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Day 4 Assignments
Reply to post your assignment.
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11 Replies
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Gerry Cousins – Character Profile Part 2
1. Until doing this assignment, I never truly realized how many conflicting attributes we all have. None of us is a simple surface character and that the more I search, the more I’ll find, which complicates every person under the sun both in life and in dramatic writing. Excellent lesson.
2. JENNA – *Traits -Intelligent, creative, ambitious, vulnerable, responsible, risk
taker.
*Subtext – Hides her fear of failing. Sublimates her feelings for SID
and denies what’s going on with her husband.
*Flaw – Her wanting to please and constantly do the right thing
*Values – To be the best she can be and true to herself.
*Irony – She is as afraid of failure as SID but pushes forward. Fearful
that the outcome (choice she’s made) for lead character, MOLLLY, is
the same one she will be stuck with.
*Audience drawn to JENNA because of her initiative in getting the ball
rolling.
SID – *Traits – Charming, vane, physically fit, aging and disappointed
womanizer, a crowing cock at the top of his roost, afraid of falling off.
*Subtext – He likes running the show.
*Flaw – Fear of being seen as a loser.
*Values – Money, power, success.
*Irony –Embraces the play even though he was distinctly against it.
Falls for MOLLY, the character they created, which takes him to
JENNA..
*Audience is drawn to SID because of his self-styled charm and
vulnerability.
MOLLY – *Traits – Proud, open-hearted, honest and trusting, vulnerable and
reactive, smart but looking for easy answers to life’s challenges, sexy,
aware, bold.
*Subtext – Want me! Need me! Like me. Don’t let me fail..
*Flaw –Guiltlessness (It’s not my fault.)
*Values – Relationships, honesty.
*Irony – Her need to be free and belong at the same time.
*Audience most drawn to MOLLY because of her impetuousness,
bravado and vincibility.
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Gerry Cousins – Character Interviews – Protagonist
What I learned from this assignment?
Because so much of ourselves is written into our characters, I found this assignment extremely intrusive. I found myself being defensive and wanting to make excuses for my character. Finally, I wanted to tell you to mind your own business! Very interesting and surprising reaction…
Questions for Protagonist (JENNA)
1. Tell me about yourself -.
I’m in my late 40’s, married with two children. I’m one of those women who can handle being tops in my field and enjoy a successful home life. In fact, I look forward to my days in the office working with my co-writer, SID, on our hit TV series, CRIME STOPPERS. Unfortunately, the episodic has enjoyed its finest hour and looks like it may be cancelled. I knew the day would come and have always dreamed of one day writing a play for the Broadway stage–something to do that’s new and exciting. I’ve brought this up to SID, knowing that he would not be thrilled with the idea. But if we’re going to stay partners, which is important to me, we have to find something to do together.
2. Why do you think you were called to this journey? Why you? –
Because I was prepared for it. And because I’m bored and anxious for a change, What’s more, I’m the one with the dream.
3. You are up against? What is it about them that makes this journey even more
difficult for you? –
I’m up against my chicken-shit writing partner, SID, who want to stay with formula TV script writing. He’s at the top of his career but in his early 50’s and doesn’t know what’s out there for him at this point. Writing a play is difficult and offers no guarantees. I have a husband to fall back on but SID has alimony payments. While he’s fun, he comes with issues—including financial. Also, there’s a growing problem between my husband and me; I think he’s a little envious of my relationship with SID—and now maybe more so since SID”s just gone through his third divorce. Too much change for MARTY all at one time.
4. In order to survive or accomplish this, you are going to have to step way outside
of your box. What changes do you expect to make and which of them will be
the most difficult? –
I can piss off SID and possibly lose him as a writing partner but we’re so much more than writing partners. So, I don’t know. I think I’d like to pass on this question for now.
5. What habits or ways of thinking do you think will be the most difficult to let go
of? –
We work off of each other and have a good time doing it… Our office has
become our creative play room. I feel safe in this relationship and would find
looking for a new partner or writing on my own unsafe. I am comfortable in my
life right now –even if I find it tedious and boring at times. Dreams can come
alive, I know, but they can also become nightmares. I don’t want everything to
change and change changes things.
6. What fears, insecurities and wounds have held you back? –
I want to answer, “Oh, the usual.” But I know that’s not what you want to hear. So, I’m going to break it down:
Fear: Losing Sid as my partner, half my inspiration, and play friend.
Insecurities: This leaves me alone with my husband, MARTY, and while he’s a really good guy and Dad, he’s your basic pearls with a black dress .And what if I can’t find another partner, I haven’t worked on my own for a very long time. Nevertheless, I know I can, but I don’t want to.
Wounds: I have to be the best I can be. I don’t accept any less for myself.
7. What skills, background or expertise makes you well-suited to face this conflict
or antagonist? –
I know my partner extremely well. I know his weaknesses, his pride, and his
secrets. Also, I’ve teased him so that I feel sure his own expertise will eventually
come around to the challenge rather than just wait not knowing the outcome. As
much as I need SID, he needs me. This has been an easy, profitable writing
relationship.
8. What are you hiding from the other characters, etc.? –
Actually the question to ask is what I am hiding from myself, because that’s what
I’m hiding from them. And I’m not sure of this answer yet.
9. What do you think of? –
Success. Exciting sex and a fulfilling relationship. Living a little to close to the
Edge. Being younger. Not being like everyone else. Acceptance.
10. Tell me your side of the whole conflict/story. –
Life is about choices. The choices we make affect other choices we make. But without them, we wouldn’t be individuals.
11. What does it do for your life if you succeed here? –
Define who I am as a person: playwright, woman, sexual being, and financial entity.
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Carol Dougherty’s Character Interviews
What I learned from this assignment: I could feel the difference between them as I wrote each interview response. Not simply different voices but different perspectives coming from different lives and life experiences. I got a kick out of Pen saying she wasn’t called to the journey, she was kidnapped. And Katie’s acknowledgement that she didn’t think of herself as special touched me. The interview brought up some different aspects of the characters, so I may well revisit this later.
