Day 5 Assignments

[Lisa Paris Long]

Module 3 – Lesson 5 – Audience Connection to Characters

Lisa Long’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My Vision: I will do whatever it takes to be comfortable saying that I am a writer by creating impactful stories with amazing characters in order to sell my scripts.

What I learned from this assignment is there must be layers in characters that include positive characteristics to create audience investment throughout the movie.

Brainstorm one or more ways you can present your Protagonist through each of these:

Likability:
Molly is a ten-year-old that’s
never been in one place very long. She is trying to survive in a new
environment with people she doesn’t know.
Relatability:
The audience were all ten once.
Most can relate to being a fish out of water in a new place and being
separated from family.
Empathy:
Audience can imagine being left
by their mother with someone they don’t know and learning to survive.

Just to get the experience, give us one or more ways that your Antagonist could be presented through each of these:

Likability:
Edgar is pining over a lost
love while trying to keep his business going and taking care of a newfound
daughter.
Relatability:
Most of the audience can relate
to losing a love, trying to hustle at work, and taking care of a child.
Empathy:
Audience feels for someone
moving through life alone and longing for a time gone by.

[Lynn Vincentnathan]

Lynn Vincentnathan’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

VISION: I am determined to become a great screenwriter capable of getting my screenplays in various genres produced into movies that inspire vast audiences to mitigate climate change.

I LEARNED that I already had some audience connectors from doing previous lessons (I also have read Save the Cat), but need to flesh them out more. I’ll be thinking of more specific ways to show them especially in the first few scenes and first act.

CONCEPT: WEATHERING IT (Rom-Com) is about two college students who try to overcome family fights about global warming and get married during the worst ever Texas freeze

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Ways you can present your Protagonist ELLIE through each of these:

LIKABILITY: Ellie is heading a trip to the Sea Turtle Rescue Center; she tells Luz (re another’s name) it’s Gecko, not Geeko, that he’s a good friend but has issues (she cares for him non-romantically); she agrees to give a talk about the trip and when pressed “what’s the financial gain,” she explains there’s no gain, in fact there’s a fee to help rescue more endangered turtles.

RELATABILITY: She and Luz speak of it being hot now in spring and hotter in summer and later (implying with global warming). They confront the guys tagging them. She later shows romantic interest in Jim.

EMPATHY: Guys are following her and Luz — checking out the “babes.” When students rag & embarrass her about the trip, she goes mute/shock. She explains to Jim she has issues (autism, revealed later).

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Ways you can present your Protagonist JIM through each of these:

LIKABILITY: Jim shows interest in the Turtle trip, says he wants to rescue that turtle (Ellie), and in the next scene stands up for Ellie, then comforts her. Under the huge Jesus Protector of Seafarers statue, after their 1st kiss, he asks Ellie if she prays, then they pray for the endangered turtles and for ending global warming.

RELATABILITY: He and friend are pursuing “babes,” but not in an evil way. He’s a college guy under obligation to his elders.

EMPATHY: Ellie and Luz catch Jim and friend following them and confront them (a bit embarrassing). Later we find out he is obligated to his uncle, who paid for his education, and has to work for him when he’d rather do something else.

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Ways you can present your Triangle Character ELY through each of these:

LIKABILITY: He’s an old grump, but he’s working on alt energy projects and his Off-The-Gridder blog to help save the earth. He is very fond of his grand-niece Ellie and wants to help her. He’s a naturalist, letting his farm return to the native brushlands.

RELATABILITY: We later find out why he’s so grumpy and full of hatred for Fred (Fred stole his love), but in the end they patch up.

EMPATHY: His love was tricked away from him. In Act 1 we see that he lives alone, has issues, and his only relationship is with Ellie.

[Renee Miller]

Renee’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My Vision: I will work hard to become a well-respected screenwriter who has her screenplays produced and will have enough work to keep me busy and keep the lights on.

What I learned doing this assignment is that it is important that characters have deeper layers and that protagonists don’t have to be all good and antagonists can have good qualities.

Protagonist: Claire

Likability:

– she has kind words for everyone she meets.

– she loves her niece even if her relationship with her parent’s is strained.

– she doesn’t take shit from anyone (she stands up for herself)

– she is willing to help the bad guys.

Relatability:

– she’s not perfect. She struggles with addiction.

– based on past heartbreak she keeps herself closed off for fear of getting hurt again.

Empathy:

– she struggles with alcohol.

– she seems to be unlucky in love

– she has difficulty staying out of trouble.

Antagonist: Marc

Likability:

– nothing

Relatability:

– he wants revenge on those who hurt the people he loves.

Empathy:

– his twin brother was killed by the creature he is now hunting.

