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Day 6 Assignments
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Karen Crider’s Genre Conventions
What I learned: That figuring out genres can be tricky. Characteristics of story can be similar in different genres and sidetrack a writer. It did me. I struggled with it for over a day and a half. These are the genres that I think fit my movie: Genre: Adventure, Drama/Animation
My vision is to be a stronger writer.
#1. I am confident in my writing genre conventions into my structures.
#2. Title: Solo Act
#3. Concept: A young, traumatized hyena, ousted from his clan, must win acceptance in another, or struggle to survive the jungle predators alone.
Genre: Adventure, Drama/Animation
Conventions:
3. CONVENTIONS OF DRAMA PURPOSE: To explore stories with emotional and interpersonal high stakes for their characters.
CHARACTER-DRIVEN JOURNEY: We always need to care about the characters in a Drama, and their internal journey drives the film’s events and progression.
HIGH STAKES COME FROM WITHIN: Whether the story’s events are relatively mundane or intense, the struggles, obstacles, and stakes comes from within the characters more than from external pressures.
EMOTIONALLY RESONATES: Drama audiences want to feel and be moved by the characters’ emotions and how they experience the events. CHALLENGING,
EMOTIONALLY CHARGED SITUATIONS: Characters get challenged to their core by the emotional situations and struggles that they run into. REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS: Drama stories are grounded in reality.
#4. Brainstorming session.
#5. Protagonist vs. Antagonist structure,
Opening: Inside the fauna and flora of the African, forest edges lives all manner of creatures, but none as unique as the hyena with its powerful bite ratio, the lion that serves as death’s best friend or gray wolves incapable of mercy.
Such a wolf is MORTIMER, a lone wolf, that has not eaten in three days.
He languishes in the heat until a warthog shows up.
One crusty with age, nosing the parched soil for grubs. The warthog never suspects danger.
Mortimer attacks. The warthog tries to escape, but Mortimer nabs him.
A lion approaches, foaming at the mouth, frenzied; powerful, bounding upon Mortimer’s back.
Mortimer rolls over on top of him, dislodging him.
The flash of fangs; the baring of claws, the tearing of flesh, all take a toll on each other.
Mortimer hangs onto the lion’s throat with a lockjaw hold.
He has lost so much blood, he passes out. Mortimer wakens to darkness.
Something warm and sticky puddles his chest.
He tries to move despite the pain; despite the weight of the lion on top of him.
A lion still warm and seemingly tethered to life. So, Mortimer lies still, paralyzed with fear.
INT. COMMUNAL DENS – DAY
Inside the African forest edges resides a clan of fifty spotted hyenas. The clan’s hierarchal leader,
SILLA, a large, powerful, spotted female, leads each kill and eats first with her cubs.
The males compete for a closer range, flaring their nostrils, groveling, vying for any bone or vestige cast accidentally or otherwise. The starving, spotted males always eat last.
Silla leads the way back to the communal den, more satisfied than others.
Karen Crider’s Genre Conventions
What I learned: That figuring out genres can be tricky. Characteristics of story can be similar in different genres and sidetrack a writer. It did me. I struggled with it for over a day and a half. These are the genres that I think fit my movie: Genre: Adventure, Drama/Animation
My vision is to be a stronger writer.
#1. I am confident in my writing genre conventions into my structures.
#2. Title: Solo Act
#3. Concept: A young, traumatized hyena, ousted from his clan, must win acceptance in another, or struggle to survive the jungle predators alone.
Genre: Adventure, Drama/Animation
3. CONVENTIONS OF DRAMA PURPOSE: To explore stories with emotional and interpersonal high stakes for their characters.
CHARACTER-DRIVEN JOURNEY: We always need to care about the characters in a Drama, and their internal journey drives the film’s events and progression.
HIGH STAKES COME FROM WITHIN: Whether the story’s events are relatively mundane or intense, the struggles, obstacles, and stakes comes from within the characters more than from external pressures.
EMOTIONALLY RESONATES: Drama audiences want to feel and be moved by the characters’ emotions and how they experience the events. CHALLENGING,
EMOTIONALLY CHARGED SITUATIONS: Characters get challenged to their core by the emotional situations and struggles that they run into. REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS: Drama stories are grounded in reality.
#4. Brainstorming session.
#5. Protagonist vs. Antagonist structure,
Old Ways:
New opening shows how Mortimer got the rabies.
Shadow is traumatized by an attack and killing of his brother, by a rabid wolf, Mortimer.
Inciting Incident: Shadow is further traumatized by being ousted from his clan.
He lives in thickly brushed areas and ravines, plagued by predators.
The hyena howler broadcasts a howling contest. The prize is: being invited into the largest clans.
He practices constantly, , but his high soprano tone makes others want to kill him faster.
Brimsley, his brother, performs a Pavarotti operetti and wins. Ashamed of Shadow, he ignores him.
Shadow lives on the periphery of his old clan, hoping they will let him back in.
The goons that kicked him out return to beat him up.
He runs.
Shadow hates himself for being a coward.
He misses the clan, his mom and mourns being left out in the cold.
New Ways:
Shadow decides to mimic Brimsley and become more polished.
He wants revenge on Mortimer for killing his brother.
He decides to try to hunt. Maybe scare some poor animal to death.
Discovers his mom being attacked by Mortimer, attacks without thinking.
He helps and protects Ivy, his mom and gets her back to the clan.
His old clan jeers Shadow. Their goons try to run him off when Shadow attacks them.
He leaves several behind in the dirt.
Maturity hones his laughing ability and keen smell.
He kills Mortimer who killed so many other victims, including humans.
Hyenas immune to rabies; they can be carriers.
He becomes the alpha hyena of a wolf pack.
ACT 1
–Opening: Inside the forest of fauna and flora, lives all manner of creatures, but none as unique as the hyena with its powerful bite ratio, or lions, the hyenas biggest enemy or wolves incapable of mercy.
— Mortimer burrows into a den where the youngest hyena, Shadow, is traumatized when Mortimer invades killing his brother.
–Inciting Incident:
Shadow is ousted out of the clan in retribution of him standing up to Silla’s, (matriarch daughter,) who beats up on his mom.
–Turning Point: Shadow skulks the perimeter of his clan. Guards beat him and leaving him injured. He becomes a transient, a grub eater, dejected, forlorn.
ACT 2:
The clan howlers announce the opening of the Olympic Hyena Howling contest where the winner is accepted into the largest clan.
–Shadow gets beat up for practicing. He’s terrible. He attends the affair and loses. His brother, Brimsley wins. Ignores Shadow.
Turning Point: Shadow decides to get even. -Bathes, practices howling, polishes hunting skills, fails in bringing down zebra, but gainsa little confidence in trying.
He fails. The zebra cracks his jaw. No one cares if he’s bathed.
ACT THREE:
–Shadow follows the scent trail of his old clan to a Maasai village, where hyena’s serve as undertakers to the dead.
–Mortimer shows up and goes on a killing spree. Shadow hides.
–Shadow recognizes the wolf scent who killed his brother. He’s a cub again. Trembles. Freezes.
–Follows clan back to their den, disappointed in his actions.
–Battles a young lion, as scared as he is, and lives to howl about it.
–The lion runs him off. Another failure, first encounter with the hyena’s enemy.
ACT FOUR:
–Shadow trots along heavy on hyena scent where ahead on the trail, Silla
drags a zebra into the brush.
–A feeding frenzy results in dinner ending in minutes. Silla and her cubs exit the corpse.
–A free- for-all takes place, as the remaining hyena’s battle for scraps.
–The hyenas scatter, foraging as they go battling over remnants.
–As he takes a side trail up the hill, Shadow searches for his mom.
–He hears howling and recognizes her frenzied howl. She’s begging for help.
–Mortimer, the rabid wolf, has her by the neck. No other hyenas have come to help.
–He goes for the wolf’s neck and hangs on. The mad wolf turns his attention to Shadow.
–Shadow kills Mortimer.
–They return to clan. Guards attack Shadow. Shadow counter attacks and leaves them in the dust.
RESOLUTION:
-He leaves his birth clan for good. He matures.
-He battles big game and does it well.
-He’s big, powerful and no longer runs from a threat.
-Months later, he finds himself in the company of a wolf. One who follows him. The old terrors return.
-But he tolerates him, They run together for miles.
-They find his wolf pack, and Shadow is welcomed.
-Shadow finally belongs. His howls grow deep, strong and commanding.
-Shadow belongs and becomes the Alpha hyena of their clan.
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This probably doesn’t belong under Module 3, but under Module 2 – Lesson 6: Build In The Genre Conventions
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Module 3 – Lesson 6 – Character Profiles Part 1
Lisa Long’s Character Profiles Part 1
My Vision: I will do whatever it takes to be comfortable saying that I am a writer by creating impactful stories with amazing characters in order to sell my scripts.
What I learned from this assignment is there are many different traits you can choose for your characters but making their traits fit the story is the most important.
MOLLY
A.
The High Concept. A 10-year-old aspiring dancer is abandoned by her
mother with a father she’s never known to live with him above his
restaurant on the Chesapeake Bay.
B.
This character’s journey. Molly
is scared and sad to have been left by her mother with a father she
doesn’t know. After several arguments she learns to navigate around her
father to push forward with her dream. When her dream comes true at the
end of Act 2, she has to figure out how to go back to the bay and deal
with her life. Arc: Scared and abandoned to
unafraid and free of the burden of her past.
C.
The Actor Attractors for this character. Molly is a ballet dancer so the actress
will need to be able to dance well. She has a range of emotions to play
including sadness, fear, braveness, manipulation, joy. This could be a
tour de force character for a young actress.1. Role in the Story: Protagonist
2. Age range and Description: 10-year-old who grew up on the road with her gypsy dancer mother and is abandoned with a father she’s never known.
3. Core Traits:
a. Afraid – fear that she will not be taken care of or fit in or make a friend.
b. Angry – angry at her mother for abandoning her. Angry at her father for never being in her life before.
c. Secretive – she keeps secrets from everyone in her life.
d. Sneaky – because Edgar has forbidden her to dance, she sneaks around to do it.
4. Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to stay with her mother and be a dancer in The Nutcracker at the New York City Ballet.
5. Wound: Abandoned by her mother. She has to get to know her father but doesn’t want to.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Molly is a ten-year-old that’s never been in one place very long. She trying to survive in a new environment with people she doesn’t know. The audience were all ten once. Most can relate to being a fish out of water in a new place and being separated from family. Audience can imagine being left by their mother with someone they don’t know.
EDGAR
A.
The High Concept. A 10-year-old aspiring dancer is abandoned by her mother
with a father she’s never known to live with him above his restaurant on
the Chesapeake Bay.
B.
This character’s journey. Edgar is the strong silent type. (Think Sam Shepherd) He
never wanted children and now he’s been given a young daughter to keep
alive. Edgar must figure out how to relate to Molly. He isn’t used to
having to express himself to anyone. His only role has been as a
restaurant boss for years. Molly’s mom, April was the love of his life and
he’s never moved on. Edgar shows prejudice to Mars who is gay and black.
Eventually, he learns from Molly to set aside his ancient views and accept
Mars.
C.
The Actor Attractors for this character. Edgar is a broken man who must find a way
to open up. He has a powerful character arc.1. Role in the Story: Antagonist
2. Age range and Description: 69-year-old father of Molly who never wanted children but has to figure out how to “father” her.
3. Core Traits:
a. Panicked – he has to figure out what to do with this little girl he doesn’t know or know how to treat.
b. Shy – Edgar is innately shy and struggles to find words and open up to people.
c. Angry – he is angry that April left him because she wanted fame and he wanted to stay put and run the restaurant. He takes it out on others sometimes.
d. Covering Up – Ed is covering up that he is still in love with April. He cries at night alone in his room because she was the love of his life.
4. Motivation; Want/Need: Ed wants April, Molly’s mother back but fears it’s too late for him. He will use Molly to try to get April to return.
5. Wound: Lost the love of his life and still longs for her.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Edgar is pining over a lost love while trying to keep his business going and taking care of a newfound daughter. Most of the audience can relate to losing a love, trying to hustle at work, and take care of a child. Audience feels for someone moving through life alone and longing for a time gone by.
MARS
A.
The High Concept. A 10-year-old aspiring dancer is abandoned by her
mother with a father she’s never known to live with him above his
restaurant on the Chesapeake Bay.
B.
This character’s journey. Mars’
arc goes from hiding away at the beach and wallowing in sadness to finding
new life through Molly’s dream. By helping someone else, he helps himself and
is able to return to his city life.
C.
The Actor Attractors for this character. Mars is a dancer, so this may give the actor a challenge
if they aren’t one. He is a pivotable role that moves the story along.1. Role in the Story: Molly’s dance teacher and confidant
2. Age range and Description: 39-year-old choreographer who is mourning the death of his partner.
3. Core Traits:
a. Fragile – he recognizes his fragile state and that is why he is hiding out from people at the Bay.
b. Sarcastic – how he deals with people.
c. Kind – he tries to be kind to everyone.
d. Empathetic – he feels for Molly and her situation.
4. Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to be left alone to grieve. He decides Molly can help him as he helps her.
5. Wound: Death of partner. Burnout from NYC dance scene.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Mars is pining over his partner who passed away (similar to Edgar). He sees Molly lost without her mother and he is lost without his partner, so he bonds with her. Molly can survive with Mars on her side helping her with her dream. Audience should be able to relate to losing someone and leaning on someone to get through a tough situation.
APRIL
A.
The High Concept. A 10-year-old aspiring dancer is abandoned by her
mother with a father she’s never known to live with him above his
restaurant on the Chesapeake Bay.
B.
This character’s journey. At
the beginning April may be seen as cold, but she is trying to do what’s
right for Molly. She shows up at Molly’s performance in NYC. She finds out
that Edgar is ill and decides to make a change. She returns to the Bay to
help him and in turn realizes that she never stopped loving him.
C.
The Actor Attractors for this character.
A pivotable character that begins the drama of it all. An actress would
like this character who will go from a ne’er- do-well to redeeming
herself.1. Role in the Story: Molly’s mother and Edgar’s wife
2. Age range and Description: 49-year-old dancer who leaves Molly with her father because she doesn’t have a permanent home.
3. Core Traits:
a. Dreamer – has always believed that her dreams can come true, even though they never have.
b. Transient – doesn’t like to stay in one place because she gets bored…with the place and the people.
c. Foolish – she doesn’t make wise choices for herself.
d. Caring – she does love her daughter but isn’t sure she can take care of her.
4. Motivation; Want/Need: Wants Molly to have a permanent residence and go to school. April thinks she’s doing what is best for Molly.
5. Wound: She walked out on Edgar to follow her dream of dancing. And while she got to dance, she paid the price of a string of men who treated her badly.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy: April makes a tough decision to leave Molly with Edgar because she feels she couldn’t take care of her on the road any longer. She wants to give Molly the chance to go to a permanent school and make lasting friends. And having grown up in the area, she feels it is a good place to be raised. Audience should be able to relate to making a hard decision when it comes to family members. They know that April has a good heart but has put herself in an impossible situation with Molly.
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Lynn Vincentnathan’s Character Profiles Part 1
VISION: I am determined to become a great screenwriter capable of getting my screenplays in various genres produced into movies that inspire vast audiences to mitigate climate change.
I LEARNED that Ely is more an antagonist like “Quint” rather than the triangle character I thought he was; he’s not against the protags so much as against the world. This lesson made me continue to strengthen and elevate the 3 main characters, their cross goals/needs, and their interactions and impacts on each other.
HIGH CONCEPT: WEATHERING IT (Rom-Com) is about two college students who try to overcome family fights about global warming and get married during the worst ever Texas freeze.
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ELLIE FERRIS
A. The High Concept (? Subtext Logline ?): Ellie falls for Jim against her better (wounded layer) judgment, tries to convince herself that he would be helpful in her eco projects.
B. This character’s journey: Ellie goes from ineffective in helping save the earth and in romantic involvement to falling in love, and through struggles with family and other conflicts becomes self-confident and bold, effecting not only her marriage with Jim but also getting self and others to do the eco-things.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it: A climate activist who through family and romantic conflicts brings about climate solutions.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story: She’s ice regarding future despair and romance, but in sleeping beauty fashion but with struggle against family fights and problems with Jim awakens to love and hope.
3. The most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script: Leading trips to a turtle rescue center and whacky off-the-grid farm. Beach party antics. Kissing under a huge Jesus statue. Hugging, snuggling lead man during a freeze and black out. Being left at the altar by wedding guests. Rescuing cold stunned turtles.
