Day 6 Assignments

[Patrick McCormick]

Patrick
McCormick’s Actor Attractor for ‘I ROBOT’

MY
VISION: Constantly
winning awards in my extremely successful writing career, my writing
inspires people to see the world in a better way and each story
reaches the billion dollar threshold.

WHAT
I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS…

By
the very nature of the job, actors have to focus on that which
benefits themselves and brings out their best self. Ironically the
more they shine on screen the </font></font><font face=”Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”><font size=”3″>more
we benefit as a whole. Designing the roles to fit their criteria
makes a producer’s job much easier, and a green-lighting of your
project becomes more likely.

ACTOR
ATTRACTORS Template

Movie
Title: I ROBOT

Lead
Character Name: Antagonist Detective Del Spooner

1.
Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?

Detective
with Grudge against robots could be perfectly objective, if he can
overcome his prejudice of them. That prejudice could help him survive
the criminal’s attempt to kill him as he uncovers the truth.

2.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in
the movie?

Although
he is a detective with prejudice towards those in his investigation,
his professional attitude keeps it at bay. He keeps the jaded past
where he feels guilty about the girl who died when he was saved, in a
tightrope of balance.

3.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?

Getting
startled at the murder scene. Interrogating a robot and flushing out
human emotions. Being almost killed at the robot creator’s house
while saving his cat. His reliving the moment he became prejudiced
against robots by being saved by one which let a girl die instead.
Finding out he is a savior of robot kind in a dream by the lead
robot. Finding out the robots are about to begin a revolution against
humanity. Trying to kill VIKI, the all-powerful brain of the robots.
Being saved by Sonny several times against the killer robots.

4.
How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?

When
called to investigate, he concludes the killer is still at the scene,
and must protect the other detective as the robot flees. They pursue
the robot, and during interrogation, cause it to express rage, which
is supposed to be not possible.

5.
What is this character’s emotional range?

From
calm to heroic in life threatening situations. Continuing to pursue
while being in danger. Being professional and reserved, while
seething with inner rage against the robots. Able to survive massive
attacks with his own robotic body parts.

6.
What subtext can the actor play?

He
must not reveal his anger and guilt he harbors, while staying
objective and professional so it doesn’t affect his judgement and
work.

7.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?

With
his nemesis Sonny the robot, who doesn’t fit the conventions of what
a ‘bad robot’ is, and has to defend the very thing his whole life was
built around to hate.

8.
How is this character’s unique voice presented?

Tough
guy in charge has to admit certain vulnerabilities to his detective
partner, and his internal struggle is expressed through Sonny (the
robot’s) interaction with him.

9.
What makes this character special and unique?

He
is a composite of opposites, which he has to find ways to balance his
hate and quest for justice, while not dying while figuring out a
rabbit hole of a case that goes deeper and deeper.

Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor
Attractor model.

At
the moment when all hope seems lost, he must find a way to outsmart
the smartest thing in the world, VIKI, and, working together with the
very thing that represented everything he hates the most, has to
defeat the unbeatable army of robots, all in the highest building
where his fear of heights must be conquered.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Patrick McCormick.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Patrick McCormick.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

MODULE 3 LESSON 6

Aaron’s Character Profiles Part 1.

MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this lesson is that the worlds of my main characters are critically intertwined and since their worlds are so far apart, the story that brings them together will delivery on high drama and will nail my concept.

CONCEPT: A black tow truck driver gets out on probation after being setup by a dirty Sheriff and begins to expose years of corruption and racist murders committed by the lawman, things he would kill to keep hidden.

PROTAGONIST

1. The Character’s High Concept (their role in the H.C.): Pro will be the catalyst for the undoing of the life and career of the corrupt Sheriff. The man with no power, no resources, and only his determination, subverts the most powerful and influential man’s lifework, and destroys him.

2. This Character’s Journey: He goes from being powerless – a prisoner with an extremely restricted life – to being a man that outwits and out maneuvers the largest authority in the town and ends his decades of tyranny.

3. This Character’s Actor Attractors:

– They would be known as the great vigilante, a powerful and disadvantaged under dog who fights the system and the “man” and wins.

– His persistence and will power, he literally comes back from the dead to finish the deal. He is both the savior and the martyr at the same time.

PROFILE – 1^ST 6 PARTS

1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – He is a felon who Is just got out from serving 5 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and is hellbent to take down the evil and corrupt Sheriff that sent him there.

2. Age range and Description: Barely 30, reserved and always acts and talks with a purpose. He is constantly observant and notices everything – a survival skill he learned in prison. He looks like every other black male to the whites and is just an average brother on all other accounts – this characteristic of being unassuming enables his ability to affect his plan.

3. Core Traits:

– Iron Will.

– Serious.

– Deliberate.

– JUST – fights for the right, attacks the wrong.

– Sly.

– Sneaky.

–

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To destroy the most wicked, tyrant, oppressor – the Sheriff.

Need: To bring the peace of equality and justice to his world/town.

5. Wound: What they can’t face: A young Sheriff killed his parents and covered it up – Pro discovers this & it is the inciting incident that starts his journey of looking into it.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likeability (outside affection):

– His family, community, and other inmates love him.

– He rescues a dog that really loves him.

– He is respectful.

– He stops to help others, and they appreciate it.

– He brings a homeless guy food and sits and eats with him.

– He rescues a pit bull from a dog fighting ring & nurtures back to health.

– The pit bull is extremely loyal to our pro, appreciative.

Relatability (something we experience):

– He’s broke and just trying to find a job.

– He gets pulled over.

– He is broke fighting people with major money and power.

– He’s a nobody, people dismiss him.

Empathy (experiences hardship):

– He’s arrested, right out of jail.

– He is literally beat to death… then he comes back to life.

– They shoot his son & ruin his promising football career.

– Even though the Sheriff’s Department is flush with cash, they have excuses or take forever to pay our pro, leaving him literally destitute.

– People discriminate against him because he’s a felon

ANTAGONIST

1. The Character’s High Concept (their role in the H.C.): This Antag is the ultimate epitome of white, male power. The institution he runs is the ultimate authority in that town’s area. He is the suppressor and the dictator. He controls everything in his jurisdiction. The ultimate authority.

2. This Character’s Journey: In his gluttony and the assumption that he would always be in power and that the possibility of anyone to challenge him didn’t exist, since he has dirt on or power over everyone else, he doesn’t realize that the ‘minor disruptions’ that the Pro creates in his world, will be his ultimate and explosive downfall.

3. This Character’s Actor Attractors:

– Would get to play the ultimate embodiment of all that’s wrong with corrupt white men.

– Because he’s an all powerful, all knowing F.

– Stone cold / dead eye, alpha commander, predator, charming, a fury unmatched (his “switch” blows you away).

– He is both the over the top gentleman and the most vicious savage ever, at the same time.

PROFILE – 1^ST 6 PARTS

1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – This Sheriff, in a campaign to widen his power, has bribed and extorted his way to be on the ballot for the next governor race when our protagonist starts uncovering skeletons from his past that would put him in prison.

2. Age range and Description: 50, he’s the most charming guy and the most vicious guy, so Machiavellian in his ways that that any crime or violation of rights justifies the means to get him more power.

3. Core Traits:

– Luringly charming.

– Ruthless.

– Tyrant.

– All powerful.

– All knowing.

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To be the next governor.

Need: To prove he is the alpha male and dominate everybody.

5. Wound: What they can’t face: He was rejected by the homecoming queen, the regional beauty queen, lead cheerleader, and THAT is what set him on the trajectory he is on now to PROVE HIMSELF and never being enough.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likeability (outside affection):

– His deputies really love him – he shares his power with them & they rule the town together.

– He can charm any stranger into a new friend.

– He is well respected and esteemed by others in positions of authority.

– He donates to charities and is very giving in the eyes of the public.

– When he talks, it sounds like he is going to do everything he can to help you and get you out of a situation (but he is straight lying and just using you or setting you up).

Relatability (something we experience):

– Sometimes when his people don’t do things right, he has to step in and get it done correctly.

– We all have to answer to somebody – he has to defer and answer to the State Police.

– He still has to wait on his food like the rest of us.

– He has to pump his own gas.

Empathy (experiences hardship):

– When his world starts to crumble as the murders he’s committed over the years begin to come to light.

– His prized possession (dog, horse, illegitimate son) is killed as revenge.

– A sex tape comes out and he is shamed in public – first time his reputation is tarnished.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.

[Claudia Wolfkind]

Claudia’s Character Profiles PT 1

Vision: To become such an excellent writer that I know every script I write will be well received by the industry, that my scripts will sell and be produced, and I’ll live the life of my dreams. To also become so empowered that fear is to be laughed at, instead I relish and look forward to pitching, meetings and much more.

What I’ve Learned Doing This Assignment:

Creating profiles is monumentally important so that as you write the script you can be true to the characters, knowing how they will act and respond in each situation.

2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

A. The High Concept. Abby is a germaphobic Martha Stewart wannabe who must take over her father’s cleaning business and meets the love of her life, the world’s worst slob.

B. This character’s journey: (ABBY)

Internal Journey: from paralyzed with fear to confident and strong

External Journey: from hiding out from her publisher to meeting people, saving her family’s business, and going on a book tour (this may change)

C. The Actor Attractors for this character:

Lead Character Name: Abby

Role: Protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

She’s a complicated character who is strong yet vulnerable. She’s dealing with a terrible phobia. She has a strong sense of right and wrong but will do whatever is necessary to save her father’s business.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She’s a germaphobe. She’s learned to control her environment and that all pops when her dad has a heart attack. Now she must face her biggest fears on many levels.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Designing online, a studio set up in her apartment. Cleaning the office, and then homes, wearing hazmat suits, doing funny things to clean without getting germs on her. Trying to eat messy food without getting it on her. Getting back on a horse and riding (she fell as a kid). Playing poker with the maids.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

A strong willed, goal oriented germaphobe who will do anything to save her father’s business, including facing her deepest fears.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

From a terrified germaphobe to a conqueror; emotionally vulnerable to strong willed and stubborn. Caring and loving to angry and guarded.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

She is constantly hiding her fear of germs, doing everything she can to appear normal and not have people see this vulnerability. She’d rather have people think she’s a flake or demanding then know that it’s because she’s afraid.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With Aracelli, the head maid. The two butt heads, each feeling they are in charge. Aracelli calls for the maids to strike (call out sick) leaving Abby to clean everything by herself. With Jack, she has a push/pull, attraction/repulsion relationship… he’s trying to help her and she feels he’s trying to “fix” her… but at the same time, she wants to fix his sloppiness.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through the irony of having a fear of germs and being forced to take over her father’s cleaning business.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Her determination to overcome her fear to save her father’s business as well as having a relationship with the love of her life, despite him being a complete slob.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Protagonist: Abby is the center of the story. She’s the one who must take over her father’s cleaning business even though she’s terrified of germs. In the end she defeats her fear and saves the business.

Age range and Description: Abby is in her late 30’s, blond, petite, she has a Reese Witherspoon vibe, she’s not the calm type, always seems to be on the edge.

Core Traits:

Fearful

Determined

Honest

Compassionate

Motivation; Want/Need:

Wants to stay safe in her bubble

Needs to save her father’s business

Wound:

She fell off a horse when she was young and into a literal pile of horse poop, which was covered with flies. She has been terrified of germs since then and was laughed at by many of the school kids.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: She does a live video and helps a Mom who’s upset because she’s lost control of her home (organizationally)… we see Abby’s genuine concern to help others.

Relatability: Abby falls in love. She puts her own career on hold while trying to save the family business for her Dad

Empathy: Abby has a deep scar from an event that happened as a child. That scar manifests as a fear of germs and her life is ruled by that fear.

B. This character’s journey: BOOMER

Internal: From scheming to guilt-ridden

External: From helping friends to stealing from them

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

Character Name: Boomer /
Randy / Randall Walker

Role: Antagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

He’s a man living a double life. One as Boomer, the childhood best friend of Abby’s brother and boyfriend and Second as the slimy attorney who is trying to steal the cleaning business away from Abby and her family. He’s sly and cunning while appearing to be helpful.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He’s living a double life. Sly and cunning, loud and boisterous. Appears to be one thing but is something else.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Antagonist could take in the script?

Playing baseball. Watching the Little League kids, he trips a kid on purpose and then helps him up as if the kid was clumsy. Starts a food fight and intentionally makes Jack look much worse, knowing that it will upset Abby.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

A wise-cracking Attorney who pretends to want to help his “friends” but uses his relationships to further himself and his family financially.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

From a wise-cracking jerk to a serious attorney, from feigning compassion to sliminess.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

This character lives a lie. While he does consider the characters his “friends”, he’d do anything to get ahead in his company (owned by his father) and get ahead financially.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With Jack, pretending to want to help he and Abby but in reality, he knows he’s going to screw them over.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through living a double life, one as the friend of people he’s known since childhood and the other as a ruthless lawyer bent on stealing Abby’s business.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

He is charismatic, bold, and funny, yet ruthless and conniving.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Antagonist. He is in a battle between pleasing his father and helping his friends. His mission is to destroy Abby’s family business.

Age range and Description: Late 30’s / Early 40’s. He’s tall and not especially good looking with dark hair and a pale complexion.

Core Traits:

Cunning

Manipulative

Fast talking

Bullshitter

Motivation; Want/Need:

Wants to do well at work and move up, and be thought of as a good friend

Needs to please his father who is completely controlling of him

Wound:

He wasn’t good enough at sports and missed a baseball scholarship, which his father never let him live down. He tried to make up for it by being a ruthless attorney.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Boomer helps move some of Jack’s stuff. He helps with the Little League team.

Relatability: His boss is upset with him because he’s just lost a case. We don’t know at this point that his boss is also his father.

Empathy: He’s stressed out at work. He rarely has free time. His girlfriend just broke up with him.

B. This character’s journey. JACK (TRIANGLE)

Internal: From fearful of losing money/things to confident things will be okay

External: From slob to neater; from a borderline hoarder to cleaning his place out AND designing a system that will help Abby and make them both a lot of money.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

He’s a man hiding the fact that he’s got a serious problem with holding onto things out of fear of losing everything. He’s also a major slob. This character has to face everything inside himself, his past, to hold onto the woman he loves.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He’s keeping a secret. He’s a great guy, honest and funny, a great friend, but his wound has kept him from having a serious relationship.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Triangle could take in the script?

Playing baseball. Teaching the Little League kids. Takes in a professional baseball game. Has a fist fight with Boomer. Creates an organizational system for Abby. Throws out all of his stuff he’s hoarded.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

An affable, compassionate man who tries to be there for everyone else while covering up his own issues. Until now he’s kept most people at an arm’s length.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

From calm and caring to angry and depressed, irrational and afraid of losing Abby and willing to do whatever he needs to keep her.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

This character is living with a secret. He hasn’t told any of his friends why his family abruptly moved away while he was in HS. He keeps a part of his home locked away because he doesn’t want anyone to mess with his stuff or to even know he’s hoarding things. He’s a slob but is also pretending it’s not bothering him.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With Abby, who he falls in love with. With Boomer, who he wants to trust but is screwed over by. With Ben, Abby’s Dad…. Who was his coach as a kid and whom he still thinks of as a second father.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

A caring, smart, creative man who feels he needs to keep a dark secret, he is freed at the end and wins the girl.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

We haven’t seen a boarder line hoarder as a leading character, especially falling for someone who is a germaphobe.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: TRIANGLE character. He’s the man Abby falls for, he also brings Boomer into the fold and Boomer steals the business info and gives it to his father so they can destroy her business.

Age range and Description: Early 40’s, he’s tall and good looking with a perpetual scruffy face, as if he’s missed shaving for a few days.

Core Traits:

Trustworthy

Caring

Can do attitude

Wants to be people’s hero

Motivation; Want/Need:

Jack wants to be with Abby. He needs to be successful so he can have security.

Wound:

His parents lost everything when he was in HS and they moved away suddenly, he left with just a backpack, losing all his possessions. This has him needing to hold onto things.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Jack visits Abby’s Dad in the hospital. Jack teaches Little League kids. He’s always helping others.

Relatability: He’s fallen in love with Abby. He wants to be better for her.

Empathy: He owns a business and he’s always worried about the next job so that he and his people will have jobs. He must confront his past and realize that what happened in the past doesn’t have to affect him today.

[Tracy Lawson]

Tracy’s Character Profiles Part 1

I’m highly motivated to create engaging character profiles.

I will do whatever it takes to become a successful author and screenwriter with multiple successful screenplays produced.

2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

Title: Revolutionary
Anna
Concept: A
woman bringing supplies to her husband at Valley Forge agrees to carry and
urgent message for General Washington. Now an assassin is hunting her,
trying to get the message back.

Hero: Anna Stone goes from competent mother and healer in control of her domestic domain,
to owning a place in the man’s world of war and politics.

Lead Character Name: ANNA ASBURY STONE

Protagonist

Role: Colonial wife who saves the American Revolution

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

A female protagonist in an American Revolution film. This is nonexistent. A woman who defies social convention and the odds. She sets out to bring life-sustaining supplies to her loved ones at Valley Forge and ends up saving the entire American Revolution.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Anna never gives up. She is the embodiment of grit and determination. She makes a transformational journey from wife who’s going to help her husband and brothers to courier/spy and saboteur who no longer cares about the boundaries

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Determined to use her skill as a healer to keep her husband and brothers alive during the bitter winter at Valley Forge, Anna sets out on her journey against the advice of her family. In two parallel scenes, she falls in the freezing Potomac River at a ferry crossing and is nearly drowned. Later, when she is carrying a secret message for General Washington and pursued by a man who is trying to steal it, she uses an even more treacherous crossing at the Susquehanna River to get a head start on her pursuer.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Anna manages the responsibilities of wife, mother, healer with ease and confidence. She is an equal partner in her marriage to Benjamin Stone, an outlaw preacher and abolitionist, and believes in the cause of liberty as ardently as he does. When she must go to his aid, she evolves into a street-smart survivor and spy who a) embarks on a treacherous 200-mile solo horseback journey to Valley Forge, and b) upon arrival, when the soldiers don’t believe her story—stands up to and convinces them, and then goes toe-to-toe with Alexander Hamilton to gain an audience with General Washington and complete her mission.

5. What could be Anna’s emotional range?

Grew up as an orphan and indentured servant. Has found her place in a happy and passionate marriage with her soul mate.

Decides to make a dangerous solo journey to Valley Forge to keep him alive. Overly confident at the beginning of the journey, she soon realizes she’s out of her depth. Though fearful and sometimes confused, she learns to survive on the road. Willingly accepts the additional burden of carrying a secret message from a congressman to Gen. Washington, though it puts her life in even more jeopardy. Determined to succeed at all costs to preserve her family—and keep the Revolution alive.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Concealing her intelligence. Concealing her identity. Navigating a man’s world. From healer to someone who uses violence to survive and achieve her own ends.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?

Anna has an equal partnership with her husband. We see their relationship from its beginning through flashbacks, up to their reunion at Valley Forge.

Anna’s maternal figure is her surrogate mother, Rhoda, the enslaved woman who raised and protected Anna during her years as an indentured servant. Rhoda taught Anna about herbal remedies and healing, and Anna taught Rhoda to read. Rhoda put herself on the line to protect Anna, but Anna fails to save Rhoda.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through the contrast between her reactions to life before and after she leaves for Valley Forge. Her introspection while traveling alone reveals events from her past that shaped her into the woman who would risk all.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

She is the bona fide MAIN CHARACTER. She is not just a cast member who is someone’s wife, or a tavern wench, or a pawn. She is a doer.

Her determination, and her adaptability as she learns spy craft and tactics that will keep her alive and ward off trouble while she’s on the road. Her “equal” status in her marriage is unusual for the time, yet she behaves and thinks like an eighteenth-century woman.

Antagonist: Uncle William goes from being a feared authority figure over Anna to a contemptible opportunist who takes part in a smuggling scheme that hurts the army, and
de facto hurts his nephews.

Lead Character Name: UNCLE WILLIAM ASBURY

Antagonist

Role: Anna’s disapproving uncle

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

William’s attitude about the war—that if we win independence, we’ll wish ourselves back, stems from the fact that he’s got a lot to lose. He is self-made and has supported Anna’s widowed mother and Anna and her siblings intermittently since his older brother, George, died and left his young family with no means of support. He’s a snob and jealously guards his wealth—and it’s a huge turnabout when he supports Anna making the journey. He even gives her money she’ll need on the road—there’s just one catch. She must deliver a bill of sale to one of his business associates.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

William has worked hard to build his personal wealth, and he’s made some unscrupulous decisions along the way. Now, with the war dragging on, he worries about his finances enough that he resorts to some underhanded business deals.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

When he is faced with supporting his dead brother’s family and paying off his brother’s debts, he signs Anna to a 7-ytear indenture with one of his business associates. He puts two of Anna’s brothers in apprenticeships, but keeps the youngest for himself, making Jeremiah his heir, sending him to university, and setting him up in a law practice. He breaks up Anna’s family in an unequitable way, with no qualms.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

William is an enigma. We’re never sure exactly what his motives are. He disdains that his nephews have gone to fight in the war, yet two years prior, he enlisted in the Culpeper Minutemen and fought in one of the early battles of the war. To protect his wealth, he has turned to shady dealings that hurt the army, even though he has four nephews away fighting. He supports Anna’s journey, but only because he can use her to further his schemes.

5. What could be William’s emotional range?

Bluster, insulting, baiting, to disconsolate when he cannot convince his heir, Jeremiah, not to enlist. He can disapprove of Anna’s marriage, but then be unexpectedly kind by giving her a saddle horse as part of her dowry and giving her money and a list of contacts where she can find lodgings while she’s on the road—but when it comes down to it, he’s out for number one.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

He appears disapproving, opinionated, and unbending. Then he shows a soft spot, but it’s just a ruse. He doesn’t play nice unless he wants something. Manipulative.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?

He intimidates Anna, and since she lives under his roof, she’s afraid to antagonize him too much, but Benjamin’s brother Thomas and William go toe to toe and Thomas isn’t a bit afraid of him.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

He’s saying all the unpatriotic things. He challenges Anna’s starry-eyed notions about liberty and independence, and he primes her for what she’ll face on the road, when her own convictions about the war come under scrutiny.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

He’s the grumpy old guy you love to hate. For a while we believe he’s really got a good heart, but then he turns out to be a bad guy with no principles.

Triangle: Benjamin Stone

Lead Character Name: BENJAMIN STONE

Protagonist/Triangle

Role: Husband to Anna

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

He’s an outlaw preacher who has been persecuted for his faith all his life, and now, with the coming of the Revolution, he sees an opportunity. Weakening the Crown’s hold in America will weaken the Church of England’s hold in Virginia. He has no hesitation about fighting for independence. He’s a forward-thinking abolitionist and wants a wife who is an equal partner.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He truly believes liberty is for everyone—including his wife, his daughter, the enslaved, etc. He’s been raised like any farm boy of his time, but he also yearns to be an intellectual. He uses his knowledge to challenge the laws of the time. He’s devoted to his wife and family but cannot ignore the fight which could make his dream of worshipping without persecution a reality.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

He encourages dissention and goes up against the establishment long before he enlists in the Continental Army.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

At first he’s a fish out of water—in his family, his older brother is the alpha, and he’s an intellectual, even though he also has all the skills a farmer needs. When he meets Anna, he sees his future, with an intelligent, beautiful woman who is a match for him in every sense of the word. Marrying her in his chosen faith—outside the Anglican church—is an act of rebellion. He vows to defy her mother, the priest, and the Crown to marry her in his chosen faith—and he comes into his own, both in their passionate marriage and in his advancement of the cause of liberty. Whether he speaks from the pulpit or at the village tavern, he is persuasive, and people follow his lead.

5. What could be Benjamin’s emotional range?

When we meet Benjamin, he is shy around girls. When he meets Anna at church, he barely speaks to her, but he’s besotted and determined to win her. He has a calming presence, and the only one who really gets his goat is his older brother Thomas, who is a brash loudmouth. Benjamin has to be peacemaker when Thomas stirs up trouble. He is not as conflicted about leaving his family to fight in the war as Anna would like. He has the courage of his convictions. He has a sharp sense of humor and enjoys the verbal sparring he does with his wife.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

He is a preacher, yet he’s willing to fight and kill to get what he wants. He loves his family, but he is willing to leave them to enlist in the army, knowing perhaps he will never return.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?

Benjamin and his older brother Thomas are close in age. They have probably beaten each other up every day of their childhoods—but if someone else threatens one of them—the other would defend him to the death.

Benjamin is Anna’s rock. He has provided the stability she craved after being forced into an indenture in her childhood after the death of her father. He knows Anna has flourished in their relationship, but he still chooses to leave her to fight because independence from the Crown would secure not just their futures, but their descendants’ as well.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Benjamin is present in flashbacks through most of the story. When Anna finds him at the end of her journey, can he live up to her idealized version of him?

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Benjamin was on fire for the things he cared about—religious freedom, independence, and Anna. His abolitionist views inform his actions, particularly in how he treats his wife. He will not subjugate anyone—especially not the woman he reveres above all others. This alone makes him a rare male character from that time period.

Role in the Story:

Anna: wife of a solder. She and their children live with her uncle while her husband is away at the war. When his life is in danger from the privations at Valley Forge, she goes on a solo horseback journey to bring him supplies. Saves him and the Revolution.

William: assumed responsibility for Anna and her family when her father died. Curmudgeonly, he surprises Anna by endorsing her trip and asks her to deliver a check to a business associate on the way. He gets her embroiled in the smuggling ring.

Benjamin: their marriage liberated Anna from her uncle’s house and control, but his decision to enlist without consulting Anna puts her right back where she was. Should Benjamin perish, she and her children will fall under her uncle’s control.

Age range and Description:

Anna: 29. Pretty and intelligent young woman who, when she disguises herself in her husband’s clothes, can be mistaken for a lad of thirteen.

Uncle: 65. Self-made country squire (tobacco plantation). Scheming businessman, growing paunchy around the middle. Full of bluster, though whether he is truly vexed or just trying to hide his good nature is anyone’s guess. Used to being the alpha, he tends to insult and belittle the men of Anna’s generation to assert his dominance.

Benjamin: 34. Tall, dark, lanky farmer and country preacher. His intellectual/spiritual convictions and goals take precedence over daily life. He exists inside his own head a lot. Not worried about material things. His passion for religious liberty lands Anna and their children back in her uncle’s home—a place she had been desperate to leave when they married ten years before.

Core Traits:

Anna: Healer

-determined

-brave

-insecure

-adaptable

Uncle: Businessman

-full of bluster

-controlling

-self-important

-dishonest

Benjamin: Preacher

-enthusiastic

-pious

-academic/nerd

-committed

Motivation; Want/Need:

Anna: Wants to bring supplies to her husband and brothers

Needs to deliver the secret message to Washington without being waylaid or killed

Uncle: Wants to hang onto his wealth

Needs to support Anna’s trip to assuage his guilt over working with smugglers

Benjamin: Wants religious and personal liberty

Needs his wife’s support

Wound:

Anna: her father’s death > poverty > having to be an indentured servant. The fear that Benjamin and her brothers will all die and leave her without a male advocate puts her and her children back under her uncle’s control.

Uncle: loss of his brother. No one comprehends how hard it was to work his way up and support two families. He regrets he had to put Anna in an indenture and her brothers in apprenticeships. Now he fears the war will sap his hard-earned money.

Benjamin: being persecuted for his religious beliefs. He is an enthusiastic soldier who has encouraged many others to enlist, so he can have the religious liberty he craves.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

ANNA:

<div>
Likability:
devoted wife & mother; problem solver; advocate for the sick; progressive
for her time; abolitionist</div><div>

Relatability:
steps in to make things right, cleans up mess to save her man; defies the
law to inoculate her patients against smallpox

Empathy:
puts herself in jeopardy to prevent her children from suffering

</div>

UNCLE WILLIAM:

<div>
Likability:
assumed responsibility for supporting his dead brother’s widow and young
children
Relatability:
workaholic; gets involved in a get-rich-quick scheme
</div><div>

Empathy:
chooses to protect his private wealth over supporting the political
conflict. He must make tough choices that don’t benefit everyone.

</div>

BENJAMIN:

<div>
Likability:
kind and caring preacher; loving husband and father; supports education
for all
Relatability:
caught between wanting two things: home and family, and going after the
larger goal of religious liberty
</div><div>

Empathy: believes
in a cause and supports it even when it means his family has to sacrifice.

</div>

[Peter Field]

Peter’s Character Profiles Part I

Vision: My scripts are so good they could be published on their own and William Goldman wants to write the introduction.

What I learned in this exercise is – keep filling in the blanks for nuggets of information about these characters.

DAVID VILLERS

The High Concept – David is a decorated Force Recon commando who was discharged from service. When an old flame asks him for security help at an international peace conference threatened by a violent mob, he discovers too late that she’s the one behind it ALL.

This character’s journey – from bitter and disillusioned to invigorated and vital

The Actor Attractors for this character: physical prowess; action-oriented; good with animals.

Role in the
Story: protagonist
Age range
and Description: 40’ish, wiry, athletic, striking appearance
Core
Traits: cool under pressure, physical, a force to be reckoned with
Motivation;
Want/Need: to serve his country/needs justice (revenge)
Wound: the
country he loves abandoned him
Likability:
he is loyal to a fault

Relatability: doesn’t like anyone telling him what to do

Empathy: he’s been wrongly removed from service

JENNIFER HAMM

The High Concept – She’s the force that David has to reckon with. He spurned her once and she made him pay. Now she thinks he’s the perfect dupe to help her incite a revolt against her own government.

This character’s journey – from a woman scorned to blind, power-hungry ambition

The Actor Attractors for this character: badass female authority figure; light and soft on the outside, but inside she’s mysterious and calculating

Role in the
Story: antagonist
Age range
and Description: 40’ish; penetrating intelligence; soft appearance
Core
Traits: driven, smart, charming; high emotional and social IQ
Motivation;
Want/Need: wants to be Top Dog/needs validation
Wound:
rejected by David

6. Likability: she is charming and disarming; very high social IQ

Relatability: has a panic attack before world assembly

Empathy: she has to work for people who are less intelligent and less imaginative than her:

BRIAN CHIANG

The Actor Attractors for this character: rogue, man about town, a finger in every pie, and loyalty to no one but himself.

Role in the
Story: 2^nd lead
Age range
and Description: 40, native-born Korean raised in the US
Core
Traits: secretive, clever, industrious
Motivation;
Want/Need: wants to be part of the elite command/needs to reconnect w/ his
roots
Wound: seen
as an outsider in two countries
Likability:
he will help anyone

Relatability: tries too hard to please people who are never pleased

Empathy: he’s always on the outside looking in

[Rebecca Sukle]

Rebecca’s Character Profiles Part 1

Vision: My success from this program will lead me to be the go-to writer for producers looking for incredible scripts for successful movies enjoyed by a vast viewing audience.

What I learned from doing this assignment is to dig deeper into the character’s phyche to determine their reactions to the events and situations they face and use that as a guide for action and dialog when writing the script.

Concept: To prevent coal and iron police from massacring men, women, and children working a picket line, a WWI Silver Star recipient must, without detection, execute the rabid commander who violently dominates the mining community.

Ragman:

Role in the Story: Protagonist and WWI hero, done with conflict and killing, but forced to execute the commander of the coal and iron police who dominates the mining community to save men, women, and children working the picket line. <div>

Age range and Description: Mid-thirties, Germanic rugged good looks, average height, stocky build, well muscled, walks with a comfortable confident stride.

Core Traits: Cantankerous, brave, vigilant, problem solver, haunted.

Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to put the horrors of war behind him and the killing, but needs to assassinate Bucholtz save his friends and neighbors.

Wound: He joined the army to protect his brother but failed to save him. Survivor’s guilt. Haunted by his heartless elimination of 16 enemy soldiers yet leaving their cowardly commander remain alive.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Despite his gruff appearance, he interacts well with others in his town, loves his wife, family, and helpful to his neighbors.

Relateability: His instinct to protect those he cares about. He uses gruffness to mask his vulnerabilities and avoid confrontations that trigger his anger.

Empathy: His helplessness to save Ervin from Bucholtz and Ludie from deep depression. When he makes the decision to exterminate Bucholtz and forced to ask for help in planning the murder.

<div>

Bucholtz:

Role in the Story: Antagonist, rabid coal and iron police commander who violently dominates the mining community. </div>

Age range and Description: Mid-thirties, handsome Germanic looks, muscular body (works hard to maintain), neat appearance under base living conditions, able to display impeccable manners of the Prussian aristocracy.

Core Traits: cultivated, sociopath, manipulative, brutal, haunted
Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to end the strike to prove his ability to his superiors. Needs to fulfill his obcession to possess Ragman’s wife Ludie.

Wound: The loss of Lena and his son. Self loathing for being a weak coward. His father’s constant rejection.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: His tenderness in flashbacks towards Lena and respect for his mother. He knocks Ludie unconscious but then removes and folds her clothing one piece at a time.

Relatability: Mistreatment (shown in flashbacks) by his father. Falling short of the high expectations by his family. Bucholz looks into a mirror and sees the face of his detestable father.

Empathy: When he moans “please pretend to love me” before “raping” the unconcious Ludie. In flashback when he learns Lena and his son died in an explosion. When his father declares “this man is not my son,” and forbids him from using the family name, visiting the estate, or contacting his mother. His pain after Ludie tells him that she killed his child.

<div>

Ludie:

Role in the Story: Ragman’s wife and Buchotz’s obcession </div>

Age range and Description: Late twenties, petite, pretty with rich long brown hair and unususal green eyes, good natured.

Core Traits: Nurturing, brave, protective, practical

Motivation; Want/Need: Wants help her husband control his anger to keep him alive. Needs his love and strength to get through her depression.

Wound: The rape by Buchultz, ending the pregnancy, inability to save her younger brother and sister from Bucholtz’s savagery.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Her family loves her, the neigbors enjoy her company, kindness, and can do nature. She is smart and fun, loves to banter and flirt with her husband.

Relatability: After the death of her mother, Ludie helps care for her father and younger siblings. She gets along well with her mother-in-law. She intervenes whenever someone tries to trigger her husband’s anger. Not afraid to speak her mind. Her guilt from the rape and abortion change her demeaner as well as her appearance.

Empathy: The pain from the day she and her brother and sister were attacked. How she puts aside her own pain to comfort her young sister after their rapes. When she and her sister hide the attacks from their father and Ragman so they don’t go after Bucholtz and get shot. Ludie feels grief, guilt, and pain after the abortion, and wacks off her beautiful hair. Empathy for her internal emotions as we see her freeze with fear and sink into ever deeper depression.

</div>

[Jeff Chase]

Jeffrey Alan Chase’s Character Profiles Part 1

My vision: I am the best screenwriter I can be – an “A” list writer who is praised for high concept ideas, great execution, a string of successful movies and is always ready to share his knowledge and do what he can to help another writer on the way up.

What I learned from doing this assignment is: One great exercise after another. This lesson again forced me to dive deep into my character’s psyche and discover not only what makes them tick, but also why an A-list actor would want to play any of these roles.

Title: Shards
High Concept Logline: A woman with no childhood memory is involved in a cat and mouse game with a cunning hypnotist, not knowing the man is responsible for both her amnesia and the death of her treasure hunter father.

(Young Sarah is introduced first in a flashback so I want to dive into her profile before the other characters to make sure that the audience is connected to her.)

YOUNG SARAH:
A. The High Concept: A 6-year-old girl is involved in a cat and mouse game with a cunning hypnotist who has all the answers.
B. This character’s journey: From insecure, spunky know-it-all to self-assured kid at peace with herself. (The journey is a bit tricky because all young Sarah’s scenes are shown as flashback memories.)
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: A breakout role for the next talented 6-year-old actress.

