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Day 6 Assignments
Reply to post your assignment.
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16 Replies
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Josh Lee’s Delivering Multiple Layers
What I learned doing this assignment is that this is all very important to consider and be aware of, however it was difficult in that, aside from what I’d already come up with, I had a hard time coming up with things that were brand new. A lot of times, this process occurs to me in rewrites. I dunno, that’s just me though.
Sorry there’s no real flow to this:
LOCATION LAYER
Surface Layer: the asylum (or clinic) is haunted (because of course it is).
Beneath That: it’s actually 2 characters putting on a show of sorts to make it seem that way.
How Revealed: I’m not actually sure the precise moment, but it will be.
CHARACTER LAYER
Surface Layer: C.J. is masquerading as a rent-a-cop for the community service folks
Beneath That: He’s really there to make Sam (the main character) kill again and even be killed by another in the group.
How Revealed: Again, I’m not sure the precise moment, but it will happen.
CHARACTER LAYER
Surface Layer: Kristi is another in the group doing her community service.
Beneath That: She’s actually assisting C.J. in the game to get everyone to turn on everyone else.
How Revealed: Probably at the same time as the above mentioned reveal.
CHARACTER LAYER
Surface Layer: Sam is the main character who murdered C.J.’s father in self defense.
Beneath That: He was a hitman of sorts before and “retired” starting a new life and the murder of C.J.’s father was something he never wanted to have to do again.
How Revealed: Again… I’m not exactly sure.
CHARACTER LAYER
Surface Layer: Logan is there for a robbery that he committed and he feels betrayed by the system, a self-righteous douche more or less
Beneath That: He actually has committed a number of crimes that he was never caught for and someone knows this and is making everyone else aware of it.
How Revealed: Someone (C.J. and Kristi) leave CCTV footage of multiple crimes where, even though Logan is masked, HE knows it’s him.
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Matthew Frendo’s Delivering Multiple Layers!
What I learned doing this assignment was how to create strong layers before doing an outline. I also learned how important these are in a contained movie.
• Surface Layer: addict also being hunted
• Beneath That: used to be medical worker before getting addicted to pain pills on the job
• How Revealed: starts healing Nikki’s leg when she can’t
• Surface Layer: run down buildings used by homeless to sleep
• Beneath That: gang took it over and plans to use it for hunt
• How Revealed: after the homeless have come in, gang locks all doors
• Surface Layer: Nikki is homeless girl down on her luck
• Beneath That: she’s really a dishonorably discharged ex-SEAL
• How Revealed: they go to kill her and she starts killing them right back
• Surface Layer: antagonist is gang leader looking to make gang stronger
• Beneath That: he’s also a decorated cop using police to own the town
• How Revealed: cops come in to place after Nikki contacts them…and he gets them to leave by being one of them
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Don’s delivering multiple layers
What I learned doing this assignment is that besides layers character layers. I can also add layers to my location and the plot. I’ve probably been doing this unconsciously, but now that I am aware of it, I can do it with more gusto.
I. Chosen Layers for each
Surface plot layer: A group of urban explorers hike into the bayou to check out an abandoned riverboat
Beneath that The riverboat is a drug lab.
Beneath that It’s watched by local dealers and is a trap for Jeremy who owes them money
Surface character layer
Jeremy is a successful investment banker
Beneath that he’s broke drug addict
Beneath that who plans to rip off the dealers that he owes money to
Cassie is a trainer and fitness enthusiast
Beneath that she bands with her ex-roommate to overthrow Donovan
Beneath that she still wants Jeremy
Donovan is an immature, man-child looking for a purpose
Beneath that he is insecure about Jeremy’s success
Beneath that he is clueless as to how he assaulted Lora
Lora is a peaceful yoga instructor
Beneath that she’s a raging feminist
Beneath that she’s a victim of assault by Donovan and betrayal by Jeremy and Cassie.
Surface location layer: An abandoned riverboat in the Louisiana bayou
Beneath that it’s a drug lab
Beneath that it’s the perfect death trap for drug dealers who can easily give the bodies to the swamp.
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Auguste’s Delivering Multiple Layers
I don’t think I got enough here. But there is constant conflict between the two main characters. And the doctor is fooled by Ivy’s amnesia. As he tries to help her get her memory back, she is deceiving him by pretending to be her sister.
SURFACE LAYER
Ivy appears to be a frightened girl who has lost her memory, and desperately wants to get it back, but she is taking the place of her mad twin sister in order to keep her out of an insane asylum.
Beneath That
Ivy and Iris fight over the deception. But Iris is stronger and forces her sister to comply. If Ivy tells the doctor the truth, he will put Iris into an insane asylum.
