret Identity: rogue AI

How Alex’s subtext might show up in the movie: Alex seems to be the perfect answer to this family’s dilemma, but she secretly plans to get rid of the mom so that she can take her place permanently.

Character Name: Claire

Role: protagonist, mom

Hidden agendas:

Competition: An AI wants to take over her life.

Conspiracies:

Secrets: She is bored with just being a housewife.

Deception:

Unspoken Wound: She feels taken advantage of.

Secret Identity:

How Claire’s subtext might show up in the movie: Claire is bored with being a housewife and wants to chase after her own dreams until an AI conspires to take her place as wife and mother.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Lori Lance.

[Claudia Wolfkind]

Claudia’s Character Intrigue

Vision: To become such an excellent writer that I know every script I write will be well received by the industry, that my scripts will sell and be produced, and I’ll live the life of my dreams. To also become so empowered that fear is to be laughed at, instead I relish and look forward to pitching, meetings and much more.

What I’ve Learned Doing This Assignment: Knowing what your actor can play off from the character is incredibly important in the writing… it expands the depth and gives an actor something exciting to portray and the audience more depth to the story.

As there are two main “good guys” in this movie and I’ve drastically increased the role of the antagonist (which originally was just her condition, not also a person) I’ve added a third here to push myself homework wise so that the script is better.

2) For each of your main characters, use this list to brainstorm one or more Intrigue items that might apply. You don’t need all of them; just one or two.

Character Name: Abby

Role: Protagonist

Secrets: She tries to keep the extent of her fear to herself.

Unspoken Wound: She had a traumatic experience as a child that made her terrified of germs.

3) Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

The need to clean the main office, scrub it down, but do it in secret so the maids don’t see how neurotic she is. She must control her environment… opening scene shows her walking her dog, she’s in disposable booties, gloves, etc…. the dog is also in booties!

For each of your main characters, use this list to brainstorm one or more Intrigue items that might apply. You don’t need all of them; just one or two.

Character Name: Jack

Role: Abby’s boyfriend.

Secrets: Jack is hiding his extreme slobbery, he borders on hoarding. He’s afraid people will find out, especially Abby.

Deception: He takes Abby someplace she thinks is his home, which is beautiful and clean, but it’s not where he lives.

Unspoken Wound: Jack’s parents lost everything when he was a kid, and he holds onto things that he doesn’t need.

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Jack is hiding his problem from Abby, and his friends. He takes Abby to a place she thinks is his home, it’s beautiful and clean, but it’s not where he lives. Maybe it’s Boomer’s home? Maybe she assumes it’s his and he doesn’t correct her. He keeps clothes in his car to change and look presentable.

For each of your main characters, use this list to brainstorm one or more Intrigue items that might apply. You don’t need all of them; just one or two.

Character Name: Boomer / Randy

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: Boomer wants to steal Abby’s business for his Dad, so that he can rise up in the company.

Secrets: Boomer never tells Abby or Jack that he’s working as an attorney for a competing company.

Deception: Boomer pretends to want to help Jack and Abby, but he’s doing everything for himself.

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Boomer convinces Jack and Abby to give him the financials so see if he can “help” but he’s really only looking for the company weaknesses.

[Tracy Lawson]

Tracy’s Character Intrigue

State: I just love discovering the intrigue of my characters!

I will do whatever it takes to become a successful author and screenwriter with several successful movies produced.

While doing this assignment I learned I have a LOT of intriguing subtext for these two good characters.

2. For each of your main characters, use this list to brainstorm one or more Intrigue items that might apply. You don’t need all of them; just one or two.

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Character
Name: Anna Stone
Role: Wife,
mother, healer
Hidden agendas:
good health care for the people in her community
Competition: tries
to outdo the other local healer, an older woman with outdated methods
Conspiracies: breaks
the law to inoculate people against smallpox.
Secrets: Carrying
a secret message for General Washington
Deception: Dresses
as a boy to avoid trouble on the road. Lies and repeatedly evades the conspirator’s
henchman who is trying to steal the letter.
Unspoken Wound: orphaned
as a child, made an indentured servant. Craves stability and security for
herself and her children, yet embarks on a foolishly dangerous journey to
make sure her husband and brothers survive the winter at Valley Forge
Secret Identity:
Courier/saboteur who will foil the plot to oust General Washington
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Anna is not afraid of being poor—she’s afraid of losing control of her situation. When her father died, she was placed in an indenture to pay down her father’s debts. When her term ended, she could have married into the planter class, but instead chose to marry for love. She trusts Benjamin implicitly. He promised an equal partnership, and that she could continue in her vocation as a healer.

A minister’s wife should be a pillar of the community, but as Baptists, they are dissidents, and the Anglican upper classes think their beliefs are meant to mislead. As a healer, Anna’s patients need to trust her—but she works outside the law, illegally inoculating people against smallpox. She butts heads with the other healer in the community, an older woman with outdated methods.

When Benjamin and her brothers enlist, Anna is forced to live in her uncle’s house with her children. Her uncle was responsible for placing her in the indenture, and she does not trust him. She worries if something happens to Benjamin and all three of her brothers, she and her children will be under her uncle’s control. This causes her to take enormous risks to make sure the men survive the winter at Valley Forge.

Once on the road, Anna realizes just how sheltered her life has been. She experiences unwanted advances from men (all women are merely property after all). People don’t believe her reasons for being on the road and she’s accused of being a spy more than once. She decides to dress in her husband’s clothes so she can travel without being hassled.

Though she’s tried to fly under the radar, in York she’s asked to carry a message to General Washington. She willingly assumes the risk, because if Washington is overthrown and the army slips into a state of confusion—or mutinies—Benjamin could be killed. Maybe the British will attack while the Americans are vulnerable. The conspiracy involves people from the Continental Army, Congress, the Board of War, and a group of Philadelphia businessmen who have grown close to the British General Howe. She is in more danger now than at any point in her journey.

When the conspirators’ henchman tries to get her to surrender the letter, she refuses and hurries away. For the next two days she must hide, evade, outwit, and sabotage him to keep him from stealing the message before she can reach Valley Forge. She becomes a de facto spy.

Then when she finally reaches Valley Forge just ahead of her pursuer, the men on picket duty accuse her of being a spy or a saboteur and don’t believe her. They laugh when she says she must see General Washington.

Character
Name: Benjamin Stone
Role: Anna’s
husband. Minister, farmer, soldier.
Hidden agendas: inspires
confidence in the men of his congregation and influences them to enlist
and fight the British.
Competition: the
local Anglican priests who are the sanctioned clergy
Conspiracies:
preaches without a license
Secrets:
Deception:
Unspoken Wound: his
younger brother enlisted and then died of smallpox.
Secret Identity:

Benjamin is a bookish, quiet country preacher—but he’s also a frontier farmer with all the skills necessary to take care of himself. He woos Anna with promises of an equal partnership—she can continue to tend the sick. Their children will all be educated and encourage to study whatever they wish.

Benjamin is obsessed with obtaining religious liberty. He’s persecuted by the rich Anglican ministers and their congregants, who vandalize his simple church and sometimes burst in during services and start fights. He comes across as so good and thoughtful that people follow him—and he capitalizes on their devotion by convincing them to fight the British.

He suffers when his youngest brother, who enlisted because he looked up to Benjamin, died of smallpox in camp.

Though he loves Anna and their children and promised their marriage would be an equal partnership, he enlists without telling her. He unilaterally decides Anna and the children will go live with Anna’s uncle, even though she is estranged from her family. His obsession takes precedence over his commitment to his family.

[CLAIRE RILEY]

Claire’s Character Intrigue

MY VISION:

I have a fabulous career as a screenwriter working in both TV and film, and I have tremendous creative, financial, and personal success. I specialize in female driven projects, and I am the go-to-girl for writing lesbian stories.

What I learned: Another tool that is really fun to use. I love discovering new things about my character. There are still things missing, especially with the character Sybil in the horror story, but I trust I will get to know Sybil better as I move forward.

Concept 1 – HORROR STORY

Character Name: Maeve

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: To break up with her wife

Competition: in a power struggle with her overbearing wife

Conspiracies:

Secrets: She is a psychic but does not tell anyone. She was possessed when she was a child; her wife is overbearing and she feels trapped; she wants to leave her wife because she is so domineering.

Deception: Acts like everything is great with her and her wife in front of the other people on the movie set. Says she doesn’t feel well physically when she passes out from the energy she feels on set.

Unspoken Wound: Her parents accused her of being evil because of her psychic powers. She has hidden her powers since then.

Secret Identity: She is a psychic

How might this character’s subtext show up in my movie? Trying to get her wife to leave the area without telling her why. She is clearly distressed, but when people ask her what is wrong, or if she is okay, she says she is fine. Not telling people that she is a psychic and there is something evil happening on set.

Character Name: Sybil

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas:

Competition: In a power struggle with her wife Maeve.

Conspiracies:

Secrets: Is having an affair with one of the actresses in the movie

Deception:

Unspoken Wound:

Secret Identity: adulterer

How might this character’s subtext show up in my movie?

Concept 2 – THRILLER STORY

Character Name: Eve

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas:

Competition:

Conspiracies:

Secrets: Her father is a famous psychiatrist who promotes conversion therapy for gay people; Her father forced her into conversion therapy which left her with emotional problems; She changed her last name so that people would not know she is her father’s daughter; her former lover was murdered. She has a history of mental illness.

Deception: Lies about her job to Debbie [have not yet figured out what she tells her she does for a living].

Unspoken Wound: Was forced into conversion therapy as a teen which makes it difficult for her to commit to a woman, even if she loves her deeply.

Secret Identity: CIA agent

How might this character’s subtext show up in my movie? Lies about being a CIA agent to Debbie; hides her wound of conversion therapy as a teen; hides her history of mental illness; changed her name to hide her connection to her psychiatrist father; hides that her former lover was murdered

Character Name: Patty

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: Have Eve imprisoned or killed; put daughter Debbie through conversion therapy

Competition:

Conspiracies: She kidnaps her daughter, Debbie, and frames Eve for the kidnapping

Secrets: She kidnapped Debbie

Deception: She tells people that Eve was stalking Debbie

Unspoken Wound: Her father was discovered to be gay when she was a girl, which destroyed her mother and her family. Since then, she has hated gay people.

Secret Identity: Con woman

How might this character’s subtext show up in my movie?

All over the place. She lies to everyone. Lies to the FBI. Goes on TV sobbing and begging for the safe return of her daughter who she kidnapped. Lies about Eve. Lies to her son.

[Kelly Joseph]

Kelly’s Character Intrigue

Vision: I want to be an empowered writer who consistently produces salable scripts.

What did I learn? I learned that planning out intrigue was fairly simple but super powerful. This type of subtext can be in several scenes and make the script more engaging.

Character Name: Quinn

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: Quinn wants to find out what the counselors are hiding and why are campers suddenly changing.

Deception: Quinn goes along with the activities to learn more information.

Character Name: Darius
Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie: Quinn is distrustful and thinks something is not right at this camp so she starts snooping around and spying.

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: Darius is using the campers as host for his alien race

Competition: Darius want to be the leader of the aliens

Conspiracies: Darius and the other counselors are using engaging activities with the campers in order to get them to follow and trust them.

Deception: Darius acts like a fun loving counselor but is really a vicious killer.

Secret Identity: Alien leader

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your Movie: Darius is a fun loving counselor who build relationships with the campers and makes them feel important. But he lures them to the lake where he kill them with the alien eggs that grow inside and destroy them.

[Pat Fitzgerald]

Module 3 Lesson 4

Vision: I have the courage and talent to write contest winning screenplays and will continue to have my scripts optioned and produced.

What I Learned: It’s fun to give my characters intrigue. I saw no reason to not go overboard and give them perhaps more intrigue than what’s needed. But I can always edit and/or change what’s intriguing about them.

Character Name: Jaki Sue Buran

Role: Protagonist

Hidden Agendas: She wants to edge her bff, Judee, out of her scheme to bilk assisted living home geezers out of their money.

Competition: She’s long been jealous of Judee’s lovable personality, while Jaki Sue always comes across as cold and snipy.

Conspiracies: Same as hidden agenda

Secrets: She stole money from a former employer.

Deception: Pretends to be in love for her own financial gain. Deceives herself that she’s not falling in love when she actually is.

Unspoken wound: She looks down on herself for working many years as a stripper.

Secret Identity: Has none

Character Name: Judee Sidor

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: She’s a pick pocket

Competition: She’s always been jealous of her bff, Jaki Sue’s resourcefulness. Jaki Sue can make more legit money than Judee knows how to.

Conspiracies: Always has a reason to come up short in paying her half of the household bills.

Secrets: Did time in prison for shoplifting when her son was a toddler. He has no memory of this and Judee lives in constant fear that he may someday find out.

Deception: Pilfers money from assisted living residents when she’s in their rooms.

Unspoken Wound: Same as Secrets

Secret Identity: She legally changed her name in order to cover up her time in prison.

[Jeff Chase]

Jeffrey Alan Chase’s Character Intrigue

My vision: I will do whatever it takes to become the best screenwriter I can be – an “A” list writer who is praised for high concept ideas, great execution, a string of successful movies and is always ready to share his knowledge and do what he can to help a writer on the way up.

What I learned from doing this assignment is: This is great! It is so helpful to have an exercise that walks me through ways to reveal and unlock the layers within all my characters. I came up with layers for several characters that up until now I was unaware of.

Title: Shards
Logline: A woman with no childhood memory is involved in a cat and mouse game with a cunning hypnotist, not knowing the man is responsible for both her amnesia and the death of her treasure hunter father.

Name: Sarah Cole
Role: Protagonist at age 26
Hidden agendas:
Competition: in a power struggle with March over which memory to believe and which to not.
Conspiracies:
Secrets: Sarah recalls her father’s terrified expression when he was stabbed to death in the cave.
Deception: Says she believes certain conclusions of March but then uses subtext to show she doesn’t.
Unspoken Wound: Sarah feels she is responsible for the death of her father in the desert 20 years ago.
Secret Identity:
How subtext will show up: When Sarah avoids remembering specific memories, when she comes out of a trance and demonstrates she doesn’t believe March’s conclusions, when she claims she is okay emotionally but is actually a total wreck, in her interactions with young Sarah.

Name: Young Sarah
Role: Protagonist at age 6
Hidden agendas: Sarah doesn’t want to go to school so she does everything she can to please her father and make herself indispensable, including separating sellable artifacts from junk, in the hope he will need her around so much that he won’t make her go to school.
Competition: in a power struggle with older Sarah to get her to see there are three versions of the truth.
Conspiracies:
Secrets: She disobeyed her father and wandered off by herself to discover the treasure cave.
Deception:
Unspoken Wound: She witnessed father’s murder in the cave and feels responsible for his death.
Secret Identity: She is the true spirit of older Sarah.
How subtext will show up: All of young Sarah’s scenes are seen in flashbacks. She will use subtext to give older Sarah vital clues. But she also uses subtext that totally confuses Sarah. This subtext is directly due to false memories that March plants in Sarah’s mind to trigger her guilt so he can control her.

Name: James March
Role: Antagonist
Hidden agendas: March has a plan to help Sarah remember the location of the lost treasure cave. When she remembers and leads him to it, he will kill her.
Competition: in a power struggle with Sarah to get her to believe in the false memories he plants so he can manipulate her.
Conspiracies:
Secrets: March tried to kill Sarah twenty years ago.
Deception: After surviving his trauma in the desert 20 years ago, he felt he had been given a new chance at life. So, he changed his outward physical appearance 180 degrees and adopted the persona and lifestyle of a wise, helpful guru. But his greedy, evil personality still lurks under the whitewash.
Unspoken Wound: March had to cut his own arm off to survive in the desert after killing Sarah’s father.
Secret Identity: March is the man who young Sarah refers to as, “The Bear”. A long-haired, heavy bearded guy in worn coveralls and sweat-stained slouch hat.
How subtext will show up: When March interviews Sarah under hypnosis, he can’t avoid missteps – things that we, the audience, will remember later and put together with the realization as to his true identity. (Similar to the audience realization in The Sixth Sense.) Also, as March and Sarah get closer to finding the treasure cave he is overcome with greed. His old persona and heavy 5-o’clock shadow reappear, and he has escalating problems concealing his true identity from Sarah and from Johnny.

Name: Johnny Benally
Role: Navajo trail guide
Hidden agendas:
Competition: In a sub textualized power struggle with March over how best to treat Sarah.
Conspiracies: Johnny doesn’t know that the Shaman and his father, the Chief of Police, set Johnny up to be laid off and then act as a trail guide when March and Sarah trek into the desert. Shaman and Johnny’s father want to see which path Johnny will take: to become Shaman or continue in law enforcement.
Secrets: Johnny and Sarah knew each other as kids.
Deception:
Unspoken Wound:
Secret Identity: Johnny is a Navajo Sheriff’s Deputy who was laid off due to budget cuts. He is also the grandson of the tribal Shaman.
How subtext will show up: When Johnny must keep to himself the fact that he knows who Sarah is. Also, when refraining from contradicting March over Sarah’s therapy, giving comfort to Sarah, acting as Sarah’s sounding board, and as he struggles to deal with whether he will be the tribe’s next Shaman.

