Day 4: Discover Your Characters

[Mary Andrews]

================================================================

Subject: Mary J Andrews Character Profile
(1 HR PILOT. PARANORMAL SCI FI)

What have I learned from this exercise?
Good questions to ask my characters.
================================================================
LOG LINE:

In a star-faring distant future, The Universal Government’s three man Special Ops Team, in search of a psychic terrorist ring, must rescue their psi-jacker, a surgically blinded slave girl with extraordinary powers, and coerce her to help them upstage a coup to overtake the Universal Government.
================================================================

CHARACTER PROFILES

================================================================

CHARACTER NAME: RAEL POINTE (P)

Role: Leader of the Universal Government’s elite Dark Ops Team/captain of the Nemesis.

Core Character Traits
-Good leader and judge of character
-Unable to retain strong emotions for more than moments
-He is capable of locating and wielding massive knowledge at a thought
-he likes to use humor
-He trusts the loyalty of his people

Character Subtext Log line

During an assignment to rescue a mind-jacked Government Ambassador, Capt. Rael Pointe finds himself being singled out by powerful paranormal forces.

Flaw in seeing the big picture, he is often unaware of the damage he can inflict on those around him.

Want/Need to know answers about the Hive Planet
Mission/Agenda
To prove himself to Gov Command and to feel safe.
Character Arc:
He is allowed to form his own Dark Ops Team and pick its members then strange things start happening around and to him–he realizes powerful forces are looking for him.

World View: Nothing stops the devil, but you never know what can help out.
Life Metaphor/Identity
He is paying back his adopted mother and the Universal Government for rescuing and raising him.
Secret:
He resents being kept in the dark about his rescue as a baby from the Hive.
Something he doesn’t want to admit about himself:
He still fears the Hive might try to get him back.
What makes this character unique?
as a newborn he was rescued from The Hive Planet but had been already fitted with Hive temple plate implants, though not yet injected with the drug meant to enslave him.

Improve at least one item:
IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO USE HUMOR. He might not be funny. Could be amusing but is probably cliché.

================================================================

CHARACTER NAME IRA HAZE P)

Role: Universal Government Elite Dark Ops team member, paranormal specialist/rogue talent indicated by crystalline eyes. He’s a Finder and can rewrite minds…travels the Ethereal Realm to locate anything/one and is empathic, but not telepathic.

Core Character Traits
-is always in control
-prefers to be alone
-Is stoic
-speaks softly
-allows no one to touch him

Character Subtext Log Line
Saved from slavery by Rael, Ira pledges his service to Rael. He is young and prefers isolation so living mostly in space on the Nemesis suits him

Flaw
He protects others by keeping distant.

Want/Need
To be loved

Mission/Agenda
To follow Rael’s orders because he saved both he and his sister from service at The Wall

Character Arc:
From slavery to Dark Ops Team member, to learning to be around someone like himself
World View
Mankind is a plague across the universe

Life Metaphor/Identity
Solitary confinement

Secret:
The presence of others with their unrestrained thoughts and hatred for the talented hurt him
Something he doesn’t want to admit
that he is falling for Tristen

What makes this character unique?
He is capable of far more than he imagines.

Improve at least one item:
PREFERS TO BE ALONE…might create more tension if he sought out chances to mix with others since it would tax him trying to remain away from accidental physical contact …which is dangerous.

================================================================

CHARACTER NAME LAYNALD LOCKHEIM (P)

Role: Healer/Assassin/tactician, Laynald is the one who does whatever needs to be done for the mission or greater good.

Core Character Traits
-Suspicious/Always alert
-Loyal
-Cunning
-A man of action
-Capable of subterfuge if he thinks it necessary

Character Subtext Log line
Acting as both healer and assassin, Laynald safeguards both the members and missions of the elite Universal Government Team he’s joined.

Flaw:
He’s jaded

Want/Need:
to be of service/needed
Mission/Agenda
to safeguard the people who saved his life
Character Arc
From untrusting and hard-hearted, Laynald discovers honest trust and true friends within the team.

