Day 7 Assignment

[Emmanuel Sullivan]

Emmanuel Sullivan’s Open Loops and Mysteries

What I learned doing this assignment is creating open loops and mysteries gives the story legs to run with for future episodes and also gives you concepts to add to the outline in preparation for writing the pilot.

[Daniel Melin]

Daniel Melin’s Open Loops and Mysteries

What I learned doing this assignment is how useful the framework is not, just as something to be slavishly followed, but as a jumping off point for further additions. I just approached the framework with the attitude, of “What more does this point toward?” and found myself coming up with more open loops and mysteries fairly easily.

Main Mystery: Why did Titania place the curse?

Sub-Mysteries:

1. Who is the deer that Titania is hunting?

2. How does Mark know so much about Titania and magic?

3. Who are the werewolves Titania has enchanted?

4. Why hasn’t Titania transformed Levi into a werewolf already?

5. What else is hidden in the catacombs of Everlasting Summer?

Main Open Loop: Will Levi break the curse?

Sub-Open Loops:

1. Will Levi choose Mark’s side or Titania’s?

2. Will Levi fall under the curse as well?

3. How will Levi’s journey affect his family?

4. Will Talia overcome her mental illness?

5. Will Levi and Mark find Oberon’s staff?

Teaser

· Mystery Why can’t Levi practice magic outside of Everlasting Summer?

· Open Loop Will Levi obey Titania’s instructions?

Act 1

· Mystery Why are Miguel and Jorge fighting?

· Open Loop Will Miguel and Jorge resolve their disagreement?

Act 2

· Mystery What is different about Everlasting Summer?

· Open Loop Will Titania find out about Levi’s use of magic?

Act 3

· Mystery Who is the stranger at Clarence’s?

· Open Loop Will Levi close the portal he opened to Everlasting Summer?

Act 4

· Mystery What does Titania need the strange herbs in her garden for?

· Open Loop What will happen to the police officer who shot the werewolf?

Act 5

· Mystery What else escaped from Everlasting Summer?

· Open Loop Will Levi agree to learn magic from Mark?

[Renee Brown]

Renee Brown’s open loops and mysteries.

Aliens’ Earth

I learn from this assignment that the whole point of the show stems from my Main Open Loop.

Also, asking these Mystery and Open Loop questions prompted adding nuances to the outline that would not have been there otherwise.

Main Mystery:

How do the alien factions exist on Earth without annihilating each other and humanity?

Main Open Loop:

Will humanity learn the truth about earth’s hidden, diverse past?

Teaser:

(OL) Will Dauntus find out it was his sister’s fault that Planet X is uncloaked?

(M) Where did Planet X come from?

(M) How will humanity respond to seeing a new planet in the sky?

(OL) Will Anauk fly again after his father breaks his wing?

Act 1:

(OL) Will the initiates find out that Tallas is faking the prophecy?

(OL) Will Tallas re-write the prophecy he throws into the fire?

(M) Why is Tallas faking the prophecy?

Act 2:

(M) How does Anauk’s ship collapse into that man bag?

(M) What is the Starfinder?

(M) Who destroyed it?

Act 3:

(OL) Will Tallas and Saltar get it on?

(M) How does Saltar block Tallas’ telepathy?

(OL) Will the other world alien liaisons find out Steelman has formed alliances with Tallas, Saltar and Anauk?

(M)Is Steelman the top agent or does he report to someone?

(M) How did Dauntus gain control over world coms?

(M) Why does Dauntus want to rule humanity?

(OL) Will Dauntus be able to take over humanity?

(M) Why don’t the alien factions kill off humans and take earth for themselves?

Act 4:

(OL) Will the President buy the POTUS Brief?

(M) Why does Anauk’s sister cover for Anauk and Co.’s arrival at the palace?

Act 5:

(M) Can Tallas read everyone’s mind?

(M) Why do Dauntus and the Skyfliers need gold?

(OL) What will happen if Dauntus doesn’t get his gold supply?

(M) Why are humans not welcome at the XUS?

(M) Who runs XUS?

(OL) How will Tallas get Steelman to the XUS?

(M) Why does Tallas insist that steelman is going to the XUS with him?

[Sherri Coffee]

Sherri D. Coffee Module 3 Lesson 7 Open Loops and Mysteries

What I learned doing this assignment is to gain clarity on the main mystery and build open loops to support the series’ ongoing intrigue.

Main Mystery: Why is Grace in danger?