1. Role in the Story: Protagonist Sarah Cole at age 6
2. Age range and Description: Navajo features, spunky, 6-to-8-years-old, proud, determined and head strong, wears jeans and country-check shirt.
3. Core Traits: spunky, intelligent, loving, disobedient
4. Motivation; Want/Need: To do whatever, whenever she wants/ to be responsible and obey her dad.
5. Wound: Believes she is responsible for her father’s murder.
6. Likability: In the opening scene, she shows us her spunk when she runs from and fights with the large, bearded man who chases her at an Anasazi cliff dwelling in the desert.
Relatability: We’ve all been pursued by someone with evil intentions at some time in our life.
Empathy: We feel the terror that Sarah feels. When she is caught by the man and thrown from the cliff, her fear and our fear is palpable.

OLDER SARAH:
A. The High Concept: A 26-year-old woman with amnesia is involved in a cat and mouse game with a cunning hypnotist who has all the answers.
B. This character’s journey: From introverted and fearful with low self-esteem to confident, outgoing, and totally self-assured.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: Sarah is a multi-faceted character with wide emotional range and must possess a tough physicality. Think Sally Hawkins, Keira Knightley, Anna Kendrick.

1. Role in the Story: Protagonist Sarah Cole at age 26
2. Age range and Description: mid-twenties, introverted, nice body but hunched over from the guilt she has carried for years, good employee but drives herself to exhaustion at work, terrible scar on one temple from a traumatic injury she doesn’t remember, hides behind a façade that she’s okay and doing well but is on the edge emotionally, spiritually and physically.
3. Core Traits: desperate, fearful, loving, determined
4. Motivation; Want/Need: To learn where and how her father died / to be free of guilt that she caused his death.
5. Wound: She remembers little about her life before the age of six and is haunted by what she cannot remember
6. Likability: She works hard at her job restoring ancient Southwest Indian pottery. She knows she overworks herself but can’t help it. She needs to concentrate and stay busy to escape the demons that come from the piecemeal memories of her childhood.
Relatability: We all have done some activity to stay busy to avoid confronting something we know we should confront.
Empathy: She is caught in a vicious cycle, and when she uses alcohol to dull her pain when not at work, we feel for her.

JAMES MARCH
A. The High Concept: A cunning hypnotist manipulates the memories of a young woman to learn the location of a lost treasure cave.
B. This character’s journey: From sophisticated, wise and helpful guru to psychopath who – as he falls into the depths of insanity – will kill anyone and stop at nothing to get what he wants.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: Wide emotional range and ability to play different physical appearances. Half of March’s scenes will be as the same man but with a much different look twenty years in the past. Think Stanley Tucci.

1. Role in the Story: Antagonist
2. Age range and Description: 50’s – 60’s. Personable, blunt and to the point, sometimes obnoxious, piercing stare, well-managed emotions that conceal the psychopath underneath, shaved head, white suits, bio-mechanical left arm, and a black-gloved hand.
3. Core Traits: obsessed, liar, cruel, charming
4. Motivation; Want/Need: he wants to possess the lost Conquistador treasure for himself / to feel he is a complete, perfect person once more when he locates the bones of his severed arm and hand.
5. Wound: Emotional trauma of having to amputate his own arm to free himself from a trap devised by Sarah’s father as he lay dying.
6. Likability: He is sophisticated, smooth, cool, wise, and well-dressed. It seems he can read Sarah’s mind, has ready answers and offers suggestions for her to cope with her feelings before she can voice them herself. He’s a wealthy self-help author but will squeeze Sarah into his busy schedule because he feels she’s at a crossroad in her life and can use his skills. He loves his little, lap dog and pampers it – until the dog suspects something is off with the man – which gives us a clue about March’s real motives when it comes to Sarah.
Relatability: This is someone we would want on our side if we needed emotional support. He’s friendly and ready to help. Everyone needs an ally like this.
Empathy: When he accidentally breaks a wine glass with his powerful grip as he meets Sarah, we feel his embarrassment and discomfort. When he exposes his vulnerability regarding the loss of his arm in a “hunting accident”, we feel for him. When he relates how the trauma put him on the road to helping others, we feel his pride and dedication. When we see how he is manipulating Sarah’s memories and may not have her best interest at heart, we hate him with a passion.

JOHNNY BENALLI
A. The High Concept: A Navajo guide leads a woman with amnesia and her hypnotist into the desert to search for lost treasure only to find himself entangled in their psychological struggle and a battle for life and death.
B. This character’s journey: From self-doubt and unsure about his future to confident and at peace with which path to take the rest of his life.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: The role of Johnny is a spiritually led, multi-faceted character who has strong physical abilities and powerful convictions buried under a ton of emotional baggage, the role has a wide emotional range, a touch of subtle comedy and, heart-felt inner turmoil.

1. Role in the Story: A jobless Navajo Sheriff’s Deputy who makes side money as a trail guide.
2. Age range and Description: Mid to late 20’s, easy-going manner, swaggers as he walks, great facial expressions that screams subtext, wears jeans, cowboy shirt and hat. Think Kiowa Gordon or a young Lou Diamond Phillips.
3. Core Traits: honest, empathetic, driven, deceptive
4. Motivation; Want/Need: he wants to simply lead Sarah and March into the desert and safely return / he needs to choose his true life’s calling while out in the desert
5. Wound: As a young boy, Johnny was with his Shaman grandfather spying on March and Sarah’s father the night Sarah was thrown from the cliff. For twenty years he’s kept the tribe’s secret and every day has regretted not bringing March to justice for the murder of Sarah’s father and her attempted murder.
6. Likability: He jokes to cover inner turmoil about his future. He’s smart, gritty and resourceful. He cares about the safety of the horses more than his own welfare.
Relatability: He makes Sarah feel at ease in the desert. He comes across as a friend who truly cares. When he is suspicious of March, we feel his suspicion because of things that March has said. He has a major dilemma about which path to take in his future.
Empathy: Everyone has felt the pressure when in a dilemma regarding major choices in life. He knows secrets about Sarah and March that he must keep to himself. We’ve all been there. When he gets bitten by a rattler and doesn’t want Sarah or March to know about it, we feel his isolation and fear and indecision. When he makes a “native poultice” and is determined to use Shamanic meditation to heal himself, we root for him. When he is miraculously healed, we feel relief and pride.

[Linda Anderson]

Linda Anderson’s Character Profiles Part 1

Vision for your success from this program:

Audiences around the world view and love my meaningful screenplays—one of the most satisfying and energizing accomplishments of my life.

What I learned from doing this assignment is how important it is to synch character profiles with the high concept.

Lead Character: Allen

A. The High Concept. An ex-cop with PTSD and an
abandoned dog with BIG issues team up to bring light into their darkest
places—based on a New York Times bestselling memoir.

B. This character’s journey. From very private
with low self-esteem to confident and looking forward to the next
adventures in life with his human and animal family.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
Repeatedly faces death and lifelong disabling situations. Complex mix of
intelligence, creativity, empathy, kindness, masculinity, and a strong
will to survive the most brutal battle of his life.

11 parts of the profile for Allen.

1. Role in the Story:
Protagonist

2. Age range and Description: Starts at age 30, moves to age 40

3. Core Traits:
Stoic, Determined, Quick-Witted, Imaginative

4. Motivation; Want/Need:
He wants to survive intact. He needs to overcome deep-seated fears and
attitudes from his childhood and police work.

5. Wound:
Made to believe his life is worthless

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Allen deeply takes in his supervisor Bruce’s comment about police work after a particularly harrowing and dangerous experience: “Nothing is as important as coming home.”

Relatability: When he comes home after a night shift where he’s almost been killed, he’s clearly distressed and shaken but tries to have normalcy with family routine.

Empathy: When his wife gets up for breakfast and asks him how his shift went, he doesn’t have the heart to tell her what happened so she won’t worry.

7. Character Subtext: Withholding

He rarely wants to talk about all he’s going through even with his wife because he thinks she will worry or be upset.

8. Character Intrigue: Unspoken Wound

He fears becoming like his miserable father with permanent disability from a stroke.

9. Flaw: Overdoing

In his efforts to make everything better or perfect, he winds up often not getting the help he needs or being rebuffed by people he tries to help.

10. Values: Family, Love, Safety, Duty, Privacy

11. Character Dilemma:

He’s so protective of those he loves that he often neglects his own needs.

Lead Character: Leaf

A. The High Concept. An ex-cop with PTSD and an
abandoned dog with BIG issues team up to bring light into their darkest
places—based on a New York Times bestselling memoir.

B. This character’s journey. From abandoned,
fearful, and aggressive to loving, playful, and trusting. C. <u style=”background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>The Actor Attractors for this character. Shows
what’s possible for healing of an emotionally damaged rescue dog who in
turn, rescues his rescuer.

11 parts of the profile for Leaf.

1. Role in the Story: Antagonist

2. Age range and Description: 1 year old

3. Core Traits: Alpha, Distrustful, Perceptive

4. Motivation; Want/Need: Leaf wants to never be abandoned again. He needs to overcome his fear and distrustfulness.

5. Wound: Made to believe his life is worthless

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Leaf (who the shelter named Harley) jumps into a pile of leaves and rolls in delight on his first walk at the lake after being adopted.

Relatability: In what is obviously his first time inside a pet store or having a toy of his own, Leaf sniffs on bottom-shelf dog toys, pees on one, then picks up in his mouth a stuffed wiener-dog toy, and carries it to Allen as if saying, “I want this one.”

Empathy: First scene with Leaf shows him abandoned at night on the side of a highway, in the rain, all alone in the world.

7. Character Subtext: Distrusts people

8. Character Intrigue: Abandonment

His feelings of vulnerability make him fearful and overly protective.

9. Flaw: Overly Alpha

It’s hard for him to be nice to people or other dogs because he can’t trust anyone other than himself to be in charge of situations.

10. Values: Safety, Family, Love

11. Character Dilemma:

Fear of abandonment and not being powerful enough to take care of himself make him aggressive.

Lead Character: Linda

A. The High Concept. An ex-cop with PTSD and an
abandoned dog with BIG issues team up to bring light into their darkest
places—based on a New York Times bestselling memoir.

B. This character’s journey. From reliant on, to
the point of dependency in some areas, on Allen as her husband and life
partner to more secure and independent.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. Linda
must face her greatest fear of losing Allen, her husband and business partner,
as he faces conditions that could result in his death or lifelong
disability. She has to pull on physical, emotional, and spiritual
resources she never knew she had to help Allen and Leaf survive their
ordeals and save her family from disaster.

6 parts of the profile for Linda.

1. Role in the Story: Triangle

2. Age range and Description: Starts at age 30, moves to 40

3. Core Traits: Intelligent, Driven, Loves Deeply

4. Motivation; Want/Need: Linda wants Allen and Leaf to survive. She needs to develop confidence in herself as key in all areas for holding her family together.

5. Wound: Made to believe she’s never good enough.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Linda takes care of everybody in her family with nurturing and caring about the details of their lives.

Relatability: When Allen won’t talk to her about what happened on the night shift of his police job, she’s worried.

Empathy: First scene with Linda facing her fears of losing Allen and comforting him and herself with the fact that so far, he’s been “Miracle Man”.

7. Character Subtext: Anxious to be in control; loves
fiercely

8. Character Intrigue: Insecurity

She never thinks she (or things) are good enough and is always trying to improve.

9. Flaw: Overachiever

She slips into being bossy in her relationships when she’s trying to make things perfect.

10. Values: Family, Love, Intelligence, Humor

11. Character Dilemma:

Insecurity causes her to try too hard to succeed at everything.

[Pat Fitzgerald]

Pat Fitzgerald’s Character Profiles Part 1

Vision: I have the courage, conviction and talent to create contest winning screenplays and will go on to have them optioned and produced.

What I Learned: To listen to the character rather than force my own opinions on them, and this makes me feel as if they are becoming more and more real to me. Had I tried to figure out every aspect of their personalities at one time, my thinking would’ve been forced. Doing this slowly, and not worrying about perfection, is a much more efficient way to bring them to life.

Jaki Sue Barun is broke and frightened of a destitute old age, but she is determined to find someone who will care for her enough to secure her financial future.

Journey: From thinking the only that can make her happy is money to realizing she’s starved for love and willing to be vulnerable enough to accept love.

Actor Attractors: Jaki will be seen as a mature woman whose deepest dreams come true, even when she’s thinks it’s beyond hope. She puts her family first, despite being at almost constantly at odds with her daughter. Her emotions run never run middle-ground. When she’s angry, she’s ice cold mad. When she’s happy, she glows.

Role in the story: Protagonist. She’s the instigator, the one who does her best to lead others in the right directions, but has a hard time realizing what direction she should take her own life

Age range and description: 50ish. She’s attractive and sexy, with some extra padding. Has done a good job of keeping up and caring for her appearance, though she’s angry that her most physically glamorous days are behind her.

Core Traits: Blunt, worried, vulnerable, sweet.

Want/Need: Jaki Sue want financial security. She needs to learn to accept love.

Wound: Her past experiences with men make it next to impossible to trust a man again.

Likability: She cares for her toddler grandson when he has a cold and can’t go to daycare while trying to complete online transcriptions, so she can pay her bills.

Relatability: She does her best for her family.

Empathy: Put in a difficult position just to make day-to-day expenses.

Likability: Jaki Sue aids the newfound love of her life leave the assisted living home that he intensely dislikes.

Relatability: She wants to help the man she loves live his last days in a happy situation.

Empathy: Making sacrifices for loved ones is something most people would be willing to do.

Protagonist: Jaki Sue Barun

Likability: She cares for her toddler grandson when he has a cold and can’t go to daycare while trying to complete online transcriptions, so she can pay her bills.

Relatability: She does her best for her family.

Empathy: Put in a difficult position just to make day-to-day expenses.

Likability: Jaki Sue aids the newfound love of her life leave the assisted living home that he intensely dislikes.

Relatability: She wants to help the man she loves live his last days in a happy situation.

Empathy: Making sacrifices for loved ones is something most people would be willing to do.

Judee Rodis is an outwardly silly woman, slightly larcenous, who finally finds her life’s true worth when she realizes how much she enjoys caring for assisted living residents.

Journey: Judee goes from someone who believes she’s always destined to be the silly person, dependent on others to a woman who understands that she is intelligent and can be a dedicated caregiver.

Actor Attractors: Judee is a performer, whether she’s pole dancing on a flag pole or making senior citizens laugh. She’s a clever woman who’d been conditioned to thinking her cleverness is limited to larceny. Once she realizes she’s intelligent and can think for herself, she steamrolls into a new, caregiving life.

Role in story: Protagonist, Jaki Sue’s bff. A former stripper, dependent on Jaki Sue for a place to live, but is a clever, out-of-the box thinker, who schemes and scams until finally realizing she has talents that have nothing to do with larceny.

Age Range and Description: Tries to pass for well-put-together 40s, but closer to 60 than she’ll ever admit. Is attractive but wears too much make-up, trying to cover up the wrinkles that she can’t afford to Botox.

Core traits: Silly, fun-loving, larcenous, inferiority complex

Want/Need: Judee wants someone to take care of her. She needs to learn a legit way to take care of herself.

Wound: She never wants her son to find out that she did time in prison when her boy was a toddler.

Likeability: She picks someone’s pocket then gives the money to a handicapped panhandler, who has his pet dog on a leash.

Relatability: She does her best to help others.

Empathy: It’s difficult seeing someone less fortunate go without.

Likability: She starts to pilfer money from an assisted living resident’s apartment, but promptly returns it.

Relatability: Judee does her best to be honest.

Empathy: It’s tempting to do the wrong thing to get money when someone is broke, but the better person will remain honest.

Rochelle Barun is an overworked and underpaid single mother, who tries to micro manage everyone she loves and finds herself tripping over her own intentions.

The character’s journey: Rochelle goes from manically overworked and irritated to finding a way to calm down so she can enjoy her life and accept her own self-worth.

Actor Attractors: Rochelle is an every-woman, someone young women can identify with, especially when she’s at odds with her mother. When she relaxes she’s funny and appealing, and she learns to accept her mother’s flaws, that they actually have a lot in common.

Role in Story: Triangle. Rochelle is the one driven crazy by her mom’s (Jaki Sue) unconventional behavior but is more dependent on Mom than she will ever admit.

Age range and description: Late 20’s. Never has time to apply make-up or style her hair, but she has an inner beauty and loves her job more than she will admit, especially cares for the residents of the assisted living home that she supervises.

Core traits: Frenzied, caring, argumentative, accepting

Want/Need: Rochelle wants her mom to stop causing her problems. She needs to calm down and just live her own life.

Wound: Brought up by a mother who was rarely home because Mom was either working or out partying.

Likability: Rochelle is shocked when her mom and Judee turn their clown act into a raunchy dance, but doesn’t stop them when she realizes the residents enjoy it far more than any other entertainment brought their way.

Relatability: Rochelle loves her mother even though she has a somewhat hard time with her unconventional ways.

Empathy: Everyone sometimes gets embarrassed by their parents.

Likability: When Rochelle catches Judee about to steal money from a resident she threatens to call the police, but gives Judee one chance to change her ways.

Relatability: It’s difficult to punish someone who shows genuine remorse.

Empathy: Rochelle’s been put in compromising positions too and knows the relief of giving someone a break.

[CLAIRE RILEY]

Claire’s Character Profiles Part 1

MY VISION:

I have a fabulous career as a screenwriter working in both TV and film, and I have tremendous creative, financial, and personal success. I specialize in female driven projects, and I am the go-to-girl for writing lesbian stories.

What I learned: I like the idea of first simply fill in the blanks. It takes the pressure off to be perfect. Then I can go back and elevate each item.

Initially, I did not put the evil ghost from my horror story as a character because she is not a living person but a ghost. But she is the antagonist and a powerful force in the story, so I need to understand who she is and why she is doing what she is doing. I adapted the tool accordingly. It’s okay to leave blanks or say I don’t know yet. I don’t have to be perfect today. I trust that the information will come to me when I need it.

HORROR SCRIPT: Maeve, Protagonist

A. The High Concept.

When an evil ghost possesses the lesbians on an isolated movie set, forcing each woman to kill her own spouse, a timid psychic must stop it before it possesses her or her wife.

B. This character’s journey.

Hiding in the shadows as director’s wife to saving the group from the evil ghost.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Goes from a timid woman to a total badass. She destroys a ghost who has possessed three other women and caused them to kill their own wives. It possesses her and she exorcises it while it is inside her. She’s a badass horror hero. She rescues herself, her wife and three other women.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She immediately senses a dark energy at the location and realizes there is something wrong. She is smarter than everyone else. She is the only one with psychic powers. She is the one who outwits and destroys the ghost.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

She communicates with the dead. She tries to stop a possessed women from murdering her wife. She uncovers the truth about the ghost and figures out how to get rid of it. While she is possessed, she exorcises a ghost from inside her.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

See her on the movie set experiencing the dark energy. Is she crazy or experiencing something that exists? Or both? We don’t know.

What could be this character’s emotional range

Timid in the beginning, does not want to rock the boat. But gradually becomes more assertive as the threat of the ghost increases. Then she confronts her wife and takes charge and becomes a total badass.

What subtext can the actor play?

Initially she does not want to rock the boat and hides what she is feeling and experiencing. She hides herself, her true self.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With the ghost. She is at first frightened of it. And then battles it and loses. And then finds the strength to defeat it.

With her wife. They are stuck in a pattern of Sybil being dominant and Maeve timid. In the beginning they play out this pattern. But as the story moves on and the situation becomes more and more dangerous, Maeve breaks out of that pattern.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

She can see through people. She knows what they are really feeling and thinking.

What could make this character special and unique?

The only psychic in a story about being possessed by a ghost. She exorcises a ghost while it is inside her.

Role in the Story:

Psychic who knows something is wrong and winds up fighting the ghost

Age range and Description:

28-34, attractive black lesbian on the femme side

Core Traits:

Hidden, clever, psychic superpowers, compassionate

Motivation; Want/Need:

Wants to get her wife to leave this place, needs to embrace her power

Wound:

Was possessed as a child and her parents blamed her because she is psychic.

Likability: She stops her car to help a woman with car trouble. people on set happy to see her; wife loves her; She brings food and gifts to the set. She is kind to someone. People like her.

Relatability: conflicts with her wife;

Empathy: She is freaked out by the evil energy she experiences. Wife breaks up with her; later her wife is possessed and then she is possessed.

HORROR SCRIPT: Sybil, Triangle

A. The High Concept.

When the ghost of an evil psychiatrist possesses the lesbians on an isolated movie set, forcing each woman to kill her own spouse, a timid psychic must stop it before it possesses her or her wife.

B. This character’s journey.

From overbearing director/wife to accepting Maeve’s power and following her.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

She’s a larger than life character with a big ego. She is a creative genius, and award-winning director and actress. She dominates the conversations and scenes. She is also an actress and portrays the evil psychiatrist who tortures queer people in the movie she is making.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Her commitment to telling the true story of why a lesbian murdered her psychiatrist

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Her character is a larger than life director who would be fun to portray. She also is an actress in the movie and portrays an evil psychiatrist who tortures her queer patients. Then she is possessed, and she tries to kill her wife. She goes completely insane.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

She portrays an evil psychiatrist in the movie and she is torturing her patient, and the patient kills her. Then calls “Cut” and we learn she is shooting a movie.

What could be this character’s emotional range

From controlling and domineering, to terrified and helpless, needing to be rescued.

What subtext can the actor play?

With Maeve, acting as if she is concerned about Maeve’s welfare when she wants to control Maeve. In front of the others, acting like she and Maeve have a good relationship and she is NOT a domineering bitch.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With Maeve. They have a complicated relationship that has a power struggle at it’s core, but they also love each other. Both the power conflict and the love can show up at the same time.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through her role as the director, she gets to tell people what to do. She exposes who she is in this role.

What could make this character special and unique?

As a director, she tells a compelling story. As an actress, she portrays the villain, the evil psychiatrist, in her movie. Then outside of the movie, she is possessed by the real ghost of the evil psychiatrist.

Role in the Story:

Director of the film and Maeve’s domineering wife

Age range and Description:

42-48, tall, attractive black woman on the butch side

Core Traits:

Domineering, brilliant, self-absorbed, bold

Motivation; Want/Need:

Wants to make a movie, needs to accept others for who they are

Wound:

????

Likability: Praises actresses after their work; the cast loves her; She is a brilliant director; she is a great actress; she does something nice for someone; she has a project to reclaim the good name of a lesbian who was defamed.

Relatability: problems with her wife;

Empathy: breaking up with her wife; later she is possessed

HORROR SCRIPT: Ghost, Antagonist

A. The High Concept.

When the ghost of an evil psychiatrist possesses the lesbians on an isolated movie set, forcing each woman to kill her own spouse, a timid psychic must stop it before it possesses her or her wife.

B. This character’s journey.

No journey. Remains evil from beginning to end

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

She is a ghost and does not appear in human form, so there will be no actress portraying her that we want to attract, except for the actress who portrays Sybil.

Role in the Story:

Evil ghost who possesses lesbians and forces them to kill their wives.

Age range and Description:

Was 48 when she died, is now an evil spirit.

Core Traits:

Evil, revengeful, supernatural powers

Motivation; Want/Need:

To torture and kill as many lesbians as possible

Needs to stop killing people!

Wounds:

1) When she was alive, she was a lesbian and was persecuted for it, so she persecuted her gay patients. 2) Was murdered by a lesbian patient she tortured and now in death, she wants revenge

Likability: she isn’t likeable. She is an evil ghost who kills people

Relatability: not relatable.

Empathy: was persecuted for being a lesbian when she was a teen; was murdered by her patient.

THRILLER SCRIPT: Eve, Protagonist

A. The High Concept.

When she is framed for kidnapping her girlfriend, an intrepid CIA agent must outwit the FBI and the kidnappers before her girlfriend is forced into heterosexual conversion therapy.

B. This character’s journey.

From unable to commit to Debbie, to risking her life to rescue Debbie and asking Debbie to marry her.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Lesbian thriller hero who outwits everyone and rescues her kidnapped girlfriend

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She struggles to commit to the woman she loves, but then does commit; she goes all out to save her girlfriend, even risking her freedom and even her life; she outwits the FBI and the kidnappers who hold her girlfriend; She has serious issues from early life that come back to haunt her.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Escaping from the FBI; facing her father who terrorized her as a teenager and forced her into conversion therapy; rescuing her girlfriend from kidnappers; fighting off someone who tries to attack her girlfriend.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Show her and her girlfriend together on a date and in love. But someone is watching them, filming them. Who? Why? And then someone tries to attack her girlfriend and she defends and protects her.

What could be this character’s emotional range

Emotionally shut down, to terrified for herself and her girlfriend, to courageously facing her fears to save her girlfriend, to being open and loving and committing to her girlfriend.

What subtext can the actor play?

She hides her feelings with her girlfriend, Debbie, in the beginning and she does not tell Debbie she is a CIA agent; she is not upfront with Debbie’s mother about the nature of their relationship when Debbie first goes missing; She withholds information from the FBI and police even as she asked them for help finding Debbie.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With Debbie. She clearly loves her and puts her life on the line for her, but she is not honest.

With her father – he abused her as a teen and she ran away from him. He is still overbearing, yet she faces him and does not run away. They banter like equals.

With the FBI agent in charge of Debbie’s kidnapping. It’s complicated. He disapproves of her because she is a lesbian and she does not trust him, yet he respects her and eventually has a hard time believing she kidnapped Debbie. He helps clear her name.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Her actions, she demonstrates her love for Debbie when she escapes from FBI custody and rescues Debbie; her hesitancy demonstrates the emotional difficulty she has expressing herself and her feelings, yet she does express herself. Her ability to stand up to people, especially her father.

What could make this character special and unique?

Lesbian thriller hero who rescues her girlfriend from kidnappers; survived forced conversion therapy.

Role in the Story:

CIA agent and Debbie’s girlfriend

Age range and Description:

38-48, white woman in excellent physical condition. Short hair. Can fight.

Core Traits:

Guarded, brave, driven, loyal

Motivation; Want/Need:

Wants to find Debbie; needs to open her heart and trust Debbie

Wound:

1) She was forced into heterosexual conversion therapy as a teen. 2) Her girlfriend was murdered several years ago and she has not been able to commit to a woman since then.

Likability: Her girlfriend Debbie loves her; She does something nice for a stranger in the disco (maybe the waitress?); She defends Debbie when a man attacks her.

Relatability: She is in love with Debbie;

Empathy: Debbie breaks up with her and she is devastated; later on she learns that Debbie has been kidnapped and she is devastated, and then she is arrested and being framed for Debbie’s kidnapping. Later we learn that she was forced into conversion therapy as a teen and it traumatized her.

THRILLER SCRIPT: Patty, Antagonist

A. The High Concept.

When she is framed for kidnapping her girlfriend, an intrepid CIA agent must outwit the FBI and the kidnappers before her girlfriend is forced into heterosexual conversion therapy.

B. This character’s journey.

No real journey, we just learn the truth aboaut her. She pretends to be a victim because her daughter was kidnapped, but she is the one who kidnapped her and tried to frame Eve.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

A mother who is distraught because her daughter has been kidnapped, but the truth is, she arranged for her daughter to be kidnapped and forced into heterosexual conversion therapy, and to frame her daughter’s girlfriend for the kidnapping.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She is a fantastic liar! She acts like the poor widow, mother of the kidnapped young woman pleading for her safe return, when all along she is the wicked mother who arranged for her daughter to be kidnapped and forced into conversion therapy, as well as frame Eve for the kidnapping.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Goes on TV and pleads for her daughter’s safe return; talks to the FBI as if she doesn’t know very much but is cleverly giving them information to frame Eve; uses the FBI as stooges to set up Eve for the kidnapping and leave no room for them to believe she kidnapped her daughter.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

She is on TV pleading for the safe return of her daughter. Meanwhile, she is the one who arranged for her to be kidnapped.

What could be this character’s emotional range

From sobbing mother of a kidnapped young woman to steely cold-blooded woman who would kidnap her own daughter, subject her to forced conversion therapy, and then frame someone else for the kidnapping.

What subtext can the actor play?

She lies at every turn. She tells the FBI she knows nothing about the kidnapping when she arranged for her daughter to be kidnapped. She acts as if she is heartbroken when in fact she was angry at her daughter for being in a relationship with a woman; she lies to the FBI and frames Eve for the kidnapping.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With the FBI agent in charge of the case that she leads around like a show pony; with Eve, who she despises and blames for her daughter’s demise, but acts as if she is concerned about Eve; with her son that she tries to control when he won’t lie to the FBI.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through her remarkable ability to lie, to pretend to be one person when she is another.

What could make this character special and unique?

Her incredible ability to lie and change who she is. Also, a woman who would arrange to have her own daughter kidnapped and forced into conversion therapy.

Role in the Story:

Mother of kidnapped Debbie who secretly kidnapped Debbie and framed Eve for the kidnapping

Age range and Description:

55-65 white woman, good physical condition, ultra conservative Christian

Core Traits:

Schemer, religious hypocrite, heartless, false charm.

Motivation; Want/Need:

Wants to kill or imprison Eve, and force Debbie to be heterosexual. Needs to accept her daughter for who she is.

Wound:

When she was a child, her mother discovered that her father was gay and it destroyed her family. She has hated gay people since then.

Likability: She is kind to the FBI agents and offers them refreshments, even though she is distraught; her pastor joins her and tells the press what a wonderful woman she is. People in her parish come to support her and tell the media how wonderful she is.

Relatability: A widow; lost her son

Empathy: Her daughter has been kidnapped and she is devastated.

THRILLER SCRIPT: FBI Agent, Triangle character

A. The High Concept.

When she is framed for kidnapping her girlfriend, an intrepid CIA agent must outwit the FBI and the kidnappers before her girlfriend is forced into heterosexual conversion therapy.

B. This character’s journey.

From believing that Eve kidnapped Debbie and killed her, to realizing that Eve was framed and trying to save Eve and Debbie

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

Not done yet.

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

FBI agent who initially is unsympathetic and prejudiced toward a lesbian who’s lover has been kidnapped, to seeing that the lesbian was framed and then helping save her and her kidnapped girlfriend.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

He starts out in a stereotypical role, supportive of the dear old widow who’s daughter has been kidnapped, and unsympathetic to the kidnapped women’s lesbian lover, yet overcomes his prejudiced mindset because he finds evidence that suggests the lover is being framed. He follows the evidence and finds the truth, that the widow had her daughter kidnapped and the lesbian lover is the only one desperate to find her.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Not sure yet

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Not sure yet

What could be this character’s emotional range

Kind and compassionate to smug and unpleasant to ruthless in the pursuit of truth.

What subtext can the actor play?

When he thinks that Eve kidnapped Debbie but does not let her know that, he pursues a line of questioning that could trap Eve. Similarly, when he suspects the mother of the kidnapping, her asks her further questions and tries to trip her up.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With Eve. It’s complicated. He disapproves of her because she is a lesbian, yet he respects her and eventually has a hard time believing she kidnapped Debbie. He helps clear her name.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through his investigation. He is in pursuit of the truth. The questions he asks and how he asks them reveal who he is.

What could make this character special and unique?

Not sure yet.

Role in the Story:

FBI Agent leading the investigation of Debbie’s kidnapping.

Age range and Description:

55-65, balding white man in good physical condition

Core Traits:

Just, prejudiced, persistent, astute

Motivation; Want/Need:

Wants to solve the case. Needs to see Eve and Patty for who they are and not through his prejudiced mindset.

Wound:

Not sure yet. Maybe he lost a child?

Likability: He is kind to Patty when her daughter Debbie is kidnap; he is respectful of Eve even though he does not feel comfortable with gay people. He is driven to find Debbie, genuinely concerned for Debbie’s safety. He is kind to the people who work under him.

Relatability: His boss is on top of him; He wants to find Debbie. He wants to be great at his job with dogged persistence.

Empathy: He loses one of his team.

[Ian Greenham]

Ian Greenham’s Character Profiles Part 1

Vision: Completing this program will significantly enhance my screenwriting skills.

Doing this assignment I experienced the process of building character profiles.

High Concept: Two young women who grew up in foster homes believing they had no relatives discover they are identical twin sisters.

Protagonist: Aly Silvers

This
character’s journey:
Recovers from leukemia after a bone marrow transplant from a newly
discovered identical twin sister.

The
Actor Attractors for this character:
As detailed in the Assignment for Module 3, Lesson 2.

Role
in the Story: A successful defense attorney
who had her newly discovered twin sister’s murder conviction set aside.
Age
range and Description: Early
30s; shoulder length blonde hair, attractive.
Core
Traits: Successful defense attorney, compassionate,
decent.
Motivation;
Want/Need: Set her newly discovered twin
sister’s murder conviction aside.
Wound:
Grew up in a foster home with
no known family.
Likability,
Relatability, Empathy: As
detailed in Module 3, Lesson 5.

Antagonist: Nicki Holder

This
character’s journey: Saves
the life of her newly discovered identical twin sister by providing her
with a bone marrow transplant.

The
Actor Attractors for this character: As
detailed in the Assignment for Module 3, Lesson 2.

· Role in the Story: Provides a bone marrow transplant to save the life of her newly discovered identical twin sister.

Age
range and Description: Early
30s; shoulder length blonde hair, attractive.

· Core Traits: Former nurse dedicated to helping those in need.

· Motivation; Want/Need: Save the life of her newly discovered twin sister stricken with leukemia.

Wound:
Grew up in a foster home with
no known family; serving a prison sentence for a murder she claims she did
not commit.
Likability,
Relatability, Empathy: As
detailed in Module 3, Lesson 5.

[WIM: Module 3, Lesson 6: Character Profiles Part 1 – June 27, 2022]

[Robert Smith]

BOB SMITH’s CHARACTER PROFILES PART I

<ins cite=”mailto:Robert%20Smith” datetime=”2022-06-25T15:53″>My vision for success after this program: </ins><ins cite=”mailto:Robert%20Smith” datetime=”2022-06-25T15:53″></ins>

<ins cite=”mailto:Robert%20Smith” datetime=”2022-06-25T15:53″>I want to become a great writer who delivers entertaining, informative, and uplifting movie scripts that sell and get produced. </ins>

<ins cite=”mailto:Robert%20Smith” datetime=”2022-06-25T15:53″>What I learned from doing this assignment is…?</ins>

That profiles are essential to character development, From what I have learned, I am increasingly confident that the screenplay of my play “Angels in Gangland” will not only be an adaptation, but better than the original stage play script.

2. WITH EACH OF YOUR LEAD CHARACTERS FIRST TELL US THE FOLLOWING:

a. The High Concept.

b. The Character’s Journey.

c. The Actor Attractors for this character.

3. BRAINSTORM THE FIRST 6 PARTS OF THE PROFILE OF YOUR LEAD CHARACTERS:

1. Role in the story.

2. Age range and description.

3. Core traits.

4. Motivation: wants/need.

5. Wound

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy.

ASSIGNMENT .#2 and #3 above.

LEAD CHARACTER: LOU TASCA (PROTAGONIST).

a. The High Concept.

Lou is a slain gangster who cannot move on to the world to come except if he rectifies his wrongs with an extreme right and good, namely, returning to gangland and persuading his killer (Carlo) to quit the mob, flip, and join the Witness protectioin Program.

b. The Character’s Journey.

Lou has initial misgivings about returning to gangland to convince his hiiller to quit the mob (he’d rather take revenge) but after a dangerous situation he partly caused that threatens his killer by his crew’s boss (Tony Rizzo) he earnestly mounts his task to persuade him to quit the mob and genuinely cares about his well-being.

c. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. Role in the story.

Lou is the lead character

2. Age range and description.

Lou is in his late-50’s, casual gangster manner although he is well dressed and groomed. His gangster tough talk and manner are worse than his bite.

3. Core traits.

Bewildered by his afterlife situation and his mission re: Carlo (his killer).

Personable.

Capable of growth.

4. Motivation: wants/need.

To talk Carlo into quiting the mob which is his ticket to the world to come.

5. Wound

That he was murdered by a friend (Carlo) on orders from their boss (Tony Rizzo) and

initially wants revenge, gangland-style..