[Ron Chepesiuk]

Subject Line: Ron’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

Vision: I want the success and recognition of being an in demand, A-list screenwriter who writes successful films that are financially profitable, award winning and of enduring quality

“What I learned from doing this assignment is that these are key components of character development that I am now aware of.

2. Brainstorm one or more ways you can present your Protagonist through each of these:

Lucia: Protagonist

Likability: She respects her
mom even though the respect is not reciprocated
Relatability: She is trapped in
a situation it is difficult to get out of.
Empathy: she is bullied by her
boyfriend who mistreats her

3. Just to get the experience, give us one or more ways that your Antagonist could be presented through each of these:

Likability: charming, handsome,
charismatic
Relatability: He is disrespected
by his father who mal treats him
Empathy: He futally tries to
gain the respect of his father who has written him off as a loser

[Monica Arisman]

Subject: Monica’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

Vision: I will continue to learn everything I can through all different media to apply what I learn to become the best screenwriter I can be. To be successful in getting my movies made and to win awards in the process.

What I learned from
doing this assignment is to set up each character’s story layer by layer using
experiences we all possibly go through in our lives.<div>

Brainstorm one or more ways you can present your Protagonist through each of these:

Likability: Conall
takes good care of his family just before he is sent on a mission. He
takes his role of leader seriously and always puts the safety of his team
first.</div><div>

Relatability: Conall
places flowers on the graves of his family. Believes the fire was
deliberately set. Wants to get justice for his family.

Empathy: Conall
watches as a fire engulfs his home but he is restrained from going in to
save his family. He gives his family the best of funerals.

Just to get the experience, give us one or more ways that your Antagonist could be presented through each of these:

Likability: Harry
wants to keep his children safe after the death of his wife. He spends
time with them after work.</div>

Relatability: He’s
angry and sad that his wife has died but he has a job to do regardless of
how he feels.

Empathy: He’d
do anything to bring her back as she was the love of his life.

[JOEL STERN]

Module 3 Lesson 5 Audience Connection to Characters

My vision: To write eight screenplays that become Hollywood
blockbusters (and to get a line in at least one of them).

What I learned from this assignment: How to create an emotional
bond between the audience and my protagonist.

Protagonist: Jim McCarthy, WW2 hero now a TV crime
reporter in 1950s Las Vegas.

Likability: Good friend – can always be counted on; good
sense of humor; dedicated family man; all-American.

Relatability: Pressures of being a young husband and dad;
his pursuit of “The American Dream”; vet trying to make ends meet
on an entry level salary.

Empathy: Wife and small child later die in accident; turns to
drinking, gambling – runs up huge debt.

Antagonist: Sal (voice on telephone only – never seen
on camera)

Likability: Friendly sounding; always starts threatening calls to
Jim with a “Knock-Knock” joke.

Relatability: Respects Jim’s wartime exploits; served in Pacific himself; seems like he’s making empty threats; just a guy trying to get his money back;

Empathy: Struggling
financially himself; also lost family in accident.

[JOEL STERN]

Module 3 Lesson 5 Audience Connection to Characters

My vision: To write eight screenplays that become Hollywood
blockbusters (and to get a line in at least one of them).

What I learned from this assignment: How to create an emotional
bond between the audience and my protagonist.

Protagonist: Jim McCarthy, WW2 hero now a TV crime
reporter in 1950s Las Vegas

Likability: Good friend – can always be counted on; good
sense of humor; dedicated family man.

Relatability: Pressures of being a young husband and dad;
his pursuit of “The American Dream”; trying to make ends meet
on entry level salary.

Empathy: Wife and small child die in accident; turns to
drinking, gambling – runs up huge debt.

Antagonist: Sal (voice on telephone only – never seen
on camera)

Likability: Friendly sounding; starts threatening calls to
Jim with a “Knock-Knock” joke.

Relatability: Seems like he’s making empty threats; respects
Jim’s wartime exploits; served in Pacific himself.

Empathy: Just a guy trying to get his money back; struggling
financially himself.

[victor Valleau]

Vic Valleau Likeability/Relatability/EmpathyModule 3 Lesson 5

Vision AS a writer, I am an alchemist, turning the ordinary into Gold.

What I learned doing this assignment: I love my characters, especially making them likeable/relatable/empathetic. More flaws means more relatable and big flaws make them empathetic.

Brainstorm one or more ways you can present your Protagonist through each of these:

BOB

Likeability- He is friends and considerate to everybody. His Friends, co-workers, tease him about donating sperm, Can’t get a date tonight? He laughs at teasing or at least doesn’t get hostile.

