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Day 7 Assignments
Reply to post your assignments.
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Bill kellas Satans son’s secrets
Writing at least 5 years of binge tv and a movie which changes world view and wins peoples choice award.I learned that simplest way is the most time consuming.
SSSActivity: …to create engaging character profiles.
2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
A. The High Concept.
Troy brilliant introvert analytical problem solver follower who wants to serve peoples needs and hates bully’s
Cane quick extrovert with an in your face smart mouth who takes charge and uses people to attain his goals can be a bully.
Joy younger sister beautiful entertaining singer and musician. She flirts with the boys but let’s them know their place, loves both brothers as they love and protect her.
Mom a former USSR scientist who can design and build almost anything. She has taught Troy and developed parts to enhance her kid’s experience pursuing their dreams and her family’s plan.
Molly the change agent next door neighbor beauty queen who plays and sings for her dads church while leading bible study. Both Cane overtly and Troy covertly fall for her . She sees right thru Cane flattery and makes friends with Troy and invites him to her Bible study. All this while writing and playing musics with Joy.
Dad was a former assassin now hit man for the mob and a sports bookie. He was involved with all kinds of corruption out of the Santa Anita racetrack .
B. This character’s journey.
Troy became the leader of the rebels against Satans demonic army of bully’s to save the world.
Cane became the commander of Satans army of Transhuman bully’s.
Amy gained confidence after the car accident and singing in Mollys church.
Mom broke her neck and hooked up through the nero lync to run her cyborg robotics controlled by her ‘quantum AI/ML COMPUTER POWERED by the first atomic fusion for her Many motor’s.
Molly married Troy and had 3 kids that went to her dads church together.
Dad got picked up by the Feds on racketeering .
C. The Actor Attractors for this character
SINCE one actor can showcase their range by playing both Troy and Cane he needs virsitality to be able to keep up with the diversity of their roles.
Joy can showcase her singing,dancing and acting as can Molly.
Mom and dad can show their acting capabilities throughout
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3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Troy and Cane sibling relationship in and out of phases Age range and Description: teenagers tall good looking boys Core Traits:Troy introvert loyal damaged by his brother’s loss supportive Cane extrovert selfish devious cold takes charge Motivation; Want/Need: Troy wants purpose Cane want prosperity Wound: they lost their older brother in the USSR spy ,assassin etc.TRAINING CAMP where he was a trainer.Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
4. At the top of the page, tell us your one-sentence vision for your success from this program.
5. Under your vision, answer the question, “What I learned from doing this assignment is…?”
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Aaron’s Character Profiles Part 2
VISION: I will work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.
What I learned doing this assignment is that there are some really interesting, human flaws in my two leads that will be fascinating to watch come to life in this story.
CONCEPT: A black tow truck driver gets out on probation after being setup by a dirty Sheriff and begins to expose years of corruption and racist murders committed by the lawman, things he would kill to keep hidden.
PROTAGONIST
1. The Character’s High Concept (their role in the H.C.): Pro will be the catalyst for the undoing of the life and career of the corrupt Sheriff. The man with no power, no resources, and only his determination, subverts the most powerful and influential man’s lifework, and destroys him.
2. This Character’s Journey: He goes from being powerless – a prisoner with an extremely restricted life – to being a man that outwits and out maneuvers the largest authority in the town and ends his decades of tyranny.
3. This Character’s Actor Attractors:
– They would be known as the great vigilante, a powerful and disadvantaged under dog who fights the system and the “man” and wins.
– His persistence and will power, he literally comes back from the dead to finish the deal. He is both the savior and the martyr at the same time.
PROFILE –1st 6 parts
1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – He is a felon who Is just got out from serving 5 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and is hellbent to take down the evil and corrupt Sheriff that sent him there.
2. Age range and Description: Barely 30, reserved and always acts and talks with a purpose. He is constantly observant and notices everything – a survival skill he learned in prison. He looks like every other black male to the whites and is just an average brother on all other accounts – this characteristic of being unassuming enables his ability to affect his plan.
3. Core Traits:
– Iron Will.
– Serious.
– Deliberate.
– JUST – fights for the right, attacks the wrong.
– Sly.
– Sneaky.
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4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To destroy the most wicked, tyrant, oppressor – the Sheriff.
Need: To bring the peace of equality and justice to his world/town.
5. Wound: What they can’t face: A young Sheriff killed his parents and covered it up – Pro discovers this & it is the inciting incident that starts his journey of looking into it.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likeability (outside affection):
– His family, community, and other inmates love him.
– He rescues a dog that really loves him.
– He is respectful.
– He stops to help others, and they appreciate it.
– He brings a homeless guy food and sits and eats with him.
– He rescues a pit bull from a dog fighting ring & nurtures back to health.
– The pit bull is extremely loyal to our pro, appreciative.
Relatability (something we experience):
– He’s broke and just trying to find a job.
– He gets pulled over.
– He is broke fighting people with major money and power.
– He’s a nobody, people dismiss him.
Empathy (experiences hardship):
– He’s arrested, right out of jail.
– He is literally beat to death… then he comes back to life.
– They shoot his son & ruin his promising football career.
– Even though the Sheriff’s Department is flush with cash, they have excuses or take forever to pay our pro, leaving him literally destitute.
– People discriminate against him because he’s a felon
7. CHARACTER SUBTEXT (LESSON 3)
Character Name: Protagonist
Subtext Identity: Victim getting revenge, spy.
Subtext Trait: Sneaky, undercover, scheming.
Subtext Logline: A tow truck driver and felon who is seeking revenge on the Sheriff who wrongly put him away.
Possible Areas of Subtext:
– Snooping around the Sheriff’s station, hunting cabins, houses, impound lot, places the bad guys will be, the Sheriff’s bank by talking to the teller, talking to the dispatcher, using a radio scanner, drive by / lifestyle surveillance.
– Undercover – trackers on cars, getting snuck into the Sheriff’s departments evidence room, sends malware to bad guys, gets ahold of reports of missing blacks. Surviellance – photos, associates, people doing their dirty work – they are softer targets for pro to go after. Pro acts like some other law enforcement agency and calls Sheriff’s dept. and gets info on a ‘related’ case. In plain sight as a tow truck driver gives him placement and access.
– – Scheming – with anybody black at the Sheriff’s department, including the janitor, with anyone who comes across the deputies during everyday routines – coffee shop, oil change, etc. He gets dirt on one deputy and gets him in the pinch.
8. CHARACTER INTRIGUE (LESSON 4)
– Character Name: Tow truck driver
– Role: Protagonist
– Hidden Agenda: To get the Sheriff and get his deputies. He has to find the evidence, destroy the Sheriff, build up his physical defenses, steals from idiot drivers to get cash, sells dope a bit for money, hustle – steals car, takes to chop shop for money.
– Competition: Over power. Power struggle with cops = who has most ability to “F” with the other more?
– Conspiracies: with every look-through nobody in town, he builds his network – black, white, brown – cops been aggressive and they are salty with them all.
– Secrets: He’s an alcoholic, dry in prison, very tempted now. Could sink him. Killed his brother, his bball nephew is HIS kid. He has the HIV – prison rape. Learned to hack in prison.
– Deception: nephew / dad. He’s a dumb nobody / cops. Does his own undercover operation / cameos to get stuff. Fake love interest to get access to Sheriff.
– Unspoken Wound: Killed his brother drunk driving. His mom OD’d. Young Sheriff killed his dad or mom – they covered it up. Couldn’t protect brother in prison.
– Secret Identity: He’s the secret Unabomber, terrorist attacking town. He’s a source for the Sheriff’s department. The Black Messiah, the one getting justice for blacks – the 1<sup>st</sup> time ever.
9. FLAW (HOW THEY SABOTAGE THEMSELVES)
– PRO
– – Subservient
– – Fearful
– – Overthinker
– – Under estimates abilities
10. VALUES
– PRO
– – Family
– – Community
– – Justice
11. INTERNAL DILEMMA
– PRO
– – Obeying the rules/laws versus getting justice.
ANTAGONIST
1. The Character’s High Concept (their role in the H.C.): This Antag is the ultimate epitome of white, male power. The institution he runs is the ultimate authority in that town’s area. He is the suppressor and the dictator. He controls everything in his jurisdiction. The ultimate authority.
2. This Character’s Journey: In his gluttony and the assumption that he would always be in power and that the possibility of anyone to challenge him didn’t exist, since he has dirt on or power over everyone else, he doesn’t realize that the ‘minor disruptions’ that the Pro creates in his world, will be his ultimate and explosive downfall.
3. This Character’s Actor Attractors:
– Would get to play the ultimate embodiment of all that’s wrong with corrupt white men.
– Because he’s an all powerful, all knowing F.
– Stone cold / dead eye, alpha commander, predator, charming, a fury unmatched (his “switch” blows you away).
– He is both the over the top gentleman and the most vicious savage ever, at the same time.
PROFILE – 1st 6 Parts
1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – This Sheriff, in a campaign to widen his power, has bribed and extorted his way to be on the ballot for the next governor race when our protagonist starts uncovering skeletons from his past that would put him in prison.
2. Age range and Description: 50, he’s the most charming guy and the most vicious guy, so Machiavellian in his ways that that any crime or violation of rights justifies the means to get him more power.
3. Core Traits:
– Luringly charming.
– Ruthless.
– Tyrant.
– All powerful.
– All knowing.
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To be the next governor.
Need: To prove he is the alpha male and dominate everybody.
5. Wound: What they can’t face: He was rejected by the homecoming queen, the regional beauty queen, lead cheerleader, and THAT is what set him on the trajectory he is on now to PROVE HIMSELF and never being enough.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likeability (outside affection):
– His deputies really love him – he shares his power with them & they rule the town together.
– He can charm any stranger into a new friend.
– He is well respected and esteemed by others in positions of authority.
– He donates to charities and is very giving in the eyes of the public.
– When he talks, it sounds like he is going to do everything he can to help you and get you out of a situation (but he is straight lying and just using you or setting you up).
Relatability (something we experience):
– Sometimes when his people don’t do things right, he has to step in and get it done correctly.
– We all have to answer to somebody – he has to defer and answer to the State Police.
– He still has to wait on his food like the rest of us.
– He has to pump his own gas.
Empathy (experiences hardship):
– When his world starts to crumble as the murders he’s committed over the years begin to come to light.
– His prized possession (dog, horse, illegitimate son) is killed as revenge.
– A sex tape comes out and he is shamed in public – first time his reputation is tarnished.
7. CHARACTER SUBTEXT (LESSON 3)
Character Name: Antagonist
Subtext Identity: The Boss
Subtext Trait: Manipulative, evil, concealing, evasive, corrupt, shifty
Subtext Logline: Kingpin of a drug corridor operation that uses young black men as if they were disposable, he manipulates every relationship to impose his will and everyone’s reality in the reality HE creates.
Possible Areas of Subtext:
– Manipulative: with current mayor and his wife, directs minute details of situations and cases to cover tracks, he has each deputy under tight reigns, reporters to give HIS narrative, disposable low-level dealers / runners.
– Evil: emasculating mayor, teaches one young runner “how to shoot” not like a gangsta – behind him, whips gun to kids and BLAM, in front of other runner, to correct mistake and keep 2<sup>nd</sup> guy in line. He sets up a deputy to take the fall for him, saving himself, sleeps with his guys wives, a girl runner ends up dead in car – body in back – he kills the girls baby, gives instructions for clean up.
– Concealing: From the public – drug running, drug money, murder, back room meetings. From his deputies – he takes more money than he tells them even though they do the dangerous / illegal work, steals their wives, conceals a meth or coke habit. From himself – the truth of how many bodies he’s buried over the years.
– Evasive: uses his position and power to distract State Police tracking the drugs, never lets anyone control the narrative but him, avoids people, will ghost someone, answers questions with questions. He tells lies and stories when people start asking about the wrong things.
– Corrupt: will take a bribe, extorts people, flat out steals from people because who are they going to call? Runs drugs.
– Shifty: see above.
8. CHARACTER INTRIGUE (LESSON 4)
Character Name: Sheriff
Role: Antagonist
Hidden Agenda: Get all the money he can from drug running. Destroy his political opponents and enemies. Screw everything he can (Heide).
Competition: Wherever there is power to get, he is going after it. See above, it is motivated by his drive for competition. He is really, ultimately, in competition with himself – more is never enough.
Conspiracies: definitely with his deputies in the drug running. With the coroner to cover up suspicious deaths and to plant john doe bodies or incinerate bodies that he needs gone. With wife of mayor to destroy her husband.
Secrets: That he is stealing more than his share and stashing it away as a reserve. That he has wires up on all his deputies incase they decide they want to flip on him – he’s got them dead to rights. He tapes all the women he is with… for later enjoyment, but leverage as well.
Deception: Telling his dirty deputies that he is beholden to the Mexican Mafia and has to follow what they say, when in reality he is the kingpin calling the shots. That he’s a righteous, God fearing, church attending, ideal modern-day Saint, and savior of sorts as he protects and shields the town from the evils out there – mostly the evils he creates.
Unspoken Wound: He was rejected by the homecoming queen, the regional beauty queen, lead cheerleader, and THAT is what set him on the trajectory he is on now to PROVE HIMSELF and never being enough.