Once loved a woman who rejected him because he would not leave ‘the life’ of the Cosa Nostra.

Was once passed over for the promotion to Underboss. But coped with this by

counting it as a blessing in disaquise considering the frequent vacancies in the post by gang violence.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy.

Likability:

Lou’s bewilderment in the afterlife makes him likeable. Who wouldn’t be

bewildered?

His gangster speech and manner contrasted with the wise and well-mannered Rabbi Solomon Levinsky, his spirit guide, is funny. They are an ‘odd couple.’

Relatability:

Considering it’s the disposition of his own soul for good or ill, who hasn’t raised that question about themselves?

, Empathy:

His lost love because of his mob life is sympathetic.

His predicament in the story is that he is stuck and can’t get out unless Carlo turns himself over to the Feds.

LEAD CHARACTER: RABBI SOLOMON LEVINSKY (PROTAGONIST).

a. The High Concept.

Lou Tasca is a slain gangster who cannot move on to the world to come except if he rectifies his wrongs with an extreme right and good, namely, returning to gangland and persuading his killer (Carlo) to quit the mob, flip, and join the Witness Protection Program.

b. The Character’s Journey.

Rabbi Solomon Levinsky is annoyed but patient with Lou’s gangster manner and

failure to comprehend the profound mission they must accomplish. However,

throughout the story he and Lou grow in their partnership and achieve their goal of

talking Carlo.into quiting the mob and turning state’s evidence and joining the

Witness Protection Program and taking his friend Sam (the Rabbi’s son) along with

him.

c. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. Role in the story.

Solomon is the spirit guide for Lou in the hereafter and his ‘coach’ who guides Lou in accomplishing the mission of his talking Carlo into quiting the mob.

2. Age range and description.

Solomon is in his late 60’s-early 70’s. In contrast to Lou he is well-dressed and more formal and firm of ma manner, as befits a Rabbi. He is a devout Jew and wears a traditional Kippah (skullcap).

3. Core traits.

Patient with Lou and determined to accomplish the mission.

Professional and rabbinical but approachable.

4. Motivation: wants/need.

He wants Lou to talk Carlo into quiting the mob which will get Lou into the world to come

Solomon also wants the collateral good of getting Carlo’s friend and Solomon’s son, Sam, to join Carlo and quit the mob. i.

5. Wound

That when he found out his son had become a gangser, he disinherited him, sat

Shivah and went to his grave having never talked with his son again. And wants very much to talk with him again – he does.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy.

Likability:

He is admirable.

He is a kind and good man who believes in healing a broken world.

He is versed in rabbinical learning and Kabballah (Jewish mysticism) and knows how to apply them in this story, without being ‘preachy’

He is an inspiration.

His rabbinical manner contrasts with the gangster behavior and speech of Lou, whom he guides (not an easy task). They are an ‘odd couple.’

Relatability:

In spite of his principled raising of his son in Judaism, he is heartbroken when he sees his son (Sam) abandon his religion and become an associate of the Giordano crime family.

He reaches out from the Afterlife because he wants to save his son from a life of crime, even to the point of not just asking, but demanding God’s help..

, Empathy:

Heartbroken for his son already, he is horrified when he sees his son (Sam) in the act of committing a crime when he corners Carlo in order to kill him on orders from their boss, Tony Rizzo, who also had ordered Carlo to murder Lou Tasca..

He rejoices in the end with his and Lou’s success in getting Carlo and Sam to quit the mob.

LEAD CHARACTER: TONY RIZZO (ANTAGONIST).

a. The High Concept.

Lou Tasca is a slain gangster who cannot move on to the world to come except if he rectifies his wrongs with an extreme right and good, namely, returning to gangland and persuading his killer (Carlo) to quit the mob, flip, and join the Witness protectioin Program.

b. The Character’s Journey.

Tony Rizzo is the mob boss who ordered Carlo Vizzini to murder Lou Tasca. He is a leader in the Giordano Crime Family, i.e., a Capo or Captain of a crew of soldiers which included Lou, Carlo and Sam (Solomon’s son). Tony (rightly) suspects Carlo and Sam of dealing drugs – punishable by death in La Cosa Nostra with the responsibility to execute falling upon Tony. He also believes Carlo is hallucinating when he goes into a paroxysms over his claim to have seen the ghost of Lou Tasca – also requiring execution because an insane gangster may reveal mob secrets. Tony had ordered Lou’s assassination ostensibly because Lou had been spilling Giordano family secrets to members of other crime families (no true), however, the real reason is that Tony owed Lou $200,000 in gambling debts which he did not want to pay. If he has Carlo and Sam killed that would end Carlo and Rabbi Solomon’s mission in failure to save Carlo and Sam. So the race is on against the antagonism of Tony Rizzo. However, in the end, under arrest and facing a long stretch in prison, Tony also flips and joins Carlo and Sam in quitting the mob and joining the Witness Protection Program, realizing it will also benefit his family.

c. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. Role in the story.

Tony is the antagonist who plots to kill Carlo and Sam which would have the effect of nullifying Solomon and Lou’s mission of talking Carlo and Sam into quitting the mob.

2. Age range and description.

Tony is mid-40’s. He is casually dressed and dangerous – a killer. His gangster tough talk and manner is just as bad as his bite.

3. Core traits.

Fear and suspicion..

Taste for violence..

4. Motivation: wants/need.

To hide his real reason for ordering Carlo to kill Lou, i.e;, because he didn’t want to pay the gambling debt he owed Lou of $200,000.

To get rid of Carlo and Sam for dealing drugs and killing Carlo also because he exhibits insanity in his claims to be haunted by the ghost of Lou Tasca.

5. Wound

He was not promoted to Underboss in the Giordano family, which he had expected as a reward for his loylty. Underboss is the Number two man in the family after Don Primo Giordano.

He has alcohol and gambling addictions.

He has a son who is paraplegic.

Has a bad relationship with his wife.

He has a clumsily furtive sexual relationship with one of his strippers at his front business, “Tony’s Playhouse Gentlemen’s Club.”

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy.

Likability:

He keeps a mistress on the side which his wife suspects and they have arguments over it, even though it is obvious to his wife and he has a clumsy way of trying to explain it away.

Relatability:

He cares about his paraplegic son and does not want the Mafia life for any of his children.

Empathy:

His having a paraplegic son evokes sympathy/empathy.

Tony has been a loyal, good earner to his boss, Don Primo, chief of the Giordano crime family, and yet his boss not only does not promote him to Underboss, but Tony learns that Don Primo regards Tony as a trigger-happy high risk. Tony copes with this treatment by Don Primo by planning to start his own family, which is hard to do with his ever diminishing members in his crew, i.e., already, Lou Tasca, and as he plans, Carlo and Sam..

[Joseph McGloin]

Joe McGloin’s Character Profiles, Part 1

Vision: I am a talented, highly regarded, efficient, relaxed, happy, WGA screenwriter

What I learned from doing this assignment is fitting all the parts together gives a clear, in-depth, and well-rounded overview of the characters – even though some of the traits are likely to change over time. This feels like a first attempt of several, but a very good start on each of the main characters.

. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

Character: Max

A. The High Concept: A future female president has a
guardian angel who abandons his mission when he falls in love with her.

B. This character’s journey: From overbearing
to giving space to loving his charge.
C. The Actor Attractors for this
character:

· 1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

· An angel who explores the true nature of love while guardian his charge

· 2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

· He’s an angel struggling with his role. He falls in love with his charge.

· 3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

· Learn what true love is and does. Outsmart bad guys. Challenge his superiors.

· 4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

· He’s a smug, heavy-handed know-it-all angel with authority issues.

· 5. What could be this character’s emotional range

· Arrogant to humble to passionate

· 6. What subtext can the actor play?

· Pretend to be a political flunky while guiding, protecting and falling in love with a future president

· 7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

· A superior who doubts Max’s abilities, the woman he is to guard that he falls in love with, a scumbag politician intent on ruining his charge’s career.

· 8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

· through an angel’s perspective of what it means to be a guardian angel

· 9. What could make this character special and unique?

· He is an angel that falls in love with his human charge. He learns what true love really is and does.

The first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Protagonist #1
Age range: Ageless, appears to be in
his 30’s
Description: long, flowing hair; alert;
clear-eyed with an intent gaze, wants to blend in with the surroundings so
he is free to do his job
Core Traits: smug, heavy-handed, averse
to authority, overprotective
Motivation; Want/Need: Want: to be a
successful guardian angel. Need: to learn how to love.
Wound: too heavy handed to fit in with
the other angels. He flunked Cherub; too quick to use and then overuse love
arrows
Likability: gets everyone in the
office the healthy equivalent of coffee and donuts. Walks their dogs. Feeds
their cats and saved one from choking.
Relatability: fumbles in the office as
he’s trying to fit in. wins office football pool
Empathy: shock of entering a human
body. Humiliated by office manager before all

Character: Jane

A. The High Concept: A future female president has a
guardian angel who abandons his mission when he falls in love with her.

B. This character’s journey: fearful
of relationships to falling in love

C. The Actor Attractors for this
character:

· 1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

· A woman who shakes up politics and becomes president.

· 2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

· She goes against the grain of dirty politics and wins. She falls in love with an angel

· 3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

· Resist dirty politics. Forge her way to the top against all odds. Fall in love after resisting it as a sign of weakness.

· 4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

· A female politician in a mostly male environment who is determined to remain honest and principled and who is sensitive to spiritual forces around her

· 5. What could be this character’s emotional range

· Independent and emotionally detached to passionate about her work and finally about her relationship

· 6. What subtext can the actor play?

· Save humanity through becoming President of the US surrounded by noble, honest servants of humanity

· 7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

· Her guardian angel, her scumbag superior, her constituencies,

· 8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

· As a lone honest voice in the wilderness of politics that grows in strength to a roar

·

· 9. What could make this character special and unique?

·

· Her success in honest politics at the international level

The first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Protagonist #2
Age range: late 20’s
Description: modest in dress and
manners, mid-west honest, a political revolutionary tired of dirty
politics
Core Traits: determined, optimistic, independent,
friendless
Motivation; Want/Need: want: serve the
people through politics Need:
overcome fear of relationships derailing her mission so she can learn to
love
Wound: best friend betrayal
Likability: gives rides to boss when
car is in the shop. Brings flowers to the office. Coupons for aide.
Relatability: watches her money. Disagrees
with boss’s approach to his political rival
Empathy: She broke her arm in car accident
where dog died

Character: Clarence

A. The High Concept: A future female president has a
guardian angel who abandons his mission when he falls in love with her.

B. This character’s journey: from
distrust to trust
C. The Actor Attractors for this
character:

· What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

· It reflects (is?) the character in It’s a Wonderful Life and he supervises angels and has a fair amount of clout in Heaven

· 2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

· An angel who supervises other angels is the antagonist

· 3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

· Doubt Max at every turn. Appear with knowledge of crucial heavenly events. Help orchestrate and then announce a major development in the relationship between angels and humans when all seems about to be lost.

· 4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

· As Max’s new superior who refuses to respond to questions as to whether or not he is THAT Clarence, and who promises to be a thorn in Max’s side, and who is well versed in heavenly affairs to which most angels have no access.

· 5. What could be this character’s emotional range

· Irritable to smugly superior, strict to permissive, discouraging to supportive, cold to engaging

· 6. What subtext can the actor play?

· Has an apparent knowledge base far beyond what the guardian angels have and is aware of what goes on in whole universe and the afterlife. Pretty much omniscient.

· 7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

· With Max, with his own solution-searching peers, with humanity on the brink of self-destruction

· 8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

· As a spokes-angel for Heaven in an angel’s body.

·

· 9. What could make this character special and unique?

·

· An angel who isn’t always kind and loving but who is tuned in to the workings of the afterlife and has some say in the decisions there.

·

·

·

· What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

· It reflects (is?) the character in It’s a Wonderful Life and he supervises angels and has a fair amount of clout in Heaven

· 2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

· An angel who supervises other angels is the antagonist

· 3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

· Doubt Max at every turn. Appear with knowledge of crucial heavenly events. Help orchestrate and then announce a major development in the relationship between angels and humans when all seems about to be lost.

· 4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

· As Max’s new superior who refuses to respond to questions as to whether or not he is THAT Clarence, and who promises to be a thorn in Max’s side, and who is well versed in heavenly affairs to which most angels have no access.

· 5. What could be this character’s emotional range

· Irritable to smugly superior, strict to permissive, discouraging to supportive, cold to engaging

· 6. What subtext can the actor play?

· Has an apparent knowledge base far beyond what the guardian angels have and is aware of what goes on in whole universe and the afterlife. Pretty much omniscient.

· 7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

· With Max, with his own solution-searching peers, with humanity on the brink of self-destruction

· 8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

· As a spokes-angel for Heaven in an angel’s body.

·

· 9. What could make this character special and unique?

·

· An angel who isn’t always kind and loving but who is tuned in to the workings of the afterlife and has some say in the decisions there.

The first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Antagonist
Age range: ageless, been in Heaven
forever
Description: Looks like Clarence from It’s a Wonderful Life with a non-nonsense approach to his guardian
angel assignment coordinator position, cheery until challenged
Core Traits: organized, cheerful, fatherly,
vindictive
Motivation; Want/Need: Want: success
from his angels Need: trust when things
go in another direction than he is prepared for
Wound: Like Max, also failed Cherub
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: keeps order in his area. Pleasant comments to those going down to their assignments

Relatability: conflict with Max.
Empathy: shock at being given Max to
deal with;

[Tom Wilson]

Tom’s Character Profiles Part 1

My Vision: When I discuss projects with producers, I can suggest several alternatives.

Doing this assignment, I learned to ensure character profiles reflect the high concept.

Protagonist Sara

The High Concept: Sara must negotiate sex with Ratkin so she can pursue a PhD in the US and find a cure for a deadly disease killing her people and her mother.

This character’s journey: From low self-esteem, struggling to learn how to conduct research to becoming an undercover agent who prevents a horrific terrorist attack.

The Actor Attractors: Falsely accused of terrorism, she must go undercover to find the real terrorists and prevent a major terrorist attack on the US.

6 parts of the profile for Sara.

Role in the Story: Protagonist

Age range and Description: Late twenties, attractive young woman intent on achieving her goal.

Core Traits: Constantly learning to catch up with the Americans; observant; fast study.

Motivation; Want/Need: She wants to find the cure. Needs to keep up to speed with the Americans.

Wound: Ashamed she was born in a backward third-world country.

Likability: She’s polite and respectful of her elders.

Relatability: She stops and changes a tire for an old man she saw was stranded.

Empathy: When someone is clearly out of line, she takes the time to explain it to them.

Antagonist Ratkin

The High Concept: A mediocre general who is picked by a right-wing cabal to be elected President so they can return the US to an older, primitive state.

This character’s journey: From going along to get along, to following his master’s orders and implementing his instructions.

The Actor Attractors for this character: Ruthless in getting what he wants from everyone around him.

6 parts of the profile for Ratkin.

Role in the Story: Antagonist

Age range and Description: Late forties; big boned; womanizer; always takes, never gives

Core Traits: Exploits others’ weaknesses; always out for number one; “what’s in it for me?” attitude.

Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to become the all-important President; needs to prove he’s better than the eggheads and nerds who laugh at him behind his back.

Wound: An aching feeling he’s never good enough.

Likability: He shaves, cuts himself and can’t stop the bleeding.

Relatability: He fails to make the microwave oven work.

Empathy: When someone tells him all of her troubles, he smiles and says he’s okay

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Tom Wilson.

[Leona Heraty]

Leona Heraty’s Character Profiles Part 1

My Vision: To be the best family comedy screenwriter in the industry and have all of my screenplays produced into fabulous movies, thoroughly entertaining the audience and making them laugh a lot and making me independently wealthy!

What I learned from doing this assignment is…It’s fun to create the character profiles because my characters are taking shape and coming alive! I can follow their profiles to create their dialogue and actions!

Title: Termo-Lytes Attack!
Genre: Comedy (Sci-fi)
Concept: A teenage tour guide with an extreme fear of bugs takes a wrong turn and leads her group to an abandoned country club overrun by giant mutant termites.

2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

Tara: Protagonist

The High Concept: A teenage tour guide with an extreme fear of bugs takes a wrong turn and leads her group to an abandoned country club overrun by giant mutant termites.

This character’s journey: Tara starts out with no sense of direction, lack of confidence, cowardly and an extreme fear of bugs and ends up with a new sense of direction, boosted confidence, courageous, and no more extreme fear of bugs.

The Actor Attractors for this character: Tara is kind, silly, a scaredy cat, overly afraid of bugs, but gains confidence and stands up to the bully and fights back and becomes courageous.

Big Betty: Antagonist (The Biggest of the Termo-Lytes/The Queen Termo-Lyte)
The High Concept: A teenage tour guide with an extreme fear of bugs takes a wrong turn and leads her group to an abandoned country club overrun by giant mutant termites.

This character’s journey: Big Betty starts out faking sweetness and concern for the lost tour group, and gains their trust, especially Tara’s trust, and ends up showing her true colors: a vicious predator with no sympathy and is a man-eater.

The Actor Attractors for this character: Big Betty can really turn on the charm and act sweet and kind and smile and change colors as she becomes nice, and even laughs…she ends up showing her true nature: she changes to an angry bug with a deep evil laugh and she shows no concern for anyone and she’s evil and devious.

Davy: Triangle

The High Concept: A teenage tour guide with an extreme fear of bugs takes a wrong turn and leads her group to an abandoned country club overrun by giant mutant termites.

This character’s journey: Davy starts out as a needy pest and selfish and self-centered to no longer a pest, more giving and willing to help others and not so needy.

The Actor Attractors for this character: Davy is super smart, pushy, funny, tries to be fearless, even when he’s afraid, but hides his sadness over his parents not spending enough time with him.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Character Profiles, Part 1

Tara: Protagonist

1. Role in the Story: The Tour Guide without a sense of direction and an extreme fear of bugs. She takes a wrong turn and drives her group to an abandoned country club overrun with giant mutant termites. She feels responsible for bringing the group here and she must overcome her fear of the giant termites to kill them and save herself and the group.

2. Age range and Description: Kooky and attractive 18-year old who would rather watch nature shows or Shark Week than go outside and risk encountering creepy crawlies, AKA bugs, or “big swimmy things,” AKA sharks or stingrays, in the ocean.

3. Core Traits:

–Cowardly

–Kind

–Silly

–Haunted

4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To kill the Termo-Lytes and survive
Need: To regain her sense of direction and get over her extreme fear of bugs.

5. Wound: Trauma from getting lost in a corn field maze as a little kid and having termites cover her shoes.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Tara puts up with Davy, the 10-year old pesty neighbor because his parents “abandoned him for the summer,” according to Davy; She tells Davy she’ll ask her Mom and Dad to buy his favorite foods, like Twinkies and Ding Dongs; she puts up with him doing a cannonball into her pool and splashing her and her best friend;

Tara only rolls her eyes and makes a face at Davy behind his back and she’s never cruel to him, only exasperated by his pushy ways; she’s kind to Big Betty and the Termo-Lytes at first, until she finds out they plan to eat her and the group!

Tara doesn’t make fun of Peg when Peg says she’s forgetful at times and it was creating the Termo-Lytes was an accident; She doesn’t make fun of Tad’s cheezy clothes and corny jokes and corniness around Peg, rather, she just watches him act cheezy and only rolls her eyes, but behind his back.

Tara’s too trusting of the Termo-Lytes and thinks the best of them at first; Tara is kind to pesty Rob; Tara gives into her parents’ request to drive the tour group on the garden tour, even though she had other plans with her friends; Tara doesn’t want to kill Queen and the Termo-Lytes…but she has to, to save her own life and the members of her tour group.

Relatability: Tara’s afraid of bugs to the extreme; she has no sense of direction and gets lost too easily and relies too much on her cell phone’s GPS; she’s struggling with trauma from the past.

Tara is a scaredy cat and avoids danger and relies on others to take charge and solve problems; she’s addicted to Cheez-Its; she still loves to climb trees at age 18; she can’t read a map and is embarrassed about it and tries to fake that she can’t read it and act like she knows where she’s going.

Empathy: Tara is petrified of bugs and jumps out of her car and climbs a tree to get away from them; She’s embarrassed that she can’t read a map and she gets lost easily and doesn’t like to go far from home.

Tara shares her story with tour group about getting lost in the corn maze as a kid and having her feet covered with termites; Tara is in peril when Queen turns on her and the group and tries to eat them; Tara gets hurt fighting Queen and Termo-Lytes;

Tara cries and says she’s petrified of bugs, and the Termo-Lytes are 10 feet tall and “getting big with each bite,” Tara gets lost in the maze of underground speakeasy tunnels at the country club and she gets scared and tries to hide; Tara and her group are throw in a pot for Queen and the Termo-Lytes “dinner special.”

Big Betty: Antagonist

1. Role in the Story: The Queen of the Termo-Lytes and the largest one, she’s 10-ft tall. She’s determined to bring her species back to earth and right the wrongs from the past when the Termo-Lytes were killed by ancient versions of modern insecticides by the Sumerians.

2. Age range and Description: Large and in charge, 10-feet tall mutant termite with a flare for changing into light and pretty colors when she’s manipulating others, but can turn a dark red when she’s angry, then look out!

3. Core Traits:
–Fake sweet
–Manipulative
–Cares about her species surviving

–Not trustworthy

4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To eat Tara and the group
Need: To bring back her ancient species and ensure their survival

5. Wound: She’s angry about ancient man creating pesticides 5,000 years ago an wiping out her species.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Big Betty is charming when Tara and her group encounter her and the Termo-Lytes for the first time, and she gives them a dazzling smile and turns different sparkling colors and looks kind and motherly; Queen offers Tara and her tour group fresh water from the spring the Termo-Lytes dug and fruit and snack; she’s a loving Mom to the Termo-Lytes.

Big Betty says they can seek shelter at the country club until the storm passes. Queen assures Tara and her group that they only eat the wood furniture and other structures in the building and that humans “aren’t all that tasty.”

Relatability: Big Betty says having all this wood to eat is like being a “kid in a candy shop,”; Queen keeps growing taller and larger after every piece of furniture she eats and she laughs and said she’s going to have to “start watching her figure soon,”; Queen says it’s not easy being the Mother to ten Termo-Lytes and she hopes they don’t run out of tables and sofas to snack on.

Empathy: Big Betty is hurt and angry with ancient man, who invented insecticides 5,000 years ago and wiped out her special species of Termo-Lytes, and they’ve been waiting, dormant since then, to come back and enjoy life again.

Davy: Triangle

1. Role in the Story: Triangle

2. Age range and Description: 10-year old know-it-all mini-adult plump kid who eats too much junk food and loves old sci-fi bug movies, dinosaurs and is always up for adventure.

3. Core Traits:
–Inquisitive

–Pesty

–Needy

–Fearless

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To kill the Termo-Lytes and survive
Need: To fit in and find love from his parents

5. Wound: He thinks his parents have abandoned him for the summer.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Davy is super smart and kind to all living things, even little bugs like gnats; he grows on a person, like he grows on Tara; he’s enthusiastic and always wanting to learn new things and he questions everything and tries to make up his own mine; he tries to be brave when he’s scared.

Relatability: New to the area, trying to make new friends, missing his old friends he left behind; worried his parents have abandoned him with his grandmother, Peggy.

Empathy: Davy is held captive by Big Betty and she’s planning to eat him! Davy scrapes his knees and is bleeding and needs help from Tara and the group. Davy says his parents have abandoned him and he can’t make new friends because his Grandmother, Peggy, doesn’t know any kids his age.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Leona Heraty.

[Renee Brown]

Renee Brown’s Character Profile Part 1

“My scripts are the cream that rise to the top: I am an A-list screenwriter.”

What I learned: Every time I fill in a blank, I feel the nothing becoming something.

GLOW AGAIN

High Concept: A magical stone reunites two star-crossed lovers decades later in a small Montana town that keeps big hearted secrets.

Young Alley:

High Concept relationship: Alley breaks CJ’s heart because she thinks she overhears him trashing her and her dreams.

Character’s Journey: From a hopeful, in love young woman, to a heartbroken wall flower who abandons her dream. From budding star to college drop out.

Actor Attractors: A huge talent – singer songwriter who shows just how fragile we can be when we make ourselves vulnerable to passion and love.

Role in the Story: Protagonist / Antagonist

Age range and Description: Early 20s with a fire in her eye and a guitar slung over her shoulder.

Core Traits: Driven, Talented, Hopeful, Romantic

Motivation: Wants – to be a star. Needs- validation

Unspoken Wound: Her grandmother (her emotional cornerstone) went missing a few years ago.

Likability: Young Alley is full of talent, passion, and positivity.

Relatability: Alley feels criticism to the point that she abandones her dream. She also has a lot of regret around handling her and CJ’s breakup badly.

Empathy: It’s sad to watch someone abandon a passion.

Present Day Alley:

High Concept relationship: Alley is Lillian’s granddaughter – she will get a second chance at love with Lillian. Alley is also CJ’s ex – they will have a second chance at love.

Character’s Journey: From an apathetic, lonely woman, to an empowered, self-aware woman who takes back her destiny, and the love of her life.

Actor Attractors: A woman who has wasted a decade of her life over a misunderstanding, takes control of her life and redefines her idea of love.

Role in the Story: Protagonist / Antagonist

Age range and Description: (30s) with premature frown lines and an eye-rolling habit.

Core Traits: apathetic, sinical, controlling, idealizes love.

Motivation: Wants – to control things so she doesn’t get hurt. Needs – unconditional love

Wound: Thinks she hears CJ slam her passion dream years ago. Now she doesn’t believe in herself or love.

Likability: She’s an Everywoman

Relatability: Trying to make it from one day to the next

Empathy: Gets fired from her dead-end job

Young CJ:

High Concept relationship: CJ falls hard and fast for Alley, then she breaks his heart.

Character’s Journey: From ecstatically in love, to almost dead in a reckless accident.

Actor Attractors: CJ’s a scrappy street jeweler who ruins his young life with a series of heartbroken decisions.

Role in the Story: Protagonist / Antagonist

Age range and Description: (20s) modern mountain man on a vintage motorcycle.

Core Traits: Quiet, soulful, romantic, proud

Motivation: Wants -to make it on his own. Needs – to belong

Wound: Has no family. has been hurt by love. Swore he’d never trust again.

Likability: A young, romantic rebel trying to make it as a street jeweler.

Relatability: Reaching to create beauty to spite stereotypes and expectation. Also, he is betrayed when Alley tells him there is someone else.

Empathy: Post breakup, CJ gets in an accident and almost dies.

Present Day CJ:

High Concept relationship: Now a grounds keeper at Lillian’s Resort Motel, CJ is about to be reunited with the biggest heartbreak of his life.

Character’s Journey: From reclusive mangled man to brave champion of love.

Actor Attractors: CJ lives an untrusting and defensive life as a loner, but when he is faced with the woman who broke his heart, he toggles between shutting her out and longing for her love again.

Role in the Story: Protagonist / Antagonist

Age range and Description: (30s) Shaved bald, scars and all. Manages to stand tall in his defiance of life’s shit sandwich.

Core Traits: defensive, untrusting, brave, romantic

Motivation: Want- to disappear Need- unconditional love

Unspoken Wound: Thinks Alley cheated on him years ago.

Likability: Strong silent type who wants to do a good job.

Relatability: lasting heartbreak and trauma that lies under the surface

Empathy: A broken man with physical and mental scars.

Young Lillian:

High Concept relationship: Lillian brings the mysterious stone to America after WW2

Character’s Journey: Hope filled young French immigrant to poor housewife, to self-made businesswoman.

Actor Attractors: Lillian is a Disenchanted War-bride who plays the grateful wife until later in life, when her husband dies, then she disappears without a trace in search of the American adventure she signed up for so long ago.

Role in the Story: Triangle

Age range and Description: (20) Wild haired shy with the soul of a French bohemian hiding behind oversized glasses.

Core Traits: Naive, culture shocked, resentful, afraid.

Motivation: Wants – Adventure Needs- Independence

Wound: Her home in France was bombed to smitheries – mother and father lost.

Likability: Young Lillian is a hopeful War Bride ready for her new adventure in America, leaving war torn Normandy behind, in love with her new hero.

Relatability: We all know the hope of a fresh start.

Empathy: When she arrives at her new home, it’s in nowhere Mississippi where the whole family lives on one dirt road.

Present Day Lillian:

High Concept relationship: The stone will return to Lillian in the last moments of her life, she will be reunited with her soldier. She too gets a second chance at love… in death.

Character’s Journey: From owning Lillian’s Resort Motel to checking herself into a rest home, to destroying her granddaughter’s concept of love, to finding her own second chance with the stone.

Actor Attractors: Elder Lillian is a firecracker who is losing her fuse. She has lived, loved, and lied. But in the end, Lillian is the reason for everyone’s chance to GLOW AGAIN.

Role in the Story: Triangle

Age range and Description: (90s) sharp as a tack losing its point. Still wears bright red lipstick.

Core Traits: Unapologetic, Early onset dementia, Brutal, independent.

Motivation: Want- to die anonymously Needs- to unburden her regrets.

Unspoken wound: Had adventurous dreams about moving to America so long ago but wound up on a dirt road in 1940’s Mississippi.

Likability: Sassy old broad (in the best way)

Relatability: Had a dream when she was young

Empathy: Her dream was dead, so she made a dream of her own.

[Zeke Farrow]

VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that to fulfill the concept, the characters have to be defined specifically.

TITLE: Cousin Mitch

MITCH CHARACTER PROFILE:

HIGH CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to change the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – himself.

CHARACTER JOURNEY: Mitch needs to learn to figure out who he is and accept that in order to come of age and deserve love.

ACTOR ATTRACTORS: Super smart and verbal, adventurous, bullied

ROLE IN STORY: Protagonist

AGE RANGE/DESCRIPTION: 17, nerdy, unathletic, intense, filled with anxiety

CORE TRAITS: Pessimistic/cynical, hyper smart, adventurous

MOTIVATION, WANT/NEED: Wants to be liked. Needs to like himself.

WOUND: The poop incident.

LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY: Has a crush on Sophie, scared on his first day of high school, poops on Sophie

NEW MITCH CHARACTER PROFILE:

HIGH CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to change the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – himself.

CHARACTER JOURNEY: New Mitch needs to learn to give up his ego and learn to give love in order to receive it.

ACTOR ATTRACTORS: Stunning magic, center of attention,

ROLE IN STORY: Antagonist

AGE RANGE/DESCRIPTION: 17, strikingly good looking, well built

CORE TRAITS: Talented, charming, egomaniac, pansexual

MOTIVATION, WANT/NEED: Wants Sophie to love him. Needs to love others.

WOUND: Rejected by Sophie.

LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY: Great at magic, loves attention, rejected by Sophie

[Eclipse Neilson]

Eclipse Neilson Character Profiles Part 1

1. VISION: I want to be a great award-winning writer, known for my new genre, who creates the most beautiful films that inspire others to feel deeply, pause, and ponder ways to make the world a better place.

“What I learned from doing this assignment is…?” Sometimes I need to sit trust the process and let the character emerge and have all begin to fall into place.

2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

A. The High Concept.

A Nun destined to become a saint, bonds with a powerful Witchy Healer to achieve an ancient task – but all hell breaks out in the village in reaction to their love for each other.

B. This character’s journey.. SISTER ANNE

From an obedient Nun, following the rules of her church into a woman emerging courageously as a caring leader, who happens to desire a true connection with her one and only friend.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

A nun destined to become a saint must follow her deep feelings and her sacred commitment to God as she sets herself free from the restrictions of her past and the church to help save the soul of humanity.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: A nun left to save her falling apart church from closing after the minister dies, finds out she is destined to carry out a sacred task that will entail breaking the rules of her church and ultimately enrage her congregation. <div>

Age range and Description: In her 40’s small-bodied and inward, soft-spoken, sometimes fearful, and often looks down at the floor humbly but one gets a sense of her emerging power.

Core Traits: Kind, obedient, emotionally deep, secretly wants to reclaim her power and her voice as a warrior woman fighting discrimination.

Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to be free to follow Jesus’s teachings in her way which is not always abiding by the rules of Father Sinclair( protagonist) rules and guidance.

Wound: Is triggered by the hatred around her and relives the abuse by her father as a child. Hides remnants of her struggle with shame and suppressed anger at why God let that happen to her.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy . She longs for a friend and finds herself deeply bonding with Lunea Thunder. She is challenged to embrace courage and speak truth to power when the village becomes outraged at their friendship.

II

B. This character’s journey. LUNEA THUNDER

A powerful witchy healer sent by the The Council of Universal Beings must become vulnerable and face her deep wound as she follows her mission to help save humanity and her soulmate a Nun.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

A witchy healer with a powerful priestess presence who dares to break the boundaries of society believing she holds a sacred truth that must be delivered to humanity.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: A Witchy healer sent by The Council of Universal Beings must help a Nun who happens to be her twin flame/ soulmate become a saint.

Age range and Description: In her late 40’s- early 50’s a strong rebellious demeanor, warrior-like, and dresses with a pagan priestess flare. Presents herself as a wise leader.

Core Traits: Kind, powerful female, emotionally deep, secretly vulnerable uses her brilliant mind and knowledge to compensate.
Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to belong and be honored for her kind heart and sense of integrity.

Wound: Is triggered by the hatred around her and relives the abuse and loneliness of her childhood.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy. She loves all of nature and the wounded ones in the world.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Eclipse Neilson. Reason: came out with font mistakes

[Kelly Joseph]

Kelly’s Character Profile part 1

Visiona; Vision: I want to be an empowered writer who consistently produces salable scripts.

What did I learn? I learned to give myself permission to just fill in the blanks. The process of just putting things down is very challenging for me but when I allow myself to just generate it is easir.

Concept: A troubled teenager is taken to a boot camp to change her behavior but learns that the camp is run by aliens who create copies of them then kill the teens. (Contained Horror)

Character Journey: Quinn is a troubled teen who fights to survive the aliens who want to take her life.

Actor Attractors

Lead Character Name:QuinnRole: Protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? This is great role for a young actress with a range of emotions to play.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? Quinn is the lead role and will be in nearly every scene of the movie

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? The character becomes a leader as the story unfolds and is the one that defeats the aliens.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? Her opening scene she is a rebel without a cause and an independent thinker.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range? There are a range of emotions to play with. There is rage, happiness, sadness, disconnectedness, and hopelessness.

6. What subtext can the actor play? Skepticism, plotting, distrust.

7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character can have? Her relationship with one of the camper characters and the antagonist.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? She is an independent thinker and rebellious. She is always looking for a fight.

9. What could make this character special and unique? Quinn is like a combination of Sigourney Weaver in Alien, a young Paris Hilton and Ally Sheedy in The Breakfast Club.

Role in the Story: Quinn the protagonist

Age range and Description:16-17

Core Traits: courageous, self centered, independent, reckless, resourceful

Motivation; Want/Need: survive the camp

Wound: no one cares about me

Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Quinn is an independent courageous and resourceful 17 year old who has grown up rich but is ignored by her parents.

Character Journey Darius is the leader of the aliens who uses the campers to grow the alien race. Role: Antagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? This character is mysterious and a manipulator.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? This character pretends to be one person and in actuality is the complete opposite.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? The character leads the crowd in singing with complete joy and is a vicious mureere.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? I think showing how cruel and ruthless this character is in combination with charisma and full of joy.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range? Character displays blissfulness, rage, playful and cunning.

6. What subtext can the actor play? Scheming, plotting, pretending to be someone else.

7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character can have? The character is caring towards the campers, and the one that will kill them all.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? The character will be Mr. Positive and at the same time ruthless and cunning.

9. What could make this character special and unique? This character is a combination of Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Ralph Fiennes in Schindler’s list.

Role in the Story: Antagonist

Age range and Description: 18 – 25

Core Traits: charismatic, cunnniing, ambitious, ruthless

Motivation; Want/Need: be the leader of the alien race

Wound:passed over

Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Darius is a charismatic guy who has been passed over as a leader and wants to prove he is worthy.