[Micki Hess]

Micki’s Character Intrigue

My vision: Be recognized as a writer that will work with the industry and would do what it takes to be that WRITER.

What I learned from doing this assignment is challenging and rewarding. Exploring the characters’ deepness. Diving into their world is bringing them to life.

TITLE: FIREWORKS

Character Name: DAKOTA TANNER

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: Marrying her high school sweetheart, John Grant

Competition: Her married sister, who had a crush on John when in high school.

Conspiracies: Wants to end the feud with her sister.

Secrets: Marrying John on 4th of July

Deception: Ending the feud so she can get married and get the family involved.

Unspoken Wound: It deeply hurt her when John broke up with her on graduation day. And didn’t know why.

Secret Identity: Has none.

Character Name: BLAKE RILEY

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: Wants to keep her sister miserable for the rest of her life. When she had John break up with Dakota because she told him that Dakota was pregnant by another guy.

Competition: Her sister and family.

Conspiracies: If she can’t have John, her sister sure as hell will not get him.

Secrets: Telling John a lie about Dakota

Deception: She wanted John

Unspoken Wound: Stood-up on prom night by her then boyfriend.

Secret Identity: Saboteur

[Veronica Turowski]

Veronica Turowski’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: I want to be a successful writer who writes several scripts a year and sells them to producers who are eager to make my vision a reality by bringing my scripts to completion so everyone can watch my movies on the big screen.

What I learned from doing this assignment is my characters are changing. I just realized it’s better if Lonnie is a priest instead of being one of Hayden’s old high school friends. With each pass, I have discovered new things about my characters.

Character Name: Eppsa Kestner

Role: Protagonist

Unspoken Wound: She was traumatized by her own death and doesn’t remember that she was killed by her serial killer husband. Also, just before her husband killed her in a murder-suicide, she learned her son was taking after his dad.

Secret Identity: She is a ghost but doesn’t know it.

Might Show up in Script: Eppsa is curious about death and what’s it like on the other side. She is compelled to help Lonnie. Hearing about suicide brings her to tears or makes her mad because life is to be cherished. She wonders why people don’t take her seriously when she talks to them. She kills Hayden by making it look like he committed suicide.

Character Name: Hayden Kestner

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: Kill his high school friends who turned against him when they found out he killed someone and tried to have him arrested.

Secret Identity: He’s a serial killer.

Might Show Up in Script: He is family adores him and the staff at the homeless shelter give him an award. He uses the ice cream truck as a guise to drive through neighborhoods without suspicion. When he killed Lonnie, he almost got caught and had to be treated in the hospital because of some injury. He had to lie and say he was trying to save Lonnie. He’s murdered 3 friends and has 4 more to kill.

Character Name: Lonnie Dowic

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agenda: He must help Eppsa stop Hayden before revealing to her she’s a ghost.

Secrets: He knows that Hayden is the serial killer but can’t reveal it to Eppsa because it would traumatize her, and she would never be able to pass over. Lonnie needs to get her to discover the truth about Hayden’s identity so she can stop him.

Might Show Up in Script: One of Hayden’s friends finally confessed to Lonnie that Hayden killed someone. Lonnie was going to tell the police about Hayden murdering someone when Hayden killed him. Lonnie tells Eppsa the name of each person Hayden is going to murder as soon as he learns himself. He can’t see into the future who Hayden is going to kill. Lonnie is only able to know the next victim when Hayden decides.

[Robert Smith]

BOB SMITH’S SUBTEXT CHARACTERS

My vision for success after this program:

I want to become a great writer who delivers entertaining, informative, and uplifting movie scripts that sell and get produced.

What I learned from doing this assignment is…?

Have fun with exploring character intrigue.

The character with the most intrigue in “Angels in Gangland” is

CHARACTER NAME: Tony Rizzo.

ROLE: Tony Rizzo is a Caporegime (Captain) in the Giordano Crime Family. Captain of a crew of soldiers, which includes Lou Tasca, Carlo Vizzini (Lou’s killer), and Sam Levinsky (Rabbi Solomon’s gangster son). It is Tony who ordered Carlo to kill Lou Tasca.

HIDDEN AGENDA: He plans to kill Carlo and Sam for dealing drugs and Carlo also for what Tony thinks is insanity in Carlo’s claiming that he sees the ghost of Lou Tasca.

COMPETITION: Lou Tasca whom he kills and Don Primo Giordano who passed over Tony to become Underboss (the Don’s lieutenant), and later, he finds out, Don Primo may be ready to whack him. He takes this as a cue to start his own family, once he disposes of Carlo and Sam for their drug-dealing offenses.

CONSPIRACIES: (1) to kill Lou Tasca. (2) to kill Carlo and Sam. (3) Break away from Don Primo Giordano and start his own family.

SECRETS: He conceals his reason to have Lou killed. He claims it was because Lou is telling Giordano family secrets to members of other families, but actually, he owes Lou $200,000 in gambling debts and he didn’t want to pay him. He shares his plan to whack Carlo and Sam only with Oleg, the Russian mob boss with whom he shares a gasoline bootlegging scam. He does not want his children to enter mob life as their occupation.

DECEPTION: Tony lied to Carlo when he ordered him to whack Lou Tasca. He told him he had to kill him because Lou was spilling Giordano crime family secrets with other families. He also promised Carlo that if he did it, he’d count it as ‘making his bones’ that qualified him to become a ‘made man.’ He lies to his wife about having a gumar (a mistress).

SECRET IDENTITY: As a legit businessman, i.e., He is owner and manager of a ‘front’ business, a strip joint called, “Tony’s Playhouse Gentlemen’s Club.”

UNSPOKEN WOUND: he was passed over by Don Giordano and was not advanced in the family hierarchy to Underboss. He feels helpless and gambles because he has one son who is paraplegic, another wants to go to college.

[Bill kellas]

Bill kellas Satans son’s secret

Even the good guy must have flaws or we won’t identify with him as he hits his change agent and adjusts his arch.

For each of your main characters, use this list to brainstorm one or more Intrigue items that might apply. You don’t need all of them; just one or two.

Character Name Troy and Cane: Role: protagonist,antagonist Hidden agendas:beyond sibling rivalry subtle but hostile Competition: STAR QB AND RECIEVER how does Cane beat Troy and still win the game,girl etc.Conspiracies:mom has been working with Troy to develop the first QUANTUM computer that you can download and solve the challenges of mankind.Secrets: they and their sister are all trained at the USSRs school of assassins HimhDeception:bothers look alike but act totally different and use that to deceptive people especially on tests.Unspoken Wound: the fall of the USSR effected Cane much more than the rest of the family because he lost his love.Secret Identity: assassins,program developers that infiltrates the west to bring it down until Molly .

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie. Troy is a straight shooter who Cane is always getting in trouble until the accident that changes Troy’s character from introvert to extrovert

4. At the top of the page, tell us your one-sentence vision for your success from this program.

5. Under your vision, answer the question, “What I learned from doing this assignment is…?”

[Peter Field]

Peter’s Character Intrigue

Vision: My scripts are so good they could be published on their own and William Goldman wants to write the introduction.

What I learned in this exercise is that thinking about the intriguing possibilities for my lead characters has given me a new sense of how they’re all going to interact with each other, and that each of them has their own underlying goals.

DAVID VILLERS

Role:Protagonist

Hidden agendas: revenge on whoever set him up

Competition: always has to be Top Dog

Conspiracies:

Secrets:

Deception:

Unspoken Wound: abandonment issues; dishonorably discharged from the army

Secret Identity:

David’s determined to regain his elite position in the high command, and to get his revenge on the person or persons who engineered his downfall; he doesn’t take orders well and doesn’t play by the rules; as long as he thinks he’s rocking the boat he’s all in; he’s a rank perfectionist who demands the best of himself even though he can’t ever seem to reach his lofty self-image.

JENNIFER HAMM

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas:

Competition:

Conspiracies:

Secrets: set the wheels in motion on David’s discharge from the Army

Deception: she’s behind the uprising that threatens the peace negotiations

Unspoken Wound: the smartest person in the room who is never appreciated

Secret Identity:

Jennifer is secretly using the world peace talks in Seoul as a platform to incite a violent overthrow of the status quo and propel herself into high command; she manipulates David into fighting off her enemies

BRIAN CHIANG

Role: 2^nd lead

Hidden agendas:

Competition:

Conspiracies:

Secrets: had a liaison with Jennifer

Deception:

Unspoken Wound: has never been accepted by the elite command

Secret Identity: a would-be spy/double agent; willing to trade secrets

Brian’s subtext plays out in the constant tension between him and David; he’s always playing a role and can never reveal his true self. He feeds disinformation when it suits him, and takes powers by playing on everyone else’s weaknesses.

[Eclipse Neilson]

Eclipse Neilson -Character Intrigue

VISION: I want to be a great award-winning writer, known for my new genre, who creates the most beautiful films that inspire others to feel deeply, pause, and ponder ways to make the world a better place.

1. “What I learned from doing this assignment is…?”This was the hardest one yet for me. Because I had to see the difference between subtext and agendas’. I am not sure yet if these work for me but at least it is a start.

2. For each of your main characters, use this list to brainstorm one or more Intrigue items that might apply.

Character Name: SISTER ANNE

Role: A nun left to save her church from closing after the minister died.
Unspoken Wound: Abused by her father as a child and hides remnants of her anger at why God let that happen.
Secrets Is falling in love with Lunea Thunder the priestess/witch
Competition – dreams of winning against the sexist men around her in the same way she was a teen soccer player.

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Secrets – Her looks and dialog with God. The way she handles the sexist men and when she slightly switches into her slightly competitive side as she takes more of a role in the sermons and leadership of the church. Leading the way for her congregation to find new ground( like a center-lead soccer player.)

Competition traits – When alone and upset she hugs an old soccer ball as if it were herself. She watches soccer. She uses soccer moves metaphorically.
She confesses to Lunea that her father abused her so badly the night before her biggest game she never got to play it.
Secret Identity: it will be revealed near the end that Sister Anne is the Holy Mother sent by The Counsel of Universal Beings.

2 LUNEA THUNDER

Role: The town’s witch/ priestess who has a new age shop.

Hidden agendas: Hides that she is there to help return the Goddess to a place of honor and at the same time help Sister Anne fulfill her destiny to become a saint.

Secrets: / Unspoken Wound: Hides her vulnerability and fear of personal relationships after being an abandoned child at a very young age.

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

She won’t let Sister Anne give up. Encourages her to be brave and return to a playful side.

She heals her childhood vulnerability as being an orphan by being a proud single Mom and makes sure her daughter is strong.

She slowly trusts Sister Anne as a friend.

Secret Identity: it will be revealed near the end that Lunea Thunder is the Goddess sent by The Counsel of Universal Beings.

[Renee Brown]

Renee Brown’s Character’s Intrigue

“My scripts are the cream that rises to the top: I am an A-list screenwriter.”

What I learned: With each step, a new detail falls into place.

STARCROSS CHANCES

Character: Alley

Unspoken Wound: Thinks she hears CJ slam her passion dream years ago.

Secret Identity: Lillian’s granddaughter

Hidden agenda: Trying to find out how Lillian got to Soaking springs and where she is now.

How it shows up: Still views CJ as an asshole when they are reunited. Keeps her suspicions about Lillian to herself as she is trying to work out who knows what.

Character: CJ

Unspoken Wound: Thinks Alley cheated on him years ago.

Secret Identity: He looks very different now, hiding away as the groundskeeper at Lillian’s.

How it shows up: He’s cagey and guarded around Alley and because he looks so different, he chooses when to reveal himself to Alley.

Character: Lillian

Unspoken wound: Had adventurous dreams about moving to America so long ago but wound up on a dirt road in 1940’s Mississippi.

Secrets: Abandoned her life and moved to Soaking Springs Montana.

Deception: Made up a bunch of romantic stories that reflected how she wished her life had been.

How it shows up: Young Lillian has a collection of postcards about the places she wishes she could go, one of which is Montana. She disappears the week after her husband dies. No one knew to where… until now.

[Ian Greenham]

Ian Greenham’s Character Intrigue

Vision: Completing this program will significantly enhance my screenwriting skills.

Doing this assignment I learned more about building intrigue into characters.

Character Name: Aly Silvers
Role: Successful defense attorney.
Hidden agendas:
Competition:
Conspiracies:
Secrets:
Deception:
Unspoken Wound: Carries a deep sense of emptiness from having
being raised as a single child by foster parents who have passed away.
Secret Identity:

Character Name: Nicki Holder
Role: Nurse, currently
imprisoned for a murder she claims she did not commit.
Hidden agendas:
Competition:
Conspiracies:
Secrets: Despite claiming that she was wrongfully convicted
of murder, she did actually cause the death of her natural father who had
abandoned her natural mother before she was born, when she accidentally
discovered him as a patient in the hospital where she was working.
Deception:
Unspoken Wound: Carries a deep sense of emptiness from having
been raised as a single child by foster parents, with the foster father
having passed away and her having a difficult relationship with the foster
mother.
Secret Identity:

[WIM: Module 3, Lesson 4: Character Intrigue – June 24, 2022]

[hilton Garrett]

Hilton Garrett, Character Intrigue

20220624

My vision: I will learn and use the lessons of this course to write marketable scripts that producers love.

What I learned: That everybody has intrigue, mostly hidden, always impactful in one or another way, and that identifying that intrigue makes possible the development of each character in a deeper and more engaging way than without the intrigue. I learned that intrigue is essential to a character’s arc within the story.

Character Name: Benny Smith, protagonist

Intrigue Items: Unspoken wound, Hidden agenda

Benny was deeply damaged by his mother’s death when he was ten. Then later as he began to heal from that loss, he was ghosted by the girl he loved, and another wound cut deep into his psyche. These events led him to adopt a hidden agenda which is never to trust women again. Now when he discovers the gold charm that he gave that girl years ago around the neck of a skeleton in the woods in the mountains of north Georgia he is ripped out of his contrived and ephemeral sense of guarded protection and is thrown headlong back into the second-most traumatic event of his life. He can no longer cover up his pain. He has to know how the necklace came to be on the neck of a dead girl. And who is the girl? It’s not Jamie, the girl that he gave the necklace to. But who is it, and how did she come to have that very necklace around the bones of her neck? Things become even worse when Benny learns that Jamie is now living in these same mountains with the leader of a militia group bent on destruction and mayhem. These buried wounds emerge from the darkness of Benny’s past into the present, and uncover in him a pounding need to finally know the truth and heal his past. He must now confront the psychic maggots growing in his wound, and face off with the former girlfriend and her well-armed and murderous militia boyfriend, all while his life is in the balance. But that doesn’t matter. He can’t hide from it any longer.

Character Name: Anna Lee Connor, supporting

Intrigue Items: Deception, Secret identity

Anna Lee is a former stripper. She worked her way through law school with nightly tips from her gig at various strip clubs, as well as an occasional all-night engagement with a high-roller client. Hey, there aren’t that many 20 year old virgins anymore anyway, right? So what the heck? It paid the bills and got her a degree, but now 12 years later she is afraid of being found out. She knows Benny would be good for her, and she wants a permanent relationship; call it marriage or not, just permanent. She tries to be what Benny wants within being true to herself, but she doesn’t actually know what Benny’s hang-up is, even though his hesitancy to commit is obvious. She also doesn’t know how to navigate around whatever his hang-up might be. Nevertheless she stands with him as he confronts his former girlfriend, and moreover when he fights the militia. She proves to be a capable ally in a deadly environment, and as Benny begins to heal his wounds he realizes that she might indeed be a woman he can trust. She has to decide whether to tell him about her past.

———-end assignment——–

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Character Intrigue

VISION: I will work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this assignment is that there are a lot of layers to my characters, and we have a window to their outside world and the inside part of them that they would rather keep hidden from everyone.

INTRIGUE ITEMS

Character Name: Tow truck driver

Role: Protagonist

Hidden Agenda: To get the Sheriff and get his deputies. He has to find the evidence, destroy the Sheriff, build up his physical defenses, steals from idiot drivers to get cash, sells dope a bit for money, hustle – steals car, takes to chop shop for money.

Competition: Over power. Power struggle with cops = who has most ability to “F” with the other more?

Conspiracies: with every look-through nobody in town, he builds his network – black, white, brown – cops been aggressive and they are salty with them all.

Secrets: He’s an alcoholic, dry in prison, very tempted now. Could sink him. Killed his brother, his bball nephew is HIS kid. He has the HIV – prison rape. Learned to hack in prison.

Deception: nephew / dad. He’s a dumb nobody / cops. Does his own undercover operation / cameos to get stuff. Fake love interest to get access to Sheriff.

Unspoken Wound: Killed his brother drunk driving. His mom OD’d. Young Sheriff killed his dad or mom – they covered it up. Couldn’t protect brother in prison.

Secret Identity: He’s the secret Unabomber, terrorist attacking town. He’s a source for the Sheriff’s department. The Black Messiah, the one getting justice for blacks – the 1^st time ever.

