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Day 5 Assignments
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8 Replies
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M.M.’s Character Journeys
What I learned doing this assignment is to create a
beginning, middle and end for each character’s journey. This shows the conflict
and complexities of the characters weaving in and out of the story, and it’s something I have not implemented before in my scripts. Excited about this process. -
Andre’s Character Journey
Clarification request on the assignment. This lesson 5 focuses on the 3 Act structure; but does not the Contained movie have 4 Acts?
Is not the contained movie a 4 Act structure?
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SUBJECT: Dalisia’s Character Journeys!
What I learned from this assignment is that every major and minor character should have a journey in the movie. We generally only think of lead characters having a full journey, but that’s wasted air time in a contained movie where the character depth and journey is everything. This assignment showed me that even a simple 3-act structure for a minor character can add incredible depth to the story.
For each of your main characters, create a 3-Act Structure of their journey.
MOM
Beginning: Suburban wife, struggling to fit into new retired life
Turning Point: DAUGHTER announces wedding, mom immediately suspicious (new mission)
Midpoint: Mom’s “investigation” of FIANCE reaches the ridiculous stage, everyone is mad
Turning Point 2: DAUGHTER tells her to stay away from the wedding, she reveals her wound
Dilemma: Trust her gut and protect her family or… don’t and risk losing them
3rd Act Climax: ASSASSIN captures MOM, DAD, DAUGHTER; MOM sees futility of old life!
Ending: BROTHER and FIANCE save the family, MOM embraces new identity
DAD
Beginning: Happy to be retired, wishes MOM would be as well
Turning Point: DAUGHTER announces wedding to the UPS guy (who DAD hired!)
Midpoint: Prevents MOM from ruining wedding; Really upset by her behavior
Turning Point 2: Dad feels guilty, admits to being catalyst to MOM’s forced retirement
Dilemma: Admit he betrayed MOM and that he hired FIANCE, or stay quiet and let the ASSASSIN target the wedding
3rd Act Climax: Captured by assassin; no way out! Feels responsible for it all.
Ending: Saved by non-spy BROTHER and FIANCE
DAUGHTER
Beginning: Normal grad student, eager to get married over the weekend
Turning Point: Announces the wedding to MOM/DAD; confides in BROTHER
Midpoint: Furious with MOM, feels unsupported and betrayed
Turning Point 2: Tells MOM to stay away from wedding, but learns of her wound
Dilemma: Get married over the weekend/anger parents OR get shipped to Siberia
3rd Act Climax: Mother/daughter competition ends in family getting captured by ASSASSIN
Ending: Saved by BRO and FIANCE, continues family business but with lots of support; gains tons of respect for parents and realized how much MOM loves her
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The Character Journey
What I learned from this assignment is that my characters already have arcs but the breaking the arcs into Beginning to End gave me a clarity.
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Larry’s Character Journeys
What I learned doing this assignment is to create a beginning, middle and end for each character’s journey adding twists (i.e. turning points) to move from “act” to the next. The process also helped me shape my plot at the same time as I realized I needed more substance to build the story. There basically two main characters (may be a third one down the line).
Henry Magros’ Journey
Beginning – Intro
Henry Magro is a chauffer for rich oil baron, Bentley Monroe II, whose assignment for the day is to pick up and drive his boss from his San Francisco mansion to L. A.
Act I – Turning point # 1 – The Trial
Magro reveals himself as the “Green Avenger” and has trapped his boss in the back seat of the car. He tells the boss that he is being held accountable in a “trial” for the environmental damages his companies have inflicted. The Avenger will be “judge, jury, even executioner” if his Monroe is found liable. (Yes, Magro is a little bent.)
Act II – Turning Point #2 – It becomes personal
Magro reveals he worked at an electric car manufacturer as an engineer which Monroe bought and trashed to try to delay the green economy which would spell the end of the petroleum industry – and his empire.
Magro reveals that Monroe’s first true love was also Henry’s mother who jilted Monroe. Monroe trashed her career sending her into a downward spiral towards suicide. Henry is also the illegitimate child of Monroe.
Dilemma: If Magro releases Monroe his identity may be exposed; if he kills him he is guilty of patricide.
Climax: Magro finds Monroe guilty and sends the car speeding towards the edge of a cliff. At the last second he hits the brakes (oh, did I mention the “driver” is an android?). Magro realizes that he does not want blood on his hands, especially that of his father. He tells his father he must change oil production to improve the environment – or else. Monroe leaps out of the car and, having faced near death and now wracked with guilt, breaks down emotionally. Mind scrambled, he wanders onto the highway where an oil tanker truck runs him over by accident. (Oil truck may be a little to on-the-nose or just nature’s karma at work?)
Bentley Monroe II’s Journey
Beginning – Introduction
Monroe orders his car get him to drive to a meeting from San Francisco to L.A as he suffers from aerophobia and thinks the long drive will allow him to relax
Act I – Turning point # 1 – The Trial
Once on the highway, the driver informs he trapped and is on trial. Efforts to escape prove futile. He is charged with crimes against the environment. He defends his actions as necessary for the economy.