Secret Identity: He is a major drug dealer. He is a murderer. He is an adulterer. He fancies himself to be the savior of others – of the town, of the women, of his deputies – they are blessed to have him in their lives – he is deity in his own mind.
9. FLAW (HOW THEY SABOTAGE THEMSELVES)
SHERIFF
– Predator
– Dominant
– Overconfident
– Malicious
10. VALUES
SHERIFF
– Dominating
– Winning
– Power
11. INTERNAL DILEMMA
SHERIFF
– Being powerful versus being admired.
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Eclipse Neilson Character Profiles Part 2
1. VISION: I want to be a great award-winning writer, known for my new genre, who creates the most beautiful films that inspire others to feel deeply, pause, and ponder ways to make the world a better place.
2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
A.The High Concept.
A Nun destined to become a saint, bonds with a powerful Witchy Healer to achieve an ancient task – but all hell breaks out in the village in reaction to their love for each other.
B. This character’s journey. SISTER ANNE ( Protagonist 1)
From an obedient Nun, following the rules of her church into a woman emerging courageously as a caring leader, who happens to desire a true connection with her one and only friend.
This character’s journey. LUNEA THUNDER ( Protagonist 2)
she is there to help return the Goddess to a place of honor and at the same time help Sister Anne fulfill her destiny to become a saint.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
A nun destined to become a saint must follow her deep feelings and her sacred commitment to God as she sets herself free from the restrictions of her past and the church to help save the soul of humanity.
3. Brainstorm these profile components for each character.
7. Character Subtext:
SISTER ANNE
( Protagonist 1) Hiding something: Wanting to be free of the church rules so she can follow her heart.LUNEA THUNDER ( Protagonist 2)
Hiding something: Her heart is broken and she is afraid to be vulnerable with Sister Anne knowing jt will break again if she follows her mission from the Council of The Universal Beings8. Character Intrigue:
SISTER ANNE Competition: She is a nun finding her power as a leader in a male-oriented arena by remembering as a teen she was the top women’s soccer player in her school
LUNEA THUNDER
Hidden agendas A powerful woman who must secretly carry out her mission from the Council of Universal Beings even knowing it will break bother her and Sister Anne’s heart.9. Flaw:
SISTER ANNE
Undervalues themselves: She struggles to be subservient and obey the rules of the church or break them and set herself free to be all she can be.LUNEA THUNDER
Can’t look at their fears: She won’t let anyone help her by withdrawing into her sacred knowledge.10. Values:
SISTER ANNE
Dedicated Love: Jesus is core to her heart and she won’t abandon his sacred teachings.LUNEA THUNDER
Dedicated Love : The Goddess must be acknowledged as sacred in the world.11. Internal Dilemma:
SISTER ANNE
Personal Love versus duty. Will she follow her heart’s quest of many lifetimes or her destiny in this lifetime to become a saint?LUNEA THUNDER
Personal Love versus duty. Will she give up her heart’s healing to help save humanity. -
Pat Fitzgerald’s Character Profiles Part 2
My vision: I have the courage, conviction and talent to create contest winning screenplays and will go on to have my scripts optioned and produced.
What I learned: Working slowly, taking one step at a time by uncovering the layers of my characters, is a great way to make them come to life in a three-dimensional manner.
Protagonists for my buddy script: The Home Strip.
Jaki Sue Buran:
Her High Concept Logline: She’s a stubborn woman who believes that wealth will solve all her problems, but she’s scared to look deep into her own heart to admit she’s lonely and longs for love.
Character’s Journey: Jaki Sue goes from living surrounded by a hard shell of non-feeling to someone who can accept the love she’s needed for most of her life.
Actor Attractors: : Jaki Sue puts her family first, despite being almost constantly at odds with her daughter. Her emotions run never run middle-ground. When she’s angry, she’s ice cold. When she’s happy, she glows. She’s isn’t afraid to concoct radical schemes to get what she wants – strip acts at assisted living homes.
Character Subtext: She refuses to admit to herself that love is more important to her than money.
Character Intrigue: She’s unable to see her own self-worth, looks down at herself for making her living as a stripper.
Flaw: She’s blunt and often speaks before she thinks about what she should say, especially to her daughter.
Values: Her daughter and granddaughter, her friendship with Judee, even though Judee can driver her crazy.
From Lesson 6:
Role in the story: Protagonist. She’s the instigator, the one who does her best to lead others in the right directions, but has a hard time realizing what direction she should take her own life
Age range and description: 50ish. She’s attractive and sexy, with some extra padding. Has done a good job of keeping up and caring for her appearance, though she’s angry that her most physically glamorous days are behind her.
Core Traits: Blunt, worried, vulnerable, sweet.
Want/Need: Jaki Sue want financial security. She needs to learn to accept love.
Wound: Her past experiences with men make it next to impossible to trust a man again.
Likability: She cares for her toddler grandson when he has a cold and can’t go to daycare while trying to complete online transcriptions, so she can pay her bills.
Relatability: She does her best for her family.
Empathy: Put in a difficult position just to make day-to-day expenses.
Likability: Jaki Sue aids the newfound love of her life leave the assisted living home that he intensely dislikes.
Relatability: She wants to help the man she loves live his last days in a happy situation.
Empathy: Making sacrifices for loved ones is something most people would be willing to do.
Judee Sidor:
Her high concept logline: Judee is a fun-loving woman with a touch of larceny who, at nearing the passing point of middle age, is beginning to realize she needs a legit job or be destitute in her senior years.
Journey: Judee goes from always out to have a good time to realizing she enjoys caring for folks in assisted living homes and going to a tech school for a caregiver certificate.
Actor Attractors: Judee is a performer, whether she’s pole dancing on a flag pole or making senior citizens laugh. She’s a clever woman who’d been conditioned to thinking her cleverness is limited to larceny. Once she realizes she’s intelligent and can think for herself, she steamrolls into a new, caregiving life.
Subtext: Judee has been conditioned to believe that she’s not the brightest bulb who became a school dropout who chose to make her living as a stripper.
Character Intrigue: She served time in prison for robbery when her son was a toddler and continues to live in fear that he will find out.
Flaw: She has low self-esteem and believes she deserves to be stuck in a low income lifestyle.
Values: Her son and grandson, her bff, Jaki Sue
Character Dilemma: Can she believe in herself enough to have the confidence to return to school.
From Lesson 6:
Judee Rodis is an outwardly silly woman, slightly larcenous, who finally finds her life’s true worth when she realizes how much she enjoys caring for assisted living residents.
Journey: Judee goes from someone who believes she’s always destined to be the silly person, dependent on others to a woman who understands that she is intelligent and can be a dedicated caregiver.
Actor Attractors: Judee is a performer, whether she’s pole dancing on a flag pole or making senior citizens laugh. She’s a clever woman who’d been conditioned to thinking her cleverness is limited to larceny. Once she realizes she’s intelligent and can think for herself, she steamrolls into a new, caregiving life.
Role in story: Protagonist, Jaki Sue’s bff. A former stripper, dependent on Jaki Sue for a place to live, but is a clever, out-of-the box thinker, who schemes and scams until finally realizing she has talents that have nothing to do with larceny.
Age Range and Description: Tries to pass for well-put-together 40s, but closer to 60 than she’ll ever admit. Is attractive but wears too much make-up, trying to cover up the wrinkles that she can’t afford to Botox.
Core traits: Silly, fun-loving, larcenous, inferiority complex
Want/Need: Judee wants someone to take care of her. She needs to learn a legit way to take care of herself.
Wound: She never wants her son to find out that she did time in prison when her boy was a toddler.
Likeability: She picks someone’s pocket then gives the money to a handicapped panhandler, who has his pet dog on a leash.
Relatability: She does her best to help others.
Empathy: It’s difficult seeing someone less fortunate go without.
Likability: She starts to pilfer money from an assisted living resident’s apartment, but promptly returns it.
Relatability: Judee does her best to be honest.
Empathy: It’s tempting to do the wrong thing to get money when someone is broke, but the better person will remain honest.
Rochelle Barun is an overworked and underpaid single mother, who tries to micro manage everyone she loves and finds herself tripping over her own intentions.
The character’s journey: Rochelle goes from manically overworked and irritated to finding a way to calm down so she can enjoy her life and accept her own self-worth.
Actor Attractors: Rochelle is an every-woman, someone young women can identify with, especially when she’s at odds with her mother. When she relaxes she’s funny and appealing, and she learns to accept her mother’s flaws, that they actually have a lot in common.
Role in Story: Triangle. Rochelle is the one driven crazy by her mom’s (Jaki Sue) unconventional behavior but is more dependent on Mom than she will ever admit.
Age range and description: Late 20’s. Never has time to apply make-up or style her hair, but she has an inner beauty and loves her job more than she will admit, especially cares for the residents of the assisted living home that she supervises.
Core traits: Frenzied, caring, argumentative, accepting
Want/Need: Rochelle wants her mom to stop causing her problems. She needs to calm down and just live her own life.
Wound: Brought up by a mother who was rarely home because Mom was either working or out partying.
Likability: Rochelle is shocked when her mom and Judee turn their clown act into a raunchy dance, but doesn’t stop them when she realizes the residents enjoy it far more than any other entertainment brought their way.
Relatability: Rochelle loves her mother even though she has a somewhat hard time with her unconventional ways.
Empathy: Everyone sometimes gets embarrassed by their parents.
Likability: When Rochelle catches Judee about to steal money from a resident she threatens to call the police, but gives Judee one chance to change her ways.
Relatability: It’s difficult to punish someone who shows genuine remorse.
Empathy: Rochelle’s been put in compromising positions too and knows the relief of giving someone a break.
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Rebecca’s Character Profiles Part 2
Vision: My success from this program will lead me to be the go-to writer for producers looking for incredible scripts for successful movies enjoyed by a vast viewing audience.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that by answering these questions I am able to dig deeper in to each character and make new discoveries.
High Concept: To prevent coal and iron police from massacring men, women, and children working a picket line, a WWI Silver Star recipient must, without detection, execute the rabid commander who violently dominates the mining community. <div>Character Journey:
Ragman
– A survivor and hero of WWI, he struggles to hide his PTSD but learns to control it in order to carry out a plot to execute Bucholtz, commander of the coal and iron police who brutally dominates the mining community.
Bucholtz
– A disgraced German officer, Bucholtz hides his identity to weasel command of the coal and iron police in the Russellton coal fields in order to extract revenge on the American soldier (Ragman) who ruined his life by letting him live.
C. Actor Attractors:
Ragman
– A flawed hero who acts tough, hates God, yet instinctive in doing the right thing.
Bucholtz
– He loves power and uses violence to dominate the mining community but descends into drunken insanity when his plans fail to produce intended results.
7. Character Subtext:
Ragman
– Withholds joining the union fight because of his wound.
Bucholtz
He uses politeness to hide his brutal side and to lure people into his traps.</div><div>
8. Character Intrigue:
Ragman
– Unspoken wound, moral injury from his sixteen sniper kills.
Bucholtz
– Bucholtz’s unspoken wound, not being able to die with honor in battle, triggers his hidden agenda for revenge against Ragman by targeting his family for ruin, violence, and death.
9. Flaw:
Ragman
– The fear of his black rage and ability to kill.
Bucholtz
– Overconfidence and inability to accept failure.</div><div>
10. Values
Ragman
– Family, duty, and people’s lives.
Bucholtz
– Appearances, Duty, Power, Winning</div><div>
11. Character Dilemma:
Ragman
– He vows never to kill again, yet forced to murder Bucholtz to save the lives of people he cares about. If he gets caught, he will die.
Bucholtz
– He decides that the only way to win accolades from his bosses while making Ragman suffer is to break the strike through shock, the massacre of the men, women, and children working the picket line.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Rebecca Sukle.
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Claire’s Character Profiles Part 2
MY VISION:
I have a fabulous career as a screenwriter working in both TV and film, and I have tremendous creative, financial, and personal success. I specialize in female driven projects, and I am the go-to-girl for writing lesbian stories.
What I learned: It’s okay to have blanks. Just keep moving forward and trust that I will discover what I need to know when I need to know it.
HORROR SCRIPT: Maeve, Protagonist
A. The High Concept.
When an evil ghost possesses the lesbians on an isolated movie set, forcing each woman to kill her own spouse, a timid psychic must stop it before it possesses her or her wife.
B. This character’s journey.
Hiding in the the shadows as director’s wife to saving the group from the evil ghost.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Goes from a timid woman to a total badass. She destroys a ghost who has possessed three other women and caused them to kill their own wives. It possesses her and she exorcises it while it is inside her. She’s a badass horror hero. She rescues herself, her wife and three other women.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She immediately senses a dark energy at the location and realizes there is something wrong. She is smarter than everyone else. She is the only one with psychic powers. She is the one who outwits and destroys the ghost.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
She communicates with the dead. She tries to stop a possessed women from murdering her wife. She uncovers the truth about the ghost and figures out how to get rid of it. While she is possessed, she exorcises a ghost from inside her.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
See her on the movie set experiencing the dark energy. Is she crazy or experiencing something that exists? Or both? We don’t know.
What could be this character’s emotional range
Timid in the beginning, does not want to rock the boat. But gradually becomes more assertive as the threat of the ghost increases. Then she confronts her wife and takes charge and becomes a total badass.
What subtext can the actor play?