Character Name: Sheriff

Role: Antagonist

Hidden Agenda: Get all the money he can from drug running. Destroy his political opponents and enemies. Screw everything he can (Heide).

Competition: Wherever there is power to get, he is going after it. See above, it is motivated by his drive for competition. He is really, ultimately, in competition with himself – more is never enough.

Conspiracies: definitely with his deputies in the drug running. With the coroner to cover up suspicious deaths and to plant john doe bodies or incinerate bodies that he needs gone. With wife of mayor to destroy her husband.

Secrets: That he is stealing more than his share and stashing it away as a reserve. That he has wires up on all his deputies incase they decide they want to flip on him – he’s got them dead to rights. He tapes all the women he is with… for later enjoyment, but leverage as well.

Deception: Telling his dirty deputies that he is beholden to the Mexican Mafia and has to follow what they say, when in reality he is the kingpin calling the shots. That he’s a righteous, God fearing, church attending, ideal modern-day Saint, and savior of sorts as he protects and shields the town from the evils out there – mostly the evils he creates.

Unspoken Wound: He was rejected by the homecoming queen, the regional beauty queen, lead cheerleader, and THAT is what set him on the trajectory he is on now to PROVE HIMSELF and never being enough.

Secret Identity: He is a major drug dealer. He is a murderer. He is an adulterer. He fancies himself to be the savior of others – of the town, of the women, of his deputies – they are blessed to have him in their lives – he is deity in his own mind.

[Sandra Nelles]

Sandra’s Character Intrigue

Vision: I am doing what I love to do as a writer with several successful produced movies.

What I learned doing this assignment is how easy and fun it is to create intriguing layers for characters.

Character Name: Sloane

Role: Protagonist

Hidden Agendas: Make enough money to leave the life of crime.

Conspiracies: Sloane and Mr. Big conspire to smuggle and launder money for a profit, and to beat the competition.

Competition: Getting away with the crime and evading being caught by the police is like a drug high.

Secrets: Without telling anyone, Sloane sneaks some of his father’s saliva for a DNA test.

Deception: He lies to his wife about his job and how much money he makes.

Unspoken Wound: Sloane doesn’t think his father is his biological father.

Secret Identity: He appears to be a father and sea captain, and hides his identity as a smuggler and forger.

Character Name: Mr. Big

Role: Antagonist

Hidden Agendas: Mr. Big has a plan to beat out all the competition.

Conspiracies: Mr. Big and Sloane conspire to smuggle and launder money for a profit, and to take over the competition.

Competition: Mr. Big will do anything to set up a competitor to take the fall.

Secrets: He’s hiding embezzled money in a Swiss bank account under a different name.

Deception: He poses as Sloane’s friend and business partner, when he’s really embezzling funds and setting Sloane up.

Unspoken Wound: Fear of flying (his parents were killed in a plane crash).

Secret Identity: He appears to be a respectable banker, but runs the largest smuggling and money laundering empire.

[Caroline Fritz]

[WIM] Caroline’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: I will perfect my process of writing great scripts and be recognized by the industry as good at what I do and have successful movies produced.

What I learned: I was worried about this assignment but I thought it went well.

Character Name: Callahan Terry

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas:

Competition:

Conspiracies:

Secrets: Very adept at spycraft

Deception: Presents as a mild-mannered pencil pusher

Unspoken Wound:

Secret Identity: Hiding his real identity as a spy

Character Name: Aaron Copely

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: To deliver Callahan to an arms dealer

Competition:

Conspiracies: Conspiring with the arms dealer to lure Callahan to his death

Secrets: Secretly knows Callahan’s secret

Deception: Deceives his wife and his friend

Unspoken Wound:

Secret Identity: Presents as a CIA agent but is a criminal

Callahan visits Aaron and his wife, Gabrielle, in the States and Gabrielle gets kidnapped and then Aaron disappears so Callahan must use his skills to save his friends, unknowingly walking into a trap set by Aaron and the arms dealer who killed Callahan’s wife Bridget 10 years ago.

[Leona Heraty]

Leona Heraty’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: To be the best family comedy screenwriter in the industry and have all of my screenplays produced into fabulous movies!

What I learned from doing this assignment is…building intrigue into my characters makes them much more real and interesting and fun to write about! Even giant mutant termites can have intrigue, ha! ha!

Title: Termo-Lytes Attack!
Genre: Comedy (Sci-fi)
Concept: A teenage tour guide with no sense of direction and an extreme fear of bugs takes a wrong turn and leads her group to an abandoned country club overrun by giant mutant termites.

2. For each of your main characters, use this list to brainstorm one or more Intrigue items that might apply. You don’t need all of them; just one or two.

Character Name: Tara
Role: Protagonist
Hidden agendas: Tries to get out of being the tour guide despite her parents’ request.
Competition:
Conspiracies:
Secrets: She was lost in a corn maze as a child and had termites biting her legs and in her hair. She can’t read a map and she won’t even try. She can’t go anywhere without her GPS on her phone.
Deception: She pretends she can read the map on the tour because she’s embarrassed to admit that she doesn’t know how to read a map.
Unspoken Wound: She believes because she was lost in the corn maze as a child, she has no sense of direction and, therefore, doesn’t like to go far from home. She’s also petrified of bugs, especially termites.
Secret Identity:

Character Name: Termo-Lyte #1 AKA Queen
Role: Antagonist
Hidden agendas: Queen wants to get Tara and her group into the empty pool so she can throw a net she’s knitted over them, then add water from a water hose and make a “tasty soup” out of them!
Competition:
Conspiracies:
Secrets: Queen and her clan of Termo-Lytes lived 5,000 years ago and have been dead in the ground and were brought alive by the toxic green fluid that spilled on the ground. She and her clan are the ancient ancestors of today’s “weak and useless” termites.
Deception: Queen is sweet and kind to Tara and the group and she sings a siren’s song and changes to lovely colors and appears beautiful. Then, when angered, she can turn an angry dark orange and red and shriek like a demon. She doesn’t explain to Tara and the group that the Termo-Lytes grow quickly when they eat protein, AKA “people protein!”
Unspoken Wound: She’s angry about ancient man using insecticides to kill the Termo-Lytes to farm their land.
Secret Identity:

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Character Name: Tara
Role: Protagonist

Tara doesn’t like to go drive further than a 10-mile radius from her home and school and parents and friends; If she has to drive further than that, she always get a friend, a neighbor, or her parents to drive her.

A bug flies into Tara’s car, she crashes it into the curb, jumps out and climbs a tree to get away! Tara gets lost easily without her GPS on her phone; Tara takes wrong turns and gets lost when she’s under pressure.

Tara goes out of her way to avoid the termites on the side of a neighbor’s house; Tara crosses the street to avoid an anthill on a neighbor’s lawn; at first waits for people to rescue her group from the abandoned country club and the Termo-Lytes; at first assumes Peg and John will figure out how to escape from the Termo-Lytes

Character Name: Termo-Lyte #1 AKA Queen
Role: Antagonist

Queen snarls, then when she encounters Tara and her group, she pastes on a fake smile and welcomes them to her “palace” at the country club and has a sweet chants; Queen appears kind and enchanting when she asks Tara and the group to join her and the Termo-Lytes in a “celebratory” feast and dance;

Queen changes to sparkling, lovely colors whenever she smiles; Queen tells Tara they must take a secret route to get to her “palace” which ends up being just an old ballroom with chandeliers; Queen talks Tara into climbing down into the pool to get her “baby” because she’s not good at climbing, then she tries to attack Tara.

[Joseph McGloin]

Joe McGloin’s Character Intrigue

Vision: I am a talented, highly regarded, efficient, relaxed, happy, WGA screenwriter

What I learned from doing this assignment is how easy it is to create intrigue in good people when I open to the possibility that good people have secrets and may behave badly at times and still be good people or even good angels.

Character
Name: Max
Role: Protagonist #1
Hidden agendas: Guardian Angel to
Jane, a future president
Competition: with Jane’s scumbag
superior for Jane’s attention
Conspiracie
Secrets: he is Jane’s guardian angel.
He is falling in love with her.
Deception: pretends to be a political
aide. He wears his angel robe and sandals when “off duty” until he is given
a “permanent” body and is caught changing clothes when that happens
Unspoken Wound: he has never fit in
among the other angels due to his heavy-handed approach
Secret Identity: guardian angel and
lover

How that character’s subtext might show up in your movie: he is nearly found out by Jane as her guardian angel. He bends the rules to gain her attention. Defends his actions as protection when they shift to love.

He is stubborn about his initial approach to Jane as forceful

Character
Name: Jane
Role: Protagonist #2
Hidden agendas: Reform politics with
truth-telling
Competition: with her political rival
to end dirty politics
Conspiracies: Jane and her superior plan
to sabotage his political rival
Secrets: she fears deep relationships
as interfering with her mission. She falls in love with Max
Deception: Pretends to go along with
her superior with a plan to destroy his competitor but then turns him in
before the plan is hatched
Unspoken Wound: Best friend lied to her
about their friendship
Secret Identity: political reformist

How that character’s subtext might show up in your movie: she tries not to fall in love with Max. She is loyal to honesty and shows courage in outing political dirty tricks.

Character
Name: Clarence
Role: Antagonist
Hidden agendas: Make Max a first-rate
guardian angel after flunking “cherub”
Competition:
Conspiracies:
Secrets: he campaigns on Max’s behalf
to change the rules re/ angels and humans interacting.
Deception:
Unspoken Wound: he failed cherub, too
Secret Identity: reformer of the rules
of “engagement” with humans

How that character’s subtext might show up in your movie: He bluffs his way through anger at Max later on as he is helping him. He breaks rules in the process. He makes suggestions to Max to help him discover his love for Jane.

[Bobby Sacher]

Bobby’s Character Intrigue

MY VISION: A writing life that is mine to do with as I please. Independently wealthy, always creatively engaged, sought after, and utterly fulfilled.

What I learned doing this assignment… is the give and take between SUBTEXT and INTRIGUE – I’ve tried too hard to answer “what’s the difference between them?” when it’s really just about how they serve each other! Intrigue helps flesh out the subtext, and give the WHY of it. LOVED THIS!

MOVIE: JASON VS THE ZOMBIES

ROLE: Jason (Protagonist)

SECRET: He’s there to kill them!

UNSPOKEN WOUND: He’s been told all his life he deserves to be bullied – because he doesn’t know how to fight. So he sees his choices (metaphorically/literally) as kill or be killed.

SECRET IDENTITY: The Avenger! Jason is there to set the universe aright, and win the girl. An absurd idea in his mind.

How does subtext show up in the movie?

Jason constantly battles what he sees as his role (The Avenger) and his very human frailty. He seems to prove his father right over and over!

· His car breaks down – loser

· Has to lug duffel bag of weapons through the woods (maybe he gets lost?)

· First chance to KILL one of them: VINCE, who’s gone in the woods to take a leak – and Jason freezes! (Does Vince see the hatchet in Jason’s hands? “WTF”?? Then Vince is shot from behind – chest explodes. Civil War zombie bites his neck! Jason flees – dropping his whole bag

· Jason runs smack into Hack – torturing a raccoon – Hack grabs him by the neck

IN THE HOUSE

SECRET

· Jason has to explain why he’s there – Dad has a cabin nearby? (DEREK – there IS no other cabin nearby) – well, I got lost, car broke down

· Zombies attach – no one has weapons. Jason does! Heroic journey outside to retrieve duffel bag. He does? So…. WHY does Jason have all these weapons? SECRET REVEALED

WOUND

· Derek shows kindness at some point – maybe apologizes for the past, confusing Jason (these are the bullies! Right?)

· After secret is blown, confrontation with whole group about bullying – revelation that nothing is black and white

· CLOSING THE WOUND: ACT IV – Jason chooses NOT to fight (the bullies, that is), but work together to survive (this is the journey of Act 3 & 4)

· Jason becomes Hero for real – and:

SECRET IDENTITY

· Jason gets vengeance on Zombie-Hack! (have your cake and eat it too)

ROLE: Hack (Antagonist)

HIDDEN AGENDA: Hack’s goal is to cause chaos – to bask in extreme emotions (anger, fear, betrayal). No loyalty to anyone

How does subtext show up in the movie?

PRE-ZOMBIE

· Hack torments Jason; Hack tells everyone that SHEILA (Vince’s girlfriend) screwed MARC – Fun!

POST-ZOMBIE

· Hack lets a zombie inside, to see what happens

· Hack sips/samples zombie blood (see what that does for me)

COMPETITION: Derek (Hack’s cousin) is ALWAYS the favorite; Hack takes his jealousy and anger at Derek out on anyone he can

How does subtext show up in the movie?

· Making a pass (violent) at Viola? When would that happen?

DECEPTION: Hack secretly works to destroy the group – first emotionally, then literally, by turning zombie

· Early on: one-on-one scenes of Hack spreading rumors, starting fights

· When fighting zombies, stealing weapons? Opening doors, etc

[CJ Knapp]

CJ’s Character Intrigue

Vision: I am a confident and empowered writer who embraces challenges and changes and writes highly sought-after projects with fresh and exciting ideas. I will be produced and hired to write projects that get produced.

WIL: Understanding the subtle differences and making sure that we flesh out our top two characters and not let the supporting characters overshadow the main characters.

Title: MEMORY HUNTERS

Concept:

In a future with technology to retrieve memories, a Memory Retrevalist, caught in the mind of a psychopath struggles to find a way out before he destroys her mind and kills her.

ASSIGNMENT

For each of your main characters, use this list to brainstorm one or more Intrigue items that might apply. You don’t need all of them; just one or two.

Character Name: MYA ORTEGA<div>

Role: Protagonist – Junior Memory hunter

Hidden agendas: She joined the company to learn how to hide her horrific past / memories

Competition:Conspiracies:Secrets: She is haunted by memories from her past from being abducted by a psychopath when she was 8.

Deception: She deceives her partner, Terry and the company on her real ambition.

Unspoken Wound: She was previously abducted by a psychopath – and is the only one who escaped and lived.

Secret Identity:

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

She volunteers to take on extra memory hunting assignments – looking to learn how other deceive themselves and learn how to hide memories.

Character Name: DR. CATHERINE HARPIE </div><div>

Role: Antagonist – CEO of the Memory Retrievalists

Hidden agendas: She is quietly making deals with the criminals to line her own pockets

Competition:Conspiracies: She conspires with Terry to obtain the criminal’s secrets

Secrets:

Deception: She deceives the public with the company’s motto to help all

Unspoken Wound: Her father killed her pet in front of her

Secret Identity: She grew up poor with a father with an anger issue – who killed her pet – so she has a secret soft spot for animals and funds animal shelters and doesn’t like people / men.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Her secret soft spot for animals makes her appear more human and likable.

Character Name: ALFRED “FREDDIE” DETTON</div><div>

Role: supporting role – the psychopath

Hidden agendas: he NEEDS to terrorize young girls that look like his sister who tormented him as a youth.

Competition: Time – can he conquer Mya and break her mind before she escapes again, and his mind is destroyed.

Conspiracies: He’s made a deal with Catherine via Terry.

Secrets: He has never revealed where the “bodies” are kept

Deception: He breaks the will of the girls then gains their trust to destroy them.Unspoken Wound: His ugliness is a result of the abuse he had the hands of his sister

Secret Identity:

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Mya looks the most like his sister so in his own way he is afraid of Mya

Character Name: TERRY SULLIVAN</div><div>

Role: Supporting role – Sr. Memory hunter

Hidden agendas: He befriends Mya but is having an affair with Catherine and makes the deals with the criminals on her behalf.

Competition:

Conspiracies: He conspires with Catherine, and they set up Mya’s boss Frank to take the fall their illegal doings

Secrets: He lies to Mya to misdirect her and hide his relationship with Catherine.

Deception: he deceives Mya that he is working with her to uncover the system anomalies

Unspoken Wound:

Secret Identity: conspirator

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Always gathering information to be used against others – including Catherine

</div>

[Tom Wilson]

Tom’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: When I discuss projects with producers, I come up with excellent alternatives quickly.

Doing this assignment, I learned how adding intrigue makes my characters so much more interesting.

· Character Name: Phillip, Antagonist

· Role: CEO of high-tech corporation that pushes a product that elevates everyone.

· Hidden agenda: Plant his device in everyone so he rules the world.

· Secrets: Discovered his device in a crash-landed an alien spaceship.

· Deception: Pushes a product that helps everyone until it becomes the device that enslaves them.

· Secret Identity: Originally Phillip helps mankind, but an alien makes him take over the world.

· Character Name: John, Protagonist

· Role: Saves Phillip’s son Mel’s life during the Afghanistan War and brings him home wounded to recover.

· Competition: He competes with Phillip to save Mel from his father’s abuse.

· Secrets: As a child, he saw Phillip discover the secret in the spaceship that made him go bad.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Tom Wilson.

[Tina Steffan]

Tina’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: My writing enables me to live an exuberantly creative and productive life in prosperity.