Pen: I’m an actor, and a very good one. I refuse to say actress, as if that’s some kind of variant – I act, therefore I’m an actor.
My parents are both dead, so Terry is my family now. We met in school in mixed infants, and we’ve been together ever since, as friends and as acting partners. He’s my rock.
My dad loved Shakespeare, and although he died when I was quite young, I inherited that love. It’s why I do classical theatre with a lot of Shakespeare – he understood people and how they function.
I wasn’t called to this journey, I was kidnapped. I looked out into the audience in the middle of a performance and thought I saw a ghost. It wasn’t her, of course, but the woman reminded me of the love of my life, who died 15 years ago. Right after that Sebastian tricked me into taking a role I don’t understand, playing a character I despise. I think it’s fate, spitting in my eye, but who knows? Maybe there’s something I need to learn. As if.
The so-called ghost turned out to be a friend of Terry’s who is so naïve she ought to be outlawed. None of my usual tricks work with this one – she has a mind of her own and it’s one I can’t fathom no matter how I try. She talks about honor as if she’s one of King Arthur’s knights! She doesn’t realize that honor is an archaic concept that has no place in the real world.
She’s also working with Sebastian as a part of her thesis work, so there’s no escaping her. Terry asked me to let her stay in one of Sam’s cottages and I said yes. It’s hard enough trying to dig into a difficult character for me, but to do it with her sitting in rehearsals… Her presence undermines the distance I keep from everyone but Terry; sometimes it breaks me wide open, and it infuriates me that it makes my performance better. The worst part is that I know she’s wrong, she’s naïve, but she looks at me like she thinks I’m the most wonderful person in the world and I damn near forget my name.
It seems as if I’ll have to meet her straightforwardness with my own, though I can’t make myself naïve and wouldn’t want to. My usual habit of quietly manipulating the people around me is so ingrained, I’m not always aware that I’m doing it. And if it means my acting is better, I will do it.
I keep people at bay because I don’t trust them. My mother let me know it was my own fault my dad left us and then died. I wasn’t a good girl. Of course, I was what, five? How bad could I have been? Still, she never shut up about how useless I was, especially when we both got older and her boyfriends started looking at me, even when she was right there. Terry was the only one who told me I was great and that we’d be a terrific acting team. I never would have thought of acting but for him.
The discipline of yoga and acting have taught me a lot and may help me in working on digging deep in the work Sebastian demands of me. On the other hand, I’m not sure it will help me much with Katie. Maybe it will help me change my habits, but I wouldn’t want to put money on it.
There’s one thing no one knows, not even Terry. He’s the only one who would really care, but I’m terrified to tell him. His half-sister, Danni, committed suicide. Their father caught her with a lover, threatened to kill the lover (who had escaped before he saw who it was) and send her back to her grandmother to live. There was an uncle there who’d been trying to sexually abuse her, and her grandmother didn’t believe her. Rather than have her father hurt her lover and Danni must return to probable abuse, she killed herself.
What Terry doesn’t know is that I was her lover, and the other reason she killed herself is that she’d asked me to run away with her and live together and I put her off. It’s not that I didn’t love her enough, it’s that I thought I wasn’t good enough for her and I didn’t want her to find out and then leave me.
If Terry knew, he’d hate me, and I’d lose everything. He’s not just my rock, he’s the reason I act – I probably couldn’t even act without him. I don’t imagine Katie would think I was so wonderful if she knew all of that either.
What do I think of Katie? Her kindness and tenderness are impossible to withstand. I said she’s naïve. Well, she is, naïve and innocent. How is that possible for a modern woman in her mid to late 20s? But that’s Katie, or it’s part of her. The more time we spend together, the more I see her becoming aware of her own feelings, emotionally and physically. It’s like watching a girl becoming a woman and realizing that you are the focus or the inspiration of that awakening. It’s heady and it’s terrifying.
When I get glimpses of the woman she is becoming I also get a glimpse of what my life could be with her, how our personal and professional lives could intertwine and fulfill me in a way that no matter how much I love him, my relationship with Terry never could.
One of the ironies of all of this is that the night I decided to reach out to her, she realized that the Sam who owned the farm we all lived on was my lover. I explained it was an open relationship, Sam was married, but it didn’t matter. Her sense of honor demanded she pull back. How do you deal with someone like that?
Katie: There’s not much to say. I’m a grad student, working on my dissertation for my Ph.D. in theatre and I’d been in touch with Terry. He suggested I come here and do my dissertation here. When Sebastian offered me a chance to work with him, I jumped at the chance.
I’m a hard worker, love Shakespeare, love Sebastian’s directing and Pen and Terry’s acting. I think I’m a person of integrity, or I try to be. I guess my greatest weakness would be my tendency to get caught up in hero worship. It can be easy to forget that people aren’t their characters, and that even the best of actors is still human.
I don’t want Pen to change! It’s hard to explain but I don’t want her to be any different as a person. I hear what she says and see what she does, by which I mean her open relationship with Sam and her insistence that she doesn’t do emotional or romantic relationships.
The thing is, I see something in her eyes that tells me she wants the same kind of intimacy I want – a combining of body, mind, spirit. And I think she does want that with me but won’t let herself for some reason. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think so.
All I want is for her to acknowledge that. If she does, the rest will follow, at least I hope it will. I think if she does, it will change everything between us – not change her, just the situation.
I hate that you ask what do you get? I’m not looking to get anything. This is about giving, sharing, being with someone as yourself and them being themselves, and – oh, hell, this sounds so inane when I try to put it in words.
What drives me isn’t just my own wants and needs, it’s Pen’s as well. The day we went out in the rowboat she started out like the public Pen, friendly, flirty, charming, and that was great. But as we talked and shared the silence and ate together, I could feel her becoming more and more unguarded. When she thanked me and said goodbye, it was a Pen that was warm and sincere, like I’ve seen her with Terry and no one else. And she was happier.