Initially she does not want to rock the boat and hides what she is feeling and experiencing. She hides herself, her true self.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With the ghost. She is at first frightened of it. And then battles it and loses. And then finds the strength to defeat it.
With her wife. They are stuck in a pattern of Sybil being dominant and Maeve timid. In the beginning they play out this pattern. But as the story moves on and the situation becomes more and more dangerous, Maeve breaks out of that pattern.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
She can see through people. She knows what they are really feeling and thinking.
What could make this character special and unique?
The only psychic in a story about being possessed by a ghost. She exorcises a ghost while it is inside her.
Role in the Story:
Psychic who knows something is wrong and winds up fighting the ghost
Age range and Description:
28-34, attractive black lesbian on the femme side
Core Traits:
Hidden, clever, psychic superpowers, compassionate
Motivation; Want/Need:
Wants to get her wife to leave this place, needs to embrace her power
Wound:
Was possessed as a child and her parents blamed her because she is psychic.
Likability: She stops her car to help a woman with car trouble. people on set happy to see her; wife loves her; She brings food and gifts to the set. She is kind to someone. People like her.
Relatability: conflicts with her wife;
Empathy: She is freaked out by the evil energy she experiences. Wife breaks up with her; later her wife is possessed and then she is possessed.
Character Subtext:
Hiding her psychic powers; being polite so people will like her
Character Intrigue:
Secret identity: Hides that she is a psychic
Hidden would: hides that she was possessed as a child and her parents blamed her.
Flaw:
Undervalues herself: Goes along with what her wife and the other women say because she wants to be liked.
Values:
Despite the struggles she has with her wife, her marriage is the most important thing to her
Character Dilemma:
People pleasing versus being independent
HORROR SCRIPT: Sybil, Triangle
A. The High Concept.
When the ghost of an evil psychiatrist possesses the lesbians on an isolated movie set, forcing each woman to kill her own spouse, a timid psychic must stop it before it possesses her or her wife.
B. This character’s journey.
From overbearing director/wife to accepting Maeve’s power and following her.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
She’s a larger-than-life character with a big ego. She is a creative genius, and award-winning director and actress. She dominates the conversations and scenes. She is also an actress and portrays the evil psychiatrist who tortures queer people in the movie she is making.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Her commitment to telling the true story of why a lesbian murdered her psychiatrist
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Her character is a larger than life director who would be fun to portray. She also is an actress in the movie and portrays an evil psychiatrist who tortures her queer patients. Then she is possessed, and she tries to kill her wife. She goes completely insane.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
She portrays an evil psychiatrist in the movie and she is torturing her patient, and the patient kills her. Then calls “Cut” and we learn she is shooting a movie.
What could be this character’s emotional range
From controlling and domineering, to terrified and helpless, needing to be rescued.
What subtext can the actor play?
With Maeve, acting as if she is concerned about Maeve’s welfare when she wants to control Maeve. In front of the others, acting like she and Maeve have a good relationship and she is NOT a domineering bitch.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Maeve. They have a complicated relationship that has a power struggle at it’s core, but they also love each other. Both the power conflict and the love can show up at the same time.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Through her role as the director, she gets to tell people what to do. She exposes who she is in this role.
What could make this character special and unique?
As a director, she tells a compelling story. As an actress, she portrays the villain, the evil psychiatrist, in her movie. Then outside of the movie, she is possessed by the real ghost of the evil psychiatrist.
Role in the Story:
Director of the film and Maeve’s domineering wife
Age range and Description:
42-48, tall, attractive black woman on the butch side
Core Traits:
Domineering, brilliant, self-absorbed, bold
Motivation; Want/Need:
Wants to make a movie, needs to accept others for who they are
Wound:
????
Likability: Praises actresses after their work; the cast loves her; She is a brilliant director; she is a great actress; she does something nice for someone; she has a project to reclaim the good name of a lesbian who was defamed.
Relatability: problems with her wife;
Empathy: breaking up with her wife; later she is possessed
7. Character Subtext:
She hides what she knows to control people.
8. Character Intrigue:
Is having an affair with one of the actresses and plans on breaking up with Maeve.
9. Flaw:
Over-confidence: She believes she is always right and does not heed Maeve’s warnings
10. Values:
Power and success. She wants to be the best in Hollywood.
11. Character Dilemma:
Being powerful versus being loved. She know that her constant drive for power pushes Maeve away.
HORROR SCRIPT: Ghost, Antagonist
A. The High Concept.
When the ghost of an evil psychiatrist possesses the lesbians on an isolated movie set, forcing each woman to kill her own spouse, a timid psychic must stop it before it possesses her or her wife.
B. This character’s journey.
No journey. Remains evil from beginning to end
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
She is a ghost and does not appear in human form, so there will be no actress portraying her that we want to attract, except for the actress who portrays Sybil.
Role in the Story:
Evil ghost who possesses lesbians and forces them to kill their wives.
Age range and Description:
Was 48 when she died, is now an evil spirit.
Core Traits:
Evil, revengeful, supernatural powers
Motivation; Want/Need:
To torture and kill as many lesbians as possible
Needs to stop killing people!
Wounds:
1) When she was alive, she was a lesbian and was persecuted for it, so she persecuted her gay patients. 2) Was murdered by a lesbian patient she tortured and now in death, she wants revenge
Likability: she isn’t likeable. She is an evil ghost who kills people
Relatability: not relatable.
Empathy: was persecuted for being a lesbian when she was a teen; was murdered by her patient.
Character Subtext:
When she was alive, acting as if she was helping her patients when she was torturing them.
Character Intrigue:
When she was alive she was caught with a woman when she was a teen and was abused by her family. Decided to abuse other lesbians.
Flaw:
Overdoing things: She up her “treatment” of queer people from discomfort to torture.
Values:
Revenge
Character Dilemma:
Being attracted to women and wanting to torture them.
THRILLER SCRIPT: Eve, Protagonist
A. The High Concept.
When she is framed for kidnapping her girlfriend, an intrepid CIA agent must outwit the FBI and the kidnappers before her girlfriend is forced into heterosexual conversion therapy.
B. This character’s journey.
From unable to commit to Debbie, to risking her life to rescue Debbie and asking Debbie to marry her.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Lesbian thriller hero who outwits everyone and rescues her kidnapped girlfriend
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She struggles to commit to the woman she loves, but then does commit; she goes all out to save her girlfriend, even risking her freedom and even her life; she outwits the FBI and the kidnappers who hold her girlfriend; She has serious issues from early life that come back to haunt her.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Escaping from the FBI; facing her father who terrorized her as a teenager and forced her into conversion therapy; rescuing her girlfriend from kidnappers; fighting off someone who tries to attack her girlfriend.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Show her and her girlfriend together on a date and in love. But someone is watching them, filming them. Who? Why? And then someone tries to attack her girlfriend and she defends and protects her.
What could be this character’s emotional range
Emotionally shut down, to terrified for herself and her girlfriend, to courageously facing her fears to save her girlfriend, to being open and loving and committing to her girlfriend.
What subtext can the actor play?
She hides her feelings with her girlfriend, Debbie, in the beginning and she does not tell Debbie she is a CIA agent; she is not upfront with Debbie’s mother about the nature of their relationship when Debbie first goes missing; She withholds information from the FBI and police even as she asked them for help finding Debbie.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Debbie. She clearly loves her and puts her life on the line for her, but she is not honest.
With her father – he abused her as a teen and she ran away from him. He is still overbearing, yet she faces him and does not run away. They banter like equals.
With the FBI agent in charge of Debbie’s kidnapping. It’s complicated. He disapproves of her because she is a lesbian and she does not trust him, yet he respects her and eventually has a hard time believing she kidnapped Debbie. He helps clear her name.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Her actions, she demonstrates her love for Debbie when she escapes from FBI custody and rescues Debbie; her hesitancy demonstrates the emotional difficulty she has expressing herself and her feelings, yet she does express herself. Her ability to stand up to people, especially her father.
What could make this character special and unique?
Lesbian thriller hero who rescues her girlfriend from kidnappers; survived forced conversion therapy.
Role in the Story:
CIA agent and Debbie’s girlfriend
Age range and Description:
38-48, white woman in excellent physical condition. Short hair. Can fight.
Core Traits:
Guarded, brave, driven, loyal
Motivation; Want/Need:
Wants to find Debbie; needs to open her heart and trust Debbie
Wound:
1) She was forced into heterosexual conversion therapy as a teen. 2) Her girlfriend was murdered several years ago and she has not been able to commit to a woman since then.
Likability: Her girlfriend Debbie loves her; She does something nice for a stranger in the disco (maybe the waitress?); She defends Debbie when a man attacks her.
Relatability: She is in love with Debbie;
Empathy: Debbie breaks up with her and she is devastated; later on she learns that Debbie has been kidnapped and she is devastated, and then she is arrested and being framed for Debbie’s kidnapping. Later we learn that she was forced into conversion therapy as a teen and it traumatized her.
Character Subtext:
Hiding/Secrets: She hides that she is a CIA agent, that she was forced into conversion therapy as a teen, that her father is a famous psychologist who advocates conversion therapy for gay people, that her last lover was murdered.
Character Intrigue:
Hiding/Secrets: She hides that she is a CIA agent, that she was forced into conversion therapy as a teen, that her father is a famous psychologist who advocates conversion therapy for gay people, that her last lover was murdered.
Flaw:
Facing her past
Values:
Loyalty, commitment
Character Dilemma:
Wanting commitment versus fear of getting too close
THRILLER SCRIPT: Patty, Antagonist
A. The High Concept.
When she is framed for kidnapping her girlfriend, an intrepid CIA agent must outwit the FBI and the kidnappers before her girlfriend is forced into heterosexual conversion therapy.
B. This character’s journey.
No real journey, we just learn the truth aboaut her. She pretends to be a victim because her daughter was kidnapped, but she is the one who kidnapped her and tried to frame Eve.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A mother who is distraught because her daughter has been kidnapped, but the truth is, she arranged for her daughter to be kidnapped and forced into heterosexual conversion therapy, and to frame her daughter’s girlfriend for the kidnapping.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She is a fantastic liar! She acts like the poor widow, mother of the kidnapped young woman pleading for her safe return, when all along she is the wicked mother who arranged for her daughter to be kidnapped and forced into conversion therapy, as well as frame Eve for the kidnapping.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Goes on TV and pleads for her daughter’s safe return; talks to the FBI as if she doesn’t know very much but is cleverly giving them information to frame Eve; uses the FBI as stooges to set up Eve for the kidnapping and leave no room for them to believe she kidnapped her daughter.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
She is on TV pleading for the safe return of her daughter. Meanwhile, she is the one who arranged for her to be kidnapped.
What could be this character’s emotional range
From sobbing mother of a kidnapped young woman to steely cold-blooded woman who would kidnap her own daughter, subject her to forced conversion therapy, and then frame someone else for the kidnapping.
What subtext can the actor play?
She lies at every turn. She tells the FBI she knows nothing about the kidnapping when she arranged for her daughter to be kidnapped. She acts as if she is heartbroken when in fact she was angry at her daughter for being in a relationship with a woman; she lies to the FBI and frames Eve for the kidnapping.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With the FBI agent in charge of the case that she leads around like a show pony; with Eve, who she despises and blames for her daughter’s demise, but acts as if she is concerned about Eve; with her son that she tries to control when he won’t lie to the FBI.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Through her remarkable ability to lie, to pretend to be one person when she is another.
What could make this character special and unique?
Her incredible ability to lie and change who she is. Also, a woman who would arrange to have her own daughter kidnapped and forced into conversion therapy.
Role in the Story:
Mother of kidnapped Debbie who secretly kidnapped Debbie and framed Eve for the kidnapping
Age range and Description:
55-65 white woman, good physical condition, ultra conservative Christian
Core Traits:
Schemer, religious hypocrite, heartless, false charm.
Motivation; Want/Need:
Wants to kill or imprison Eve, and force Debbie to be heterosexual. Needs to accept her daughter for who she is.
Wound:
When she was a child, her mother discovered that her father was gay and it destroyed her family. She has hated gay people since then.
Likability: She is kind to the FBI agents and offers them refreshments, even though she is distraught; her pastor joins her and tells the press what a wonderful woman she is. People in her parish come to support her and tell the media how wonderful she is.
Relatability: A widow; lost her son
Empathy: Her daughter has been kidnapped and she is devastated.
Character Subtext:
Potting – Patty plots to kidnap her daughter, frame Eve and force her daughter into conversion therapy
Character Intrigue:
In a conspiracy to kidnap her daughter, frame Eve and force her daughter into conversion therapy
Flaw:
Over-confident and assumes she will be able to pull off her plot
Values:
Having her daughter, and the world, live by her extreme Christian values.
Character Dilemma:
Need to control her daughter’s behavior with her need to have her daughter love her.
THRILLER SCRIPT: FBI Agent, Triangle character
A. The High Concept.
When she is framed for kidnapping her girlfriend, an intrepid CIA agent must outwit the FBI and the kidnappers before her girlfriend is forced into heterosexual conversion therapy.