4. Introducing this role in a way that could sell it to an actor: Heading a turtle rescue center trip, expresses climate despair and her lack of interest in romance. The lead man Jim follow the “hot babe.” She confronts him but he expresses interest in the turtle rescue trip and has her talk about it to his class. During her talk denialist students give her a rough time and she goes mute (from her autism). When alone with Jim she melts down emotionally over that. She explains to him she has “issues” (which we later find out is autism).
5. This character’s emotional range: Despair, to fear of connecting, lack of appropriate emotions (autism), to blossoming sexuality, to autistic mutism and emotional meltdown, to more mature coping.
6. Subtext the actor can play: She wants Jim to take over Uncle Ely’s off-the-grid project and help in the climate effort, but hides that pretending she’s only into him. She also hides her activism with his Uncle Fred (oil engineer), and hides Jim’s connection and obligation to Fred with her Uncle Ely, who hates Fred. Throughout the movie she puts climate change, her father abandonment wound, and her mild autism in subtext to avoid embarrassment, controversy and confronting these head on.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has: With Jim as her relationship with him and the family conflicts surrounding their relationship helps draws her out of her shell, sexually, romantically, and spiritually. With her two uncles: Ely the bitter grump, with whom she’s closer, and Rudy the positive, long married pastor. With Jim’s uncle, trying to please him, hiding her identity as an activist (and Jewish descent).
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? With her minor autism she goes from lacking appropriate emotion/expression/responses to temporary mutism in high conflict situations to total meltdown and panic over fairly minor things. ((I’m thinking Mr. Magoo was not only nearly blind, but also autistic.))
9. What could make this character special and unique? She fears involvement, lives in despair, and has rejected religion because her father abandoned her at age 5. This layer underlies her climate despair layer. However she is forced to overcome these to accomplish her goals of marriage to Jim and helping to save the earth.
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The First 6 Parts of The Profile
1. ROLE IN THE STORY: Protagonist, leading lady in a Rom-Com
2. AGE RANGE AND DESCRIPTION: early 20s, looks Anglo but half Tejana (Latina)
3. CORE TRAITS: highly focused and committed to help save the earth, abhors hurting people/animals, but lacks emotional involvement due to her mild autism, goes mute or into emotional melt down when distressed
4. MOTIVATION; WANT/NEED: She wants to save the earth and a bit later wants to marry Jim; she needs love and support to overcome her father abandonment wound, eco-anxiety, and to some extent her autistic-related behavior.
5. WOUND: father abandoned her at age 6 and never contacted her thereafter.
6. LIKABILITY, RELATABILITY, EMPATHY: She is committed to saving the earth and help with turtle rescue, she likes Gecko in a non-romantic way and is considerate of him; she is pursued by some guys following “hot babes”; she is given a tough time by the class and by her relatives, but weathers it to accomplish her goals.
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JIM HIGSON
A. The High Concept (? Subtext Logline ?): Jim hides his deepest wounds and needs, but finds Ellie may be the perfect woman to fulfill these, but he has to hide his obligation to Uncle Fred, fearing it may push Ellie away.
B. This character’s journey: Jim is under obligation to work for his uncle despite his own conflicting goal. When he falls for Ellie, who has various difficult issues, he goes on a journey of learning about environmental problems and how to put his parents’ teachings about love into practice and how to help his uncle get on the right track.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? Hot, sexy guy, with a sensitive, religious side, conflicted by an obligation.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? Falls for a climate activist, who draws him into environmental activities and concerns. However, he’s under an obligation to his oil engineer uncle that will tear them apart.
3. The most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script: Follows the “hot babes.” Beach party antics. Kisses Ellie under a huge Jesus Refuge of Seafarers statue. Into alt energy. Hugging, snuggling Ellie during a freeze and black out. Being left at the altar by wedding guests. Rescuing cold stunned turtles.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor: Follows the “hot babes” but protests he’s only interested in the turtle rescue and invites Ellie to give a talk. Talk backfires, upsets her, and he then cheers her with interest in her uncle’s off-the-grid farm.
5. This character’s emotional range: Guy sexy-hot for a gal, sensitive and willing to go along with her, meek and obliged to his uncle, angry when gal tells him not to invite his uncle, stubborn in reestablishing the relationship, very down about the break-up (still in love), angry with his uncle.
6. Subtext the actor can play: Pretends to be environmentally concerned to get it on with Ellie. Doesn’t tell her about his commitment to his oil engineer uncle. Once he tells her, says he can get out of that obligation or change his uncle, when he knows he can’t.
7. The most interesting relationships this character can have: With Ellie, falling for her, going to great lengths to be the man she wants, then it snaps when he just can’t go along anymore. But by then he loves her so puts forth great effort to win her back and prevent family conflicts from interfering.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Hot, sexy guy, but with a sensitive, religious side. Joking, serious, meekly agreeable to please others, later strong to get what he really wants and needs.
9. What could make this character special and unique? Sexy but religious and family-oriented.
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The First 6 Parts of The Profile:
1. ROLE IN THE STORY: Protagonist, leading man in a Rom-Com
2. AGE RANGE AND DESCRIPTION: mid-twenties, looks Anglo but half Latino.
3. CORE TRAITS: Regular hot-blooded guy, but sensitive and religious, energetic, studious. Has BS in Engineering, working on his MBA.
4. MOTIVATION; WANT/NEED: Wants to break away from his uncle and get into alternative energy engineering, wants a loving, wholesome wife and family. He needs love, comfort, and support from others.
5. WOUND: His loving father died when he was 16 and he’s had a hard time getting along with his cantankerous Uncle Fred, who is paying for his education — rubbing salt into the wound.
6. LIKABILITY, RELATABILITY, EMPATHY: He helps others and the sea turtle, falls in true love; regular guy hot after a beautiful woman, working hard to get ahead in his education and future career; struggles with and against his cantankerous, domineering uncle and deals with the ups and downs of his relationship with Ellie.
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ELY PEREZ
A. The High Concept (? Subtext Logline ?): Ely wants to save the earth and is trying to use grand-niece Ellie to help him do that.
B. This character’s journey: Elderly Ely, having become a bitter reclusive misanthrope from losing his great love, still wants to save the earth and tries to get Ellie to help and take over. This plan is thwarted when Ellie plans to run off the Houston with Jim. Ely must come out of his shell and bitterness and be amenable to others until he finally fulfills his goal and his need.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? Grumpy, argumentative old man into alternative energy who disrupts others’ plans and relationships.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? Flies off the handle regarding his arch enemy, the leading man’s oil engineer uncle and at various obstructions. Wants to save the earth, but fails at outreach efforts. Depends on grand-niece Ellie to carry on his project (has to be out-of-character nice to her).
3. Most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script: Against his recluse nature he hosts the club’s field trip to his off-the-grid farm, a hilarious grove of weird wind generators, solar arrays, batteries. Hosts the wedding in his barn during the worst freeze and black out in Texas history. Helps with the rescue of cold stunned turtles.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? In Ellie’s Act One visit to his crazy alt energy farm he comes out swinging in anger against various issues and doesn’t want nasty students coming and trashing his farm — Ellie has to convince him. In Act Two when they come, he’s okay until he hears Jim’s last name is Higson — flies off the handle in rage… until Jim assures him Fred Higson is not his father.
5. This character’s emotional range: Angry, grumpy, with a soft spot for Ellie, and changes to being more friendly, inviting, and helpful. Gives some serious heart-felt advice to Ellie, practically in tears over issues in his life.
6. Subtext the actor can play: He’s angry that no one seems to be saving the earth, especially denialist obstructionists like the lead man’s uncle, so even when he’s calm and nice, this comes out as subtext. Underlying this is his hurt from his enemy tricking the love of his life, Sarah, away from him.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? With Ellie, loving, dependent relationship. With Jim hopeful, then suspicious re Jim’s relationship to his uncle. With Jim’s uncle shear anger and hatred. With Ellie’s Uncle Rudy and her mother, contempt.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Through his expression of environmental concern various frustrations and angers, and underlying this his life-altering hurt from losing his love.
9. What could make this character special and unique? He is anti everything, except the environment and Ellie, but pushes her away and fails to do much positive for the environment because of his anger and frustrations.
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The First 6 Parts of The Profile:
1. ROLE IN THE STORY: antagonist
2. AGE RANGE AND DESCRIPTION: 60s, Tejano (Latino), slovenly
3. CORE TRAITS: cantankerous, hateful, prone to explosive anger, focused on his projects, cares about Ellie (but no one else)
4. MOTIVATION; WANT/NEED: wants to save the earth with his projects and get Ellie to help him and take over; needs someone to break through with (? tough ?) love.
5. WOUND: his love stolen away from him, prejudice against Latinx and Jews –> made him cantankerous and hateful
6. LIKABILITY, RELATABILITY, EMPATHY: trying to save the earth, intelligent, industrious, inventive; angry at obstructions, loving toward Ellie; lives alone, not caring for self, losing his great love.
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WIM Module 3 Lesson 6 Character
Profiles Part 1Joel Stern
My Vision: To write eight screenplays
that become Hollywood blockbusters and to get a speaking line one of
them.A. The High Concept: Jim “Ace” McCarthy is a decorated WW2 vet becomes a popular TV
crime reporter in 1950s Las Vegas. His dark war past and the tragic
deaths of his wife and child trigger a gambling addiction and the
Mob (Sal) comes calling – literally. He’s given 10 days to pay up or
face horrific consequences.B. This character’s journey: From All-American patriot and
family man to young widower, alcoholic and gambling addict fighting
the Vegas Mob to survive.C. The Actor Attractors for this character: He would be hero
AND a villain.Role in the Story: Protagonist
Age Range: Mid-20s.
Description: Athletic, a 1940s Norman Rockwell middle
American poster child.Core Traits: TV crime reporter; confident; never rattled;
seen it all.Motivation; Want/Need: To be TV’s version of childhood hero
Edwin R. Murrow.Wound: His horrific war experiences begin to effect his
ability to do his job.Likability: Good friend; can always count on him; loves a
good joke; dedicated family man.Relatability: Pressures of being a young husband and dad; his
pursuit of “The American Dream”; trying to make ends meet
on entry level salary.Empathy: Wife and small child die in accident; turns to
drinking, gambling – runs up huge debt.A. The High Concept: Mobster Sal begins to call Jim demanding payback of
large gambling debts. He gives Jim ten days to pay – if he
doesn’t, Jim, a TV crime reporter will be forced to cover gruesome
killings – of his loved ones.B. This character’s journey: Sal first few calls are chilling
– but as they become more frequent he becomes friendly,
sympathetic, even comical.C. The Actor Attractors for this character: The challenge of a
N.Y. Mobster dialect; displaying a range of emotions from cold and
cruel to warm and friendly.Role in the Story: Antagonist
Age Range: 35-40
Description: Voice only (on phone); N.Y. Italian.
Core Traits: Don’t mess with him; threatening yet oddly
friendly.Motivation; To convince Jim to pay back his gambling debt.
Wound: Sal claims to be a War vet as well; knows what Jim’s
going through.Likability: After several threatening calls he becomes
friendly; even starts conversations with “Knock-Knock” jokes;
almost sounds like a Las Vegas stand up comic.Relatability: Sal begins to sound like a guy who just wants
his money back; nothing personal.Empathy: Lost his wife and child too.
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David’s Character Profiles Part 1
My vision is to increase my skills to become an A-list writer.
What I learned from this assignment is the importance of creating a very specific character that jumps out on the screen- and attracts big time actors.
A. The High Concept. When a carefree college grad- owing the most money in student loan history- pretends to be a doctor to woo his dreamgirl, a ruthless collector hunts him down, threatening to expose him as a fraud.
B. This character’s journey. Chas goes from lying to himself, hiding away from life to facing reality and embracing it.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
Role in the Story: Protagonist
Age range and Description: 26, whimsical, insecure
Core Traits: Eschews reality, whimsical, insecure, (subtext) ambitious
Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to keep living his lifestyle, needs to grow up
Wound: Deeply in debt
Likability, Relatability, Empathy. Likability: Funny, kind, giving. Relatibility: unemployed, deeply in debt. Empathy: Can’t find a job, collectors after him, feels guilty lying to everyone.
A. The High Concept. When a carefree college grad- owing the most money in student loan history- pretends to be a doctor to woo his dreamgirl, a ruthless collector hunts him down, threatening to expose him as a fraud.
B. This character’s journey. Keith goes from nostalgic, living in the past, stuck in his ways/beliefs to opening his mind and embracing the future.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
Role in the Story: Antagonist
Age range and Description: 40s, mullet, stuck in 1987.
Core Traits: ruthless, honest, nostalgic, tempermental, (subtext): kind
Motivation; Want/Need: to save his mother’s house; needs to move on.
Wound: Spent time in prison/never went to college
Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Likeability: Funny, brutally honest, loves his mom. Relatability: fired from his job, IRS after him, plant closing down. Empathy: Can’t find a job, Gonna lose his childhood home, needs to come up with 10 grand to fend off the IRS,
A. The High Concept. When a carefree college grad- owing the most money in student loan history- pretends to be a doctor to woo his dreamgirl, a ruthless collector hunts him down, threatening to expose him as a fraud.
B. This character’s journey. Christie goes from a naïve intern at a law firm to a mature law student.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
Role in the Story: Triangle
Age range and Description: 23, Black, naïve, cute
Core Traits: naïve, romantic, trusting, charitable, (subtext) ambitious
Motivation; Want/Need: to fall in love like a fairytale, needs to grow up and shed naïve beliefs
Wound: She didn’t go to high school prom, not popular
Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Sweet, caring, trusting, loves her parents and volunteers at charity. What’s not to like? Relatability: naïve intern, lives with roommate- little money, too trusting of guys. Empathy: So sweet, we know she’s going to get hurt. Hopeless romantic, to a fault. Gets hit on by a-hole co-worker.
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Ron’s Characte r Profiles Part 1
Vision: I want the success and recognition of being an in demand, A-list screenwriter who writes successful films that are financially profitable, award winning and of enduring quality
1.
5. Under your vision, answer the question, “What I learned from doing this assignment is that if you follow and complete the assignments in this class you are well on your way to writing a well structured screenplay.
1. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
A: Lucia:Protagonist
A. The High Concept. After the son of
a powerful Mafia godfather convinces the godfather’s mail order bride to
kill the godfather and take over his criminal empire, she has second
thoughts and must find a way to extricate herself from this treacherous
plot.B. This character’s journey.
Abused by mother and boyfriend, the beautiful but vulnerable Lucia dreams of escaping her dreary environment in Italy. The day comes when she meets a kind and powerful mafia godfather who takes her back home from Italy. Lucia fralls for the godfather’s son and must maneuver herself in the cut throat world of the mafia to survive
C. The Actor Attractors for this character. Lucia is
vulnerable but must grow to survive in the mafia world. She learns to
adopt many of tools and devices of the mafia to grow. She falls in love
with the godfathers’ son, then must survive his wrap when she betrays himBrainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
1 Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: She respects her
mom even though the respect is not reciprocated
Relatability: She is trapped in
a situation it is difficult to get out of.
Empathy: she is bullied by her
boyfriend who mistreats her2 Role in the Story: Central figure marries the godfather, then must maneuver in his ruthless world to achieve her goals
3Age range and Description: Age Range and description; She is in her early 30s, which makes her a little more eager to escape her environment. Stiunningly beautiful, remarkable resemblance to godfather’s dead wife
4 Core Traits: ambitious, resourceful, a little naïve, appears vulnerable, but underneath tough as nails.
5 Motivation; Want/ to marry well to escape her environment
Need: Love, security
6Wound: Constantly abused, she has a low sense of worth
B: Antagonist: Stefano, son
2.Tell us the following:
A. The High Concept. After the son of
a powerful Mafia godfather convinces the godfather’s mail order bride to
kill the godfather and take over his criminal empire, she has second
thoughts and must find a way to extricate herself from this treacherous
plot.B. This character’s journey.
Humiliated the his father, the son schemes to overthrow, Carlo, the
godfather. Manipulates Lucia into betraying father. Lucia turns on Sefano.