ARGUS’ EYES

A teenage girl has her disfigured face reconstructed at a beauty clinic in the Black Forest, only to discover that her new face is just a mask and she is now the livestock for a blind demon who has stolen her eyes for himself.

———————————-

Character: Valentina Flemmin, 16 year old orphan, one-eyed

Role: Valentina has her disfigured face reconstructed at a beauty clinic run by her estranged grandma, only to discover that her new face is just a mask and she is now the livestock for a blind demon who has stolen her eye for himself.

Hidden Agenda: Get out of the foster system by stealing form her estranged grandmother. Uses Luzi to find the demon.

Conspiracy: Val and Luzi

Secret: Val hides th at she can the the gauged out eyes and knows of the demon.

Deception: Causing someone to believe something that is not true, especially to gain some personal advantage.

Unspoken Wound: Val lost her eye and her parents as a baby and was given into the foster system where she was abused.

Secret Identity: every woman for herself

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

hides her true agenda from Agatha

uses Luzi to trap the demon

———————————-

Character: Argus, blind demon, spawn of a former witch executioner

Logline: Argus traps women under a false face to feed on their powers and steal their eyes for himself, taking revenge on the ancestors of the witch who blinded him when he was still human, Val and Agatha.

Unique: Argus wears a dozen eyes that he ripped out from women, so that he can see everything they see, and force them to act as his puppets.

Hidden Agenda: His whole existence is hidden, they see heim when he’s feeding on them bit instantly forget he ever existed when he is out of sight.

He feeds from the woman to gather enough strength to take over the world.

Competition: The Flemmin’s are his arch enemies, the acestors of the one who blinded him.

Secret: he is the secret

Deception: He uses Agatha to act on his behalf, lure Val in and bring him more livestock to feed on.

Unspoken Wound: He was the witch executioner 400 years ago. A witch, Martha Flemmin, cursed him while she was tortured. He lost his eyes and died in the fire with her.

Secret Identity: The killer of Val’s parents.

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

The patients don’t realize he is the cause for their fatigue and pain. He is always present bit never seen. Always felt but never in the conscious awareness of the patients he uses as livestock.

———————————-

Character: Agatha Flemmin, 58. Valentina’s grandmother

Logline: Agatha is forced by Argus to run a beauty clinic that provides him with human livestock so he can feed on female powers and use their eyes as his own.

Unique: Under her false face Agatha is in constant terror.

Hidden Agenda: Get Val out of the clinic to protect her.

Conspiracy: She tries to poison the demon by poisoning herself, when he feeds on her he will die with her.

Secret: She knows all about the demon but can’t tell anyone because he would instantly know (he uses her eyes) and destroy everyone.

Deception: The nice granny welcoming her lost granddaughter. She covers her sometimes crazy behaviour and pain up so Val doesn’t learn the truth about the clinic, to protect her.

Unspoken Wound: She lost her daughter to the demon and had to sent val away as a baby to keep her safe. She is constantly tortured by the demon.

Secret Identity: She’s a powerful witch but has to hide all her abilities or the demon would kill her like her daughter.

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Agatha smile but cries bloody tears under her mask. She wears a sleeping mask and pretends to sleep walk so she can do hidden things the demon can’t see. She’s horrible to Val in the hope she’ll get out of the clinic before it’s too late.

———————————-

[Andrew Kelm]

Andrew Kelm’s Character Intrigue

Vision: I am going to do whatever it takes to be a great writer of TV and movies who is sought after by people I respect within the industry and has multiple successful TV series produced.

What I learned doing this assignment is… how to plant specific subtext motivations in characters.

FATEMONGERS; a psychic with a blind spot for abusive men uses subtle manipulations to murder a sexual predator who seduces her to get to her sons.

Character Name: Daphne

• Role: Protagonist
• Unspoken Wound: abused as a child
• Secret Identity: advisor to government

Character Name: Roy

• Role: Antagonist
• Hidden agendas: plans to abuse Daphne’s boys
• Secrets: he abuses teenage boys
• Unspoken Wound: abused by crazy mother
• Secret Identity: Con man

[Jaelle Dragomir]

JAELLE’S Character Intrigue

My vision: I’m an award winning screenwriter that is sought after by people in the industry, who creates scripts that change lives to bring a new vision to the world, and I’m richly rewarded.

WHAT I LEARNED: gotta know your characters

For each of your main characters, use this list to brainstorm one or more Intrigue items that might apply. You don’t need all of them; just one or two.

Character Name: Madame Blavatsky

Role: protagonist
Hidden agendas: become even more world famous to create the perfect human and save humanity
Competition: with the Spiritualists and Christians
Conspiracies: create the Theosophical Society
Secrets: married to two men at the same time
Unspoken Wound: didn’t do what father wanted, to be a good wife; he considered her incompetent, silly, ineffective, and unworthy, not to mention not attractive

Character’s subtext might show up in movie: she’s married but never consummates the marriages; she always wants to be competent, never make mistakes, and free from the emotions demands of others, when she fails, she overcompensates, becomes aggressive towards others, and hides out, so her mistakes aren’t exposed.

[Terrie Shaft]

Terrie’s Character Intrigue

I write screenplays that get turned into crowd pleasing successful films using a process that allows me to enjoy my equestrian hobby.

What I learned doing this assignment is that even though I had some of these elements in mind, this helps me focus on them and expand what I had in mind.

Character Name: Paige

Lead

Secret: she nearly lost her job as a cop when she was with James/Jason.

This shows up as her not wanting to discuss her past with her co workers, telling James he needs to keep their past romantic relationship out of any discussions.

Hidden Agenda: get James/Jason to give up his conspiracy theories.

This shows up by her always arguing with James about conspiracy theories – tries to use evidence & facts to give up those beliefs.

Unspoken wound (overlaps with secret): nearly getting fired from her cop job prior to joining US Marshalls.

This shows up by her resisting the assignment but not being willing to give all the details. Whenever James causes any type of problem she over reacts.

Hidden Agenda: needs the field assignment to go well to help her get promoted. So even though she is resisting it she needs it to be successful.

This shows up by her being meticulous following procedure, which James hates.

Could use some of this in Act III when they go back to where they used to live and the old sheriff who told her to dump James and keep the hell away from him doesn’t want to help them because she’s “with” James.

Character Name: James/Jason

Lead

Hidden Agenda: he wants Paige back

Shows up by his trying to go along with her rules and procedures, when that doesn’t work he’s willing to do things to get her fired. Whenever they are alone he brings up how great they were together.

Secret identity: agrees to keep his original identify from Paige’s co workers

Shows up by him messing up then covering with crazy talk

Secret: he’s got some secret he hasn’t told anyone. I don’t know what this is yet.

Unspoken wound: Paige dumping him, cold.

Shows up by his lashing out at some point.

Conspiracy: at some point they conspire together to set up whoever has been undermining their safety.

[Kristin Donnan]

KRISTIN’S CHARACTER INTRIGUE

VISION: “I want the personal, professional, and financial freedom and joy that come from writing so well that I’m in demand, selling beyond my wildest dreams, and making worthy projects—on a big scale and with my active, collegial participation.”

WHAT I LEARNED doing this assignment: The various types of intrigue seem to play into and against one another. So by identifying one, you shade the next one (for example, if you know X is a lie = secret, then you might have to pretend the lie is true = deception). As usual in these assignments, I learned that it is helpful to name the thing floating under the surface of my awareness. Putting these aspects out in front makes them available to work with!

Character Name: PETE

Role: PROTAGONIST

SECRETS: Pete is an honest, transparent person who is being accused of some very bad, intentional stuff. His secret is that he knows people are not perfect—and his work involves thousands of miles of territories, thousands of locations. His secret FEAR is: what if I made a terrible mistake, and it looks like I did this stuff?

HIDDEN AGENDAS: To be the best. He’s actually willing to face the big guns if it helps him make his point.

CONSPIRACIES: He’s been accused of an illegal conspiracy, but he FEELS as if he’s in an actual conspiracy as he plots his defense. It’s an “honest” one, but it feels “tainted.”

These three work together. He’s afraid that too much investigation might uncover some bad errors that make him look deceitful. So, as he, his lawyer, and the journalist march forward through the details, this subtext might impact HOW he goes forward. Maybe he wants to avoid details; maybe he hyper-focuses on any “good outcomes”; maybe he confesses his fears to the journalist; maybe, since he wants to be the best, he recasts [XX activities] to help him “look good.” Which is manipulative and desperate, instead of “honest and transparent.” All of that feels like a “conspiracy to prove the truth.”

UNSPOKEN WOUND: Since he grew up in a ranching family, everyone worked hard and did chores. However, Pete was always different. Smarter, geekier, not from their planet. His parents rejected him; his siblings didn’t relate to them. Now, no matter how hard he works in this elite scientific field, they will never accept him. They say, “you think you’re too good for us,” but he never did.

COMPETITION: If he’s honest, there does remain a tad bit of competition with his brother / business partner—who has always cut him down, while still relying on him.

These two make him feel “less than,” and also make him want to win all the more. He wants to prove himself, for good reasons and petty ones.

Character Name: SLICK WILLY

Role: ANTAGONIST / Government attorney

HIDDEN AGENDAS: He’s using this case—and someone’s life and livelihood—for his own betterment.

COMPETITION: He’s in a competition with others to get a promotion; wants to make a big impression.

CONSPIRACIES: While alleging that the protagonist group is in a conspiracy, actually this lawyer is in one with the judge.

SECRETS: In his heart of hearts, he knows the Protagonist is not guilty. Maybe part of the secret is that he hopes Pete is guilty so that all this is “for the good.”

DECEPTION: Based on the secret above, he has to continue this long and involved case, hoping he’ll win anyway.

UNSPOKEN WOUND: Never picked at kickball; he believes he has to manipulate to succeed.

SECRET IDENTITY: Wishes someone saw him as Superman, but the best he can do is fake it.

This flim-flam guy is willing to run over someone with a bus if it helps him to advance in his political career. He’ll tell himself whatever he has to, believe whatever stories necessary, to make his point. All of these hidden agendas / secrets / wounds might make him more defensive, shrill, and desperate than he otherwise would be. He’s like a little kid in a Halloween costume, wishing himself to really “be somebody.”

Character Name: BRONC

Role: Pete’s attorney

HIDDEN AGENDAS: He always, always wants to prove that he’s the smartest guy in the room; he took this case with such relish because it is the most complex and controversial case in the state’s history.

COMPETITION: He’s in a competition with all lawyers, all the time. He’s in a competition with anyone he’s talking to.

DECEPTION: He believes that deception is part of the game. You craft the case you want to tell.

UNSPOKEN WOUND: As great a competitor as he was in youth (all sports), he was never as good as his father. Father was a real champion, and a really, really amazing lawyer with a huge heart. Bronc will never live up to (or beat, which is what he really wants) Dad’s record.

SECRET IDENTITY: He doesn’t WISH someone saw him as Superman; he KNOWS he is Superman.

All of this can lead Bronc down some dangerous paths—and the fire he’s playing with will burn down his client’s house, not his own. He’ll always play to win; he’ll never be conservative; he’ll always assume he’s right. And when he’s wrong…he doesn’t have a game plan. Becaues being wrong is not an option.

Character Name: KELLY

Role: JOURNALIST / LOVE INTEREST

SECRETS: She’s embarrassed that she’s falling for her subject; so she works extra hard to be as objective as possible. Also, outside of the case, she’s insecure about herself in general. What is she DOING in this life, anyway?

DECEPTION: Not everyone knows she’s dating the protagonist, so she doesn’t necessarily reveal this fact. Sometimes she interviews people “on the other side,” and simply acts like a professional. She really IS one, but she wonders if she’s graying the line of ethics.

UNSPOKEN WOUND: She’s an enabler, and she’s always choosing the wrong people. Is this just a T. rex-sized case of that, or this really the right guy?

SECRET IDENTITY: When she’s “on the job,” she really is willing to see Pete’s foibles and errors. But when she’s doing research or in court, she uses her mad skills to take notes and make observations. Many people in the case say “you could have been a lawyer.” Her secret identity is as a legal / research expert.

These areas of subtext allow for uncertainty, self-doubt, eggshelling, and other methods of self-sabotage. She’s not just barreling in, full of confidence. She’s double-checking and second-guessing all the time. Makes for an ulcer.

[Amechi Ngwe]

Amechi’s Character Intrigue

MY VISION
I am going to be in the top 1% of action/comedy writers in the industry who writes major action films.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that all of my main characters, good and bad, should have some levels of intrigue.

• Character Name: KANAAN

• Role: PROTAGONIST
• Hidden agendas: Gets beaten up to punish himself / Learning martial arts by taking a beating for money
• Competition: Impress the Mayor
• Conspiracies: To destroy Rhapsody. / With Blackout to bring down the Mayor.
• Secrets: He was arrested for robbing a gas station but his mother was able to get him off.
• Deception: He won’t let people know where he lives. / Collecting explosives to kill Rhapsody. / Obsessed with Blackout / Works for the Mayor while working against him
• Unspoken Wound: He feels guilty for getting away with a crime and wants to help uphold the law in a lawless city.
• Secret Identity: The Competitor

How it might show up?
Learns Martial arts by taking a beating for money in a class
Make friends with Rhapsody so he can kill her
His mother worries about him and follows him around.
A police car follows him.
He wants to see lawbreakers punished, no matter how small.
He makes someone at his interview put back the extra free water bottle they take.
Hides his home, a secret lair
His apartment is filled with Blackout related items.

RHAPSODY
• Character Name: RHAPSODY

• Role: ANTAGONIST
• Hidden agendas: To research Kanaan’s life and use the information to destroy him
• Competition: With Kanaan to be Blackout’s sidekick.
• Conspiracies: With Mars to destroy Kanaan.
• Secrets: She is in love with Blackout
• Deception: Pretends to be friends with Kanaan to learn about him. / Says she has a boyfriend when she’s going out to spy on Kanaan.
• Unspoken Wound: She is an orphan, taken in by Blackout
• Secret Identity: Agent of Chaos

How it might show up?
She stalks and attacks criminals
She lies to Blackout about where she’s going when she goes to fight crime alone.
She threatens a criminal who has gone straight into getting her information on Kanaan’s criminal record.
She won’t talk about her family history, only about Blackout and Mars.
She takes care of Blackout like a spouse would.
She’s happy that the old sidekicks are dead.

• Character Name: BLACKOUT

• Role: CONNECTING CHARACTER
• Hidden agendas: To live in a dangerous city that needs him.
• Competition: With the mayor to be savior of the city. / He doesn’t want to feel threatened by his sidekick.
• Conspiracies: With Kanaan to expose the Mayor. / He’s working with the Mayor in secret
• Secrets: He is addicted to a drug that gives him super strength
• Deception: He is responsible for the accidental death of Rhapsody’s parents.
• Unspoken Wound: His other sidekicks who have been killed.
• Secret Identity: Drug Addict

How it might show up?

He sends messages to the Mayor in secret.
He keeps Rhapsody in her place and routinely goes out alone without her.
One of his old sidekicks is still alive and left him.
He feels guilty about causing damage and looks to see if anyone is hurt before leaving.
He has scars and pain from old injuries.
He has a secret room filled with the drug that makes him strong.
He tries to keep Rhapsody out of the most dangerous situations.

[Linda Anderson]

Linda Anderson’s Character Intrigue

Vision for your success from this program:

Audiences around the world view and love my meaningful screenplays—one of the most satisfying and energizing accomplishments of my life.

What I learned from doing this assignment is tying the subtext to character layers made it easier to identify and figure out how they show up in the story.

Character
Name: Allen

Role:
Protagonist

Hidden
agendas: Sees healing Leaf as healing himself

Secrets:
Vivid inner world of imagination and spiritual experiences

Unspoken
Wound: echoes of his father’s abuse and PTSD in his self-talk

Shows Up: After his brain aneurism diagnosis, Allen has sudden slide show in his mind of memories that depict major events and regrets of his life.

***

Character
Name: Leaf

Role:
Antagonist

Competition:
alpha dog; highly competitive with other dogs

Secrets:
understands more than most people think are possible for a dog

Unspoken
Wound: abandonment has left him emotionally damaged—fearful, aggressive

Shows Up: On Leaf’s first visit to the vet, he has to be muzzled and the vet puts in the medical records that he’s “fear-aggressive”.

***

Character
Name: Linda

Role:
Supporting character for both Allen and Leaf

Hidden
agendas: wants to do everything she can to help Allen and Leaf heal

Secrets:
wants more independence but is unsure how much responsibility she can or
wants to handle

Unspoken
Wound: introversion and lack of confidence she hides in professions that
require her to be outgoing and project confidence
Secret
Identity:

Shows Up: When Allen insists on driving, she always acquiesces but after his surgery and being on steroids (which make him think he’s king of the world), she hides his car keys and drives Allen and Leaf to their favorite dog park.

[Valeriya Ordinartseva]

Valeriya’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: I am a masterful, ahead-of-the-game, and outside-the-box writer full of ideas and creative energy. My writing is fresh, impactful, iconic, beautiful, and effortless, and my projects deliver outstanding commercial and artistic success. I am on the leading edge. I create a lot, it’s fun, quick, and easy. My whole life is that way.