B. This character’s journey.
From believing that Eve kidnapped Debbie and killed her, to realizing that Eve was framed and trying to save Eve and Debbie
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
FBI agent who initially is unsympathetic and prejudiced toward a lesbian who’s lover has been kidnapped, to seeing that the lesbian was framed and then helping save her and her kidnapped girlfriend.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He starts out in a stereotypical role, supportive of the dear old widow who’s daughter has been kidnapped, and unsympathetic to the kidnapped women’s lesbian lover, yet overcomes his prejudiced mindset because he finds evidence that suggests the lover is being framed. He follows the evidence and finds the truth, that the widow had her daughter kidnapped and the lesbian lover is the only one desperate to find her.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Not sure yet
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Not sure yet
What could be this character’s emotional range
Kind and compassionate to smug and unpleasant to ruthless in the pursuit of truth.
What subtext can the actor play?
When he thinks that Eve kidnapped Debbie but does not let her know that, he pursues a line of questioning that could trap Eve. Similarly, when he suspects the mother of the kidnapping, her asks her further questions and tries to trip her up.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Eve. It’s complicated. He disapproves of her because she is a lesbian, yet he respects her and eventually has a hard time believing she kidnapped Debbie. He helps clear her name.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Through his investigation. He is in pursuit of the truth. The questions he asks and how he asks them reveal who he is.
What could make this character special and unique?
Not sure yet.
Role in the Story:
FBI Agent leading the investigation of Debbie’s kidnapping.
Age range and Description:
55-65, balding white man in good physical condition
Core Traits:
Just, prejudiced, persistent, astute
Motivation; Want/Need:
Wants to solve the case. Needs to see Eve and Patty for who they are and not through his prejudiced mindset.
Wound:
Not sure yet. Maybe he lost a child?
Likability: He is kind to Patty when her daughter Debbie is kidnap; he is respectful of Eve even though he does not feel comfortable with gay people. He is driven to find Debbie, genuinely concerned for Debbie’s safety. He is kind to the people who work under him.
Relatability: His boss is on top of him; He wants to find Debbie. He wants to be great at his job with dogged persistence.
Empathy: He loses one of his team.
Character Subtext:
FBI agent who employs deceit while investigating and interviewing.
Character Intrigue:
FBI agent with a bias against gay people.
Flaw:
Allows his personal prejudices to affect his investigation.
Values:
Discovering the truth in investigating
Character Dilemma:
Wants to be impartial yet believes gay people are untrustworthy
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by CLAIRE RILEY.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by
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Joe McGloin’s Character Profiles, Part 2
Vision: I am a talented, highly regarded, efficient, relaxed, happy, WGA screenwriter
What I learned from doing this assignment is discovering more depth of each character in ways that make them more interesting, though not necessarily the final traits.
Character:: Max
A. The High Concept: A future female president has a
guardian angel who abandons his mission when he falls in love with her.B. This character’s journey: From
overbearing to giving space to loving his charge.
C. The Actor Attractors for this
character:· 1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
An angel who explores the true nature of love while guardian his charge
· 2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He’s an angel struggling with his role. He falls in love with his charge.
· 3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Learn what true love is and does. Outsmart bad guys. Challenge his superiors.
· 4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
He’s a smug, heavy-handed know-it-all angel with authority issues.
· 5. What could be this character’s emotional range
· Arrogant to humble to passionate
· 6. What subtext can the actor play?
Pretend to be a political flunky while guiding, protecting and falling in love with a future president
· 7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
A superior who doubts Max’s abilities, the woman he is to guard that he falls in love with, a scumbag politician intent on ruining his charge’s career.
· 8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
· through an angel’s perspective of what it means to be a guardian angel
· 9. What could make this character special and unique?
He is an angel that falls in love with his human charge. He learns what true love really is and does.
Brainstorm these profile components:
7. Character Subtext: Hiding being an
angel8. Character Intrigue: Hidden agendas:
Guardian Angel to Jane, a future president
Competition: with Jane’s scumbag
superior for Jane’s attention
Conspiracies:
Secrets: he is Jane’s guardian angel.
He is falling in love with her.
Deception: pretends to be a political
aide. He wears his angel robe and sandals when “off duty” until he is
given a “permanent” body and is caught changing clothes when that happens
Unspoken Wound: he has never fit in
among the other angels due to his heavy-handed approach
Secret Identity: guardian angel and loverl
9. Flaw: overdoing protection in the
name of duty. Overconfidence
10. Values: responsibility, service,
11. Character Dilemma: Affection vs.
dutyCharacter:: Jane
A. The High Concept: A future female president has a
guardian angel who abandons his mission when he falls in love with her.B. This character’s journey: fearful
of relationships to falling in loveC. The Actor Attractors for this
character:· 1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
· A woman who shakes up politics and becomes president.
· 2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
· She goes against the grain of dirty politics and wins. She falls in love with an angel
· 3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
· Resist dirty politics. Forge her way to the top against all odds. Fall in love after resisting it as a sign of weakness.
· 4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
· A female politician in a mostly male environment who is determined to remain honest and principled and who is sensitive to spiritual forces around her
· 5. What could be this character’s emotional range
· Independent and emotionally detached to passionate about her work and finally about her relationship
· 6. What subtext can the actor play?
· Save humanity through becoming President of the US surrounded by noble, honest servants of humanity
· 7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
· Her guardian angel, her scumbag superior, her constituencies,
· 8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
· As a lone honest voice in the wilderness of politics that grows in strength to a roar
·
· 9. What could make this character special and unique?
· Her success in honest politics at the international level
Brainstorm these profile components:
7. Character Subtext: afraid to say
8. Character Intrigue: Hidden agendas:
Reform politics with truth-telling
Competition: with her political rival
to end dirty politics
Conspiracies: Jane and her superior
plan to sabotage his political rival
Secrets: she fears deep relationships
as interfering with her mission. She falls in love with Max
Deception: Pretends to go along with
her superior with a plan to destroy his competitor but then turns him in
before the plan is hatched
Unspoken Wound: Best friend lied to
her about their friendship
Secret Identity: political reformist9. Flaw: can’t look at her fears
10. Values: Commitment, Independence,
honesty
11. Character Dilemma: independence
vs. need to loveCharacter:: Clarence
A. The High Concept: A future female president has a
guardian angel who abandons his mission when he falls in love with her.B. This character’s journey: from
distrust to trust
C. The Actor Attractors for this
character:· What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
It reflects (is?) the character in It’s a Wonderful Life and he supervises angels and has a fair amount of clout in Heaven
· 2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
An angel who supervises other angels is the antagonist
· 3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Doubt Max at every turn. Appear with knowledge of crucial heavenly events. Help orchestrate and then announce a major development in the relationship between angels and humans when all seems about to be lost.
· 4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
As Max’s new superior who refuses to respond to questions as to whether or not he is THAT Clarence, and who promises to be a thorn in Max’s side, and who is well versed in heavenly affairs to which most angels have no access.
· 5. What could be this character’s emotional range
Irritable to smugly superior, strict to permissive, discouraging to supportive, cold to engaging
· 6. What subtext can the actor play?
Has an apparent knowledge base far beyond what the guardian angels have and is aware of what goes on in whole universe and the afterlife. Pretty much omniscient.
· 7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Max, with his own solution-searching peers, with humanity on the brink of self-destruction
· 8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
As a spokes-angel for Heaven in an angel’s body.
· 9. What could make this character special and unique?
An angel who isn’t always kind and loving but who is tuned in to the workings of the afterlife and has some say in the decisions there.
.
Brainstorm these profile components:
7. Character Subtext: Secret
8. Character Intrigue:
Hidden agendas: Make Max a first-rate
guardian angel after flunking “cherub”
Secrets: he campaigns on Max’s behalf
to change the rules re/ angels and humans interacting.
Unspoken Wound: he failed cherub, too
9. Flaw: can’t take risks
10. Values: achievement, orderliness,
respect
11. Character Dilemma: tradition vs.
experimentation -
[WIM] Caroline’s Character Profiles Part 2
My Vision: I will perfect my process of writing great scripts and be recognized by the industry as good at what I do and have successful movies produced.
What I learned: I really enjoyed this and it as helpful to flesh out the characters more.
Callahan Terry
· The High Concept: An MI6 agent on a visit to the U.S. doesn’t know who to trust when his friend’s wife is kidnapped.
· This character’s journey: From wounded widower to lethal killing machine
· The actor/attractors:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? James Bond in America2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? His character is iconic
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? Chases, gun fights, battles of wits
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? Introduce him as a debonair gentleman who flips on a dime and becomes a gun-wielding, judo-chopping hero.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range? Empathy, sadness, rage
6. What subtext can the actor play? A quiet killer when needed
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? With his co-workers, his friend and his friend’s wife
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? As a British Secret Service agent, accent and all
9. What could make this character special and unique? He seems like a paper pusher but is really is an action hero.
· Role in the Story: Protagonist
· Age range and Description: Late 40s, Black, British
· Core Traits: Deliberate, calm
· Motivation; Want/Need: Wants justice; needs to find peace
· Wound: What they can’t face: Losing his wife to a terrorist
· Likability: Callahan loves his wife dearly and takes her on vacation
· Relatability: Everyone loves to go away with the person they love the most
· Empathy: They have a good relationship that is nice to see
· Character Subtext: Hiding something acting as a pencil pusher
· Character Intrigue: Secret identity: Mild-mannered by day, but when the chips are down, becomes 007
· Flaw: Undervalues himself and his ability
· Values: Love, Duty
· Character Dilemma: Being who he is vs. guilt over-promising his wife to stay safe
Aaron Copley
· The High Concept: An MI6 agent on a visit to the U.S. doesn’t know who to trust when his friend’s wife is kidnapped.
· This character’s journey: From CIA agent to terrorist
· The actor/attractors:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? The CIA agent who turns on his friend.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? You trust him and he seems like a good guy,
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? Betraying his friend
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? In a flashback when Callahan’s wife is killed.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range? Arrogant, devious, smart aleck
6. What subtext can the actor play? Wounded, afraid
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? Betraying his wife, betraying his friend, betraying his government
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Slightly nerdy maybe?
9. What could make this character special and unique? You don’t expect him to be duplicitous.
· Role in the Story: Antagonist
· Age range and Description: Late 40s, White, American
· Core Traits: Brash, Loud, likes to show off
· Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to be the hero; needs to feel secure
· Wound: What they can’t face: Being passed over his whole life for not being good enough
· Likability: Aaron is funny and seems loyal
· Relatability: We like to be around people who are at ease with themselves
· Empathy: He is loyal to his job even after he has been passed over for a promotion. We all know what that is like.
· Character Subtext: Deeply insecure
· Character Intrigue: Hidden agenda as a corrupt CIA agent plotting against his friend
· Flaw: Over-confidence in his abilities and worth
· Values: Winning, Competitiveness
· Character Dilemma: He wants to be a winner but his actions make him a loser
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Claudia’s Character Profiles PT 2
Vision: To become such an excellent writer that I know every script I write will be well received by the industry, that my scripts will sell and be produced, and I’ll live the life of my dreams. To also become so empowered that fear is to be laughed at, instead I relish and look forward to pitching, meetings and much more.
What I’ve Learned Doing This Assignment:
Creating profiles is monumentally important so that as you write the script you can be true to the characters, knowing how they will act and respond in each situation.
A. The High Concept. Abby is a germophobic Martha Stewart wannabe who must take over her father’s cleaning business and meets the love of her life, the world’s worst slob.
ABBY
B. This character’s journey:
Internal Journey: from paralyzed with fear to confident and strong
External Journey: from hiding out from her publisher to meeting people, saving her family’s business, and going on a book tour (this may change)
C. The Actor Attractors for this character:
Lead Character Name: Abby
Role: Protagonist
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
She’s a complicated character who is strong yet vulnerable. She’s dealing with a terrible phobia. She has a strong sense of right and wrong but will do whatever is necessary to save her father’s business.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She’s a germaphobe. She’s learned to control her environment and that all pops when her dad has a heart attack. Now she must face her biggest fears on many levels.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Designing online, a studio set up in her apartment. Cleaning the office, and then homes, wearing hazmat suits, doing funny things to clean without getting germs on her. Trying to eat messy food without getting it on her. Getting back on a horse and riding (she fell as a kid). Playing poker with the maids.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
A strong willed, goal oriented germaphobe who will do anything to save her father’s business, including facing her deepest fears.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
From a terrified germaphobe to a conqueror; emotionally vulnerable to strong willed and stubborn. Caring and loving to angry and guarded.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
She is constantly hiding her fear of germs, doing everything she can to appear normal and not have people see this vulnerability. She’d rather have people think she’s a flake or demanding then know that it’s because she’s afraid.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Aracelli, the head maid. The two butt heads, each feeling they are in charge. Aracelli calls for the maids to strike (call out sick) leaving Abby to clean everything by herself. With Jack, she has a push/pull, attraction/repulsion relationship… he’s trying to help her and she feels he’s trying to “fix” her… but at the same time, she wants to fix his sloppiness.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Through the irony of having a fear of germs and being forced to take over her father’s cleaning business.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Her determination to overcome her fear to save her father’s business as well as having a relationship with the love of her life, despite him being a complete slob.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Protagonist: Abby is the center of the story. She’s the one who must take over her father’s cleaning business even though she’s terrified of germs. In the end she defeats her fear and saves the business.
Age range and Description: Abby is in her late 30’s, blond, petite, she has a Reese Witherspoon vibe, she’s not the calm type, always seems to be on the edge.