Sub-mysteries:

Why are Sam and Carlton estranged?

What happened to Sam’s money?

What does Carlton have to hide?

What is Carlton threatened by Grace?

What does Wilson uncover that places Grace in danger?

What happened in the past that influences today?

Main Open Loop: What is Grace going to discover in her past life that places her in danger today?

Sub-open loops:

Who were Grace, Sam, and Carlton in the past life?

What was their connection?

What happened in the past?

What clues can Grace find in the past that may influence today’s danger?

[Molly Gagnon]

Molly McNeal Carrington Manor

What I learned about this assignment is how to integrate my mysteries and open loops into my acts. I am not sure if that was the point of the assignment but I followed the structure of Ozark and this is what I came up with. I added more open loops as the scene became more clear. The main (OL) stayed the same but I can see where little open loops in other places will leave a place to continue in the future.

Carrington Manor

Teaser:

Police running through the halls on the black and white camera, someone is under arrest flashes from that scene to Gwenn brushing her teeth. Gwenn drops the skeleton key out of her pocket, next to a collection bill.

(M) Why is there police running down the hall? Who is under arrest?

(M) Why is there a close up of the skeleton key?

(M) Why is there a bill that has gone to collections?

(OL) What will happen to Gwenn and the police? What does the skeleton key have to do with it?

Act 1

Gwenn is sitting at a table in orientation watching a video of people from the 90’s describing a building and beautiful skilled nursing facility and what good care they give their patients.

(M) Why is Gwenn watching a dated movie of old people and a skilled nursing facility? Does she work there?

Gwenn sees a squirrel run by and squeals because she thinks its a rat, Karly the HR rep shhhh’s her.

(OL) What is Gwenn doing working for a place like this?

Turning Point: Gwenn gets a call from Terry that she has failed the drug test. If she has any prescription medications she has to bring them in.

(OL) Will Carrington Manor hire her after failing the drug test?

(M)Was that a squirrel?

(OL) Is Karly in denial of this failing company?

(OL) How and why are there security cameras in a SNF?

Act 2

Karly White HR rep is representing a great company and a wonderful work environment! The whole therapy staff works in a converted supply closet. Earl the PT is holding a toilet plunger.

(M) What does Earl do with the toilet plunger?

(OL) How do these people work in such awful conditions?

Gwenn leaves to go home and grab all 7 of her prescription drugs she has been taking. She gives them to the office lady. The company hires her anyways

(M) Is she a drug addict?

(M) What kind of a company hires someone like this?

Gwenn takes a break and calls her mom to talk about this crazy orientation she is at. Gwenn’s mom does not seem to remember why she moved to Portland. A bill collector calls on the other line she pushes decline.

(M) Why does Gwenn’s mom not remember she has moved to Portland?

(OL) Why are bill collectors calling Gwenn?

Terry tells Gwenn that she is married, so no hitting on her!

(OL) Does Terry like Gwenn?

(OL) Who is Terry married to, a man or a woman?

Act 3

Spirit calls Gwenn back accusing her of stealing her clothes. Gwenn points out she quit wearing clothing 5 years ago and remember she is having problems with her memory, Gwenn is here to help and have her sign over her Power of Attorney.

(M) How demented is Spirit?

(OL) How come she is not wearing clothes?

Terry interrupts conversation to show Gwenn pictures of her partner all very indroginous and mystifying.

(OL) Is the partner male or female, so hard to tell

Spirit accidentally hangs up on Gwenn, looking at the phone confused starts pushing buttons.

Spirit calls back to say she remembers now why she wants her to sign over the POA to take all the book money she has ever earned!

(M) How could this woman have been an author?

(OL) How much money does she actually have?

Gwenn replies back with no, it’s because Adult Protective Services have called her too many times and she wants her to continue living on her own she is just here to help.

Gwenn asks to call her mom back after her tour, Spirit agrees.

(OL) How long has APS been involved?

(M) WIll she ever sign over the power of attorney?

Act 4

Gwenn feeling hopeless meets Sally who cheers her up and appears the most normal out of the bunch. She is funny and clumsy.

Gwenn steps out in order to listen to a VM of another company thanking her for her application and interview but they decided not to hire at this time.

(OL) Is this the only job that Gwenn will be able to secure?

(M) Where else did she apply to?

Gwenn walks by a desk and sees a piece of paper that shows cameras have been installed in a note to Medicare Auditors.

(OL) Has this company been in trouble with Medicare?