I’m not sure I’d call it a secret, but I don’t share much about my family. It’s not relevant to what I’m doing here, and I don’t quite see the point in sharing it. If there’s any fear around it, it’s fear of boring others.
I don’t really think of myself as all that special. I’m smart. When I care about people or things, I care deeply, wholeheartedly and I become devoted to them.
What do I think of Pen? On the stage she is the most mercurial and magical of actors. She embodies her characters in a way few actors ever manage, and she somehow draws in everyone else on stage so that they are acting as a whole organic being/team rather than a bunch of individuals. It’s incredible to watch.
As a person, a woman, she takes my breath away. I don’t mean because she’s beautiful (though she is). It’s more that even before her first cup of tea or coffee, when her bathrobe is rumpled, her hair askew, and no makeup on, she takes my breath away.
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What I learned doing this assignment is how important it is to know significant details about my protagonist & antagonist for further character development.
Protagonist: Tina Johnson
1. I’m Tina Johnson, early 30s single mother of 2 and I work in hospital administration.
2. I’m called to this journey because I’m in need of spiritual growth and better self-care.
3. I’m up against myself, my antagonist, Barry, whose mission is to destroy me & my family. It’s difficult because Barry has such good qualities that I’ve been wanting in a man.
4. Changes are recognizing I made a big mistake in choosing Barry.
5. Habits that are hard to let go are taking the time for me to know a potential love interest before trusting too quickly.
6. I fear being alone and being lonely. My insecurities are feeling that I’m not loveable and my wounds are past abandonment by authority figures.
7. Knowledge of submitting to a higher power.
8. I don’t want others to know that I’m emotionally fragile underneath my narcissism.
9. Having a stable life and healing from past baggage.
10. I thought Barry was the answer to my prayers, but I was wrong. I never thought he’d turn out to be a liar, manipulator and abuser.
11. It allows me to realize that I’m a little blinded to the true colors of someone I’m dating due to my own selfish needs and desires.
Antagonist: Barry Brooks
1. I’m Barry Brooks, an early 30s elementary school substitute teacher.
2. My strength is I know women and how to get into their heads & emotions, especially single mothers because there’s a neediness to them. My weakness is I like using the ill mindedness of insecure women to my benefit.
3. I’m helping Tina recognize that I’m a predator that plays on her emotions.
4. I get the benefits of Tina taking care of me by moving me in her apartment, taking on some of my expenses and idolizing me. All I have to do is live this facade that we’re a “real family.”
5. Self-gratification drives me to my agenda to feed my appetite to abuse women and have them adore me at the same time, kind of like a pimp.
6. My secrets are I’m a liar. I lie about things to capture the interests of women. If she says she’s into art or golfing, I’ll mention I’m into the same thing. Immediately we’re connecting. I’ve also done time in the joint. And I was abused by my female babysitter when I was a kid.
7. What makes me special is I’m basically a nice guy. I love kids and I like being the “hero” to them. Their dads are deadbeat, so they look to me to attend their after-school functions or games. And I get extra brownie points with women for this aspect alone.
8. Others seeing parts of me that are broken. I’m basically a nice guy, but I’m also a sociopath.
9. I was on a mission looking for a new woman. Tina was gullible and let me in right away. Now I can run her and her household but I’m not to blame, like I said, SHE let me in.
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Robin Atwood’s Character Interviews
What I learned from this assignment is that my characters form the story. Each has its own side and their thoughts and actions are what defines the story. The characters tell the story. And I found out that Ivy is more forthcoming than Henry.
Q&A of Ivy
Tell me about yourself. I’m Ivy Wren and I’m 15. I’m getting close to spinsterhood. I’m afraid I’ll never marry or find my true love. My father is very strict. He doesn’t allow me friends other than my wolf dog, Wulfgar. He was abused as a boy and fears the same will happen to me. It must have been awful because he never talks about it. I would love to have friends and even men callers but I know my Da loves me so much and wishes to keep me safe. My mother tries to intervene but so far has had no luck. My father is teaching me about the healing properties of herbs and plants so that I can work with him and take his place as the village healer someday. Da cares about people but he keeps his distance. I think he is afraid to become attached and this is hurtful when people betray you or when they pass on. My mother on the other hand is openly affectionate and trusting but out of difference to my father she stays clear of any close relationships. My mother teaches me how to use herbs for cooking to make tasty and healing meals. My other used to tell me tales of princesses and princes and knights in shining armor rescuing the damsel in distress. I daydream a lot of being the princess or the damsel. I would play act when I was younger until my Da told me not to be foolish and waste my time dreaming of things that could never be. He said I was of the lowest class and I would never be more and therefore my dreams were beyond my reach. I was heartbroken. I still dream of becoming a princess every day when Im working with the herbs or hunting them in the nearby forest. Yes I do dream but I know my father is right. <div>
Why do you think you were called to this journey? Why you? Well because I’m deserving of a higher station in life and so is my family. We are good, caring people who help the sickly. Besides I’m the only one who truly sees and understands Henry. At the base of everything he is kind, compassionate, loving, sensitive and giving. He’s also a scared little boy who is so afraid that he will not be able to fulfill his duty of male heirs carrying on the Tudor line. We will have children but because of our station in life he cannot acknowledge us. As a matter of fact I carry his babe now. I know it will be a son. I was also called to this journey to help him through his life. To be the one person who loves him unconditionally no matter what. And I do love him. There is no one else for me. I know he will marry and I know that he will love her and care for her and their children because that is who he is. I also have no doubt whatsoever that he will always come back to me because we are truly soul-mated. And you can only be soul-mated with one person in your lifetime.