Core Traits:
Fearful
Determined
Honest
Compassionate
Motivation; Want/Need:
Wants to stay safe in her bubble
Needs to save her father’s business
Wound:
She fell off a horse when she was young and into a literal pile of horse poop, which was covered with flies. She has been terrified of germs since then and was laughed at by many of the school kids.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: She does a live video and helps a Mom who’s upset because she’s lost control of her home (organizationally)… we see Abby’s genuine concern to help others.
Relatability: Abby falls in love. She puts her own career on hold while trying to save the family business for her Dad
Empathy: Abby has a deep scar from an event that happened as a child. That scar manifests as a fear of germs and her life is ruled by that fear.
3. Brainstorm these profile components for each character.
7. Character Subtext:
Character Name: Abby
Subtext Identity: An organizational expert with a fear of germs, who needs to control her environment.
Subtext Trait: Controlling, in denial, tries to hide her phobia
Subtext Logline: A germophobic organizational expert who needs to control her environment falls in love with a massive slob.
Possible Areas of Subtext: controls the maids but doesn’t tell them about her phobia, cleans homes in hazmat gear, tries not to freak out when her boyfriend gets food all over himself. Her reaction when she realizes Jack’s secret.
8. Character Intrigue:
Character Name: Abby
Role: Protagonist
Secrets: She tries to keep the extent of her fear to herself.
Unspoken Wound: She had a traumatic experience as a child that made her terrified of germs.
3) Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.
The need to clean the main office, scrub it down, but do it in secret so the maids don’t see how neurotic she is. She must control her environment… opening scene shows her walking her dog, she’s in disposable booties, gloves, etc…. the dog is also in booties!
9. Flaw:
Can’t look at fears; poor decision making.
10. Values:
Family; Duty; Loyalty; Honesty; Being Your Best
11. Character Dilemma:
Safety Vs Success; Pleasing Others (parents) Vs Being Independent
BOOMER: ANTAGONIST
B. This character’s journey:
Internal: From scheming to guilt-ridden
External: From helping friends to stealing from them
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
Character Name: Boomer /
Randy / Randall WalkerRole: Antagonist
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
He’s a man living a double life. One as Boomer, the childhood best friend of Abby’s brother and boyfriend and Second as the slimy attorney who is trying to steal the cleaning business away from Abby and her family. He’s sly and cunning while appearing to be helpful.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He’s living a double life. Sly and cunning, loud and boisterous. Appears to be one thing but is something else.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Antagonist could take in the script?
Playing baseball. Watching the Little League kids, he trips a kid on purpose and then helps him up as if the kid was clumsy. Starts a food fight and intentionally makes Jack look much worse, knowing that it will upset Abby.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
A wise-cracking Attorney who pretends to want to help his “friends” but uses his relationships to further himself and his family financially.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
From a wise-cracking jerk to a serious attorney, from feigning compassion to sliminess.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
This character lives a lie. While he does consider the characters his “friends”, he’d do anything to get ahead in his company (owned by his father) and get ahead financially.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Jack, pretending to want to help he and Abby but in reality, he knows he’s going to screw them over.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Through living a double life, one as the friend of people he’s known since childhood and the other as a ruthless lawyer bent on stealing Abby’s business.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
He is charismatic, bold, and funny, yet ruthless and conniving.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Antagonist. He is in a battle between pleasing his father and helping his friends. His mission is to destroy Abby’s family business.
Age range and Description: Late 30’s / Early 40’s. He’s tall and not especially good looking with dark hair and a pale complexion.
Core Traits:
Cunning
Manipulative
Fast talking
Bull-shitter
Motivation; Want/Need:
Wants to do well at work and move up, and be thought of as a good friend
Needs to please his father who is completely controlling of him
Wound:
He wasn’t good enough at sports and missed a baseball scholarship, which his father never let him live down. He tried to make up for it by being a ruthless attorney.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Boomer helps move some of Jack’s stuff. He helps with the Little League team.
Relatability: His boss is upset with him because he’s just lost a case. We don’t know at this point that his boss is also his father.
Empathy: He’s stressed out at work. He rarely has free time. His girlfriend just broke up with him.
7. Character Subtext:
Subtext Identity: A ruthless attorney who is friends with Jack
Subtext Trait: Conniving, manipulative, scheming
Subtext Logline: A ruthless attorney schemes to steal a business from his friends
Possible Areas of Subtext: helps Jack move things to learn more about Abby’s business, helps with the Little League game to get closer to Abby, offers to look at their financials to see how he can “help”, tells his boss (his father) they are ripe for the picking, undermines Abby’s ability to hire more people and get more clients.
8. Character Intrigue:
Role: Antagonist
Hidden agendas: Boomer wants to steal Abby’s business for his Dad, so that he can rise up in the company.
Secrets: Boomer never tells Abby or Jack that he’s working as an attorney for a competing company.
Deception: Boomer pretends to want to help Jack and Abby, but he’s doing everything for himself.
3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.
Boomer convinces Jack and Abby to give him the financials so see if he can “help” but he’s really only looking for the company weaknesses.
9. Flaw:
Overconfident; says the wrong things (he can be really irritating).
10. Values:
Family, Duty, Winning at any cost
11. Character Dilemma:
Please others vs Being Independent; Center of Attention Vs Being Quiet; Winner Vs Loser; Wants External Admiration over Loving/Respecting Himself.
JACK: TRIANGLE
Internal: From fearful of losing money/things to confident things will be okay
External: From slob to neater; from a borderline hoarder to cleaning his place out AND designing a system that will help Abby and make them both a lot of money.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
He’s a man hiding the fact that he’s got a serious problem with holding onto things out of fear of losing everything. He’s also a major slob. This character has to face everything inside himself, his past, to hold onto the woman he loves.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He’s keeping a secret. He’s a great guy, honest and funny, a great friend, but his wound has kept him from having a serious relationship.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Triangle could take in the script?
Playing baseball. Teaching the Little League kids. Takes in a professional baseball game. Has a fist fight with Boomer. Creates an organizational system for Abby. Throws out all of his stuff he’s hoarded.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
An affable, compassionate man who tries to be there for everyone else while covering up his own issues. Until now he’s kept most people at an arm’s length.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
From calm and caring to angry and depressed, irrational and afraid of losing Abby and willing to do whatever he needs to keep her.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
This character is living with a secret. He hasn’t told any of his friends why his family abruptly moved away while he was in HS. He keeps a part of his home locked away because he doesn’t want anyone to mess with his stuff or to even know he’s hoarding things. He’s a slob but is also pretending it’s not bothering him.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Abby, who he falls in love with. With Boomer, who he wants to trust but is screwed over by. With Ben, Abby’s Dad…. Who was his coach as a kid and whom he still thinks of as a second father.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
A caring, smart, creative man who feels he needs to keep a dark secret, he is freed at the end and wins the girl.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
We haven’t seen a Hoarder line hoarder as a leading character, especially falling for someone who is a germaphobe.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: TRIANGLE character. He’s the man Abby falls for, he also brings Boomer into the fold and Boomer steals the business info and gives it to his father so they can destroy her business.
Age range and Description: Early 40’s, he’s tall and good looking with a perpetual scruffy face, as if he’s missed shaving for a few days.
Core Traits:
Trustworthy
Caring
Can do attitude
Wants to be people’s hero
Motivation; Want/Need:
Jack wants to be with Abby. He needs to be successful so he can have security.
Wound:
His parents lost everything when he was in HS and they moved away suddenly, he left with just a backpack, losing all his possessions. This has him needing to hold onto things.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Jack visits Abby’s Dad in the hospital. Jack teaches Little League kids. He’s always helping others.
Relatability: He’s fallen in love with Abby. He wants to be better for her.
Empathy: He owns a business and he’s always worried about the next job so that he and his people will have jobs. He must confront his past and realize that what happened in the past doesn’t have to affect him today.
3. Brainstorm these profile components for each character.
7. Character Subtext:
Subtext Identity: A friend of Abby’s brother and father who falls in love with Abby.
Subtext Trait: In denial, evasive, hiding his problem.
Subtext Logline: An affable boss falls for the sister of his friend and tries to hide his hoarding illness.
Possible Areas of Subtext: Doesn’t correct Abby’s assumption that Boomer’s apartment is his own. Keeps his “messy” area under lock and key. Tries to control how much anyone knows about him.
8. Character Intrigue:
Secrets: Jack is hiding his extreme slobbery, he borders on hoarding. He’s afraid people will find out, especially Abby.
Deception: He takes Abby someplace she thinks is his home, which is beautiful and clean, but it’s not where he lives.
Unspoken Wound: Jack’s parents lost everything when he was a kid, and he holds onto things that he doesn’t need.
3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.
Jack is hiding his problem from Abby, and his friends. He takes Abby to a place she thinks is his home, it’s beautiful and clean, but it’s not where he lives. Maybe it’s Boomer’s home? Maybe she assumes it’s his and he doesn’t correct her. He keeps clothes in his car to change and look presentable.
9. Flaw:
Undervalues themselves; can’t take risks out of fear of losing what he has.
10. Values:
Duty, Loyalty, Love, Honesty
11. Character Dilemma:
Being open and honest Vs keeping his secret… he’s afraid he will lose Abby if he’s honest
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Amechi’s Character Profiles Part 2
MY VISION
I am going to be in the top 1% of action/comedy writers in the industry who writes major action films.
What I learned from doing this assignment is to be precise with these answers to create the best possible character, rather than adding too many details.
PROTAGONIST (KANAAN)
• A. The High Concept. An obsessed fan of a Superhero works his way into the superhero’s life and clashes with the superhero’s sidekick.
• B. This character’s journey. From a scared nobody who is obsessed with a superhero to a feared sidekick to that superhero.
• C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
He is a man obsessed with a superhero who gets the chance to make the superhero his friend and become his sidekick.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He’s a manipulator who uses manipulation techniques to try and make people do the right thing.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Manipulating Blackout
Talking his way into a job he shouldn’t get
His covert battle with Rhapsody
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
He’s paid to be a victim in a self-defense class.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Scared to angry, weak and helpless to confident and dangerous, sad to exhilarated.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
That he’s just trying to help, that he’s in it for the right reasons,
He’s always a hero in his own mind, even when he seems to be a victim.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Blackout – They go from strangers to people who help each other, to people who rely on each other.
With Rhapsody – Who wants to get rid of him so she can keep Blackout all to herself.
With Mars (the Butler) – who is getting old and decides to help groom Kanaan to be his replacement.
With his Mother – A cop who wants Kanaan to give up his dangerous dreams and return home.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
He’s tired of the city being dangerous and is one of the few people who are actively doing something about it.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
His manipulation techniques, his strong desire to be liked and to see justice come for people.3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
1 Role in the Story: Protagonist who goes from scared civilian to superhero sidekick.
2 Age range and Description: Late 20s, athletic but afraid of his power.
3 Core Traits: 1. Scheming 2. Optimistic 3. Manipulator 4. Afraid
4 Motivation; Want/Need: To be a superhero’s sidekick / To stop being a victim
5 Wound: He was arrested for armed robbery, which hurt his mother’s career and derailed his plans at life.
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Care for the city, the downtrodden things and people. Struggling and alone. Oppressed but wants to help people.
• 7. Character Subtext: Luring/Seducing to get his way
• 8. Character Intrigue: Unspoken wound caused by hurting his family with a robbery
Deception that he is just trying to help and not obsessed
Pretending to compete with Rhapsody while plotting her death.
Hidden agenda – Learning martial arts for free by being a practice dummy.
• 9. Flaw: Undervalues himself. Thinks he deserves constant punishment.
• 10. Values: Law, Loyalty, Service to others
• 11. Character Dilemma: Self expression vs guilt
ANTAGONIST (RHAPSODY)
• A. The High Concept. An obsessed fan of a Superhero works his way into the superhero’s life and clashes with the superhero’s sidekick.
• B. This character’s journey. From superhero’s sidekick, to losing her place and wanting revenge
• C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A kick ass superhero
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She’s very protective of Blackout and very suspicious of Kanaan.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
She goes to Kanaan’s parents house and has dinner with his family.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
She beat up a gang of thugs on a street and then enters a room that is filled with items related to Blackout.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
She is calm, Kanaan makes her angry, confident, determined,
6. What subtext can the actor play?
That she’s trying to help people when she’s punishing them. She’s fighting to keep the status quo.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Kanaan – She is the one person who can see right through him for what he is.
With Blackout – A mentor, and someone she loves and respects.
With Mars – He’s a father figure who pushes her to do good and to be a better hero.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
She is a sidekick who is happy with her place and actively fighting anyone who tries to change it.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
She’s a hero but has some bad intentions to protect her power and status.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
1 Role in the Story: Antagonist who wants to keep her place as Blackout’s sidekick.
2 Age range and Description: 30s,
3 Core Traits: 1. Jealous 2. Assertive/Aggressive 3. Glory Hunter 4. Sneaky
4 Motivation; Want/Need: To keep her place as Blackout’s sidekick / To learn how to help others
5 Wound: Her parents were killed and Blackout took her in.
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Brilliant fighter, quick witted, stands up for herself, makes big shows of helping/being a hero
• 7. Character Subtext: Withholding because of the trauma of the death of her parents.