How Revealed
Iris cannot control her madness. She burned the house down and killed her mother, and she kills again. The doctor suspects the killer is Ivy. When he sends the social worker to get her, Iris appears in his office.
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Barbara’s layers so far…
What I learned is that I’ve been able to add some depth to the story as I go through this process.
Potential Plot Layers:
Surface Layer: Tourists stumble upon (or is already planned?) a Castle with a restaurant and guest room they decide to have dinner
Beneath They are too tired to travel to their next destination so they decide to stay in the guest room
Beneath that: They have taken jet lag pills prescribed by the father
How Revealed: We see them taking them before they go into the restaurant
Beneath that: The film makers have also spiked their food
How revealed: See the filmakers spike their food
Surface Layer: Two people working in a Castle gift shop.
Beneath that: They also offer an ancestral service.
Beneath that: They are looking for people who have ancestral ties to the family who owned the castle.
How Revealed: When people are a match they are invited to the exclusive restaurant.
Beneath that: It’s a con to get people to dine in the castle while making them feel special.
Beneath that: Sometimes it’s not a con and people who are a match get invited to stay in the guest suite.
How Revealed: The film makers have secret cameras and are trying to capture ghost footage.
Potential Character Layers:
Surface Layer: Two workers at the castle gift shop
Beneath that: Two film makers
Beneath that: They’ve been given 24 hours to deliver the movie they promised.
How Revealed: Their Producer walks into the gift shop and threatens to kill them unless they deliver.
Beneath that: The Producer is also being threatened.
How Revealed: TBC
Surface Layer: A CEO of a mining Company on her first vacation for 3 years is looking forward to the time off with her husband and a getaway from their children.
Beneath that: She doesn’t like taking time off.
Beneath that: She’s covering up some deaths at her company.
How Revealed: The ghosts appear/ she dreams.
Surface Layer: A medical Doctor looking forward to taking his wife on her first vacation in 3 years and a getaway from their children.
Beneath that: He’s chosen Scotland the birthplace of her great grandfather – giving her some time to explore her ancestors.
How revealed: He wants to stop at a Castle along the way.
Beneath that: He’s in a trial for a jet lag pill.
How Revealed: We see them taking the pill before they enter the Castle restaurant.
Potential Location Layers:
Surface Layer: A Castle.
Beneath that: A Restaurant inside the Castle.
Beneath that: Ghosts that need to pass over.
Beneath that: Secret cameras: Reality TV or movie set.
How Revealed: The 2 film makers need to go in and rescue the 2 tourists.
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Renee’s Delivering Multiple Layers
What I learned doing this assignment is how to brainstorm different ways to include layers in the story that can make it more engaging.
• Surface Layer: Constance is a highly-skilled mechanical engineer.
• Beneath That: She was in charge of the team that designed the navigation system that ended up in the shuttle.
• How Revealed: She opens up the control panel to find the system she was working on in the opening scene.
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Julie delivers multiple layers!
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What I learned doing this assignment: Originally, I had too many characters. But by doing the previous lessons, I can see how that problem can be solved through using stock footage.
1. Brainstorm potential plot layers.
• Major scheme revealed: DJ sells drugs during rave
• mystery revealed: Anna is part of his cult that sells drugs.
• Thought it was one thing, but it is another: Anna is his daughter. Jim is American anti-drug DEA agent.
• Major shift in Meaning: Anna and Jim fall for each other.
• Hidden history: DJ is wanted for sex crimes.
• Hidden plan: DJ uses drugs to recruit teens to his neo-Nazi cult.
2.. Brainstorm potential character layers.
• Secret identity: Jim is spy for DEA.
• Intrigue layers: Jim is sent secretly to put an end to European drug trade through Switzerland.
• Hidden relationships and conspiracies: Jim and Anna fall for each other despite working for different groups.
• Hidden Character history: Jim is international DEA agent. Anna wants to escape her father’s cult.
. Brainstorm potential location layers.
• Hidden operation: Drug manufacturing operation deep inside mountain bunker
• Deeper meaning: Plan to infiltrate Europe with drugs starting with Swiss government.
• Trap to draw prey: Through Raves.
• Unique sub-world: Neo-Nazi cult hidden inside mountain bunker.
4. Tell us about the layers you’ve chosen. Use this format with each of them:
• Surface Layer: Illegal Rave inside mountain bunker in Switzerland led by DJ, who forces his daughter Anna to sell drugs.
• Beneath That: Anna wants to escape from her father’s neo-Nazi cult and thinks American Jim is the answer, so she seduces him.