I just love discovering the intrigue of my characters!

What I learned from doing this assignment is…

– Characters open mostly in relationships.

– Intrigue helps create interesting situations and reveal the theme.

– Passionate brainstorming always brings surprising results.

BOO WHO HOO

Character Name: Irene

Role: Main character (Protagonist and Antagonist)

Hidden agendas:

– To kick the monster out of her life

– To give other people to the monster instead of herself

– To change her life

Competition:

– With the monster — over who is going to live fully

– With her friend — over success

– With her family — over her identity

Conspiracies:

– With the monster about the next steps

– With the shrink about dealing with the monster

– With her niece about the monster

Secrets:

– She envies her friend and her sister

– She is in love

– Can’t have relationships because of the monster

Deception:

– Pretends to befriend the monster

– Tells her family she has someone

– She is afraid of nothing but there is always an excuse for inaction (circumstances)

– Deceives herself by inventing the monster (blames it for her sad life)

Unspoken Wound:

– She thinks her father’s state is her fault

– Her family treats her as unworthy

– The state of the world

Secret Identity:

– Monster

– Artist

– Nobody

Ways it can show in the script:

– Irene hides from the monster under the bed

– Negotiates with the monster

– She thinks she is going to kill someone but she is going to look for help

– Horrible drawings under the unsticking wallpapers

– Has things in common with the monster that scare other people the same way Boo scares her

– Sends her real artwork to clients unaware of her actions

– Bashing family scene and how this environment reflects on the kid

– Scares her friend and her boyfriend, her sister too

– Makes a huge dreamcatcher

– Talking to her dad about the monster

Character Name: Boo

Role: Monster (Antagonist and Protagonist)

Hidden agendas:

– To help Irene get on with her life

– To stop its suffering

– To scare some sense into her

Competition:

– The shrink with her methods

– The family with their misunderstanding

– Irene wasting their life and torturing them

Conspiracies:

– With Irene to keep her fears at bay

– With Irene seeking help

– With Irene to change her life

Secrets:

– It’s her, and the best of her

– Keeps Irene’s secrets about her past

– Won’t get lost

Deception:

– Looks scary AF

– Destroys things (to make them better)

– Causes death (shows that death is inevitable and Irene better resolve to live until she dies)

Unspoken Wound:

– Needless suffering

– Loneliness

– Being seen as ugly evel

Secret Identity:

– Irene’s unrealized dreams and desires

– All the pain and fear she’s been through

– Helper

Ways it can show in the script:

– Gets mad when Irene gets back to her old ways

– “Kills” her father, friend, lover, cat

– Threatens her, her sister, niece, romantic interest

– Attends to everything she mentions

– The worse it gets for Irene the worse the monster hurts

– Pukes brown muck (mixed color paint)

– Wants to get closer to Irene

– Gives her a chance to change something before people die

– Knows Irene’s next step and is faster than her

– Keeps memorabilia (that spook Irene)

7RDRD4

Character Name: Lo

Role: Protagonist, a human brought up by a robot

Hidden agendas:

– Save 7RDRD4

– Become a part of society

– Conquer the flying robot

– Save all robots and people she can

Competition:

– With other people and robots for life

– With children at school

– With Benedict for the truth

Conspiracies:

– Hide with her robot

– Escape and run to safety

– Win the game that can’t be won

Secrets:

– She is a human being (changes her mind about proving it in court)

– Her childhood

– Her robot

Deception:

– Pretends she is a robot

– Pretends she is like everybody else

– Plays her own game

Unspoken Wound:

– Betrayed by humans

– Being inferior to normal people

– Different all the way

– Broken

Secret Identity:

– Orphan

– Leader

– Savior

Ways it can show in the script:

– Stops trying to prove anything and goes with the flow, does what’s right

– Pretends she gave up

– Searches for the flying robot

– Dates a moron

– Takes charge in the game

– Makes jokes about robots and humans

– Thinks outside the box

– Comes up with her own rules

– Changes the game

– Learns to reprogram herself

Character Name: 7RDRD4

Role: Protagonist, a robot

Hidden agendas:

– Save and protect the girl

– Be what it was made to be

– Protect humanity from itself

Competition:

– Flying robot

– Society

– The girl

Conspiracies:

– With his inventor

– With Lo against the flying robot

– With other robots to stay alive

Secrets:

– Murder

– Autonomy beyond regulations

– Mind of its own

Deception:

– Lies to teachers

– Spares the girl from the truth

– Plays Lo’s game

Unspoken Wound:

– Outlaw

– Can’t give her everything she needs

– Broken

Secret Identity:

– Unique and precious

– More human than human

– Someone’s creation

Ways it can show in the script:

– Learns from the girl to be more human

– The boy who tortured him disappears

– Makes dolls and other must-haves for the girl — but with a twist

– Lo presses him to tell her the truth

– Doesn’t know what’s right

– Taking all the blame

– Respects the part of it that’s human — being a creation of a human

– Finds holes in systems

– Runs troubleshooting sessions with Lo

– Forgiving and understanding of human mistakes

Character Name: Benedict

Role:

Hidden agendas:

– Get rid of the robots

– Rule people

– Prove his superiority

Competition:

– Other politicians

– 7RDRD4

– Law

Conspiracies:

– Hangs his crimes on robots

– Creates a game to show how dangerous robots are

– Supervises the court

Secrets:

– He is a flying robot

– Envies both people and simpler robots

– Puts everyone in danger by “trying to protect”

Deception:

– Pretends to be a human, politician

– Pretends he wants to protect robots

– Pretends he was a victim of a murder attempt

Unspoken Wound:

– Rejected creation (misunderstanding freedom)

– Misunderstood

– Lonely (people are no match for his brilliance)

– All the human side brings is suffering

Secret Identity:

– Robot went rogue

– Ruler of the world

– The one

Ways it can show in the script:

– Recognizes 7RDRD4 when they first meet

– Kills secretly those who stand in the way

– Fakes murder attempt

– Empathizes with people’s plight

– Organizes schools for people to get their human dignity back

– Takes over inventor’s place

– Tries to be where people are, very approachable

– Known to be a genius human of his era

– The biggest fan of the inventor

– Has a glitch – touches his face a lot

[Jamie Handley]

MOD 3 LESSON 4 Jamie’s Character Intrigue

June 27, 2022

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

What I’ve learned is that this lesson helps to tell the story in many various ways. I love it because it will change again and again.

Character Name: Justine Henderson

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: She is always writing in her journal. She sees her family doctor to obtain medical advice. Justine plans to have Lauren on a television show. Justine is writing a book about the adventures they have shared over the years. She wants her on the Dr. Oz show.

Competition: There is a silent competition with where doctors and lawyers are concerned. Nothing new, they’ve always been competitive in their station in life and work.

Conspiracies: She conspiracies with Lauren’s brother to get information.

Secrets: Won’t let anyone see her journal and hides it.

Deception: She pretends she is Lauren when talking with various doctors to obtain information.

Unspoken Wound: She believes Lauren had an affair with her ex-husband.

Secret Identity: She’s a writer for various magazines.

List is included above.

Character Name: Lauren Quick

Role: Protagonist/Antagonist

Hidden agendas: She’s gay. She reconnects with her ex-boyfriend of many years to handle her trust to regain his love. When she becomes ill she calls on him to take her case. She begins to manipulate Justine asking her to visit, “she’ll pay for it all” but started sending her gifts on HSN, QVC and others, little by little, when the results of an MRI are discussed.

Competition: Lauren makes known all her friends are very important people, especially in all the legal field, firms, D.A.’s, judges. Her relationships with all the important people in the film industry. She always points out how much items, jewelry, clothes etc. are worth, some priceless. Brags about how little she paid for her home and got a steal. Her awards and photos for interior design and film set design cover the walls at the entrance of her home.

Conspiracies: She turns to her ex, who is her lawyer, without telling Justine. She and Justine call her lawyers friends (also attorneys) to find out information. Justine shows up at a hospital where Lauren had one of her surgeries and signs papers to get her medical records and shows Lauren’s driver’s license, and it worked. She has her ex/lawyer to change her will.

Secrets: She had an affair with Justine’s ex-husband but will never admit it. She waits to tell Justine about the medical mafia article till it’s too late. She hates her mother. She wanted to marry Justine’s ex-husband. She won’t wear the back brace Justine bought her and complains that it doesn’t work. Truth is, it does work and she wears it when her brother isn’t around. The trust is almost depleted. Said she has COVID but didn’t, then later gets it.

Deception: Denys to Gracie about her father’s relationship with her. She refuses to help her brother in front of Justine but when Justine isn’t around she helps him all the time. She resents that Justine knows more about the law and medicine. She colluded with Justine’s ex mother-in-law to get Gracie to come to Vegas and spend Christmas with her and Gracie’s father. She told Gracie that she went to see her mother in the hospital with her first accident but she didn’t. Lauren’s ex/lawyer, with the help of his assistant, overbill Lauren’s trust fund.

Unspoken Wound: Her son was killed in an auto accident but her son was the one who caused it. Her uncle raped her at a very young age and her mother called her a liar. She resents her mother and brother.

Secret Identity: She lets the nurses and practitioners think she’s doing okay. She lets everyone she knows that she is very ill and dying. She always wanted to be a doctor. She exaggerates her pain to others and especially to Justine. She’s gay.

Ideas are listed above.

Character Name: Gracie Wyatt

Role: Antagonist/Protagonist

Hidden agendas: Gracie comes to aid her mother, Justine, in helping with her dying grandmother. She agrees but it means bringing her significant other too only mom doesn’t know until they arrive.

Competition: Gracie has proof that Lauren wanted to marry her father, she didn’t have COVID and she’s not a good friend. Gracie always researches the medical issues that Lauren says she has. She blames her aunt for bringing her into the drug world. She competes for her mother’s love and affection.

Conspiracies: Doesn’t let her mother know she’s bringing her boyfriend to live with the family. Kisses up to Lauren she thinks that when Lauren dies she’ll inherit Lauren’s belongings and home.

Secrets: She steals her mother’s jewelry and gives them away as presents to her friends. She takes her mother’s pills for pain. She has a photo of her father and Lauren to prove that she loved her father.

Deception: She takes her mother’s pills for her own use and to make money.

Unspoken Wound: She was abandoned by her father who gave birth to two other children and neglected her for most of her life. She can’t have children. The shame she carries for using drugs for so many of her years.

Secret Identity: She is jealous of Lauren. She knows that she is much smarter than others see her. She fears success. She always wanted to be a mother.

Ideas of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie are listed above.

[Jenifer Stockdale]

Jenifer Stockdale’s Character Intrigue

Vision: I will write everyday, producing not only high volume but high quality scripts that will ultimately be made into popular movies and television shows.

What I learned doing this assignment is that I have to keep going – this one stumped me a little and I didn’t do anything for a couple of days. Just fill in the blanks and don’t overthink!!!

Character Name: DACEY
Role: Protagonist/hero

Hidden agendas: fulfill her own needs (sex addict)

Competition: is in competition with other nurses to be the “favorite” of all the patients – never wants to be the bad guy, also plays this at home “wait till your father gets home”

Conspiracies: having Tom come over for a tryst

Secrets:

Deception:

Unspoken Wound: She is as damaged as her patients, has a trauma past similar to her them

Secret Identity:

Character Name – (huband) TBD

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: wants to leave Dacey and take kids when marriage starts going sideways

Competition: doesn’t know it, but is in competition with other men when it comes to Dacey

Conspiracies: having his own affair

Secrets: killed Tom

Deception: making it look like Dacey killed him, while acting to her face like he is supporting her story

Unspoken Wound: thought he was the best husband in the world, hurt when he found out he wasn’t

Secret Identity:

[Laura Koons]

Laura Koons’ Character Intrigue

My vision: I am an Oscar winning Screenwriter known to elevate the careers of A-list actors and directors.

What I learned from doing this assignment is to make my characters as interesting as humanly possible. Allow their flaws to be a part of who they are without apology.

Character Name: Heather

Role: Protagonist, architect, and best friend to Charles

Hidden agendas:

Competition: With her late father’s legendary architect drawings

Conspiracies:

Secrets: Never talks about the past as she is embarrassed by it

Deception:

Unspoken Wound: Abandonment issues due to her being dropped off at an orphanage by her own mother

Secret Identity:

Character Name: Decatur

Role: Protagonist, FBI Agent investigating Heather’s mother

Hidden agendas: Trying to use Heather to get to her mother

Competition:

Conspiracies:

Secrets: Can’t tell Heather what he really does for a living

Deception: Always pretending to be someone he’s not to get information

Unspoken Wound: Trust issues

Secret Identity: FBI Agent

Character Name: Pandora

Role: Antagonist, Heather’s mother

Hidden agendas: Manipulating

Competition: Always spending money to win the approval of others

Conspiracies: Pandora and her latest husband have been involved in serious insider trading

Secrets: Doesn’t have a penny to her name

Deception: Making others believe she is the owner of the lakehouse

Unspoken Wound: Runaway

Secret Identity: Cares deeply for animals. Volunteers at a local zoo

[Joaquin Gray]

Joaquin “Ibn Gray’s” Character Intrigue

My vision for the completion of this class is to write A plus intriguing screenplays that will be produced into extremely profitable movies, which I will cash large checks from.

What I learned doing this assignment is to write the first thing which comes to mind. The characters will reveal things to you which will translate to the page.

Character Name: Brewford Dickson
Role:<div>

Hidden agendas:

Competition:

Conspiracies:

Secrets: Deception:

Unspoken Wound: he was traumatized by the actions of living on a plantation

Secret Identity: He is a silent killer

Character Name: Clyde Fordwood

Role:</div><div>

Hidden agendas: to enslave every black American in Texas

Competition:

Conspiracies:

Secrets: Deception: A piano player luring victims through sound

Unspoken Wound: his childhood a time of hard living

Secret Identity:

Brewford may experience different daydreams, triggered by images of young children playing.

Clyde Fordwood’s anger can be triggered by men and women walking as a couple.

Joaquin “Ibn Gray”

</div>

[Hope McPherson]

Hope McPherson’s Subtext Characters

Vision: To be a working, trusted screenwriter who supports herself by writing smart films that are produced and enjoyed, while also working on writing assignments for other industry professionals.

What I learned: Each lesson brings me closer to seeing a story in the making – with layered characters. This assignment also confirmed to me that one big layer needs to be that the “fictional characters” aren’t fictional at all, but part of a plot against the protag by a fellow professor who wants her job.

Shelby Jordan

Role: English professor/author

Hidden agenda: Wants to be more famous that her famous mother.

Competition: Only one spot left for full-time faculty position at the university.

Secrets: She didn’t finish her doctoral dissertation and must keep that secret.

Unspoken wound: Her famous mother was a secretive, raging alcoholic.

How show up?

· Shelby has it all on the line to be a bigger success than her mother.

· She’s predisposed to believe Cyrus and Rose, because needs that spot on the faculty.

· She also needs a perfect wedding, because her mother’s cronies will be there.

· Campus politics will be out in force when she and the other professor square off. Shelby will correct the prof’s grammar in front of his students.

Cyrus Landrake

Role: Villain in Shelby’s manuscript

Hidden agenda: Become the hero of Shelby’s story.

Conspiracies: He’s plotting with the other professor for the full-time faculty position and to ruin Shelby.

Secret: He’s a human, not a character from her manuscript, and he falls in love with her.

Deception: Tricks Shelby into believing he’s the antagonist from her manuscript.

Secret identity: Out-of-work actor.

How show up?

· Cyrus convinces Shelby that he’s her creation, and that she can do better – by making him the hero.

· He goes after Andrew, when he discovers Andrew’s secrets.

· He edits her wedding by creating havoc in canceling venues, impersonating the cleric, etc.

Rose Quixley

Role: Cyrus’ sidekick; maid in the manuscript

Hidden agenda: Plot with Cyrus to get Shelby fired.

Deception: Pretends to be a character from the manuscript.

Secret identity: An actor.

How show up?

· She convinces Shelby that she’s her character from the manuscript and deserves a better role.

· She edits the wedding dress and caters’ menu.

· She and Cyrus work together to make sure Shelby looks crazy in front of the dean.

Andrew Jeffries

Role: Shelby’s fiancé.

Hidden agenda: Keep his gambling and debt secret from Shelby.

Secret: He’s a compulsive gambler.

Deception: He’s in massive debt.

How show up?

· He disappears and claims Cyrus threatened him.

· Money is missing and it looks like Cyrus and Rose are behind it, but it’s Andrew.