• 8. Character Intrigue: Secret – she has threatened and hurt other people who have tried to get close to Blackout before.
Deception – Pretends to be Kanaan’s friend while she investigates him.
• 9. Flaw: Says and does the wrong things. Takes things too far and has to get the last word or action in.
• 10. Values: Winning, Family, Freedom
• 11. Character Dilemma: Being powerful and being loved
TRIANGLE (BLACKOUT)
• A. The High Concept. An obsessed fan of a Superhero works his way into the superhero’s life and clashes with the superhero’s sidekick.
• B. This character’s journey. From being surrounded by people and things he loves, to feeling as empty and lonely as everyone else in the city.
• C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A powerful superhero who wants to be loved and fights for his city.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He is a loner but is looking for community.
He demands obedience.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Taking on the mayor.
Killing Rhapsody
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
He saves Kanaan from an attack. He’s a powerful superhero who strikes fear into his enemies.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Calm even when he’s being violent. Sad and emotionally fragile. Feels compassion for those he has to fight who have nothing.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Controls and manipulates people into praising him. Wants to be worshipped for his sacrifices.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Kanaan – He likes the way Kanaan sees the world and the perspective Kanaan has on things.
With Rhapsody – He’s a stern big brother who is trying to keep her under control.
With Mars – His father figure, who works to meet all of his needs.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
He’s obsessed with justice and doing the right thing in every aspect of his life.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Wants to honor his parents and ancestors by doing what is right in all situations. Gets broken up when he fails or someone is hurt because of him.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
1 Role in the Story: Triangle Character, The person the protagonist and antagonist fight over
2 Age range and Description: 40s, a superhuman vigilante
3 Core Traits: 1. Imaginative 2. Noble 3. Dangerous 4. Loyal
4 Motivation; Want/Need: To be his city’s savior / To decide what justice is
5 Wound: He can’t stop, even if he wanted to.
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Beloved superhero, struggles with not doing more, haunted by failure, constantly in emotional and physical pain.
• 7. Character Subtext: Being Polite
• 8. Character Intrigue: Secret – He killed Rhapsody’s parents accidentally.
Conspiracy – With the mayor to make the city more dangerous and boost both of their profiles.
• 9. Flaw: Overdoing things. Working too hard to try and make a difference.
• 10. Values: Duty, Fame, Control
• 11. Character Dilemma: Please others vs taking care of himself -
Ian Greenham’s Character Profiles Part 2
Vision: Completing this program will significantly enhance my screenwriting skills.
Doing this assignment I learned more about building character profiles.
High Concept: Two young women who grew up in foster homes believing they had no relatives discover they are identical twin sisters.
Protagonist: Aly Silvers
This
character’s journey:
Recovers from leukemia after a bone marrow transplant from a newly
discovered identical twin sister.The
Actor Attractors for this character:
As detailed in the Assignment for Module 3, Lesson 2.Character
Subtext: Always polite
Character
Intrigue: Unspoken wound – no family
Flaw:
Undervalues herself personally
Values:
Integrity
Character
Dilemma: Reluctant to give emotionallyAntagonist: Nicki Holder
This
character’s journey: Saves
the life of her newly discovered identical twin sister by providing her
with a bone marrow transplant.The
Actor Attractors for this character: As
detailed in the Assignment for Module 3, Lesson 2.Character
Subtext: Hiding disappointment over
having no real family
Character
Intrigue: Unspoken wound – no family
Flaw:
Undervalues herself
Values:
Compassion
Character
Dilemma: Needs external recognition[WIM: Module 3, Lesson 7: Character Profiles Part 2 – June 29, 2022]
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Linda Anderson’s Character Profiles Part 2
Vision for your success from this program:
Audiences around the world view and love my meaningful screenplays—one of the most satisfying and energizing accomplishments of my life.
What I learned from doing this assignment is this was a good exercise to help shape up a clearer vision of the lead characters.
Lead Character: Allen
A. The High Concept. An ex-cop with PTSD and an
abandoned dog with BIG issues team up to bring light into their darkest
places—based on a New York Times bestselling memoir.
B. This character’s journey. From very private
with low self-esteem to confident and looking forward to the next
adventures in life with his human and animal family.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
Repeatedly faces death and lifelong disabling situations. Complex mix of
intelligence, creativity, empathy, kindness, masculinity, and a strong
will to survive the most brutal battle of his life.Lead Character: Leaf
A. The High Concept. An ex-cop with PTSD and an
abandoned dog with BIG issues team up to bring light into their darkest
places—based on a New York Times bestselling memoir.
B. This character’s journey. From abandoned,
fearful, and aggressive to loving, playful, and trusting.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character. Shows
what’s possible for healing of an emotionally damaged rescue dog who in
turn, rescues his rescuer.Lead Character: Linda
A. The High Concept. An ex-cop with PTSD and an
abandoned dog with BIG issues team up to bring light into their darkest
places—based on a New York Times bestselling memoir.
B. This character’s journey. From reliant on, to
the point of dependency in some areas, on Allen as her husband and life
partner to more secure and independent.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character. Linda
must face her greatest fear of losing Allen, her husband and business partner,
as he faces conditions that could result in his death or lifelong
disability. She has to pull on physical, emotional, and spiritual
resources she never knew she had to help Allen and Leaf survive their
ordeals and save her family from disaster.Profile components for each character.
Lead Character: Allen
7. Character Subtext: Withholding
He rarely wants to talk about all he’s going through even with his wife because he thinks she will worry or be upset.
8. Character Intrigue: Unspoken Wound
He fears becoming like his miserable father with permanent disability from a stroke.
9. Flaw: Overdoing
In his efforts to make everything better or perfect, he winds up often not getting the help he needs or being rebuffed by people he tries to help.
10. Values: Family, Love, Safety, Duty, Privacy
11. Character Dilemma:He’s so protective of those he loves that he often neglects his own needs.
Lead Character: Leaf
7. Character Subtext: Distrusts people
8. Character Intrigue: AbandonmentHis feelings of vulnerability make him fearful and overly protective.
9. Flaw: Overly Alpha
It’s hard for him to be nice to people or other dogs because he can’t trust anyone other than himself to be in charge of situations.
10. Values: Safety, Family, Love
11. Character Dilemma:Fear of abandonment and not being powerful enough to take care of himself make him aggressive.
Lead Character: Linda
7. Character Subtext: Anxious to be in control; loves
fiercely
8. Character Intrigue: InsecurityShe never thinks she (or things) are good enough and is always trying to improve.
9. Flaw: Overachiever
She slips into being bossy in her relationships when she’s trying to make things perfect.
10. Values: Family, Love, Intelligence, Humor
11. Character Dilemma:Insecurity causes her to try too hard to succeed at everything.
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BOB SMITH’s CHARACTER PROFILES PART II
My vision for success after this program:
I want to become a great writer who delivers entertaining, informative, and uplifting movie scripts that sell and get produced. </ins>
What I learned from doing this assignment is…?</ins>
That what is under the surface makes characters more real and enriches the story and the creative process. As I wrote last assignment: I am increasingly confident that the screenplay of my play “Angels in Gangland” will not only be an adaptation, but better than the original stage play script.
2. WITH EACH OF YOUR LEAD CHARACTERS FIRST TELL US THE FOLLOWING:
a. The High Concept.
b. The Character’s Journey.
c. The Actor Attractors for this character.
3. BRAINSTORM THESE PROFILE COMPONENTS FOR EACH CHARACTER:
7. Character Subtext.
8. Character Intrigue.
9. Flaw.
10. Values.
11. Character Dilemma.
ASSIGNMENT .#2 and #3 above.
LEAD CHARACTER: LOU TASCA (PROTAGONIST).
a. The High Concept.
Lou is a slain gangster who cannot move on to the world to come except if he rectifies his wrongs with an extreme right and good, namely, returning to gangland and persuading his killer (Carlo) to quit the mob, flip, and join the Witness Protection Program.
b. The Character’s Journey.
Lou has initial misgivings about returning to gangland to convince his killer (Carlo Vizzini) to quit the mob (he’d rather take revenge) but after a dangerous situation he partly caused that threatens Carlo by his crew’s boss (Tony Rizzo) he earnestly mounts his task to persuade him to quit the mob and genuinely cares about his well-being, following the guidance of his Spirit Guide, Rabbi Solomon Levinsky..
c. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. Role in the story.
Lou is the lead character
2. Age range and description.
Lou is in his late-50’s. He has a casual tough gangster manner although he is well dressed and groomed. His gangster tough talk and manner are worse than his bite.
3. Core traits.
Bewildered by his afterlife situation and his mission re: Carlo (his killer).
Personable.
Capable of growth.
4. Motivation: wants/need.
To talk Carlo into quitting the mob which is Lou’s ticket to the World to Come.
5. Wound
That he was murdered by a friend (Carlo) on orders from their boss (Tony Rizzo) and
initially wants revenge, gangland-style..
Lou once loved a woman who rejected him because he would not leave ‘the life’ of the Cosa Nostra.
Was once passed over for the promotion to Underboss. But coped with this by
counting it as a blessing in disaquise considering the frequent turnover of Underbosses due to gang violence.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy.
Likability:
Lou’s bewilderment in the afterlife makes him likeable. Who wouldn’t be
bewildered?
The incongruence of a gangster teamed with a Rabbi is funny and so is their interaction throughout the story. They are an ‘odd couple.’
Relatability:
Considering it’s the disposition of his own soul for good or ill, who hasn’t raised that question about themselves?
, Empathy:
He lost the love of his life (Marybeth) because he didn’t leave the mob. .
His predicament in the story is that he is stuck and can’t get out and into the World to Come unless Carlo turns himself over to the Feds.
PART II BRAINSTORM 7-11.
7. Character Subtext.
Lou Tasca hates that he was shot by a fellow wiseguy (Carlo Vizzini) on orders from their boss (Tony Rizzo) because he didn’t want to pay back the $200,000 he owed Lou in gambling debts.
He is further resentful of the fact that because of his life of crime he cannot go to the World to Come.
Lou has to fight his urge to seek revenge on Carlo whom he must persuade to quit the mob – if he can do that, he redeems himself and can enter the World to come.
Lou also resents this mission to save Carlo for another reason:
Lou feels hopeless because he believes it is next to impossible to persuade a another wiseguy (Carlo) to quit the mob and ‘turn rat’ as all wiseguys are all riveted to the oath they took of Omerta (silence).
He is overwhelmed by the demand of Solomon to spirit-possess Carlo and he is
impatient with the Rabbi’s ‘how-to.’
8. Character Intrigue.
Lou Tasca is almost 60. How did he last so long in the Mafia?
He was denied admission to the World to Come because of his life of crime. What was that criminal life?
Lou had been a truck-hijacker and a loan shark.
Yet, he was a volunteer at St. Anthony’s Church.
He did do some good: He donated Turkeys to a Homeless Shelter for Thanksgiving and helped a neighbor with the rent, but Rabbi Solomon reminds Lou: that he stole the turkeys from a truck he had hijacked and he made the Landlord “an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
9. Flaw.
He was so stuck on the mob lifestyle that he lost the love of his life and eventually lost his life.
He feels hopeless but Rabbi Solomon tries to teach him away from hopelessness by hope and faith.
He transcends his hopelessness:
He says to Carlo: I was stuck in ‘the life’ like you. It cost me the love of my life.
and my life.
Carlo: I said I was sorry. I was ordered by Tony to –
Lou: I understand. But now Tony’s gunning for you because of your drug
dealing and he thinks you’re crazy because you talk about how you are
haunted by me. Be smart. Do what I should have done, quit the mob. Flip and the Feds will protect you in the Witness Protection Program. Believe me. Do that, and you won’t lose Sherrie the way I lost Marybeth.
10. Values.
Loyalty to the mob and Don Primo Giordano were his first loyalities during his
Life, NOW, in this new life after life, his loyalty becomes fixed on Rabbi
Solomon, his guidance, his teaching, to such an extent that when he successfully
get’s Carlo (and Sam, and even Tony) to get into witness protection, he’d like to
team up again with Solomon and do the same thing for some other wiseguy.
11. Character Dilemma.
He wants to get into the World to Come but is still stuck on gangster culture and the criminality that prevents him from getting into the World to Come.
It would take a major transformation to transcend his dilemma, so, he has Rabbi Solomon Levinsky to guide him though his transformation and transition away from crime and into being a ‘good mensch’ in doing good for others, especially Carlo.
LEAD CHARACTER: RABBI SOLOMON LEVINSKY (PROTAGONIST).
a. The High Concept.
Lou Tasca is a slain gangster who cannot move on to the world to come except if he rectifies his wrongs with an extreme right and good, namely, returning to gangland and persuading his killer (Carlo) to quit the mob, flip, and join the Witness Protection Program.
b. The Character’s Journey.
Rabbi Solomon Levinsky is annoyed but patient with Lou’s gangster manner and
failure to comprehend the profound mission they must accomplish. However,
throughout the story he and Lou grow in their partnership and achieve their goal of
talking Carlo.into quiting the mob and turning state’s evidence and joining the
Witness Protection Program and taking his friend Sam (the Rabbi’s son) along with
him.
c. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. Role in the story.
Solomon is the spirit guide for Lou in the hereafter and his ‘coach’ who guides Lou in accomplishing the mission of his talking Carlon and the Rabbi’s son (Sam) into quiting the mob.