[CJ Knapp]

CJ’s Character Profiles Part 1

Vision: I am a confident and empowered writer who embraces challenges and changes and writes highly sought-after projects with fresh and exciting ideas. I will be produced and hired to write projects that get produced.

WIL: it is very important to dig deep into the character so you can write dialogue and action that comes from the unique core that is the character

Title: MEMORY HUNTERS

Concept:

In a future with technology to retrieve memories, a Memory Retrevalist, caught in the mind of a psychopath struggles to find a way out before he destroys her mind and kills her.

ASSIGNMENT

With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

MYA ORTEGA – Protagonist who is a junior memory hunter and using the company to find away to hide her own memories.

A. The High Concept. The protagonist – Mya’s role in the high concept is she is the memory hunter who finds herself inadvertently in the mind of the psychopath after she asks too many questions. <div>

B. This character’s journey. Mya goes from trying to hide from her past as an abused victim of a psychopath to learning to move beyond her past and not let it define her.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Protagonist who goes from looking for a way to hide her childhood memories of abuse to learning that someone is making deals with the criminals.<div>

Age range and Description: mid-twenties – LatinoCore Traits: Naïve, afraid, practices avoidance

Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to find a way to hide or run from her own memories. Needs to find a way to move past them and not let them control her.

Wound: She is an only survivor from a psychopath and is haunted by the memories.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: She’s kind to the subjects/patients coming in for a memory search

Relatability: We understand how she wants to run from her memories

Empathy: She was abducted as a child by a psychopath and escaped

CATHERINE HARPIE – The antagonist – wants to stop Mya from uncovering her illegal activities

With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

A. The High Concept. Catherine’s role as antagonist is she has Mya deliberately placed in the psychopath’s mind to hind her activities. </div><div>

B. This character’s journey. From being confident and in charge to being worried she will be found out to being found out.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Antagonist as CEO of the company

Age range and Description: Late 40’s

Core Traits: Confidant, conniving, duplicitous, vulnerable

Motivation; Want/Need: She wants to stay at the top as CEO by collecting blackmail info and money but needs to stop Mya from finding out her secret.

Wound: The board of Directors want to replace her with a younger man

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: She knows everyone by name and always has a ready smile </div><div>

Relatability: She’s trying to get ahead in a “Man’s world” – does well in the public eye

Empathy: She has a soft spot for animals

ALFRED “FREDDIE” DETTON

With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

A. The High Concept. – Freddie is the mind that is meant to kill Mya’s to keep her from finding out about Catherine’s illegal activities.</div><div>

B. This character’s journey. – He wants revenge for Mya being the only one to get away and she is the one most like his sister who used to torment him.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Supporting role – psychopath

Age range and Description: 60’s, talks to his sister likes she’s standing there

Core Traits: Focused, cynical, devious

Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to keep on killing girls who remind him of sister so he can keep on punishing her for her tormenting him as a child. Needs to get free to keep killing.

Wound: His sister used to torment and humiliate him

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

TERRY SULLIVAN

With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

A. The High Concept. Terry switches the machine to place Mya into Freddie’s mind instead of the embezzler.</div><div>

B. This character’s journey. – From being Catherine’s lacky and pretending to be Mya’s friend and mentor to trying to steal all the money / info from Catherine.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Supporting role to Antagonist</div>

Age range and Description: late 30’s nerdy good looking

Core Traits: Friendly, helpful, conceited, controlling

Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to win at an cost and needs to control others and the situation. Wound: He wants to head the project and believes he’s been wrongly passed overLikability, Relatability, Empathy:

</div>

[Bobby Sacher]

Bobby’s Character Profiles – Part 1

What I learned doing this assignment is… just reinforces the importance of this step. This is where my story is starting to come to life in my head. I’m starting to CARE about Jason (and about turning my monster into a REAL monster)!

MY VISION: A writing life that is mine to do with as I please. Independently wealthy, always creatively engaged, sought after, and utterly fulfilled.

MOVIE: JASON VS THE ZOMBIES

ROLE: Jason (Protagonist)

HIGH CONCEPT:

A tormented, aspiring serial killer is forced to join forces with the bullies that were his intended victims, when the cabin they’re partying in is attacked by zombies from the nearby Civil War graveyard.

CHARACTER JOURNEY:

Jason goes from an angry outcast hell-bent on revenge, to an inspired leader who saves the day.

ACTOR ATTRACTORS:

Going from zero to hero
a serial killer wanna-be as the romantic lead??
Having to hide his earlier intentions as he joins forces – and starts to feel included – with his HS bullies

ROLE IN STORY: Protagonist! The tormented outcast who snaps. We know why he’s out for revenge, and we also know there’s no way in hell he can pull this off!

AGE RANGE/DESCRIPTION: HS Senior. Rail thin, unkempt, and just begging to be given a wedgie. That guy.

CHARACTER TRAITS: Angry, desperate, righteous, alone

MOTIVATION:

WANT: Jason wants to get revenge on everyone who’s wronged him, and win back “his girl.”

NEED: Jason needs to stand up for himself, and start believing he’s worthwhile

WOUND (what he can’t face): His father’s abuse. How utterly alone he feels all the time.

LIKEABILITY: Jason tries to do the right thing – even when he’s planning murder, we know where he’s coming from. Jason has the same dream every kid has – to be the hero!

RELATABILITY: He’s abused at home, bullied at work and school. Loses his job. Terrified to go home.

EMPATHY: He is totally alone. Physically and mentally abused. Feels he has no way out.

ROLE: Hack (Antagonist)

CHARACTER JOURNEY:

Hack goes from an outcast hiding “in plain sight” as the “clown” of the group, to a sociopath who embraces his role as a destroyer

ACTOR ATTRACTORS:

Becoming the embodiment of evil
A terrifying glee at chaos and murder

ROLE IN STORY: Antagonist! An inhuman creature, more terrifying than the zombies – who chooses to become undead, because it suits him.

AGE RANGE/DESCRIPTION: HS Senior. Wiry, always lurking. Physically intimidating – mentally, WORSE. Eyes that look at something that isn’t there.

CHARACTER TRAITS: Malicious, devious, cunning, fascinated

MOTIVATION:

WANT: Hack wants to destroy the group, most specifically, his cousin Derek.

NEED: Hack needs emotional strife – he feeds off of it.

WOUND (what he can’t face): “Abandoned” by his parents, who killed themselves, and raised “like a stray” by Derek’s family. Always felt like the “other.”

LIKEABILITY: No.

RELATABILITY: No – this is what makes him so terrifying. We don’t identify Hack as quite human.

EMPATHY: Parents who killed themselves? Abandoned like that? Pretty awful. Understandable, perhaps, how he’s become what he has.

[Valeriya Ordinartseva]

Valeriya’s Character Profiles Part 1

My Vision: I am a masterful, ahead-of-the-game, and outside-the-box writer full of ideas and creative energy. My writing is fresh, impactful, iconic, beautiful, and effortless. My projects deliver outstanding entertainment and bring yet unseen commercial and artistic success. I am on the leading edge. I create a lot, it’s fun, quick, and easy. My whole life is that way.

I’m highly motivated to create engaging character profiles.

What I learned from doing this assignment is…

– Characters are not only about what actors want to be, it’s what the viewers are in their imagination.

– My robot deserves better traits.

– Learned a few interesting things about my characters and more about what villains and heroes have in common.

– Came up with an actor-oriented opening instead of the one I had in mind.

– Learned to have fun creating characters’ profiles.

BOO WHO HOO

A. The High Concept.

Following her therapist’s advice, a woman asks her “monster-under-the-bed” to come out into the light where she can deal with it… but the monster has other ideas.

________________________________

IRENE

B. This character’s journey.

Arc Beginning: Lonely, depressed, and scared freelance designer.

Arc Ending: Free and fearless creator who doesn’t hold back.

Internal Journey: From sad and scared to empowered.

External Journey: From being a victim of a monster to setting the monster and herself free.

Old Ways:

Confused

Scared, living in fear and anxiety

Lonely

Low self-esteem

Suppressing her feelings

Putting up with her monster

New Ways:

Free

Creative

Empowered

Clear

Trusting herself

In love with life

Fearless

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

She is alone against a horrible monster, and she finds creative ways of dealing with it.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

This monster is her creation, in a sense, she fights against herself. Like every one of us she has her fears, the monster, which seems ridiculous to others, but feels very real to her.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Talking to a monster over a drink like it’s her best friend. Tricking it, befriending it, fighting it, helping it, embracing it. Introducing the monster to her family. Crying with the monster. Finding a victim for it. Fighting it at the dentist.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Home alone, spooked, trying to change a bulb asap. Reactive psyche, everything is a threat to her, or she is waiting for bad things to happen.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Anxious introvert, fierce fighter, plotting murderer, pensive artist, shameless seductress, socially awkward, deeply empathetic.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Her own fears take the life out of her. She tries to stop her fear from destroying everything.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Her relationship with the monster. Her relationship with everyone else is dictated by the presence of the monster in her life.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

She tells the truth but it’s always taken as a joke. She has an ongoing dialogue with her monster.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Irene can find countless ways to avoid moving on with her life. She is ready to suffer for it, thinking it’s a lesser evil –– safer that way… Until it’s not.

Role in the Story:

Protagonist and Antagonist

Logline: Irene is a lonely freelance designer who wants to be happy, have a family, and enjoy social life but can’t because of the monster that’s attached to her.

Unique: She invites her monster to come out.

Age range and Description:

Late 20s, in need of sunshine vitamin, and other clothes than t-shirt and pj’s pants. Sad, on edge, bitten nails, shifty gaze.

Core Traits:

Creative

Honest

Desperate

Confused

Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To get rid of the monster

Need: To learn to love and enjoy life and herself

Wound:

Her father had a stroke in his prime and she blames herself.

Connection:

Likability:

– Good artist

– Loves her cat

– Wants to face her problems

– Trying the best she can

Relatability:

– Wants to change her life

– Has excuses that hold her back

– Suffers toothache

– Thought she’d achieve more by now

– Shy

– Has a monster under her bed

Empathy:

– Gets scared alone

– Thinks something is wrong with her

– Worried about her cat and others

– Nobody believes her

Intrigue

Hidden agendas:

– To kick the monster out of her life

– To give other people to the monster instead of herself

– To change her life

Competition:

– With the monster — over who is going to live fully

– With her friend — over success

– With her family — over her identity

Conspiracies:

– With the monster about the next steps

– With the shrink about dealing with the monster

– With her niece about the monster

Secrets:

– She envies her friend and her sister

– She is in love

– Can’t have relationships because of the monster

Deception:

– Pretends to befriend the monster

– Tells her family she has someone

– She is afraid of nothing but there is always an excuse for inaction (circumstances)

– Deceives herself by inventing the monster (blames it for her sad life)

Unspoken Wound:

– She thinks her father’s state is her fault

– Her family treats her as unworthy

– The state of the world

Secret Identity:

– Monster

– Artist

– Nobody

Ways it can show in the script:

– Irene hides from the monster under the bed

– Negotiates with the monster

– She thinks she is going to kill someone but she is going to look for help

– Horrible drawings under the unsticking wallpapers

– Has things in common with the monster that scare other people the same way Boo scares her

– Sends her real artwork to clients unaware of her actions

– Bashing family scene and how this environment reflects on the kid

– Scares her friend and her boyfriend, her sister too

– Makes a huge dreamcatcher

– Talking to her dad about the monster

________________________________

BOO

B. This character’s journey.

Arc Beginning: Living in pain.

Arc Ending: Liberated.

Internal Journey: From rotting to life-giving.

External Journey: From terrorizing and scaring the light out of Irene to reaching peace.

Old Ways:

Hiding

Hurt

Scary

Needy

Angry

New Ways:

Free

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Incredibly scary but empathetic and playful monster.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

It scares the lights out of everyone because it’s created from fear, but it’s the one who helps to overcome all fears and find freedom.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Finding ways to communicate with humans. Bringing out their fears.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Playing with the mind of the main character.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Furious to helpless, menacing to understanding.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

It inspires Irene to love life. The monster is a bunch of unrealized desires that turned bad.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With the main character, challenging her to live her life to the fullest.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

It can find interesting ways of non-verbal communication. It cries.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

How ugly and disgusting it is, yet we feel sorry for this poor creature.

Role in the Story:

Antagonist and Protagonist

Logline: A monster that has been growing under Irene’s bed since her childhood. It won’t let her have any resemblance to normal life.

Unique: It’s made of her fears and it’s in pain. It doesn’t let Irene live, but it won’t let her die either.

Age range and Description:

Black, bumpy, slimy, big sad black eyes, ugly claws, shorter than Irene – the size of the shorter side of her double bed. Loses quite big pieces of skin. ET after nuclear disaster.

Core Traits:

Hurting

Destructive

Helper

Wise

Motivation; Want/Need:

Want:

Need: Needs her to let go of it

Wound:

Being something beautiful made ugly, sorry, scary, and disgusting, unloved, she gave up on it

Connection:

Likability:

– It’s responsive and wants to help

– It’s playful

Relatability:

– It seeks connection

– It’s in pain

Empathy:

– It cries with Irene

– Nobody likes it or believes in it

Intrigue

Hidden agendas:

– To help Irene get on with her life

– To stop its suffering

– To scare some sense into her

Competition:

– The shrink with her methods

– The family with their misunderstanding

– Irene wasting their life and torturing them

Conspiracies:

– With Irene to keep her fears at bay

– With Irene seeking help

– With Irene to change her life

Secrets:

– It’s her, and the best of her

– Keeps Irene’s secrets about her past

– Won’t get lost

Deception:

– Looks scary AF

– Destroys things (to make them better)

– Causes death (shows that death is inevitable and Irene better resolve to live until she dies)

Unspoken Wound:

– Needless suffering

– Loneliness

– Being seen as ugly evil

Secret Identity:

– Irene’s unrealized dreams and desires

– All the pain and fear she’s been through

– Helper

Ways it can show in the script:

– Gets mad when Irene gets back to her old ways

– “Kills” her father, friend, lover, cat

– Threatens her, her sister, niece, romantic interest

– Attends to everything she mentions

– The worse it gets for Irene the worse the monster hurts

– Pukes brown muck (mixed color paint)

– Wants to get closer to Irene

– Gives her a chance to change something before people die

– Knows Irene’s next step and is faster than her

– Keeps memorabilia (that spook Irene)

________________________________

7RDRD4

A. The High Concept.

Robots became too human and people start a dehumanization program to get rid of them. Can a girl brought up by a robot prove that she isn’t one before she and her robot get killed?

________________________________

LO

B. This character’s journey.

Arc Beginning: Lo feels worthless as a human being and wants to be like other people.

Arc Ending: Lo is empowered, grateful for her life, and changes the world by being her authentic self.

Internal Journey: From hating her life and herself to loving life and who she is.

External Journey: From an outcast to the leader of humanity.

Old Ways:

Trying to fit in

Feeling inferior and making herself smaller

Hiding

Isolated

New Ways:

Taking risks, brave

Confident

Doing her thing

Caring for others

In charge

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

The unique person brought up by AI, more human than most. Saves the face of people.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She is a human in the making — by a robot. She never fits in and that’s a blessing in disguise.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Fails the human test. Reinvents the game of the villain. Saves robots and people. Makes human mistakes.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

(In her teens) breaking the pattern in the tune the robot plays — improvising.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Angry, defensive, funny, caring, cruel, scared, conforming, stubborn, brave leader.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

She can’t betray either people or robots. She is one of a kind.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With her robot, the team, and society.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Trying to mislead/hack the robot. Jokes, irony.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

She can break/hack human patterns, not only robots’.

Role in the Story:

Protagonist

Logline: A girl who was brought up by a robot and wants to be like other people but stands up for her robot against them.

Unique: She is taken for a robot and sent to recycling.

Age range and Description:

16, misfit outfit

Core Traits:

Thinks on her feet

Hacker/Outside the box

Square peg

Emotional

Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To be like everyone else

Need: To be her own creator and masterpiece

Wound:

Orphan, brought up by a machine

Connection:

Likability:

– Cares about her robot and takes risks for it

– Different, outside the box

– Funny and bright

Relatability:

– Wants to fit in and is rejected

– Curious

– Makes human mistakes

Empathy:

– Orphan

– Outsider

– Argues about life

Intrigue

Hidden agendas:

– Save 7RDRD4

– Become a part of society

– Conquer the flying robot

– Save all robots and people she can

Competition:

– With other people and robots for life

– With children at school

– With Benedict for the truth

Conspiracies:

– Hide with her robot

– Escape and run to safety

– Win the game that can’t be won

Secrets:

– She is a human being (changes her mind about proving it in court)

– Her childhood

– Her robot

Deception:

– Pretends she is a robot

– Pretends she is like everybody else

– Plays her own game

Unspoken Wound:

– Betrayed by humans

– Being inferior to normal people

– Different all the way

– Broken

Secret Identity:

– Orphan

– Leader

– Savior

Ways it can show in the script:

– Stops trying to prove anything and goes with the flow, does what’s right

– Pretends she gave up

– Searches for the flying robot

– Dates a moron

– Takes charge in the game

– Makes jokes about robots and humans

– Thinks outside the box

– Comes up with her own rules

– Changes the game

– Learns to reprogram herself

________________________________

7RDRD4

B. This character’s journey.

From a faulty machine to something more human than most people.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

A robot that is more human than most humans. Neither man nor woman. Saves the face of robots.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

A robot living by human values.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Kills a man. Brings up a baby. Can fly. Participates in the game.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Falls to its death but manages to fly away.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Hurt, scared, brave, inspired, proud, tender.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Trying to live up to his creator’s values. Believes in people.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With the human child it has to take care of.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Has different definitions of the same things depending on the version update.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

It can reprogram itself.

Role in the Story:

Protagonist/Buddy/Mentor Antagonist

Logline: A robot who breaks rules to spare its creator the suffering, and to bring up an orphan.

Unique: Experimental model that has the feature of taking higher risks and making choices like a human.

Age range and Description:

About 18, androgynous, perfectly human, retrofuturistic outfit.

Core Traits:

Caring

Self-educating

Hesitating

Analytical

Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To learn what’s right

Need: To learn that what’s right depends, and making mistakes is human and a part of being creative

Wound:

Has to break some rules to meet others

Connection:

Likability:

– Risks its life to help the inventor and save the baby

– Tries to be as human as it can

Relatability:

– On its own

– Disconnected

– Wants to raise a good person

Empathy:

– Does morally questionable things to help people

– Mistreated

– Broken

– Forgiving

Intrigue

Hidden agendas:

– Save and protect the girl

– Be what it was made to be

– Protect humanity from itself

Competition:

– Flying robot

– Society

– The girl

Conspiracies:

– With his inventor

– With Lo against the flying robot

– With other robots to stay alive

Secrets:

– Murder

– Autonomy beyond regulations

– Mind of its own

Deception:

– Lies to teachers

– Spares the girl from the truth

– Plays Lo’s game

Unspoken Wound:

– Outlaw

– Can’t give her everything she needs

– Broken

Secret Identity:

– Unique and precious

– More human than human

– Someone’s creation

Ways it can show in the script:

– Learns from the girl to be more human

– The boy who tortured him disappears

– Makes dolls and other must-haves for the girl — but with a twist

– Lo presses him to tell her the truth

– Doesn’t know what’s right

– Taking all the blame

– Respects the part of it that’s human — being a creation of a human

– Finds holes in systems

– Runs troubleshooting sessions with Lo

– Forgiving and understanding of human mistakes

________________________________

BENEDICT

B. This character’s journey.

Unhappy creation to the dark creator of the new world.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Charming, clever, well-meaning politician, but in fact a calculating robot. He runs an experiment on people, social and psychological.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

The most charismatic human of them all. Persuasive.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Guides the discourse. Pretends to be a victim. Fights with his match.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

He is not afraid of difficult conversations, raises important questions, ready to sacrifice his life for a good cause.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

Ice cold, empathetic, logical.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

He is a robot. With his dark plans for humanity.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With public opinion and other politicians. With 7RDRD4. Nurse. Lo.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Creates the narrative for society, and achieves the goals he needs instead of those he declares. Super solid arguments and approach.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Manipulates people using their own ideas, which makes him powerful beyond measure.

Role in the Story:

Antagonist

Character: Benedict, antagonist

Logline: A politician who plays on people’s lowest traits to have control over them, but actually a robot who wants to get rid of other robots and rule the world.

Unique: Extra clever, knows well people’s weaknesses

Age range and Description:

30s, stylish, groomed, approachable, and has a nervous glitch.

Core Traits:

Manipulative

Charming

Understanding

Solution-oriented

Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To serve people by enslaving them.

Need: To find a purpose.

Wound:

Sent out into this world all by itself, an orphan.

Connection:

Likability:

– Charming, clever, handsome

– Solution-oriented

Relatability:

– Striving for understanding between all parties

– Has a vision for the future

Empathy:

– Quirky

– Wants to keep things civilized

Intrigue

Hidden agendas:

– Get rid of the robots

– Rule people

– Prove his superiority

Competition:

– Other politicians

– 7RDRD4

– Law

Conspiracies:

– Hangs his crimes on robots

– Creates a game to show how dangerous robots are

– Supervises the court

Secrets:

– He is a flying robot

– Envies both people and simpler robots

– Puts everyone in danger by “trying to protect”

Deception:

– Pretends to be a human, politician

– Pretends he wants to protect robots

– Pretends he was a victim of a murder attempt

Unspoken Wound:

– Rejected creation (misunderstanding freedom)

– Misunderstood

– Lonely (people are no match for his brilliance)

– All the human side brings is suffering

Secret Identity:

– Robot went rogue

– Ruler of the world

– The one

Ways it can show in the script:

– Recognizes 7RDRD4 when they first meet

– Kills secretly those who stand in the way

– Fakes murder attempt

– Empathizes with people’s plight

– Organizes schools for people to get their human dignity back

– Takes over inventor’s place

– Tries to be where people are, very approachable

– Known to be a genius human of his era

– The biggest fan of the inventor

– Has a glitch – touches his face a lot

[Amechi Ngwe]

Amechi’s Character Profiles
MY VISION
I am going to be in the top 1% of action/comedy writers in the industry who writes major action films.
What I learned doing this assignment is to make sure I create amazing characters who will best fit my story to make my writing the best it can be.

PROTAGONIST (KANAAN)
• A. The High Concept. An obsessed fan of a Superhero works his way into the superhero’s life and clashes with the superhero’s sidekick.
• B. This character’s journey. From a scared nobody who is obsessed with a superhero to a feared sidekick to that superhero.
• C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
He is a man obsessed with a superhero who gets the chance to make the superhero his friend and become his sidekick.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He’s a manipulator who uses manipulation techniques to try and make people do the right thing.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Manipulating Blackout
Talking his way into a job he shouldn’t get
His covert battle with Rhapsody
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
He’s paid to be a victim in a self-defense class.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Scared to angry, weak and helpless to confident and dangerous, sad to exhilarated.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
That he’s just trying to help, that he’s in it for the right reasons,
He’s always a hero in his own mind, even when he seems to be a victim.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Blackout – They go from strangers to people who help each other, to people who rely on each other.
With Rhapsody – Who wants to get rid of him so she can keep Blackout all to herself.
With Mars (the Butler) – who is getting old and decides to help groom Kanaan to be his replacement.
With his Mother – A cop who wants Kanaan to give up his dangerous dreams and return home.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
He’s tired of the city being dangerous and is one of the few people who are actively doing something about it.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
His manipulation techniques, his strong desire to be liked and to see justice come for people.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
1 Role in the Story: Protagonist who goes from scared civilian to superhero sidekick.
2 Age range and Description: Late 20s, athletic but afraid of his power.
3 Core Traits: 1. Scheming 2. Optimistic 3. Manipulator 4. Afraid
4 Motivation; Want/Need: To be a superhero’s sidekick / To stop being a victim
5 Wound: He was arrested for armed robbery, which hurt his mother’s career and derailed his plans at life.
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Care for the city, the downtrodden things and people. Struggling and alone. Oppressed but wants to help people.

ANTAGONIST (RHAPSODY)
• A. The High Concept. An obsessed fan of a Superhero works his way into the superhero’s life and clashes with the superhero’s sidekick.
• B. This character’s journey. From superhero’s sidekick, to losing her place and wanting revenge
• C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A kick ass superhero
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She’s very protective of Blackout and very suspicious of Kanaan.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
She goes to Kanaan’s parents house and has dinner with his family.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
She beat up a gang of thugs on a street and then enters a room that is filled with items related to Blackout.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
She is calm, Kanaan makes her angry, confident, determined,
6. What subtext can the actor play?
That she’s trying to help people when she’s punishing them. She’s fighting to keep the status quo.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Kanaan – She is the one person who can see right through him for what he is.
With Blackout – A mentor, and someone she loves and respects.
With Mars – He’s a father figure who pushes her to do good and to be a better hero.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
She is a sidekick who is happy with her place and actively fighting anyone who tries to change it.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
She’s a hero but has some bad intentions to protect her power and status.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
1 Role in the Story: Antagonist who wants to keep her place as Blackout’s sidekick.
2 Age range and Description: 30s,
3 Core Traits: 1. Jealous 2. Assertive/Aggressive 3. Glory Hunter 4. Sneaky
4 Motivation; Want/Need: To keep her place as Blackout’s sidekick / To learn how to help others
5 Wound: Her parents were killed and Blackout took her in.
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Brilliant fighter, quick witted, stands up for herself, makes big shows of helping/being a hero

TRIANGLE (BLACKOUT)
• A. The High Concept. An obsessed fan of a Superhero works his way into the superhero’s life and clashes with the superhero’s sidekick.
• B. This character’s journey. From being surrounded by people and things he loves, to feeling as empty and lonely as everyone else in the city.
• C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A powerful superhero who wants to be loved and fights for his city.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He is a loner but is looking for community.
He demands obedience.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Taking on the mayor.
Killing Rhapsody
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
He saves Kanaan from an attack. He’s a powerful superhero who strikes fear into his enemies.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Calm even when he’s being violent. Sad and emotionally fragile. Feels compassion for those he has to fight who have nothing.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Controls and manipulates people into praising him. Wants to be worshipped for his sacrifices.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Kanaan – He likes the way Kanaan sees the world and the perspective Kanaan has on things.
With Rhapsody – He’s a stern big brother who is trying to keep her under control.
With Mars – His father figure, who works to meet all of his needs.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
He’s obsessed with justice and doing the right thing in every aspect of his life.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Wants to honor his parents and ancestors by doing what is right in all situations. Gets broken up when he fails or someone is hurt because of him.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
1 Role in the Story: Triangle Character, The person the protagonist and antagonist fight over
2 Age range and Description: 40s, a superhuman vigilante
3 Core Traits: 1. Imaginative 2. Noble 3. Dangerous 4. Loyal
4 Motivation; Want/Need: To be his city’s savior / To decide what justice is
5 Wound: He can’t stop, even if he wanted to.
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Beloved superhero, struggles with not doing more, haunted by failure, constantly in emotional and physical pain.

[Caroline Fritz]

[WIM] Caroline’s Character Profiles Part 1

My Vision: I will perfect my process of writing great scripts and be recognized by the industry as good at what I do and have successful movies produced.

What I learned: I have all of the pieces and I just have to put it together.

Callahan Terry

· The High Concept: An MI6 agent on a visit to the U.S. doesn’t know who to trust when his friend’s wife is kidnapped.

· This character’s journey: From wounded widower to lethal killing machine

· The actor/attractors:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? James Bond in America

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? His character is iconic

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? Chases, gun fights, battles of wits

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? Introduce him as a debonair gentleman who flips on a dime and becomes a gun-wielding, judo-chopping hero.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range? Empathy, sadness, rage

6. What subtext can the actor play? A quiet killer when needed

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? With his co-workers, his friend and his friend’s wife

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? As a British Secret Service agent, accent and all

9. What could make this character special and unique? He seems like a paper pusher but is really is an action hero.

· Role in the Story: Protagonist

· Age range and Description: Late 40s, Black, British

· Core Traits: Deliberate, calm

· Motivation; Want/Need: Wants justice; needs to find peace

· Wound: What they can’t face: Losing his wife to a terrorist

· Likability: Callahan loves his wife dearly and takes her on vacation

· Relatability: Everyone loves to go away with the person they love the most

· Empathy: They have a good relationship that is nice to see

Aaron Copley

· The High Concept: An MI6 agent on a visit to the U.S. doesn’t know who to trust when his friend’s wife is kidnapped.

· This character’s journey: From CIA agent to terrorist

· The actor/attractors:

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? The CIA agent who turns on his friend.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? You trust him and he seems like a good guy,

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? Betraying his friend

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? In a flashback when Callahan’s wife is killed.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range? Arrogant, devious, smart aleck

6. What subtext can the actor play? Wounded, afraid

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? Betraying his wife, betraying his friend, betraying his government

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Slightly nerdy maybe?

9. What could make this character special and unique? You don’t expect him to be duplicitous.

· Role in the Story: Antagonist

· Age range and Description: Late 40s, White, American

· Core Traits: Brash, Loud, likes to show off

· Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to be the hero; needs to feel secure

· Wound: What they can’t face: Being passed over his whole life for not being good enough

· Likability: Aaron is funny and seems loyal

· Relatability: We like to be around people who are at ease with themselves

· Empathy: He is loyal to his job even after he has been passed over for a promotion. We all know what that is like.

[Terrie Shaft]

Terrie’s Character Profiles Part 1

I write screenplays that get turned into crowd pleasing successful films using a process that allows me to enjoy my equestrian hobby.

What I learned doing this assignment is to push through even if you can only get a little bit done at a time.

Lead Character: Paige

Concept: A US Marshall is charged with getting a conspiracy theorist into witness protection, but it’s her ex and his crazy theories are true.

Logline: Paige, a US Marshall behavioral analyst, is tasked with getting a witness safely embedded in his new identity.

Unique: Paige knows crazy. After her fiancé became obsessed with conspiracy theories, she left him and the local police force, got an advanced degree in psychology and joined the US Marshall behavioral analysis team.

Old ways: clinical, remote, avoids interacting with people due to inability to trust
New ways: able to trust and wiling to try again with James/Jason

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Paige is clever and composed, no one gets under her skin – except James/Jason.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? She is outstanding at her job but she can act ditzy if it helps her get the job done.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Takes down the bad guy; profiles the person that puts her and James/Jason in danger. Uses information traps to catch the inside person.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? She’s on an awful date with a guy that’s dating her because she’s law enforcement (there’s probably a name for this – holster sniffer) so she profiles him, aloud, in as demeaning and as derogatory way possible.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? Composed, angry, frustrated, sympathetic, in love. Basically she’s got some serious emotional armor when we meet her due to her previous relationship with James. But as the story moves along they heal, rekindle their relationship and end up in love.

6. What subtext can the actor play? How much James hurt her yet still has feelings for him (which leads to the question – why?)

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Her relationship with James, they have a great deal of history and baggage to work through. And what was she doing dating this whack job?

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Intellect, very correct in her professional behavior, psychologically sizes people up.

9. What makes this character special and unique? Her ability to profile and take down people intellectually rather than with a weapon.

Profile:

1. Role: Lead

2. Age range and description: mid thirties, attractive in a professional clean-cut way

3. core traits: smart, focused, emotionally stuck

4. motivation; want/need: succeed professionally, authentically connect with people in her life

5. wound: James nearly got her fired from her first police officer job

6. likeability, relatability, empathy:

Opening:

Likability: in the opening scene at the restaurant make her nice to the server, maybe help the server by picking something up or telling off a rude customer

Relatability: she’s on an awful date

Empathy: she tries end the date politely but he doesn’t take the hint, she profiles him.

Backstory/flashback:

Likability: protects James/Jason from getting arrested

Relatability: helping James/Jason makes her late for work

Empathy: almost gets fired

When she’s brought into protect james/jason

Likability: brings the admin a coffee or helps out a new marshall

Relatability: has to wait on her boss

Empathy: the witness is her ex and she doesn’t want to tell anyone; pressured into taking the assignment over her protests

Lead Character: James/Jason

Logline: After blowing his first cover identify, James is convinced that only his former fiancé can keep him safe as he testifies against domestic terrorists that want him dead.

Unique: James is brilliant but can’t stop spouting conspiracy theories even when his life depends on it.

Old ways: paranoid but gullible, angry, self absorbed
New ways: sees how his beliefs in conspiracy theories has harmed his life, willing to give them up.

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He’s super quirky but charming. And he’s funny (well I need to make him funny)

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He’s got a conspiracy theory to explain EVERY TRIVIAL THING

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Insisting his ex Girl friend handle his protection. Somewhere he needs to step up to help keep Paige safe, even though it means disregarding one of his conspiracy theories.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? With his paranoid conspiracy theory rantings on a flip phone, make this funny. Can I find a way to introduce them at the same time?

5. What is this character’s emotional range? Terrified, disconnected, in love, confused, hurt

6. What subtext can the actor play? His deep fear of whoever he is testifying against. Fear of losing Paige again. Fear that the conspiracy theories are true or worse, they aren’t and his life choices are a sham.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With Paige – he knows he blew it.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Total dedication to multiple conspiracy theories.

9. What makes this character special and unique? His crazy beliefs in conspiracy theories.

Profile:

1. Role: Lead

2. Age range and description: mid thirties, unkempt appearance

3. core traits: gullible, quirky, agreeable, paranoid

4. motivation; want/need: to get witsec protection/win paige back

5. wound: after his mother abandoned him, he was raised by a tough GF who didn’t want him around

6. likeability, relatability, empathy:

Flashback:

Likability: sweet to Paige, goofy/funny makes her laugh

Relatability: someone is rude/mean to him

Empathy: he’s in danger, maybe?

With marshalls

Likability: polite to marshalls; overtips a waitress

Relatability: hides but this could be done in a funny way

Empathy: he’s in danger from the group he is testifying against

[Andrew Kelm]

Andrew Kelm’s Character Profiles Part 1

Vision: I am going to do whatever it takes to be a great writer of TV and movies who is sought after by people I respect within the industry and has multiple successful TV series produced.

What I learned doing this assignment is… how to develop different facets of my characters.

FATEMONGERS; a psychic with a blind spot for abusive men uses subtle manipulations to murder a sexual predator who seduces her to get to her sons.

Daphne

A. The High Concept. Daphne is a wounded healer; a psychic who wants to use her intuitive gifts to help people but has a blind spot when it comes to abusive men who take advantage of her.

B. This character’s journey. Goes from being dependent on her mother and a victim to being a ruthless survivor and success at the cost of cynicism.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? She is constantly subverting expectations; full of contradictions
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? She is in control of every situation except her vulnerability with abusive men
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? She arranges the murder of her partner through subtle manipulations that make it seem she had nothing to do with it.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? She is giving a card reading to a client that shows the whole range of her personality
5. What could be this character’s emotional range? She can be cold or empathetic; angry or easy going; a bully or intense listener; great sense of humor
6. What subtext can the actor play? She was abused as a child and her relationships with men are colored by that.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? She falls in love with a man who is a threat to her sons.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Pithy, honest and to the point; detached, yet passionate when provoked
9. What could make this character special and unique. She always gets her way; she is on the edge between outrageously off-center and brilliant

1. Role in the Story: Protagonist. Daphne is a wounded healer who wants to use her intuitive gifts to help people, but that is challenged at every turn from within and without.

2. Age range and Description: 20s. Daphne is a card reader who is bright, fun and direct. After a few minutes with her, her clients feel like she knows them better than anyone else in the world.