Act II – Turning Point #2 – It becomes personal
Monroe finds out the electric car company he dismantled had Magro as an employee but argues it “was just business” as the firm had been losing money and no breakthrough was apparent.
He is shocked to hear his first love had committed suicide and that he had a son.
Climax:
After his near-death experience, he vaults out of his car. He is overwhelmed by all the information he has received and that he has agreed to corporate changes that he opposed for so long. Being a climate change he finds it hard to accept what was presented to him by the Green Avenger. IN a daze he wanders onto the highway. Was he subconsciously looking to commit suicide? You, dear reader, has to decide that.
The end – but not quite. Stay tuned.
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I’m struggling with posting items that I create in Word. I have very clear story arcs for each character, and really like the idea that these journeys do not all happen at the same time. The dynamics of this exercise are fascinating. Wish I could post what I have.
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Mary’s Character Journeys!
What I learned doing this assignment – Doing a general arc with my 2 main characters. My main character was fairly easy and at first I didn’t have much of an arc with my 2<sup>nd</sup> character. She just reacted to the first character. Now I see how much richer this will be with a true arc for Ashley too. A good beginning. I’ll expand on it and flesh it out more.
3 act Journey for Rachel
What role does this character play in the concept? Rachel is the high-profile perfumer with superpowered smell who takes refuge with Ashley
Rachel’s arc goes from faking and lying to admitting she’s been a fraud.
Beginning: Rachel is on the phone in her apparently broken down car near Ashley’s property telling her confidant at the perfume company to cover for her because she says she has lost her sense of smell and needs time to recuperate. Ashley comes out with a gun but she recognizes high profile Rachel and takes her in.
Turning Point: Rachel dismisses Ashley’s intuitive methods of blending essential oils, She has her sense of smell back but doesn’t let Ashley know. She secretly smells as many scents as possible.
Midpoint: Rachel may have found an answer to her job woes.. Ashley’s “natural health scent” secrets. She realizes how lucrative these would be and vows to get them. But Rachel’s work world closes in as she finds out rival perfumers are after her.
Turning Point 2: all is lost: Rachel’s intent to steal Ashley’s work is discovered and Ashley is going to expose her or kick her out. The other perfumers are out for revenge for what Rachel has stolen.
Dilemma: Does Rachel actually steal Ashley’s work or will their friendship prevail?
3rd Act Climax: The perfumers close in on Rachel and Ashley comes to her rescue. Rachel admits she’s been a fraud.
Ending: Rachel’s leaves the high-powered perfume business for a new start
3 act Journey for Ashley
What role does this character play in the concept? Ashley exposes Rachel’s dishonesty and also learns to forgive.
Beginning: Ashley is wary of outsiders but recognizes Rachel. She’s got her on a pedestal.
Turning Point: Ashley shares her intuitive model of blending scent
Midpoint: Ashley believes Rachel will catapult her into fame
Turning Point 2: Ashley discovers Rachel is a fraud.
Dilemma: Ashley must decide whether to turn Rachel in, give her up.
3rd Act Climax: Ashley decides not to expose Rachel, but is very disappointed
Ending: Ashley finally forgives Rachel
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Lesson 5: Erin Ziccarelli’s Character Journeys!
What I learned from doing this assignment is: the importance of mapping out each character’s journey. This is helping me plot my story. Each character has a turning point and a dilemma to content with, making them all interesting and engaging.
Claire Drystan 3-Act Structure
Beginning: Claire is scared, alone, and depressed. Hiding from her grief rather than facing it.
Turning Point: Gabe’s arrival. They question each other.
Dilemma: Claire finds out about Gabe – she can either turn him in or let him help her
Midpoint: Claire is forced to guide Captain Marris’ ship through the storm while afraid of Gabe.
Turning Point 2: Gabe knows she knows about the bank robbery. He starts to chip away at her façade. Claire cooperates.
3rd Act Climax: The radio battery dies, Claire believes that she can no longer help Captain Marris and the ship will go down. Claire reveals in her distress the truth behind her husband’s death.
Ending: She did help the ship, and it was able to pass through her zone. She’s been able to “pass through” her grief.
Gabe 3-Act Structure
Beginning: Gabe arrives with a bullet in his back.
Turning Point: Gabe wakes up, questions her about her life, she evades him.
Midpoint: Gabe offers to help Claire during the night.
Dilemma: To destroy the radio or not – that will cause her distress but will ensure he gets away.
Turning Point 2: Gabe finds out that Claire knows about the bank robbery.
3rd Act Climax: Gabe pushes Claire into working through her grief. It’s painful for them.
Ending: Claire admits it. He tells her not to worry. Then, he disappears.
Captain Marris 3-Act Structure
Beginning: Calm, in control. Doesn’t think much of the storm.
Turning Point: Storm gets worse, he starts to worry. Asks Claire to get him help.
Midpoint: Claire hasn’t been able to secure help. He demands it of her.
Turning Point 2: He questions her competence. Demands more of her.
Dilemma: The ship is damaged. To abandon ship or not? He decides not to.
3rd Act Climax: He’s struggling to recover. He’s almost out of her zone. Her battery dies.
Ending: The next morning, the ship did pass through her zone and make it.
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