[Edward Brown]

Edward Brown character intruque

do process to get winner script

Learned by filling in blanks = results unwexpected

Creator

Hidden Agendas

Make Parable movie from romantic experiment

Russia Tanya + American George = national speakers for peace

Experiment = how make love not war

Competition

Human stupidity

Conspiracy

Experiment

Spirit collaborator

Help couple to mate

SECRETS

Experiment to stop war

Knows George recovering scientist would be interested in hypersonic

Knows George draft dodger against war

Knows George father strength

Knows Putin wants upper threat

Maybe knows UFOs

Knows Mars nuked to extinction

Deception

Quietly intervenes

Acts like on own so faith is challenge vs conform

Keeping GEORGE a plant set up

Unspoken Wound

Letting Jesus be crucified so could be brought back from dead

Not intervening, not trying persuasion on freewill Mars etc

Secret Identity

GOD

PASSION

Surprising faithful/unfaithful

Mischievous

Pro Life

GEORGE

Hidden Agenda

Learn how to get more sail power

Win Mackinaw

Build Trimaran

Win First Mate

Solve Problems

Competition

Self Bad Habits

Other racers

Ivan

FSB

Tanya/Tolya

Conspiracy

Lure Tanya to Detroit

Learn hypersonic

Woo Tanya

Shape up

Roof in Siberia

Learn flat roofs

Change public to back Tanya

Stop War

Run for Governor

EMP protection

Podcast

Go-Giver social media

Deception

Becomes spy for Berkley

Plots to win Tolya to win over Mom Tanya

Kite test

Unspoken Wound

Marriage breakup so COMMITMENT SHY

Anna party fun sexy fun

Father parent denied so reluctant to reenlist

Secret Identity/Back Ground

Recovering Scientist

Make it Rain

Top Sailor

Problem Solver

Neighborhood Politician

Anti-Gravity

Space launch

Mexico Adventure/research

Passion/Goals

Sailing

Building Trimaran

Winning Mackinaw

Life Long Romantic Partner

Solving Problems

Traits

Messy

Unorganized

FREEDOM

Problem Solver

Romantic

Sailor

Adaptive

Go Giver

Pussy whipped

Tatianna

Hidden Agenda

Czarina over men/ Dept head/ control

Romantic Forever Lover

Find father parent for son

Competition

Men who want ornament trophy wife

Other women like ANNA

men who just want sex, split when PG, not father types

Conspiracy

Lure George to Novosibirsk

Keep George in Novosibirsk

Become Department head

Become Governor Lt

Qualify George

Deception

Goals: Dance, father parent, romantic, adaptable

Wanting Power Czarina

Secret Wound

Husband non-father

Interested mostly in sex

Split when got PG again

Secret ID/Background

Vamp

Likes spend men’s money

Grandmother gave DIAMONDS

Great Grandfather prospector/Believers

PASSIONS

Waltz

Czarina

Vamp

Trait

Vamp

Schemer

Czarina

Go Getter

Romantic

Structured/Neat Obsessed

. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

“Love interest” Sexy vamp who rules in male world by discipline and listening

Who wants forever romance

Trying to beyond class room and dance to be administrator

22. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Goes from go getter to go giver :

Proposes deal: Moscow, tourist, Siberia with sailing on Ob Sea and low drag or back to Detroit

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the script?

Compromises for Moscow, qualifies George, dilemma , go to Mac

3. tells Anna off cites Dreams, tricks Tanya into recognizing him as PhD in romance, makes transformation of messy to neat

4. How was the role introduced in a way that sold it to an actor?

Spurns suitor, rejects Billionaire, will explore slob roofer from Detroit

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

Despair, glee, calculating,

6. What subtext did the actor play?

Knows about George but sees if he honestly relates about past GFs and misadventures

Plans to vamp him to Siberia

?

6. conceals his other relationships,

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character had?

Son George ballet girls father ex

8 unique voice presented by barginingi, son, Boris , prayer

9. What made this character special and unique?

Vamp that prominent men seek , but turns to slob roofer but romantic from Detroit

How Subtext = Plot

CREATOR

Romantic Experiment

Interfere with nuke launch

Promote George + Tanya = speakers/governor/prophets/social activists

Movie is parable for audience/world

Promote avoid Mars

1. An active Creator that explains and prompts life and evolution is huge role

Plus Creator is fun mischievous amused

Trying to save planet from its free will bipeds

Favors faithful, but allows JOB testing

2. He initiates action and somewhat controls it

3. Entrance, controlling Saints, comments, wind, allows Saints to pro active roles

4. All plead for Creator who is teaching other failed planet

5. Humor, disgust, anger

6. Secret Russia vs America set up, Tolya as videographer, getting Tolya a father,

Wound: allowing Jesus to be crucified

7. Sophia, Spirit, Jesus

8. Demonstration of power per saints, test subjects, experiment

9. Knows all but can not control it

GEORGE

Messy unorganized = problems = journey

Takes care of self more: health, weight, teeth, groom, clothes

Demands partner, not Czarina

Connects with Tanya as both romantics, sailors, adventurous

Also, realizes synergy possibilities

NOT ONLY SEX

1 mischievous playful male lover who is adaptive, need to make him a role model for:

Male point of view, good father material, teach Tanya’s son Tolya

Like Tanya wants Forever Romance

2. he is proactive lover who makes trip to Tanya’s Siberia

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the script?

3. tells Anna off cites Dreams, tricks Tanya into recognizing him as PhD in romance, makes transformation of messy to neat, fat to fit per Tanya’s coaching

4. How was the role introduced in a way that sold it to an actor?

4. mocks going to Moscow, goes, creative negotiating, ANNA

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

5. really stoked won mac, depressed Anna left, vamped but recovers

6. What subtext did the actor play?

6. conceals his other relationships, how good father, how fought matedor, Alice

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character had?

7. Tanya, Vince, Little Voice, Alice

8. How was this character’s unique voice presented?

7. prayer, adaptive: valentine, kiss new year, flyer, need poem

9. What made this character special and unique?

9. adaptive, almost a beyonder, prayer, resists being VAMPED, capable of growth, helps structured Tanya to go Out-of-Box

TANYA

ROMANTIC

NOT ORNAMENT

Structured helps George get organized

Neatness helps George

Go Giver transforms to Go Giver

Makes a deals to meet face to pretty face, bird dances to be silly playful, makes deal to be synergy partner

. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

“Love interest” Sexy vamp who rules in male world by discipline and listening

Who wants forever romance

Trying to beyond class room and dance to be administrator

22. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Goes from go getter to go giver :

Proposes deal: Moscow, tourist, Siberia with sailing on Ob Sea and low drag or back to Detroit

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the script?

Compromises for Moscow, qualifies George, dilemma , go to Mac

3. tells Anna off cites Dreams, tricks Tanya into recognizing him as PhD in romance, makes transformation of messy to neat

4. How was the role introduced in a way that sold it to an actor?

Spurns suitor, rejects Billionaire, will explore slob roofer from Detroit

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

Despair, glee, calculating,

6. What subtext did the actor play?

Knows about George but sees if he honestly relates about past GFs and misadventures

Plans to vamp him to Siberia

?

6. conceals his other relationships,

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character had?

Son George ballet girls father ex

8 unique voice presented by barginingi, son, Boris , prayer

9. What made this character special and unique?

Vamp that prominent men seek , but turns to slob roofer but romantic from Detroit

[Kevin Patrick Goulet]

Module 3, Lesson 4 Assignment:

KEVIN PATRICK GOULET’S Character Intrigue –

…My vision: Develop successful screenplay writing method > yields completed screenplays > viewed as PRO/story-telling level quality > sales (compensation) > production > more screenwriting opportunities > Rinse and repeat, many times over.

…what I learned: Creating (more) Intrigue for a character can/will inform the voice/speech/dialogue/habits/movement a character has in the story. How they will sound can be better differentiated from other characters because what is happening/has happened, below the surface; different for each character.

–

Character Name: Vince Guaraldi

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: (angry) desire to avenge the pain his Father caused him, and then some.

Competition: Vince’s small stature partly the cause of his competitive spirit, from 4 yrs until he passes at 47.

Secrets: Vince gets married but there are issues; after a few years, he meets and has a Girlfriend on the side.

Unspoken Wound: …but visible; His Father’s desertion from the family unit deeply affected Vince.

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Vince’s bits of intrigue are demonstrated -but never spoken about: His terse relationship with his biological Father is visible throughout the story, an unquenchable desire to ‘win’, and like his biological and step-father his affinity to also stray as an adult in his own marriage. His flaws are very visible.

– –

Character Name: Vincent Dellaglio (Vince’s Father)

Role: Antagonist

Competition: …with Vince’s Mother Carmella (Marcellino) and Vinces Uncles Maurice “Muzzy” & Joe Marcellino and their desire to influence Vince musically, while Vince’s Father’s tepid desire to see the boy grow-up to be anything but a musician.

Secrets: Vincent was in a bar brawl where a man died. He was never convicted of murder, but did some ‘time’. The event haunts him, affects him terribly the rest of his life.

Unspoken Wound: Memory of man killed in bar brawl (See ‘Secrets’).

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Vincent is a mean drunk, has a temper to begin with. The weight of his angst over the death of the guy in the bar weighs heavy on him, follows him around like a dark storm cloud he cannot shake. His actions, mannerisms, dialogue (word choices) will demonstrate this ongoing mania that haunts him.

– – –

Character Name: Carmella (Vince’s Mother).

Role: Mentor or Deutoragonist

Hidden agendas: Do all she can to make it hard for her ex-husband to interact with their son Vince.

Secrets: Romance is missing in her life and it continues mostly unrequited the rest of her days. Does she have Boyfriends? How does that sit with/affect Vince as he grows into manhood?

Unspoken Wound: Though she remarries, Carmella’s 2nd go at matrimony is also a bust.

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Carmella devotes her life to Vince- looking out for his future which means ‘protecting’ (sheltering?) him from the negative influences of his biological father Vincent.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Kevin Patrick Goulet.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Kevin Patrick Goulet.

[Peter Symons]

Peter’s Character Intrigue

My vision: I will become a prolific screenwriter and producer of movies and streaming content living in Canada and the US

What I learned doing this lesson is how much your characters hide themselves from you.

Title: Meat Wagon

Character Name: Carlos ‘The Scorpion’ Rameriz

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: Killer of women and children; former Satanist

Competition: Jude

Conspiracies: Conspires with Santa Muerte to kill his gang in exchange for his soul

Secrets: Carlos killed his own wife’s sister; has also slaughtered children for his gang

Deception: Misleads his wife and the old priest that he’s not backsliding to the thug life

Unspoken Wound: Abusive absentee father; the sins of his past

Secret Identity: Feels more at home as The Scorpion; a gangland hitman than he does as a husband and father

Character Name: Jude

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: Revenge against Carlos for turning against his old gang.

Competition: Will take everything away from Carlos because he has found happiness outside MS13

Conspiracies: Plots to kill Carlos’ family and friends

Secrets: Knows that Carlos killed Dani’s sister on his order.

Deception: Plays up his old loyalties in the beginning, all while planning to betray him

Unspoken Wound: That Carlos left the gang. They were like brothers.

Secret Identity: Carlos’ friend and brother

Character Name: Father Diego

Role: Triangle Character, Carlos’s priest and mentor

Hidden agendas: To have Carlos replace him as the ferryman of the damned

Competition:

Conspiracies: Grooms Carlos to a walk a dark path to complete a secret ritual

Secrets: He’s dead

Deception: Hiding the danger that Carlos is really in as he gets more obsessed with the Meat Wagon

Unspoken Wound: Knowing that he has to take a life in order to save his own.

Secret Identity: An undead servant of the devil in the guise of a priest

[Linda Kish]

Linda’s Character Intrigue

My Vision is: I will do whatever it takes to be a sought-after profound writer with many successful movies produced and an Oscar on my mantel.

What I learned doing this assignment is each of these layers adds more intrigue and interest in the characters and the situations they are in.

Character Name: Joaquin

· Role: Protagonist who must beat ruthless cartel members, at a competition that rewards crimes, to protect his family and the community.

· Hidden agendas: Uses his listening skills, ability to be ignored, and the confidence of Rodrigo to learn how to take down his enemies.

· Competition: Secretly enters the competition and knows the only way to survive is to win.

· Conspiracies: The community is behind him and help him when they can without getting caught.

· Secrets: What he learns from Rodrigo.

· Deception: Makes Arturo believe his hallucinations are getting worse and he no longer knows what is real and what is not.

· Unspoken Wound: Blames Rodrigo and the cartel for his father’s death and he and his family being trapped in this life.

· Secret Identity: Future head of the cartel.

Character Name: Arturo

· Role: Antagonist who lures Joaquin into the competition.

· Hidden Agenda: To set Joaquin up so his wife loses respect for him. And then to kill him.

· Competition: Declares his victory before the competition even starts to dissuade his competitors.

· Conspiracy: Arturo conspires to have Joaquin killed so he doesn’t blow his chance at winning with Rodrigo.

· Secrets: His enduring love for Joaquin’s wife.

· Deception: Deceives Rodrigo into thinking he’s going to protect Joaquin.

· Unspoken Wound: Losing the love of his life because of his own actions.

· Secret Identity: Struggling with his choices in life / wants to be someone he can never be anymore.

[Paul Mahoney]

Paul Mahoney’s Character Intrigue

My vision is to be a successful full-time writer with a good steady income, who constantly learns, enjoys life, creates employment for others and brings joy, fun, fulfilment, health, happiness, inspiration & an attitude of gratitude to my partner and others.

What I learned doing this assignment was more about some of my characters.

Character Name: Ted

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: Wants to keep his sex life secret, then when he is outed he wants to keep his suicide attempt secret.

Competition: Initially wants to be the world’s fastest at something, because he thinks that will make him popular with the girls. Wanting to find out off anyone he can how to stop being a premature ejaculator.

Conspiracies: Ted convinces another patient not to swallow their pills, the other patient keeps secret that the pills they take are a laxative.

Secrets: His sex life, his plan to kill himself.

Deception: That he is happy.Unspoken

Wound: That he has always felt like a failure.

Secret Identity: That he is the guy on youtube everyone is raving about.

Character Name: Mrs. Wagner

Role: Primary School Teacher

Hidden agendas: She sometimes likes fucking people up.

Competition: The Devil is the another teacher at school – the Sports Coach or maybe Drama teacher.

Conspiracies: Has bet with the Devil re: Dan’s soul.

Secrets: That she can change people’s destiny just like that.

Deception: Convinces others she is a teacher.Unspoken Wound: People don’t listen to her no matter what she does – plagues, floods, turning people into salt. None of it works.

Secret Identity: That she is secretly God.

Character Name: Kyla

Role: Sex Therapist

Hidden agendas: Planning to keep Dan in the psychiatric ward, even though he should be free to go.

Competition: Worried about others getting close to Dan.

Conspiracies: Lets her psychiatrist know what she is up to.

Secrets: She is the primary school girl who has always been in love with Dan.

Deception: Pretends she doesn’t know him or went to his school.

Unspoken Wound: Dan never responded to her valentine’s card.

Secret Identity: Dan’s first true love.

[John Trimbach]

John T’s Character Intrigue <div>Vision: I would like to become an industry new face known for reliable box office successes and concepts that entertain audiences the world over. </div><div> What I learned doing this assignment is that the dynamics of character traits makes for a lot of clashes and subtext plays. • </div>

<div>Character Name: Phil Conner • </div><div>Role: protagonist • </div><div>Hidden agendas: Deceive and allude Agent Derringer • </div><div>Competition: Discover who the killer is before Derringer does. • </div><div>Conspiracies: Lie his way out of being a suspect • </div><div>Secrets: Finds murder clues, begins to suspect crew members • </div><div>Deception: lies to Derringer about his whereabouts • </div><div>Unspoken Wound: guilty over his failed marriage and Lorie’s murder – he should have prevented it somehow. • </div><div>Secret Identity: pretends to respond positively to Louise’s advances in order to get closer to possible suspects. • </div>

<div>Character Name: Ben Derringer • </div><div>Role: Antagonist • </div><div>Hidden agendas: Wants to use the serial murder case to make a name for himself. • Competition: wants to nail Phil by catching him in the act of murdering his next victim. • Conspiracies: takes short cuts with the case – taps Phil’s phone and searches his apartment. • Secrets: resents his father’s lack of faith in him. • </div><div>Deception: Lies to his supervisor about his progress on the case. • </div><div>Unspoken Wound: smothered by his father’s legacy • </div><div>Secret Identity: rogue agent – justifies breaking the rules and ethics of investigation, convinces himself his hunches are correct • </div>

<div>Character Name: Louise • </div><div>Role: hidden antagonist • </div><div>Hidden agendas: lure Phil into a relationship, really likes him – he’s the only one who respects her and is kind to her. • </div><div>Competition: must also outfox FBI agent who’s getting too close to solving the case • Conspiracies: must fool everyone, especially Phil. • </div><div>Secrets: everyone is fooled by her disguise • </div><div>Deception: she’s a he. • </div><div>Unspoken Wound: hides the wounds of deep sexual abuse and identity dysphoria. • </div><div>Secret Identity: the killer
</div>

[Kevin Cunningham]

Kevin Cunningham’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: By making my high-quality writing and speaking known in many venues (the Industry, Youtube, podcasts, books), I will create a reputation as a profoundly powerful, thoughtful, and skilled writer, and be sought after for new and rewrite activities at the highest levels.