You are up against a system imbued with political scheming, backbiting, intermingling of the class system and perhaps mostly a duty that is to be fulfilled by the king. What is it about all of this that makes this journey even more difficult for you? The fact that I’m an innocent who is unfamiliar with the dirty games played at court and among the nobles. I don’t understand how those who say they love Henry and only have his best interest at heart can manipulate him for their own interests. They are the true pretenders. I learned that word from Henry when he was telling me about his father’s taking of the crown. My heart goes out to my beloved who really cannot trust anyone, anyone but me that is. He is always so heartbroken when he finds out about the game playing and how they all try to use him. It breaks my heart too. It always makes me understand the importance of our secret relationship and how our babes will need to remain in the dark so to speak.
In order to survive or accomplish this, you are going to have to step way outside of your box. What changes do you expect to make and which of them will be the most difficult? I need to become more worldly learning more about politics, game playing that happens at court so that I can better understand the trials Henry faces. I want him to be able to talk with me and know that I understand. I want him to love me for my mind and not just my beauty or the way we love together. The learning itself is the most difficult because I need teachers and these are not easy to come by for a person of my status. Henry has taught me how to read and has brought me many books. I want our sons to be well educated too but it will be difficult for the same reasons. Henry has protected us providing accommodations. I’m hopeful he will bestow lands upon us. I would wish for titles for our sons but I know this will not happen without raising eyebrows. Me and my fathers role as the King’s herbalist healers could result in the rewarding of lands so I’m hopeful for that at least.
What habits or ways of thinking do you think will be the most difficult to let go of? It will be hard for me to stop dreaming of my knight in shining armor coming to my rescue. It will be even more difficult for me to share the man I love with his wife and other mistresses. I’ve learned much about Henry. I know he loves beautiful things and beautiful women. I am lucky he returns to me over and over because he doesn’t return to them. He says I’m the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and he has no intention of every sharing me with any other man. It will be difficult to let go of my dreams of a loving husband even though I have the family.
What fears, insecurities and wounds have held you back? I’m afraid that Henry won’t always love me. Sometimes I wonder if he will always be a part of our lives and if not will he continue to give us his protection. It hurts to think that he will love and share himself with others. I’ve always been poor and always wanted more. He says he loves me and our sons yet he acts ashamed of us our lowly status. His duty is more important to him.
What skills, background or expertise makes you well-suited to face this conflict as antagonist? The conflict as I see it in this moment is being the secret that Henry keeps from others, whether that secret will be maintained and protected as promised even though I do not necessarily want a secret life. Even my sons as they age may never know their father. My mother taught me to trust in those you love. I trust Henry knowing that he does not intentionally hurt us. My parents kept to themselves. Others were not invited into our home. We only came in contact when healing was required. This being alone, being out of site and contact with others has prepared me for this situation.
What are you hiding from the other characters? What don’t you want them to know? I am hiding my true self. I don’t want them to know that even though I love Henry and have agreed to be his secret love, I am unhappy with the situation. I want more for myself and my sons. I want to be his wife and the only woman he loves. Perhaps it’s more obvious than I think. Henry does not seem to notice. That’s because he visits so infrequently that when I do get to be with him I am overjoyed forgetting all my doubts.
What do you think of Henry after he becomes king and marries Katherine? I knew that he would have to marry because it is one of his responsibilities. It helps countries come together and he must produce mail heirs. At first I was accepting because it was the way of things but then I became pregnant. Henry was thrilled about the pregnancy. He promised to take care of us but also reminded me that we had to remain a secret. He also reminded me of his duty as king. I understood but it didn’t keep me from being brokenhearted. He spent less time with me and was not with me when our first baby was born. It was a boy that I named Basil. Henry came a few days after the birth. He told me how happy he was and that he wished that he could acknowledge the baby as his. I cried. He hugged me and told me all would be well. This is when I started having doubts about Henry and his feelings for me.
Tell me your side of this whole conflict /story. I was gathering herbs one day in the forest near our cottage. I was 15 and such a daydreamer of princesses and princes. Henry was on his horse racing through the forest with his friend Charles Brandon. He was 16. I stood up just in time not to be overrun. As he raced past me, he halted his horse and turned around. It was then that he smiled and I feel in love without even knowing who he was. He pursued me relentlessly and I finally gave in when he told me he loved me and would never let me go. He told me he was a prince and that one day he would be king. He also promised to alway be with me and to love me. He was sweet, kind, compassionate and handsome. My prince had come and he was going to sweep me up and take me away. As time passed, he became king, married a princess from Spain and we had sons each about a year apart. His visits to us slowed but he always made sure that his friend took care of our needs. I eventually opened my eyes and saw that he was stringing me along and while he might love us we were his secret life that he would never reveal because his duty would not allow him. As I aged I realized I would have to go after what I wanted for myself and my sons and that is land, some wealth and security.
What does it do for your life if you succeed here? It propels me and my sons into a higher class system. It provides protection. It makes me more than I am.
Q&A of Henry
Tell me about yourself. I’m Prince Henry son of King Henry VII. I love sport and entertainment. I am well educated can speak many other languages. I create music and play several instruments. I love beautiful things and specifically beautiful women. One day I’ll be the King of England and plans have been made for me to marry my brother’s widow Katherine of Aragon. Until then I plan to sport and chase women to have fun doing whatever I like. </div><div>
</div><div>Having to do with this journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses? My strengths include a strong sense of duty and to fulfill my kingly obligations no matter what my personal desires may be. I am passionate, intelligent, forthright and well educated. My main weaknesses are beautiful women, that I am easily manipulated and that I am a bad judge of character.
Why are you committed to making the Protagonist fail? Or for a relationship movie, why are you committed to making them change? I know that Ivy wants more from me but I cannot give her all that she wants and I cannot to lose her. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She is compassionate, a wanton lover, a great listener, a fast learner. She is my greatest confident. I cannot lose her. Her campaign for more must fail because I cannot lose her, she and our sons must remain secret, my secret joy and I must fulfill my duties as King. This part of my life cannot include my secret family.