He sets up for Lucia for muder of godfather
C. The Actor Attractors for
this character. Rocky relationship wrth his father. A manipulator, lady’s
man, driven by ambition to replace
his father3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
1. Role in the Story: Love interest of Lucia, the bride, and betrayer of his father, the Godfather:
2. Age range and Description: mid 30s, handsome, charismatic,
3. Core Traits: vengeful, ruthless, wreckless, manipulative
4. Motivation; to take over his father’s criminal empire
5. The power and wealth of his father’s criminal empire
6. Need: respect from father
7. Wound: feels his father does not respect him. Motivated to prove himself to father:
Likability, Relatability,
Empathy:
Likability: charming, handsome,
charismatic
Relatability: He is
disrespected by his father who mal treats him
Empathy: Struggles to gain
respect from father: Carlo, godfather and husband
2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
A. The High Concept. After the son of
a powerful Mafia godfather convinces the godfather’s mail order bride to
kill the godfather and take over his criminal empire, she has second
thoughts and must find a way to extricate herself from this treacherous
plot.B. This character’s journey:
laments his wife’s death, marries mail order bride who appears to be
backstabbing him. Ultimately betrayed by son.
C. The Actor Attractors for
this character.3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
1. Role in the Story: son of the godfather. Schemes to take over the mafia
2. Age range and Description: 35, handsome, lady’s man, charismatic
Core Traits
3. Motivation; Prove his father has underestimated him
4. /Need: Want to head the mafia
5. Wound: inferior complex. Wants to prove he can lead mafia
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
: Likability: charming,
handsome, charismatic
Relatability: He is disrespected
by his father who mal treats him
Empathy: Struggles to gain
respect from fatherC Carlo, godfather Bridge character
A. The High Concept. .
After the son of a powerful Mafia godfather convinces the godfather’s mail
order bride to kill the godfather and take over his criminal empire, she
has second thoughts and must find a way to extricate herself from this
treacherous plot
B. This character’s journey.Marries
Lucia, btrayed by Sylvio, killed by Sylvio
C. The Actor Attractors for
this character:.powerful mobster. Loves opera, romantic betrayed by son.
Must deal with stroke. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
1. Role in the Story: Marries Lucia, part of plot to assassinate godfather
2. Age range and Description:mid 50s, handsome, ruthless, had a stroke, romantic, in deep love with Lucia
3. Core Traits: romantic, ruthless when has to be, loving of Lucia, vengeful
4. Motivation; Want/ to make Lucia happy while surviving as a mobster
5. Need:seek revenge for dead wife
6. Wound: Feels little guilty marrying Lucia
7. Likability, treats Lucia like a queen
Relatability, death of wife
Empathy:Being betrayed by son
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Paul Dees’ Character Profiles Part 1
My Vision: I am a writer/director/producer that writes and makes films of all kinds, and I am recognized by the industry as both a highly successful filmmaker and as a person that’s easy to work with.
What I learned from doing this assignment is how to make a thorough character profile that is in line with the high concept of the story, that outlines the character’s journey, and attracts actors to the role.
Character Profile #1
Rick O’Brien
1. Role in the Story: Protagonist
2. Age Range and Description: Early to mid-40’s, an athletic man with an intelligent look, who is trying to atone for the deaths of his former partner and the hostage they were trying to save.
3. Core Traits:
· Integral
· Compassionate
· Haunted
· Brave
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
· Want: To catch a serial terrorist
· Need: To resolve the guilt he feels from losing his partner and the hostage.
5. Wound: What he can’t face:
Rick lost his partner and a hostage, and tries to bury the hurt he feels, but he needs to expunge it so he can be at peace.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Rick genuinely cares about people. He demonstrates this at home in his interactions with his family, with his co-workers, and in trying to protect the people in danger he comes in contact with as an FBI agent.
Rick loves his family, but things don’t always go smoothly at home. Kids act up, sometimes he and wife don’t see eye to eye, the cars need fixing, the house needs some work, and he has a pile of bills to pay. He also has to take out the garbage or do the dishes when it’s his turn.
Rick is genuinely haunted by the death of his former partner and the hostage he was trying to rescue as shown in the prologue. We all have suffered the loss of someone special and can empathize with his grief
Character Profile #2
Sean Gray
1. Role in the Story: Antagonist
2. Age Range and Description: Early to mid-30’s. Sean is in great shape, he clearly spends a lot of time in the gym, and he has a confident and playful air about him.
3. Core Traits:
· Fun
· Charismatic
· Intelligent
· Purposeful
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
· Want: To give the FBI practical experience with preventing terrorist attacks.
· Need: To protect people
5. Wound: What they can’t face:
It is revealed that Sean lost his family in the 9/11 attacks and was raised by an aunt and uncle. He desperately needs to ensure that further attacks will be prevented.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy
Sean is very charismatic, the life of the party who owns the room whenever he’s around. He has a great sense of humor, and people warm up to him as a result.
People relate to Sean because he’s so likable. He’s your best friend as soon as you start talking to him.
When Sean reveals to Rick that he’s the terrorist they’ve been hunting, he tells him he masterminded the attacks so that the FBI would have experience with preventing real-life scenarios, not some pre-planned training exercise. He then goes on to say that even though some people died in the attacks, once the FBI became more skilled at preventing them, many more lives would be saved in the long run. So while Sean doesn’t go about it in a very ethical way, we can all understand wanting to protect people.
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WIM2 Character Profiles Part 1
My Vision:
I do whatever it takes for me to be a true wordsmith that spins wildly original and entertaining screenplays that are passionately sought out by top industry professionals who turn them into critically and publicly acclaimed major motion pictures distributed by the top studios in Hollywood, all while writing from wherever I may be leisurely traveling the world at the moment.
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What I learned: This is a really important process that I don’t usually do outside of SU classes. I need to make this a regular part of my process. I know that’s the same thing I learned last time, but it counts here too!
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Title: Ninja Burgers
Genre: Action/Comedy
Concept: A down on his luck, thirty-something fast food employee finds a high tech bracelet that turns him into the world’s deadliest super soldier.
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Protagonist:
A. The High Concept: My protagonist is a thirty-year-old fast food worker who is down on his luck and feels he has no way to make his dreams come true.
B. This character’s journey:
Arc Beginning: Down on his luck, no confidence or belief in himself or his dream, fast food employee.
Arc Ending: Completely confident, no one’s fool who has achieved his dream of owning his own fast food restaurant.
Internal Journey: From weak and afraid with no confidence to strong, fearless high achiever..
External Journey: From depressed fast food employee to highly successful restaurant owner.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: Large transformational journey. Wide range of emotions. Gets to be depressed, clumsy, and awkward as well as confident, brave and badass. Gets to participate in several cool action set pieces including fighting, BMX style bike riding, and other cool action. Gets to be the hero.
Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for your Protagonist:
Role in the Story: Protagonist
Age range and Description: Male aged 30-33. A little doughy but not too bad, awkward,
Core Traits: Introvert in a group of extroverts. Dreamer. Responsible. Survivor.
Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to be able to take care of his father and open his own business. Needs to find the courage to speak up and not care what others think.
Wound: His mother died recently and now his father is dying and he can’t afford to care for him properly.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Feeds the homeless guy behind the store. Is shy but tries hard with his friends. Has dreams and goals.
Relatability: Takes care of his dying father. Can’t afford to feed him and get his medications. Afraid to share his true dreams for fear of ridicule.
Empathy: Is positive with his father while barely holding it together on the inside.
Antagonist:
The High Concept: My antagonist is the head of a high tech criminal organization who has promised the delivery of a prototype future tech bracelet to the head of an extremist government and will face death if he fails.
This character’s journey: Tragedy – From leader of an evil empire to death.
The Actor Attractors for this character: Supervillan in charge of an evil organization. He’s evil and funny. He has a dream that he feels can never be his so there’s depth. He’s not a one note character.
Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for your Antagonist:
Role in the Story: antagonist.
Age range and Description: Male mid-thirties, sharp features, tall and well built, confident and strong.
Core Traits: Duplicity. Strength. Resolve. Tender. Longing. Stressed out.
Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to get the bracelet back or he will face elimination from the bigger fish. Needs to get away from his job for his health.
Wound: Lost a daughter. His wife believes he’s the world’s greatest man and wants to try again to have a baby because he would make a great father.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: He’s evil but funny. Stays strong even though his heart isn’t into being evil. Has a ‘beautiful dream’ of life as a bartender on a tropical island. His wife loves him.
Relatability: Stuck in a job that he hates and fears he will never be able to escape and realize his true dream.
Empathy: Trapped. Must succeed or he will be killed. Everyone is after his job, he has to watch his back. Longs for the simple life but is trapped.
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Vic Valleau WIM Module 3 Lesson 6 Character Profiles, Part 1
Vision: AS a writer I am an alchemist, turning the ordinary into gold.
What I learned is: Ferreted out little character facts, traits, etc. explode into big scenes.
FOUR LEAD CHARACTERS: BOB, Mia, Bob’s Mom, Mia’s husband: tell us the following:
BOB PROTAGONIST
High concept. Bob, a sperm donor with 40 babies, wants one to call him dad.
This Characters journey from lying to mom about going on dates and BOASTING ABOUT meeting Mia to baby’s birthday.
The Actor attractors for this character-
Deep subtext needed to portray characters wounds leading to his healing. Sadly, Bob deceives himself as to his social value v. just a sperm donor, yet tries everything to be important.
1. Role in the story: Sperm donor, son, wanna be boyfriend of Mia, clown to many, Likeable poser.
2. Age range and description; 40-45, good looking, wiry, Caucasian, too old and too short for sperm donor.
3. Core traits- Ambitious, Too honest, Foolish, gives away his power, lives in a haze of pretense, dreamer with all facts against him.
4. Motivation: Want/Need: Conflicted with dreams v. who he is. He knows he needs something to grab onto, ground him, grabs at Mia as a lifesaver.
5. Wound: What they can’t face. Worst nightmare is never be called Daddy.
6. Likeability: People laugh at him, but he’s friends to everybody,
Relatability- Easily taken advantage of. Not sophisticated in den of Hollywood sophisticates.
Empathy- too open, vulnerable and accessible emotionally. We wait and fear for his day of reckoning.
MIA ANTAG/PROTAG (DRAMATIC TRIANGLE)
A. High concept. Bob, a sperm donor with 40 babies, wants one to call him dad.
B. This Characters journey from meeting Bob and donation to baby’s birthday.
C. The Actor attractors for this character-
Mia is Bob’s disapproving savior in disguise of Bob’s enemy, scopes out Bob, sees he deceives himself as to his social value v. just a sperm donor. Helps him get real.
1. Role in the story Dramatic Triangle, helps Bob, restores his family.
2. Age range and description 30-40, very attractive, and sexy.
3. Core traits: Reluctant Helper, generous, charming and disarming
4. Motivation: Want/Need to get pregnant and start a family
5. Wound: What they can’t face. Worst nightmare is: Husband will leave her.
6. Likeability/Relatability/Empathy:
Likeability: Bob adores her. Clinic loves her. She imitates old time movie star, maybe funny voice, comes to clinic reception desk as that old time movie star Katharine Hepburn imitation and disguise. Every day is Halloween.
Relatability Sympathetic Lonely, with husbands’ bad treatment. Wants to escape her husband. She’s annoyed., credit card bounces- no sperm donation.
Empathy: Husband disrespects her for no babies, broke, Husband obviously unfaithful, She must team up with Bob and Bob’s mother’s as helper and spy.
High concept. Bob, a sperm donor with 40 babies, wants one to call him dad.
This Characters journey from goes from Pep talking Bob who lies about his “date” to meeting Mia and donation to baby’s birthday.
The Actor attractors for this character- Mia scopes out Bob, sees he deceives himself as to his social value v. just a sperm donor. She sees danger in helping him, mostly from her husband.
1. Role in the story
2. Age range and description
3. Core traits; Smothering and overly mothering, lacks loyalty,
4. Motivation: Want/Need FAMILY
5. Wound: Worst nightmare would be to Lose Bob
6. Likeability/Relatability/Empathy:
Mia’s husband, Antagonist
High concept. Tries to stop Bob and Mia, hates idea of sperm donor, refuses to let baby call Bob Daddy. Bob, a sperm donor to Mia, wants the baby to call him dad.
This Characters desperate journey from trying to stop donor Bob and Mia from first meeting to baby’s birthday.
The Actor attractors for this character- Smartest and toughest guy in the room, A retired MMA (Mixed martial arts) fighter. Husband scopes out Bob, sees he deceives himself as to his social value v. just a sperm donor. He creates danger to Bob and Mia and Bob’s mother.
1. Role in the story Antagonist,. Beats up Bob.
2. Age range and description: fit, older, rich, high class, MMA champion.
3. Core traits: Proud, intolerant, Selfish and self-centered, clever, very smart and resourceful.
4. Motivation: Want/Need to be recognized as father, important, unbeatable, needs dominance, .
5. Wound: What they can’t face. Worst nightmare is wife leaves him, so his friends would laugh at him, like they laugh at Bob.
6. Likable/Relatable/Empathy
Likeable: Mia likes her husband, respects him, yet wants a baby he can’t provide.
Relatable: Sterile, needs help, hates getting sperm donor.
Empathetic: he will lose Mia without sperm donation, lost 2 wives who divorced him, earlier.
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Dave Holloway’s character profiles
My vision: I would like to be a successful writer in Hollywood, with a number of successful movies to my credit that put forward a core belief about environmental, political, or personal development.
What I learned doing this assignment is that delving more deeply into the characters makes them more rounded and believable.
High Concept: 50 years in the future, two young Englishmen must cross an American continent that has become divided into independent states based on primary vocation or social identity in an attempt to rescue one’s wife, who has been imprisoned in a military state.
Nigel Williamson
Nigel, at the beginning, is an intelligent, principled young man who fears danger and physical confrontation. By the end, he has endured danger and physical conflict and is better able to handle both, because he has discovered more courage in himself than he suspected existed.
Actor attractors
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Nigel is transformed from a rather bookish, young man who shies away from conflict to a man who survives being shot and wounded and risks his life repeatedly in his attempt to free his wife from prison.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
The fact that he is on a tremendous adventure that a character like himself would never be inclined to make. Yet he’s drawn into it by necessity, and he finds reserves of courage and tenacity that are surprising even to himself.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
When he’s shot during a gun battle and eschews having his wound treated by a doctor in order to save time in his trip across the continent; and when he devises a clever plan to free his wife from prison and engages in a fight with the prison’s warden.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
He is introduced in court, arguing to a jury to preserve a family of a mother and two children together. He is seen as naturally intelligent, eloquent and passionate.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
He transforms from a man with no experience of physical conflict to a character who risks his life. During the course of the screenplay, he displays enormous love for his wife, bitterness at her unjust imprisonment, rage against the military state where she’s imprisoned, devotion to the friend, Roger, who accompanies him on the journey, and a willingness to risk everything to save her.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
He can play the subtext of enormous love for his wife that motivates him to go far beyond the comfort zone he’s known all his life; also love for the male friend to volunteers to accompany him, and a willingness to risk everything.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
It is the relationship with Roger, who travels across the North American continent with him. Though they are dissimilar in some ways, they have a genuine bond that is strengthened by the adventure, and each is dependent on the strengths of the other to survive at different times in the story.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
He is English, so he speaks with an English intonation and phrasing, and his natural intelligence and eloquence give his voice a unique quality.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
It is the fact that he confronts dangers and challenges during the story that we would tend to believe would overcome him, given his sheltered background and dislike for physical conflict, and he ultimately proves equal to those challenges, finding previously unknown courage within himself.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Near the end of the story, the character risks his life in a daring attempt to free his wife from a military prison, overcomes the prison warden in a fight and is overjoyed when he frees his wife.
Role in story: protagonist, mission is to rescue wife
Age range and description: mid-20’s, medium height, slim build, a man given to thought and reflection more than physical action
Core traits: intelligent, loyal, passionate, afraid of danger/physical confrontation, articulate
Motivation: want/need: he wants to rescue his wife, he needs to prove himself up to whatever the journey requires because he will never forgive himself if his loss of nerve dooms his attempt
Wound: at 12, he was punched in schoolyard incident and ran away, which has haunted him ever since.
Likability: pleasant, intelligent, loyal to friend and wife, love for wife compels him on journey he would ordinarily shy away from
Relatability: his fear of danger, his desire to prove himself equal to journey, love for wife and friend, good nature
Empathy: faced with dangerous journey that scares him, truly loves wife and will be devastated by her death, know the odds are heavily against him succeeding
Roger Darby
journey: he goes on trip to rescue Nigel’s wife with Nigel, and his courage and loyalty are important to its success. By the end, he has shown the capacity for deep emotion and quick thinking that had wasn’t sure he had.