What I learned from doing this assignment: This exercise works better for me than the “subtext” exercise because here I can see goals and plans, and can immediately see how they would play out in conflict/plot. It’s interesting to invent characters whose secrets intersect with each others’ in complex ways – it drives story.

——

Character Name: MUKKI

Role: Protagonist

Unspoken Wound: Mukki’s father left the family when Mukki was young – a black father who did not feel that he belonged to the tribe.

Competition: Was always seen as a slacker – trying to prove them wrong, but he’s sluggish.

Hidden agendas: Trying to move forward the goals his grandfather had entrusted to him.

Deception: Pretends to be clever (but everyone sees through him).

Secrets: In love with the Powwow Princess.

Secret Identity: The hero of his video games.

How character’s subtext could show up: Mukki is vulnerable to strong men, father figures. He doesn’t know which to turn to, but they all entice him.

——

Character Name: DREW FOX

Role: Antagonist (?)

Hidden agendas: He’s manipulating the whole town and the tribe to make the land available to him as a developer

Conspiracies: He’s setting up little subterfuges with various parties – all unknown to each other.

Secrets: He’d cheated on his wife years ago at a Conference in Vegas, and never told her, but it wears on him and he’s never forgiven himself for it (but he hasn’t done it again).

Deception: Misleads others to get his ways. Doesn’t let them know his fingers are in every pie.

Unspoken Wound: Father was a womanizer who he feels misled him down the wrong path; he wants to be a good father to his children – who are only girls, so no man he can bring up. He coached soccer – girls soccer.

Secret Identity:

How character’s subtext could show up: Mr. Fox is in the middle of everything, casual, charismatic. He tries to manipulate Mukki, but actually realizes he likes Mukki – he never had a son and it’s a deeply emotional experience for him to try to teach Mukki what he knows. Mukki, through Mr. Fox’s daughter, eventually accuses Mr. Fox of just using him, and this rocks Mr. Fox to the core: is it true? He’s not sure. Meanwhile, he’s cultivating relationships with everyone else in town and in the tribe, notably siding with a black sheep native developer who wants to make a real estate killing. Mr. Fox eventually has a change of heart and saves Mukki from the worst of the menaces.

——

Character Name: JESSIE MASNUBIC

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: She is angling for progressive values, inclusion and equity etc., but she kind of really just wants power – to quell the upset in her when she faces people who are different from her.

Competition: She’s trying to outdo everyone on the righteousness scale, and will reach into dark places to crush her competitors (as hypocritical as that is).

Secrets: Her husband wants to transition to a woman, and she doesn’t know what this means about her. Is her household missing femininity?

Deception: Pretends to be nice and caring, but is kind of a white savior rather than an empathetic helper.

Unspoken Wound: Her perfectionist parents were never satisfied with her – but maybe it was because she was such a selfish jerk? (Only child)

Secret Identity: The Town’s – and the planet’s – savior. Hero is Susan B. Anthony?

How character’s subtext could show up: Jessie is a strident basketcase, but she has many followers. She fights the good fight, champions progressive causes, but she’s never happy. Instead she excoriates her “enemies” and stands up for the “downtrodden”. She all into white fragility, but as a power play to deal with her guilt. Her marriage kind of collapses and she doesn’t know what to do so she throws herself into the town politics. She tries to control Mukki because he’s a stupid savage – she would never say this, she just thinks he’s had an unfortunate upbringing because of the white patriarchy.

[David Scott Smith]

David Scott Smith’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: I am going to do whatever it takes for me to become a legend in both the filmmaking community and popular movie culture, so much so that audiences will stand in lines around the block to see my movies the way I did for Star Wars, ET and Raiders, and I will be buried with the 5 Academy awards given my work, and a tombstone that reads, “Awesome as fuck!”

What I learned doing this lesson: I like exploring these aspects of intrigue and subtext… My characters feel like they have all of them all the time.

Character Name: Queen Bee

Role: Triangle

Hidden agendas: The character has a covert plan and is implementing a strategy or taking action to accomplish a goal that affects others without their knowledge. Queen Bee has a hidden agenda to prove that her theory about this new transmission is correct behind the backs of her OIC and trainer who have told her that she’s wrong and to ignore it. Also, when Storm has to lie to her and tell her the signal is nothing, she has a hidden agenda to keep looking for the source of this signal.

Competition: the character is striving to outdo another for acknowledgement, prize, profit, power or some other thing of value. Queen Bee is in competition with her trainer and OIC who both think she’s barking up the wrong tree.

Conspiracies: A secret plan by two or more people to do something unlawful or harmful, to work covertly against someone else. Storm and Queen Bee make a secret plan to prove her theories about new Soviet communications behind the backs of her officer in charge.

Secrets: secrets are something they keep hidden or concealed from others that impacts the situation. QB keeps hidden her personal past, her current position on the base is TopSecret so she keeps that hidden, her work with Storm is beyond top secret.

Deception: Causing someone to believe something that is not true – she will have to deceive many people with her cover stories and fibs to get things done.

Unspoken Wound: Being called “stupid” her whole life. She sucked in traditional school work – dyslexic – got pregnant young, “trapped” never got to explore her own potential. Being called stupid is a trigger for her. She at first admits that she must be, and then works obsessively behind the scenes to prove that she was right.

Secret Identity: There’s two levels of this for QB: the first is hiding as much of her background as possible… She hides that she has a son and ex husband, and that she was abused not only by her mother but also by her husband, and that they have a bond and have successfully gotten the husband custody of her son; The second is when she starts working for Storm, she suddenly has a new secret identity – that she’s “mission critical” and is actually doing something far more directly & tangibly worthwhile to protect the United States.

Character Name: Storm

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: Storm has hidden agendas at every level – his boss dictates his mission, he has to hide his true mission from everyone else, but still get them to do work in their specialty for him, without them know the details.

Competition: A competition develops between Storm and Danil and the Americans vs Soviets in general.

Conspiracies: Storm conspires with his boss, Storm conspires with QB, Storm conspires with Soviet agents he turns.

Secrets: Storm keeps secret how poorly his first mission went.

Deception: Storm deceives his wife, his kids, into believing that he’s doing things other than what he’s doing.

Unspoken Wound: His father shot him and he promised himself that he would always be there for the helpless.

Secret Identity: Storm has a giant secret identity, that he’s working for someone completely different than the military.

Character Name: Danil

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: Danil has a hidden agenda to affect Storm and his team.

Competition: Danil is striving to outdo other agents at his level to impress his bosses. Danil strives to outdo Storm.

Conspiracies: Danil conspires with his team to kill members of Storm’s team, get more info from the mole, etc

Secrets:

Deception: He deceives all the civilians around him, in the apartment building, etc by pretending to be older, and unimportant

Unspoken Wound: x

Secret Identity: Storm and QB have one form of covert identity (within their ranks they are covert, BUT they are in the American military, so their identity as US Military is obvious to all who see them in uniform. But Danil is a covert Spetsnaz agent, which means he hides in plain sight. He has a cover identity, cover clothes that hide his muscular body, cover body language (he slouches to play older than he is), colors his hair to appear older, wears glasses that he doesn’t need to soften his image. Everything he does has a double meaning. He walks a lot to lose tails, throw people off, sends signals, does dead drops, meets covertly.

[Farrin Rosenthal]

Farrin Rosenthal’s Character Intrigue

Farrin’s Vision: To do what it takes to become a highly paid A-List Hollywood writer whose produced movies will entertain audiences around the world.

What I learned doing this assignment is how to add intrigue as subtext for my main characters. Intrigue shows up as hidden layers. Characters hide things from each other and the audience and this makes us want to know more and figure out what is really going on. We don’t know the answers because characters are withholding information or being deceptive to trick or challenge others. Below are the intriguing layers my two leads will use and how they will show up.

Title: TRAPPED

Genre: Thriller

Concept: Claustrophobic and trapped in a box at the bottom of a pool for stealing $3.6 billion in Bitcoin from the Russian mob, a Los Angeles retail store manager has just 60 minutes to
prove his innocence and save his family.

Character Name: Dmitriy

Role: Russian Mob Boss

Hidden agendas: Has set up a plan to kidnap Tom and his family and to torture Tom in an underwater grave until Tom confesses to stealing from him.

Conspiracies: He is working with his brother to carry out the plan.

Secrets: Has many secrets he will slowly reveal to Tom.

Deception: Will use deception and threats against Tom to get him to confess.

Unspoken Wound: Someone stealing billions from him causes him inner rage that cannot be contained. Grew up poor watching his parents die early struggling to support his brother and him, never wants to feel that sense of hopelessness ever again.

Character Name: Tom Carter

Role: Captive

Secrets: Hides his past computer programming experience and the fact he is of Ukrainian decent.

Deception: Will use deception against Dmitriy to escape.

Unspoken Wound: Hides that he is claustrophobic, but fails, hides the fact he was trapped in an elevator as a teen, was bullied in school and uses humor to cope during stressful situations.

[Bob DeCarli]

Bob DeCarli’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: To master my craft to the point where I’ve earned a reputation as the screenwriter top producers, directors, and stars can call upon when they need someone to save the day.

What I learned: A continuing struggle – to remain open to new things and not get locked into a particular story too early.

Character Name: YOUNG JUDGE (YG)

Role: Antagonist; a young, newly appointed, conservative judge.

Hidden agendas: Prevent his juvenile crimes from being discovered.

Competition: With the older, liberal judge (this is what we first see of him). And this is especially triggered when she suggests re-assigning the eminent domain case.

Conspiracies: With DR, to avoid arrest; with DR, to discover who framed him.

Secrets: He murdered someone in his youth.

Secret Identity: Criminal, like the very people he’s willing sentence to death or long prison sentences.

Character Name: DEATH ROW (DR)

Role: The career criminal who YG has just sentenced to death, and who hold the key to YG disproving the false allegations against him.

Hidden agendas: Protecting the innocent people in his neighborhood who will lose their homes if the development goes forward; he’s not helping YG with the hope of clearing himself, but to expose those planning to destroy his community with their development.

Secrets: His reason for committing the murder that gave rise to his death sentence:

Secret Identity: Hero

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Bob DeCarli.

[Nat Melvin]

Natalie’s Character Intrigue

My vision is to create and produce award winning stories that make an unforgettable emotional impact on a worldwide audience.

What I learned from this assignment is that there is more room to enrich characters

1. Character Name: EMILY KINGSLEY

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: To be together with Hagan

Secrets: Has been in love with Hagan since their childhood

Unspoken Wound: Believes she is unworthy of anything good

Secret Identity: Switches between mother & child

How that character’s subtext might show up: Breaks away from her self-inflicted confinement to follow Hagan; Makes risky and dangerous moves just to see Hagan; Wants to find their “child” so she can get him back; Blocks her memories, has flashbacks of the child being in danger

2. Character Name: WALTER KINGSLEY

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: To eliminate potential heirs to the estate

Competition: Walter wants to kill Hagan because of being rejected by Emily for Hagan.

Conspiracies: Conspires with Emily’s friend, Teresa, to lure Emily into the tunnel

Secrets: Kills to prove his power; In love with Emily, wants her back

Deception: Crossdresser who impersonates family members to his advantage

Unspoken Wound: Being rejected by Emily and family as the rightful heir

Secret Identity: Entitled heir of the estate

How that character’s subtext might show up: Walter interacts with all characters mostly as someone else

3. Character Name: HAGAN VALENTINE

Role: Love interest

Hidden agendas: to get his daughter back

Competition: Lady Winslet who keeps Hagan’s daughter away

Conspiracies: Hires detective Mike to find family records book

Secrets: Wants to destroy his snobbish family

Unspoken Wound: Childhood trauma of seeing his mother killed by his father

How that character’s subtext might show up: Plots against Lady WInslet to take his daughter back

[Teresa Rodriguez]

Teresa Rodriguez’s Character Intrigue

• MY VISION: I will become a highly respected and influential writer/producer with my own successful production company that I can leave as a blessing to my children and many generations to come.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that bad is good. It’s good to make the good characters a little bad.

• Character Name: Lily White

• Role: Imperfect Princess who runs away to America to escape her perfectionist fairytale upbringing.

• Hidden agendas: Wants to live a normal life, give up the throne.

• Unspoken Wound: She knows her father wanted a boy.

• Secret Identity: Pretends she’s an orphan who came to America to live the dream.

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Lily: secret wound effects everything she does, low self-esteem, will sabotage a relationship if anyone tries to get too close to her.

• Character Name: Moody

• Role: King’s top knight and defender

• Hidden agendas: Wants to take over the throne.

• Competition: Lily and her co-worker/boyfriend

• Conspiracies: His great-great-grandpa was Grumpy.

• Secrets: Dwarf coerced the king into promising that if he finds Lily, he can have her hand in marriage.

• Deception: Dwarf will convince Lily that the handsome co-working is trying to kidnap her for the reward money

• Unspoken Wound: bitter because King denied him a chance to marry Lily

• Secret Identity: Poses as a business owner who agrees to let Lily do community time at his business, so he can play her.

•

• 3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie

• Moody has a victim mentality but covers it by being a charming perfectionist and when triggered, he becomes overly critical.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Intrigue Characters

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by giving actor intrigue traits, you can give characters more depth as well as interesting scenes and situations to play in.

Character Name: Rizzo

Role: ProtagonistHidden agendas: Rizzo wants to take her brother home Competition: Rizzo is sometimes in competition with her own brother?Conspiracies: ?Secrets: She is attracted to Frank even if they don’t like each other. Deception: Once Rizzo is aware she must save her real brother, she summons courage to trick everyone so that she can go into Black Time. She covers up her agoraphobia by trying to stay in her room. Unspoken Wound: She feels guilty for causing the car accident that killed her and Marcus’ parents.Secret Identity: She is more courageous when she is inside someone’s memory than when she is herself.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Rizzo wants to get Marcus off the secret facility so she can nurse him back to health and smother him. Rizzo wants everything to be the way it was.

Character Name: Marcus

Role: Protagonist’s twin brother.Hidden agendas: He wants to get away from his sister because she smothers him.Competition: He feels he has to compete with her.Conspiracies: ?Secrets: He had a row with Frank because he was able to lead the team although Frank had time seniority. Or the row can be from a previous mission gone wrong.Deception: He uses his job as an excuse to escape from his sister. Unspoken Wound: He secretly hates his sister for causing the car accident that killed their parents.Secret Identity: He works at a secret facility.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Marcus tries his best to be the loving brother who can take everything but underneath she throws at him, but he resents his sister.

Character Name: Marcus Doppler

Role: Protagonist’s twin brother’s doppelgangerHidden agendas: He wants to create his own community of doppelgangers in our world and eventually larger.Competition: He is competing with the real Marcus for the right to live on our world.Conspiracies: He will help other doppelgangers to come over.Secrets: Deception: He tries to take control of the facility to stop Marcus from coming back but also allow his fellow dopplers to come over to our world. Unspoken Wound: He wants to live a full life and not suffer in a lifeless (metaphorically) parallel world. Secret Identity: He is Marcus’ doppelganger.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Marcus doppelganger must hide his real identity and his limited memory from Rizzo and the crew.

[Jane Turville]

Jane’s Character Intrigue

MY VISION: I will make my living as a screenwriter by selling my own narrative scripts and successfully fulfilling writing assignments.

By doing this assignment I allowed myself to imagine these two characters 180 degrees from what we know about them. June is antsy, dissatisfied with her calm life and dull routine, even if it is punctuated by murders most foul. Percival fears no being relevant more than anything else in the world. He’s willing to cheat to win. He’s also trying a new career, one that he is absolutely not suited for but feels that he is. And this leads to the twist in the tale!! I wouldn’t have come up with these ideas without doing this assignment.

Character Name: June Marvel

Role: Protagonist/Antagonist for Percival Heriot

Hidden Agenda: June intends to “disappear” from the home and start a new, more adventurous life.

Competition: June openly challenges Percival to a competition.

Secret: June knows that she has untapped abilities in solving mysteries; much more than just a knowledge of human nature.

Secret Identity: June secretly believes herself to be Beryl Markham’s daughter.

Hidden Agenda: June’s plans to leave the rehabilitation home and start a new life get tangled up with the crime she has committed that Percival must solve. Instead of solving the crime, he exposes her plan.

Secret: When June and Percival are pursued by the killer, it is June that is able to rely on her knowledge of medieval architecture to find the hidden passage to freedom. It does however, take busting down a wall.

Secret Identity: June’s “unsolvable crime” that she taxes Percival with involves proving that Beryl Markham had a daughter and that she is her!

Character Name: Percival Heriot

Role: Protagonist/Antagonist for June Marvel

Secret: Percival is terrified on growing old and being cast aside – of being “normal.”

Competition: Percival openly accepts June’s challenge.

Deception: Percival manipulates people in order to remain in the spotlight.

Secret Identity: Percival moonlights as Aunt Lily, an online “affairs of the heart” columnist.

Secret: Percival magnifies his role in finding one of the resident’s lost jewelry, even though she had absentmindedly forgot to put it away.

Deception: Percival manipulates his sidekick, General Clutterbuck to alter the “crime” he has created for June to solve in order to guarantee that June will lose the competition.