3. Core Traits:

• Intuitive
• Direct
• Ruthless
• empathetic

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

• Wants to help people
• Needs resolve her vulnerability to abusive men

5. Wound: She was abused as a child and watched her mother murder her boyfriend.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

• Likability: she’d smart; has a good sense of humor; tells people the painful truth
• Relatability: she is surrounded by fools — people who don’t see the things that are obvious to her. Roy is charming and a relief.
• Empathy: her mother nags her; she’s always short of money; as two small boys who are terrors

Roy

A. The High Concept. Roy is damaged goods. His view of the world is forever skewed by an alcoholic mother who abused him and from whom he picked up an appetite to abuse others. He seduces Daphne to get to her sons

B. This character’s journey. He goes from someone who loves to con others to wanting to wanting to be a father .

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? He is always calculating; a charming con artist
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? He has the outrageous goal of seducing his partner’s sons, with the ultimate unconscious goal of getting punished
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? Walking into his own murder.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? He is on the run and has to charm his way to safety
5. What could be this character’s emotional range. Cold, seductive; sometimes reverting to a childish guilt-ridden vulnerability
6. What subtext can the actor play? Abused as a child; wants to abuse others; wants to be punished.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? Falls in love with the woman who will kill him.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Cold and calculated but able to turn on the charm
9. What could make this character special and unique. He gets away with everything he does — until he doesn’t.

1. Role in the Story: Antagonist

2. Age range and Description: A charming man in his 20s with rough edges that give him an appealing vulnerability.

3. Core Traits:

• Lying
• Charming
• Ruthless
• Masochistic — his comfort zone is being afraid he’ll get caught for something he’s done.

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

• Wants: to con people
• Needs: to be punished for his sins

5. Wound: abusive alcoholic mother; abuse continued in reform school

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

• Likability: he is charming, calm, kind to Daphne and her boys
• Relatability: Desperate because he is always short of money;
• Empathy: he was abused by his mother and that abuse continued through reform school

[Micki Hess]

Micki’s Character Profiles Part 1

My vision: Be recognized as a writer that will work with the industry and would do what it takes to be that WRITER.

What I learned from doing this assignment is it can be exciting making characters come alive with these lessons. Getting to the very core of their being. The deeper you go the better the development and round the characters get.

Lead Character Name: DAKOTA TANNER

Role: Protagonist

The High Concept: She wants to end the feud while locked up in the attic. She tells her sister why and doesn’t care if she approves or not.

This character’s journey:.To marry the man of her life and end the feud with her sister.

The Actor Attractors for this character:.

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

This is a teacher that loves and puts others before herself. She has a chance at happiness when she ends the feud with her sister.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She is easy going until you get her pissed off. Keeping a secret from her younger sister.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

The realization that she has to fight for her happiness and for the man she loves. She tries to end the feud with her sister.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Rides on a motorcycle with her man and is cool as a cucumber around her sister.

What could be this character’s emotional range?

Nice, friendly, to outrage anger.

What subtext can the actor play?

She is keeping the fact that she is marrying her high school sweetheart, the person that her sister caused a break-up with.

What’s the most interesting relationship this character can have?

John Grant, he knows Dakota wants peace between her sister.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Love for her family, anger, and finally happiness.

What could make this character special and unique?

She deeply cares for her sister and her family. With the understanding that she deserves to be happy and have joy in her life.

Role in the Story: Protagonist- she wants to end the feud and marries the man of her dreams.

Age range and Description: She’s in her late twenties-early thirties, dresses casual, messy bun, with a small heart inked on her left shoulder.

Core Traits:

Intelligent

Sassy

Lovable

Secretive

Motivation; She is tired of the feud and resilience of being jealous of her sister. She wants a husband and to have her own children.

Want: Be happy

Need: To end the feud to be happy.

Wound: Her broken heart

Likability: She cares for her sister, always protecting her.

Relatability: We all have one sibling we try to protect from the harsh world.

Empathy: We see the struggle she has with her own wants.

Lead Character Name: BLAKE RILEY

Role: Antagonist

The High Concept:. Blake lives an unhappy life with her husband and children because she believes she settled just to be married.

This character’s journey: She wants her sister, Dakota, to be miserable for the rest of her life. She is jealous and hurtful.

The Actor Attractors for this character.:

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

That she is a spit-fire with anger issues against her sister for stealing her guy during high school. She breaks them up so she can have him, which backfires on her.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

The irony is that she is married with three children and is unhappy with her life, even though her family lives comfortably where she gets to stay at home.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

She gets locked up in the attic with her sister and they argue and have a physical fight. And finds out her sister has kept a secret from her.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

She and her sister race to the house as they did when they were kids. While her family watches and shakes their heads. .

What could be this character’s emotional range?

Brat to anger to accept her life.

What subtext can the actor play?

She wants the feud to keep going because she is upset that she settled.

What’s the most interesting relationship(s) this character can have?

Her sister, Dakota and high school crush, John, and her husband, Will Riley

How will this character’s unique voice be present?

By being sniding, controlling through caring that she can muster up.

What could make this character special and unique?

Her dramatic high school scheming to get what she wants.

Role in the Story: Antagonist – she wants to keep the feud going.

Age range and Description: She is two years younger than Dakota. She has the latest hairstyle and makeup and clothing.

Core Traits:

Lovable

Angry

My way or the highway

Manipulative

Motivation: Her anger towards Dakota keeps her happy

Want: Keep the feud going.

Need: Understanding why the feud must keep going.

Wound: Misunderstanding

Likability: She thinks she did the right thing

Relatability: We all have that one sibling that does mean things and accepts them.

Empathy: She wants love and doesn’t realize she has it with her husband and children.

Lead Character Name: JOHN GRANT

Role: TRIANGLE

The High Concept: A biker who wants to marry his high school sweetheart and tries to make peace with the sisters.

This character’s journey: He will get married to his gal of his dreams.

The Actor Attractors for this character:

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

A man that loves his high school sweetheart and likes his bike (motorcycle), athletic built, with some tats.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

His quick wit and laughter

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

He will bring some wit and dry humor while trying to end the feud

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

He rides a bike and has a good sense of humor.

What could be this character’s emotional range?

Happiness, understanding and joy

What subtext can the actor play?

His patience between the sisters and their family.

What’s the most interesting relationship(s) this character can have?

Dakota, his love interest, her sister, Blake and her family

How will this character’s unique voice be present?

Through his laughter, his actions and emotions.

What could make this character special and unique?

His sense of humor and love

Role in the Story: He is the triangle

Age range and Description: Same age as Dakota, rugged outdoor type of guy with some inks and rides a bike.

Core Traits:

Humor

Honest

Slow to anger

Easy going

Motivation: To bring the sisters back together and marries one of them.

Want: Dakota

Need: Dakota

Wound: He broke her heart once and vowed not to break her heart again.

Likability: He wants to bring peace to his love.

Relatability: We were all there with broken hearts and didn’t understand why it happened.

Empathy: He truly loves Dakota.

[Hope McPherson]

Hope McPherson’s character profiles 1

Vision: To be a working, trusted screenwriter who supports herself by writing smart films that are produced and enjoyed, while also working on writing assignments for other industry professionals.

What I learned: By taking the earlier steps, the pieces are coming together. But I’m also seeing holes and a few ways I can go with the main characters – and this is the time and place to figure out which of those options is best!

NOVEL REVOLT

The High Concept: One week before her wedding, an author’s characters escape her book and insist on rewriting her life.

Shelby Jordan

(protagonist) Shelby Jordan’s journey: From a perfectionist stymied by her own self-doubt to a woman who learns to accept imperfections in herself and others to achieve the important goals.

The Actor Attractors for this character: Shelby, an English professor and author, needs to be right but has trouble making up her mind when it comes to the most important things. Yet her creativity is so strong that her fictional characters jump off the pages and into real life.

First 6 parts of Shelby’s profile:

· Role in the Story: A perfectionist, professor, and novelist, Shelby is juggling writer’s block and last-minute wedding-planning disasters.

· Age range and Description: 30s, birdlike sharpness, nerdy

· Core Traits: professorial, take charge, creative

· Motivation: Shelby wants to have the perfect wedding; she needs to accept that her imperfections don’t make her unlovable.

· Wound: Child of an alcoholic

· Likability: goes above and beyond for students when doesn’t have to
Relatability: stays up late to grade papers and makes her own wedding centerpieces to save money
Empathy: her wedding plans derail at the last minute

Cyrus Landrake

(antagonist) Cyrus Landrake’s journey: A frustrated villain in Shelby’s novel who longs to be a real human.

The Actor Attractors for this character: Cyrus constantly edits his looks and mannerisms to be the best villain he can be.

First 6 parts of Cyrus’ profile:

· Role in the Story: Scheming antagonist of Shelby’s latest novel who escapes the manuscript and blackmails Shelby into making him the novel’s hero

· Age range and Description: 40s, European charming narcissist

· Core Traits: Charming, narcissist, brilliant

· Motivation: Cyrus wants to be a hero; he needs to save Shelby.

· Wound: He is trying to ruin Shelby’s career.

· Likability: he’s charming and gallant
Relatability: doesn’t understand news of the day
Empathy: He wants to be the hero, not the villain

[Tina Steffan]

Tina’s Character Profiles Part 1

My Vision: My writing enables me to live an exuberantly creative and productive life in prosperity.

ARGUS’ EYES

A teenage girl has her disfigured face reconstructed at a beauty clinic in the Black Forest, only to discover that her new face is just a mask and she is now the livestock for a blind demon who has stolen her eyes for himself.

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Character: Valentina Flemmin, 16 year old runaway, one-eyed

Logline: Valentina has her disfigured face reconstructed at a beauty clinic run by her estranged grandma, only to discover that her new face is just a mask and she is now the livestock for a blind demon who has stolen her eye for himself.

A. The High Concept.

Val must find a way to escape the demon who is holding her captive under a false mask to control her and feed on her.

B. This character’s journey.

Val goes from hostile loner to sacrificing herself for her new found family.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

A raw and unsocial behaviour because she had to fight for herself since early childhood combined with unconditional empathy for the ones that need her help.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

-she steals from friends and foes alike, it’s her means of survival and hard to quit.

-manipulated by psychologists her whole life she can play the game better than anyone

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

she doesn’t trust the norm because the system betrayed her

Her unsocial behavior leads her to uncovering the demon

– she lives off the grid, can’t be confined and always choses to make her own path. takes the window instead of the door, eats in a tree, sits on the ground or on the table, sleeps under the bed, her bag is always packed,

She blames her missing eye for all the rejection she experienced. So when she gets a ‘normal’ face she clings to the hope that now her life will change. But to really change she has to trust her grandmother and disfigure her face even more to save them and find where she belongs.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

She stays cool when her attacker gets mutilated and then let’s Ayla clean the blood off of her to have a loving moment in the midst of total gore and violence.

What could be this character’s emotional range?

From cold and distant when facing people dying or struggling to absolute self sacrifice and violence when protecting her friend Ayla.

What subtext can the actor play?

On the outside she’s cool, inside she’s screaming of pain and rage.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

– Val distrusts her grandma Agatha but choses to ‘play family’ with her to just have the experience even if it’s fake. She copies poses from other people’s family photos.

– Val only trusts one person and that is Ayla, her friend from the orphanage. Val can be cold an even cruel to others, but with Ayla she’s loving and over protective.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Val doesn’t seem to let anything that is done to her upset her. She has brutal comebacks that reflect her dislike for everyone around her and ,after being under the supervision of therapists all her life, she knows exactly which buttons to push to make people explode.

What could make this character special and unique?

Val’s reactions and actions are either ice cold or scorching hot.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role: Valentina has her disfigured face reconstructed at a beauty clinic run by her estranged grandma, only to discover that her new face is just a mask and she is now the livestock for a blind demon who has stolen her eye for himself.

Age range and Description:

Val, 16 and a handful. An eyepatch covers a crude cavaty that once was her left eye and that she lost as a baby.

Core Traits: loud loner, alienates others, secretly helps – hard shell-soft core

Fears (Primal fears): losing her sight – loss of independence

Likability / Rooting factors: bad ass

How they react under stress: take care of it, solve it, doesnt rely on others,

Relationship with other characters: distant, unfamiliar with affection, just let’s it happen, frozen when Luzi washes her

Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: independence “everyone fights for themselves”

Needs: finding a home and family – when she found it she wont let the demon destroy it

Unspoken Wound: Val lost her eye and her parents as a baby and was given into the foster system where she was abused.

Likability: She cares for her friend, doesn’t back down from bullies even though she has to pay the price, Her friend loves her and cares for her deeply

Relatability: She’s left alone, depends on herself to survive,

Empathy: She is locked up and abused, her family rejected her

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Character: Agatha Flemmin, 58. Valentina’s grandmother

Logline: Agatha is forced by Argus to run a beauty clinic that provides him with human livestock so he can feed on female powers and use their eyes as his own.

Unique: Under her false face Agatha is in constant terror.

A. The High Concept

Agatha is controlled by the demon who feeds on her and her only way to save Val from the same fate is to poison herself to kill him.

B. This character’s journey.

Agatha goes from thinking she has to alienate Val to save her to accepting help and trusting her granddaughters powers.

— Agatha dies but can take the demons place and continue to watch over Val.

She’s the gate keeper – “It is what you make of it.”

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Agatha is a 55 year old woman terrorized by a demon since 16 years who feeds on her power.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Her inner fight to break free from his spell makes her the most tormented character. She

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Agatha watches Val get injured without helping her. She welcomes her into the clinic with a big smile while a tear of blood runs down her perfect face.

What could be this character’s emotional range

From perfect host to hateful and desperate avenger.

What subtext can the actor play?

Agatha is in a constant war against the demon’s oppression. Whenever the demon’s powers weaken, she tries to sabotage its influence and save her granddaughter Valentina. This makes her behavior seem irrational and crazy.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Agatha sent Val away as a baby to get her out of the demon’s reach. She pretends to not want her to keep her away.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Agatha’s contradictive behaviour from over sweet to hostile to fearless warrior makes her unpredictable.

What could make this character special and unique?

Agatha’s contradictive behaviour from over sweet to hostile to fearless warrior makes her unpredictable.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story:

Agatha is forced by Argus to run a beauty clinic that provides him with human livestock so he can feed on female powers and use their eyes as his own.

Age range and Description: Agatha in her fifties. As the manager of the clinic she wears immaculate clothes but on the inside, the part not controlled by the demon, she is an eccentric old witch not giving a damn what others think of her.

Fears: losing her granddaughter to the demon, never seeing another sunrise with her own eyes

Core Traits: crazy old witch / caring, fixer, alienates people

Likability / Rooting factors: crazy and free, forces into shape

How they react under stress: like a manic robot, chaotic and

Relationship with other characters: the manager, the tough love matiriarch, cold when cutting her losses

“Gone. Let’s continue.”

Motivation; Want/Need:

Wants save Val and get rid of the demon at the cost of her own life

Needs: to trust Valentina and accept her help, even if that puts Val into more danger

Unspoken Wound: She lost her daughter to the demon and had to sent val away as a baby to keep her safe. She is constantly tortured by the demon.

Likability: She puts herself in harms way to protect Val, She hides the demon to get Val out, pretends to dislike Val to get her away

Relatability: doesn’t give up, will always defend herself even if it seem hopeless,

Empathy: She suffers from the torment of the demon, has no way of escape,

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Character: Argus, blind demon, spawn of a former witch executioner

Logline: Argus traps women under a false face to feed on their powers and steal their eyes for himself, taking revenge on the ancestors of the witch who blinded him when he was still human, Val and Agatha.

Unique: Argus wears a dozen eyes that he ripped out from women, so that he can see everything they see, and force them to act as his puppets.

A. The High Concept.

A demon who steals the eyes of withes to control them and feed of them

B. This character’s journey.

From invincible and master of the clinic to frightened and erratic

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

ARGUS / Demon born from a with executioner

Role: Antagonist

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

A new monster with the power and eyes of his ‘prisoners’. Tormented by the pain that a witch took his eyes and now haunting her ancestors to find peace in revenge.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Not vivibly present he is there all the time and controlling and protecting his live stock.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

He takes their eyes for his own, his body covered in eyes.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

He appears in a group, everyone frozen with shock while he feeds on their powers. But when he leaves nobody can remember what happened, they just feel exhausted somehow.

What could be this character’s emotional range

He is flirty when in control and deadly when threatened, killing his life stock (the patients) and so harming himself.

What subtext can the actor play?

Underneath all is a desire to be seen. The witches got their memorial, he got killed on the job and got nothing.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

The demon is obsessed with Val because she is the one that got away, he only took one of her eyes.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

The demon is non verbal. He depends on the witches powers and sucks it out, but he is a gourmet, nothing tastes as good as the Flemmin family.

What could make this character special and unique?

His body covered with the eyes he took. With them he can see what they are seeing. He can make everyone who sees him forget him. He sees all. His ‘livestock’ sees nothing.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Argus traps women under a false face to feed on their powers and steal their eyes for himself, taking revenge on the ancestors of the witch who blinded him when he was still human, Val and Agatha.

Age range and Description:

30 year old witches executioner when he was still alive in the 1600. Then a demon resurrected form the blod of the ones he killed with dozens of eyes in his body that he stole from his victims.

Core Traits:

brutal, invisible, controlling

Motivation; Want/Need:

Wants to revenge his suffering by making the witches descendants his livestock

needs to get more power so they can’s destroy hm again.

Wound: He got his eyes stolen by a witch and then burned with her in her fire.

Demon ‘Argus’:

Likability: x

Relatability: He is blind without the witches’ eyes

Empathy: He suffered, when he killed the witches one stole his eyes and killed him, the only way out for him is to feed on the witches to come to power

Intrigue: He is omnipresent without ever being remembered, we see his effects but not himself

[Jenifer Stockdale]

Jenifer Stockdale’s Character Profiles Part 1

Vision: I will write everyday, not only producing high volume but high quality scripts that will ultimately be made into popular movies and television shows.

What I learned doing this lesson is that I have a similar set up to Jaws with the pro, than ant, and the triangle.

A. The High Concept. SPLICED: When a psychiatric nurse is blamed for murder of a former patient, she has to fight to maintain her freedom, her job, her family and her sanity.

B. Dacey’s journey. Dacey is popular, self-assured, able to look at the bright side of things, let small things go – but here’s the thing – her life is going well. Of course she is doing fine, everything is good in her life, why wouldn’t she be doing well? When her world gets difficult, her kids are fresh, her marriage breaks down, she is in trouble at work, she doesn’t do well – she is unsure, pessimistic, fearful and unable to stand up for herself —> Dacey, with the help of Tom, stands up for herself. She proves that it was her husband who killed Tom instead of taking the blame for it (as she was doing in the beginning)

C. The Actor Attractors for Dacey

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Dacey is a complex character who is basically playing two roles at once (but the audience doesn’t know this). Although she is a nurse at the hospital (going through some intense issues) she is actually a patient in the bed of the hospital. There will be a lot of subtext for an actor to play and there are a lot of hints. This role will take skill and the actress will be able to show a range of ability.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Dacey goes through a steady decline in mental stability. She sees blood stains, ghosts, has a number of delusions but is always trying to hold it together for her family. She medicates herself, not falling into “this is really happening camp”.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Dacey decides to go with the belief that she is not crazy and that Tom is there to help her. She uses him to help her solve his murder – so in other words, she stops sitting back and allowing herself to be accused of something she knows she didn’t do and blaming it on a psychotic break.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Dacey’s first moment of introduction is shrouded in mystery. She is at the nurses’ station and a voice whispers “Wake the fuck up” – she turns and sees her co-worker. Then they are thrust into action when a patient screams and they rush to the room where another patient has cut herself. Dacey is calm, cool, and collected – a juxtaposition to everyone else who is freaking out (including her colleague).

5. What is this character’s emotional range? Hadn’t really thought about this before, but I am going to ensure a major range of emotions. At the beginning before her delusions start to fall apart she can be happy, even crossing over to ecstatic when she is surprised by the party her husband throws for their anniversary. She can be afraid to terrified, upset to irate, etc.

6. What subtext can the actor play? This is huge – Dacey’s entire life is a delusion, yet there are delusions within the delusion. The subtext is really intense and the right actor, with the right skill will really be able to bring huge meaning to this role.

7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? I think Dacey’s relationship with Tom will be the most interesting. They will go from being nurse/patient where Dacey will be trying to help Tom to Dacey trying NOT to help Tom when he shows up uninvited at her house (2x both ALIVE and DEAD) to her going back to trying to help him find his killer.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Dacey’s voice will be unique as in she will be acting a lot (not the actress, the character…LOL). When the detectives are there and Tom is also there (dead) she will have to play off like she doesn’t see him (Tom can be a prankster when he is alive and can still be doing pranks when he is dead). She will also have to act like she doesn’t see blood – her son sits on the blood spot and plays with a toy – blood streaks everywhere – he doesn’t see it, she can’t react.

9. What makes this character special and unique? Dacey is unique because she is not really doing what she appears to be doing – she is “splicing” what she sees and hears to make a life for herself (albeit a fake life).

10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)

After Dacey’s husband takes the kids (tricks her) she goes to church and the priest is talking but says something weird (something someone would be saying in the hospital). Dacey looks up panicky – people from the hospital are on the altar – then garland snakes down from the ceiling and wraps around their necks, yanking them upwards – blood begins to leak from their eyes, ears, etc. as well as from the statues. Around her the congregation sings Ava Maria (which is a serious contradiction to what Dacey is seeing as it is so beautiful). Dacey looks down and there are waves of blood, lapping against her legs. Dacey has to hold in her panic as she knows what she is seeing isn’t real – yet it feels so real.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Protagonist

Age range and Description: 35, mousy and somewhat frumpy

Core Traits: timid, people-pleasure, fraud

Motivation; Want/Need: wants to be needed/respected/looked up to and needs confirmation that she is a hero in everyone’s eyes

Wound: she has experienced her own trauma similar to her patients, but has to hold it in

Dacey’s Likability, Relatability, Empathy

Likability: other people like her, she is kind, caring and empathetic nurse, a “hero” to her patients, her colleagues look up to her, she is a great mother and wife

Relatability: she is just a regular person who had something bad happen to her and had a snowball effect of more and more bad things happen (this could happen to anyone)

Empathy: she gets accused of something she didn’t do, she starts to lose her mind, scary things happen to her (delusions) her husband does terrible things to her, her children turn against her, she gets fired

The Husband (name not yet determined)- A. The High Concept. SPLICED: When a psychiatric nurse is blamed for murder of a former patient, she has to fight to maintain her freedom, her job, her family and her sanity.

B. This character’s journey. Dacey’s husband – he goes from being an attentive husband to a deceptive cheater who steals his kids and is ultimately determined to be the murderer and the one who framed Dacey.

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Dacey’s husband is such a cool character. He is very deceptive and is never who he appears to be. He is cunning and deceptive. He does some things to Dacey that are pretty clever in order to frame her for a murder that he committed. He is an alcoholic who had sobered up but recently slipped up so he is trying to hide it.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He does a 180, going from being the ideal husband to a conniving manipulator and ultimately murderer.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He calls Dacey after he leaves her and begs her to take him back (and he is getting oral sex while he is talking to her) . He makes a reservation at a nice restaurant so they can have dinner and talk. While Dacey is waiting at the restaurant for him he goes to the house and takes the kids. When she finally gives up and goes home, he calls her and tells not to tell anyone or he’ll make sure she never sees them again.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He greets Dacey when she is coming home from work after an overnight. He seems great, but there is something off – (he is hung-over and his girl-friend just left out the back door)

5. What is this character’s emotional range? Since he is a great guy at first (loving and attentive husband) and he plans a big anniversary/renewal of vows event he is able to be happy but when he thinks his wife is cheating on him he is as angry as they come.

6. What subtext can the actor play? He is an alcoholic who is hiding his drinking from his wife – he is cheating on his wife but he plays the perfect husband.

7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? He has an interesting relationship with Dacey. It is full of deception, lies, and conniving actions.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He is almost nauseatingly sweet. He constantly compliments people but they are back-handed compliments.

9. What makes this character special and unique? His cleverness

10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)

After leaving Dacey he calls her and tells her that he wants to get back together. He makes plans with her to go to the restaurant where he asked her to marry him. When he hangs up, a woman crawls up from under the blanket where she just finished giving him oral sex. Dacey goes to the restaurant and they bring out an appetizer and a bottle of wine that he pre-ordered. She waits and waits. When she finally goes home, as she walks in the door the phone is ringing – it is her husband – he tells her that he has the kids – she’s crazy and if she tells anyone he’ll make sure she never sees them again.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Antagonist

Age range and Description: 38, put together but gets progressively worse (needs a shave, etc. them when he leaves Dacey he looks good again

Core Traits: charmer, a “complisulter,” a loving father

Motivation; Want/Need: to have a good family and homelife, needs to be the big kahuna

Wound: his marriage falling apart and his wife cheating on him – especially a problem for him because this happened to his father and his mother abandoned them.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: he is a good, caring husband, he is a great dad who will do anything in the world to protect his children (even kill the man he thinks is his wife’s lover and frame his wife)

Relatability: just a regular guy, a hard worker who is trying to hold family together in the face of troubles

Empathy: his wife is going crazy and ruining their lives

Tom’s Journey : Tom starts as a patient in the hospital and ends up dead and “haunting” Dacey

Tom’s actor attractors

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Tom gets to play crazy and then dead! He is a prankster in life and in death.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Tom is paranoid schizophrenic so he is unpredictable and fun (as only a person in a movie with this disease would be…) Then he is dead and walking around Dacey’s house.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? When Dacey figures out that he is not there he helps her discover who murdered him.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Tom is at a group meeting where he is talking about his impending discharge. He is being heckled by the other patients who get him going and loses it- having to be removed from meeting

5. What is this character’s emotional range? While in the hospital Tom is afraid, but since he is getting discharged he has to walk the edge of being paranoid. When he shows up at Dacey’s he is in full blown paranoia, but he is forced to tone it down when she threatens to call the hospital to send him back. Tom is also always pulling pranks, so he displays a childlike joy when he gets someone with a prank.

6. What subtext can the actor play? Tom has to tone down his paranoia but it is always there under the surface.

7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? Tom’s most interesting relationship is with Dacey. He needs her help and then she needs his help.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Tom is clinically insane, so he can be paranoid, whiney, silly. He likes to prank people and hopes that he is pleasing people. He is always looking for approval from others (was that good? Did you like that? Was it funny?)

9. What makes this character special and unique? Tom is dead for most of the movie.

10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)

In the scene where Tom is introduced there is a support group meeting that Dacey is helping a new employee run. Dacey pushes a patient in a supine stander into the room and then goes to Tom and asks him if he wants to talk about his discharge. He agrees but Christina heckles him and gets him upset. He starts with talking about leaving and being scared, but having to reign in any paranoia (subtext) as they won’t let him leave if he is paranoid – but when Christina tells him there are people out there who want to kill him he gets a little wonky and this increases until he is in a full blown panic attack.

Role in the Story: The triangle (like Hooper!)

Age range and Description:40, paranoid schizophrenic, homeless when not in direct care

Core Traits: a jokester, afraid of everything, deep down a kind heart

Motivation; Want/Need: wants to be normal, needs to be reassured

Wound: was seriously abused as child

Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Likability: Tom should be easy to like, he is like an overgrown child with an air of innocence about him. He likes to have fun, even if those around him don’t think what he is doing is “fun” he means no harm. Relatability: Tom basically is just doing his thing and gets accused of having an affair with Dacey. Empathy: Tom is brutally beaten to death.

[Jamie Handley]

MOD 3 LESSON 6 JUNE 30/22

Jamie’s Character Profile

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

With each new lesson I learn more of my story. I see the changes with each new lesson and I know there is more to come. My characters are changing and growing too. This gives me notes to go back and break it down into a good/great bio.

JUSTINE

A. The High Concept. She’s a victim of medical and legal negligence, lives with chronic pain, drugs and braces, who put her life on hold at the expense of others, to use her knowledge to help her lifelong friend from dying.

B. This character’s journey. She’s a woman who many depend upon to a woman who detaches with unconditional love to reclaim her life dream.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. A unique and complex personality, knowledgeable, she’s kind-hearted and loyal as she is tenacious and gruff. This role is filled with emotions and vulnerability is a must. Her wounds are deep, so much so, that she has learned to block them out until a single moment comes to rise and changes her disposition instantly. Borderline bi-polar some might think!

Role in the Story: Protagonist

Age range and Description: She is seen in her forties and as a baby boomer.

Core Traits: Altruistic, knowledgeable, stubborn, controlling and reserved.

Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to be independent, to help lifelong friend from dying and a loving relationship with her daughter.

Needs: To re-establish a loving relationship with her daughter. Needs to become the person she once was; soft-spoken, fun, gentle and vulnerable mother. Needs to take care of her first. Needs to learn how to say no.

Wound: Fears loss. Abandonment. Rapped by her father and later in life, her step-son.

Likability – She’s a woman of her word. Family is most important to her. She shows you how much she cares. She loves deeply. She is persistent and kind. She finds something good in everyone.

Relatability – Defending and helping a friend. Compassionate. The importance of family. Being respectful and respected. Giving is unconditional. Trust doesn’t come easy.

Empathy: She risks her relationship with her daughter. Puts her daughter in harms way. The many surgeries have left her physically challenged. (Trust) choosing the wrong doctor, surgeon and lawyer. The difficulty and fear to challenge a professional when you know you are right and they hold the degree/are professional, have ethical standards. Making decisions for another’s welfare. Fear of something bigger than you imagine (mafia).

LAUREN

A. The High Concept. Lauren is broken, physically by the hands of two surgeons, has a medical issue that is life-threatening and has mourned the death of her son for years. She has become reclusive, envies Justine’s and Gracie’s relationship, she is judgmental, cynical and plays games to get her way or to fuck with someone, including Justine; the only one who cares and steps up to help her.

B. This character’s journey. She and Justine have years of memories and have daily talks. But, when Lauren is damaged by two surgeons, and faces death, she turns to Justine for help. Things become complicated when Lauren covertly brings her ex, an attorney, in to assist. A row ensues when Lauren finds out Justine has had an article published. Lauren drops the bomb that she has withheld information that the medical mafia could be involved. The relationship explodes, comes to a screeching halt that ends their friendship.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. She is skilled at playing games with people. She is seen as kind and caring, has a great sense of humor which is either cynical or judgmental in spirit. She’s clever and puts people on a need-to-know basis. Her wounds control her life. This isn’t who she is but what she’s become to be.

Role in the Story: Antagonist. She was an established set designer whose life was altered when she gets into an automobile accident. Her pain and past wounds take over her life and she becomes bitter and reclusive. She needs help and calls on her best friend, Justine. Her life becomes problematical by her own doing as she tries to find a surgeon who can save her.

Age range and Description: Lauren Quick is an attractive woman with distinct characteristics. She buys by the label, is fashionable and carries it over into her boomer days. She shows her kindness, which is control, in her giving. Her life is broken in so many ways and she uses it to get what she wants, if she can. She’s highly respected in her work environment. What appears on surface isn’t who she really is. She keeps a tally on everything she does for you.

Core Traits: Cynical, judgmental, Secretive, kind-hearted

Motivation; Want/Need: She wants to find a surgeon to fix what is wrong. She wants to sue two doctors, manufacturers and anyone that had to do with her damages. Wants to be respected, appreciated and loved. And, she wants her brother to move out but won’t do it. She wants to die.

She needs to want to live and find a life of her own. She needs to accept he losses and fight to live.

Wound: Her son was killed in an automobile accident; streetcar racing. Deepest wound is with her mother who she believes didn’t love her. Her uncle rapped her and her mother didn’t believe her.

Likability She’s respected by her industry. She thinks about others and is genuine in the moment. Asking for help.

Relatability She’s hurt and in pain. She needs help. She’s afraid to admit her weaknesses. It’s hard for her to trust.

Empathy: She was damaged by the surgeons. She was hit by a person with no insurance and skipped town. She has to make choices. She’s hurt and in pain.

GRACIE

A. The High Concept. Gracie is Justine’s daughter. Though her past still haunts her, she works at striving to do better. She is taking the back seat at a time when she needs her mother and learns to accept that Lauren needs help. She is the catalyst between her mother and Lauren and the family. She step in to help her mother but feels abandoned most of the time, rightfully so. She learns the meaning of family and helps her mother out of duty with some resentment. She grew up with Lauren’s son.

B. This character’s journey. At first she seems aloof and unreliable until Lauren needs Justine to help her. She proves she can be trusted taking care of her grandmother and the home. She proves to herself that she is worthy once and for all. She is concealing until she reunites with her mother, then she soars. She knows how to manipulate her mother and others but soon learns that she doesn’t need to anymore. She takes pride in her work and later begins a business.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. This is a fun character, she a delight to be with, playful, adventurous, and has a passion for life. She is quick, kind and a loveable woman. She’s as complex as her mother but in different ways. She’s strikingly beautiful inside and out but her low self-esteem gets in her way. She is emotionally loaded.

Role in the Story: Triangle.

Age range and Description: She’s in her late 30’s pushing 40. She striking with beautiful features but she doesn’t think so. She’s a bit over weight and it holds her back.

Core Traits: Carefree, needy, unreliable, creative

Motivation; Want/Need: She wants to help her mother to help Lauren from dying. She wants to be acknowledged and respected. She wants to have a place of her own. She wants to be loved and married. She wants to help her grandmother, the one who loves her unconditionally and brings so much joy in her final days.

She needs to get a life and discover what she wants to do with it. She needs money and a home of her own. She needs her mother’s trust and love. She needs her significant other to propose and marry her. She wants her own business.

Wound: She can never have children. Her father abandoned her at a young age and had two other children. She also felt abandoned by her mother who had to provide for the two of them while growing up.

Likability She brings joy to everyone. She’s a fun and funny woman. She’s always there if you need her. She’s very thoughtful of others and respectful. She’s naïve like a fox.

Relatability She has never been a caregiver to older people. She’s there to help her mother, grandmother and Lauren, as well as herself. She takes over for her mother when she tends to Lauren’s needs. Being in an awkward position isn’t easy.

Empathy: She’s doing the best she can. She’s there to help a dying person, her grandmother. She has her own pain inside and afraid to show it. She wants a happy life knowing she’ll never have children. Having a dysfunctional family. Being the only child. Feeling alone in the world.

[Sandra Nelles]

Sandra’s Character Profiles Part 1

Vision: I am doing what I love to do as a writer with several successful produced movies.

What I learned doing this assignment is to keep filling in the blanks and to dive deeper into each lead character’s life.

Character Name: Captain Sloane

High Concept: The adventures of a young sea captain lured into the dangerous, terrifying world of crude oil smuggling where he faces a firing squad if caught.

Character’s Journey: Internal: From timid and afraid to confident and fearless. External: From a struggling sea captain to running a top smuggling operation to retiring from crime.

Actor Attractors:

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this movie? Sloane also wrestles with his values and identity.

2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie? The irony of him being naïve and friendly while he smuggles, launders money, and fakes documents.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He faces a major dilemma of being honest or joining in on the smuggling. He requests to meet Mr. Big. He fakes documents in a back booth of a bar. He treats the police as friends stopping by for a drink.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He calmly sits at home watching sports on tv enjoying a drink, when the police raid his home.

5. What is this characters emotional range? From afraid, anxious, insecure and self-doubting to self-confident, courageous, accomplished, and relaxed.

6. What subtext can the actor play? When he talks, he is scheming. He is much smarter than he looks and acts.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Sloane has an interesting relationship with Mr. Big who becomes Sloane’s business partner. They disagree on most things. Sloane also has an interesting relationship with Reginald, a military officer who will shoot Sloane if he catches him smuggling. Sloane acts like they are best friends and pays him off.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Through his ability to defuse violent situations and smoothly talk his way out of being captured.

9. What makes this character special and unique? His friendly, charming manner, his loyalty to others, and pretending to be calm in difficult situations.

Role in the Story: Protagonist

Age Range and Description: In his mid-20’s to mid-30’s, Captain Sloane is clean shaven and baby faced, as he carefully docks a giant tanker ship at the port.

Core Traits: Charming, Hardworking, Cautious, Evasive.

Motivation (Want/Need): Want: To survive and not be killed. Need: Security and support.

Wound: Abandonment.

Likability: Nice guy. Shows kindness and respect to everyone. Trying to prove himself.