What do you get out of winning this fight / succeeding in your plan / taking down your competition? I get to keep my secret family, the love and comfort they provide. And my three sons remind me that I am able to produce healthy male heirs.
What drives you toward your mission / agenda, even in the face of danger, ruin, or death? My duty to my father, the Tudor line and duty to my country as its king.
What secrets must you keep to succeed? What other secrets do you keep out of fear / insecurity? I’m a romantic at heart. I may chase after women but I respect and admire them — their grace and innocence are . They are delicate creatures who need protection. Also I am afraid that I won’t be able to carry out my duties like my father desires and my god and kingdom </font>expect.
Compared to other people like you, what makes you special? I am King and they are my subjects.
What do you think of Ivy? She is the sun, the light in my oftentimes dark life. She is beautiful, smart, an excellent healer, a good listener. She is my home.
Tell me your side of this whole conflict / story. From the moment I saw Ivy in the woods gathering herbs, her long chestnut hair blowing in the wind, her voluptuous figure, beautiful heart shaped face with striking blue green eyes, I knew I must have her. She was shy and uncomplicated. I was smitten and she was wary of me. She kept me at bay for months mostly by avoiding me. I used my charm, brought her trinkets and jewelry. She told me when she gave herself to me that she was in love with me. It was then that I knew I could have her as I wanted her, my own secret love. No one could corrupt her. No one else could touch her. She was mine and only mine. When we had three healthy sons within four or so years, I knew I’d produce many male heirs I also know how much she loves me and will do whatever I ask. I do love her swell.
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M.M.’s Character Interviews
What I learned in this assignment is how easily the characters talk to you when you’re under the gun to write. It has always taken more time for my characters to talk to me, but now that we are moving at an exponential pace, they are blurting out a lot of things I would never have gotten so quickly otherwise.
PROTAGONIST BELLA
1. Bella: I just turned 21 and am more than ready to graduate in May. But in the meantime, we’ve got spring baseball training and a lot of games to get through to the state then national championships. Of course we’re going to win. We have to win. I need to stand out in the MLB draft. Sure I’ll go to a farm team – everybody does. I’m also more than excited about being engaged to Emilio. I mean, he was such a player in San Juan I thought he considered me more of a sister when we both played together, but now we’re a real team together, a real couple. I’ve got the same goal as Emilio, which bothers me a bit because he hasn’t gotten that much attention from scouts and agents. I mean I’m a traditionalist when it comes to a marriage – my mom and dad were so in love. It nearly killed her when he died but we still haven’t been able to get much information from the military about the circumstances. That’s one of my goals when I get more money – hire a PI to help me find out what really happened in Afghanistan. Okay, that’s enough for now. I’m really a private person, shy in most instances, and prefer to let you peel away the onion layers.
2. I’ve been ready for an adventure ever since I was a little girl helping Mom clean houses in Puerto Rico to help make ends meet. The military didn’t pay Papa that much. Then when we came to the U.S. after he died, it was even tougher. But I know that I have a story to tell. And it’s much more than just about baseball. It is about my values and my pro-life stance. When I get some time I want to volunteer for the prayer vigils outside abortion clinics. It’s wrong, dead wrong and I want — make that need – I need to step out of just being a good Christian and start doing something – I’m not an advocate but maybe I should be. But at the same time I’m worried about that affecting my chances for the draft. I’m not in agreement with being politically correct and when you ahve conservative values you just have to keep your mouth shut. So my goals are coming to a crossroads. In the end I know I will be true to myself and my values, no matter the consequences.
3. Emilio is a contradiction because on one hand he loves me. I know he does. On the other hand, he gets so jealous if a guy on the team spends what he thinks is too much time with me. And I’ve heard rumors that he’s a player, but he’s so attentive and generous with me that I don’t believe them. If it turns out he is, I hope I find out before we get married, because I’m only getting married once. No divorce. And he’s the right man for me. I want him to be the father of my children, except lately he’s been talking about waiting to have kids or maybe not even having an at all. I don’t believe that part of it. He would be a great dad. I’m fine with waiting a while so we can both go through the draft and see where we are but if we had one right away I would put that ahead of the draft even though Papa’s dream for me would be delayed.
4. I don’t like conflict or argument or even debate. I’m strong and can hold my own but again, I feel a little inferior when it comes to doing that with my teammates or even Emilio. I was raised that the man is right and is the decision-maker so I always want to defer to them. I’m intelligent so it isn’t that. It’s more cultural so I think if a decision about kids ever came to a head I would win but I worry about the cost with Emilio due to his stubbornness.
5. It will be hard to be vocal about my Christian values in today’s political correctness but I am determined to get over my fears of being attacked and chastised and speak up.
6. I’ve been afraid if I speak about my values – or be “too Christian” that the school or the team or the fans will erupt into a backlash. Social media at school can be vicious and I know I am appreciated for the good games I play, but would that translate into tolerance or even acceptance of values that they don’t share? Fortunately, it might not be too difficult this year, as a senior in Georgia, but who knows?
7. My faith is unshakeable and unbreakable. That’s all I need.
8. I really don’t want my teammates to know how insecure I feel sometimes. I need to project strength to be accepted on this team – all the guys are tough and it took the last 3 years for them to finally treat me like one of them instead of with kid gloves. So I’ve got to overcompensate most of the time because (as I told you) I’m shy much of the time. I can’t share my deepest thoughts except with my best friend on the team, Luke. He even went to jail for his faith. I’ve got so much respect for him. I can still learn a lot from him, not only in pitching but in life.
9. Emilio? I love Emilio. He’s fun, and respectful most of the time. It’s just when he gets into his jealous funks that he’s really hard to be around. I just tread lightly and it always goes away. He snaps out of it. Never threatens me or anything but I saw plenty of it back in PR in the neighborhood. He was raised in the upper echelon so I can’t imagine a violent streak.