Sperm Clinic staff loves his silliness. Says he’s a movie star doing Charlie Chaplin little Tramp walk. save the cat helps old lady find her cat, Meets up with woman Dog walker with 8 dogs. Instant connection, untangling the leashes. .

Relatability- Sympathetic, Extremely lonely at night and celibate, clearly not by choice. Winning and losing? Bob loses a lot. He’s a loser with vending machines, even kids steal his lunch when he’s trying to give it to them. Losses including his unrequited love for Mia. Bob knows what’s right for Mia but she hates advice good or bad. .Bob’s spied on by 5 onlookers, some are kids with walkie talkies going into clinic. Rob him coming out after payment from donation. Arrested by police watching him give money to drug gang kids,

Empathy: Majorly damaging experience: Mia gets restraining order against him. crippling bicycle accident arm in sling, arrested, going broke, losing too much gambling, kid bicycle mob chases him, debts for action figures. Attacked by Big Bertha as Male Chauvinist Pig for donating sperm- He jokingly calls this a sexual experience.

Ways my Antagonist could be presented through each of these:

MIA

Likeability: Bob adores her. Clinic loves her. She imitates old time movie star, maybe funny voice, comes to clinic reception desk as that old time movie star Katharine Hepburn imitation and disguise. Every day is Halloween.

Relatability Sympathetic Lonely, with husbands’ bad treatment. Wants to escape her husband. She’s annoyed., credit card bounces- no sperm donation. So must be on her own, stranded with no place to live, beg Bob, but his terms are only with sex.

Empathy: Husband disrespects her for no babies, broke, Husband obviously unfaithful, She must team up with Bob and Bob’s mother’s helper and spy. They are dressed up as Noir detectives to blackmail the husband. Husband hired Bob to watch Mia, but in secret only.

[Joe Donato]

Joe’s Likeability/Relateability/Empathy

My vision is to persevere and stay the course of building steady daily routine, and disciplines that produce consistent writing of exceptional quality. Ultimately, the fruit of those habits and disciplines will be a track record of great marketable scripts that will make other successful talented pros seek me out.

What I learned: This lesson was very affirming for me. I’ve always believed that the most important thing in a movie (even more important than story structure) is that the audience falls in love with the characters. One of my biggest fears in venturing into the Rom-Com genre, is that I won’t be able to pull that off because I’m too much of a stickler for “believability”. Almost all of the top-rated RomComs that I’ve watched in the past two years, have affirmed a rule I heard once from a pro video editor; “emotion trumps logic.” This genre practically lives and dies by that rule. But after doing this assignment, I feel confident that I have plently of fodder to pull off the empathy thing. I already had some, but this assignment totally pushed me to come up with some more, so now I feel I have more than enough.

Lorenzo likeability:

– watching him cook/slap pizza dough, is like watching a master craftsman

– Customers really love his food

– He’s a super hard worker.

– When you walk through the door, he greets you like you’re special and part of a family. (So does Emily)

– He doesnt take crap from anyone: eapecially the landlord. He’s tough like Bruce Willis in DieHard or Clint Eastwood, but still has the heart of a puppy dog.

Lorenzo distress that causes empathy:

– He works his butt off to make an amazing dinner special night but gets no customers

– He is unjustly represented by landlord, and thus, Emily’s students when she publicly dismisses him somehow.

– While in supermarket, he overhears a family choosing another pizza place over his because its cheaper.

– Then he overhears another couple choosing a different pizza place over his because its more expensive, so therefore it must be better.

– His grandparents/aunt/uncle in Italy are dying. His only chance to spend time with them is to move there.

– Landlord has increased commons fees.

– When he decides to take an opportunity to tell Emily how he feels, he gets stuck in the elevator

Emily likeability:

– Attractive but seemingly humble about it.

– Really encouraging and nurturing teacher.

– Passionate about her studio and trying to be fair to students while also not letting herself get taken advantage of as a businesswoman.

Emily relatability:

– Really takes care of her body; doesnt smoke like lots of other dancers she knows, but still tempted to indulge in junk food on occasion, like most of us.

– Scared to admit she is developing feelings for a guy who she already rejected in her head, and publicly demonized/belittled. Who wouldn’t?

Emily distress that causes empathy:

– Landlord raises rent because of “taxes” but he raises her rent much higher than the taxes would cost him. Then she finds out she really cant trust the landlord and hes been playing her all this time

– Really really needs a business space, may have to move back home.

– Rejected when she auditioned for 2nd broadway show, after putting EVERYTHING into it to the point of exhaustion.

– When She tells Lorenzo that he should teach cooking, he proudly declares “those who can, do. Those who cant, teach” and this gnaws at her, making her feel like a failure.