World View:
Someone will get you if you don’t watch out.

Life Metaphor/Identity:
He’s the one knocking at your door (Breaking Bad)

Secret:
He’s come to care for his team members and would like to be normal.

Something he doesn’t want to admit about himself:
that with age, he has lost an important edge—violence no longer thrills him like it used to.

What makes this character unique?
He’s action oriented,fearless,and much older.

Improve at least one item:
LESS SUSPICIOUS/ALWAYS ALERT,would weaken the team’s effectiveness and endanger the team. Also, the errors he would make would wound him because of his age—he has much to prove–at least in his mind.

================================================================

CHARACTER NAME TRISTEN (P)

Role: Female lead, love interest for Ira, The Chosen One destined to save her planet.

Core Character Traits
-is dedicated to her assigned destiny-no matter what it entails
-self-contained
-overly submissive
-forgiving
-inexperienced
-selfless

Character Subtext Log line
Chosen as a child by infallible Oracles who rule her planet, Tristen is Surgically blinded and launched into space to grow up alone and be found by slavers on a pleasure planet…to meet her destiny.

Flaw:
submissive to a fault
Want/Need:
To save her planet
Mission/Agenda
she follows orders until her destiny reveals itself. It has been preordained by the Oracles.
Character Arc
While waiting for her destiny to find her, she meets and bonds with a member of the Dark
Ops team only to learn that one of them is her intended target.

World View
She is waiting. Nothing but her final destiny is important.

Life Metaphor/Identity
She sees herself as a “chosen one”

Secret: She is frequently afraid.

Something she doesn’t want to admit about herself:
that she was cast out and abandoned by the very people she will save.

What makes this character unique?
Her unwavering faith and all that she sacrifices unquestioningly plus she sees through the eyes of those around her and is blind when left alone.

Improvement at least one item:
LESS SUBMISSIVE would have possibly cost her life among the slavers or she might not have been located by the Corporate Overlord…

================================================================

CHARACTER NAME: MALLORY SWITT (A)
Role: Slaver and Proprietor of The Pleasure Planet

Core Character Traits
–Egotistic
-Passive Aggressive
-Sadistic
-Clever
-Flamboyant

Character Subtext Log line:
Shady businessman, slaver, property owner, proprietor of The Palace on pleasure planet, finds himself being used as bait by a Universal Dark Ops Team bent on capturing the most powerful Corporate Overlord in the universe.

HIS MISSION:
To annoy the Agents at every turn, and to survive…maybe even prosper.

Flaw:
He doesn’t feel he gets the respect he deserves.
Want/Need:
Success & power…and wealth.
Character Arc
Having been Tristen’s original owner, the Nemesis Team targets him to act as bait to capture the Universal Overlord.

World View:
The Universe is his oyster.

Life Metaphor/Identity:
Absolute king of his castles

Secret:
He really is fond of Tristen

Something they don’t want to admit about himself:
he will always be alone

What makes this character unique?
His sadistic humor

Improve at least one item on character profile.
((I got nothing. Sorry))

================================================================

• This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by  Mary Andrews. Reason: making it pretty
• This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by  Mary Andrews.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by  Mary Andrews.

[Elliott Williams]

Subject: Elliott Williams’ Character Profiles – Need to work on two more.

What I learned:

I don’t have to write a long bio about personal and daily details to have a character framework to build on.

Logline:

A mentally troubled young college dropout comes home only to witness her father violently murder her mother, but when the CIA takes him away, she goes on a journey to uncover a shocking dark secret about his past…and hers.

1) Character Name:

April

Role: Graduate Student/Daughter

Core Character Traits:

– Headstrong

– Take Charge

– Cunning

– Needing her father’s love

Character Subtext Logline:

April is a distrusting daughter who needs to know why her parents try to control her.

Flaw: Her Anger and frustration blinds her.

Want/Need: Independence from parents and drugs/The love and acceptance of her parents

Mission/Agenda: To uncover the secret her father is hiding

Character Arc (if any): Goes from untrusting and self-centred to caring for others.