10. Right now the only conflict is our talking about children. I’ve agreed to delay it but in the back of my mind I am wondering if he wants kids at all. If he doesn’t I don’t know what I would do. I love him too much to leave him but I want kids and a happy marriage too.
11. What a full life we would have – a traditional marriage with two parents and hopefully 3 or 4 kids, not just one or two. And we’d have baseball in our lives two, hopefully for both of us. That’s the dream – to have it all.
12. How do you feel about your teammate Luke? I love Luke. Did I just say that? I mean, platonically. He got me through such a difficult time in high school after my dad died and my mom and I had to work multiple jobs while I went to school then took care of the 4 little kids. So he’s been an amazing friend. Yes, I’m not afraid to say I love that guy.
ANTAGONIST EMILIO
1. What can I say? The ladies have always flocked to me. Sure I was a player but that was high school and the first two years of college. When I transferred to State and reconnected with Bella I knew I had found the right woman. I mean, I had a crush on her in third grade and don’t know if it ever went away. I even slept with other women and wondered what it would be like with her. She won’t have sex with me before the wedding and that’s okay because I think she is amazing in baseball and will make a terrific wife. I haven’t really thought about the parenting idea yet because I think we’re too young. I want a great career in baseball and I’d like to see her do something – maybe she could coach a girls’ high school team wherever my team is playing. She is a great pitcher but she’s a girl so, you know, she’s not going to make it in MLB. I’ve got charisma and am a great catcher and hit better than most of the guys on the team including Bella, so I think I’ll be in demand in the draft. These days you have to be able to be articulate on TV and in press conferences to stay on a team. And I stay away from controversial subjects. Bella always wants to talk about her thoughts with me but I tell her to go share that stuff with Luke. Better him than me. But that better be all they are doing. Or else.
2. My strengths are obviously a great ball player and a great teammate, and I treat Bella like a princess. But I do see some weaknesses – my jealousy just takes over. Sometimes it feels like I turn into the Hulk without the violence. But I do wonder if I have that capability. I have never raised a hand to a woman and am not about to now – Bella is fantastic. You know, I can talk a good game about the surface of anything, but I don’t have the intellectual capacity to go very deep in any subject. I just use my charm and good looks to win people over. It’s worked so far and my family money hasn’t hurt.
3. I don’t want Bella to fail – I just want her to change and realize her place in our marriage won’t be on the MLB field. It will be in the stands supporting me. How could our marriage work if both of us were traveling to different locations for different teams? it wouldn’t. She and I are both culturally conservative and want the traditional marriage, though i have to say still not sure about the kids. I want a long career adn I know I could make her happy. I think after we’re married she’ll get off the kid kick pretty quickly.
4. Of course I’ll win this tussle. She doesn’t even know my agenda yet. I don’t want to burst her bubble. Her papa wanted her to be an MLB player like him – he was in the minors and pretty good till he joined the military. Some secret division I think. Never got that full story. But she defers to me most of the time so we’ll work out well. I’ll get a great career, a loving wife, and maybe kids down the road.
5. Nothing will stop me from MLB. It’s my passion and I am using my secret weapon – my family’s political connections – to make sure I get drafted to a great team. Sure I’ll start on the farm team but I’ll move up fast. They’ll make sure of it. I was born to be a baseball hero.
6. My family made a lot of money in PR and continued their enterprises here so they’ve got the connections. Sure, some of them aren’t the cleanest but they know how to get people to do what they want. But they keep me out of the details and I wouldn’t want anybody else, even Bella, to know what they are doing for me. Nothing like murder. Just twisting some arms and calling in some favors.
7. Did you really ask what makes me special? My rugged good looks, jet black hair, clear blu eyes, muscular build and baseball moves.
8. I love Bella but I just didn’t know it. I’ve dated a lot of beautiful girls and though Bella is not the most beautiful to some, she’s the most beautiful to me both inside and out. I can trust her with my secrets, if I decide to tell her. she’s patient and lets me go through my moods without chastising me. And she doesn’t withdraw or hold a grudge against me. How could I not love a woman like that?
9. I’ll tell you more later about the conflict because as of now it hasn’t boiled up to even be a conflict. But I’ll win. I always do. Bella respects that about me. I’ll win for sure.
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(George Petersen) Character Interviews
My Vision is to direct one of my screenplays a a low-budget indie feature
What I learned from this assignment is the importance of letting go.
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR PROTAGONIST – CORKY
Tell me about yourself.
I was born in Surfside, California. Every morning, growing up, the first thing I would do is peek out the window above my bed to see how the waves were breaking. It’s been that way ever since.
Why do you think you were called to this journey? Why you?
It wasn’t my idea. Clint called me up and laid it out. I mean, what was I suppose to do? I’m his grandfather, after all, even if he doesn’t know it. It doesn’t change anything. Or, does it?
You are up against <the Antagonist>. What is it about them that makes this journey even more difficult for you?
I feel indebted to the Reverend. He helped Clint at a time when I couldn’t. I mean, it’s not like I didn’t do anything. I confronted him about his problems. A lot of good that did. But I did decide to send Clint to the program in Utah. Even though it was super expensive and took all I had. The Reverend did a great job with him. I’m in his debt. And so, it’s hard for me to challenge him about Slash.
In order to survive or accomplish this, you are going to have to step way outside of your box. What changes do you expect to make and which of them will be the most difficult?
I don’t want to think about that. I will have to confront the Reverend. It’s coming. But I don’t want to think about it.
What habits or ways of thinking do you think will be the most difficult to let go of?
I feel beaten down by life. And I will have to let go of that, I know.
What fears, insecurities and wounds have held you back?
It hurts, giving up any kind of relationship with my grandson. Not so much when I was younger, but more so now.
What skills, background or expertise makes you well-suited to face this conflict or antagonist?
I never give up, when I set myself to accomplish something.
What are you hiding from the other characters? What don’t you want them to know?
I don’t want them to know that, deep down, I’m hurting.
What do you think of <the Antagonist>?
I respect him, from a distance.