Landlord likeability:

– Uhhhh. Handsome? Well spoken? Appears froendly

– Landlord relatability:

– we actually do like him at first because, along with Emily, he appears so likeable; until he shapeshifts and we later learn its all just a clever facade.

– Genuinely makes an effort to bring at least some things up to code, so he’s not so much of an “evil landlord” stereoptype. He’s a real person. But the expenses to bring the elevator up to code is the straw that breaks him.

Landlord distress causing empathy:

– Is wrestling with the elevator expenses to bring it up to code, when the building AC units get stolen overnight by hoodlums who just want to sell them for a couple hundred bucks of scrap metal. That’s now going to cost thousands to replace.

[Wynona Bice-Stephens]

Bice-Stephen’s’ Likability/Relatability/Empathy

2022 is my year to break through!

What I learned: We’re building the info step by step.

Protagonist—Alex

Likability—Smiling all the time, easy going, everyone’s best friend

Relatability—Girl trouble, struggling through school, just wants to have a good time

Empathy—Constantly kicked around, loses girlfriend and baby, suckered by another girl, wrongfully accused and jailed by cops

Antagonist—Brandy

Likability—Totally sweet at first, seems so innocent, giggles to babies

Relatability—Overwhelmingly lonely, alone and on her own, can’t catch guy she wants, looks like normal single in city

Empathy—Lost mom, dad in prison, lost 2 babies, desperate for love, desperate for guy she wants, longs for her own family

[David Penn]

David’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My vision is to increase my skills to become an A list writer.

What I learned from this assignment is the importance of creating characters that we care about. If we don’t feel a connection to the character, we have no interest in watching.

Protagonist (Chas Chandler)

Likability: Is a Big Brother to underprivileged kid. Takes better care of the cat than he does himself. Calls his mom every Sunday. Good natured with a good sense of humor. Self-deprecating. Romantic. Has close friends.

Relatability: Deeply in debt. Marginally employed. Struggle of graduating college and not knowing the next step. Not able to parents truth about his situation. Struggling to make ends meet.

Empathy: Collector threatens him over the phone. Gives his last food to his cat. Can’t get job due to credit check. Busted coming out of a sperm bank. Tries to help his Little Brother, but he can’t even help himself. Doesn’t want to worry his parents, so he lies to them.

Antagonist (Keith Holmes)

Likability: Laughs with old friend at the bar, reminiscing. Loves his mother. Tries to save his childhood home. Feeds a starving cat. Straight talk, never lies.

Relatability: Gets fired from job. IRS is after him. Doesn’t want to leave home town. Blue collar, no bullshit. Drives a beat up truck.

Empathy: Fired, can’t find another job at his age with no college degree. IRS is gonna take his house. Truck breaks down, no money. Gets shot down by frat boys with paint guns.

[Amy Falkofske]

Amy’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

Vision: I want to become known as an expert in the family-friendly genre and make a full-time living as a screenwriter.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that the audience needs to care about the characters from the beginning. I have one character that’s more likable after she goes through her transformation, but I need to make sure that she’s likable from the start or no one will care what happens to her.

Stephanie

Likability: She genuinely cares about her family.

Relatability: Once it’s discovered that she’s not a royal, she has not money.

Empathy: Loses her status as a princess, lost her father as a teenager

Jack

Likability: Offers to help Stephanie

Relatability: His conflict with Stephanie (complicated love/hate relationship)

Empathy: In love with someone who hates him

[Dana Abbott]

WIM2 – Dana’s Liability/Relatability/Empathy

My Vision: I intend to perfect my skills to become a successful screenwriter, scripting acclaimed and profitable films, recognized by my peers, and living an adventurous life.

What I learned during this assignment:

Each new assignment helps me delve deeper into my characters, especially my antagonist. Developing my villain’s audience connection has helped me create a truly memorable and multi-dimensional bad guy to drive the story that an audience will love to hate.

Character Name: Ruth Griffin

Role: Hostage

Likability: She shows courage during her ordeal; she verbally fights with her captor; she defends herself against an attacker; she fights off and kills a rattle snake.

Relatability: She’s frightened, isolated, and alone; she’s in an emotionally abusive marriage; she’s having an affair; she turns to her faith for comfort.

Empathy: She’s trapped and cannot escape; she’s at the mercy of others; her lover betrays her; she learns her husband is involved in her kidnapping.

Character Name: The Custodian

Role: Kidnapper

Likability: He’s intelligent; he’s patient and not cruel toward his captive; he’s violent with anyone who tries to harm his captive.

Relatability: He’s intelligent; he has a warped sense of humor; he likes money.

Empathy: He’s betrayed by his partner.