World View: No one does anything for nothing

Life Metaphor/Identity

Secret:

She hates her mother for marrying her father.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves:

She’s scared of being like her father.

What makes this character unique?

She is a powerful clairvoyant, but doesn’t know it.

CHANGE:

Logline: April is a distrusting daughter who wants to make her parents pay for trying to control her.

How does it improve the story?

It may make her more vicious and unpredictable in the beginning. Behavior like a junky will help set up a red herring for her problems.

2) Character Name:

Brent/Dr Gant

Role:

Father

Core Character Traits:

– Extremely Smart

– Deep love

– Carries Regret

– Anger

Character Subtext Logline:

Brent is an untrusting father who puts practicality ahead of all things.

Flaw:

He’s too controlling. He won’t show any softness or weakness.

Want/Need:

To fix the problem he started/to keep his daughter protected and give her a normal life.

Mission/Agenda:

He has to keep his darkness from the family.

Character Arc (if any):

He goes from being a hard ass to crumbling to pieces.

World View:

Life Metaphor/Identity:

Secret:

He created the military program that went wrong.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves:

He is not a patriot. He just wanted to leave a mark on society.

What makes this character unique?

He is a powerful clairvoyant that can control beasts.

CHANGE:

Character Trait: He’s mentally faltering.

How does it improve the story?

It makes the character more sympathetic and it shows something that is more visual than being smart.

3) Character Name:

Abigail

Role:

Mother

Core Character Traits:

– Nurturing

– Rule Breaking

– Practical

– Medical Aptitude

Character Subtext Logline:

A helpful person who tries to heal fissures to the point that the problems overtake her.

Flaw:

She gives too much.

Want/Need:

To bring about peace/ To find a sense of self preservation.

Mission/Agenda:

To keep harmony in the family while helping to do what’s necessary to bury the secrets.

Character Arc (if any):

She goes from accommodating everyone to fighting tooth and nail to survive.

World View:

Nothing is greater than family

Life Metaphor/Identity:

Strong female.

Secret:

She does not like what April and Brent do.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves:

She regrets having married Brent and taken on his problems.

What makes this character unique?

Her ability to weather the storm of tribulation.

CHANGE:

Logline:

A helpful mother who accommodates until she is forced to push back with everything she has.

How does it improve the story?

It makes the fight longer and shows a level of fight to April that she didn’t know was in her mother and possibly within her. It also shows April that her fight will need to be greater.

4) Character Name: Kerry

Role:

Research Assistant

Core Character Traits:

– Insecure

– Risk Taking

– A status climber

– Curious

Character Subtext Logline:

An ambitious young scientist who is looking to explore uncharted scientific territory for acclaim.

Flaw:

He blindly goes after what he wants. Doesn’t ask enough questions, in those scenarios. He doesn’t make the best choice to achieve his goal

Want/Need:

To be recognized/ To gain a more grounded version of self-worth.

Mission/Agenda:

To get as much of Dr. Gant’s research as possible.

Character Arc (if any):

He goes from being blindly ambitious, selfish and needy to protecting April

World View:

Everything can be used to get ahead

Life Metaphor/Identity:

I am what I am

Secret:

He doesn’t have much aptitude for science.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves:

He is only doing this to prove his detractors wrong.

What makes this character unique?

Survival instincts

CHANGE:

Core character trait: He is quick to betray to get ahead.

This change could help to make Kerry more unpredictable.

5) Character Name: Ayoki Koji

Role:

Tortured Soldier

Core Character Traits:

– Untrusting

– Will to live

– Patriotic

– Self-centered

Character Subtext Logline:

A soldier tries to escape his past only to be pulled into a deadly situation he may not survive

Flaw:

He constantly needs to be medicated.

Want/Need:

To be disconnected and high/ To find his own footing.

Mission/Agenda:

To be left alone and hide from society.

Character Arc (if any):

He goes from wanting to live in isolation to doing something to save his country.

World View:

Nothing and no one can be trusted

Life Metaphor/Identity:

People will use you

Secret:

He loves pain.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves:

He was the worst clairvoyant.

