Day 7 Assignments

[Leanne Lucas]

1. I will intentionally create connections with Bess Tilley, the transformational character, and John Howland, the Change Agent.

2. Transformational character – We all relate to Bess Tilley as a teenager, forced to do what her parents require, even if she has no interest in it. We relate to her father as a caring man, but one Bess must obey, no matter what. We relate to her love for her parents (especially her father), even as we understand her desire to be seen as her own person by them. We are intrigued by her father’s challenge to her faith and wonder how that will play out. She is very likeable when she comforts her friend after her friend’s parents die, and when she takes care of John Howland in his ‘illness.’ When Bess’s own parents die, we empathize greatly with her grief and her fear of the future.

Change Agent – We first relate to and empathize with John Howland when we see him suffering from seasickness. When we hear his cringeworthy attempts at playing the lute, we can relate to and empathize with his embarrassment. When he is carried to the lower deck, soaking wet and unconscious, we are intrigued – what happened to him? He becomes very likeable when he offers Bess compassion and support after the deaths of her parents.

3. I learned when you have discovered as much as you can about your characters, it is easier to connect with them, and connect them to the audience.

[Laura Hyler]

Laura Hyler’s Connection with the Audience Assignment 7

I will intentionally create a connection between the audience and Naomi and Kofi.

What I learned in this assignment is how much more clear my vision becomes for the screenplay.

A. Relatability- universal experiences: Naomi, a widow, has had a bad relationship after the death of her husband. She is a single mom, has a stressful job, a boss that threatens the security of her job when he sees who she is dating, stress from family and friends, especially her sister, and does not assert herself well under contentious situations.

Kofi- has secret past relationship with a white woman that did not work out. Receives pressure from friends to not date outside his race. Is kind to his patients, has a fire destroy his apartment and important documents. Has an employer who mishandles his HB-1 immigration papers, faces deportation, and is also unassertive in contentious situations.

B. Intrigue- Naomi is not sure about embarking on any new relationships. Initially denies feelings for Kofi. She is not always forthcoming in expressing her feelings.

Kofi- hides past failed relationship, but results of it show in new relationship with Naomi when tensions become apparent.

C. Empathy- When Naomi and Kofi split. When Kofi’s apartment burns down. When Naomi mysteriously gets turned down for a job that she was in line for, for a guy that has been watching her for years. When their friends discourage them from pursuing their relationship. When people they do not know look at them funny, or make comments.

D. Likability- Naomi is an easy-going person most of the time, she isn’t judgmental, often too nice for her own good.

Kofi- helpful to his patients, kind to others, also tends to be too good for his own good.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Laura Hyler. Reason: mistakenly put admin question in the box

[Sherri Coffee]

Sherri D. Coffee – Connecting with Audiences

What I learned doing this assignment is to evaluate my characters for relatability and likeability. And to evaluate the story for actions that create empathy and intrigue for the character.

1. Characters to intentionally create a connection. Kathryn and Ford.

2. Relatability: Kathryn – recent law graduate begins new position at a prestigious lobby firm. She is new to the political world and feels excited but unsure of her role.

Ford – Kathryn’s boss hires Kathryn for a client who is focused on women’s health issues. Ford is a very seasoned and savvy lobbyist but does not have women’s health knowledge and does not want to learn. He hires Kathryn to create the coalition for his legislative needs.

Intrigue: Kathryn maintains a distance from members in the firm. She has a secret she does not want revealed.

Ford appears to have a good relationship with the head of the firm but there is tension. What is that tension and how does it impact Kathryn?

Empathy: Kathryn fails to establish a coalition focused on Ford’s legislation by the Christmas break. She is afraid she will get fired but works her new plan throughout the holiday.

Ford is frustrated by the demands of the firm.

Likeability: Kathryn works very hard. She does not give up when she fails. And she is genuine in her relationships.

Ford wants her to succeed. When Kathryn is alone for the holidays, Ford invites her to dinner with his family.