[Andrew Boyd]

Andrew Boyd’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My Vision:

For Hitler’s Choirboys to be such a compelling screenplay that Steven Spielberg and Mel Gibson will battle it out to produce their best WW2 blockbuster since Hacksaw Ridge or Schindler’s List.

What I learned from this assignment:

How to bring out the common humanity of each character so an audience can connect with them.

Protagonist: Henry Gerecke

Likeability: A non-smoker, he hands out cigarettes to the children of a Nazi soldier in the rubble of Nuremberg, knowing smokes are hard currency in 1945. (He also hands out chocolate).

Relatability: After seeing the arrogant the Nazi guard at Dachau, his involuntary response is to want to kill him. Wouldn’t we all?

Empathy: It could cost him his marriage, his health and his reputation to see this assignment through. But Henry soldiers on…

Anagonist: Hermann Goering

(You want me to make a Nazi leader likeable? You sure…? Actually, we have to show Goering’s humanity, because relating to him as another human being is the only way Henry will ever get through to him.)

Likeability: Goering is cultured and clever. He’s also a big kid who loves fast cars, showing off and playing games. And there’s a genuine streak of kindness to him, when he offers Henry his blue Mercedes (along with a manipulative streak a mile wide).

Relatability: He refuses to surrender in World War One, but his country’s politicians force him, so he gets his squadron to crash and wreck their fighter planes in an act of defiance and protest.

Empathy: His dad and mum abandoned him; his country was in utter chaos so he stepped up to lead, because drastic times need drastic measures. As a result he gets shot and addicted to morphine to kill the pain.

[Paul Dees]

Paul Dees’ Likability/Relatability/ Empathy

My Vision: I am a writer/director/producer that writes and makes films of all kinds, and I am recognized by the industry as both a highly successful filmmaker and as a person that’s easy to work with.

What I learned from doing this assignment is how connect the audience to the lead characters in a film.

Protagonist: Rick O’Brien

· Likeability: Rick genuinely cares about people. He demonstrates this at home in his interactions with his family, with his co-workers, and in trying to protect the people in danger he comes in contact with as an FBI agent.

· Relatability: Ricks loves his family, but things don’t always go smoothly at home. Kids act up, sometimes he and wife don’t see eye to eye, the cars need fixing, the house needs some work, and he has a pile of bills to pay. He also has to take out the garbage or do the dishes when it’s his turn.

· Empathy: Rick is genuinely haunted by the death of his former partner and the hostage he was trying to rescue as shown in the prologue. We all have suffered the loss of someone special and can empathize with his grief.

Antagonist: Sean Gray

· Likeability: Sean is very charismatic, the life of the party who owns the room whenever he’s around. He has a great sense of humor, and people warm up to him as a result.

· Relatability: People relate to Sean because he’s so likable. He’s your best friend as soon as you start talking to him.

· Empathy: When Sean reveals to Rick that he’s the terrorist they’ve been hunting, he tells him he masterminded the attacks so that the FBI would have experience with preventing real-life scenarios, not some pre-planned training exercise. He then goes on to say that even though some people died in the attacks, once the FBI became more skilled at preventing them, many more lives would be saved in the long run. So while Sean doesn’t go about it in a very ethical way, we can all understand wanting to protect people.

[Alan Wood]

WIM2 Alan’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My Vision:

I do whatever it takes for me to be a true wordsmith that spins wildly original and entertaining screenplays that are passionately sought out by top industry professionals who turn them into critically and publicly acclaimed major motion pictures distributed by the top studios in Hollywood, all while writing from wherever I may be leisurely traveling the world at the moment.

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What I learned: This is a really important process that I don’t usually do outside of SU classes. I need to make this a regular part of my process. I know that’s the same thing I learned last time, but it counts here too!

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Title: Ninja Burgers

Genre: Action/Comedy

Concept: A down on his luck, thirty-something fast food employee finds a high tech bracelet that turns him into the world’s deadliest super soldier.

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Brainstorm one or more ways you can present your Protagonist through each of these:

Likability: Feeds the homeless guy behind the store. Is shy but tries hard with his friends. Has dreams and goals.

Relatability: Takes care of his dying father. Can’t afford to feed him and get his medications. Afraid to share his true dreams for fear of ridicule.

Empathy: Is positive with his father while barely holding it together on the inside.

Just to get the experience, give us one or more ways that your Antagonist could be presented through each of these:

Likability: He’s evil but funny. Stays strong even though his heart isn’t into being evil. Has a ‘beautiful dream’ of life as a bartender on a tropical island.

Relatability: Stuck in a job that he hates and fears he will never be able to escape and realize his true dream.