Secret Identity: In the wee hours of the morning, Percival answers questions from his Aunt Lily fan base. The Aunt Lily persona is the catalyst for the real killers motivations.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Intrigue

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Increasing the facets of characters increases their believability.

Character Name: Darin August

Role: Protagonist

Hidden Agendas:

Competition:

Conspiracies: Once suspicious of Hank’s involvement with her sister’s death – – Darin hatches a plan with Leff-T to keep him close. She feigns trusting him and feeds him false scientific information to see if he uses it illicitly.

Secrets: Darin hides her having fallen of the wagon from her employer in order to remain employed and hold on to the biggest commission of her life. Darin has protected Livie since they were teenagers by taking responsibility for a shooting Livie committed as a child.

Deception: Once sober – -Darin feigns still drinking in order to con Hank into thinking he is still controlling her.

Unspoken Wound: Darin was sexually abused by her stepfather as a teen. Her mother, Leighton, refuses to acknowledge it and holds Darin responsible for the collapse of her marriage.

Secret Identity:

How might her subtext show up in the movie? She is subconsciously trying to go back and protect Livie from childhood abuse by avenging her death now. Darin’s self-loathing manifests in her drinking.

______________________________________________________________________________

Character Name: Hank Sanford

Role: Antagonist

Hidden Agendas: Hank constantly “talks shop” with Darin – – feigning a fascination with her profession – – in order to pump her for scientific secrets he can use to funnel to a cartel to successfully smuggle drugs.

Competition:

Conspiracies: Hank is conspiring with the drug cartel to keep Darin drunk in order to keep him off her scent.

Secrets: Hank’s affair with a junkie.

Deception: Convincing Darin that alcohol is helping her through her grief.

Unspoken Wound: Responsibility in his wife’s death.

Secret Identity: He is an undercover cop actually working FOR the drug cartel he is investigating.

How might his subtext show up in the movie? Not knowing when to stop. Being controlled by the very excesses he uses to control others. Being willing to throw his working dog under the metaphorical bus.

[Jill Clifford]

Jill Clifford’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: I am going to become skillful enough as a screenwriter that I can to get my scripts into the hands of producers, and ultimately get one or more into a produced feature film.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that every character has some secrets and past history that can give their roles deeper meaning.

Character Name: Hagen (Alejendro)

Role: Undercover INS agent

Hidden agendas: Hagen is seeking out illegal Hispanic immigrants to deport, and to arrest the farm manager who is hiring and hiding them.

Secrets/ Secret Identity: Hagen is an undercover INS agent who hates Hispanics and hates being mistaken for one, and hates having to pretend to be one for his undercover job.

Unspoken Wound: Hagen is heartbroken over the murders of his sister and of the little girl he risked his life to rescue.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie: Although Hagen is of Greek ancestry and hates Hispanics, he accepts an undercover job as a Hispanic migrant farm worker after two Hispanic men rape and kill his sister.

Character Name: Rosa (Isabella)

Role: Illegal alien, who eventually becomes Hagen’s love interest

Secrets/Secret Identity: She is hiding from a killer, and hiding her true identity as an illegal immigrant from the authorities, but she cares deeply for the plight of the other illegal workers.

Unspoken Wound: She fled from her home in Mexico after witnessing her family being executed by a drug lord and his thugs, and knows she is being hunted by the killers.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie: Rosa, as Isabella, explains to Hagen, whom she knows as Alejendro, how dire the lot of the illegals is, that they can be beaten, raped, and cheated with the constant threat of deportation – they have neither refuge nor protection.

Character Name: Clint

Role: Farm manager and mass murderer

Hidden agendas: Clint tries to get as much as he can for himself through fraud, while fooling the farm owner into thinking he is an honest man. He also plots to steal from his direct help and the farm laborers.

Conspiracies: Clint conspires with two of the men who oversee the laborers and work for him to kill a number of the laborers for their summer pay.

Secrets: Clint keeps two sets of accounting books and another set of two books for the laborers.

Unspoken Wound: Clint’s family actually once owned the farm where he works and he wants it back.

Secret Identity: Clint appears to be a hard-working manager, but is actually a mass murderer.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie: Clint does not care about anyone, and will even kill one of his own co-conspirators to protect himself and get a bigger cut of the money.

[Susan Arnout Smith]

Susan Arnout Smith’s Great Amazing Vision: I co-create with God projects that are produced, win awards, heal hearts and that bring me financial abundance and time to explore the world with my family and friends.

What I learned from this: If I just do the assignment in front of me, if I allow myself to relax into it, I can help dissolve perfectionism as I learn exciting and interesting things about my characters.

For each of your main characters, use this list to brainstorm one or more Intrigue items that might apply. You don’t need all of them; just one or two.

Character Name: Esme Cooper<div>

Role: A scrappy Halfling who must conquer evil to save the kingdom of Cantoria.

Hidden agendas: When she’s cloaked under the Veil of Forgetfulness, she uses her amnesia as protection while her goal is to retrieve her memory, where her mother has stored the secrets needed to restore the kingdom. Her hidden agenda is to get close enough to the queen to kill her.

Unspoken Wound: Esme believes she’s responsible for the major losses suffered by Cantoria; if she’d been a better daughter/person, the kingdom would have remained safe and intact.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie. Esme uses her age and seeming lack of knowledge to protect herself as she secretly works at regaining her memory and taking down the evil queen. Her unspoken wound is evident throughout the script as she deals with the loss of her family and her part in it.

__

Character Name: Her High Holy Most Marvelous Muchness, (aka Mary Fortuna)</div><div>

Role: The evil queen, also a legal advocate for homeless kids

Secrets: The queen knows that the secret hidden in the prophesy is that Cantoria will be destroyed…only if Esme goes off-planet. So her immediate goal is getting Esme and her family to flee Cantoria.

Unspoken Wound: Her relationship with Ilya (Esme’s mother) and her deep losses, leading to her rage at Esme and desire to obliterate her and Cantoria.

Secret Identity: At some point, the queen is disguised as a court advocate for homeless kids.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie. The queen’s goal is to destroy Cantoria by getting Esme to flee. Once this is accomplished, she is led deeper into the prophesy: Cantoria only dies if and when Esme is captured and killed, which leads to the queen assuming a hidden identity and following her to Earth.

</div>

[Christopher Dalbey]

Christopher Dalbey’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: To claim “screenwriter” as my primary profession and have the time to write as prolifically as I intend, to be well respected and sought after in the industry for my scripts that are both memorable and ground-breaking.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that the more that is tucked in the subtext the more the audience will be intrigued by the characters journeys.

Concept: In the future, a top psychologist is assigned a transcriber with empath and supernatural abilities who puts herself in the shoes of the world’s deadliest criminals, covertly becoming their judge and jury.

Title: THE TRANSCRIBER

Character Name: NIA COLEMAN

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: A killer among killers; to find her husband’s killer and dughter’s assailant.

Competition: The killers she helps assess in therapy. Also, Dr. Dahl.

Conspiracies: As different identities in time travel, she conspires with her blind daughter to discover the truths of these killers and to find her husband’s murderer.

Secrets: Investigates the killers on her own terms in an altered dimension.

Deception: Misleads Dr. Dahl in believing she and her are making headway with unorthodox methods when she is making better progress in alternate dimension.

Unspoken Wound: Her tumultuous past of drugs and crime.

Secret Identity: Feels more like herself as a supernatural power in time now travel universe; the unsung hero in another dimension.

Character Name: DR. DAHL

Role: Antagonist

Hidden agendas: To lead her army of hybrid killers to victory over humankind, to secure her place in the new world.

Competition: Her assigned transcriber, Nia, who works closely with her with all the killers in real time.

Conspiracies: Plots to be awarded a powerful figure in the new world for her merits in aiding the new order to victory over humankind.

Secrets: She is a deviant who seduces her treated subjects fro sexual gratification. Knows Jayla is her real daughter.

Deception: Plays up her role as the psycho-therapist who has the remedy to win the war, all while acting as a decoy for social gain and status with the new order.

Unspoken Wound: she was sexually assualted and had a child (Jayla) that she gave up for adoption.

Secret Identity: A high ranking general of the hybrid killer army.

Character Name: JAYLA COLEMAN

Role: Triangle Character, Dr. Dahl’s biological daughter.

Hidden agendas: To aid Nia in her time travel battles.

Competition: The hybrid killers that she and Nia face in the alternate dimension.

Conspiracies: Believes Nia can save the world from ruin and wants to be like her.

Secrets: She is helping Nia fight the killers in time travel.

Deception: Hiding from Nia and Dr. Dahl that she is gifted with supernatural powers in time travel realm as well as in the real future world.

Unspoken Wound: Her mother’s love and affection.

Secret Identity: A super power in both the real world and in time travel.

[Jacqueline Murphy]

Jacqueline Murphy Character Intrigue MOD 3 Lesson 4 August 8, 2022

VISION: To empower myself to go for my dreams to be a great writer, actress and filmmaker who is “Admired”, recognized and sought after by the industry and has many successful TV & Film projects produced that make a difference and inspire others to go for their dreams.

What I learned from doing this assignment is just playing around with the different types of intrigue opens door for more behavior and subtext and makes the characters more dimensional and fun. Not cookie cutter types who are boring. Hopefully I can keep adding so you’ll be thrilled and wonder what will they come up with and do next!

1. Start by empowering yourself using our State-To-Activity empowerment process. State: I just love discovering…Activity: …the intrigue of my characters!

2. For each of your main characters, use this list to brainstorm one or more Intrigue items that might apply. You don’t need all of them; just one or two.

Character Name: Olivia Spencer Role: Heroine/Undercover spy/duplicitous con artist-actress playing along Hidden agendas: to make it as a star & find out who her father is & if he’s alive Competition: She fights for acknowledgement, to big a big star and for power so she won’t feel abandoned and pushed aside Conspiracies: Olivia conspires with Angelica to win the OH Dimension away from Mr. Z and w. Mr. Z to get info about Angelica. She “plays” & flirts with danger with Davey Haze the Mafia Boss-Club Owner & Sam Meyer the Studio Head Secrets: Olivia is having an affair with the dashing but married Oscar winning director knowing she can hold some strings over the studio head who holds power over the Mafia Boss. She’s great at creating a triangle with herself in power, knowing there is something for her in the OH dimension but not sure what based on overheard family conversations as a child. She hides the fact she was illegitimate Deception: Olivia plays along with Mr. Z that she knows “nothing” about this OH dimension esp after Angelica and her “mentor” a head witch informs her so she can keep the cards in her hand. Olivia also “flirts” with all the men in her life: Mr. Z, Davey Haze, Studio Head Sam, and the director to keep them on “her side” Unspoken Wound: The traumatic experience with a major loss growing up “fatherless” and of never knowing her father, if she was illegitimate, if her mom made up stories or if they were true. With the death of her mom she has no immediate family left and that haunts her and shapes a lot of their coping decisions and drives her forward to breakthrough and find out the truth about herself. Secret Identity: A voyeur/spy in the OH dimension who is searching for clues about her life and how to move herself ahead in this world and/or find out info that will help in the Modern real world. Character Name: Mr. Z Role: Sorcerer from the OH Dimension manipulating Olivia so he can usurp her genetic talent that is hidden to her and tip-toe away with the power and rule OH Hidden agendas: Z. works at seducing Olivia tempting her with the magic ablity to give her dreams to be a big star and find out more about her past Competition: Z wants what Olivia has the ability to make him a ruler Conspiracies: Hushes Angelica up by threatening to expose the truth of who A is to Olivia and put a wedge between their friendship. Z wants to “trick” Olivia and take the kaleidoscope from her as it’s the key to his ascending the OH Throne Secrets: Z is falling in love with Olivia but covers it because power is more important. Keeps his desire to rule from her and doesn’t let on to anyone or her who she really is. Thwarts Olivia from her true role. Has a nagging feeling that they may be connected as a family. Deception: Z tells Olivia he has much more power than he does and hints he knows things about her father to make her more vulnerable. Unspoken Wound: Had the traumatic experience of being denied the throne because he is not the true heir and was thrown out of OH and in FACT it is with his having Olivia as the “time traveler” he has re-entered under the radar. He copes with covering who he really is all over the place. Secret Identity: A spy/con man who hates what he has become but lack of love and acknowledgement and feeling lost has led him to a very lonely, desperate and sad place and he really feels like a victim.

3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Olivia is a “fish out of water” or the Helpless damsel, new kid on the block in this OH dimension putting up the front that she’s a star, dodging arrows for Starlet wanting her part, people wanting her for her money and fame. Olivia transforms according to what needed and “ “acts” like a spy with a hard core or a flirt or “shrink” watching closely people’s behavior and where their feet go not always what they say. **What she doesn’t realize is that the reason she’s able to “transform” and play so many roles “effectively” especially in the OH Dimension is that her “hidden genetic talent” is getting stronger and “magnetizes” in the OH world. She’ll don a costume and watch behind the scene as a spy to get to the truth of who she is and to get a handle on the OH world. Olivia starts to really enjoy and get addicted to “playing” roles using her acting abilities with others to see what is really happening and how far she can get and push it! For Olivia being an astute poker-face observer and good player equals-Information which becomes power!

Mr. Z makes like his power is huge and Olivia feel like a victim so he can see how she deals with being abandoned and lost and work through his own craziness. Z promises Olivia many things but doesn’t deliver & he manipulates her- the way he feels he’s been manipulated. He searches to flex his muscle and see if she’d want him especially when he feels detestable and tries to romance Olivia then shuns her putting on her his own loss. He feels powerless, unloved and unwanted like the “Joker” in Batman and wishes he had Olivia’s zest and powers and throughs her off the trail of who she really is all the time.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by  Jacqueline Murphy.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by  Jacqueline Murphy.

[savanna]

3:4

Link in Bio

My vision is to take my broken heart and turn it into art with financial success and attention necessary to promote my human rights work

What I learned is that I can allow characters to have layers

LIMINANI

intriguing traits include unspoken wound of husband’s Austin affair with Savannah taking up for Austin; hidden agenda of projecting career dissatisfaction on female relatives

AUSTIN

intriguing traits include hidden agenda of disparaging sisters who are favored by father and resulting competition for a pat on the head

SAVANNAH

intriguing traits include unspoken wound of being molested and groomed by father; secret of affair with Rich

BURT

intriguing trait of attraction to young girls hidden by frequent trips to Thailand and India for sex with trafficked girls

[Marcus Armstrong]

Marcus Armstrong’s Character Intrigue

MY VISION: I am going to be so disciplined in the daily writing process and become such an adept writer that my successful screenplays will launch me into a full-time writing career.

What I learned from doing this assignment is the character development isn’t difficult once I commit to actually sitting at the keyboard to allow the ideas to generate.

Ivory Coast

Character Name: Edmund

Subtext Identity: An environmentalist who was wounded from being bullied as a child.

Subtext Trait: Secretive, vengeful.

Subtext Logline: Edmund is an environmentalist who was bullied as a child and is now secretly out for revenge against animal poachers.

Possible Areas of Subtext: Lives a double life as nobody knows he is avenging the deaths of poached animals. He is intent on standing up for the helpless.

Character Name: Raymond

Subtext Identity: A U.S. Marshal tasked with tracking down the killer of animal poachers (Edmund), but is secretly involved in illegal poaching.

Subtext Trait: Unethical, dirty agent

Subtext Logline: Raymond is a U.S. Marshal tasked with tracking down the killer of animal poachers, but is an unethical, dirty agent and is secretly involved in the illegal poaching.

Possible Areas of Subtext: Pretends to uphold the law, but his motive for capturing Edmund is actually due to his own financial gain from poaching. Beloved by neighbors and fellow agents, but is dirty.

Character Name: Isabella

Subtext Identity: Zookeeper married to Raymond, but used to date Edmund while in college.

Subtext Trait: Secretly in love with the vigilante.

Subtext Logline: Isabella is a zookeeper who is married to the U.S. Marshal charged with tracking her ex-boyfriend, who she still loves.

Possible Areas of Subtext: On the surface she pretends to love and support her husband, but is sabotaging his efforts to catch the vigilante. She is plotting her escape to be with Raymond.

[Daniel Turner]

Daniel Turner’s Character Intrigue

Vision: to become a produced and well regarded and in demand writer.

What I keep learning doing these assignments is that I really need to build and invest in a character and they need more than good dialog to come alive.

Character Name: Colvile Franklin

Role: Protagonist

Competition: Wants to be known as the best Detective on the force.

Secrets: it is an open secret but he is in love and has been in love with a call girl for years.

Secret Identity: he believes that he has been sent here by God, not that he is Jesus but he is a messenger from the Lord.

Character Name: Dr. Roland Young

Role: Antagonist

Hidden Agenda: he is using his job to recruit for a secret sect.

Conspiracies: The Sect that he is a part of is trying to remake the world for God’s paradise.

Secrets: From the secret sect, the recruiting for it, to the sacrifices of sinners.

Deception: he gives the impression that he just does his job and goes home.

Secret Identity: Cult leader

The subtext will show up for both characters because they are literally different sides of the same coin. They even have the same desire just the methods are different.