Sally tells Gwenn about “billing minutes” and in order to keep the job she must participate. Gwenn is a bit perplexed.

(M) What does that mean?

(OL) Will Gwenn fraudulently bill medicare in order to keep a job?

Spirit calls Gwenn again and tells her she will never sign over the POA and why did she call? I am in the middle of bathing snickers.

Gwenn: But mom I did not call you, you called me and snickers is a cat and they bathe themselv……….. Cat sounds in background, Spirit hangs up the phone.

(M) How badly injured will Spirit be after attempting to bathe the cat?

(OL) WIl Spirit always be this annoying and needy?

Terry walks in looking irritated looking for Abigail (coworker). Sally and Gwenn have not seen her, she walks off cursing to herself that if that paperwork doesn’t change that will be the last of her!

(OL) What happened between Terry and Abigail?

(M) Why is she so mad about the paperwork being wrong?

Sally goes to help a patient with a call light that has slipped in dog poop and fell. She calls for Gwenn to help who cheerfully agrees to be useful.

(M) Why are their dogs in the facility?

Gwenn leaves running for the exit with a dog snarling at her heels.

Gwenn realizes she dropped her phone and has to go back in the building past the snarling dog to get her phone. The squirrel runs by and distracts the dog.

(M) Why is there a squirrel in the building?

She gets her phone, sits down on the sidewalk (out of breath) hears the message

Lock In: VO message on her phone from private loan company she needs to start paying back student loans or they will write a complaint to the licensing board (black mailing her) so she won’t be able to renew her license.

(OL) Will Gwenn have to keep this job in order to keep her license?

She looks at phone as APS calls. She declines it, stands up and starts to walk away.

Scene ends with the song from Alanis Morissette Ironic.

[Barbara Gilmore]

What I learned was that I was wondering whether some mysteries are also open loops..

I have two main mysteries, but may introduce more as I go through the creative process:

1. In the past 24 hours a married couple are murdered and their friend disappears – who did it and why?

2. Five years ago a couple are murdered and their friend (Jess’ brother, Adam, disappears) – who did it and why?

The Open loops I created in Module 1 were:

1. Will Jess solve the murder and disappearance of the married couple and their friend. So I’m thinking this is a Big Picture Mystery.

2. After 5 years missing, will Jess find her brother alive? – So I’m thinking this is a Big Picture Mystery.

3. What’s the real reason that Jess was sent from another town to investigate the Green Lake murder? Big Picture Open Loop.

Small Picture Open Loops:

1. Will Jess rekindle her relationship with Sarah?

2. Will Sheriff Moore retire at the end of the summer?

3. Will Jess become Sheriff?

4. Will the Twins overcome the grief of their grandson’s murder five years before?

Teaser:

A married couple and their friend make an unplanned stop at a Trail Head to use the washroom.

Act 1: may include this or leave out

o Main Mystery: Why did the city team lose their case?

o Sub-Mysteries: Why was Jess sent to another office and not fired

o Main Open Loop: Will we find out why they lost the case

o Sub-Open Loops: Will we find out why Jess sent to the Green Lake office and not fired

Act 2:

Essence: Jess arrives at her new office and within a day is sent to Green Lake to investigate a double murder of Anna Cole and Steve Beresford, and the disappearance of Luke Smith.

Turning Point/Midpoint: Jess reads file after file hidden away in the basement, she begins to realize that Green Lake is not the sleepy town she thought it was. Crime rates are high, yet the reported statistics are low.

Act 2:

o Main Mystery: A couple (Anna & Steve) are stabbed at a Trail Head Rest Stop and their friend, Luke Smith, disappears. Who killed them and why?

o Sub-Mysteries: Why did they stop when they were only ten minutes from home?

o Main Open Loop: Will Jess solve the recent murder of the couple (Anna & Steve) and the disappearance of their friend, Luke Smith.

o Sub-Open Loops: Will we find out why Jess who just arrived was sent to investigate this case.

Act 3:

Essence: Jess reconnects with her ex-lover, love of her life, and best friend, Sarah Watson for support.

Turning Point: Sarah’s boyfriend, Nick Milford, who found the victims bodies, is now the department’s prime suspects.

Act 3:

o Main Mystery: Is Nick their killer?

o Sub-Mysteries: Why was Nick at the Trail Head stop?

o Main Open Loop: Will Jess and Sarah rekindle their affair?

o Sub-Open Loops: Will we find out why Jess who just arrived was sent to investigate this case.