2. Age range and description.
Solomon is in his late 60’s-early 70’s. In contrast to Lou he is well-dressed and more formal and firm of manner, as befits a Rabbi. He is a devout Jew and wears a traditional Kippah (skullcap).
3. Core traits.
Patient with Lou and determined to accomplish the mission.
Professional and rabbinical but approachable.
4. Motivation: wants/need.
He wants Lou to talk Carlo into quiting the mob which will get Lou into the world to come
Solomon also wants the collateral good of getting Carlo’s friend and Solomon’s son, Sam, to join Carlo and quit the mob. i.
5. Wound
That when he found out his son had become a gangster, he disinherited him, sat
Shivah and went to his grave having never talked with his son again. And wants very much to talk with him again – he does.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy.
Likability:
He is admirable.
He is a commanding presence that earns respect.
He is a kind and good man who believes in healing a broken world.
He is versed in rabbinical learning and Kabballah (Jewish mysticism) and knows how to apply them in this story, without being ‘preachy’
He is an inspiration.
His rabbinical manner contrasts with the gangster behavior and speech of Lou, whom he guides (not an easy task). They are an ‘odd couple.’
Relatability:
In spite of his principled raising of his son in Judaism, he is heartbroken when he sees his son (Sam) abandon his religion and become an associate of the Giordano crime family.
He reaches out from the Afterlife because he wants to save his son from a life of crime, even to the point of not just asking, but demanding God’s help..
, Empathy:
Heartbroken for his son already, he is horrified when he sees his son (Sam) in the act of committing a crime when he corners Carlo in order to kill him on orders from their boss, Tony Rizzo, who also had ordered “Carlo to murder Lou Tasca..
He rejoices in the end with his and Lou’s success in getting Carlo and Sam to quit the mob.
BRAINSTORM THESE PROFILE COMPONANTS FOR EACH CHARACTEER:
7. Character Subtext.
Is annoyed but patient with Lou with his dismal outlook on everything and his continuing gangster manner. But still patiently guides Lou into a spirituality in which he empathizes with Carlo and others and loses his desire for revenge and becomes a worthy “mensch.” .
8. Character Intrigue.
Solomon came from a devout Jewish family which still produced a gangster, namely, Solomon’s Uncle Max who was in the gang led by Mayer Lansky that protected Jewish community from American Nazis, cracked Nazi akulla at their rally at Madison Square Garden in ‘39 and later joined Longie Zwillman smuggling arms to the Haganah to protect Jews in Palestine from Arab and British abuses.
Although Solomon demanded that the aging gangster Uncle Max stay away from son (Sam),, Sam still comes to regard Max as a hero which sparks Sam’s interest in gangster life.
9. Flaw.
Too strict for his own and Sam’s good.
10. Values.
His Jewish faith and it’s Kabbalah (mysticism).
11. Character Dilemma.
He is not supposed to share Kabbalah with someone like Lou, but he does, even to the extent that he teaches him to spirit-possess Carlo.
LEAD CHARACTER: TONY RIZZO (ANTAGONIST).
a. The High Concept.
Lou Tasca is a slain gangster who cannot move on to the world to come except if he rectifies his wrongs with an extreme right and good, namely, returning to gangland and persuading his killer (Carlo) to quit the mob, flip, and join the Witness protectioin Program.
b. The Character’s Journey.
Tony Rizzo is the mob boss who ordered Carlo Vizzini to murder Lou Tasca. He is a leader in the Giordano Crime Family, i.e., a Capo or Captain of a crew of soldiers which included Lou, Carlo and Sam (Solomon’s son). Tony (rightly) suspects Carlo and Sam of dealing drugs – punishable by death in La Cosa Nostra with the responsibility to execute falling upon Tony. He also believes Carlo is hallucinating when he goes into a paroxysms over his claim to have seen the ghost of Lou Tasca – also requiring execution because an insane gangster may reveal mob secrets. Tony had ordered Lou’s assassination ostensibly because Lou had been spilling Giordano family secrets to members of other crime families (no true), however, the real reason is that Tony owed Lou $200,000 in gambling debts which he did not want to pay. If he has Carlo and Sam killed that would end Carlo and Rabbi Solomon’s mission in failure to save Carlo and Sam. So the race is on against the antagonism of Tony Rizzo. However, in the end, under arrest and facing a long stretch in prison, Tony also flips and joins Carlo and Sam in quitting the mob and joining the Witness Protection Program, realizing it will also benefit his family.
c. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. Role in the story.
Tony is the antagonist who plots to kill Carlo and Sam which would have the effect of nullifying Solomon and Lou’s mission of talking Carlo and Sam into quitting the mob.
2. Age range and description.
Tony is mid-40’s. He is casually dressed and dangerous – a killer. His gangster tough talk and manner is just as bad as his bite.
3. Core traits.
Fear and suspicion..
Taste for violence..
Admires the rebel-mobster “Crazy Joe” Gallo, he even “dresses like Gallo, flamboyant gangster noir, i.e., black shirt, white tie, black jacket and hat..
4. Motivation: wants/need.
To hide his real reason for ordering Carlo to kill Lou, i.e;, because he didn’t want to pay the gambling debt he owed Lou of $200,000.
To get rid of Carlo and Sam for dealing drugs and killing Carlo also because Tony believes Carlo exhibits insanity in his claims to be haunted by the ghost of Lou Tasca and a “nut like that could draw heat from the cops. Or could rat to the cops, if arrested.
5. Wound
He was not promoted to Underboss in the Giordano family, which he had expected as a reward for his loyaty. Underboss is the Number two man in the family after Don Primo Giordano.
He has alcohol and gambling addictions.
He has a son who is paraplegic.
Has a bad relationship with his wife.
He has a clumsily furtive sexual relationship with one of his strippers at his front business, “Tony’s Playhouse Gentlemen’s Club.”
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy.
Likability:
He keeps a mistress on the side which his wife suspects and they have arguments over it, even though it is obvious to his wife, he attempts clumsy ways of trying to deny it to her.
Relatability:
He cares about his paraplegic son and does not want the Mafia life for any of his children.
Empathy:
His having a paraplegic son evokes sympathy/empathy.
Tony has been a loyal, good earner to his boss, Don Primo, chief of the Giordano crime family, and yet his boss not only does not promote him to Underboss, but Tony learns that Don Primo regards Tony as a trigger-happy high risk. Tony copes with this treatment by Don Primo by planning to start his own family, which is hard to do with the ever diminishing members in his small crew, i.e., already, Lou Tasca, and as he plans, Carlo and Sam..
3. BRAINSTORM THESE PROFILE COMPONANTS FOR EACH CHARACTEER:
7. Character Subtext.
Tony is adrenaline-driven by Suspicion and fear.
Tony is fearful of being discovered, by his crew for he real reason he ordered the assassination of Lou Tasca. Fearful for himself, as he suspects Carlo and Sam of drug dealing that would draw heat from the Police, as will Carlo whom he suspects of insanity with his talking openly about having seen the ghost of Lou Tasca.
Tony also fears that his wife will find out that he keeps a mistress (one of the strippers at his Playhouse Gentlemen’s Club.
8. Character Intrigue.
He’s a killer. Will he kill Carlo and Sam before Lou can talk them into entering Witness Protection?
He has a lucrative partnership in gasoline bootlegging with Russian mobster Oleg Oransky (“The Czar of Brighton Beach”).
9. Flaw.
His vices are sex, alcohol, and gambling addictions. Craves money and power.
10. Values.
Loyalty to his crime family and his personal family.
11. Character Dilemma.
He is disillusioned about loyalty to his boss, Don Primo Giordano, when he loses the loyalty of his boss he renounces his own loyalty, turns traitor, and conspires to form his own Cosa Nostra Family and demand the loyalty of his family members.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Robert Smith. Reason: Typos
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Micki’s Character Profiles Part 2
My vision: Be recognized as a writer that will work with the industry and would do what it takes to be that WRITER.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that well developed characters draw actors, producers, directors and importantly, the audience to the movie. Each assignment has put a layer to the characters’ profiles.
Lead Character Name: DAKOTA TANNER
Role: Protagonist
The High Concept: She wants to end the feud while locked up in the attic. She tells her sister why and doesn’t care if she approves or not.
This character’s journey:.To marry the man of her life and end the feud with her sister.
The Actor Attractors for this character:.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
This is a teacher that loves and puts others before herself. She has a chance at happiness when she ends the feud with her sister.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She is easy going until you get her pissed off. Keeping a secret from her younger sister.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
The realization that she has to fight for her happiness and for the man she loves. She tries to end the feud with her sister.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Rides on a motorcycle with her man and is cool as a cucumber around her sister.
What could be this character’s emotional range?
Nice, friendly, to outrage anger.
What subtext can the actor play?
She is keeping the fact that she is marrying her high school sweetheart, the person that her sister caused a break-up with.
What’s the most interesting relationship this character can have?
John Grant, he knows Dakota wants peace between her sister.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Love for her family, anger, and finally happiness.
What could make this character special and unique?
She deeply cares for her sister and her family. With the understanding that she deserves to be happy and have joy in her life.
Role in the Story: Protagonist- she wants to end the feud and marries the man of her dreams.
Age range and Description: She’s in her late twenties-early thirties, dresses casual, messy bun, with a small heart inked on her left shoulder.
Core Traits:
Intelligent
Sassy
Lovable
Secretive
Motivation; She is tired of the feud and resilience of being jealous of her sister. She wants a husband also to have her own children.
Want: Be happy
Need: To end the feud to be happy.
Wound: Her broken heart
Likability: She cares for her sister, always protecting her.
Relatability: We all have one sibling we try to protect from the harsh world.
Empathy: We see the struggle she has with her own wants.
Character Subtext:
She doesn’t want to go on in life with the joy of a family.
Character Intrigue:
Secret: Hides the engagement ring
Deception: Plans on being lock up in the attic
Flaw:
Afraid of hurting her sister’s feelings.
Values:
Love and family
Character Dilemma:
Staying quiet versus center of attention
Lead Character Name: BLAKE RILEY
Role: Antagonist
The High Concept:. Blake lives an unhappy life with her husband and children because she believes she settled just to be married.
This character’s journey: She wants her sister, Dakota, to be miserable for the rest of her life. She is jealous and hurtful.
The Actor Attractors for this character.:
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
That she is a spit-fire with anger issues against her sister for stealing her guy during high school. She breaks them up so she can have him, which backfires on her.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
The irony is that she is married with three children and is unhappy with her life, even though her family lives comfortably where she gets to stay at home.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
She gets locked up in the attic with her sister and they argue and have a physical fight. And finds out her sister has kept a secret from her.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
She and her sister race to the house as they did when they were kids. While her family watches and shakes their heads. .
What could be this character’s emotional range?
Brat to anger to accept her life.
What subtext can the actor play?
She wants the feud to keep going because she is upset that she settled.
What’s the most interesting relationship(s) this character can have?
Her sister, Dakota and high school crush, John, and her husband, Will Riley
How will this character’s unique voice be present?
By being sniding, controlling through caring that she can muster up.
What could make this character special and unique?
Her dramatic high school scheming to get what she wants.
Role in the Story: Antagonist – she wants to keep the feud going.
Age range and Description: She is two years younger than Dakota. She has the latest hairstyle and makeup and clothing.
Core Traits:
Lovable
Angry
My way or the highway
Manipulative
Motivation: Her anger towards Dakota keeps her happy
Want: Keep the feud going.
Need: Understanding why the feud must keep going.
Wound: Misunderstanding
Likability: She thinks she did the right thing
Relatability: We all have that one sibling that does mean things and accepts them.
Empathy: She wants love and doesn’t realize she has it with her husband and children.
Character Subtext:
She knows why John broke up with Dakota and she is quite proud of it
Character Intrigue:
Hidden agenda: she wrote the letter in hopes John would be hers.
Flaw:
Say the wrong thing at the right opportunity.
Values:
Ambitious, pettiness, and selfish
Character Dilemma:
Center of attention versus staying quiet
Lead Character Name: JOHN GRANT
Role: TRIANGLE
The High Concept: A biker who wants to marry his high school sweetheart and tries to make peace with the sisters.
This character’s journey: He will get married to his gal of his dreams.
The Actor Attractors for this character:
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A man that loves his high school sweetheart and likes his bike (motorcycle), athletic built, with some tats.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
His quick wit and laughter
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
He will bring some wit and dry humor while trying to end the feud
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
He rides a bike and has a good sense of humor.
What could be this character’s emotional range?
Happiness, understanding and joy
What subtext can the actor play?
His patience between the sisters and their family.
What’s the most interesting relationship(s) this character can have?
Dakota, his love interest, her sister, Blake and her family
How will this character’s unique voice be present?
Through his laughter, his actions and emotions.
What could make this character special and unique?
His sense of humor and love
Role in the Story: He is the triangle
Age range and Description: Same age as Dakota, rugged outdoor type of guy with some inks and rides a bike.
Core Traits:
Humor
Honest
Slow to anger
Easy going
Motivation: To bring the sisters back together and marries one of them.
Want: Dakota
Need: Dakota
Wound: He broke her heart once and vowed not to break her heart again.
Likability: He wants to bring peace to his love.
Relatability: We were all there with broken hearts and didn’t understand why it happened.