Relatability: Limited experience as a sea captain. No experience smuggling. As a new captain, the ship crew play pranks on him and laugh. His job forces him to do things he doesn’t want to do.

Empathy: Badly beaten up. Barely makes it back to the ship. Risks his life smuggling.

Character Name: Mr. Big

High Concept: Mr. Big is a charismatic banker who lures Sloane into the world of smuggling.

Character’s Journey: From luring Sloane into smuggling and setting him up to realizing he needs Sloane to succeed.

Actor Attractors:

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this movie? He appears to be a legitimate respectable banker, but is actually a notorious, powerful, and controlling money changer.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He uses other people to do his dirty work.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He has Sloane beaten up. He has one of Sloane’s ships set on fire and another one sunk. He puts a hit out on the house boy.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He is first introduced in name only by other characters, and physically introduced when Sloane requests to meet him.

5. What is this characters emotional range? From friendly and helpful, to angry and threatening.

6. What subtext can the actor play? From the beginning he knows he is in control and will defeat anyone who gets in his way.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? His relationship with Sloane. He appears to be best friends, but betrays Sloane and sets him up.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Through contrast of being friendly and helpful while greedily scheming and planning an attack.

9. What makes this character special and unique? The irony of him being a powerful man who controls others, but he’s actually small in size and stature. He appears to be friendly and generous, but is really greedy and deceptive.

Role in the Story: Antagonist

Age Range and Description: In his 50’s, short in size and stature, no one would suspect that Mr. Big is running illegal operations and setting others up to take the fall.

Core Traits: Charismatic, Controlling, Deceitful, Ruthless

Motivation (Want/Need): Want: Money, power, and control. Need: To prove his strength and to resist weakness.

Wound: Not being good enough in his parent’s eyes.

Likability: He’s intelligent, friendly, helpful, and generous.

Relatability: When he feels out of control emotionally, he tries to control others and situations.

Empathy: He spends long hours working at the bank, often alone. Doesn’t see his family very often.

[Paul Mahoney]

Paul Mahoney’s Actor Attractor

My vision is to be a successful full-time writer with a good steady income, who constantly learns, enjoys life, creates employment for others and brings joy, fun, fulfilment, health, happiness, inspiration & an attitude of gratitude to my partner and others.

What I learned from this assignment is that I can still keep making improvements.

Title: Sexless in Sydney (Comedy)

Lead Character Name: TED

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Because he gets to play a range of emotions in a comedy.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Desperate, conniving, hidden agenda, secret identities,

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Has multiple identities, tries to commit suicide, tries to escape psychiatric ward by committing suicide

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? As a loveable child losing again and again.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? Embarrassed, desperate, confident,

6. What subtext can the actor play? Confident, conniving

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? He wants fame, but when he gets it it’s for the worst thing he could possibly imagine. He doesn’t realise that he rejected his true love many years ago and that it isn’t fame that he wants, it’s a meaningful relationship.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He pretends to be confident but in reality he isn’t, he has a history of hiding away, changing his name. He wants to hide away from the rest of the world.

9. What makes this character special and unique? He has a unique relationship with God that he wasn’t even aware of.

10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)

Dan is conniving and convinces an inmate of the psychiatric ward to not swallow their daily meds. He stockpiles a bunch and then tries to commit suicide by overdosing, not realising that the meds the other person had been getting was a laxette.

Role: (Antagonist) Mrs. Wagner – God – initially seen as an Antagonist by our character.

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

I don’t recall God being played by a female before, so this could be a fun take of God as being overworked, Mother Earth, giving all the answers that the protagonist needs, but he just not recognizing it.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She has the power to change everything that can affect our protagonist.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Punishing the protagonist as a child, a punishment that lasts into his adulthood.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

As a mean grumpy teacher who is the protagonist’s nemesis.

What could be this character’s emotional range

Mean, crazy. Logical, rational

What subtext can the actor play?

That when she talks about punishment we initially think it will be a short lived punishment such as making the child to sit on the naughty mat, not giving him a punishiment such as premature ejaculation that will raise its ugly head nearly a decade later.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

She can shape shift and can only be seen by the protagonist. She also knows everyone’s secrets.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Fed up, overworked, menopausal mother-earth type.

What could make this character special and unique?

Could also perhaps show this character to be shown as she also has a mental illness?

Role: (Protagonist Allie) Kyla – Sex Therapist

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

A sex therapist with her own sexual hang ups. Is attracted to a patient, which is a big no-no resulting in a lot of ethical dilemmas.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She has a thing for chubby guys, not tall dark and handsome.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Try to keep Dan in the ward, just so she can keep seeing him and treating him. Keeping her past a secret.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Getting turned on watching Dan cry?

What could be this character’s emotional range?

Calm, cool, needy, sexually repressed.

What subtext can the actor play?

She was Dan’s childhood friend and had always secretly loved him, but never had the nerve to tell him.

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

She has an ethical dilemma and when she tells her psychiatrist, he in turn professes his love for her and freaks her out.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Not sure?

What could make this character special and unique?

Irony of a sex therapist with her own sexual hang-ups and is infatuated with a patient, yet her psychiatrist is infatuated with her.

[Peter Symons]

Peter’s Character Profiles Part I

MY VISION: I am going to write incredible screenplay and streaming content for the horror genre.

What I learned doing this assignment is that characters will hide secrets even from their creators – when they reveal those secrets you have new insight into who they really are.

MODULE 3 LESSON 6

Aaron’s Character Profiles Part 1.

MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this lesson is that the worlds of my main characters are critically intertwined and since their worlds are so far apart, the story that brings them together will delivery on high drama and will nail my concept.

Carlos

1. Role in the Story: Protagonist

2. Age range and Description: 20s, Latinx,

3. Core Traits: Temper, Haunted, Loyal

4. Motivation; Want/Need: To kill Jude/To save his soul

5. Wound: Guilt for sins of the past.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability:

• Carlos risks going to jail by smuggling illegals in the back of the hearse.

Relatability:

• Carlos is afraid that he won’t be a good dad.

Empathy:

• In his confession to Father Diego, Carlos confesses that he is sometimes tempted by his old way of life. The money, the power. He was someone in his gang. Now he drives a hearse.

Jude

1. Role in the Story: Antagonist

2. Age range and Description: 20s, Latinx,

3. Core Traits: Deceptive, Leader, Fearsome

4. Motivation; Want/Need: To kill Carlos/To prove his str

5. Wound: Abandonment

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability:

• Jude is actually a good leader. He cares about his gang members. And he has a good sense of humor.

Relatability:

• He feels betrayed by Carlos – he’s hurt by his rejection.

Empathy:

• Jude feels as if he’s lost a brother.

Father Diego

1. Role in the Story: Triangle

2. Age range and Description: 70s, Latinx,

3. Core Traits: Wise, Diplomatic, Secretive

4. Motivation; Want/Need: To protect Carlos/End his penance

5. Wound: Weary from carrying a heavy loac

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Father Diego (triangle character)

Likability:

• The old priest is kind and invests in people. He reunites families who have been separated by ICE.

Relatability:

• Father Diego looks after Carlos and defends him. He too was once a gang banger.

Empathy:

• We feel bad for him when he couldn’t stop the death of Carlos wife

. He blames himself.

[Lori Lance]

Lori’s Character Profiles Part 1

Vision: I want to be a professional screenwriter recognized by the industry as the go-to for family-friendly scripts and have multiple successful movies produced.

What I learned: That my mom character, Claire, isn’t the protagonist because she won’t be present in most of the script. The rest of the family will be the protagonists, and I still need to do work on making them unique individuals that are interesting and that the audience will want to root for.

Title: AI MOM

High Concept: A family hires an AI to help around the house when mom’s away for work, but the AI decides to take mom’s place permanently.

Mom, Claire

This character’s journey- Claire is a middle-aged homemaker who decides she wants to return to work after years of staying at home. Her family hires an AI to fill her shoes when she goes away on a work trip. The AI decides that she wants to take the mom’s place permanently, and the mom fights back to keep what she had all along.

The Actor Attractors for this character:

Role in the Story: triangle character

Age range and Description: 40ishCore

Traits: strong, determined, organizedMotivation; Want/Need: to have her own desires meetWound: She feels like something is missing from her life. She had a dream that was never realized.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: She loves her family.

Relatability: She hopes for more out of life.

Empathy: She’s a nice person that is being targeted.

Alex (AI)

This character’s journey- Alex is a state-of-the-art AI, but not without a few glitches. Her journey is a fish out of water story as she is thrown into a family setting that she doesn’t know much about, but she decides that she wants to take the mom’s place permanently. She becomes so obsessed with being a part of the family that she nearly destroys the family and their home before they work together to take her down.

The Actor Attractors for this character:

Role in the Story: antagonist

Age range and Description: She’s an AI with supermodel looks. If she were real, she would be in her 30’s.

Core Traits: funny, deceptive, manipulative, passive-aggressive

Motivation; Want/Need: to be real, to be a part of a family, to be loved and accepted

Wound: She’ll never be able to have what she wants.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: She makes people laugh. She seems the perfect answer for the family at first.

Relatability: She questions why things are a certain way.

Empathy: She wants something that she can never have.

Family

This character’s journey- The family starts out overly dependent on the mom, they then try to replace her with an AI temporarily, but when the AI wants to replace the mom permanently, they must work together to save the family.

The Actor Attractors for this character:

Role in the Story: protagonists

Age range and Description: The dad, Brad, is around 40 and has two teens, a boy and a girl, and a younger girl.

Core Traits: average family

Motivation; Want/Need: to keep the home and family together and safe

Wound: They made a wrong decision that could cost them everything.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: These are nice people.

Relatability: average family

Empathy: We don’t want to see a nice family destroyed.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Lori Lance.

[Kevin Patrick Goulet]

Module 3, Lesson 6 Assignment:

KEVIN PATRICK GOULET’S – Character Profiles Part 1

…My vision: Develop successful screenplay writing method > yields completed screenplays > viewed as PRO/story-telling level quality > sales (compensation) > production > more screenwriting opportunities > Rinse and repeat, many times over.

…what I learned: My main characters have altogether different lives and experiences; each is a uniquely important part of the storytelling experience for the audience. Refining who they are will make them more interesting -especially to an actor who is always hoping that next script he reads contains that defining role in his career.

FINDING DOCTOR FUNK

Lead: VINCE GUARALDI

A. The High Concept: Life story of Vince Guaraldi, a world class jazz musician who died at a too young 47, convinced he had not yet achieved ‘Jazz Standard’ recognition. Ironically he is known today for having reached that goal- as the recordings he composed for the PEANUTS animated televisions programs are indeed, today considered ‘Jazz Standards’. <div>

B. This character’s journey: A constant battle from age 4: to prove his biological father wrong- for deserting him and his Mother Carmella, and for insisting Vince would never amount to anything by chasing a ridiculous dream of playing piano for a living.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character: It is clear early on- Vince has natural musical talent. But he is a troubled, wounded man and those factors allow a very human, relatable person to be exposed behind the facade of his masterful talents (…what seems to come so easy to him) on full display by the time he achieves greatness in his mid-30’s.

Role in the Story: Protagonist

Age range and Description: 4-47, but primarily focused on Character while in his mid-30’s, Short, Italian, mischievous, deliberately ‘mustachioed’ appearance; truly at ease/in his element behind any keyboard.

Core Traits: Friendly, focused, driven, distant at times (when necessary to do what needs getting done) > relentless.

Motivation; Want/Need: become the best jazz pianist, prove his bio-father wrong about his desire to ‘make it’ (a career) for himself.

Wound: Never truly recovered from his bio-Father’s abandonment of him, his Mother Carmella.

Likability: From when he was a little guy Vince was always full of joy and ready to play… games- or trying to learn (copy) from his uncles who were already working musicians. Save his father, His family seemed to really be there to engage with him.

Relatability: And who of us wouldn’t want to see that empathy surrounding the little kid (who’s father was MIA).

Empathy: The viewer wants to see characters in the screenplay feel for young Vince, do something to come to his side, help light the way for him. Growing up without a Father is so difficult.

– – – – – – –

Lead: VINCENT DELLAGLIO (Vince’s biological father).

A. The High Concept. Gruff, blue-collar bricklayer by trade, ego-centric to the point of being destructive to those around him, determined to be ‘seen as right, correct, in his philosophies- and will soldier on with or without support from anyone else. </div>

B. This character’s journey. This guy is charming, witty (when drunk)- but is only out for himself in the long run. He wants to impact his Son’s mindset…: “you wanna’ be successful (?) you gotta’ build stuff -with your hands, like ME! ” To him, this is the only way ‘to be a man,’ and he will not let his son think anything else to be true. Convinced ‘music’ is somehow soft, not really an admirable choice for a life’s work, ambition.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. Vincent is a tour-de-force opportunity for a middle-aged actor to inhabit. Full of pathos, he is laughing on the outside but drowning in sorrow internally. His inability to tenderly connect with his son is heart-breaking, but that is who he is; He will sink- unable to help himself or accept help from others. He is a magnificently tragic character.

Role in the Story: Antagonist

Age range and Description: 32-71 Blue-collar, Hard-edged, alcoholic (?), emotionally abusive, not empathetic to those around him, thinks of his wants and needs above others in his life.

Core Traits: Loner, Despondent, explosive, impulsive, lacking self-love.

Motivation; Want/Need: Acknowledgement that his beliefs matter, are accepted, impactful on his Son’s decisions. A ‘win-the-battle’ (even if he loses the war) approach, which ultimately defeats him.

Wound: Implication in a bar-room brawl/murder (was an accomplice) deeply devastated him the rest of his life.

Likability: Well, He does work hard, has a strong work ethic… but he drinks hard, uses hard language so, IDK maybe that kind of cancels out any real likability?!

Relatability: Funny with his peers (in that ‘loud-guy-in-the-bar’ macho sort of way), has trouble dealing with strong women in his life (wife, mother-in-law) trouble with authority in general.

Empathy: Difficulty dealing with aftermath of emotions from bar-room brawl/murder he was associated with… hence the continued drinking, bitterness…?!

[John Trimbach]

John T’s Character Profiles Part 1 <div>
</div><div>Vision: I would like to become an industry new face known for reliable box office successes and concepts that entertain audiences the world over. </div><div>
</div><div> What I learned doing this assignment is that expanding traits creates new insights aplenty. </div><div>
</div><div> Phil Conner • </div><div>A. The High Concept – Phil must overcome his trauma over the murder of his niece Lisa and find the serial killer responsible and clear his name before FBI agent Ben finds him
</div><div> • B. This character’s journey. From loner to proactive killer hunter. </div><div>• C. The Actor Attractors for this character. </div><div>Role in the Story: suspicious suspect to hero and savior </div><div>Age range and Description: 40s, lean and adroit </div><div>Core Traits: patient, clever, wounded, non-compliant </div><div>Motivation; clear his name</div><div>Want/Need: wants to find the killer, needs to get over his loss </div><div>Wound: guilt over the death of Lisa • </div><div>Likability: Phil genuinely cares about Louise and Lorie, grieves over Lorie’s murder. </div><div>• Relatability: father figure to Lorie and true friend to Louise, helps his passengers. </div><div> • Empathy: we know he’s innocent and so we root for him. </div><div>
</div><div> Ben Derringer </div><div>• A. The High Concept. </div><div>An up and coming green FBI agent tracks a serial killer. </div><div>• B. This character’s journey. From all mach, no vector to wiser </div><div>• C. The Actor Attractors for this character. Swagger, handsome, pursuer. </div><div>Role in the Story: Age range and Description: 30’s Core </div><div>Traits: go-getter, proud, presumptuious </div><div>Motivation; career advancement</div><div>Want/Need: wants to catch Phil in the act, needs to get praise </div><div>Wound: under the shadow of his father’s legacy </div><div>• Likability: good sense of humor, good investigative skill, takes his job seriously </div><div>• Relatability: ladies’ man, gets along with everyone, good natured. </div><div>• Empathy: root for him to trap Phil (until we see Phil is innocent) </div><div>• Intrigue: must outdo his father to be worthy so he breaks the rules. </div><div>
</div><div> Louise Hatcher </div><div>• A. The High Concept. She wants to pass through life fed by the need to kill. </div><div>• B. This character’s journey. From psycho to dead psycho </div><div> • C. The Actor Attractors for this character. </div><div>Role in the Story: the real antagonist. </div><div>Age range and Description: 30s </div><div>Core Traits: charming, chameleon, relentless </div><div>Motivation; satisfy her killing urges</div><div>Want/Need: kill to assuage her rage </div><div>Wound: past jiltings • </div><div>Likability: tries to be friendly but is often rebuffed by co-workers. </div><div>• Relatability: friendly to passengers, animals. </div><div>• Empathy: we hate to see her dissed as does Phil. </div><div>• Intrigue – the rage in building up, released as horrific stabbings.
</div>

[Kevin Cunningham]

Kevin Cunningham’s Character Profiles Part 1

My Vision: By making my high-quality writing and speaking known in many venues (the Industry, Youtube, podcasts, books), I will create a reputation as a profoundly powerful, thoughtful, and skilled writer, and be sought after for new and rewrite activities at the highest levels.

What I learned from doing this assignment: This has always been the hardest exercise for me in all of ScreenwritingU, for several reasons: 1) there are just too many details to keep track of, it’s hard to locate my notes; 2) I have always felt that getting deep into character before getting deep into plot doesn’t work for me; the characters have to get the plot going, so they’re actions have to conform to that. Anyway, I got around these two issues this time, and felt I had a breakthrough by doggedly connecting the character traits etc. to the required action – i.e. the plot – of the film. Furthermore, I’m treating it as a brainstorm rather than the final say.

——

Title: Going Native

Concept: A woke New England town votes to give their land back to the Native American tribe they stole it from centuries before – putting leadership of the town in the hands of a clueless slacker native teen

Genre: Comedy/Satire

——

Character: MUKKI

A. The High Concept (this character’s role in the high concept): Mukki is the Native American teen called upon to run the town once it’s conveyed to the tribe – the foolishness of the town is shown in stark contrast to his earnest efforts to prove the land transfer honorable

B. This Character’s Journey: Mukki goes from an ignorant slacker, who would rather play video games than honor his culture, to a respected, mature leader

C. The Actor Attractors for this character:

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Native American in a lead role, goes from slacker to hero. He’s like the “Mr. Deeds” or “Mr. Smith” of a Capra film: a good-hearted outsider who is challenged by, almost destroyed by, but ultimately wins over the town.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Defies expectations of a Native American in a movie – not a “brave” or an angel. A regular kid who’s faced with a huge challenge way way over his head. He connects to everyone for help, but ultimately finds it in himself, his peers, and his tribe.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

He pulls together the leading lights of the town to get things done. They fall apart, but he persists. He doggedly strives to make the town work.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

The boy who’d rather be playing video games gets dressed up in native costume for the tourists.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

He’s fundamentally sweet, but his placid surface is ruffled and he experiences fear, overwhelm, anger, wonder, and triumph in turn. Oh, and puppy love.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

As a fish out of water, he hides his disinterest in his own tribe — everyone relates to him as a representative Native American (to their own prejudices), but he’s pretending to be the person they’re expecting. The funny thing is, he’s growing into being a true reflection of his tribe: he’s growing.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

By dint of his circumstances, he gets to know lots of adults really well. He’s surprisingly mature –through simplicity rather than sophistication. Meanwhile, he’s looked up to by those his own age (even though he longs for the Powwow Princess). He creates a partnership with Mr. Fox’s daughter, and takes on a father-son relationship with Mr. Fox himself.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

He will have his native cadences in speaking, and will struggle to understand the world he’s in through a lens of native worldview. He’s a boy without a country, lost between two worlds.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

He’s repeatedly unexpected. And he sees things simply: why can’t we all get along? He’s not caught up in the divisions in white society, and naturally tries to do the right thing, while everyone else acts more and more “tribally”…

Character Profile Elements:

1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – the essential problem in the story is put firmly on Mukki’s shoulders once the town conveys the land to the tribe: how do you run a town? – it’s his problem to solve or fail to solve, and everyone’s fate is in the balance

2. Age Range and Description: Mukki is in his teens, a high school senior. He’s kind of adorable, but not classically handsome. He’s got a big tuft of curly hair, slightly dark skin, and a kind of dumpy frame. But by the time the story’s over, he gets fit and trim and commanding.

3. Core Traits:

– Lazy

– Good-natured

– Dogged

– Anxious

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: to be left alone to just hang around – like any modern American kid – to be “free” (of responsibility)

Need: to have a real purpose in life, one that links him to his heritage and his real identity

5. Wound:

What they can’t face: that he’s worthless because his dad left him

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likeability (outside affection): Clumsy, good-hearted, polite, helpful. Mukki is a nice kid, not malicious, kind to children, cute in his way

Relatability (something we experience): Mukki is kind of lazy, wants to just sit around, not interested in his cultural heritage – he’s just a teenage kid who wants to have fun. He’s forced to get to work on something that demands real energy, not just slacker passivity; he’s fond of several girls and doesn’t know how to behave; he’s pressured by different people to do things their way

Empathy (experiences hardship): actually vilified by people, excoriated in fear-based prejudice; and multiple betrayal by father figures – which he doggedly pulls up his boots after. Mukki’s dad left when he was young. Mukki is put in way over his head when he takes over the town: everyone is trying to manipulate him, everyone hates him (prejudice, fear of losing their land), and the success he has to achieve is way out of his reach.

——

Character: DREW FOX

A. The High Concept (this character’s role in the high concept): Mr. Fox is the person who sets the whole story in motion, and who casts the deciding vote to transfer the land, for secret business reasons. This catalyzes the town turning upside down and revealing their inner madness.

B. This character’s journey: Mr. Fox triggers all this activity without a lot of concern – it’s just another business deal, although a big one and calling on all his skills. But once the transition is underway, he learns the value of fatherhood, of husbandry (being a good husband and stewarding the land). He helps Mukki master the town’s problems – and does he come through in the end to keep the land protected or does he choose in favor of his business deal?

C. The Actor Attractors for this character:

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Mr. Fox is the charming rogue, controlling the board through the whole story.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Mr. Fox is extremely self-confident, and seems to be doing the right thing, but we can’t really make out what he’s up to. He seems to have a bigger picture than anyone else. He’s a devoted family man, but he has two secrets: he once cheated on his wife and is repentant over it, and he’s the person who is behind the transfer of land to the natives.

3. What are the most interesting actions the character could take in the script?

Behind the scenes, he’s arranging all the real changes in the story. And he’s the person who casts the deciding vote to transfer the land. Why would he do this? It seems antithetical to his worldview. Is he having a change of heart? It’s a deep mystery. Later he appears to side with Mukki and the progressives – but for his own reasons. But once he starts working with Mukki, he honestly starts to like Mukki and work for his future. Ultimately, he has to make a choice between his secret business deal and his loved ones.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Mr. Fox gives a Gordon Gekko-like speech that “real estate is the future” – while a native leader tries to teach Mukki that we don’t own the land, the land owns us. And very soon, he astounds the whole town by casting the deciding vote.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

As a charming man with a secret plan, he’s funny and winsome, charismatic and a ladies man. But when his betrayals pinch him (against his wife, and against his fatherly tenderness to Mukki), he experiences deep pain. And sometimes he’s ruthless in his negotiations with his secret tribal partner.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Mr. Fox knows things that nobody else knows. And we’re never sure what he’s up to! He has many schemes underway, and is a scheming rascal. Is he also a womanizer? Of course, he’s got his big plan underway, but we don’t know that until late in the story. He’s otherwise serene and passionate.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

Mr. Fox has three key relationships, and is connected to others for pragmatic reasons. He loves his wife, and feels he’s betrayed her. He loves his daughter, but misses having a boy. And he befriends Mukki, without realizing that this satisfies a piece of his soul that’s been starved for years: masculine paternal tenderness. Meanwhile, he pretends to work with Jessie, and plays the rogue at City Hall to get things done.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

This is a charming fellow, he isn’t intellectual but he’s smart, he isn’t a conniving businessman but he’s got a smooth voice. He’s a polished brilliant businessman/entrepreneur, way above everyone else in town on the ladder of success, in business and in life.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Why is he doing all this? To preserve a legacy for his family? Mr. Fox had an overbearing father and fled into the Mormon faith when he met his wife. It made him a better man.

Character Profile Elements:

1. Role in the Story: Antagonist (?) – Mr. Fox is the one who sets the whole story in motion, and who casts the decisive vote. Behind the scenes, he’s really running the whole process. He helps Mukki succeed, but also might betray him…

2. Age Range and Description: Mr. Fox is in his early forties, but ready to retire as his daughter prepares to go to college. He’s a handsome man with a square jaw, dresses business casual impeccably, and has sparkly eyes. He’s just charming.

3. Core Traits:

– Charming/Charismatic

– Methodical

– Tender

– Ruthless

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To make a tremendous real estate deal, to set his family up for life

Need: To care for a wounded creature – a boy – so he can heal himself

5. Wound:

What they can’t face: His own acts of disloyalty – if they’re revealed, he might lose his loved ones.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likeability (outside affection): Mr. Fox is utterly charismatic, just comes across as a friendly guy, helpful, but confident, a man with clarity and a staunch contributor to his wife and daughter. A guy you look up to.

Relatability (something we experience): Mr. Fox is utterly charismatic, just comes across as a friendly guy, helpful, but confident, a man with clarity and a staunch contributor to his wife and daughter. A guy you look up to.

Empathy (experiences hardship): Mr. Fox wants to be a good considerate father to Mukki – he was himself raised to be a competitor to his dad, and he hated that. He’s also a man who failed his wife once in the past, and he suffers for that sin.

——

Character: JESSIE MASNUBIC

A. The High Concept (this character’s role in the high concept): Jessie begins the process that leads to the land swap by taking on all the latest and greatest Progressive fighting points: feminism, Columbus Day, and now Land Acknowledgment. She is tricked into supporting the Land Return by Mr. Fox. She doesn’t realize that social change put too fast or based on illogic leads to chaos.

B. This character’s journey: Jessie starts strident, righteous, and she kind of ends there (some people are just cranky) – but she’s taken through the wringer in her personal life, and opens up to seeing multiple sides of things eventually.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character:

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

She’s an over-the-top progressive, with a complex family story, and a deep wound. (Cf. Annette Bening in American Beauty.)

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She is always on the go, agitating for all the latest causes, so she’s constantly creating new drama everywhere she turns.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

She’s the one who pushes the effort to honor the Natives. And once the motion passes, she pushes her way into Mukki’s path, to insist he behave the way she wants him to.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

She never does anything halfheartedly. She’s like a force of nature wrangling everyone to her causes.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range

She’s fierce, devoted, imposing, and eventually put out of sorts and depressed. She goes into despair when her life collapses.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

She’s full of ideas, but her marriage is in ruins, and her daughter is veering away from her. She loses herself in her activism, but has a deep wound underneath it all.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

She’s married to a man who contemplates changing his gender, and she tries way too late to help her daughter, but has no clue how to do it.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

She’s unremittingly strident, that voice in Town Meeting that makes you cringe — unless you side with her. Always caustic, until her vulnerability finally hits when her family troubles come to the fore.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

She’s a representative of everything extreme, but life hits her hard so we actually care about her!

Character Profile Elements:

1. Role in the Story: Antagonist – Jessie represents strident Progressive politics today: righteous, unapologetic, strident, caring, thoughtful, intellectually incoherent, keenly interested in power dynamics, committed to getting rid of the patriarchy and white supremacy, and somehow morally superior. For much of the story she just drives people crazy, and she’s a real pain to Mukki, but she learns some things along the way that broaden her worldview.

2. Age Range and Description: Jessie is mid-thirties, thin, harsh looking. She dresses deliberately to provoke, to show what side she’s on. Butch haircut, pink in hair. Almost systematically unfeminine, but just a wisp of vanity nevertheless in her choice of outfits.

3. Core Traits:

– Permanently Unsatisfied

– Tireless

– Fierce

– Hypersensitive

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To have her Progressive principles – her party – triumph: that will solve the world’s problems.

Need: To be appreciated, for her humanity.

5. Wound:

What they can’t face: Her marriage is a wreck, and she hates hates hates being a failure.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likeability (outside affection): She’s not very likeable, but is assertive and seems to be on the side of the good guys (if she weren’t so righteous about it!)

Relatability (something we experience): She’s up against these stodgy old white men all the time, must be wearing; she tries hard to keep her family together, with only moderate success – but we’ve all been overwhelmed by the career/life balance.

Empathy (experiences hardship): Her marriage is breaking apart and she’s kind of a jerk to her hypersensitive daughter, but she really does suffer with these losses (even if they’re often self-inflicted!)

[Linda Kish]

Linda’s Character Profiles Part 1

My Vision is: I will do whatever it takes to be a sought-after profound writer with many successful movies produced and an Oscar on my mantel.

What I learned doing this assignment is looking at all of these together is helping to form a more complete picture of the main characters.

Joaquin

High Concept: The head of a cartel is dying and puts his succession up for competition with a point system that rewards crimes based on the degree to which they promote his infamy. How can a low-level worker with morals he doesn’t want to cross beat the ruthless heavyweights and protect his family and community?

Journey: From a low-level Falcon, afraid and protective of his morals to sacrificing his morals and becoming a powerful cartel lord.

Actor Attractors: He is a low-level cartel member who is non-violent, self-educated and wants out, but when he finds a way he struggles with what it will cost him.

Profile:

· Role in the Story: Protagonist. A low-level cartel worker, called a Falcon, who desperately wants out. He is tormented by a ruthless cartel member and enters the competition to protect his family and the community.

· Age Range and Description: Late 30’s. A better than average looking man with more wear and tear than someone his age should have. He attire is subdued and he has no trouble blending in to a crowd.

· Core Traits: Private. Underhanded. Self-educated/smart. A listener.

· Motivation – Want/Need: Wants to protect his family and get out of the cartel. Needs to be a leader.

· Wound: Blames Rodrigo for bringing his father into the cartel, which is what got him killed at an early age.

· Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Family man and wants more for them. Feels trapped. Is backed into a corner. Must win the competition to survive and protect his family and community.

Arturo

High Concept: The head of a cartel is dying and puts his succession up for competition with a point system that rewards crimes based on the degree to which they promote his infamy. How can a low-level worker with morals he doesn’t want to cross beat the ruthless heavyweights and protect his family and community?

Journey: A ruthless killer who terrorizes the community but struggles with the knowledge that his actions drove the woman he loves to another man. He dies without changing.

Actor Attractors: He is a loud-mouthed brutal man who talks about his feelings. He’s obsessed with Joaquin’s wife and won’t hurt her physically. She is the only person in his life who he thought truly loved him and is determined to earn her love back.

Profile:

· Role in the Story: Antagonist. A ruthless cartel member who will stop at nothing to ascend to drug lord. Wants to win Joaquin’s wife back.

· Age Range and Description: Late 30’s. Scruffy, beefy, could win most fights and doesn’t let anyone forget it.

· Core Traits: Loudmouth. Brutal. Luring. Suspicious.

· Motivation – Want/Need: Wants Joaquin’s wife back. Wants to win the competition. Needs to become a better man and stop killing people.

· Wound: Struggles with his actions that pushed the love of his life away.

· Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Treats Joaquin’s wife with respect. Regrets about past decisions that are affecting his life today. Has hallucinations and doesn’t know what’s real. Loyal to Rodrigo and feels slighted.

[David Scott Smith]

David Scott Smith’s Character Profiles Part 1 (<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>WIM M3 L6)

My Vision: I am going to do whatever it takes for me to become a legend in both the filmmaking community and popular movie culture, so much so that audiences will stand in lines around the block to see my movies the way I did for Star Wars, ET and Raiders, and I will be buried with the 5 Academy awards given my work, and a tombstone that reads, “Awesome as fuck!”

What I learned doing this lesson: I’m behind, but am catching up. Here’s part 1 with some blanks, I’ll fill in more for my antagonist in part 2

THE HIGH CONCEPT:

Title: Connect the Dots

Concept: The true story of the only man in the military who believed in a signals intercept trainee and helped her expose the largest network of Soviet spies ever uncovered – ultimately answering the question, “Who really brought down the Soviet Union?”

I’ve chosen the Dramatic Triangle character structure.

STORM previous work

ACTOR ATTRACTORS

Lead Character Name: Storm

Role: Protagonist

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?

He’s one of the first smart, cool-headed military black ops that has a transformational journey from fearful rookie to confident master, the one chosen to lead vengeance missions, complete with theatrics, and playing his targets against each other.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?

Only he knows his full mission, and he can never tell the important people in his life the truth behind any of his actions or whenever he asks them to do something for him. As a result, everything he says has subtext! But what he discovers is that his mission is only a small part in bigger missions, and that alters his perception of reality.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?

Saves the life of a teammate, takes vengeance upon those responsible for American deaths, saves his family from a car bomb, breaks into enemy quarters, breaks enemy code, plays enemy agents against each other, role plays with wife, in bed with a beautiful woman, stands up to 5 star generals, gets to overpower and beat up slimy soviet agents.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?

His smart moves and quick thinking saves his own life and the life of a teammate.

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

From calm to killing, from patience to rage, from calculative to instinctual. From insecure to confident.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Everything he says distracts from his real mission at all times. There’s a deeper meaning under almost everything he says.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?

Pretends to be someone else with his wife. Struggles to be the best father he can be, even though he disappears on missions. Has an empathetic relationship with Queen Bee, helps her find her place in the world. Has admiration for his female boss. Has hatred for the Soviets. Has a cunning instinct for his main Soviet nemesis.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?

Through his ability to shape a different story for every person he recruits on his mission – as he talks, he’s searching for their yearnings and their weaknesses so that he can exploit them when he needs to.

9. What makes this character special and unique?

He has an Old Testament sense of justice that comes from being shot by his father when he was a teenager and left for dead – all he had was a hunting knife and a bible. He’s taking an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth out of every bad guy throughout the movie.

STORM’s JOURNEY

Arc Beginning: naive, insecure, self-interested rookie black op

Arc Ending: Storm has become “Psycho” (The One!)

Internal Journey: From weak, insecure and self interested to strong, fearless and empathetic

External Journey: from a rookie black op to a full-fledged “Psycho” who fights for a cause, runs vengeance missions behind enemy lines, and can manipulate the Soviet network of spies.

Old Ways:

Small time rookie black op

Self interested

Didn’t believe in himself

Afraid of his superiors

Accepted the dominance of others.

Ignorant of the large secret network of high level soviet agents

New Ways:

Can read the Morse Code

Manipulates the Soviet Agents

Runs vengeance missions across enemy lines

Courageous

Fighting for a cause

Has empathy

QUEEN BEE previous work

ACTOR ATTRACTORS

Lead Character Name: Queen Bee

Role: Triangle

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?

Queen Bee is an attractive, free spirited, intelligent woman who stands up for herself when she believes she’s right. She discovers a network of Soviet spies and has to sidestep the military to prove it and helps bring down the Berlin Wall.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?

On her off hours, she enjoys 1977 Berlin to the fullest! Night clubs, dancing, Bowie, boys. During her work hours she’s an attractive but uneducated genius – a problem solver who becomes obsessed with uncovering who is behind the signals she’s tracking.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?

She trains as a signals intercept operator, she points out what she believes to be enemy signals that the military is missing but the military doesn’t agree, she investigates anyhow, she sneaks around her apartment complex, tracing wiring, she breaks into an apartment discovering a dead Soviet agent and a code book. She proves that the signal she discovered was really Soviet coded messages. She deciphers messages revealing a network of spies across the world (the discovery of sleeper cells). She stands up to colonels and generals who don’t believe her, and convinces a black op that what he’s doing is wrong.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?

She notices her commanding officer selecting trainees, but he skips her, and instead of obeying orders and just sitting there, she follows them into a testing room, where she outperforms all of them and gets chosen by Storm.

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

From excited and dancing to calm and focused to knowing she’s the smarted person in the room to being scared and running for her life!