Actor attractors
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Roger plays a heroic role as a naturally courageous, adventurous friend who volunteers to accompany Nigel partly because her enjoys adventure. He’s also deeply loyal to his friend and risks his life several times to save him. Without his courage in the face of danger, his friend’s quest would have ended in failure.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Because his courage doesn’t lead him to great egotism; he remains down to earth and genial throughout. Also, because he joins the adventure without his friend asking him to come along, and because his loyalty to his friend is so deep that he’s willing to risk his life for him. And because he begins a love affair during the course of the story with an American girl.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
When his friend is discussing his wife’s predicament, he volunteers to accompany him without any prompting; when the two are embroiled in a dispute between laborers and police, he punches a policeman and knocks him out; he volunteers to participate in an armed battle with Native Americans against hunters from a neighboring nation-state; and he risks his life to help his friend’s wife escape from prison.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
He’s introduced playing rugby, a rough and tumble, colorful sport, and excelling at it. In the next scene, he has drinks with his friend and volunteers to accompany him to the military state, without being asked.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
His range goes from sympathy for his friend, to good-natured jocularity, to sympathetic allegiance with three Native-Americans he meets, to deep sorrow when one of them is killed, to anger and rage when he fights for his friend’s wife’s release, to exhilaration when they’re free again.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Loyalty and love for his friend motivating him to accompany him; dislike of hunters for killing animals for sport; growing attraction to a girl they meet on the journey, and ultimate willingness to give his life for his friend and his wife.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
His friendship with Nigel, which is revealed to be deeper and stronger than apparent at first; to his friendship with and willingness to fight alongside three Native-Americans he meets; to his romance with an American girl he meets.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
By emphasizing his rough and ready nature and natural courage, his good-heartedness, the profanity he uses freely, and the simple but sincere way he expresses deep emotions.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
The fact that he volunteers for a potentially dangerous mission very easily and confidently; the fact that he risks his life for his friend; his willingness to join a gun battle between Native Americans and hunters because of a friendship he’s made with one of them; and the fact that he risks his life to save his friend’s wife.
Role in story: Best friend of Nigel, who volunteers to go on journey with him and uses his courage and loyalty to help mission succeed
Age range and description: mid-20’s, husky, tall, powerfully built
Core traits: courage, loyalty, toughness, good nature
Motivation: want/need: He wants to help Nigel rescue his wife. He needs to prove he has more emotional depth and intelligence than he’s sure he possesses
Wound: regarded by others, and possibly himself, as lacking intelligence and capacity to love deeply
Likeability: good nature, courage, loyalty to friend
Relatability: he’s unsure about some aspects of self, he’s not exceptionally bright
Empathy: we feel empathy for his self-questioning about his ability to love, and his lack of love relationship that Nigel has, and for fact he might be killed on mission that is devoted to Nigel’s interests
Livia Williamson
character journey: she goes from young, somewhat naive journalist whose life has never been threatened for reporting to stronger, more experienced person whose courage and integrity have been tested and proven up to the test
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Because she is under duress throughout the story, but displays remarkable courage, endurance and intelligence throughout. Her courage and undying love for her husband make her as heroic as either of the two males in the other two lead roles.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Because she has grown up in a normal, English home and has never been in serious trouble before, but when she is imprisoned and sentenced to execution in a military state, she never succumbs to despair, never weakens in her resistance to the prison and its warden, and her love for her husband remains steadfast.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
When offered a way out of the prison, she refuses to name any of the local people who told her of the prison’s crimes, and instead insults the warden who made her the offer. At the end of the story, she risks her life in a daring escape.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
By having her first appearance be in a SKYPE call she makes to her husband from the military state, in which she expresses great anxiety about her survival; and having her second appearance be in another SKYPE call, during which she is arrested by military officers and taken away. In both instances, she maintains her courage and dignity.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
From despair when she’s sentence to execution in a military state far from her husband to declarations of love for her husband, to empathic sorrow for another woman she meets in the prison, to rage at the prison and its warden, to jubilation when she escapes it.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
A sense of desperation about her condition, to deep longing for the husband she fears she’ll never see again, to despair that her execution is imminent, to wild joy about a possible escape.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?’
Her relationships with her husband (they’ve been married a short time), her friendship with another woman in the prison whose husband has already been executed at the prison, and her acquaintance with a female prison guard, who carries out a surprising act of sympathy that helps her escape.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
In her communications with other characters, in which her eloquence, courage, loyalty, passion, and idealism are heard.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
She has exceptional courage and character, as well as an idealism that makes her risk death, along with intelligence that helps her intuitively understand others.
Role in story: wife of Nigel, who’s imprisoned and must withstand terrors of prison and oppression of warden to survive and be rescued
Age range and description: mid-20’s, pretty but not beautiful, fair-haired, intelligent
Core traits: intelligence, integrity, loyalty, courage, endurance
Motivation: want/need: she wants to survive her imprisonment and be reunited with her husband. She needs to prove worthy of her journalistic profession’s ethics and not be guilty of compromising them
Wound: underlying insecurity due to father abandoning her family when she was a child, and insecurity that caused her.
Likability: courage, intelligence, loyalty to husband, unbroken spirit
Relatability: in many ways, a normal young woman, someone trying to good job as journalist and to remain alive, someone with some underlying insecurity
Empathy: we feel for her because she truly loves Nigel, and she’s facing imminent execution on false charges, and she shows fidelity to ideals of her profession though she could win her freedom by breaking them
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Amy’s Character Profiles Part 1
Vision: I want to become known as an expert in the family-friendly genre and make a full-time living as a screenwriter.
What I learned from doing this assignment is after all the other work we have done it wasn’t as hard to narrow down my characters’ core traits as I thought it would be.
Stephanie
A. The High Concept: a princess who turns out not to be a princess
B. This character’s journey: Shallow and proud to reflective and caring
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: Despite her selfish desires, down deep, she is a very caring and empathetic person.
Role in the Story: Protagonist, the princess who finds out she’s not really a princess and has to accept help from Jack, who she hates
Age range and Description: 30s, petite
Core Traits: dramatic, proud, caring, conniving
Motivation; Want/Need: Want’s to be a princess, needs to learn how to be selfless
Wound: Lost her father as a teenager
Likability: She genuinely cares about her family.
Relatability: Once it’s discovered that she’s not a royal, she has no money.
Empathy: Loses her status as a princess, lost her father as a teenager
Jack
A. The High Concept: a princess who turns out not to be a princess
B. This character’s journey: from immature and arrogant to mature and humble
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: He’s a royal, but he has the ability to fit right in with commoners.
Role in the Story: Love interest/antagonist, the prince who helps Stephanie when she gets banished from the palace
Age range and Description: 30s, handsome
Core Traits: arrogant, devilish, reliable, empathetic
Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to be a hero, needs to be loved
Wound: A bad relationship with his father
Likability: Offers to help Stephanie
Relatability: His conflict with Stephanie (complicated love/hate relationship)
Empathy: In love with someone who hates him
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<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Subject: Monica’s Character Profiles Part 1
Vision: I will continue to learn everything I can through all different media to apply what I learn to become the best screenwriter I can be. To be successful in getting my movies made and to win awards in the process.
What I learned from doing this assignment is to look for attributes and traits that fit my vision of the characters for this story.
2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
CONALL COFFEY
A. The High Concept. Leading a rogue Special Forces team they steal an ancient artefact to supposedly keep it safe from nefarious elements only to discover their masters want to use it to manipulate the timeline to put themselves in charge until they discover all timelines end in 2030.
B. This character’s journey. His transformational journey from undying loyalty to the military industrial complex to savior of the world through the extermination of the elite.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: A highly decorated military intelligence officer who can be trusted. His ruthlessness for a just cause comes from his IRA Irish roots. He appears to go along with his masters until the time is right to turn the tables on them.
1. Role in the Story: Protagonist
2. Age range and Description: 40’s, tall, fit with those Irish good looks
3. Core Traits: Problem-solver, brave, risk-taker, sensitive, nerd
4. Motivation:
Want: Manipulate the timeline.
Need: To stop the elite from manipulating the timeline for their agenda.
5. Wound: Wasn’t there when his family died.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Conall
takes good care of his family just before he is sent on a mission. He
takes his role of leader seriously and always puts the safety of his team
first.<div>Relatability: Conall
places flowers on the graves of his family. Believes the fire was
deliberately set. Wants to get justice for his family.Empathy: Conall
watches as a fire engulfs his home but he is restrained from going in to
save his family. He gives his family the best of funerals.HARRY BERNHAM
A. The High Concept. Leading a rogue Special Forces team they steal an ancient artefact to supposedly keep it safe from nefarious elements only to discover their masters want to use it to manipulate the timeline to put themselves in charge until they discover all timelines end in 2030.
B. This character’s journey. From a successful tech entrepreneur to the leader of the group of 5 who want to rule the world.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: He hides his evil intentions behind a mask of charm and helping humanity but really he’s manipulative and sociopathic.
1. Role in the Story: Antagonist
2. Age range and Description: 50’s, slim, weasely, short
3. Core Traits: Intolerant, nerd, fascist, highly-intelligent
4. Motivation:
Want: Manipulate the timeline.
Need: To cleanse the world of undesirables to make it a safe place for him.
5. Wound: The only person who never teased or bullied him was his wife. Now he’s going to make the bullies pay.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability:
Harry wants to keep his children
safe after the death of his wife. He spends time with them after work.</div><div>Relatability:
He’s angry and sad that his wife
has died but he has a job to do regardless of how he feels.Empathy: He’d do anything to bring her back
as she was the love of his life.JAY (ALIEN)
A. The High Concept. Leading a rogue Special Forces team they steal an ancient artefact to supposedly keep it safe from nefarious elements only to discover their masters want to use it to manipulate the timeline to put themselves in charge until they discover all timelines end in 2030.
B. This character’s journey. His transformational journey from captive to science advisor on the artefact.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: A time travelling human from the future come to warn humanity.
1. Role in the Story: Triangle Character
2. Age range and Description: Tall, thin, big head
3. Core Traits: Patient, highly-intelligent, quiet
4. Motivation:
5. Want: Manipulate the timeline.
6. Need: To go home.
7. Wound: Failed at saving his civilization. He has only one chance to fix the timeline.
8. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: He
helps Conall without the elites knowing. But doesn’t help them.</div>Relatability: He
has a job to do. Doesn’t tolerate the stupid, rich people.Empathy: After this mission he’s been promised he can go home.
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WIM2 – Dana’s Character Profiles Part 1
My Vision: I intend to perfect my skills to become a successful screenwriter, scripting acclaimed and profitable films, recognized by my peers, and living an adventurous life.
What I learned during this assignment:
Delving deeper into my characters’ profiles creates greater understanding of their motivations and how they will interact with each other and drive the script to an inevitable conclusion.
RUTH –
Character High Concept: Ruth Griffin is kidnapped for ransom and held hostage in the smelting pot of an abandoned steel mill and must use her resourcefulness to escape before being left for dead.
Character’s Journey: The kidnap victim who defeats a serial kidnapper and killer.
Actor Attractors: Ill-prepared by a privileged lifestyle, she must adopt survival skills in a life-or-death situation transforming her from victim to heroine.
Role in the story:
Protagonist. The political wife who is kidnapped for ransom and held in the smelting pot of an abandoned steel mill. She must secure her escape before she is left for dead by her kidnapper.
Age range: Ruth is in her forties.
Description: An attractive woman, pampered by wealth and privilege, typically seen standing dutifully by her husband’s side on the campaign trial.
Core traits:
· Artful
· Cooperative
· Defiant
· Frightened
Motivations:
· Want: To stay alive
· Need: To escape her captor
Wound: In an abusive relationship.
Likability: She shows courage during her ordeal.
Relatability: She’s frightened, isolated, and alone.
Empathy: She’s trapped and at the mercy of others.
THE CUSTODIAN
Character High Concept: Known as the Custodian, he kidnaps a politician’s wife for ransom and holds her hostage in an abandoned steel mill, keeping her safe from others until the ransom is paid.
Character’s Journey: From kidnapper to protector to presumed dead.
Actor Attractors: Psychopath serial kidnapper.
Role in the story:
Antagonist. The kidnapper who holds Ruth hostage for ransom in an abandoned steel mill. He protects her from other villains that frequent the mill while waiting for the ransom to be paid.
Age range: Mature, but his age is unknown.
Description: He’s physically intimidating, always masked and never speaks.
Core traits:
· Greedy
· Violent
· Intelligent
· No guilt
Motivations:
· Want: Money
· Need: Keep his hostage alive until paid
Wound: Resistant to emotion.
Likability: He’s pleasant toward his captive. He has a warped sense of humor.
Relatability: He’s intelligent.
Empathy: He’s betrayed by his partner.
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Renee’s Character Profiles Part 1
My Vision: I will work hard to become a well-respected writer who has her movies produced and who has enough work to stay busy and keep the lights on.
What I learned doing this assignment is how to think about the characters and what decisions you can make before you start writing to create a well-rounded character that will engage the audience and keep them interested in the story. I also learned that I really needed to add a triangle character.
Character Name: Claire
Concept: A member of a local search and rescue team finds herself needing rescuing when she comes across a mysterious mountain creature while searching for a missing girl.
Character’s Journey: Claire is an insecure party girl who comes across as uncaring. By the movie’s end, she is willing to sacrifice herself to save her missing niece.
Actor Attractors:
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
She is tougher than she looks and is the only one who can rescue the girl and defeat both the antagonist and the creature.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She takes on a government entity and a mysterious creature to save a missing girl.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
She saves a fellow search and rescue team member even though he is working against her. She manages to escape from the members of the group that are working to capture the creature alive. She outwits the bad actors in the group and manages to defeat the creature and save the girl.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? What could be this character’s emotional range?
From irritated to concerned, to scared, to courageous.
What subtext can the actor play?
She’s incredibly concerned about her missing niece but acts unattached and unconcerned. She still is in love with one of the team members but acts like she really doesn’t care.
What are the most interesting relationships this character can have?
The most interesting relationships she has are with her sister and the triangle character.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
She can calm the group after the first person is taken, and she can convince them to ignore the supervisor’s plan and do whatever it takes to rescue her niece.
What could make this character special and unique?
She seems self-centered on the outside, but in reality, she is incredibly caring toward those she cares for the most. She hides behind her party girl exterior to keep from getting close to anyone after her heart was broken.
Role in the Story: Protagonist
Age range and Description: mid 20’s; she’s a petite party girl who weighs 90 pounds soaking wet, and she’s desperate to find her missing niece in hopes of repairing her relationship with her sister.
Core Traits: Addictive, Insecure, Resourceful, Cautious
Motivation: she wants to prove that she isn’t a bad person and wants to make up for her mistakes.
Want/Need: she wants to save her niece, and she needs to repair the relationship with her sister.
Wound:
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability:
– she has kind words for everyone she meets.
– she loves her niece even if her relationship with her sister is strained.
– she doesn’t take shit from anyone (she stands up for herself)
– she is willing to help the bad guys.
Relatability:
– she’s not perfect. She struggles with addiction.
– based on past heartbreak, she keeps herself closed off for fear of getting hurt again.
Empathy:
– she struggles with alcohol.
– she seems to be unlucky in love
Character Name: Mark Thompson
Concept: A member of a local search and rescue team finds herself needing rescuing when she comes across a mysterious mountain creature while searching for a missing girl.
Character’s Journey: a man bent on revenging his twin brother’s death no matter the cost, to accept that he will never be able to fill the void left by his brother’s death.
Actor Attractors:
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
He’s a ruthless government official who will do anything to get what he wants, including sacrificing a young girl.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He appears concerned for the missing girl but is behind the scenes orchestrating a plan to capture the creature without concern for whether the girl lives or dies.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
He will instruct his “men” to sabotage the efforts to rescue the girl. When the protagonist thwarts his plans, he will go into the woods himself to complete the mission.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
He is instructing two of his men that they need to take the creature alive and not to stress over rescuing the girl.
What could be this character’s emotional range?
From calm and collected to enraged and out of control.
What subtext can the actor play?
He acts like he is interested in saving the girl, but in reality, he couldn’t care less whether she lives or dies as long as he takes the creature alive.
What are the most interesting relationships this character can have?
The relationship with one of his men.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
He will be overbearing and dominant with everyone.
What could make this character special and unique?
He will be ruthless in his pursuit.
Role in the Story: Antagonist
Age range and Description: late 50’s; he is an obsessed control freak who believes that capturing the creature that killed his twin brother, even if it means the missing girl will die, will help him to find closure for his brother’s death.
Core Traits: Controlling, Obsessive, Callous, Persistent
Motivation: revenge against the creature that killed his twin brother.
Want/Need: he wants to avenge his brother’s death, but he needs to forgive himself for not being able to save his brother.
Wound: his twin brother was killed by the creature, and he couldn’t save him.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability:
– nothing
Relatability:
– he wants revenge on those who hurt the people he loves.