Empathy: Trapped. Must succeed or he will be killed. Everyone is after his job, he has to watch his back. Longs for the simple life but is trapped.

[David Holloway]

Dave Holloway’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My vision: I would like to be a successful writer in Hollywood, with a number of successful movies to my credit that put forward a core belief about environmental, political, or personal development.

What I learned doing this assignment is that it’s crucial to have the protagonist be likable/relatable/empathetic to the audience and building in ways to achieve those things is very important.

Nigel Williamson, protagonist

Likable: he’s got a strong friendship with Roger, who likes and even loves him. He is totally in love with his wife and is willing to risk his life to rescue her. As the story goes on, he displays admirable qualities of courage and endurance.

Relatable: He has lost his love, Livia, his wife. He goes through dangerous situations and seems likely to fail in his goal of freeing her. He expresses fear various times at things he must do.

Empathy: We feel sorry that he’s in such a bad situation, with his wife a prisoner in a seemingly impenetrable prison in a fascist, military state. We feel for him when he gets shot. We feel for him when he relates to Roger the tale of a schoolyard incident that wounded him.

Gunnar Trask, antagonist

Likable: he works hard, runs the prison efficiently. Seems to display empathy for Livia when he offers her a way out of the prison.

Relatable: We sees he’s under pressure as the warden, and is disliked, though respected. We see he leaves a vulnerability in the prison that enables Livia to escape.

Empathy: We might feel some sorrow for him when we see his violent death.

[hari messer]

Subject Line: Hari’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My Vision: I want to write screenplays that enable me to work with like minded creative people in the industry to produce profound movies that will have a long lasting positive effect on the world.

What I learned…Relatability and empathy are just as important as likability

Brainstorm one or more ways you can present your Protagonist through each of these:

Likability: Saves his K9 partner from Beck’s abuse

Relatability: screwed up at his job, his wife left him – for his best friend. The backstory comes out as Beck interrogates him at a traffic stop.

Empathy: Harassed and humiliated by Beck during the traffic stop as Beck shows him who’s boss. Beck tasers him.

[Frances Emerson]

MODULE THREE LESSON FIVE

FRAN’S LIABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY

MY VISION: I want to write great movies. Movies that are magical, movies that move people and tell the

WHAT I LEARNED:

Meredith: Good mother, inner beauty, likes quiet beauty in things, good at what she does, tries to be her own woman-fails in her eyes, treats others well, with kindness, has empathy for others, is kind, humble

Her husband is a cad, abusive we’ve all had a cheating s.o.b. in our lives at one time or another, most of us have had children in our lives we want to protect and support. We’ve all wanted to succeed, be successful in what we do and have had frustrations when things didn’t go our way..

Put downs we’ve all had those, self-doubting. Wanting more out of life than the same old, same old and knowing how it feels to get bucked, or it’s taking too long to get it, or being frustrated in not getting what you want. And having failed relationships.

Jerome: Perfectionist, generous with praise—for other people, but never wife. Likes to treat some of his lesser workers like peons, but the higher ups like royalty, best friends—like his best friends. Gregarious, life of the party, the kind of guy you want to be with, be seen with. Loves his daughter. Very good looking.

We’ve all had frustration with work in our lives at times. Nothing ever seems to go right, when needed. And having people get on your nerves. Having the need to regroup, get a fresh start or a reset. Loves his daughter.

We’ve all had a shot at being “losers” at some point. We’ve butted head with someone, something, when things weren’t going our way. We’ve also known independent people in our lives, who weren’t the best fit for us. Meredith and Jerome are just not a good fit for each other.

Olga (Meredith’s protagonist): a good friend, kind, caring, long suffering. Can be flamboyant at times. Gaiety about her, sense of humor, a dreamer. Would rather not be the Grand Duchess, a royal person, just wants to get away from it all and be in love. Just wants to be a regular person, not in the limelight.

But he fulfills her duties, whether she wants to or not. Naïve in many ways, trusting when and where she shouldn’t be. Has inner conflicts that make her want to be someone else, somewhere else. Loves too deeply, gets hurts when she should be guarded.

We’ve all had the great love of our lives. And many of us have lost them in a kind or tragedy or fate we could not control. We’ve all been the center of ridicule, been made fun of at one time. Had fingers pointed at us for who we are, what our circumstances are. Must persevere because other people need us to when we want to crawl away and hide.

[Frances Emerson]

Forgot to type in what I learned: You really have to sit down and think about your characters, how you view them, how you want to express themselves before the audience. You don’t want the audience to get the wrong perception. it takes a few minutes, but it’s worth it in the end.