[Brenda Riolo]

Brenda’s Connection with the Audience

What I learned doing this assignment is I need to build in more Likability for the Child Character, since I don’t feel that the Child character is likable enough. I also need more likability for the Mother Character since this section is lacking as well. When I look at the four ways an audience connects with the audience, I didn’t realize that likability was such an important component. But it makes sense because I’ve watched movies and TV shows where I didn’t like the character at all, and my dislike of the character or characters made me less interested in the TV show or movie in some cases spoiled the story for me.

1. Tell us which characters you are going to INTENTIONALLY create a connection with the audience.

The Child – the Transformable character and the Mother the Change character

2. With each character, tell us how you’ll use each of the four ways of connecting with the audience in the first 30 minutes of the movie.

The Child

a. Relatability – The child is in the hospital and is sick and doesn’t like it. The child is us.

b. Intrigue – We know the child is sick, but we don’t know if the child’s illness is fatal. There is some intrigue about why the child wants a treasure hunt, which will be paid off later when we find out the mother is a professional treasure hunter.

c. Empathy – There is empathy for the child character because the child is an unfortunate situation. No young child should be spending long periods of time in a hospital.

d. Likability – The child is liked by her nurse.

The Mother

a. Relatability – The Mother is a parent to a sick child. The Mother is also us if the audience member is a parent or knows someone in a similar situation.

b. Intrigue – We don’t know why the mother is away from the child, and we’ll find that out in the script. We are also interested in how the mother intends to have a treasure hunt in a hospital.

c. Empathy – There is empathy for the Mother character because she is in a difficult situation – she’s a single working mother with a very sick child.

d. Likability – The Mother is liked by the Doctor

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore Assignment 7

I learned about how important my characters personalities are in a story. Also, how important intrigue and empathy can be in a movie.

Characters to create a connection: Mark Schilling and Alphonso Allen.

Relatability Mark Schilling – Family man with a wife and a daughter, still has two parents in love and actually wants to enforce the law the right way. Mark is proud working as a policeman, taking care of his family and receiving support from family and friends. He is a young man with high morals and values. Alphonso Allen is engaged to a television journalist. He quit his job with the FBI citing institutional racism and bias toward white privilege. He wrote a grant and created his own job working with junior high school students.

Intrigue

Mark’s partner, Tom McMillian introduces him to a second job as a money carrier for some medical doctors. The problem is he can’t explain, to his wife, what this job really is about. What kind of extra job is this? What does moving their cash to an undisclosed site have to do with medical care? Mark will not press charges even though Tyrone admits to kidnapping him. Al escapes the police after they have him trapped in Tyrone’s apartment. The doctors’ money disappears and only Al knows what happened.

Empathy

Mark is naïve about the inner city streets and the black community. Mark unfortunately shoots a child (Charles) thinking his life was in danger because he thought Tyrone was trying to kill him. Mark is embarrassed that he was disarmed and held hostage by who he thought was a regular civilian. Al has problems teaching junior high school students. Al reluctantly accepts a dinner invitation from Charles who thinks of him as a mentor. He regrets coming over for dinner because he witnesses Charles accidently get shot by Mark. Now, the police are after Al even though he didn’t shoot the child.

Likability

Mark has good intentions and now has the power to enforce the law and do his fair share in upholding justice. His friends consider him a hero. He wants to do what’s right for him and his family and gain the respect of his co-workers and the community. He even got respect from Al, Tom and Tyrone. Al wants America to live up to its commitment to all citizens. He is highly skilled, very intelligent and wants to do right and have the appropriate responses should he be challenged or disrespected. Integrity is very important to him.

[Lisandro Boccacci]

Lisandro Boccacci’s Connection with Audience

1. I’m going to INTENTIONALLY create a connection with Silas Scrugs, and his parents, but not so much as our main character, Silas, the boy

well for all three the first one is empathy, when they are forced out of their home, its a horrible experience, yet alone, being forced by gun point.

In the beginning we have a pretty normal family for the three, there’s relatability to how the mother takes care of things in the kitchen, washes clothes, and the father is out on the farm land working and their Silas playing in the fields.