Empathy:
– his twin brother was killed by the creature he is now hunting.
Character Name: Adam
Concept: A member of a local search and rescue team finds herself needing rescuing when she comes across a mysterious mountain creature while searching for a missing girl.
Character’s Journey: From a ridged ‘yes’ man to someone willing to go against orders even if it costs him everything.
Actor Attractors:
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
He has a tough exterior but a soft heart. He struggles to do what’s right if it means going against orders.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He’s a former Marine that is hesitant to go against orders but understands that a young girl’s life is at stake, and he’s torn about what to do.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
He tries to sabotage the protagonist’s rescue plan; when he finds out his orders will put the girl in jeopardy, he starts to have second thoughts. He confesses to the protagonist what the antagonist is willing to do. He openly defies the antagonist. He sacrifices himself to help the protagonist achieve her goal.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
I’m not sure yet.
What could be this character’s emotional range?
Calm and collected, angry, mournful, sad, and sorry.
What subtext can the actor play?
He seems to be following orders without question but isn’t sure he wants to be a ‘yes’ man anymore.
What are the most interesting relationships this character can have?
The relationship between the protagonist and the antagonist
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
He will be disciplined but also understanding.
What could make this character special and unique?
His ability to look past his training and discipline to see the protagonist’s need to get her niece back.
Role in the Story: Triangle Character
Age range and Description: early 30’s, a former Marine Staff Sargent who is used to following orders even if he disagrees with them.
Core Traits: Impulsive, Cocky, Protective, Obedient
Motivation: to prove he still has what it takes to be a Marine.
Want/Need: he wants to prove himself by being the hero, but he needs to be accepted.
Wound: he was discharged from the marines before he was ready due to an injury,
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability:
– He’s friendly and kind to the missing girl’s parents. He empathizes with them and treats them like humans.
– He establishes a comradery with the other group member early on.
Relatability:
– He’s trying to find his place post-Marine service.
– He likes the protagonist but is unsure how she feels about him.
Empathy:
– He suffered a career-ending injury and was discharged from the Marines, the only life he has known.
– He wants to help the protagonist but fears what will happen if he goes against orders.
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Lesson 7: Character Profiles Part 2
My Vision: To write eight screenplays that become Hollywood blockbusters (and to get a speaking line
in at least one).What I learned from the assignment: Finding additional character traits for my two leading actors.
A. The High Concept: Jim “Ace” McCarthy is a decorated WW2 vet who becomes a popular TV crime
reporter in 1950s Las Vegas. His dark war past and the sudden tragic deaths of his wife and child
trigger a gambling addiction and the Mob comes calling – literally. He’s given 10 days to pay up or face
horrific consequences.B. This character’s journey: From All-American patriot and family man to young widower, alcoholic
and gambling addict fighting the Vegas Mob to survive.C. The Actor Attractors for this character: Jim would be hero AND a villain.
1.Role in the Story:Protagonist
2.Age Range: Mid-20s. Description: Athletic, a 1940s Norman Rockwell middle American poster child.
3.Core Traits: TV crime reporter; confident; never rattled; been through it all.
4.Motivation; Want/Need: To be TV’s version of childhood hero Edwin R. Murrow.
5.Wound: His horrific war experiences begin to effect his ability to do his job.
6.Likability: Good friend; can always count on him; loves a good joke; dedicated family man.
Relatability: Pressures of being a young husband and dad; his pursuit of “The American Dream”; trying
to make ends meet on entry level salary. Empathy: Wife and small child die in a car accident; turns to
drinking; runs up huge gambling debt at Vegas casino.7. Character Subtext: Hides the fact that he should not have been awarded a Medal of Honor but
instead was a war criminal.8. Character Intrigue: Deception – does everything he can to perpetuate his war hero myth.
9. Flaw: Over confidence – portrays himself as the go-to guy when a grisly murder story needs to
be reported by his TV station.10. Values: Strong family values; winning always comes first.
11. Character Dilemma: Whether to betray his honest “good guy” reputation to kill for the mob to
satisfy his gambling debts.A. The High Concept: “Sal” begins calling Jim demanding payback of large gambling debts. He gives
Jim ten days to pay – if he doesn’t, Jim — a TV crime reporter – will be forced to cover the gruesome
killings of his loved ones.B. This character’s journey: Sal first few calls are chilling – but as they become more frequent he
becomes friendly, sympathetic and comical; hard to believe he’s a bad guy.C. The Actor Attractors for this character: The challenge of a N.Y. Mobster dialect; displaying a range
of emotions from cold and cruel to warm and friendly.1.Role in the Story: Antagonist
2.Age Range: 35-40 Description: Voice only (on phone); N.Y. Italian.
3.Core Traits: Don’t mess with him; sadistic, threatening – yet oddly friendly.
4.Motivation; To convince Jim to pay back his gambling debt.
5.Wound: Sal claims to be a War vet too; he knows what Jim’s going through.
6.Likability: After several threatening calls he becomes friendly; even starts conversations with
“Knock-Knock” jokes; almost sounds like a Las Vegas stand up comic. Relatability: Sal begins to
sound like a guy who just wants his money back; nothing personal. Empathy: Lost his wife and child
too.7. Character Subtext: Sal uses jokes and humor to cover his sinister manipulation of
Jim8. Character Intrigue: Sal’s secret identity
9. Flaw: Shows a soft side for a ruthless mob boss
10. Values: Family, loyalty, patriotism
11. Character Dilemma: To keep pressuring and threatening Jim or to forgive his debt. -
MODULE THREE LESSON SIX
FRAN’S CHARACTER PROFILES PART 1
MY VISION: I want to write great movies. Movies that are magical, movies that move people and tell the truth. I want to write movies that stars will want to be in.
WHAT I LEARNED: Same from five. Need to think about your character. Flesh them out. Present them in a way your audiences will accept them, have empathy for them. Want to be their friend and confidante.
Meredith:
She goes from a writer who doubts herself, her abilities, her worth, to an award-winning writer with no doubts that she can deliver the goods.
Doubting, dutiful wife, wanting to please, to becoming a strong, independent woman capable of handling her own stuff and her situations and make her own decisions. She has self-confidence and she is loved for who she is.
She is the Protagonist, the screenwriter who longs to express herself, her wants and needs through a brilliantly written, executed work, finding her happiness and fulfillment in her own personal life, along the way, through her writing.
She is in her 40’s-50’s. She has a grown daughter.
Physical traits: inner beauty, not a raving beauty, but is a quiet beauty about her. Average height, weight, smart, dark features, look mysterious, Kathryn Hepburn-like.
She, at first, needs validation of her work and of who she is through her husband and the people she loves. What she needs is to be able to validate herself, her worth, her ability to do.
She wants to be a successful screenwriter, to work with her husband. But can’t get it.
Her Wound: she marries Jerome, the wrong man for her. There is a love of her life long ago she turned down for the life of a more glamorous, way to become the writer she wanted to be. Thought she could do it through Jerome. More and more she realizes the mistake she made in choosing the wrong man.
Jerome: Antagonist. He’s the philandering husband whose job isn’t going for him like it should. He takes it out on Meredith and others around him. He stifles Meredith’s creativity.
He goes from a successful director/producer to one who doesn’t make it anymore and doesn’t have what it takes to get to the Oscars, which he wants very badly.
He’s in his 40s -50’s
His physical traits: tall, intimidating, strong, chiseled features that make him attractive. He is proud, egotistical, belligerent when he doesn’t get his way. He’s a perfectionist. Can’t get along. He tries to buy people’s love and respect and then tosses it away when he doesn’t need it anymore.
He wants to be a successful director/producer with all the kudos that come with it. He wants Academy recognition. He wants respect. He wants to be the man in charge, who says what goes all the time.
He needs to reigned in and begin to feel what other people feel when they are around him, to get the respect he craves. He needs to walk in the other person’s shoes and learn to be a better man.
He sees that his heyday is waning. He can’t get back his mojo, not like it used to be. He’s never won an Oscar and needs to have a big win desperately. He’s never gotten the recognition from the academy he thinks he deserves.
Olga Meredith’s Protagonist in her screenplay
She is the Grand Duchess of Russia, she is the woman who must be a dutiful daughter, suffer the protocols of her station. She falls in love too easily, she gets hurt. She loses the love of her life through a bit of palace treachery.
She is 18-21.
Her physical traits: (appearance according to Wikipedia) chestnut-blonde hair, bright blue eyes, a broad face an upturned nose. Very fair, sparkling eyes, average height, weight. She was compassionate and sought to help others. She’s quite independent. Has an almost “angelic kindness.” But she does have a quick temper and can be moody at times. She has a strong will and was often disobedient and could be rude and behave very badly.
She wants to have a normal life. She doesn’t really want to be the Grand Duchess or have the trappings. She just wants to be a typical girl and live the life of an ordinary citizen.
But she needs to accept who she is. It is the times that dictate her station in life and what will happen to her. She needs to be more aware of the times and what surrounds her. She needs to be more careful of the men she falls in love with and how they respect her and her station. She will not live long.
She lost the man she loved and wanted to marry through the assassination of Rasputin. He was banished from Russia because of Olga’s mother’s displeasure and was forbidden to ever see Olga again. Although she dearly loved her mother and father, that never set well with Olga.
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Is anyone else having trouble accessing this lesson? It tells me I have to complete the previous lesson first, which I have already done. Any suggestions?
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WIM, Module 3, Lesson 6, Character Profile Part 1
Andrew Boyd’s Vision:
For Hitler’s Choirboys to be such a compelling screenplay that Steven Spielberg and Mel Gibson will battle it out to produce their best WW2 blockbuster since Hacksaw Ridge or Schindler’s List.
What I learned from this assignment:
How to construct profiles for characters that impact one another and are truly interdependent.
High Concept:
Nuremberg 1945: Hitler’s top henchmen are on trial for their lives; hell-bent on making the war rage on forever – can a humble US Army chaplain and his two fellow officers win their behind-the-scenes battle of wills and break the Nazi legend?
Protagonist: Henry Gerecke
This Character’s Journey:
From kind-hearted but ineffective, and paralysed by past wounds, to a man who learns to combine toughness with compassion towards others to break down their self-defences more effectively than any leading lawyer in Nuremberg.
The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Henry Gerecke is a decent Everyman, tasked with the mission impossible of winning his battle of wills with the world’s worst mass killers. Somehow, he has to get inside their heads and their hearts and turn them around so they denounce everything they believe in and have fought for.
He’s a man determined to do the right thing in the face of hostility from his colleagues and at huge personal risk. At stake are his marriage and his health; he’s battling with guilt over sending his sons to war to be wounded in action, and with his own desire for vengeance against the very men he now has to win over, rather than destroy.
Henry is a river that runs deep; often underestimated by his colleagues, who put him down as that frustrating, naive nice guy. But beneath that warmth and affability, Henry Gerecke is as shrewd as he is tough and knows how to play the long game.
But first, he must overcome his inner demons and his reluctance to humiliate other men the way he was humiliated by his own father.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Gerecke is a fish out of water, propelled by circumstances to be a major figure behind the scenes in the world’s greatest trial, a player whose actions could determine not only the outcome of this trial, but the future peace of the world – literally. He has to get the leading Nazis to denounce Hitler and all he stood for, to break the Nazi legend before they go to the gallows.
He has to hold on to his humanity in the face of the most inhuman crimes against humanity and the men the world calls monsters who perpetrated them. He has to understand them, relate to them, win a place in their hearts, confront them and utterly defeat their ideology. Somehow…
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the script?
Henry Gerecke has to confront Hitler’s deputy, the cunning and manipulative arch-Nazi Hermann Goering, who has the other defendants firmly in his grip. Gerecke must hold his nose and his nerve and win over this man of colossal vanity who set up the concentration camp system and passed the Nuremberg race laws condemning millions of Jews.
And even while this battle is raging, he has to find a way of getting through to the others…
4. How can you introduce the role in a way that sells it to an actor?
We first see Gerecke at Dachau concentration camp, confronting his own sidekick, the drunk and broken Sam Fuller, whose brother was murdered in cold blood by the Nazis.
Fuller is pointing a cocked and loaded pistol in the face of the army chaplain and screaming at him to stand aside. Staring down the barrel of that Colt, Gerecke has a choice. He can save his own skin, at the cost of the life of a hated Nazi SS guard. Or he can keep staring into that barrel and talk Fuller into laying down that Colt.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
From a warm and folksy friend and father, to cool-headed, courageous and utterly determined. From self-doubt to steely conviction; from affable to aggressive and unrelenting in confrontation. A man of compassion who has to learn how to administer the toughest of tough love.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
An increasingly skilled negotiator, beneath a friendly poker face, who can read between the lines, knows men, and is willing to play the long game. Who is confronted with arrogant, self-obsessed Nazis the world condemns as monsters, who have committed appalling horrors, and yet who are steeped in self-justification: these are the men he has know, understand and befriend in order to turn them around.
Gerecke is a man who has to hold on to his humanity and self-control, and who must keep a lid on his anger and disgust which is boiling below the surface.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Gerecke is a father-figure to his sidekick, Sam Fuller, who has come to hate him for standing in his way.
He is roommate to the intense and furious Jewish psychologist Gustave Gilbert, who loathes the Nazis, works for military intelligence and is trying to persuade Gerecke to cross the line and spy on the Nazis.
8. How was this character’s unique voice presented?
We see his self-control and affability under intense provocation. His honesty and decency emerge in heated arguments with Nazi mass murderers who are bent only on saving their own skins.
His determination to stand up and do the right thing emerges under confrontation with his own colleagues who accuse him of being a Nazi-lover; while his own anger is always threatening to break the surface and overwhelm him.
9. What made this character special and unique?
Henry Gerecke is a real figure. A Lutheran chaplain of German extraction, who cared for prisoners in the US, before being dispatched to Nuremberg to ‘keep Hitler’s henchmen alive until we can kill ‘em’.
He’s a man whose almost boundless compassion is stretched to its very limit in Nuremberg.
He’s a man who has to overcome himself, his past and his wounds, if he is to overcome the barrage of self-justification thrown up by the manipulative Nazis who are trying to save their necks. He is a man on the brink of being overwhelmed, who must, above all, hold on to his humanity.
Role in the Story:
US Army chaplain tasked by the military to keep the Nazis on trial from committing suicide so the court can duly hang them. And, while he’s at it, with turning around these Hitler fanatics to renounce the Fuhrer and break the Nazi legend. Pressured into spying on his congregation for military intelligence, in conflict with his duty as a man of God.
Age range and Description:
Early 50s, balding, kindly, a little plump, everybody’s favourite uncle.
Core Traits:
Affable, kindly, empathetic, shrewder than he looks. Often underestimated.
Motivation:
Want:
To keep the Nazis from committing suicide so they will face justice. To challenge their attitudes so they will denounce Hitler and admit their guilt.
Need:
To spare his boys and his grandchildren the horrors of another war; to overcome his loathing of these psychopaths who started the last two.
Wound:
Humiliated by his father, who prevented him fighting in the First War; reluctant to get tough and risk humiliating others; afraid of losing his temper; guilty over sending his sons to war and at putting his marriage at risk.
Likability:
Loves kids. A non-smoker, he hands out cigarettes to the children of a Nazi soldier in the rubble of Nuremberg, knowing smokes are hard currency in 1945. (He also hands out chocolate).
Relatability:
After seeing the horror of what the Nazis have done at Dachau and the arrogance of the Nazi guard, his instinctive response is to want to kill him. Wouldn’t we all?
Empathy: This assignment is set to cost him his marriage, his health and his reputation. But Henry soldiers on…
Antagonist: Hermann Goering
This Character’s Journey:
Nazi ringleader who stages a last-ditch attempt to keep Hitler’s legend living on in Nuremberg. Foil for the protagonist who tries everything to get him to denounce the Fuhrer and admit responsibility for his crimes. Instead, Goering runs rings round the court and tries to persuade the Allies to side with the Germans in fighting the Russians. Propped up by his vanity which is fatally undermined when the protagonist reveals the art thief who plundered the who of Europe was duped by a forger. Finally found guilty, commits suicide rather than be hanged as a common criminal.
The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Goering is a Nazi Hannibal Lecter: highly intelligent, scheming, manipulative – and extremely dangerous. He is running rings around the Nuremberg prosecutors and fighting not only for his life, but so his own and the Nazi legend will live on.
He is vain, narcissistic, and utterly ruthless. He believes in his cause, and is working to turn the military intelligence operatives who are working to turn him. His aim is to persuade the Allies to join forces with the surviving Nazis to fight the Russians and so perpetuate World War Two.