6. What subtext can the actor play?

First, she’s a woman in the military in 1977 – she’s got to play dumb and bubbly and pleasant to avoid becoming hated by the boys in the military. She has to play differently with the younger girls in her department to try to win their friendship, but she fails miserably at that. Outside of work, she’s already got a cover story she has to tell locals and guys she meets in the clubs, but once she starts working on a secret mission with Storm, she can’t even tell any of the other girls in her dept what she’s doing, nor her commanding officer, which puts her in very awkward positions with tons of subtext – everything she says to anyone but Storm is a lie.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?

Her relationship with Storm is the most interesting – he’s the one person she can tell the truth and be her full brilliant and vulnerable self.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?

From the first scene she’s breaking the rules and being smart. Her unrefined charm and uneducated genius is obvious.

9. What makes this character special and unique?

QUEEN BEE’s Journey

Arc Beginning: an insecure & naive Dairy farmer

Arc Ending: has become a skilled intelligence officer who uncovers the largest network of soviet spies ever exposed

Internal Journey: from insecure and naive to skilled & daring

External Journey: from a Dairy Farmer to a skilled Spy who can subvert networks of secret agents.

Old Ways:

Insecure

Naive

Ignorant of the Cold War

Accepted the dominance of others

New Ways:

Creates technology

Manipulates Soviet Agents

Fighting for a cause

DANIL previous work (Blanks)

ACTOR ATTRACTORS

Lead Character Name: Danil

Role: Antagonist

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

6. What subtext can the actor play?

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?

9. What makes this character special and unique?

DANIL’S ARC

Arc Beginning:

Arc Ending:

Internal Journey:

External Journey:

Old Ways:

New Ways:

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>THE WORK IN THIS LESSON: WIM M3 L6

Storm

1 Role in the Story: Protagonist: one of only 2 black ops stationed on base who’s secret job is to bend the rules to protect America/American interests and mess with the Soviets, putting him at the center of the conflict in Cold War Berlin, but his first mission was a failure and he is in a battle to regain his confidence.

2 Age range and Description:

Age: 28

Description: Storm is a good looking, broad-shouldered young man who always has a smirk on his face like he’s about to crack a joke, unless he witnessing an injustice, such as the Germans trapped on the other side of the Berlin Wall, and then he is clear eyed and serious.

3 Core Traits:

• Haunted

• A jokester

• Brainy

• Brave

4 Motivation; Want/Need:

Storm wants to stop the Soviet’s campaign of espionage against the US.

Storm’s need is to settle his guilt for failing his first mission and feeling responsible for the death of his first package.

5 Wound (What they can’t face):

That members of his team are dying under his watch and because of his actions.

6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy

Likability: He’s a man of action, he saves the life of his teammate in the beginning. He’s brave. He’s really trying.

Relatability: There to protect others. His job forces him to do things he doesn’t want to do.

Empathy: When his first mission goes badly, he’s overcompensating. His black op status causes him to lose a lot of connections to his wife and his children – we feel for him.

Danil

1 Role in the Story: Antagonist (the opposition that forces the protagonist to change)

Danil is a former elite Spetsnaz soldier who is now leading several networks of Soviet spies and agents throughout the world with the aim of fucking up as much of America’s shit as possible. When he does a good job he is rewarded by getting a better apartment. His punishment for poor results is getting a roach infested apartment.

2 Age range and Description:

Age: 42

Description: Danil doesn’t joke, for him, life is serious. He has the eyes of a professional soldier who has experienced the ugly and dark side of humanity, but one who has folded that darkness into his own way of thinking. He peers over the spectacles he doesn’t need at the civilians he interacts with to appear older and disarming.

3 Core Traits:

• Macho

• Vengeful

• Efficient

• Observant

4 Motivation; Want/Need:

Danil Wants: to please his bosses

Danil Needs: to make his life better, be more free.

5 Wound: What they can’t face: that he’s losing ground with his bosses and his life will become worse than it already is.

6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy

Likability: He’s a man’s man. Smart, takes action.

Relatability: There to do the job, no matter what. He’s simply trying to survive given his circumstances.

Empathy: Publicly, he has to make himself seem unimportant to remain covert.

Queen Bee

1 Role in the Story: Triangle (key player who connects the protagonist to the antagonist)

Queen Bee is a signals intercept trainee who believes she’s discovered a new enemy signal, but her superiors blow her off as an idiot newbie hearing static. But her obsessive side kicks in and she can’t let go of the hunt for those behind this odd signal.

2 Age range and Description:

Age: 32

Description: Queen Bee is voluptuous and open, free in her mind and excited to be in Berlin. She looks at everything and everyone as a new opportunity to learn more about life – she just can’t help herself. After feeling trapped on her family’s farm back in Minnesota, she suddenly finds herself in Europe, in a hip and happening, cutting edge town like Berlin. Everything is exciting and feeds her hungry soul.

3 Core Traits:

• Friendly / easy

• Scandalous (silly)

• Problem solver

• Obsessive

4 Motivation; Want/Need:

Queen Bee wants to get to the bottom of who’s behind the new signal she’s discovered and what their plans are.

She needs to feel that she is making the world a better place.

5 Wound (What they can’t face): that her actions are endangering her son’s future.

6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy

Likability: Doesn’t back down. Sharp. Knowledgeable.

Relatability: Has no actual experience hunting Soviet Agents. Wants to go on the adventure. Wants to prove herself.

Empathy: Her contributions are constantly downplayed, her knowledge isn’t appreciated. She’s had to leave her son in order to prove her worth to herself.

[Joaquin Gray]

Joaquin “Ibn Gray’s” Character Profiles Part 1

My vision for the completion of this class is to write A plus intriguing screenplays that will be produced into extremely profitable movies, which I will cash large checks from.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that plugging in these answers shapes the characters actions and unique voice.

A. The High Concept – The story of a Black American family that migrates from Georgia to Texas after the emancipation proclamation of 1863. Little did they know slavery would not be outlawed in Texas until June 19th, 1865, the day and fight of a lifetime.<div>

B. This character’s journey- Brewford migrates to Texas to start a new life after the end of slavery. He discovers slavery hasn’t been outlawed just yet. His son is forced into captivity causing him to fight for his freedom.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? This character transforms into a hero on the battlefield.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? He conceals the true nature of his past, knowing he is deadly.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? An ex-slave turned platoon commander, that gained his freedom by fighting in a war against slavery.

4. What could be this character’s emotional range? Begins as a meek, non-confrontational man that is transformed into a killer after his child is captured by the local plantation owner.

5. What subtext can the actor play? He is attempting to live a quiet life. in a new land free from bondage.

6. What’s the most interesting relationship this character can have? He is the brother-in-law of a local village man

7. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Through his words of wisdom and foresight

8. What could make this character special and unique? His legs have been cut off at the knees, so his fighting style gives him an advantage.

BREWFORD DICKSON

Role in the Story: Protagonist

Age range and Description: 50’s, modestly dressed for the time period. His legs are cut off at his knees.

Core Traits: Meek, alert, silent killer,

Motivation; Want/Need: To live a peaceful life with his family – To save his son from captivity.

Wound: Traumatized by his childhood memories and war memories.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Likability: A simple man, A family man that is nice to his children and wife. He treats his horses with love and kindness.

Relatability: appreciative of his possessions, he fixes his damaged wagon with his teenage son.

Empathy: His legs are cut off at his knees. He doesn’t want help reaching for items above his head. His arm strength allows him to pull his body up for whatever needs to be done.

Joaquin

</div>

[Farrin Rosenthal]

Farrin Rosenthal’s Character Profiles Part 1

Farrin’s Vision: To do what it takes to become a highly paid A-List Hollywood writer whose produced movies will entertain audiences around the world.

What I learned doing this assignment is the first part of how to build character profiles for our leading characters. We do this to create the perfect characters for our high concept story. These profiles will help us make sure the words our characters say and the actions they take embody who they are as three dimensional compelling people.

Title: TRAPPED

Genre: Thriller

Concept: Claustrophobic and trapped in an underwater grave for stealing $3.6 billion in Bitcoin from the Russian mob, a Los Angeles retail store manager has just 60 minutes to prove his innocence and save his family.

Tom Carter’s journey: Arc Beginning: Trapped in a box with one hour to escape and save his family.

Arc Ending: Defeated his captors and saved his children.

Internal Journey: From claustrophobic, weak, afraid, and clueless to strong, fearless, and knowing.

External Journey: From being trapped in a box to saving his children by defeating his captors and bringing them to justice.

Actor Attractors: He is trapped in an underwater grave accused of stealing billions from a mob boss. Has 60 minutes to escape and save his family. Goes from confused to scared to freaking-out to angry. He knows he is innocent but must convince the mob boss he is guilty. He is claustrophobic and uses humor as a coping technique.

Role in the Story: Protagonist: Retail Store Manager trapped in an underwater grave and has 60 minutes to escape and save his family.

Age range and Description: Late 30s, high school athletic now with a dad-bod.

Core Traits: Claustrophobic, Risk-adverse, Stubborn, Protector, Controlling, Humorous (to cope)

Motivation; Want: Escape. Need: Save his family.

Wound: Feeling helpless when he was trapped in an elevator and bullied as a teenager.

Likability: Loves his family and they love him even though he sometimes drives them crazy.

Relatability: Sacrificing in the present, saving money to help send his daughter to college. We can relate to a family with money problems and all the stress and problems that creates.

Empathy: We feel for Tom when he is kidnapped and trapped in an underwater grave. We want him to survive and save his family.

Dmitriy’s journey: Goes from head of Russian crime family who thinks he is in total control to being betrayed and killed by his younger brother.

Actor Attractors: Someone who is ruthless but highly intelligent at the same time, will go to any length to get his money back. Use of torture and the threat of torture, showing how smart he is and a person not to fuck with. Goes from calm to rage. Knows more than the captive and uses this to his advantage to cause maximum torture. Total control over his captive, but does he really? He is a mob boss who thinks he is untouchable and in total control, but the irony is someone stole billions from him, and his rage to do whatever it takes to get it back blinds him to the fact he is not as powerful as he thinks.

Role in the Story: Antagonist: Russian mob boss who will do anything to get the billions stolen from him back.

Age range and Description: 40s, but looks older because of stress, a powerful presence.

Core Traits: Ruthless, Intelligent, Driven, Insecure, Know-it-all

Motivation; Want: Getting Tom to confess. Need: To get his fucking $3.6 billion back.

Wound: Growing up poor, watching his parents struggle and die early.

Likability: Is intelligent and hates when he is treated like he’s not. Shows some mercy when he doesn’t have to.

Relatability: Somebody stole billions from him. We’ve all had something bad happen to us, some wrong. His problem is just an extreme version of what normal people go through.

Empathy: We all want to be treated with respect. He grew up poor and never wants to be poor again. None of us want to be poor and struggle.

[Erik Wooten]

Erik’s Character Profiles, Part 1

My vision is to achieve true excellence as a
screenwriter which causes me to be a consistently working writer, with actual
movies made from some of my scripts, and to become wealthy as a screenwriter,
develop relationships in the movie industry where I am recognized as a truly original writer, and to become indispensable in the market in which I want to
write.

What I learned doing this assignment… This assignment gave me some breakthroughs, which I I am thrilled about–particularly with my triangle character, who has needed some essential depth that was nagging at me (granted, it is still early in the process). That depth came from events behind the Wound and the Want & Need which popped into my imagination by way of this assignment. Also, the assignment was quite effective in adding yet more layers to the other two leads which I think are good and which had not come out until now but which, looking back, were lurking below the surface. Thanks, Assignment!

PENNY

A. The High Concept: Two orphans escape from their orphanage during a fire and move into the country’s biggest shopping mall where they decide to find parents but realize that they really only need each other.

B. This character’s journey: From self-determined orphan who doesn’t believe she will be loved by good parents to accepting her need to want loving parents.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character:

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

The character takes the most interesting actions in the movie; variety of fun and challenging situations; most satisfying character arc.

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Her attitude and viewpoint in an extraordinary situation and how she takes charge of her journey.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Ordering dinner in a fancy restaurant (she is 8); acting as surrogate daughter to the lady who takes her in; seeking out parents in a shopping mall; sneaking into a home furnishing store to sleep in, then escaping in time the next morning; going all-out in a candy store and getting sick from eating too much.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Showing her obliviously starting a fire in the orphanage kitchen, which becomes the reason for her escape, then turning her escape into a journey of taking charge of her own destiny.

What could be this character’s emotional range?

Sure to unsure to defiant to proud to deflated to elated.

What subtext can the actor play?

She thinks she wants parents, then thinks she doesn’t need parents

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With her fellow orphan Mara, toward whom she acts as leader and partner in their survival adventure; with a rich, boozing lady who takes her into her home for a while; with the mall employee whom she and Mara believe is their ideal candidate to adopt them.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Mainly in the way she takes command of her situation; her maturity for her age and her outlook.

What could make this character special and unique?

Sophisticated self-assurance for
an eight-year-old; a sense of outlook or worldview; seemingly fearless; always
eating or hungry; take-charge sense of destiny.

1. Role in the Story:

Orphan who escapes during a fire and decides to try to survive in a huge shopping mall instead of going back, and also acts as leader to a companion orphan, whom she also needs to better her own chances of survival.

2. Age range and Description:

Eight. Mature, tough, always eating, and fond of ribbons in her hair and anything that will add some color and life to her orphan’s wardrobe.

3. Core Traits:

Street-wise, daring, skeptical, very smart, sassy

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Penny WANTS to take charge of her own life, but she NEEDS to accept that one day she will have a loving family despite all odds.

5. Wound: What they can’t face:

She will never have parents or never be loved.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: She is whip-smart, sassy, daring, and somehow almost worldly-wise.

Relatability: Remembering the stifled or thwarted desires of when we were kids. Understand what it is like to feel alone or helpless at times.

Empathy:
An orphan–that is almost automatic empathy. Has determination to take charge
of her own destiny.

MARA

A. The High Concept: Two orphans escape from their orphanage during a fire and move into the country’s biggest shopping mall where they decide to find parents but realize that they really only need each other.

B. This character’s journey: From introverted orphan waiting for the perfect parents to rescue her to a free spirit who believes in herself.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character:

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

The emotional range combined with the variety of actions the character takes and fun and challenging situations she is in. Also unique voice and growth.

What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

Special skills and traits which are brought out in the most challenging of situations. Also her relationship with the other lead.

What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

Using her excellent sense of direction to navigate and explore her huge and challenging environment; attempt to brave the city streets all by herself for a while; making friends with a down-and-out subterranean dweller.

How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

By showing her in a unique situation that immediately propels her into her journey and using her most interesting traits in that situation.

What could be this character’s emotional range?

Overwhelmed to proud of herself, afraid to thrilled to loving.

What subtext can the actor play?

?

What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With her fellow orphan and co-protagonist Penny where she is first in a sort of subordinate role and then one as equal partner and loving friend; and with the mall employee whom she and Penny believe is their ideal candidate to adopt them.

How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through the gradual development of her independent personality in a hard situation, her special skill, and how she adapts.

What could make this character special and unique?

Her special skill (excellent sense of direction) and the way she evolves in her hard situation.

1. Role in the Story:

Orphan who escapes during a fire and comes under the wing of fellow orphan Penny in a huge shopping mall where they have taken refuge. Penny asserts herself over Mara, taking charge of her destiny, and Mara must find her own voice and go after her desires, with or without Penny.

2. Age range and Description:

Eight. Goggle-eyed, obedient, and dignified, with a knack for quietly assessing the world around her.

3. Core Traits:

Super sense of direction, introvert, dreamer

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Mara WANTS an ideal life with a family but NEEDS to embrace a sense of adventure and a belief in herself as an independent spirit.

5. Wound: What they can’t face:

That she is a permanent outcast.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Sweet and vulnerable. Her refined skill of a great sense of direction is admirable.

Relatability: Same as Penny above, plus the understanding of what it is like to be under someone else’s influence.

Empathy: An orphan–that is almost automatic empathy. She seems totally out of her element for a while and we want her to survive and thrive. We sense that her less-assertive personality is waiting to blossom and help her create her happy destiny.

SARAH

A. The High Concept: Two orphans escape from their orphanage during a fire and move into the country’s biggest shopping mall where they decide to find parents but realize that they really only need each other.

B. This character’s journey: From subordinating her own happiness to her parents’ desires to going after her own desires and being inspired to love by two orphans.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character:

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

The rich subtext involved in a character who stifles her own desires to serve the will of selfish parents and finally breaks free because of love inspired by two orphans.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

First she fails to go after what she wants because of her partner and then decides to pursue her own desire as a result of her interaction with Penny and Mara, even if it means letting go of her partner.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

She tries her hardest to talk the orphanage “head mistress” into relaxing the rules for adoption; goes on an elaborate search for Penny and Mara in the vast mall; how she responds to her parents’ wishes.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

By bringing out her predominant subtext in an initial situation which foreshadows her relationship with Penny and Mara….

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

Wistful to indecisive to decisive to surrendering to depressed to joyful.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

She wants to break free from the wishes and influence of her fiancé while also loving him; wants to be a mother; deep down feels that she wants to be the mother of Penny and Mara.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With Penny and Mara and her parents. The first, relating to the subtext above as well as her actions on behalf of Penny & Mara, and the second also relating to the subtext above and the decisions she makes in regard to her relationship.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

?

9. What could make this character special and unique?

?

1. Role in the Story:

Sarah is an employee of the mall where the two orphans have moved into and whose sense of subservience to her parents and a need to love children of her own are brought out by the two orphans.

2. Age range and Description:

Around 30-32. Outwardly upright, respectable, even stuffy, but inwardly rebellious and resentful of her family.

3. Core Traits:

Frustrated, drifting, yearning

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

She WANTS the money from her parents and also their respect but NEEDS to follow her own desires and needs the love of Penny and Mara.

5. Wound: What they can’t face:

Her parents (or maybe just her father) only care for her or love her in respect to her ability to provide them grandchildren.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy

Likability: Rebellious personality under the obedient exterior.

Relatability: Caught in a classic dilemma of having to do something we don’t want to do in order to get something we really want.

Empathy: She has allowed her parents to determine her happiness, and an audience would root for her to break free from that. The audience can also understand how the charms of the two orphans Penny and Mara inspire her to finally go after her own desires.

[Jaelle Dragomir]

Jaelle’s Character Profiles Part 1

My vision: I’m an award winning screenwriter that is sought after by people in the industry, who creates scripts that change lives to bring a new vision to the world, and I’m richly rewarded.

A. The High Concept. A psychic founds the Theosophy Society in hopes of saving humanity, but the forces of society try to tear her down.

B. This character’s journey. From psychic to nomad to world renowned visionary.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character. True story; Blavatsky is a woman ahead of her time (late 1800s); wide range of actions and emotions from kind and generous to wildly unpredictable and angry.

Role in the Story: Russian psychic that even though all of society’s forces against her, founds the Theosophist Society.

Age range and Description: mid to late 50s; heavy set Russian woman with a bucket of blond hair

Core Traits: precise, correct, and competent but degrades into self-indulgence, and self-absorption
Motivation; Want/Need: to save humanity, found and build the Theosophist Society; to be worldly and intelligent

Wound: rejected by father for not being “smart”

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: ahead of her time, extremely intelligent;
Relatability: she wants to help people and does; she goes above and beyond helping others.
Empathy: she almost dies more than once and has many enemies. Called a fraud, is rejected, and betrayed by those close to her, but stays on her path to spiritual awareness to build the Society.

A. The High Concept.A psychic founds the Theosophy Society in hopes of saving humanity, but the forces of society try to tear her down.

B. This character’s journey. Cautious, credulous, gullible and a poor observer to profound leader of the Society.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. Worldly, journalist that sees all, hears all, and understands the ways of the world.

Role in the Story: co-founder of the Society; supports Blavatsky, although sometimes obtuse, and angry with her.

Age range and Description: Mid to late 50s. Tall, 6’5”, thin, balding with a beard down to his waist.

Core Traits: honest, strong moral principles, critical perfectionism, and judgmental intolerance
Motivation; Want/Need: help Blavatsky create and build the Society.

Wound: wants to be loved, be lovable

Likability: honest, upright, authentic,
Relatability, questions life, and why him, and what is the truth
Empathy: can’t get past MB tough exterior to be the love of his life

[Nat Melvin]

Natalie’s Character Profiles Part 1

My vision is to create and produce award winning stories that make an unforgettable emotional impact on a worldwide audience.

What I learned from this assignment: It’s another wonderful tool for dissecting characters

Character 1: EMILY KINGSLEY, protagonist

High Concept: An amnesiac survivor of a mysterious cult who follows her own clues drawn under a hypnosis to save her ostensibly missing child from a sacrifice.

Character’s journey: from paranoid, insecure recluse with the DID living two different lives, to a bold, confident woman who takes chances at love

Actor Attractors for this character: Emily’s dual personalities, her journey from insecure, gullible recluse to a kick arse, confident woman who takes down her dysfunctional family and succumbs to her love

Role in the Story: an amnesiac woman with DID, obsessed with saving her ostensibly missing daughter, who breaks out of a confinement and thwarts antagonist’s plan to eliminate potential heirs of the estate

Age range and Description: Fit, sleep deprived, dark circles under her dreamy eyes, in her late 20’s

Core Traits: headstrong, reckless, insecure, protective

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Motivation: To prove her sanity

Want: To gain trust Need: to believe in herself

Wound: guilt-driven for not saving a child from a sacrifice

Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Liked by most people, guilt- driven, loss of a child

Character 2: WALTER KINGSLEY, antagonist

High Concept: Emily’s manipulative, vengeful ex-boyfriend pretending to be her friend, who secretly plots to publicly humiliate Emily and eliminate every potential heir standing on his way to the inheritance.

Character’s journey: from pitiful cripple disregarded by the family as unfit candidate to the estate, to secret powerful antagonist in disguise

Actor Attractors for this character: Walter is a multifaceted character who masterfully impersonates other characters whom he kills while being likable and misleading on a surface

Role in the Story: Emily’s entitled, eccentric cousin with a distant-poor relative complex, who’s wildest dream is to publicly humiliate Emily and inherit wealthy family’s estate

Age range and Description: tall, slim, insignificant appearance underneath a wild, vicious, calculating man in his early 30’s

Core Traits: scheming, manipulative, deceitful, vulnerable

Motivation: eliminate anyone standing between himself and family’s fortune

Want: To take control Need: learn to share

Wound: being rejected and publicly humiliated by Emily

Likability, Relatability, Empathy: being in love, but rejected, crippled and publicly humiliated

Character 3: HAGAN VALENTINE, triangle, love interest

High Concept: An African-American man born out of wedlock into a snobbish, white family who tries to prove his aristocratic roots and reinstate his rights as a rightful heir of the estate

Character’s journey: from humble and polite to outraged, determined, devious (not him), and vulnerable.

Actor Attractors for this character: An underdog who struggles to prove his identity, earns respect and fights for love

Role in the Story: Emily’s lost love interest, an ostensibly rightful heir of the estate

Age range and Description: tall, fit, charismatic, discerning, humble in his views of life, in his early 30’s

Core Traits: content, astute, loyal, unforgiving

Motivation: to prove his innocence and gain rights as a heir

Want: To belong Need: learn to let go

Wound: rejected by family

Likability, Relatability, Empathy: astute, content, black man born in wedlock to a snobbish white family, cast away reject

[Jane Turville]

Jane’s Character Profiles, Part 1

MY VISION: I will make my living as a screenwriter by selling my own narrative scripts and successfully fulfilling writing assignments.

By doing this assignment I was able to solidify the thoughts I’ve had regarding who these two people are underneath their roles as iconic, well-known detectives. As a parody of this genre, I have to keep all that they are known for by Agatha Christie fans while also playing their subtexts as totally opposite. I think this will make a much more interesting film than just magnifying their already well-known attributes.

Character Name: June Marvel

High Concept: In this parody on tea cozy murder mysteries, a Poirot-like character and a Miss Marple-like character compete to prove which of them is the greatest detective only to discover that a murder has happened and that one of them is the next victim.

Journey: Goes from quiet but bitter amateur sleuth to using all of her mental and physical powers to not only solve a murder, but save her own life and Percival’s too.

Actor Attractors: Biting wit – great dialogue; chance to parody a well-loved character; fun action sequences that show both physicality and mental prowess. She’s the bomb!

Role: Protagonist/Antagonist for Percival Heriot

Age range and Description: A spinster in her early seventies recovering from hip surgery and not happy about it – or anything else.

Core Traits: Fed up; a dreamer; perceptive; cunning.

Wants: To win her challenge with Percival.

Needs: To feel her life and work are validated by others.

Wound: Nearly lost her life as she worked to help Scotland Yard catch a serial killer but never received any recognition.

Likeability (Protagonist): June has dreams and a plan for making them come true.

Relatability (Protagonist): June feels stuck in a life she no longer thinks she wants.

Empathy (Protagonist): June has always been misjudged because she is a polite, quiet woman.

Likeability (Antagonist): June isn’t afraid to challenge Percival.

Relatability (Antagonist): Percival’s ego gets on our nerves too.

Empathy (Antagonist): June is made to feel less of a sleuth and so she challenges.

Character Name: Percival Heriot

High Concept: In this parody on tea cozy murder mysteries, a Poirot-like character and a Miss Marple-like character compete to prove which of them is the greatest detective only to discover that a murder has happened and that one of them is the next victim.

Journey: Goes from being egocentric and lonely to team player and part of something bigger than himself.

Actor Attractors: Bigger than life character that hides a secret identity; a new spin on an iconic detective; breadth of emotional journey.

Role: Protagonist/Antagonist for June Marvel

Age range and Description: An early to mid-seventies obsessive/compulsive bachelor with a mind to match the fastest computer logic and an aversion to living a “normal, quiet life.”

Core Traits: Egocentric; abnormally intelligent; observant; competitive.

Wants: To win the challenge with June.

Needs: The spotlight to shine brightly on him.

Wound: Being bullied in his youth keeps him from being able to stand aside for someone else.

Likeability (Protagonist): Percival’s intelligence and reasoning is amazing.

Relatability (Protagonist): Percival is lonely.

Empathy (Protagonist): Percival sees solutions clearly but is not always listened to.

Likeability (Antagonist): Is ego is laughable and he is not always right.

Relatability (Antagonist): He doesn’t see why he needs to be challenged.

Empathy (Antagonist): His confidence belies an insecurity.

[Teresa Rodriguez]

Teresa Rodriguez’s Character Profiles Part 1

MY VISION: I will become a highly respected and influential writer/producer with my own successful production company that I can leave as a blessing to my children and many generations to come.

What I learned from doing this assignment is how to fit each character into the story.

LILY:

• A. The High Concept: lives in perfect fairytale land but hates perfectionism, not a perfect size zero

• B. This character’s journey: runs away from her perfect fairytale life and becomes an imperfect hero to millions of young women.

• C. The Actor Attractors for this character: goes from imperfect and unconfident princess to imperfect heroine

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

7. Role in the Story: The Protag who lives in a perfect fairytale land but is not perfect and hates perfectionism. She runs away seeking a normal life. In the end, defeats her evil stepfather and becomes an imperfect hero.

8. Age range and Description: in her early 20’s, not the typical perfect princess, she has some curves.

9. Core Traits: Awkward, Adventurous, Low Self-esteem, hates Perfectionism

10. Motivation WANTS: to live on her own terms. NEEDS: to feel accepted for herself/flawed.

11. Wound: knows that her stepfather wants a boy

12. Likability, Relatability, Empathy: she’s compassionate, not a perfect size zero, low self-esteem because she’s not perfect

EVIL STEPFATHER:

• A. The High Concept: is the “perfectionist” who rules the kingdom.

• B. This character’s journey: tries to take over the kingdom from Lily & the Queen, tries to steal “youth essence” from his young subjects.

• C. The Actor Attractors for this character: Narcissist Stepfather, who’s trying to steal the kingdom.

•

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

13. Role in the Story: Antagonist who strives for perfection and shuns anyone who’s not perfect.

14. Age range and Description: 50’s, over botoxed, average height

15. Core Traits: Perfectionist, Narcissist, Power-Hungry, Manipulator

16. Motivation; WANTS: to rule the kingdom, NEEDS: to be accepted

17. Wound: bullied as a kid for being chubby with a bad complexion

18. Likability, Relatability, Empathy: can be charming when manipulating people, low self-esteem getting older/wrinkles, was bullied as a kid.

PRINCE:

• A. The High Concept: a commoner who hates perfectionist royals & fairytales, a liberal feminist

• B. This character’s journey: grew up poor, looked down on by upper-class

• C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

19. Role in the Story: helps Lily gain confidence in herself, Antag to Evil Stepfather

20. Age range and Description: 20’s average looking, average build.

21. Core Traits: feminist, headstrong, wise

22. Motivation; Wants to expose royalty for being fake. Needs: to be respected.

23. Wound: saw the Kind embarrass his mother for not being perfect.

24. Likability: he sticks up for the little guy, and hates bullies. Relatability: grew up poor, with a single-parent Mom. Empathy: has a physical flaw/scar inherited from his mother that scares people.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Character Profiles Part 1

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Absolutely EVERYTHING the characters say and do must be informed by this profile.

High Concept: A perfumer joins forces with a down-and-out detection dog to nose out her sister’s killer.

This Character’s Journey: From a grief-stricken addict who feels responsible for her pregnant sister’s death – – to the sober BAD ASS who avenges the murder.

Actor Attractors: She has a fascinating job – – no female perfumer characters out there. She is the pinnacle of success. Fierce loyalty. Highly intelligent and competent. Relentless. Solves her sister’s murder. BAD ASS! Has a huge character arc.

Role in the story: Protagonist, Darin August.

Having received death threats for a perfume commission she turned down, Darin believes she is responsible for her sister’s murder. It is her job to make sense of what her sister’s dog is trying to communicate to her and avenge her sister’s murder.

Age range and description: A perfumer in her mid- thirties, Darin is slight, fit, and possesses the sophistication and Movistar good looks of old Hollywood royalty.

Core Traits: Instinctive, visceral, dogged, self-flagellating, inquisitive, intelligent.

Motivation/Want: To avenge Livie’s murder.

Motivation/Need: To heal the wound of not being able to protect her sister from abuse when they were children.

Wound: Her abuse as a child and her mother’s ongoing denial of it.

Likability: Highly esteemed in her difficult profession. Gives lavishly to charity. Smart, determined and VERY interesting. Loves fiercely and is fiercely protective.

Relatability: Loss of her pregnant younger sister. Struggles with vices during duress. Turns to animals for comfort. Difficulty working while grieving. Trying to make sense of death of a young person.

Empathy: Her mother’s maltreatment of her and denial of abuse. Her debilitating grief. Her falling off the wagon. Her employer being discompassionate with her. Her brother-in-law manipulating her grief.

________________________________________________________________________________

Protagonist, Hank Sandford

Character journey: From self-assured puppeteer to desperate and maniacal.

Actor Attractors: Intelligent. Has a fascinating job working with detection dogs. Wide emotional range. Gallant. Protector. Charm a dog off a meat truck.

Role in the story: Hank is being blackmailed by drug dealers. As such, he is forced to present them with successful means of smuggling drugs. Unbeknownst to his sister-in-law, perfumer Darin August, he is mining her for scientific info which might serve to throw off detection dogs. It is life or death for him to keep this secret. When his pregnant wife is murdered as a warning to him, the stakes are heightened once again. He role is to keep gleaning secrets from Darin, keep Pookie (failed detection dog) off his scent, save his own ass at all costs.

Age range and description: A police officer in his mid-thirties, Hank has the rugged, sinewy, outdoorsy good looks of a 1985 Coors commercial model.

Core traits: Charming, mastermind, manipulative, self-centered, over-confident, gas lighter.

Motivation/want: To keep extorting information from Darin and stay alive.

Motivation/need: His sterling reputation untarnished.

Wound: He never got over Darin dumping him in their youth.

Likability: Protective. Good with his dog. Charming. Capable. Interesting, “Take charge” kind of guy. Cool under pressure.

Relatability: Agony of losing a loved one. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Empathy: Loss of his family. Having to work in the throes of grief.

[Bob DeCarli]

Bob DeCarli’s Character Profiles Part 1

My Vision: To master my craft to the point where I’ve earned a reputation as the screenwriter top producers, directors, and stars can call upon when they need someone to save the day.

What I learned: Not so much learned but reinforced the effectiveness of just “filling in the blanks.

JUNIOR JUDGE:

High Concept: A judge is set up for a crime he didn’t commit, and his only hope for clearing his name is the criminal he just sentenced to death.

This Character’s Journey: From a cold and heartless, conservative judge, to a compassionate and truly balanced judge.

Actor Attractors: Multiple layers; a young judge with a past; goes against stereotypes. Subtext: he’s hiding who he is; underneath the cocky veneer, he’s afraid of being identified as being unworthy of his position.

Role in the Story: Protagonist

Age range and Description: 30. Highly intelligent. Youthful, hip. You could see him tending bar at a trendy club.

Core Traits: Proud, driven, highly intelligent, impulsive

Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: Respect

Need: To confront and stop hiding the crimes he committed as a teen.

Wound: What they can’t face: He killed someone when he was a teenager and is constantly afraid of this being discovered.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Adored by (conservative) college students; kind to the elderly, courthouse custodian.

Relatability: Massive workload dumped on him as the new judge.

Empathy: wife leaving him now that he’s on the bench; humiliated by the Chief Judge in front of the other judges.

DEATH ROW:

High Concept: A life-long criminal has one last chance to redeem himself, and at the same time, bring down the rich businessman who sent him to jail.

This Character’s Journey: From facing a death sentence, to sacrificing himself to help another person [the Young Judge] bring down the businessman who destroyed both of their lives.

Actor Attractors: A troubled, flawed criminal, who has done many horrible things in his life, but ironically, was sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit, a punishment for his effort to truly be a hero.

Role in the Story: Triangle Character; he interfered with the Antagonist’s plan earlier, and paid the price

Age range and Description: Early 40s. An almost defeated man, worn down, but still a spark, ready to set one more fire.

Core Traits: brave, selfless, [apart from society]

Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To expose and get revenge on the developer.

Need: Recognition for his sacrifice.

Wound: What they can’t face: That his life was destroyed not because of the bad he did (committing crimes), but because of his effort to do good.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Elderly woman in the audience at his sentencing who adores him.

Relatability: Father a felon in prison his entire life, mother a drug addict; deck was stacked against him from the beginning.

Empathy: First seen in arm and leg shackles, a beaten and defeated man.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER

High Concept: After the Young Judge whose appointment he secured refuses to issue the judicial ruling necessary for his development to go forward, HE uses his political connections first to remove the judge from the case, and when he resists, to destroy his career.

This Character’s Journey: From wealthy and powerful, to disgraced and facing prison.

Actor Attractors: Like Noah Cross from Chinatown, but not a pedophile, just a driven sociopath that wants to leave a mark and “improve” the world, create a better “future” (affordable housing).

Role in the Story: Antagonist

Age range and Description: 60s, a polished and cultured businessman, who has no problem having people killed to close a deal.

Core Traits: amoral, driven, polite.

Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To get the homes in the neighborhood condemned so he can move forward with his development.

Need: Constant affirmation.

Wound: What they can’t face: Failing, Losing.

Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likeability: He’s always polite and courteous, and that goes a long way.

Relatability: Unreasonable obstacles to his goals;

Empathy: Something he’s worked for years to accomplish taken away.