• How Revealed: Jim is international DEA agent searching for Swiss drug operation, which he discovers deep inside mountain bunker when he and Anna get lost and are looking for way out. DJ shows up and they secretly follow him to drug operation.
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1. Brainstorm potential plot layers.
Surface layer: BETH WAKES UP IN
AN 18 WHEELER BEING DRIVEN ACROSS SOUTHERN UTAH AT NIGHT BY MARV, NO IDEA
HOW SHE GOT THERE, WHY, WHERE SHE’S HEADED – WHO IS THIS TRUCKER? (SOLVE
THE MYSTERY AND GET MEDICAL HELP)
Beneath that: SHE’S TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT THE QUIRKS OF THIS MAN MARV WHO GRACIOUSLY STEPPED IN TO HELP
HER, YEAH HE HELPS HER – SAVED HER FROM ATTACKER (WHICH SHE DOESN’T
REMEMBER), GIVES RIDE TOWARD BLANDING BUT CREEPY TOO, SOMETHING IS OFF –
ONE PIECE AT A TIME BECOMES KNOWN TO HER EVER SO SLOWLY TILL SHE KNOWS SHE
HAS TO TORTURE TRAVIS IF NECESSARY TO GET THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ONHow revealed: (1) WHEN SHE
PUSHES THE BUTTON AT THE TRUCK STOP, SUDDENLY MARV AND HIS TRUCK EXPLODE OUTSIDE
THE TRUCK STOP AND TRAVIS OFFERS TO HELP HER GET TO BLANDING – (2) BIG TWIST AT
THE END OF THE STORY WHEN TRAVIS CAN’T RESIST USING HIS POSITION OVER HER TO
BRAG ABOUT HIS POWER. WAY MORE COMING.2. Brainstorm potential character layers.
· Surface layer: BETH HAS BEEN KNOCKED OUT IN A ONE-CAR WRECK, APPARENTLY ATTACKED AND WOUNDED, BUT RESCUED BY MARV AND HIS 18 WHEELER.
· Beneath that: THESE MEN (MARV, CHRIS, TRAVIS) ARE RIDDLES, THEY SAY THEY’RE HERE TO HELP, BUT THEY’LL DO ANYTHING TO TRY TO GET THE BEST OF EACH OTHER TO GET MORE OVERALL POWER, LOOK MORE POWERFUL OR GAIN AN ADVANTAGE OVER ANYONE ELSE.
· How revealed: THE TRUTH COMES OUT AFTER BETH FORCES TRAVIS TO TALK WHILE PULLED OFF THE ROAD THAT NIGHT OUTSIDE OF BLANDING. HE TELLS HER WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON; THEN SHE HAS TO ACT ON IT.
3. Brainstorm potential location layers.
· Surface layer: BEGINS IN MARV’S 18-WHEELER DRIVING ACROSS SOUTHERN UTAH. SHE ASKS MARV WHAT THE CARGO IS.
· Beneath that: THE THINGS INSIDE THE TRUCK ARE CLUES FOR BETH THAT SOMETHING IS AMISS. THEN AFTER MARV’S TRUCK AND MARV BLOWS UP SHE HIDES IN TRAVIS’ 18-WHEELER TANKER TRUCK SLEEPER CAB AND REVEALS HERSELF AFTER SOME MILES OF LISTENING TO HIM ON THE CB RADIO. THEIR INTERACTIONS- HE IS A REAL A-HOLE MISOGYNIST. MORE CLUES.
· How revealed: SIDE OF ROAD MIDWAY THRU ACT III WHEN TRAVIS PULLS OFF TO HAVE SEX WITH HER BUT SHE FIGHTS HIM OFF AND THINKS SHE KILLED HIM (HEAD HIT ROCK). BUT SHE HEARS A FAINT VOICE SAY “HELP ME” – INTRODUCING LEAH. TRAVIS PUSHES BETH INSIDE THE TANK WITH LEAH, AND HE DRIVES TO DAIRY FARM FOR FILL UP. (NOTE: EN ROUTE TO AND AT DAIRY FARM LOCATION IS INT. TANK – NIGHT)
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Jason’s Delivering Multiple Layers!
What I learned doing this assignment is that layers lead to reveals, which are great for engaging audiences. Basically any reveal in the story can be built into a pre-defined layer (a setup and payoff). Looking at characters, plots, and locations are great places to create these layers.
This technique can be used throughout the script in a number of ways, but here are a couple I have so far:
Location Layer
Surface Layer: They are trapped in a simple bunker.
Beneath That: A dead man is in the bunker – perhaps a murder occurred in there.
How Revealed: The body is found once they are locked inside.