He wants to ensure that the rest of Germany – including the next generation – sees him and the Nazis as their national saviours. If he fails, he will certainly hang – an ignominious end for a true hero of the Third Reich.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
His intelligence, his ruthlessness, his arrogance and his vanity – all giftwrapped in the charm and guile that seduced a nation. He is fighting for the life, and the life of the legend he has devoted himself to.
3. What are the most interesting actions the antagonist takes in the script?
Herman Goering dominates the trial and runs rings around the distinguished American prosecutor, Robert Jackson. He overshadows and rallies the dispirited Nazi leaders and is staging his counterattack before a watching world in Room 600, the courtroom for the world’s greatest trial in Nuremberg.
Behind the scenes, Goering is working relentlessly to tighten his grip on the wavering Nazis, and manipulate the allied team who must get him to renounce the Fuhrer and destroy the Nazi legend before he goes to the gallows.
Hermann Goering is a powerful egotist, who is winning his battle of wits. What Goering hasn’t reckoned on is the honesty of a US Army chaplain, the determination of a Jewish psychologist – and the unanswerable truth.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Herman Goering dominates the stage at every occasion, from his courtroom battles, to his battles of wits with US officers in his cell in Nuremberg. He plays mind games with everyone – and makes sure he wins.
This monstrous man is portrayed as a complex, fatally flawed human being, whose father figure was the Fuhrer, and who is desperate to hold on to his self-belief in the face of what he sees as cynical victors’ justice.
Goering, the man the world sees as an arch villain, considers himself a hero whose legend must live on – even if it costs him his life.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
From avuncular good humour to murderous manipulation: A real-life Hannibal Lecter in a Nazi armband.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Goering is constantly scheming and manipulating. There is subtext and hidden intent behind everything he says. He is seeking allies and supporters at every turn. He builds his power base with a mixture of menace and the sheer weight of his oversized ego.
His fatal flaw is his vanity, and he is constantly appealing to the ego, vanity and insecurity he perceives in others. He is oblivious to just how narcissistic he truly is.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Goering’s key relationship is with the kind-hearted US chaplain Henry Gerecke, who is as much a shadow figure to Goering as Goering is a shadow figure to him.
Goering knows only too well how to manipulate the ambition of egotists like himself. But how can he get through to and turn this straight-forward, honest, everyman?
Goering’s other battle of wills is with the angry Jewish psychologist, Gustave Gilbert, who is determined to cut his ego down to size and limit his oppressive influence over the other Nazi leaders on trial.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Goering must justify himself to the court and the US military in a way that will win both over. To snatch victory from the jaws of defeat will take every ounce of his oversized ego, his cunning and his undoubted intelligence to succeed.
Goering has the advantage of speaking excellent English. In court, he can understand the questions put to him by the prosecution well before the interpreters translate them into German. It gives this brilliant and scheming man twice as long to prepare his rebuttals, justifications and deflections – and unsettle and unnerve his illustrious adversary from US Supreme Court.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
See above. Hermann Goering is a real figure, a decorated war hero from World War One, who 20 years later helped lead the charge to conquer most of Europe – and came perilously close to winning the Second World War.
Role in the Story: Leading Nazi who wants desperately to keep the Nazi legend – and his own place in history – alive. Scheming to save himself from the hangman, and striving to draw the Allies into a new world war with Russia, with himself as head of the German forces.
Age range and description: 52 – 53 years old, powerful, imposing, louche, overweight, recovering drug addict, pale blue eyes, perfect teeth, soft hands.
Core Traits: Powerful, scheming, manipulative, vain, intelligent; a psychopath lacking human empathy, yet prone to tears over art, beauty and his little daughter.
Motivation:
Want: To live to fight another day, to keep his Nazi co-defendants in line to create a united defence, so the Nazi legend – and his own – can live on. To extend the war by motivating the Allies to join forces with Germany to defeat the Russians.
Need: To justify himself as a great leader in the eyes of the world and a defeated Germany.
Wound: Deserted by his mother and father from birth; humiliated for hero-worshipping his mother’s lover, a Jew; betrayed by Germany’s leaders after the First War. Massive overcompensation for low self-esteem.
Likability:
He is cultured and clever. He’s also a big kid who loves fast cars, showing off and playing games. And there’s a genuine streak of kindness to him, when he offers to give Henry his blue Mercedes (along with a manipulative streak a mile wide).
Relatability:
He refuses to surrender in World War One, but his country’s politicians force him, so he orders his squadron to crash and wreck their fighter planes in an act of defiance.
Empathy:
His dad and mum abandoned him. His country was in utter chaos so he stepped up to lead, because drastic times require drastic measures. As a result he gets shot and addicted to morphine to kill the pain.
Protagonist’s Sidekick: Sam Fuller
This Character’s Journey:
Hustling entertainer who is rescued from the cooler by the Protagonist and recruited as his Sidekick to play the organ in chapel. Racially taunted by Nazis and GIs alike. Burning with a desire to take revenge on Germans for the murder of his older brother. Prevented by the Protagonist from murdering a Nazi POW. Falls out with the Protagonist father-figure who keeps on standing in his way. Comes close to killing his racist sergeant who tries to abuse him. Serving time post-war, he is rescued by the Protagonist and recruited once again as his sidekick. Finally reconciled with his father after he learns that every man needs mercy – and if we want to get it, we have to give it.
The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Fuller is a wisecracking huckster, a barroom piano player, who knocks out the tunes of the day hot and fast. He’s given a stark choice: play hymns on an organ or rot in jail. He opts for playing hymns so he can keep playing the black market.
Fuller is a black 20-something, who’s taken under the wing of the chaplain, Henry Gerecke. Gerecke treats him like his son – which means Fuller comes to hate him – almost as much as he hates the racists in US army at the time.
But nothing matches the hatred Fuller has for the Nazis who captured and murdered his brother at the Battle of the Bulge. Fuller, who has a line in near-to-the-knuckle gags, has an axe to grind. He wants his revenge.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Fuller is a complex and conflicted character, who tries to wisecrack his way out of most situations. He’s a kid with a mischievous sense of humour. He’s the character the audience is most likely to relate to.
But beneath all that is a fury and a loathing towards the Nazis, and anyone who tries to treat these monsters like human beings. And that includes his boss, Henry Gerecke.
Fuller is man on fire, and those around him are likely to get burned.
When one of the leading Nazis dies, the question is – did Fuller provide the cyanide?
3. What are the most interesting actions Fuller takes in the script?
We begin with a drunk and furious Fuller at Dachau concentration camp. He’s just found out his brother has been murdered by the Nazis when he tried to surrender. And now he’s pointing a gun in the face of his boss, Henry Gerecke, who has stepped in to save the life of a young SS prisoner of war.
Fuller doesn’t care about the rifle pointed at his own head. Right now, it doesn’t matter if he lives or dies. If he has to shoot his boss in order to kill the Nazi, so be it.
Fuller is switched to guard duty outside the cells of the leading Nazis in Nuremberg – where he teases and torments them at every opportunity.
Fuller is subject to racial abuse by both the Nazis and his own bullying Sergeant, who tries to cut him down to size with an army knife in a back alley in Nuremberg. What happens next lands Fuller in Menard.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
The concentration camp scene is the opener. Fuller is so appalled by the horror at Dachau that he is determined to make a Nazi pay – even if it costs Fuller his life. It’s the scene where his boss, Henry Gerecke, stands in his way – and where Fuller comes to hate him like a father.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Wisecracking good humour, a kid with talent and an ego to match, to a depressive drunk determined to get revenge. Fuller is a shapeshifter who provides both comic relief and a furious counterpoint to his principled and warm-hearted boss.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
In the scene in Dachau Fuller is clearly driven. We pick that up, but only he knows why. What Fuller knows is that his brother was racially murdered by Nazis after he was captured. As Fuller goes round the concentration camp, he is boiling at what he sees. And his determination builds – unseen – to get revenge.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Fuller’s key relationship is with Henry Gerecke, the US Army captain and chaplain who has taken him under his wing. Gerecke is his father figure. The problem is, Fuller’s own father was a dangerous drunk. So Fuller has a problem with father figures and anyone in authority.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Samuel Fuller’s voice is crucial to this movie. He’s cool and young with audience appeal and states out loud what the audience is thinking. He constantly challenges his boss and other viewpoints. He’s a crucial counterpoint to the protagonist, Henry Gerecke, who is a warm-hearted father figure.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
The wide emotional range demanded of Sam Fuller will challenge any actor. Fuller also needs to be played by a talented singer with street appeal, capable of lighting up the screen in every scene he plays.
And he has some of the most powerful scenes in the movie, where he confronts his boss with a gun at Dachau concentration camp and later his murderous sergeant in an alley in Nuremberg.
Fuller is far more than simply a sidekick to the protagonist. The movie can’t work without him. That’s why he’s listed here as a lead character.
Role in the Story: The voice of everyman; cool, relatable character to create a bridge between the cinema audience and the main, older, more conservative protagonist. A Trickster and foil, to speak the mind of the audience.
Age range and description: Early- to-mid 20s, black, wiry, singer, piano-player and wisecracking hustler with an infectious grin.
Core Traits: Cocksure covering insecurity, hustling to survive, but with buried anger and brooding side to his nature.
Motivation:
Want: To make a buck, have a good time, to get back to the States as quickly as possible.
Need: Popularity, self-esteem – and revenge.
Wound: Abused and deserted by his alcoholic father; devastated by the murder of his brother by the SS when he tried to surrender; deep suspicion of authority and father figures.
Likability:
Wisecracking entertainer, who plays hit tunes and hymns on a hot piano, a trickster who bucks the system, speaks his mind and gets into heaps of trouble.
Relatability:
Keeps on saying what the audience thinks. A skinny black guy in a shark tank of racists. Keeps on smiling – mostly.
Empathy:
His alcoholic dad beat him and his brother; raised by his big bro, who was murdered by the Nazis when he tried to surrender – and abused for being black. Now Sam Fuller wants revenge.
Thank you!
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Joe’s Character profiles, part 1
My vision is to persevere and stay the course of building steady daily routine, and disciplines that produce consistent writing of exceptional quality. Ultimately, the fruit of those habits and disciplines will be a track record of great marketable scripts that will make other successful talented pros seek me out.
What I learned: Again, so much of this overlaps, and feels like a lot of work to come up with these things. But doing all these exercises is really forcing me to brainstorm as much as I can and creating lots of fodder for the script. It really is like a mental birthing process, so why shouldn’t there be labor pains?
2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
Character Name: Lorenzo Locatelli
A. High Concept: A blue-collar business owner/aspiring chef who falls for upscale dancer who owns a studio above his pizza shop.
B. This character’s journey: Thinks the new teacher who rents upstairs is not only from another world, but way to stuck-up and prejudiced. He feels sorry for the poor shmo who ends up with her. But while getting to know her as they fight against their sleazy landlord together, he realizes he’s got her all wrong. He ends up willing to give up his future business plans for her.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
– He’s a blue-collar guy with lots of loveable energy, who ultimately wins the heart of the “Uptown girl”
– He seems like an extroverted opinionated control freak at first but he’s really got a huge heart.
– He slings pizza dough and other culinary delights like a master sculptor but never talks about how awesome he is (only how awesome the food is)
– He is alone for noble reasons, but is initially blind to the fact that he should give Emily a chance
– He stands up to the landlord and comes to Emily’s defense when she needs it.
– He’s passionate and charismatic enough to draw a crowd of devoted customers.
– He’s very much an everyman, so we all can relate to him because he lives and works on our level, but is a master crafsstman in the kitchen… turns out in the bedroom too!
– He is “king of the castle” in his domain of the pizza parlor, but take him out of that comfort zone, like on a dance floor, or courtroom, and he’s introverted and sinks into his shell.
– He thinks he’s making the most mature, somber decision of his life to leave pizza store, but by leaving Emily in America, he realized he made the biggest mistake of his life. At that point, he’s ready to swing in on a vine (or Elevator cable) to rescue her, no holds barred.
– Everything’s out on the table; on the nose; guns blazing, which is a turn off to Emily, but his actions make him a hypocrite, when he tells people he’s not int0 Emily.
– Before Emily, his biggest relationship is the one with his pizza parlor, as he’s ready to give it all up, as much as Abraham was ready to give up Isaac to sacrifice to God. Later, that’s exactly how he feels about Emily, and is ready to give up the pizza shop for her.
– He’s such an extrovert, but is a creative and passionate soul, so he’ll probably use colorful metaphors with the things he loves the most: his food, his pizza parlor, and his livelihood, like it’s fine artwork, a sanctuary, and a sacred order. His family and his homeland are next in line as well: his trip to the motherland of Italy is a “pilgramage”, and to make Emily his clan would be the ultimate expression of acceptance and inclusion into a most sacred order.
Character Name: Emily Wakefield
A. The High Concept: After not making the cut in a 2nd Broadway show, she decides to open her own dance studio, but must settle for a suburban location above a seedy looking pizza shop.
B. This character’s journey: The landlord leads her to believe she can’t trust the pizza owner, but over time, she learns it is the landlord she can’t trust, and ends up falling in love with the pizza maker. He teaches her how to deal with her own inner-demons that she’s a “failed broadway dancer” and forces her to discover how she uses prejudices to protect her from things she is naiive about.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
– She is an extremely beautiful dancer and performer but is also an excellent down-to-earth teacher.
– She is not afraid to rise to the challenges of owning and running her own business. She refuses to be put in a box, and will accept any challenge thrown at her.
– She goes through the journey of the initial clash with Lorenzo, to finally wanting to build a life with him as a lover AND a business partner.
– after her partner bails on her on the phone, she signs the lease on opening her own damn studio.
-She takes on the shapeshifting landlord and takes him down
-She encourages a student to overcome a major obstacle, and then later uses that same empowerment to help Lorenzo overcome his own mental obstacle, persuading Lorenzo to come back to the states and buy a building with her.
– She is revered by her students for her caring nurturing spirit
– She’s got a lot of great funny one-liners.
– She goes from ambitious to defeated to rising again and falling for someone she intially thought was her enemy
– she goes from naiive blindly trusting the landlord, to feeling betrayed, to becoming wiser and going the distance to take down the shifty landlord.
– First part of the movie she’s hiding that she has pre-judged him and despsises him. The second part of the movie she’s hiding that she’s falling for him.
– Her phrases that start with “when I was on broadway” should change over time to something… maybe “when I go to broadway” or “when I visit brodway” or “when I think of my friends still stuck on Broadway”
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Emily:
Role in the Story: Female protagonist in Rom-com who ends up falling for the guy she initially thought was the enemy.
Age range and Description: early 30s, but has the body of a dancer, so she looks 25 or younger.
Core Traits: Ambitious, artistic, blind to her own naivitees about business.
Motivation; Want/Need: Wants business to succeed. Also longs to be made to feel as special and beautiful as she felt when she was performing on broadway.
Wound: when the show ended, she didn’t make the cut on a 2nd audition for a show, and now that her business partner bailed on her, she couldn’t possibly bear to have the studio fail on top of that. She’d feel like a total wash-up in her 30s.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
– She’s beautiful and a great dancer.
-She’s a very nurturing gifted teacher.
-Even though she takes care of her body, on the rare occasions when she does indulge, she wholeheartedly embracces the pleasure.
– She is geniunely hurt by the two-facedness of the landlord and feels humiliated by it. She’s determined to rise above it though.
Lorenzo:
Role in the Story: Male protagonist in Rom-com who ends up falling for the girl he initially thought was stuck-up, pretentious, prejudiced and a total ameteur at running a small business.
Age range and Description: early 30s, keeps himself fit and extremely active with his business.
Core Traits: Very house proud about his business and extremely passionate about his cooking. Has a huge heart for his customers, but he won’t take crap from anyone, no matter who you are.
Motivation; Want/Need: Wants business to continue to thrive and grow, but deep down he knows that a pizza joint has its limitations for growth and expansion; longs for something more but is in denial about it.
Wound: Every time the landlord raises rent or adds an expense, its like a punch in the gut to him. Also, even though he acts like he doesn’t care if people like Emily think he is beneath them, it really does bug him.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
– He’s very expressive and loves his customers as much as they love his food.
– He makes great pizza and other things.
– He’s got a lot of smart advice about running a business.
– Super hard member of the honest, tax-paying working class.
– Feels the pressure of keeping the business afloat, and cant stand seeing people fall for inferior pizza of his competitors as a result of their slick advertising.
– knows for sure that the Landlord is no-good from years of working with him, but feels trapped in his lease conditions.