[Nancy Meyer]

Lesson 5 – Audience Connection to Characters

Nancy’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My Vision: To create a polished portfolio and do whatever it takes to get a manager, and then sell multiple TV and or feature scripts.

What I learned doing this assignment is that unrelatable characters, even if they are “bad”, so not keep audiences fully engaged in a story. Multi-dimensional characters are what sells.

Protagonist: Freya

Likability: A good mother, hard worker, she is personable/polite to mainlanders, self-deprecating about her inabilities to be alone

Relatability: Freya has experienced trauma, she has lost her job, lost her will to live

Empathy: Freya couldn’t save her husband/daughter, she’s alone and grieving, she has writer’s block, believes she is losing her mind (when Noah is stalking her), she has to face a deadly storm and get back to the mainland but is deathly afraid of water

Antagonist: Noah

Likability: intelligent/knows the land, shares great stories of the island, shows interest in Freya/what she does for a living

Relatability: Noah has lost someone he loves, he doesn’t like himself for what he’s done, he’s alone

Empathy: Freya reminds him of Lisbeth and this hurts him

[ROBERT Ingalls]

Module 3, Lesson 5 – Audience Connection to Characters

Subject: Rob Ingalls’ Likability/Relatability/Empathy

MY VISION:

To be a Talented writer that delivers quality fast, with the film industry seeking me out.

WIL: To keep working with traits that connect us to the characters.

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

Protagonist (Josh):

– Likability: He takes care of his ailing grandma/Memaw in nursing home

– Relatability: Girlfriend problems. Gowing up issues.

– Empathy: His TikToc Influencer business falls apart, crumbles

Antagonist (Cashus King):

– Likability: Has a pet Chihuahua that he loves/adors

– Relatability: Dog shits all over white carpet.

– Empathy: Humiliation – TikToc Followers compare him to Josh, and not in a nice way, and troll Cashus.

(Later he fights back with revenge…not nice)

Third Character (Holly):

– Likability: Friendly, outgoing.

– Relatability: We initially think she’s suffered in relationships due to the guy, (but later learn it’s her).

– Empathy: Why would anyone (Josh) cheat on her (or did he??)

[Joyce Davidson]

Vision: write memorable scripts actors want to portray.

WIL: tough for me to write about likable characters.

Likability: Cole has principles, intelligence, and loyalty, but he lacks social importance. He must learn how to become less of a loner and have people root for him.

Relatability: Many of us feel more at home in large crowds or before large audiences and very uncomfortable at a smaller social gathering.

Empathy: Audiences will also relate to his struggle to help someone he admires even though his personal beliefs differ greatly. He is too honorable to let down the professor and he must be strong enough to win against those who want to stop the manuscript publication.

Likability: Delaney has rivals in looks, intelligence, and dedication, but she avoids men. She fights against her own nature to prove something that happened centuries ago.

Relatability: Many women want to prove how strong they are and capable of taking care of themselves, but through their grit there arises a vulnerable woman who wonders what it will be like to always be alone.

Empathy: Audiences will be proud of her for the journey she has accepted, but they will also fear that she will throw it all away by stealing and destroying vital evidence and lose any relationship with Cole once she stops hating him.

[Joyce Davidson]

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• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by  Joyce Davidson.

[George Petersen]

George Petersen LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY

My Vision is to direct one of my screenplays as a low-budget indie feature

What I learned from this assignment is the importance of the human factor when creating characters

LONGFELLOW

Likability: he’s devoted to the well being of his friend. He’s charming and intelligent.

Relatability: he embarks on a secret mission to “save” his friend — even if it means risking the loss of their friendship forever

Empathy: he struggles with stress and alcoholism

YOUNGBLOOD

Likability: he’s determined to have as much fun as possible as he plows through the Haight

Relatability: everyone experiences hard times sometime in their lives

Empathy: he seems like a down and out person — at first

[Marcus Wolf]

Marcus’ Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My Vision: I have well-founded confidence that what I write is excellent and will be acknowledged as excellent by everyone who reads it.

This lesson was a good exercise in developing characters.

Movie Title: “Beyond the Faded Trail”

Character Name: Jake Barnet

Likability: He is very good to his horse.

Relatability: Jake falls in love with a prostitute, or thinks he does. He can’t have her.

Empathy: Jake tries really hard, but he’s a bad businessman. His business goes up in smoke when someone burns his lumber. Jake’s men don’t respect him.

Character Name: Isaac Castle (aka Holland Whitaker)

Likability: He’s smart. Takes his younger workers under his wing. Tries to do a good job and mentors his workers.

Relatability: He is faced with stupidity of those around him that impacts his work and even his everyday life. Later we will find out he has been in love and lost that love.