Tell me your side of this whole conflict / story.
I didn’t do anything wrong. The Reverend is in the wrong. Surfing is not a bad thing. It doesn’t ruin people’s lives. It makes them better, more in touch with nature and something bigger than ourselves. The Reverend should know that. You would think.
What does it do for your life is you succeed here?
I just want to be happy. To live my life with respect for who I am. I may not be rich, but I’m a human being.
Ask any other questions about their character profile that will help you.
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR ANTAGONIST – SLASH
Tell me about yourself, Angel.
My name is Slash. Not Angel. Call me Slash or you’re not going to get anything out of me. I cut, slash and break through. It’s what I do. That’s all you need to know about me.
Having to do with this journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses?
Nobody stands in my way. They’d better get out of my way if they see me coming. I hate weakness.
Why are you committed to making the Protagonist fail? Or for a relationship movie, why are you committed to making them change?
You mean that old man? I don’t care about him. Why should I care about him? He means nothing to me. I don’t mean anything to him. To tell you the truth, I have no idea why I was sent down here. That old man can’t teach me anything. At least, not anything that I don’t already know.
What do you get out of winning this fight / succeeding in your plan / taking down your competition?
I just want to win surf competitions and get a sponsor and make lots of money and buy a fast car. I don’t care about anything else.
What drives you toward your mission / agenda, even in the face of danger, ruin, or death?
I want to be the best. That’s it.
What secrets must you keep to succeed? What other secrets do you keep out of fear / insecurity?
You mean, why do I feel sad at times? I don’t know. There’s something missing, deep down somewhere. I guess. But I can’t tell you what it is.
Compared to other people like you, what makes you special?
My performance on a surfboard. It’s when I feel special. Everything comes together. And I don’t feel so alone.
What do you think of <the Protagonist>?
The old man? He’s OK. He’s just got to learn to stay out of my way.
Tell me your side of this whole conflict / story.
I’m sorry for what happened. My slugging the judge. It was not right. And somehow that got me sent down here with the old guy. I’m just going to put in my time — and then I’m gone.
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR AUTHORITARIAN CHARACTER – THE REVEREND
Tell me about yourself, Reverend.
First, let me thank you for taking the time to listen to me. It’s really important, what we do for kids, for kids who are lost. Twenty years now.
Having to do with this journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses?
I’m not going to bend on this or anything else. What happened to Clint, my son-in-law, it was a terrible thing. He almost didn’t come out of it.
Why are you committed to making the Protagonist fail? Or for a relationship movie, why are you committed to making them change?
I have nothing against Corky, personally. Everyone should be able to live their life as they see fit. But surfing? I’ve seen only bad outcomes from it. Some of the worst cases I’ve seen have been kids who have become lost in the surfing world and lost all motivation to succeed in life.
What do you get out of winning this fight / succeeding in your plan / taking down your competition?
I get piece of mind. Piece of mind for my grandson. To know he’ll be safe and free from the temptations of the surfing way of life.
What drives you toward your mission / agenda, even in the face of danger, ruin, or death?
Kids need help. Who’s going to help them if not me?
What secrets must you keep to succeed?
Angel must never know that Corky is his grandfather. It would be the beginning of a long, downhill slide if he did.
What other secrets do you keep out of fear / insecurity?
I don’t want people to even know Slash has another grandfather.
Compared to other people like you, what makes you special?
I am a Reverend. People listen to me when I talk.
What do you think of <the Protagonist>?
I don’t really know him. I’ve only talked to him a couple of times.
Tell me your side of this whole conflict / story.
I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect my grandson. Period.
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Laura’s Interview with Main Characters
WHAT DID I GET OUT OF THIS ASSIGNMENT: I am amazed at how easily the characters begin to tell their own story. They take on a life of their own and I found some of the answers very unexpected. Also, by altering some of the questions, I found the opportunities to get other answers that I needed. Great exercise, especially when I used to get stuck on traditional profile fill-in-the-blanks. This is much more productive and keeps the answers relevant.
NOTE: I will not be posting the actual work from these assignments. Since feedback isn’t really an option, posting seems pointless. Doing the exercises and keeping to the deadlines is my takeaway.
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Angelina Fluehler Character Interviews
Nice questions, which help a lot in understanding own characters. I believe that I already gave pretty detailed description in previous lessons, so I will skip this one here.
What I learned doing this assignment is…?” I actually learn more how to present and make character profile deeper and exiting.
I think it will be definitely reviewed again at the “rewriting” part of the class.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Angelina Fluehler.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Angelina Fluehler.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by
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Tell me about yourself.
LESSON 4 – Character Interviews
What I learned – I really loved this. Very inciteful, to have the opposing points of view, and arguments together. Great for conjuring scenes.
Connie Whitmer – Interview with my Hero and Antagonist
Hero Brian :
Tell me about yourself – I am the 12<sup>th</sup> and youngest son of Cenntig, son of Lorcan, son of Lachtna – of the ancient tribe Dal Cass. Though I will never be King of anything, I will take my place in the Clan, and protect her against all enemies. Make my life here with my family.
Why do you think you were called to this journey? Why you? – I don’t know, why God saved me, and all my brothers and parents were killed. But I will never stop hunting the Danes, never surrender, never give up. While I breathe, I will never stand by, like all the others.
You are up against – traitor Irish Kings, marauding Danes, scheming Clergy, a treacherous High King.
What is it about them that makes this journey even more difficult for you? – They are supposed to love and care, and protect the people of Ireland, all the Clans, against all invaders. Instead they have betrayed us all. And because they have the power, the armies, the treasure, no one can stop them. No one will stand against them!
In order to survive or accomplish this, you are going to have to step way outside of your box. What changes do you expect to make and which of them will be the most difficult?
– I will have to leave my only brother left, as he has caved to the Danes as well.
– Go live in the wilds, try to form a guerilla army, to harry the Danes, to strike at them, when they least expect it, hide, go hungry, give over our lives, to fight against them.