Character Layer
Surface Layer: They are all stuck in the bunker together randomly.
Beneath That: The Dad Man is Deaf Girl’s partner in crime to steal a high-value item.
How Revealed: Deaf Girl doesn’t just leave the bunker when given the chance. Instead, she tries to retrieve the item they went in to steal and dies in the process.
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Russ’s Delivering Multiple Layers
What I learned doing this assignment is my particular story blurs lines between location & character.
There is very little in the setup that is/should be/can be anything we haven’t seen before. The effectiveness plays upon our familiarity.
This is a “Man Moves into a Creepy Remote House” that turns into a psychological and/or supernatural horror journey. I don’t think this is the type of story where it’s satisfying if those questions are answered clearly. It’s totally about the EXECUTION of the downward spiral into madness and leaving them guessing about whether this is a real phenomenon driving the character insane, this is some version of a personal hell, or this is all some surreal representation of an already off-the-rails mind feeding itself an experience.
Superficially:
Surface Layer: Items begin to show up on the stump in the backyard.
Beneath That: These items point to the belongings of the dead (killer’s victims?), and they seem to come from nowhere, just showing up at some point in the middle of the night.
How Revealed: Character decides to focus attention on the phenomenon, but cameras fail and he cannot keep his eyes open at the zero hour as the phenomenon repeats. It cannot be observed.
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Jay’s Delivering Multiple Layers!
What I learned from this assignment is there are plot, character, and location layers and that there are different types of layers within the plot, character, and location layers.
Plot Layers
Surface Layer: A team of
astronauts is trying to establish a colony on Mars.
Beneath That: A dust storm, a more
violent one, is a harbinger for something much more catastrophic: a comet
heading towards each.
How Revealed: A radio message from
Earth.Character Layers
Surface Layer: Mateo is a
psychologist/theologian/priest who is there to counsel the team.
Beneath That: He has never believed
in himself as a psychologist and the desolation and loneliness of Mars is
getting to him. He’s starting to unravel.
How Revealed: An event occurs
where he starts drinking and believes God has tasked him with continuing the
propagation of the human race.Location Layers
Surface Layer: Mars
Beneath That: Alien monsters
living underground
How Revealed: After a Mars quake,
a dead astronaut falls into a crack in the ground. After his falling body
comes to a stop, it is grabbed and pulled out of the frame by a long, thin,
slimy ligament. -
Diana’s Delivering Multiple Layers!
What I learned: Layers create mystery and intrigue and depth to your characters and your story. Do it!
1. Brainstorm potential plot layers.
Major scheme revealed: Put friend on blind date with creepy
guy to keep her away from her boyfriend and to punish her for sleeping with
her boyfriend. Mystery revealed: When he reveals his plan to eat her.
Thought it was one thing, but it is another: Thinks she’s
on a dinner date: She is the dinner. Major shift in Meaning: Dinner date/she’s the dinner
Hidden history:
Hidden plan: Cannibals plan to eat friend who set them up.2. Brainstorm potential character layers.
Secret identity: Friend also cannibal
Intrigue layers: Date and friend are counterparts. Hidden relationships and conspiracies: Both cannibals conspire
to eat her bff. Hidden Character history: Best friend doesn’t know her
friend is a cannibal.3. Brainstorm potential location layers.
Hidden operation: Eat date. Deeper meaning:
Trap to draw prey: Yacht at sea. Can’t escape. Unique sub-world: Cannibalism4. Tell us about the layers you’ve chosen. Use this format with each of them:
Surface Layer: Woman going on blind date. Beneath That: Her date is a cannibal. How Revealed: He tells her she is dinner.
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Heather Esancy
What I learned about this assignment is that we need to examine the plot, location and characters for a multitude of angles. Deep layers create the necessary twists for a compelling plot and keep an audience on their toes.
REALITY: Old women with psych issues fearfully navigates covid quarantine alone.
Major scheme revealed: She is already in a psych facility and having nihilistic delusions. (not sure about this working well)
Mystery revealed: Deep family secrets begin to unfold.
Thought it was one thing, but it is another: This is not a typical story of mental illness.
Major shift in Meaning: A very twisted history is revealed, and a caretaker is not what they seem.
Hidden history: She married a much older non-blood relative (Jim) who stalked and conditioned her during her childhood.
Hidden plan: Clara’s husband wanted her in a weak submissive state and did not get her help for her mental illness after she was hospitalized.
2. Brainstorm potential character layers.
Secret identity: We discover that Clara was conditioned to be weak since she was a young girl.
Intrigue layers: it takes willpower for her to maintain a “normal” façade. Clara’s psychosis manifests, she paints bizarre abstract art.