What makes this character unique?

He is a clairvoyant who loves his country.

Survival instincts

CHANGE:

Not sure

• This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by  Elliott Williams.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by  Elliott Williams.

[Mary Chamberlin]

Mary and Rich’s Character Profiles

What we learned doing this assignment is that there’s much room to make our characters deeper and more subtexty and thus interesting.

List your logline.

GenX Morty and GenZ Jax are involuntarily teamed up in Screenwriting 101, and immediately struggle to pair wildly different concepts that mirror their chaotic lives into one amazing winning script.

Create a Character Profile for each of your top five characters.

Morty

Role – Gen X Protagonist, laid off now student

Core Character Traits – Optimistic Pessimist, Stubborn, Nostalgic, Fatherly

Character Subtext Logline – doesn’t feel old yet constantly mentions age, may have waited too long to pursue his dreams

Want/Need: to accomplish something even if it is short-term

Character Arc: friendless to family

Secret: He has a lot of creative ideas, but uneven priorities

What makes this character unique? Never gives up, teasing dry sense of humor

Improvements: change Fatherly which is closee to nostalgic for him, to exhibitionist

Jax

Role – Gen Z Protagonist, Student who wishes to be elsewhere

Core Character Traits – loner, withdrawn, mellow, too nice to be ambitious

Character Subtext Logline – is at heart an old soul, trying to let go of anger to find peace, doesn’t like attention, yet has notable tattoos

Want/Need: to feel accepted and appreciated

Unique: is very even-keeled

Character Arc: scattered boy to responsible man

Improvements: change withdrawn to Fidgety, mellow to Justice seeking

Mz Bustamonte

Role – Teacher and Love Interest

Core Character Traits – air force grunt, direct, sexy mature, tough love

Character Subtext Logline – Although teaching kids, she doesn’t understand them well, tries boot camp learning method

Want/Need – to help create winning screenwriters, to live the military life

Secret – Thinks of herself as a Military Hemingway, finds Morty attractive even in his feeble attempts to date her

What makes this character unique? Called a ballbuster, she’s really a strong woman who gets what she needs

Improvements: change direct and sexy mature to ultra-feminine feminist, hard-boiled writer

Melanie

Role – Gen Z BFF and love interest

Core Character Traits – sweet, quiet strength, sympathetic, also an old soul like Jax

Character Subtext Logline – Stomped by the world, she is happy with her world including her precious but vulnerable Kyle

Want/Need – to live her life in peace and love with a little more stability

Secret – protective of her Mom who also has been kicked around

Improvements: change sympathetic to loyal and composed

Kyle

Role – child to be fathered by Morty and Jax

Core Character Traits – Precocious, direct, happy, adventurous

Character Subtext Logline – Opposite of Jax still sharing many traits

Flaw – Epileptic fits haunt his life

Want/Need – to be normal, to fly

Secret – wishes he could have two Dads and one Mom

Improvements: Change happy to moody

[Sandra Nelles]

Sandra’s Character Profiles

What I learned doing this assignment is how to improve my characters by separating out their various parts in order to get to their core. This is a great tool and assignment!

Logline: In order to save her failing business, an ambitious New York City real estate developer has three days to convince a small-town mayor and a tradition-bound Tribal Chief that working together will save the town, the tribe, and her business.

Abigail

Role: New York City real estate developer (protagonist)

Traits: no-nonsense, workaholic, ambitious, tough, perfectionist

Flaw: Trust – afraid to be hurt

Mission/Agenda: To save her business

Character Arc: Abigail goes from being a demanding money-is-most-important business woman to being a more people-oriented and altruistic person.

Change: Tough trait to judgmental

How the change improves the character and story: The change makes her character appear a little softer and not so harsh (more likable).

Scott

Role: Small-town Mayor

Traits: Responsible, charming, suspicious, defensive, anxious

Flaw: Still grieving the death of his wife after four years

Mission/Agenda: To revitalize the town by creating year-round business that will attract tourists.