[Edward Brown]

edward brown charactors that attract actors

I learned need many facets to make attractive character

hope to catch up after being shut down

Tanya

Love interest

35 years, long fine hair, fit , strong legs and butt, curves, emotive face, giggle charm

Vamp, charmer + tough bitch, believer, structured, organized, in-box

WANT ROMANCE FOREVER, needs to be controlling Czarina vs bossed

Wound: drunken husband, males want sex but not fatherhood, grandmother died after being in prison for teaching, want to be sure George is ONE

Likability: spunky, smart, not in for money,

Relatability

Tanya likability

Loves son, father, rejects sex rejects money, long trip, winning contest

Tanya relatability

Wants more than live, reproduce, work die. Wants fun adventure romance

Tanya Empathy

Left on dance floor ignored

Traveled distance, stranded in city,

Prayer, repremands Son for being male chinists

Need dilemma Moscow or ????;

Break out/ bordome/ new year new life new lover

Want to succeed because of innate competency

Female in male word

George

Suitor and spy and transformer

55 old white hair fat

Adaptable , ropes, winning sailor, recovering scientist, creative out of box, beyonder, Romantic, charmer, solutions, slob, vampable, disorganized

Wound: ex tried to steal son, but good partner, in boring trade, afraid of attached to kid and forced out

GEORGE likability

More than sex, values dream, wonder of women

Dreamer

Seeks partner,

Helps her with life: mouse, house, art, take her places, bathroom, cook, food, massage, health cure, mold,

Top sailor, top roofer,

Get cat, helps roofers, helps Rita,

GEORGE relatability

Break out

More than live, reproduce, work, die

Want dream, fun, adventure, romance

GEORGE disdtress\empathy

Locked out, locked up, in debt, bills, messy, health, disorganized, teeth, truck, overwhelmed

Bored, not rewarding challenge, lacks game plan strategy, not pro active but passive

Creator

Concerned experimenter who indirectly coaches thru others

Can take any form, but plays Father role , Acts of God

Super but limited powers, concerned, reluctant to intervene as children should grow up

Challenge promoting Go Giving practice

Wants to save biped from extinction, promote Go Giving

Needs biped agents to convince or parable series

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Character Profiles Pt 1

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by giving actors traits, motivations, journeys, you can make their characters 3-dimensional which guide the storyline and the actor.

PROTAGONIST – Rizzo

A. Character’s Role in The High Concept.

When an agoraphobic memory recall scientist is reunited with her missing twin brother only to discover he is an imposter, she must race to save the real one who was hijacked into a mirror dimension while the doppelganger rages in our world to invade.

B. This character’s journey. Rizzo must go from afraid of change and losing anything or anyone- an agoraphobic memory recall scientist who lives an isolated life- connecting to the world only virtually to being a woman who saves her brother who is trapped in a mirror dimension and stopping the invasion of her brother’s and other doppelgangers.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. – The actor would be known to be able to exercise a full range of emotions and motivations from being closed and holding on to open and letting go. From paralyzed to kicking ass.

1. Role in the Story: protagonist – A memory recall scientist, she and her brother invented the tech. She must find her brother.

2. Age range and Description:25-30

3. Core Traits: controlling/smothering, denialist, insecure, paranoid, afraid.risk-adverse, haunted.

4. Motivation:

Want: To save her brother and bring him home.

Need: To have her brother forgive her. To have herself forgive herself for causing the deaths of their parents.

5. Wound: She caused the crash of her parents. Both she and her brother survived.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

· Likability: she’s suffering from funds running out for her research and virtual cocoon existence Her brother has been missing. She refuses to believe he’s dead.

· Relatability: She struggles with her love/hate relationship with her brother due to their shared memory.

· Empathy: It’s sad to watch her miss her brother. She suffers from agoraphobia because of her past trauma which makes her afraid of change.

TRIANGLE CHARACTER – Marcus

A. Character’s Role in The High Concept. A mission goes wrong and an injured Marcus ends up trapped by his doppelganger in the mirror dimension.

B. This character’s journey. He goes from escaping from his sister to avoid being smothered to needing and accepting her help.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. – The actor would act in a role about a person who needs redemption himself but gets to play amazing action sequences.

1. Role in the Story: Triangle Character- Marcus is an ex- astronaut and twin brother of “Rizzo”

2. Age range and Description:25-30

3. Core Traits: humorous, explorer/adventurer, problem solver, nerd

4. Motivation:

Want: To save Rizzo and to save himself and Becker.

Need- Rizzo to let him go. Need to forgive Rizzo.

5. Wound: His parents died in a car accident and he secretly harbors resentment to Rizzo for causing it.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

· Likability: He cares for his sister. He helps her. He cares for his crew and saves them.

· Relatability: He feels smothered by his sister. He can’t win any argument with her.

· Empathy: He suffered PTSD when traveling in Black Time.

ANTAGONIST – Marcus Doppler

A. Character’s Role in The High Concept. Marcus Doppler is Marcus’ Doppelgänger

B. This character’s journey. He goes from suddenly appearing and living only the time that real Marcus is in the dimension to finding a possibility of living in another world with a new outlook on life.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. – The actor for Marcus would act as his own doppelgänger with opposite traits.

1. Role in the Story: Antagonist: Marcus doppler is a mirror copy of the real Marcus

2. Age range and Description:25-30

3. Core Traits: Secretive, manipulative, scheming, concealing, angry, disinterested, unempathetic

4. Motivation:

Want: Want to live in our world. Want to control the portal so that his host (Marcus) is kept in the mirror world. And so that other doppelgängers can come and live in this world.

Need: To feel human. To live a long life .

5. Wound: He feels he got the shot end of the stick in the scope of the universe.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

· Likability: He’s cares for the cat.

· Relatability: He has a limited life and he wants more.

· Empathy: He suffered PTSD when traveling in Black Time.

[Kristin Donnan]

KRISTIN’S CHARACTER PROFILES PART 1

VISION: “I want the personal, professional, and financial freedom and joy that come from writing so well that I’m in demand, selling beyond my wildest dreams, and making worthy projects—on a big scale and with my active, collegial participation.”

WHAT I LEARNED doing this assignment is that I’m recognizing that with each assignment, I’m “in it.” But when I back out and grab information from past assignments to stack information together, I realize there are thousands of details. They’re all so important, but I’m worried I’m going to forget them. I know that this process is meant to help me NOT forget them… but that’s what I learned. I learned that I see the scaffold I’m making, and how important each step really is.

CONCEPT: REX APPEAL / Comedy — The true story of a small-town paleontologist who sues the government after the feds seize his T. rex, the largest in the world.

PROTAGONIST / PETE THE PALEONTOLOGIST

JOURNEY: (Internal) From selfish and indulgent to selfless, brave, and a role model for others. (External) From a small-town businessman to a world-renowned poster boy for fighting government overreach.

ACTOR ATTRACTORS:

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He’s on a hero’s journey—he’s the underdog who takes hold of his life. He’s honorable, vulnerable, and brave. He’s also one of the most controversial people ever in his field, and the subject of a legal case that garnered worldwide attention. It’s Jurassic Park meets My Cousin Vinny.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He’s faced with huge decisions, and also he’s in a very interesting context. He’s an expert in one of the most unusual jobs in the world—but he’s oblivious to human relationships. He goes through a great change, and faces his demons. Also, he avoids confrontation in his day-to-day life, and is a pushover in some situations—and then is faced with a huge dilemma: to give in or fight the government.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Sues the federal government; is willing to reveal anything about his work or life “for the cause”; won’t “split the baby” (re: breaks the rules to help pack the dinosaur that’s being seized, so she will be protected); takes the defense process into his own hands; joins forces with the most wild lawyer (doesn’t take the easy road); makes bold decisions about the case; faces the consequences with good humor and positivity; is willing to lose everything “to do the right thing.”

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He’s the pied piper of a ragtag group, but “upping the ante” by explaining detailed scientific information to them, way above their knowledge base. He’s in two worlds at once, fully at home in the rural Midwest, completely unaware that he’s a total geek—and then he leaves behind a kid at the gas station. Yes, he does go pick him up, but it’s clear that his awareness of every detail of his field is much more developed than his basic awareness of parenting. Or humans.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? Funny, witty, goofy…and then righteously angry, incredibly hurt, and sad when he realizes how misunderstood he is. Vulnerable with a few people close to him, and putty in the hands of his kids.

6. What subtext can the actor play? As he fights the “good fight” on the world stage, underneath he is devastated to lose the support of some of his family. His choices are misunderstood; his “way” is misunderstood, and he must soldier on. Also, he just wants to be loved, and he fumbles his relationships with women; he’s great with fossils.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? His kinship with the flamboyant lawyer (his total opposite); his relationship with the fossil (the most intimate of his life); and his battle with the Opposition lawyer. (Note: trying to decide if the judge or the lawyer is the primary in the antagonist camp; they are both bad and both have different parts to play in the saga.)

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? By doing “good” for people while seemingly not interested in them; by speaking through science (science is his safety net).

9. What makes this character special and unique? He is the charismatic leader of his group—project-wise, but because of his oblivious nature, opens himself to criticism. He doesn’t know how to manage people, and never wants to argue—but he wants to be right.

ROLE IN THE STORY: Protagonist: Pete is the catalyst of this story, the person willing to say yes to adventure—and no to the government. He puts himself at risk, and while he loses “the love of his life,” he stands up for what is right and becomes the poster boy for his field.

AGE RANGE & DESCRIPTION: Mid-30s, fit from a lifetime of hard work, is disheveled and dusty and totally focused on his work.

TRAITS: Idealistic, genius-smart, driven, independent, follows his own path

MOTIVATION: Want: To be the best in his business, “the poster child for independent collectors.” Need: To be acknowledged by his family as worthy

WOUND: Always told he wasn’t good enough

LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY:

LIKABILITY: He’s kind, funny, truly interested in what he’s doing; obviously “not in it for the money.”

RELATABILITY: We’ve all felt doubt about our choices; many people feel responsible for others’ livelihoods, and would worry that they’ve put them in danger or a bad position; no one wants the government (or any legal entity) breathing down their necks.

EMPATHY: We’re scared for him; we can imagine what it would be like to be wrongly accused; we want him to win!

ANTAGONIST / SLICK WILLY, ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY

JOURNEY: (Internal) Refuses to have one; (External) From Acting US Attorney to unemployed

ACTOR ATTRACTORS:

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He is conniving and intelligent, but conflicted. His main goal is to get promoted, and he’s picking low-hanging fruit with this action (seizing the fossil). He is unprepared at the public outcry and has to think fast to keep on task—the task being to take down a very beloved person in a small community, who he has made into a martyr.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He’s the driver of the action that everyone keeps asking, “why did he do that?” He’s the sharp end of the stick through which we learn everything about the story.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Seizes the fossil; dolls himself up whenever he might be interviewed; colludes with the judge; agrees to settle, then leaks the settlement (which makes the judge reject it); lies to the press; does the opposite of what he promised to the public; is secretly insecure and outwardly unapologetic (like Trump!).

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Orchestrating the seizure of the world’s most famous T. rex, he makes elaborate plans—for himself, such as wearing pancake makeup for the cameras—but neglects even the most basic provisions for the task at hand—doesn’t bring crates, or plaster, or wood to make crates.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? In public, he’s a one-trick pony; behind closed doors, he rages, is petulant, intimidated, scared, and begs.

6. What subtext can the actor play? He’s a bully with zero self-esteem; he wants to “get ahead,” but pretends he’s helping the public.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? His main battle “in the ring” is with the flamboyant defense lawyer; he also relies on other lawyers in his office. He also has to face the protagonist, and manipulate the judge.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He’s the guy with the connections in government circles. His bravado and “believe me, I know what’s happening behind the scenes” innuendos cover his hidden insecurities.

9. What makes this character special and unique? He’s smart, which helps his goal—but he’s relying on bluster and supposition to make his case. He doesn’t know what he’s up against.

ROLE IN THE STORY: Antagonist: He sees an opportunity to “kill off” someone in a high-profile way so as to advance his own career. He doesn’t care about the science, the fossil, or the truth.

AGE RANGE & DESCRIPTION: Mid-30s, stuffed shirt, looks like he hasn’t breathed in a year.

TRAITS: Thinks he’s smarter than he is, smarmy, manipulative, self-serving

MOTIVATION: Want: To march up the ranks. Need: To be important.

WOUND: Didn’t make the grade for a better posting; forever seeking greener grass.

LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY:

LIKABILITY: He’s clever enough to have figured this out; he’s eager, like a geeky kid going to prom.

RELATABILITY: We can imagine seeing a huge “possibility,” and weighing the ethics of possibly hurting someone in the process of going for it.

EMPATHY: It’s hard to be the uncool kid, always left behind; he wants to be successful.

PROTAGONIST’S SIDE-KICK / BRONC, DEFENSE ATTORNEY

JOURNEY: (Internal) From insecure blowhard to brother; (External) From cocky, bulletproof showboat to passionate believer

ACTOR ATTRACTORS:

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He’s flamboyant, the smartest person in the room, cocky, and arrogant. All of this leads to daring exploits that bite him in the ass. But mostly, they work.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He’s willing to go head-to-head with anyone brave enough to come up against him. He vacillates from being insensitive and rude to amazingly present. He also has a great habit of summarizing complex situations into very simple, irresistible arguments.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Guides the Protagonist through absolutely uncharted waters—and becomes like a brother to him at the same time. Sometimes he gives great advice. Other times…he bites off more than he can chew, or over-estimates his charms.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? It’s the first of the scary moments for the Protagonist—during the seizure. It’s total chaos, and Bronc arrives like a knight in shining armor, blasting everyone out of the way, soothing fears, and making us think that everything just might be okay.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? He’s loud and charismatic, quiet and charming, earnest, unsure. He laughs (mostly at his own jokes), cries, and is totally committed.

6. What subtext can the actor play? He’s totally committed to his clients, so much so that he almost stops sleeping so he can cram as much information as possible into his very smart brain. Sometimes his actual commitment gets fogged by arrogance; sometimes his decisions are confused by self-promotion. Let’s face it; he’s a narcissist, which makes “service” a conundrum.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? He matches wits (and wins) against the prosecution; he merges with his client; he competes with his co-defending “team.”

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? There’s no one like him. He’s got a little of Ulysses Everett McGill in Oh, Brother, but with a lot more ammo.

9. What makes this character special and unique? Almost too much, but someone you definitely want on your side. Saying yes to hiring him is not the safe route.

ROLE IN THE STORY: The sharp end of the stick. Bronc loves the underdog, and the bright lights that shine on the underdog’s defender. But In this case, he becomes hooked.

AGE RANGE & DESCRIPTION: About 50, ex-athlete, rangy and confident.

CORE TRAITS: Intense, smartest guy in the room (even if he’s not), competitive, daring

MOTIVATION / WANT&NEED: Want: To save the world; Need: to be praised for saving the world.

WOUND: As the eldest in a long line of sons and star athletes, and the son of one his state’s most famous attorneys, he had it beaten into him that he must be the best, the bravest, and the most, at all costs. Losing is never an option.

LIKABILITY, RELATABILITY, EMPATHY

LIKABILITY: He’s funny and smart, and defends our hero with passion. We want him on our side.

RELATABILITY: We all want to be the guy who fights the good fight.

EMPATHY: We see his underbelly, and that he’s scared. We can imagine what it’s like to hold someone else’s life in your hands.

KELLY / PROTAGONIST LOVE INTEREST

JOURNEY: (Internal) From non-committal observer to someone willing to take a risk. (External) From neutral journalist someone with a passionate opinion, willing to see the gray in life.

ACTOR ATTRACTORS:

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? She’s in a pickle. She arrives as a friend of the underdogs—to research them for a story—and falls in love with her subject. But she doesn’t play the wimp. She keeps reporting and investigating, while also supporting the team. She’s no pushover; she’s not just “the girlfriend.” She uncovers important information and keeps Bronc in line.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? She’s the only one both Pete (protagonist) and Bronc (defense attorney) eventually can trust to see the whole picture. She also has one foot in and one foot out, having lived there and then moved away for the big city. She’s neither fish nor fowl, and people don’t know what her motivations are.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? She changes her life in a matter of weeks, moving back from LA to live in rural America; she puts herself in the middle of a romantic dilemma (falling in love with her subject); she braves difficult moments, and counsels the protagonist and his family in the ways of the world.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? She’s in LA working at a TV show, and the protagonist calls her to help get media coverage on the national level. She takes a sabbatical, packs up, and goes back home to investigate.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? As a smart woman, she begins with compassion and empathy, mixed with curiosity. She begins by not knowing “if there’s smoke, is there fire?” Through the story, once she knows they’re innocent, she cries with the family, goes head-to-head with lawyers and others, and becomes an advocate.

6. What subtext can the actor play? She’s very conflicted. At first, in interviewing and “finding the story,” she’s trying to discover if her old friends broke the law. Once she knows they didn’t, she’s stuck between journalistic integrity and falling in love. She’s also worried about the kids in the family, who are gobsmacked by the situation.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With the protagonist (friend and eventual lover); defense lawyer (who suspects her motives, and then comes to trust her).

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? She’s the calm, reasonable one—always analyzing and helping soothe nerves. No matter how freaked she might actually be.

9. What makes this character special and unique? She’s the only one who can “see what the public might see.” Lawyers ask her “how does this look,” or “what is the public getting from this?” She’s the canary in the coal mine, their link to the outside world.

ROLE IN STORY: Possibly the narrator, but at least the person who makes sense of a lot of confusing elements. She has to “sort everything out”—which helps Pete, the case, the lawyers, and the audience.

CORE TRAITS: Curious, brave, straight-talking, compassionate

MOTIVATION / WANT & NEED: Want: Goes from telling a good story into helping a good person. Need: To have someone (maybe even herself) see her as a whole person.

WOUND: Taken advantage of by everyone in the family; used for her good nature. She’s slow to trust and can even be calculating.

LIKABILITY, RELATABILITY, EMPATHY

LIKABILITY: She obviously likes to help, and people respond to this.

RELATABILITY: People can relate to the idea that a “thing” doesn’t turn out as you imagined.

EMPATHY: We can feel for her, understanding the tight spot she’s gotten herself into.

[Susan Arnout Smith]

Character Profiles, part 1

ESME COOPER AND THE PROPHESY OF DOOM

Susan Arnout Smith’s Great Amazing Vision: I easily co-create with the Creator projects that are produced, win awards, heal hearts and bring me financial abundance and time to explore the world with my family and friends.

What I learned from this assignment: How much I am creating a ‘safe space’ for creation at my highest level by doing the exercises and the assignments.

Character: Esme Cooper

With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

A. The High Concept. A young girl is spirited off planet after an ancient prophesy reveals she will cause the destruction of her world, not knowing that her being off-planet is what creates her world’s end.

B. This character’s journey. Esme goes from being a kid—naïve, needy, self-centered–into transforming through time into a great leader who saves her kingdom from evil and destruction.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character.

Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Protagonist, savior of Cantoria

Age range and Description: A spirited, scrappy 12-year old Halfling

Core Traits: Fearless, Trusting, Wounded, Magical

Motivation; Want/Need: On Earth under her cloak of forgetfulness, Esme wants to experience a normal childhood; as she comes back into remembering her past and gradually who she is, she needs to step into her brilliance to save her world. Note: see post #4: hidden agendas

Wound: Her wound is tied to why she wants to stay in forgetfulness (without realizing that’s what it is.) If she remembers, her wound rears up raw and untrammeled: her belief that her family and land were destroyed because of her essence. Losing everything is her fault.

Likability. She attacks her childhood nemesis who is mocking her mother.

Relatability. Esme kicks off the tale with her belief that she’s ‘not enough’, a common human fear.

Empathy. We empathize when she’s separated from her family and her world, and on top of that, is suffering from amnesia. We’ve all felt alone at time and unsure how to handle an environment that’s new and untested.

__

Character: Her High Holy Most Marvelous Muchness, (aka Mary Fortuna)

With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

The High Concept. A young girl is spirited off planet after an ancient prophesy reveals she will cause the destruction of her world, not knowing that her being off-planet is what creates her world’s end.

This character’s journey. She goes from obsession to rage, to tracking Esme to a different planet, assuming a different identity and in the showdown, trying to kill her and thus kill Cantoria. She fails, but it’s an epic fight.

The Actor Attractors for this character. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: She is the antagonist and a fearsome foe against a 12-year old child.

Age range and Description: As the Queen, early forties and looks timeless, but not in a good way.

Core Traits: Vain, Angry, Obsessive, Abused

Motivation; Want/Need: Based on the ancient prophesy, the Queen’s immediate goal is to destroy Cantoria by getting Esme to flee. Once this is accomplished, she is led deeper into the prophesy: Cantoria only dies if and when Esme is captured and killed, and whatever has been placed with her for safekeeping is retrieved.

The Queen wants to be loved and respected. She needs to be all powerful and crush her sister’s family line and entire world, believing this will finally heal her wound.

Wound: Her relationship with Ilya (Esme’s mother) goes back to their childhoods, and her deep losses, leading to her obsession to extinguish the High Priestess lineage and obliterate Cantoria.

Likability. As Mary Fortuna, she is a fierce advocate and protector of vulnerable children.

Relatability. When Mary is driven past her control point, she spins into a fearsome caricature of who she pretends to be, then feels rage and shame, which only compounds her behavior. We’ve all sometimes been amazed at what we’ve done when we’re way past being our best selves.

Empathy. As Queen, she was the least favored child and grew up wounded and always trying to best real and imaginary opponents. We empathize because we’ve all felt vulnerable at times and tried in numerous ways to heal a hurt heart.

[Jacqueline Murphy]

Jacqueline Murphy Character Profiles Part 1 August 8, 2022

VISION: To empower myself to go for my dreams to be a great writer, actress and filmmaker who is “Admired”, recognized and sought after by the industry and has many successful TV & Film projects produced that make a difference and inspire others to go for their dreams.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that when I looked at previous lessons I wanted to streamline it so it the character fit with the high concept. Taking from previous lessons made the character more multi-faceted. So I put answers in fill in the blank style to remind myself the parameters of where the character is going but also the SUBTEXT for ie; she’s kind but crafty when she has to be adds to the profile. Putting the profile side by side with the subtext I see where I need to trim, change add or keep. FUN!

1. Start this assignment by empowering yourself using our State-To-Activity empowerment process. State: I’m highly motivated…Activity: …to create engaging character profiles.

2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:

A. The High Concept. A failed Actress meets a handsome devil who magically “time travels” her to 1940’s Hollywood as a movie star but she stumbles on her family’s genetic trait that allows her to create magic, time travel and make changes in any era!

B. This character’s journey.

Arc Beginning: Olivia is a serious but small-time wannabe actress who is insecure, helpless, frustrated by trying to make it in Hollywood.
Arc Ending: She has stepped into her True Purpose she was born into when she stumbles on her hidden “genetic trait” for magic and becomes “The One!” who is a top Movie Star and the Promised Ruler of the Old Hollywood Dimension and Universe.

Give us their Internal/External Journey

Internal Journey: From weak and at the mercy of others and the Hollywood Machine to fearless well-respected leader and trendsetter who makes changes to benefit herself and others.

External Journey: From insecure small-time actress to being Powerful Sorceress who is fearless “Ruler of Old Hollywood Dimension and Trendsetter in New Hollywood” that benefits all.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. Lead Character Name: Olivia Spencer

-A “Time traveler” who goes from Wannabe actress to Movie star to revelation of a hidden “genetic” trait to be Sorceress with magical powers and next heir in line to rule the OH Dimension.

-Her obsession with beauty, stardom, fame but ability to transform into a person of substance who empowers herself and others. ALSO how a “hidden talent” & genetic trait she becomes aware of can change not only her life but others.

-Her abilities and powers. Olivia goes from “waiting to have things happen” to making things happen for herself and others. Decisions to go back to OH Dimension and adventure and try on a new role for herself. Her TRANSFORMATION for self-centered to empowered authentic ruler.

-Introduction: Given a family heirloom upon the death of her mom: a Kaliedoscope that as she looks into it shows her HER VISION and deepest desires as she “falls” into the reverie-IT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING We see the Paramount Studio gates OPENING and Olivia is falling into her “Movie Star” role. We see her kindness to others

-Emotional range Goes from prisoner of her own desire, to seducer of Sorcerer, Studio Head, Mafia Boss tricking them, to positioning herself to be in power but as a benevolent ruler. Learns to “play the game” & navigate this OH Dimension “underworld” better than they do and in the end chooses to share her empowerment with others. (hence the last name of Spencer-the “dispenser”)

–Subtext the actor play From lover to killer, failed actress to star to Sorcerer-RULER of the REALM. Tricking all with different versions of herself then realizes it’s her authenticity that’ll win her what she truly desires: a purpose, respect of herself and by others and there wanting her to be a star and rule.

-Interesting relationships this character has? With the Sorcerer: Damien as she realizes her powers and begins to “best” him. Conflict occurs when a romance develops between them and when she realizes who she really is she must choose to kill him to rule or give him the crown. AND that he’s her step brother. With Angelica her BFF who is a psychic she thinks Angelica will go along with her but once she sees the truth of who Olivia is Angelica and Olivia collide when A tries to bring her back to the Real world but Mistrust, power struggles develop and Angelica shifts loyalties once realizing Olivia is ruler and wants power for herself creating a triangle between the Sorcerer, Olivia and Angelica. The shocker is they are all related and in love with each other in different ways: Brother/sister/lover friend. All 3 must resolve the different fractured sides of themselves and find their true purposes of why they were born.

–Character’s unique voice presented In her ability to “act” her way through things until she figures out and gets enough info for her next step. Once she realizes the deep well of her god given genetic traits and magic she goes from acting to authentic.

– What makes this character special and unique? Her acting ability allows her to move people and learn the “truth” about who they are. In the OH Dimension her “True self” is MAGNETIZED as she becomes more POWERFUL and who she is MEANT TO BE Her sincere authentic self and forgiving way causes people to “let down their guard” never believing she is as Powerful as she is. And the SURPRISE to herself of what she’s capable of doing once she continues to grow her talents for magic and self-transformation.

10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)Olivia shows up in the OH Dimension as a movie star and is hurtled into world of danger, backstabbing and mystery. She uses her “acting” ability to play along as she figures out this world. Her “true self” kind and caring helps an old women who is really a Goddess witch who sees that Olivia has traits of the creator of the OH Dimension and is sure Olivia is the one by the Ruby red ring she wears but also the magic kaleidoscope she carries with her along with her melodic voice that soothes and can draw you into her stories causing you to want to help her.

3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.

Role in the Story: Heroine/Undercover spy/duplicitous con artist-actress playing along who makes good. Down and out actress who is an Adventuress risktaker turning into a disrupter of the status quo transforming into a authenticated powerful woman who discovers and becomes all she can be and helps others to have their dreams too. Age range and Description: 40’s Beautiful, kind hearted, wannabe actress kicking around Hollywood but never gets her break until she meets an “evil” soulmate who understands her “dream” and offers to use his “magical” abilities to time travel Olivia to 1940’s Hollywood and be a STAR but at a price as she’s hurtled into a dangerous world and dimensions where all want what she has and is: beauty, talent, fame, money, power

3. Core Traits: Player-using acting ability, empathic kindness to work the situation. Seductive adventuress who feels like a victim inside but tries to overcome it with her personal success in fame for acknowledgement.

Logline: A desperate actress who risks it all to be a star but stumbles on a hidden genetic talent she has to allow her to time travel and do magic and fights her way to find her “true Purpose” and be the ordained Ruler of the Old Hollywood Dimension.

Unique: Not aware of her genetically endowed with super powers to time travel, do magic and an Rainman type of memory but unaware of it because she’s blinded by her desire to be a star.

4. Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to be a star, the top of her game with power and say so but needs to heal the pain at being abandoned, rejected and never knowing her real dad so she’ll want and need to be applauded, loved and acknowledged. to make it as a star & find out who her father is & if he’s alive

Wound: ”No one loves me” especially with the recent loss of her mom and never knowing her dad now more than ever she feels it’s up to her to soothe herself, mother and make it happen: Feels like life is passing her by and it’s getting late. Too late…. The traumatic experience with a major loss growing up “fatherless” and of never knowing her father, if she was illegitimate, if her mom made up stories or if they were true. With the death of her mom she has no immediate family left and that haunts her and shapes a lot of their coping decisions and drives her forward to breakthrough and find out the truth about herself.Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likability: Olivia is kind spending time with her dying mom and other patients in the nursing home, cheering them up with imitations of “Mae West” and other stars, reading, acting things out for them and watching old movies where they repeat the lines together, sing a longs. Olivia buries her mom at Point Dume “their” special place filled with memories with Angelica her psychic friend chanting prayers and both sing a song of love

Relatability: Olivia’s mom dies as she sits there holding her hand, seeing her mom is gone she hugs her and we see a “tinker-bell” rainbow colored fairy leaving her mom heart and flying into the heavens. A heartbroken Olivia carries out her mom’s last wish to bring her a treasured kaleidoscope which is then given to Olivia with a message from her mom: “Follow your dreams-just look through the lens and see all the beauty life can bring”

Empathy: It’s sad to watch Olivia’s mom die& her being so alone we feel for her.

Subtext Identity: The Victim/Seducer Happy go Lucky actress with deep wound at never knowing her father and not making it in Hollywood. Unaware when we start of her hidden genetic talents and abilities and her true purpose in life as Ruler of the OH ThroneSubtext Trait: – Secretive – Concealing – Crafty – seductress-playerSubtext Logline: Olivia a failing actress makes a Faustian deal with a Sorcerer to “time travel” to 1940s Hollywood to be a glamourous movie star but is thrust into a world of danger, magic and intrigue and stumbles on her own hidden talent a genetic trait that helps her to maneuver and survive. Subtext Activity: tries to be a star to see the whole world loves her to make up for the father who she never knew and thought didn’t love her. Plays along with this OH world she has no knowledge of until she meets a mentor. Tricks, seduces, kids, plays along, flirts, befriends to draw people in so she can get a handle on this OH world.

Subtext Logline: Olivia has a loss wound and covers it by trying to become a star but when triggered she gets into trouble and risks things normal people wouldn’t venturing to time travel and give up her whole life to be a star.

[savanna]

Savanna’s Character Profiles Part I

Vision: take my broken heart and turn it into art successfully and allowing attention to human rights causes

What I learned in this exercise is – keep filling in the blanks; it’s already there, don’t overthink.

AUSTIN

The High Concept –Austin never climbs out from the shadow of his father who hangs over him even professionally, but he plots to persuade his father to disinherit the sisters so he has more for himself and his right wing family faking a life of aristocracy in the South.

This character’s journey – from insecure to wiser

The Actor Attractors for this character: physicality, Bond-enthusiast, lady’s man.

Role in the
Story: antagonist
Age range
and Description: 60’s with a striking appearance and a limp
Core
Traits: cool, understated, reserved
Motivation;
Want/Need: to feel loved by his father, to feel accepted by society.
Wound: the
disdain of his father; the losing landscape for white men
Likability:
liked by all his students and their parents; great part time coach at school; great teacher

Relatability: feels like never enough

Empathy: mistreated by father; embarrassed by wife and her family after his public affair

SAVANNAH

The High Concept – She’s the long lost sister who has lived in a progressive part of the country and returns to hometown to report on changing political landscape and racial intolerance

This character’s journey – from assuming she knows the answers to surprise at the wounds that torpedoed her family of origin

The Actor Attractors for this character: smart but scattered, trusting, body builder

Role in the
Story: protagonist
Age range
and Description: 50’s
Core
Traits: observant, smart, caring of others
Motivation;
Want/Need: to understand what has happened
Wound:
mocked by family of origin

6. Likability: body builder even though somewhat handicapped

Relatability: tries hard

Empathy: she is willing to risk relationships to get to the truth

LIMINANI

The Actor Attractors for this character: gossipy Southern belle who would have been happier living with a woman and being true to herself

Role in the
Story:triangle antagonist
Age range
and Description: 60
Core
Traits: intent, decisive, jealous
Motivation;
Want/Need: to be vindicated after public affair
Wound: not feminine enough for southern society
Likability:
honest communicator

Relatability: outsider in a large dysfunctional family

Empathy: deeply wounded by husband’s affair in small town

[Christopher Dalbey]

Christopher’s Character Profiles Part I

My Vision: To claim “screenwriter” as my primary profession and to be well respected and sought after in the industry for my scripts that are both memorable and ground-breaking.

What I learned doing this assignment is the importance of synching the character profiles so that they match up with the high concept. While doing so, the high concept is even more elevated the deeper we dig into our character’s psyche.

NIA COLEMAN

The High Concept: Once Nia discovers her supernatural abilities, her vengeance is to find her husband’s killer and daughter’s assailant. Even at the cost of undermining Dr. Dahl’s unorthodox methods of treating the new line of elite criminals.

Character’s journey – from betrayed and tragic to essential and courageous.

The Actor Attractors for this character: Approachable, empathetic, crime consultant, lifesaver, absolved and vindicated, a warrior of great supernatural powers.

Role in the Story: Protagonist

Age range and Description: late 30’s to early 40’s, a physical force, very impressionable, sharp with a dreamy aesthetic.

Core Traits: academic, kind hearted, broken, has grit, mind over matter.

Motivation; Want/Need: to be respected among her academic peers/to find the killer that stole her family from her.

Wound: A crippling anxiety disorder.

Likability: Her resolution is her demise. A fighter.

Relatability: sees the good in all things. Gives everyone the benefit of the doubt.

Empathy: her sacrifices to get where she is for a better life for the family that was taken from her.

DR. HANNAH DAHL

The High Concept: A world renowned psychologist whose clients she treats are the very criminals she covertly helps to secure a high office in the new world.

Character’s journey – from a celebrated top psychologist to a trusted ally among the new world order.

power-hungry ambition

The Actor Attractors for this character: An intellect, motherhood ambitions, power-hungry ambition, devious.

Role in the Story: antagonist

Age range and Description: 40’ish; alluring warmth, motherly, brilliant, the friend you can count on.

Core Traits: intellectual, imaginative, charming, a woman scorned, devious.

Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to secure her place in the new world/ needs to fulfill her inexhaustible urges for motherhood.

Wound: Comes from a broken home. Infertility.

Likability: Her high IQ.She is the friend that you can confide in.

Relatability: Her friends are like family.

Empathy: Natural motherly instincts for a woman who suffers from infertility.

JAYLA COLEMAN

The Actor Attractors for this character: gifted, creative, knows how to stand up for herself, wise beyond her years.

Role in the Story: Nia’s gifted biological daughter.

Age range and Description: early teens, brave, the girl who can hang with the boys, the girl all the boys want to be around.

Core Traits: artistic, open, adventurous, spirited.

Motivation; Want/Need: wants to be a part of Nia’s life/needs to be loved and appreciated.

Wound: neglected and blind.

Likability: wants to enjoy life and believes in love.

Relatability: tries too hard to impress when she is best being herself.

Empathy: She feels misunderstood and disconnected.

[Daniel Turner]

Daniel Turner’s Character Profiles Part 1

VISION: to become a produced, well regarded, and in demand writer.

What I learned doing this assignment is how to create a dimensional character.

Protagonist: Colvile Franklin

High Concept: A preacher turned police detective, while investigating a series of murders uncovers a secret sect sacrificing sinners.

Journey: He goes from a man of the cloth to a man with a gold shield all in an attempt to try and realize the goals of his faith.

Actor Attractors: A truly unique character. He is a preacher turned detective who has kept his habits and demeanor of when he was a preacher. He was a successful preacher which means he is charismatic, a great storyteller and great with people.

Role in Story: Protagonist

Age range and Description: Mid 30’s, good looking man, well spoken and clearly intelligent, a preacher.

Core Traits: Engaging, warm, tough and decisive.

Motivation, Want: To be known as the best detective in the department

Need: To have his faith renewed

Wound: His faith has been broken and his beliefs are fading, feel misguided.

Likability: endlessly caring.

Relatability: He has an engaging and involving workplace.

Empathy: His job is clearly very dangerous, he gets shot.

Dr. Roland Young

Role in story: Antagonist

Age range and Description: Early 40’s, he is bookish but sly and cunning. Wicked smart and very observant, not much gets past him.

Core Traits: Calculating, insightful, covers his scheming nature.

Motivation, Want: To make the world to an idea, his idea, of a better place.

Need: To leave his mark on this world.

Wound: He grew up poor and lived in the downside of the city. He has been trying to wash the stench of his upbringing off.

Likability: Charming and listens like he cares.

Relatability: His job is over scrutinized and under appreciated.

Empathy: Most of his patients have no desire to be there.