Hidden relationships and conspiracies: Uncle Jim, 25 years her senior is her husband.
Hidden Character history: We learned that Clara’s widow is her Uncle Jim and that Clara had a complex history with Jim her whole life. Once she became “available” he sought her out for marriage.
3. Brainstorm potential location layers.
Hidden operation: Laundry room in her building could be some kind of secret gathering space – not sure here.
Deeper meaning: Clara’s imprisonment in her home during quarantine evolves, paradoxically she becomes a better artist in her psychosis.
Trap to draw prey: An apartment that houses only weak submissive/sick people for some nefarious reason?
Unique sub-world: I think this would be too far fetched for this story line.
4. Tell us about the layers you’ve chosen. Use this format with each of them:
Surface Layer: Old women (Clara) with psych issues fearfully navigates covid quarantine alone in her apartment.
Beneath That: Clara’s was subjected to years of mental tests from her Uncle/husband who has conditioned her since she was a young child.
How Revealed: Through her artwork.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by Heather Esancy.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by
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Linda’s Delivering Multiple Layers!
This exercise made the layers much more evident and cohesive.
Plot Layers
• Surface Layer: at a small army base in Iraq that is evacuated because it has just been bombed with 20 soldiers killed
• Beneath That: A military chaplain, Tanji, who is going through a dark night of soul as he faces more death and complexity than he’s ever encountered. Major Sloan, base commander, has no respect for him and wants him out of Iraq.
• How Revealed: Sifting through effects of each soldier, piecing together the lives they could have lived, Tanji breaks down in front of Mario, his chaplain’s assistant, and Adiba, the base’s Iraqi interpreter. Major Sloan witnesses and it solidifies his determination to get rid of Tanji.
Character Layers—Tanji
• Surface Layer: young, over-eager military chaplain on his first assignment in a war zone
• Beneath That: scared and doubting that there is a merciful and loving God who would allow such carnage
• How Revealed: his anguish comes out in private prayers and then during a breakdown as he is overwhelmed by the task of going through effects of 20 servicemen and woman and contacting their families with the sad news
Character Layers—Major Sloan
• Surface Layer: tough base commander who is trying to keep himself and his soldiers alive but not succeeding
• Beneath That: seething anger at Tanji for being useless in giving him comfort or helping him make sense of the senseless
• How Revealed: confrontation between Tanji and Major Sloan over Tanji’s request to stay on the base and finish the task of identifying the fallen soldiers and contacting their families
Character Layers—Adiba
• Surface Layer: gritty young girl who defies her brother and village by helping the Americans; wants to go back to US in exchange for being an interpreter
• Beneath That: torn between her brother, Baqir’s, hatred for all things American (the invaders) and her desire to be an American girl where the streets are paved with gold
• How Revealed: Major Sloan spots Baqir outside Camp Wolf; Adiba pleads with him not to shoot her brother; Baqir sees his sister is staying on base now & shouts his disgust
Character Layers—Mario
• Surface Layer: devoted Christian and patriot who joined up after 9-11; willing to give his life to save Tanji
• Beneath That: resentful that Tanji is losing his faith and considers him weak; bereft over not being able to find out what happened to his best friend, Trey
• How Revealed: Hears Tanji praying in the bombed-out chapel and expressing his anger in God; loves Trey like a brother (or maybe, more)
Location Layers
• Surface Layer: Camp Wolf, Iraq, 2004, bombed-out by Iraqi insurgents
• Beneath That: a place where each character can come to terms with what his/her purpose really is for being there
• How Revealed: sifting through effects of fallen soldiers makes the characters come to terms with life and death and what’s important to them; tests their faith to the limit
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Surface Layer: Madeline forgot how much of a crush Harsh had on her. (comfortable with nudity or whatever)
Beneath That: She remembers deeply.
How Revealed: She teases him about it when they make dinner. (Or asks to watch “Sliding Doors?” / “we never go to see it together like you wanted…”)
Surface Layer: Madeline asking Harsh larger / more philosophical questions
Beneath That: Madeline’s actually questioning her chosen husband.
How Revealed: Harsh gives an answer that was different than her husband’s and it surprises her / knocks her off kilter a bit.
Surface Layer: Harsh is taking care of business (settling uncle’s affairs, etc) OR Harsh is asking big, existential questions (what will be here in 100 years?)
Beneath That: He’s given up on any semblance of the life he dreamed of.
How Revealed: Madeline puts it together from his answers.
What I learned from this assignment is a bunch of useful angles to approach layers from, and how shaping an idea or moment as a layer can help inject it with drama.
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