Secret: Chief White Eagle is his father-in-law

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves: That he is attracted to Abigail and is falling in love with her.

Change: Defensive trait to committed and anxious trait to cautious

How the change improves the character and story: The changes will make his character more likeable and the audience will be more sympathetic if he is cautious and committed.

Chief White Eagle

Role: Tribal Chief

Traits: Self-confident, confrontational, strong, protective, persuader

Mission/Agenda: To save the dwindling tribe by creating more jobs, so more members will stay.

Secret: That he is Scott’s father-in-law and that he is secretly testing Abigail’s honesty and sincerity.

Change: Confrontational trait to assertive

How the change improves the character and story: The Chief usually confronts others in a diplomatic assertive manner and not directly confrontational. The change makes him more likable. Abigail respects the Chief as his approach is different from her father’s.

Edward

Role: Abigail’s father and successful businessman (antagonist)

Traits: Self-assured, success-oriented, driven, image-conscious, workaholic

Flaw: Fear of failure and humiliation

Secret: He is sabotaging Abigail’s business

Change: Workaholic trait to deceptive

How the change improves the character and story: Workaholic is implied with driven and success-oriented, deceptive shows what he will do to keep up his image. The change makes him less likable.

Phillip

Role: Abigail’s business partner

Traits: Easy-going, agreeable, complacent, trusting, optimistic

Flaw: Can be complacent, simplifying problems and minimizing anything upsetting.

Want/Need: Wants everything to go smoothly without conflict. Needs to exert himself to be an active participant and not just go along with others to keep the peace.

Change: Optimistic trait to supportive

How the change improves the character and story: Phillip is the peace keeper in the office and Abigail’s support, however he is worried that the business may fail.

[KAREN GRIFFIN]

Karen Griffin

What I learned: how fun it can be to focus on different aspects of each characters

Logline: A woman returns to her hometown to confront an evil that destroyed her and others.

Character name: Piper

Role in the story: Heroine

Core Character Traits

Loner

Sad/feels unloved

Hopeful

Frustrated

Wants: Love from others; to connect with people in an authentic way

Mission: to stop all the gossip and bad-mouthing people do to her and others

Character subtext logline: Piper is a loner who wants to connect with others but can’t be due to distrust and hurt stemming from gossip and bad-mouthing done to her by others.

Character name: Leela, Guardian Angel

Role in the story: Piper’s Guardian Angel

Core Character Traits

Confident

Peaceful

Loving

Brave

Wants: the best for Piper; to lead Piper to Heaven

Mission: to help Piper get past the pain she’s in so that Piper can live life… basically, to light, to guard, to rule to guide Piper so that Piper’s everything can reflect the glory of God and be very happy.

Character subtext logline: Leela is Piper’s Guardian Angel whose main goal is to help Piper conquer her pain but also to light, to guard, to rule and to guide Piper to a wonderful existence.

Character name: Joel

Role in the story: Piper’s best friend/wants to be her boyfriend

Core Character Traits

Supportive to Piper

Rocker

Outsider

Humorous

Wants: to be Piper’s boyfriend

Needs: to be acknowledge in Piper’s eyes as more than just her best friend

Character subtext logline: Joel is Piper’s best friend who supports her when she is down and wants to be her boyfriend

Character name: Corey

Role in the story: Antagonist

Core Character Traits

Cocky

Super Smart Engineer

Instigator/ Shirt stirrer

Insecure

Wants: to put others down so he can look good

Secret: He had a crush on Piper in high school and he still thinks she’s attractive

Character subtext logline: Corey is a super smart, cocky Engineer who stirs shit with his put downs so he can feel better about himself.

Character name: Monica aka Mixie

Role in the story: Antagonist

Core Character Traits

Popular and pretty

Snob

Controlling

Overconfident

Wants: for Corey to love her, to want her; wants all eyes on her all of the time

Fears: looking bad in public

Character subtext logline: Mixie is a snobby, pretty and controlling lady who wants Corey’s love as well as all eyes on her so much so that she uses bad-mouthing to control a situation.