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Module 3, Lesson 6 – Character Profiles Part-1
Subject: Rob Ingalls’ Character Profiles Part-1
MY VISION:
To be a Talented writer that delivers quality fast, with the film industry seeking me out.
WIL: As I fill in blanks, and then later return, I can tweak or modify to improve easily.
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Original Concept: A giant Buddha statue made of pure gold is stolen by thieves who tunnel underneath and hollow it out.
In a quest to find a lost golden Buddha statue in the jungle, and regain his status/pride on TikToc, an Influencer
discovers there’s more to it when he realizes it has never been lost.
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JOSH (Protagonist)
The High Concept:
A TikTok Influencer, wanting to increase his followers and energize his current followers, hires a guide to take him deep
in the jungle, while he vlogs the search for the legendary giant golden Buddha statue.
This character’s journey:
TikTok Influencer wanna-be, self-centered, shallow, fake-it-’til-you-make-it, no real friends, is forced on a real adventure to reclaim
his status and pride, ultimately connects with local villagers and saves their prized statue, which gives them hope as well as gives
himself new meaning to life.
The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
This is a popular TikToc Influencer who travels the world in seach of new adventures, but in reality is faking it with a green screen.
He’s scared of heights and hates vaccine shots. His insecurities and fake life are the only reality he knows.
And he’s about to lose his followers when they find out the truth (presented by the Antagonist).
From creating fake adventures (green screen) to an actual adventure deep in Thailand jungles in search of a mysterious golden Buddha statue.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Popular Influencer on TikToc/Instagram whose life is fake and his followers abandon him.
Loves/cares for Grandmother in nursing home. She gives him map from his granddad.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in this script?
Death-defying adventure that turns out to be fake with green screen.
Later, a true death-defying adventure walking a rope bridge across a wide gorge and raging river.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
A fake Influencer who loves his grandma and wants her to be proud. Struggles with reality and the internet world he creates.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Being abandon by his followers to having a deep inner change that brings truth and reality into forfront, as well as true followers.
Transformational journey from narcisistic showman on TikToc to caring for others even if it goes against his ego world.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
His actions hide the fact he’s insecure, has strong need for affection. His grandma is dying and doesn’t know how to express his feelings.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Holly, the triangle character, feels hurt from Protagonist and creates unnecessary turmoil between Protagonist and Antagonist.
Protagonist is still in love with Holly but afraid to getting close, since that also means losing them at some point (eg Grandma)
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Self-created Got-it-made positive attitude that hides his insecurities.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Charisma/Pride ego (that also looks down on others, in beginning) in the beginning that later becomes humbled, caring for others beyond self.
1. Role in Story: Protagonist
TikToc Influencer who fakes his adventures to gain Followers.
2. Age range and Description: Age 20s. Josh wears stylish gym clothes and gold chains (rapper apparel??)
3. Core Traits:
– Initially: Cocky, Cool Attitude (fake), Intolerant (short temper – deep down he’s afraid to get caught), love his Memaw
– After Change: Humble, tolerasnt, considerate
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
– Want: More TikToc Followers
– To feel important/loved. To fill an emptyness
5. Wound: Bullied in grade school to the point where he felt toally insecure
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
– Likability: He takes care of his ailing grandma/Memaw in nursing home
– Relatability: Girlfriend problems. Growing up issues.
– Empathy: His TikToc Influencer business falls apart, crumbles
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CASHUS KING (Antagonist)
The High Concept:
A Competitor TikToc Influencer feels slighted when Josh doesn’t give him the time of day (at TikToc convention).
An unknown person (Triangle character – Holly) tells Cashus how to get even by revealing secrets of Josh.
This character’s journey:
Hurt/pain when slighted by Josh at a convention, to angry and vengeful, to ……
He loses quest, loses his own followers, broken down
The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Hot TikToc Influencer who is envious of Protagonist’s success and is willing to knock him down.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He’s being fed info from the Protagonist’s former girlfirend who was hurt that he cheated (misunderstanding)
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in this script?
Finds gold statue first. Steals it by removing (melting gold) beneath it.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Jealous/angry that protagonist is rated higher than himself, thus less ad revenue, less girlfriends, etc
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Jealous/angry to winning after destroying protagonists ratings to excited finding gold statue first, to giving up after losing battle
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Insecure/Jealous/angry
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
He and protagonist used to be best friends. When they discover ex-girlfriend caused problems, they bonded stronger
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Precise, intelligent, but not too social (thus his real problems with social media)
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Techno-nerd
1. Role in Story: Antagonist
2. Age range and Description: Age 20s, focuses too much on other Influencer’s traits, tries to be like them
3. Core Traits: Bully, conniving, mis-treats oters, Treats Chihuahua nice like his baby
4. Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to Make more money/ Needs confidence
5. Wound: His father bullied him, never appreciated him
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
– Likability: Has a pet Chihuahua that he loves/adors
– Relatability: Dog shits/pee all over white carpet.
– Empathy: Humiliation – TikToc Followers compare him to Josh, and not in a nice way, and troll Cashus.
(Later he fights back with revenge…not nice)
==============================================
HOLLY (Triangle)
The High Concept:
Logline: A spurned ex-girlfriend is hired, unknowingly by her ex, as his Virtual Assistant.
Her goal: To make him pay for the perceived hurt he gave her.
This character’s journey:
Spoiled brat who wants revenge on Josh
The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Spurned ex-girlfriend of Protagonist who can’t stand to see him with another girl.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Former girlfriend and fellow Influencer, hurt that he cheated (misunderstanding). Feeds antagonist with info (false info)
Revenge? Getting even? Payback?
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in this script?
Devious plans to wreck havoc with protagonist by using antagonist (without either knowing she’s the one)
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Angry/hurt ex-girlfriend with attitude.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Angry/hurt to vengeful to apologetic to needy (he forgives but doesn’t want to go further)
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Know-it-all
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Ex-girlfirend of protagonist. He still cares for her but in the end, decides not to pursue again
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Know-it-all
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Had other boyfriends that she caused turmoil afterwards
1. Role in Story: Third character, creates issues between Josh and Cashus.
2. Age range and Description: Age 20s. Colorful hair. Long finger nails. Wild dresser.
3. Core Traits: Nasty, mean, conniving, scheming.
4. Motivation; Want/Need: Wants Josh to feel her pain. Needs to learn to love herself.
5. Wound: Daddy issues
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
– Likability: Fake Friendly, outgoing. Later learn her core traits.
– Relatability: We initially think she’s suffered in relationships due to the guy, (but later learn it’s her).
– Empathy: Why would anyone (Josh) cheat on her (or did he??)
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Module 3 – Lesson #6 – Character Profiles Part 1
My Vision: To create a polished portfolio and do whatever it takes to get a manager, and then sell multiple TV and or feature scripts.
What I learned doing this assignment is that lead characters start to find shape as I add in details that would attract actors to play them.
Lesson #6
The High Concept: A grieving investigative reporter discovers she’s the reincarnated wife of the fugitive killer that killed her.
This character’s journey: From suffering with survivor’s guilt to finding the will to live again.
The Actor Attractors for this character: a polished, city slicker with an interesting career that is at the height of her career, to the lowest depths of grief. She will have deep ranges of emotion – sadness, fear, bravery and will need to confront her past to live alone, find the will to write, the will to live and to fight off a deadly storm. She also must navigate the agenda set by the antagonist. She is a woman who is highly intuitive (i.e. can sense things happening before they do), discovers she has had a past life in which she was killed by the very person she shares an uninhabited island with.
Role in the Story: Freya, protagonist. She’s the cutthroat journalist that will do anything for a good story. When she loses her husband, and can’t pull it together after many months and loses the will to write, she loses her job. As a result, she flees to an uninhabited island to grieve – even though she’s deathly afraid of water. She discovers a mystery that she’s intent on solving to absolve her own grief, and by writing about it, the hope to get her job back. She faces her fear of water to get to the mainland in a deadly storm, and in doing so finds her will to live again.
Age range and Description: late 20’s, young professional/yuppy type , slender, sophisticated but gritty and tough. Historically a work-a-holic that puts her job in front of her family.
Core Traits: Haunted, argumentative, walled, problem solver
Motivation
Want: to solve the island’s mystery to prove that she can still write despite her loss.
Need: to forgive herself and allow herself to move on
Wound: What they can’t face: Her stories have exposed important people and destroyed lives in the past. She is haunted by this. Obsessed with her job, she didn’t focus on her family like she should – thinking they had forever. And then she lost them and she was helpless to save them.
Likability: A good mother, hard worker, she is personable/polite to mainlanders, self-deprecating about her inabilities to be alone
Relatability: Freya has experienced trauma, she has lost her job, lost her will to live
Empathy: Freya couldn’t save her husband/daughter, she’s alone and grieving, she has writer’s block, believes she is losing her mind (when Noah is stalking her), she has to face a deadly storm and get back to the mainland but is deathly afraid of water
Antagonist:
B. This character’s journey: from fugitive on the run also haunted by loss to embracing his past and ability to move on to his next life.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: highly dark, interesting character that has lived alone for years as a fugitive. He is a master of disguises, ensuring those who meet him do not recognize him. He pretends he’s someone that he’s not — a caretaker. Great range of emotion in his role/relationship with Freya… and he actually doesn’t exist… he’s a spirit.
Role in the Story: Antagonist. The caretaker to the Ericksen home on the island… but no one on the mainland knows he exists. He’s been hiding out because it is believed he killed his wife Lisbeth Ericksen and her child. He’ll work to prevent Freya from learning the truth.
Age range and Description: late 40’s, man of few words, burly and strong
Core Traits: Manipulative, paranoid, curious, loving
Motivation;
Want: to hide the truth about what he has done
Need: find forgiveness
Wound: Never found love, the one person he opened up to and cared about – his wife – was killed (and he feels responsible).
Likability: intelligent/knows the land, shares great stories of the island, shows interest in Freya/what she does for a living
Relatability: Noah has lost someone he loves, he doesn’t like himself for what he’s done, he’s alone
Empathy: Freya reminds him of Lisbeth and this hurts him
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George Petersen CHARACTER PROFILES PART 1
My Vision is to direct one of my screenplays as a low-budget indie feature
What I learned from this assignment is that it’s a lot of work to bring a character to life
With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
LONGFELLOW. Protagonist
The High Concept.
Longfellow is an attorney who believes in following the law no matter what it costs him personally
This character’s journey.
From an affable, perplexed attorney who can’t figure out what is going on to a dogged attorney who solves the mystery
The Actor Attractors for this character.
It’s his dogged detective work. His relentless pursuit to find his friend or what happened to him no matter what.
His insatiable curiosity
He gets to dress up undercover as a hippie. He gets to kill the bad hippie.
Sharp. Witty. Detached intellectual.
Role in the Story: Protagonist: the attorney who draws up the will at the center of the conflict. He surreptitiously investigates Youngblood until he solves the mystery.
Age range and Description: 50s. Erudite. Impeccable dress and manners. But drinks too much when under pressure. Likes things to be in order and straight, especially picture frames.
Core Traits: Loyal. Perfectionist. Everything by the Book. Curious.
Motivation;
Want: to expose Youngblood for who he really is. Need: to protect Jonathan and keep him safe from Youngblood but also from himself
Wound: his loss of Maggie, the only woman he truly loved
Likability: he’s charming, respectful, cheerful
Relatability: he takes great care of his dog
Empathy: he struggles with being a borderline alcoholic
*
YOUNGBLOOD. Antagonist
The High Concept.
Youngblood is an amoral hippie who pursues his desires passionately without regard for anyone else
This character’s journey.
From fun-loving hippie to serial killer
The Actor Attractors for this character.
Short, pale, young and handsome, but lacking all forms of social grace, Youngblood presents himself at times as pure animal — a quality that some nubile flower girls find irresistible
He gets to frolic with attractive flower girls. He gets to intimidate everyone he speaks to.
He is introduced living it up at the Fillmore doing body painting. He covers himself with DayGlo paint, then splays his nude body over long sheets of butcher paper creating abstract “art.” Laughing gleefully through it all.
When he speaks, he conveys the uneasy feeling that he would like to lunge for your throat
Role in the Story: Antagonist: the hippie who is the beneficiary of the will. His hunger for pleasure is insatiable. He needs Jonathan’s wealth to keep it going.
Age range and Description: Late 20s. Unkempt. Wild hair and beard. But handsome. Virile. Has a limp, walks a little crooked with a cane.
Core Traits: Selfish. Secretive. Reckless. Absolutely no sense of humor.
Motivation;
Want: to pursue all pleasure without limits
Need: to kill for the thrill of power over life and death
Wound: Nobody ever loved him. From as long as he can remember — which isn’t all that much — people have always hated him
Likability: his desire for fun, fun, fun.
Relatability: he’s a down and out hippie without a penny to his name
Empathy: he struggles to walk straight
*
JONATHAN Triangle
The High Concept.
Jonathan is an eccentric research scientist who has devoted his life to helping others and cares little for his own welfare
This character’s journey.
From enthusiastic scientific researcher who is the life of the party to withdrawn shut-in
The Actor Attractors for this character.
Gifted, a bit reckless, jumps about from topic to topic freely, hard to keep up with him, instantly likable
Role in the Story: Triangle: Jonathan is a successful research scientist. He inexplicably protects Youngblood from Longfellow and the police.
Age range and Description: 50s. Aristocratic. So brilliant that sometimes it’s hard to keep up with his line of thought as he jumps from subject to subject. Subject to bursts of enthusiasm followed by bouts of deep depression.
Core Traits: Academic. Adventurer. Enthusiastic. Distant.
Motivation;
Want: to protect Youngblood from inquiries from Longfellow and the police
Need: to secure Youngblood’s financial security no matter the cost
Wound: his being fired unceremoniously from the position of top researcher at the Royal University in London
Likability: he has an infectious enthusiasm for new ideas. He’s always upbeat. Positive.
Relatability: he loves his house and has lovingly restored it with care
Empathy: he suffers from the burden of carrying a dark secret that he cannot share with anyone, even his best friend, Longfellow
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<div>
</div>Mod: #3: lesson #6.
Vision: to write memorable movie scripts that attract winning actors or actors who establish a good reputation by performing in them.
WIL: Posting takes me longer than the assignments.
A. The High Concept. A reluctant Shakespearean scholar searches for clues to his wounded professor’s attacker, and his unpublished manuscript found in a lost play by Shakespeare which will cause a worldwide uproar.
<div>
B. This character’s journey: Cole Fairbanks admires his professor although he opposes his views concerning Shakespeare’s authorship, but he searches for the attacker and thief who hurt the professor and stole the manuscript.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character. His arc goes from a non-confrontational scholar to a physically and mentally strong investigator who fights those who gain from the suppression of Shakespeare’s true identity. He has widest arc and most appeal.
Role in the Story: protagonist</div>
Age range and Description: 25-30, well-built, handsome, bookish, Cole still have little appeal for women.
Core Traits: somewhat irritating as a grammarian who corrects everyone’s errors, and principled to a fault, relentless.
Motivation; Want/Need: to preserve Wm. Shakespeare’s legacy and earn a PHD from a professor who like each other, but don’t agree.
Wound: Beautiful women scare him.
Likability, honorable, willing to change after firm evidence is revealed.
Relatability, has top honors in class, will sacrifice finals and graduation to investigate the crime and save the professor’s manuscript.
Empathy: He works for a degree and now his beliefs are trash, yet he fights for a wheelchair bound professor who has lost more, his ability to speak .
Actor Delaney
Role: Cole’s nemesis in class and his assistant in the investigation.
Age: 25-30, dowdy (her choice) a bookworm, sarcastic and critical of Cole, determined to save her ancestors’ historical relationship to Shakespeare.
Traits: intelligent, driven, angry, secretive and yet, outspoken against Cole
Motivation: Family issues cause her to accompany Cole, not to assist, but to save her family name. She needs to be smarter and sneakier than Cole.
Wound: She is the disappointment to her family once connected to royalty.
Likability: her sarcasm is somewhat amusing. men don’t find her attractive.
Relatability: a woman who fights for what she believes
Empathy: she may lose her chance to complete the course, also, and can’t afford to take it twice because she elects to challenge Cole on this journey of investigation. What will he do when he finds clues?
Actor: Professor
Role: Victim whom enemies have silenced and his manuscript lost.
Age: 45-55/ mild-mannered, nervous, smiles at odd remarks,.
Core traits: fearsome evaluator of students’ work. brilliant, passionate researcher, ignores mundane surroundings, brave or too innocent to understand what his manuscript will cause if it is published.
Motivation: the truth. Credit given where it is due, Need: recover his speech and mobility.