In the beginning, there is intrigue because we know something is wrong, and we know this because of the looks the mother and father give each other. They keep an ear out for news about how the US government was on the verge of pushing all the native americans off their land towards Oklahomka, lot of rulmors that create intrugue,

for Silas, once he is left alone, seperated from his parents, we start to see a side of Silas, a strong survuval side, and he is forced to face death by dehydration, but he had to find the will to contiue… and once hes alone… we wonder what the heck is he going to do… so theres a lot of intrigue there.

As far as likability, the father is a hard worker, honest, and loyal to his woman. and the mother is very caring and loving… like if the boy hurts his knee, his mom knows how to take care of him.

The boy is fun and adventurous, and likes to play alot games, he s fun and energetic so that makes the boy likeablie.

What i learned doing this assighment is how there are layers upon layers on the story structure, you cant just rush through, you have to layer it, discovering the elements one by one, and this is just another element to make sure that everything we set up for the audience for the transitional journey, once all the mechanims are ready, its still important to have the audience connect with the character to be taken through this jouney and this is important because we want the audience to stick around to go t hrough the story.

[Edward Brown]

Edward Brown connect to audience

What I learned is need to explore the 4 grids. And dramtize them. what follows is not narraive but my work notes

transformable and mutual change agent are the two prospective lovers

Tanya

Likeable

Spunky

Cares about son

Values romance over money

DOUBTS BUT ACTS

Empathy

Break off violently with suitor who not good dad, boring,

Decides to Moscow

Left on floor scorned

Stood up to billionaire

SON CRITICIZES

Dad does not believe

Tough train ride

Identify

COMPLUTOR MATCH FAILS

Has Tanya 2 help

Just match no fire

Intrique

How George get phone number

Need her to emote more, be more dramatic

Gets dossier on George, tricks questions

Has report system/IVAN/charmed agent

Plot to get huband of influence/plot get promoted

[Patrick Malone]

Patrick Malone Connection with Audience

What I learned was to intentionally think of ways to make the characters connect with the audience. The four ways to connect helped me get insights into their characteristics.

Transformable Character: Dennis

A.Relatability:

– He has a regular job. He’s a grade school teacher.

– He doesn’t have all the answers.

– He is a good friend.

B. Intrigue:

– He is Comanche, but knows little about his culture.

– He can’t relate to the panhandling Indians.

– He looks concerned when they pass by his childhood home.

C. Empathy:

– He is taunted by Mike.

– He is afraid to go into the mine.

– He is reluctant to look into his heritage, to change.

D. Likability:

– He is good with his students.

– He offers to help Jennifer find her missing friends.

– He eventually overcomes his fear and changes to save the others.

Change Agent: Jennifer

A. Relatability:

– She is a grade school teacher.

– She is a good friend.

B. Intrigue:

– She is knowledgeable about Comanche history and traditions.

– She is somewhat fearless.

C. Empathy:

– She is concerned for her friends Melissa and Brian.

– She has doubts about approaching Star Man.

– She is frustrated with trying to get Dennis to change.

D. Likability:

– She has a good sense of humour.

– She is good with her students.

– She helps her friends.

– She is persistent.

– She is brave and adventurous.

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore Assignment 7

I learned about how important my characters personalities are in a story. Also, how important intrigue and empathy can be in a movie.

Characters to create a connection: Mark Schilling and Alphonso Allen.

Relatability

Mark Schilling – Family man with a wife and a daughter, still has two parents in love and actually wants to enforce the law the right way. Mark is proud working as a policeman, taking care of his wife and daughter and receiving support from family and friends. He is a young man with high morals and values. Alphonso Allen is engaged to a television journalist. He quit his job with the FBI citing institutional racism and bias toward white privilege. He wrote a grant and created his own job working with junior high school students.

Intrigue

Mark’s partner, Tom McMillian introduces him to a second job as a money carrier for some medical doctors. The problem is he can’t explain, to his wife, what this job really is about. What kind of extra job is this? What does moving their cash to an undisclosed site have to do with medical care? Why won’t Mark press charges even though Tyrone admit to kidnapping him? Why won’t Mark press charges against Al? How did Al escape the police after they had him trapped in Tyrone’s apartment? Where is the doctor’s money and how did it disappear? Did Charles die? Who is really behind this money scheme?