What habits or ways of thinking do you think will be the most difficult to let go of?
– That we all must stand together – unite the Clanns, fight for peace, and probably die. We must chose death over surrender, or quitting, or standing by.
What fears, insecurities and wounds have held you back?
– I never expected to go against my only brother, to leave home, to be in exile, an outlaw, hunted, and scourged
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What skills, background or expertise makes you well-suited to face this conflict or antagonist?
– Being the youngest of 12, a rowdy bunch of hooligans, running the gauntlet of slaughter every day. But I will find another band of brothers . . . of hungry warriors, who will not stand by either. An oath we will take – to fight the Danes and drive them out of Ireland – or die trying.
What are you hiding from the other characters? What don’t you want them to know?
– How much I want to go back to the day the Danes came, and change everything, save the little girl her torment, fight next to my parents, save them all, kill all the bastards – every one
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What do you think of ?
– Of finding her, begging forgiveness, proving to her that her scars mean nothing to me, except my shame and sorrow, loving her, watching over her, and making a life together.
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Tell me your side of this whole conflict / story. .
– And that although I carried the little girl from the tower – she is the one who sacrificed herself to save me. I am responsible for her torment. I gave her my word, I would keep her safe, and I failed, I lied to her. I saw it all, yet I could not move to help her.
What does it do for your life is you succeed here?
– Give me the peace, joy, and that I have not had since that day. I mean to keep my promise – to watch over her and keep her safe.
Antagonist – Malachy II
Tell me about yourself.
– I am the son of the High King, heir to the throne of 600 years of Ui Neill High Kings. It is my place by right. And I will have it. And destroy anyone who comes after it
Why do you think you were called to this journey? Why you?
– I cannot be the one to lose the High Kingship, How could I possibly be the only one to lose it. My name would live in infamy.
You are up against
– the only one I fear is the insignificant orphan – from the dead Clan – Brian of Beal Boru. He threatens my seat, my rule, my dynasty.
What is it about them that makes this journey even more difficult for you?
– He is nothing, yet the people love him, he keeps getting more and more loyal to him, defeating the Danes, which is impossible. He cares nothing about wealth, status, Kingship, title.
In order to survive or accomplish this, you are going to have to step way outside of your box. What changes do you expect to make and which of them will be the most difficult?
– He keeps vowing loyaly to me, and keeps his word, and helps the people, he wants no fame or fortune for himself. The people love him for it. I will have to attack, and kill him, who has always been loyal to me. It’s the only way.
What habits or ways of thinking do you think will be the most difficult to let go of?
– I am the High King – everyone subjects themselves to me! Even Brian – yet I have to go kill him. It’s the only way. I am supposed to be Christian king. He will never stop..
What fears, insecurities and wounds have held you back?
– Always my father the High King, is there at my back, telling me how pitiful I am, what a loser, how Brian will go right by me to the throne, he will take it from me and the Ui Neill, and I will be the one to give it to him, because I am weak!
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What skills, background or expertise makes you well-suited to face this conflict or antagonist?
– I come from a long line of Kings, who did whatever they had to do to keep in power. I know all the ways to accomplish it, to lie, cheat, steal, falsely accused, bribe the judges, referees, the clergy, all will submit to power for gold.
What are you hiding from the other characters? What don’t you want them to know
– All I want is what Brian has, love of the people, his warriors, his woman, his children
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What do you think of ? ,
– I am sick with envy, he is the stuff of my night-terrors! I dream of ways to betray and kill him and bury him deep.
Tell me your side of this whole conflict / story. .
– Everytime I turn around he has bested me. Made me look foolish, lazy, weak, cruel. Am I not a good Christian King, support the church, feed my army, give alm to the poor, get along with the Danes, to keep peace. While he taxes all who come against him, and gives it all to the poor!
What does it do for your life is you succeed here?
– I must rid the land of him, before he is King of everything. Before all flock to his banner, cheer his name, I must destroy him . . . and not be hated. How cruel fate is – To win the people, the treasure, the Dane favor, I must slaughter the One who they love must of all – and soon.
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Danielle LEGRAND’s Character Interviews :
What I learned doing this assignement is to deepen my knowledge of my characters background.
ADRIAN :
1. Tell me about yourself :
I am from a family of believers and I have been educated according to the values of charity and love for my neighbours.
2. Why do you think you were called to this journey ? Why you ?
What makes me feel I am personally called to this journey is the personal experience that I have lived with Jesus which reinforced my faith for the Lord and let me think I had to become a co-worker with Him.
3. You are up against the Catholic ordinary conventions. What is it about them that makes this journey even more difficult for you ?
They look very old and they show a total lack of understanding with our world new ways of life.
4. What fears, insecurities and wounds have you held back ?
Feeling guilty with no sensible reason, having unresolved questions about chastity and sexuality. I have been saddened by the hypocrisy and malaise prevailing at the seminary.
AUDREY :
1. Tell me about yourself :
I was born in a middle-class family in the small provincial town of BEAULIEU. I met my future husband when we still were in High Shool. I was madly in love with him and when I got pregnant my parents refused to give me an abortion and forced me to marry this young lover who turned into a violent alcoholic with me and the child.
2. Why do you think you were called to this journey ? Why you ?
I think my Faith has always helped me through a hard time when my husband left me with no means of support at all and that my family and the village cast me out.
3. You are against the Catholic ordinary conventions. What is it about them that makes this journey even more difficult for you ?
I am under the impression that everybody is against me whereas I am just looking for improving the life of people around me.
4. What fears, insecurities and wounds have you held back ?
I am suffering a lot of being rejected, even by my closest relatives. I would like to protect my children from the trials they will come up against. They give me the strenght and the courage of a « supernatural » Mother.
Discover about the Characters :
ADRIAN : The Seminar was not the place he hoped to find
AUDREY : She knows what she wants and she is not easily dishearted by the obstacles .
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