Empathy: His boss doesn’t always do what’s right for the business, and Isaac must work hard to make up for it. His former partner in crime stole his girlfriend.

Antagonist Character Name: Lucien Rickey

Likability: A former law-and-order sheriff, he kept his town peaceable. Might possibly show him as a popular man. His men are fiercely loyal to him.

Relatability: Wanted a good life for himself and others.

Empathy: The railroad
reneged on its deal with his town and as a result, the town died. He’s getting
revenge on them.

[Wynona Bice-Stephens]

Bice-Stephens Character Profile Part 1

2022 is my year to break through!

What I learned—it’s so much smarter to develop the characters before the script.

Lead Character—Brandy

High Concept—A young psychopath kidnaps a baby to manipulate the ex who rejected her.

Character Journey—Normal to Trashy to crime queen

Actor attractors—No boundaries personality, but actually very damaged psych for a reason

Profile:

Role in story—Antagonist, an ex who won’t let go

Age range—20s, looks like any girl on the street

Core Traits—Mentally unbalanced, narcissistic, selfish, broken

Motivation—Wants her own family at any cost, Needs to replace the family she lost

Wound—Dad killed her mother, lost 2 babies

Likability—At first seems like a normal girlfriend who just wants a guy

Relatability—None of us have complete control over what happens to us

Empathy—She is broken from a damaged life

Lead Character—Alex

High concept—A young psychopath kidnaps a baby to manipulate the ex who rejected her

Character Journey—Happy go lucky to ultimately destroyed

Actor Attractors—Forrest Gump II, the friend we would all like to have

Profile:

Role in story—Protagonist, the ex being manipulated

Age range, description—20s, Clean cut college student, smiley

Core traits—nice guy, cheerful, smart, vulnerable

Motivation—Wants to have his own family, Needs to make up for being abandoned as a baby

Wound—Thinks if his parents didn’t want him nobody could

Likability—Best friend ever to everyone, just wants to have a good time

Relatability—His situation could happen to anyone

Empathy—He can’t see how Brandy is breaking him

[Christopher Blanchett]

Chris Blanchett’s Likability, Relatability, & Empathy

I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.

What I learned from this assignment is there are at least two-sides to every character.

Unwoke

Character Name: Tim Walters

Role: Protagonist <div>

Likability: smart,
funny, genuinely decent human being

Relatability: put upon
by bureaucracy at work

Empathy: put in
situation where he’s forced to choose between staying true to his own
values or “going along to get along” to avoid losing his job by rocking
the boat.

Character Name: Cassidy Perino

Role: Triangle
and Love Interest </div>

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Likability: Highly
intelligent, extremely good at what she does, helps Tim navigate the new
world of political communications

<div>

Relatability: balancing numerous
interests in her job

Empathy: apparently
torn between personal feelings for Tim and the demands of her job, which
may not be in his best interest.

Character Name: Rachel Donahue

Role: Antagonist </div>

Likability: competent
and driven, an acerbic wit, but with nonetheless

Relatability: Tim
represents an obstacle toward fulfilling his/her job function “nothing
personal (maybe), it’s strictly business…”

Empathy: At a certain
level, overworked and just trying “to get the job done…”.

[Erin Ziccarelli]

Erin Ziccarelli’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

Vision: I am going to create meaningful scripts that leave audiences remembering my movies and leave me excited to keep writing and moving up in the industry.

What I learned from doing this assignment is: How to make an antagonist likeable and relatable. I think this can give the story more depth and makes their interactions with the protagonist more charged.

Alex Donovan (protagonist)

· Likability: he greatly cares for Kitty Caden, he gives himself up so that his friends are not caught, he’s a great card player and outsmarts the whole table

· Relatability: conflict with a nemesis who married his true love, he can’t trust anyone, he’s struggling with cocaine dependency, he’s very alone at the new jail

· Empathy: he’s fallen prey to cocaine dependency, he’s been in jail, his friends haven’t come to visit him so he’s feeling betrayed, and he’s being taunted by his nemesis

Scarlett Brennan (stakes character)

· Likability: she tries to save Will during the fire,

· Relatability: she’s in a loveless relationship, she has money problems, working a dead-end job, struggling to “move up” or be “promoted” in the family business

· Empathy: she’s had no parents her whole life, her side turns on her at the end, she’s struggling with an eating disorder

Richard Brennan (antagonist)

· Likability: he’s interested in “promoting” Scarlett in the family business

· Relatability: he feels the pressure of being a boss, he has responsibility, he’s always felt undermined by Nathanial Caden

· Empathy: his son has been killed, he knew that Kitty never wanted to be a part of the North End, the family money went to a South Ender