Wound: Powerful people have stopped him from rising. May not be able to recover from another defeat.
Likability: clever and dedicated, he has been stopped by physical violence against him.
Relatability: He won’t give up to reveal evidence that may contribute to the truth.
Empathy: badly beaten and unable to speak, he has lost him manuscript, backups, and everything he worked so long to prepare.
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Marcus’ Character Profiles Part 1
My Vision: I have well-founded confidence that what I write is excellent and will be acknowledged as excellent by everyone who reads it.
This lesson showed a good way to develop characters and have a reference for them during script writing.
Movie Title: “Beyond the Faded Trail”
Character Name: Jake Barnet
High Concept: A building contractor desperate for lumber takes his crew on a risky journey into a lawless place to salvage wood from abandoned buildings and save his business.
Character Journey: An ex-soldier and adventurer trying yet another in a series of get-rich-quick schemes becomes part of his community committed to creating a legacy in his town.
Actor attractors: An ex-soldier who designs his life around hiding PTSD.
1. Role in the Story: Protagonist.
2. Age Range and Description: Mid-40s. A good-looking fit man.
3. Core Traits: Devil-may-care, seeks the easiest path, can’t commit
4. Motivation; Want/Need: Have a normal life with money and a wife.
5. Wound, What They Can’t Face: His past as a cavalry officer during the Mexican-American war. The horrors he witnessed.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy: He is very good to his horse. Jake falls in love with a prostitute, or thinks he does. He can’t have her. Jake tries really hard, but he’s a bad businessman. His business goes up in smoke when someone burns his lumber. Jake’s men don’t respect him.
Character Name: Isaac Castle (aka Holland Whitaker)
High Concept: A wanted criminal hides in plain sight and plots an elaborate revenge against his former partner in crime.
Character Journey: Former member of Lucien’s gang, he gives up crime to work as a carpenter, keeps his background secret, convinces the builder to take a risky trip for a potentially lucrative reward. All to win back his girlfriend.
Actor attractors: A criminal hiding in plain sight determined to get restitution and revenge.
1. Role in the Story: Triangle
2. Age Range and Description: 30. Neatly trimmed hair, sideburns and mustache.
3. Core Traits: Intellectual, skilled carpenter, mentor
4. Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to get his girlfriend back.
5. Wound, What They Can’t Face: Betrayed by his best friend, Lucien, who stole his girlfriend.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy: He’s smart. Takes his younger workers under his wing. Tries to do a good job and mentors his workers. He is faced with stupidity of those around him that impacts his work and even his everyday life. Later we will find out he has been in love and lost that love. His boss doesn’t always do what’s right for the business, and Isaac must work hard to make up for it. His former partner in crime stole his girlfriend.
Antagonist Character Name: Lucien Rickey
High Concept: The leader of a gang of successful stage coach robbers uses an abandoned town as a hideout and storage for plunder, which he will protect at any cost.
Character Journey: A hardened criminal who was previously a law-and-order town sheriff dies for his crimes.
Actor attractors: A man doing bad things for (what he believes to be) a good cause. A variation on a Robin Hood type.
1. Role in the Story: Antagonist.
2. Age Range and Description: Late 30s. A fit man.
3. Core Traits: Air of superiority, anger issues, prideful
4. Motivation; Want/Need: Revenge against the railroad company.
5. Wound, What They Can’t Face: His town will never return. He will be furious to find out that Barnet is dismantling it.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy: A former law-and-order sheriff, he kept his town peaceable. Might possibly show him as a popular man. His men are fiercely loyal to him. Wanted a good life for himself and others. The railroad reneged on its deal with his town and as a result, the town died. He’s getting revenge on them.
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Bice-Stephens Character Profile Part 1
2022 is my year to break through!
What I learned—it’s so much smarter to develop the characters before the script.
Lead Character—Brandy
High Concept—A young psychopath kidnaps a baby to manipulate the ex who rejected her.
Character Journey—Normal to Trashy to crime queen
Actor attractors—No boundaries personality, but actually very damaged psych for a reason
Profile:
Role in story—Antagonist, an ex who won’t let go
Age range—20s, looks like any girl on the street
Core Traits—Mentally unbalanced, narcissistic, selfish, broken
Motivation—Wants her own family at any cost, Needs to replace the family she lost
Wound—Dad killed her mother, lost 2 babies
Likability—At first seems like a normal girlfriend who just wants a guy
Relatability—None of us have complete control over what happens to us
Empathy—She is broken from a damaged life
Lead Character—Alex
High concept—A young psychopath kidnaps a baby to manipulate the ex who rejected her
Character Journey—Happy go lucky to ultimately destroyed
Actor Attractors—Forrest Gump II, the friend we would all like to have
Profile:
Role in story—Protagonist, the ex being manipulated
Age range, description—20s, Clean cut college student, smiley
Core traits—nice guy, cheerful, smart, vulnerable
Motivation—Wants to have his own family, Needs to make up for being abandoned as a baby
Wound—Thinks if his parents didn’t want him nobody could
Likability—Best friend ever to everyone, just wants to have a good time
Relatability—His situation could happen to anyone
Empathy—He can’t see how Brandy is breaking him
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Chris Blanchett’s Character Profiles 1
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment is that contradictions aplenty reside in every character.
Unwoke
After his politically incorrect rant accidentally goes viral, a timid office-worker becomes a modern day thought criminal to one half of the country and an unintentional hero to the other. Can he elude the clutches of the “woke” mob and successfully avoid sparking a second American civil war?
Character Name: Tim Walters
Character journey: from timid and acquiescent office-worker to confident, powerful leader inspiring authentic and respectful human interaction.
Actor attractor: Incredibly rich emotional range
Role in the Story: Protagonist <div>
Age range and Description: 38 years
old. Would be good-looking if
anyone noticed him.
Core Traits: Timid and
acquiescent. Doesn’t want to rock
the boat… until he does.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Motivation Want/Need: Wants to
return to his old life. Needs to
unleash the leader within.Wound: The world
he’s always known is being taken from himLikability, Relatability,
Empathy:Likability: smart,
funny, genuinely decent human beingRelatability: put upon
by bureaucracy at workEmpathy: put in
situation where he’s forced to choose between staying true to his own
values or “going along to get along” to avoid losing his job by rocking
the boat.<div>
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Character Name: Cassidy Perino
Character journey: From Machiavellian manipulator and operator apparently without the capability of truly connecting with others to acknowledging her own humanity and allowing herself to connect on a human level.
Actor attractor: Ambiguity and mystery combined with strength and intelligence.
Role in the Story: Triangle
and Love Interest </div>Age range and Description: 28 years
old. Radiates an alluring beauty
that is enhanced by her intelligence.Core Traits:
Intelligent, creative, strategic-thinker, empathetic, but is any of it
authentic, or is all an act?Motivation Want/Need: Wants to orchestrate a conflict that will dominate the news cycle in
perpetuity. Needs to find something
and someone she can truly believe in and trust.Wound: Grew up is
a perfect family and was the perfect daughter. Went to the best schools and was an
excellent student. Wanted for nothing, accept genuine affection and
approval from her parents. She
tried to win that approval and affection by outward success. When that failed, the outward success
became a substitute for genuine affection and approval.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Likability, Relatability,
Empathy:<div>
Likability: Highly intelligent, extremely good at what she does, helps Tim navigate the new world of political communications
Relatability: Balancing numerous interests in her job at times her drive to succeed and innate humanity are at odds with one another.
Empathy: apparently torn between personal feelings for Tim and the demands of her job, which may not be in his best interest.
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Character Name: Rachel Donahue
Character Journey: From uptight and woke “thought-police” to a genuine human-being who is able to admit to himself and others he’s figuring it out like everyone else and able to extend real tolerance to those who don’t agree with him rather than demanding a “tolerance” which really amounts to agreement, compliance, and bending of the philosophical knee.
Actor attractor: A scene-stealing, scenery-chewing, over the top villain; one many have met in real-life.
Role in the Story: Antagonist </div>
Age range and Description: 32 years
old. Five-eleven or so, muscular if
a bit flabby, clearly masculine features which are softened not at all by
wig, make-up, lip-stick, and dresses.
Core Traits: Argumentative,
acerbic, hostile, and judgmental… all in the name of tolerance.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Motivation Want/Need: Wants to compel others to acknowledge and celebrate whatever identity he
assumes. Needs to relax and realize
no one is giving his gender identity much thought unless confronted by
him.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Wound: Never had a
core motivation, cause to champion, or strong sense of self. Adopting a new identity as Rachel
addresses all three.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Likability, Relatability,
Empathy:<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Likability: competent
and driven, an acerbic wit, but with nonetheless<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Relatability: Tim
represents an obstacle toward fulfilling his/her job function “nothing
personal (maybe), it’s strictly business…”<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Empathy: At a certain
level, overworked and just trying “to get the job done…” Obviously attempting to fill a need deep in his psyche…</div>
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Erin Ziccarelli’s Character Profiles Part 1
Vision: I am going to create meaningful scripts that leave audiences remembering my movies and leave me excited to keep writing and moving up in the industry.
What I learned from doing this assignment is: the breakdown of profile items – I find the motivation element most interesting. Creating opposing goals and internal requirements for my lead character will help me elevate his journey!
With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
Alex Donovan
A. The High Concept: Family secrets unravel a Boston crime family’s struggle for control of the Black market.
B. This character’s journey: from imprisoned counterfeiter with a cocaine addiction to used car salesman actively trying to end the family feud.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an
actor to want to be known for it?A varied character with a variety of personal and professional roles. He’s wresting with his past as an inmate, counterfeiter, and drug dealer, while trying to build a new identity as a businessman and a father. He wins in every gambling scene/poker game. He even wins at roulette, a game of complete chance.
What makes this character one of the
most interesting characters in your story?His ties to crime families, his struggle to stay sober.
What are the most interesting
actions the Lead could take in the script?Doing drugs, counterfeiting, being around cars a lot, and final speech where he rejects his old way of life.
How can you introduce this role in a
way that could sell it to an actor?Introduce him as intimidating/muscular/hardened, but still weak and vulnerable underneath. He’s been beaten down but he’s not dead yet.
What could be this character’s
emotional rangeFrom angry/bitter/resentful to normal to change-maker.
What subtext can the actor play?
He knows he’s going to have to make a public stand and reject his criminal ties. Before accomplishing that mission, he tries to hide behind his new identity and play it safe.
What’s the most interesting
relationships this character can have?Uneasy and suspicious relationship with Roger Tate, a social worker on his case. Charged relationship with his daughter, Scarlett Caden who struggles to accept him after finding out his identity. Difficult relationship with his colleagues who look down on him because of his past.
How will this character’s unique
voice be presented?Unique voice shows hurt and resentment. Character’s loyalty comes out in his unique voice and through interactions Roger, Will, Scarlett, and his old friends. He treats people a certain way based on their family name.
What could make this character
special and unique?His confidence, loyalty, ability to go from angry to compassionate and reasonable in a scene once he has connected with his fellow character(s).
Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters:
1. Role in the Story: protagonist, the counterfeiter who was caught twenty years ago, but is now out on a probationary program. His mission is to put an end to the family feud.
2. Age range and description: in his 40’s, aged, muscular, cold eyes
3. Core traits: haunted, brave, loyal, black-and-white
4. Motivation; wants to stand on his own two feet, needs a support system his former family ties can give him
5. Wound: he had an affair with a woman from the other side of Boston, she has been killed, and their daughter is on the other side
6. Likeability, relatability, empathy:
· Likability: he greatly cares for Kitty Caden, he gives himself up so that his friends are not caught, he’s a great card player and outsmarts the whole table
· Relatability: conflict with a nemesis who married his true love, he can’t trust anyone, he’s struggling with cocaine dependency, he’s very alone at the new jail
· Empathy: he’s fallen prey to cocaine dependency, he’s been in jail, his friends haven’t come to visit him so he’s feeling betrayed, and he’s being taunted by his nemesis
Scarlett Caden
A. The High Concept: Family secrets unravel a Boston crime family’s struggle for control of the Black market.
B. This character’s journey: from eating-disorder stricken dependent to realizing that she doesn’t need convoluted family connections to be successful
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an
actor to want to be known for it?A seemingly normal DMV worker who is a witty counterfeiter and excellent card player. She knows how to get the best of anyone in a card game. Has a great poker face.
What makes this character one of the
most interesting characters in your story?She has a complicated family history – she’s the product of an affair between star-crossed lovers.
What are the most interesting
actions the Lead could take in the script?Her allegiances are tested after finding out her identity. She has a transformation on her definition of family.
How can you introduce this role in a
way that could sell it to an actor?A woman with a double life – DMV customer service by day and drinker, gambler, and counterfeiter by night.
What could be this character’s
emotional rangeCharacter spends a lot of time drunk, high, or hungover. She’s loyal, manipulative, and a product of her system. Can go from charming to backstabbing within a scene.
What subtext can the actor play?
Subtext involves hidden dislike of the head of the family, animosity towards her family members, and a well-hidden desire to even destroy Alex after his identity is revealed.
What’s the most interesting
relationships this character can have?Interesting relationship with Will. She respects him and his law-abiding ways. She and her boyfriend have a transactional relationship.
How will this character’s unique voice
be presented?Presented showing bitterness, animosity, frequently slurring her words because of her inebriated state.
What could make this character
special and unique?Her hidden talents, her acts of betrayal, and her devotion to the family business.
Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters:
1. Role in the Story: stakes character – her leaving behind the old ways and accepting Alex is a sign that he will be alright (his past and present have been healed). In the beginning she’s terrified of leaving Boston and the family behind, by the end it’s their only option.
2. Age range and description: in her early twenties, stick-thin, physical resemblance to Alex
3. Core traits: loyal, haunted, intolerant, emotionally hardened
4. Motivation; want/need: wants to move up within the family structure and earn Richard’s trust, needs to leave the North End before her secret is discovered and they turn on her
5. Wound: feelings of abandonment and low self-worth
6. Likeability, relatability, empathy:
· Likability: she tries to save Will during the fire, stands by him even after he’s killed
· Relatability: she’s in a loveless relationship, she has money problems, working a dead-end job, struggling to “move up” or be “promoted” in the family business
· Empathy: she’s had no parents her whole life, her side turns on her at the end, she’s struggling with an eating disorder
Roger Tate
A. The High Concept: Family secrets unravel a Boston crime family’s struggle for control of the Black market.
B. This character’s journey: from imprisoned counterfeiter with a cocaine addiction to used car salesman actively trying to end the family feud.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an
actor to want to be known for it?The chance to play a social worker with an interesting twist at the end of the story. The one who’s constantly motivating others to be better all while facing a dark past. The “adult in the room.”
What makes this character one of the
most interesting characters in your story?The mysterious character, his transformational journey of learning how to face his past.
What are the most interesting
actions the Lead could take in the script?Incredible scenes with Alex and Scarlett and being the one that brings them together. Manipulating Alex, trying to help Scarlett.
How can you introduce this role in a
way that could sell it to an actor?The character with a mission, higher purpose, and seeking a “greater good”
What could be this character’s
emotional rangeFrom angry and fierce when facing his past to warm and caring when dealing with Scarlett and Alex. Not afraid to show them some tough love.
What subtext can the actor play?
Dialogue is filled with subtext when describing Alex’s old life. He dislikes everything Alex was and where Alex came from, but he still treats him as an equal.
What’s the most interesting
relationships this character can have?Interesting relationships include his working relationship with Nathanial Caden’s lawyer, and his relationships with old friends and enemies. They still haven’t forgotten him.
How will this character’s unique
voice be presented?The optimistic character – he wants to strive high to improve things, wants to pursue his mission, and wants to always seek truth
What could make this character
special and unique?His mysterious past, his unfailing will to help anyone despite their previous allegiances, and his never-ending desire to make the city a better place
Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters:
1. Role in the Story: triangle, connects Alex and Scarlett, the former North Ender who has to face his past while helping Alex
2. Age range and description: middle-aged, old before his time, suppressed Boston accent
3. Core traits: mature, secretive, evasive, haunted
4. Motivation; want/need: wants to help Alex and Scarlett, being successful in this assignment means he needs to face his past
5. Wound: can’t face his past as a criminal, North Ender, and counterfeiter. Meeting Alex and being back in the rat race is such an unwelcome reminder of what he left behind
6. Likeability, relatability, empathy:
· Likability: he’s interested in helping other people, we admire that he’s left the old ways behind and worked hard to improve his life
· Relatability: he’s has a lot of regret from his past
· Empathy: he was a product of the system, we don’t blame him for what happened
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