Empathy

Mark is naïve about the inner city streets and the black community. Unfortunately, Mark shoots a child (Charles) thinking his life was in danger because he thought Tyrone was trying to kill him. Mark is embarrassed that he was disarmed and held hostage by someone he thought was a regular civilian. Al has problems teaching junior high school students. Al reluctantly accepts a dinner invitation from Charles who thinks of him as a mentor. He regrets coming over for dinner because he witnesses Charles accidently get shot by Mark. Now, the police are considering Al as a suspect even though he didn’t shoot the child.

Likability

Mark has good intentions and now has the power to enforce the law and do his fair share in upholding justice. His friends consider him a hero. He wants to do what’s right for him and his family and gain the respect of his co-workers and the community. He even got respect from Al, Tom and Tyrone. Al wants America to live up to its commitment for all citizens; equal justice. He is highly skilled, very intelligent and wants to do right and have the appropriate responses should he be challenged or disrespected. Integrity is very important to him.

[Pat Shelby]

Pat’s Connection with Audience

What I learned doing this assignment is you can use one or all of the techniques to get the audience to connect with your character(s).

Tell us which characters you are going to INTENTIONALLY create a connection with the audience.

Ira as the Change Agent in Act I.

With each character, tell us how you’ll use each of the four ways of connecting with the audience in the first 30 minutes of the movie.

A. Relatability – Ira has a dream and he pursues it. Ira repeatedly returns to theater to act. When he’s not acting, he’s in the theater working. He is committed to fulfilling his dream.

B. Intrigue – Will Ira be able to pursue his dream in spite of his father’s plans? Ira engages a mentor to work out a compromise between divinity school in the US vs divinity school in Scotland – a 4-hour train ride from London where he has an opportunity to gain exposure to London theater.

C. Empathy – Ira loses his mother, his biggest fan. Ira has multiple conflicts with his father and stepmother over their plans for him which are different than the ones he has for himself.

D. Likability – Ira has a big dream as a small child. Ira is witty, cunning and resourceful as demonstrated by his straw-selling abilities, sneaking into the theater, working out a compromise with his father, changing his status on the ship. Ira doesn’t give up easily.

[Linda Anderson]

Linda Anderson’s Connection with Audience

What I learned doing this assignment is how important it is to establish audience factors within the first 30 minutes.

Characters to INTENTIONALLY create a connection with the audience:

Lt. Chaplain Tanji Wilkes (Protagonist)

Lt. Ray Sloan (Antagonist)

Lt. Chaplain Tanji Wilkes four ways to connect in first 30 minutes:

A. Relatability: He feels deep rage and sorrow upon seeing the effects of 20 fallen soldiers in Camp Wolf’s Mortuary tent after a massive bombing

B. Intrigue: As a military chaplain he’s unarmed, so it’s shocking when after viewing the carnage he asks the chaplain’s assistant for his rifle and fires it through a hole in the tent.

C. Empathy: He has heard and ministered to Mortuary soldiers and knows the devastating psychological and emotional price of sorting through fellow soldiers’ effects and writing to loved ones. He tries to find a way not to have to do this sacred task.

D. Likability: Tanji is bad at writing empathetic letters to loved ones because he’s an intellectual who philosophizes, isn’t in touch with his heart, and considers himself to be much less adapt at touchy-feely as his father, Rev. Wilkes.

Lt. Ray Sloan four ways to connect in first 30 minutes:

A. Relatability: He’s experienced what it’s like to be a “real” soldier and knows the danger and horrors they will face by being left behind at Camp Wolf to finish this ghastly task.

B. Intrigue: It’s not clear yet why he’s antagonist toward Tanji, in particular, and military chaplains, in general.

C. Empathy: He and Mario are the only ones armed, and he resents having to obey the order to stay behind and protect Tanji and Camp Wolf.

D. Likability: He comes across as a protector when he tells Adiba (the camp interpreter) that she must stay on the base and not return to her village for her own safety.