Act 4:

Essence: Jess doesn’t believe that Nick is the killer.

Turning Point: Jess uses her hacking skills to delve into the lives of those involved in the unreported crimes in Sheriff Moore’s little black book.

Act 4:

o Main Mystery: Is Nick the killer?

o Sub-Mysteries: Why was Nick following Steve, Luke, and Anna?

o Main Open Loop: Will Jess and Sarah rekindle their affair?

o Sub-Open Loops: Will we find out why Jess who just arrived was sent to investigate this case.

Act 5:

Essence: Jess uncovers a Trafficking Network that may be connected to the recent murders and other unsolved cases, including that of her brother, Adam.

Lock In: She goes along on a planned meet up to find out who is involved: Sheriff Moore, Captain Anderson, Dave Smith (Luke’s father), and Sarah Watson.

Act 5:

o Main Mystery: Who is involved in the trafficking Network?

o Sub-Mysteries: Is it really a Trafficking Network or something else?

o Main Open Loop: Will we find out whether Moore, Anderson, Smith, and Sarah Watson why they are meeting at the car park?

o Sub-Open Loops: Why is Sarah involved?

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by  Barbara Gilmore.

[Donna Stockwell]

Donna Stockwell’s Open Loops and Mysteries

What I learned doing this assignment is where I can hint at the mysteries and open loops in the story, although it’s not quite solid where. I am still having a hard time envisioning how to hold back information and reveal it slowly and with intrigue. I also noticed that the writer can completely change the focus and tone of the show with which main mystery and main open loop questions, specifically which questions and how they are phrased.

1. Look through your current outline and find opportunities for at least 5 Open Loops and 5 Mysteries either in the plot or about the characters.

Main Mystery: Why is Ben dragging a body into an occupied vault in the middle of the night?
Sub-Mysteries:
what really happened
How could Ben explain this to the other man in the vault
Who is the woman that Ben killed
who will miss the woman that Ben killed
Who is the other man in the vault and what is he doing

Main Open Loop: what will happen to the family relationships
Sub-Open Loops:
How will Ben explain his absences from home and work
Will Patrice really have an affair with her daughter’s boyfriend
How will Ben react when he realizes Patrice is having an affair
How will the daughter react to her mother’s betrayal

ACT 1
Intriguing World: gravedigging the vault in a cemetery
Intrigue: someone is dragging a body in, and is spotted by a man who is holding a corpse
MM – Why is Ben dragging a body into an occupied vault in the middle of the night?
SM – what really happened
SM – How could Ben explain this to the other man in the vault
SM – Who is the woman that Ben killed
SM – who will miss the woman that Ben killed
SM – Who is the other man in the vault and what is he doing
Hidden Layer: Ben is dragging his boss’ dead friend into his mother’s vault
Act 1 Turning Point: Ben convinces brother that mother needs friend

ACT 2
Wound: Patrice is looking for love
SM – how has she been treated in her marriage up until now
OL – where will she find love to mend the hole in her heart
Strange Behavior: Patrice pays close attention to her daughter to make sure she is treating her man right
OL – how will Patrice teach her daughter how to have a healthy relationship
OL – what will Patrice do when she sees her daughter being mean to a nice man
Act 2 Turning Point: Patrice kisses Luke
ACT 3
Secret: Barbara’s past comes to visit her, as her friend & colleague prostitute meets with Barbara
OL – who is this friend and what urgent matter does she need Barbara to fix
SM – what is Barbara’s real past and how did she come to start the home security business
Hidden Agenda: Barbara tells Ben to put security in friend’s home
Act 3 Turning Point: Ben has sex with Barbara’s friend
OL – there is already a security camera in friend’s home, who is watching?

ACT 4
Strange Behavior: Ben is strange to his wife and his boss –
MOL – daughter found out about Patrice’s affair
OL – how will daughter’s relationships with Patrice and Luke be now
OL – will the daughter tell her father
OL – how will Ben hide his affair from his wife
OL – what will Ben say to Barbara about her friend
Act 4 Turning Point: Barbara asks Ben where her friend is

ACT 5
Intriguing World: bribing politicians with tapes
Deception: home security sales is just a cover-up for bribing politicians for Barbara’s “former” John
SM – Under what condition does Barbara own or run this security business
OL – Barbara has to replace her friend, since she did not fulfil John’s directive
Act 5 Turning Point: It is John who sees his star killed on security footage

• This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by  Donna Stockwell. Reason: added the mysteries and open loops within the outline