Empathy: He truly loves Dakota.
Character Subtext:
He wants peace between the feuding sisters, though he was lied to.
Character Intrigue:
Conspiracy: he’s the one that locks the sisters up.
Flaw:
Love for Dakota
Values:
Honesty, love, family
Character Dilemma:
Follow his heart versus letting someone lie to him
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Veronica Turowski’s Character Profiles Part 2
My Vision: I want to be a successful writer who writes several scripts a year and sells them to producers who are eager to make my vision a reality by bringing my scripts to completion so everyone can watch my movies on the big screen.
Protagonist: Eppsa Kestner
The High Concept: Eppsa is a ghost who must find and stop a serial killer, only to discover the serial killer is her son.
This character’s journey: Eppsa, who doesn’t know she is a ghost, goes from depressed and mourning to having the courage to hunt down a serial killer. In the end, she learns she is a ghost, her son is the serial killer, and she kills Hayden to stop the serial killer cycle.
The Actor Attractors for this character: Eppsa is a ghost but doesn’t know it. She goes from depressed to anxious and determined to angry. Eppsa doesn’t realize that when she gets mad, things around her move. Eppsa discovers her son is a serial killer, and she kills him for justice.
Role in the Story: Eppsa is determined to save her son from a serial killer. When she discovers he’s the serial killer, she kills him for the justice of his victims.
Age range and Description: Eppsa (40), a desperate woman who looks like she just came from a funeral, runs down the ER hallway.
Core Traits: (Former nurse) A Ghost – Moody, Afraid, In Denial, Courageous
Motivation:
Wants: To find and save her son.
Needs: To kill him.
Wound: She was traumatized by her own death and doesn’t remember that she was killed by her serial killer husband. Also, just before her husband killed her in a murder-suicide, she learned her son was taking after his dad.
Likability: Eppsa is helpful and caring. She wants to protect her son and others from possibly becoming victims of the serial killer.
Relatability: She loves her family.
Empathy: She is a widow and is still looking for her son, who ran away years ago.
Character Subtext:
Subtext Identity: Eppsa is afraid to remember she was killed by her serial killer husband and that her son was following in his father’s footsteps.
Subtext Traits: Loving, Moody, Afraid, In Denial
Subtext Logline: Eppsa is tracking down a serial killer who ends up being her son.
Possible Areas of Subtext: She subconsciously knows she was murdered by her husband but is afraid to remember. She is apprehensive about talking to Lonnie since he’s a ghost. She wants to help Lonnie find his killer. She is worried her son will get murdered since his high school friends are being targeted. She still grieves for her husband. She grieves for her missing son. She feels compelled to find the serial killer to help save people from being murdered.
Character Intrigue:
Unspoken Wound: She was traumatized by her own death and doesn’t remember that she was killed by her serial killer husband. Also, just before her husband killed her in a murder-suicide, she learned her son was taking after his dad.
Secret Identity: She is a ghost but doesn’t know it.
Eppsa is curious about death and what’s it like on the other side. She is compelled to help Lonnie. Hearing about suicide brings her to tears or makes her mad that someone took their own life because life is to be cherished. She wonders why people don’t take her seriously when talking to them. She kills Hayden by making it look like he committed suicide.
Flaw: Can’t face reality.
Values: She loves her family.
Character Dilemma: She wants to believe her son is good but knows he is a serial killer.
Antagonist: Hayden Kestner
The High Concept: Hyden is a serial killer and doesn’t know he is being hunted by his mom, who is a ghost.
This character’s journey: Hayden is a serial killer who drives an ice cream truck. He is killed by his mom.
The Actor Attractors for this character: Hayden dotes on his family and enjoys being the ice cream man. But his greatest joy comes from killing his old high school friends who betrayed him. He will be killed by his mother.
Role in the Story: Hayden is an ice cream man who loves his family. He is killing his old high school friends whom he felt betrayed him. He is being hunted by his ghost mother, who will kill him in the end.
Age range and Description: Hayden (28) pulls down his sleeve to hide his stitches when he grabs an ice cream to serve ice cream to a young customer.
Core Traits: Serial Killer – Charming, Intellectual, Persuasive, Sadistic
Motivation:
Wants: To be a good role model for his son.
Needs: To kill his old classmates who he believes turned on him.
Wound: His dad was a serial killer. He was told by his dad that it runs in the family.
Likability: He loves his wife and son. Hayden is great with children.
Relatability: Hayden was bullied as a teen.
Empathy: He’s good to his wife and son.
Character Subtext:
Subtext Identity: A serial killer who takes after his dad.
Subtext Traits: Charming, Intellectual, Persuasive, Sadistic
Subtext Logline: Hayden is murdering his old friends who betrayed him in high school.
Possible Areas of Subtext: Hayden is a charming ice cream man and also helps at a homeless shelter. He uses his ice cream truck to store and transport bodies (easy to get into neighborhoods without drawing attention like a burglar). He kills a food truck inspector who discovers a body. Hayden makes his victims look like they committed suicide.
Character Intrigue:
Hidden agendas: Kill his high school friends who turned against him when they found out he killed someone and tried to have him arrested.
Secret Identity: He’s a serial killer.
His family adores him, and the staff at the homeless shelter has given him awards. He uses the ice cream truck as a guise to drive through neighborhoods without suspicion. When he killed Lonnie, he almost got caught by a churchgoer. He was treated in the hospital because he slashed his wrist to make it look like Lonnie cut him. He lied and said he was trying to save Lonnie. He’s murdered 3 friends and has 4 more to kill.
Flaw: Cruel to those who betrayed him
Values: Family, Power, Loyalty
Character Dilemma: Retaliates against high school friends versus forgiving them.
Triangle: Lonnie Dowic
The High Concept: Lonnie, one of Hayden’s victims, manipulates Eppsa into finding and stopping Hayden from killing anyone else, so both can pass over.
This character’s journey: Lonnie dies at the hands of Hayden. He helps Eppsa find and stop Hayden from killing by having her kill him.
The Actor Attractors for this character: Lonnie is a ghost and knows that Eppsa is a ghost. He is funny and must find a way to manipulate Eppsa to kill her son.
Role in the Story: A ghost who convinces Eppsa to find and kill Hayden.
Age range and Description: Lonnie (30) closes the Bible at his desk in his church office. Arms wrap around him and stab him in the chest.
OR
Lonnie (30) looks out of place in his polo shirt, slacks, and socks, as he exits an ER room. He pauses, glances up and down the hall, and vanishes.
Core Traits: (Former Minister) A Ghost – Witty, Moralistic, Fearful, Sneaky
Motivation:
Wants: Revenge and to pass over.
Needs: To convince Eppsa to kill Hayden so he and Eppsa can pass over.
Wound: Was killed by Hayden.
Likability: He’s a minister.
Relatability: Even though he’s a ghost, he still wants to help people.
Empathy: He was murdered.
Character Subtext:
Subtext Identity: Lonnie must stop Hayden from killing so he can pass over.
Subtext Traits: Witty, Moralistic, Fearful, Sneaky
Subtext Logline: Lonnie, one of Hayden’s victims, manipulates Eppsa so she can find and stop Hayden from killing anyone else.
Possible Areas of Subtext: Lonnie was a preacher. He’s terrified when he dies. Lonnie lightens the mood around Eppsa to keep her from being depressed. He manipulates Eppsa into finding and killing Hayden.
Character Intrigue:
Hidden agenda: He must help Eppsa stop Hayden before revealing to her she’s a ghost.
Secrets: He knows that Hayden is the serial killer but can’t reveal it to Eppsa because it would traumatize her, and she would never be able to pass over. Lonnie needs to get her to discover the truth about Hayden’s identity so she can stop him.
One of Hayden’s friends finally confesses to his minister, Lonnie, that Hayden made someone kill themselves when they were teens. Lonnie was going to tell the police about Hayden murdering someone when Hayden killed him. Lonnie tells Eppsa the name of each person Hayden will murder as soon as he learns himself. He can’t see into the future who Hayden is going to kill. Lonnie is only able to know the next victim when Hayden decides.
Flaw: Angry and Impatient. Lonnie is frustrated that he can’t do much to help Eppsa so their spirits can move on.
Values: God and High moral standards
Character Dilemma: Get Eppsa to kill Hayden, or he’ll never find peace and go to Heaven.
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Jeffrey Alan Chase’s Lesson 7 – Character Profiles Part 2
My vision: I am the best screenwriter I can be – an “A” list writer who is praised for high concept ideas, great execution, a string of successful movies and is always ready to share his knowledge and do what he can to help another writer on the way up.
What I learned from doing this assignment is: How much delving into your character’s profile helps to open them up like a can of fruit cocktail so I can see what’s inside. Surprised myself that what I thought I knew about my characters was only on the surface and not deep down.
Title: Shards
High Concept Logline: A woman with no childhood memory is involved in a cat and mouse game with a cunning hypnotist, not knowing the man is responsible for both her amnesia and the death of her treasure hunter father.(Young Sarah is introduced first in a flashback so I want to dive into her profile before the other characters to make sure that the audience is connected to her.)
YOUNG SARAH:
A. The High Concept: A 6-year-old girl is involved in a cat and mouse game with a cunning hypnotist who has all the answers.
B. This character’s journey: From insecure, spunky know-it-all to self-assured kid at peace with herself. (The journey is a bit tricky because all young Sarah’s scenes are shown as flashback memories.)
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: A breakout role for a talented, precocious 6-year-old actress.7. Character Subtext: has several secrets she won’t share with older Sarah or March.
8. Character Intrigue: competition with older Sarah to show her there are 3 versions of the truth.
9. Flaw: overconfidence – feels she’s capable of doing anything, which gets her in trouble.
10. Values: family – to always be with her father.
11. Character Dilemma: Independence vs need to be loved. Young Sarah wants to go and do what she wants. But by disobeying her father, she isolates herself from his love and comfort.OLDER SARAH:
A. The High Concept: A 26-year-old woman with amnesia is involved in a cat and mouse game with a cunning hypnotist who has all the answers.
B. This character’s journey: From introverted and fearful with low self-esteem to confident, outgoing, and totally self-assured.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: Sarah is a multi-faceted character with wide emotional range and must possess a tough physicality. Think Sally Hawkins, Keira Knightley, Anna Kendrick.7. Character Subtext: afraid to say what she remembers, hiding she feels responsible for her father’s murder.
8. Character Intrigue: Unspoken wound: Wound: Sarah feels she is responsible for the death of her father in the desert 20 years ago.
9. Flaw: cannot face her greatest fears
10. Values: Family – her father was the most important person in her life and maybe love someday.
11. Character Dilemma: Knowledge vs Ignorance – Sarah desperately wants to find where and how her father died but if she does, she may discover that that she was responsible for his death.JAMES MARCH
A. The High Concept: A cunning hypnotist manipulates the memories of a young woman to learn the location of a lost treasure cave.
B. This character’s journey: From sophisticated, wise and helpful guru to psychopath who – as he falls into the depths of insanity – will kill anyone and stop at nothing to get what he wants.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: Wide emotional range and ability to play different physical appearances. Half of March’s scenes will be as the same man but with a much different look twenty years in the past. Think Stanley Tucci.7. Character Subtext: withholding the fact that he killed Sarah’s father and tried to kill her 20 years ago, being polite to cover his tracks, plotting to learn the location of the cave and that he’ll kill Sarah when he does.
8. Character Intrigue: Secret agendas (manipulate Sarah’s memories) and deception.
9. Flaw: Overconfidence – March feels he’s smarter than everyone else.
10. Values: Fame and winning at all costs.
11. Character Dilemma: Desire (want) vs need – He wants to play it safe and life will be boring and sane vs he needs to allow his greed and psychopath tendencies to regain control over him in order to feel a complete human being once again. (Yeah, he’s really screwed.)JOHNNY BENALLI
A. The High Concept: A Navajo guide leads a woman with amnesia and her hypnotist into the desert to search for lost treasure only to find himself entangled in their psychological struggle and a battle for life and death.
B. This character’s journey: From self-doubt and unsure about his future to confident and at peace with which path to take the rest of his life.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: The role of Johnny is a spiritually led, multi-faceted character who has strong physical abilities and powerful convictions buried under a ton of emotional baggage, the role has a wide emotional range, a touch of subtle comedy and, heart-felt inner turmoil.
7. Character Subtext: hiding that he found Sarah after she’d been thrown off the cliff and witnessed March’s struggle to survive in the desert 20 years ago.
8. Character Intrigue:
Competition: In a sub textualized power struggle with March over how best to treat Sarah.
Conspiracies: Johnny doesn’t know that the Shaman and his father, the Chief of Police, set Johnny up to be laid off and then act as a trail guide when March and Sarah trek into the desert. Shaman and Johnny’s father want to see which path Johnny will take: to become Shaman or continue in law enforcement.
Secrets: Johnny and Sarah knew each other as kids.
9. Flaw: undervalues himself – feels he is a poor lawman and would make a lousy Shaman.
10. Values: Duty to the tribal police and the tribe itself as its Shaman. Loyalty to keep a promise AND honesty to confess late in the film to Sarah and March that he’s kept secrets about them for 20 years.
11. Character Dilemma: Desire vs Duty and Expectation – to continue seeking his life-long dream of being a police officer or give up his dream and become the new tribal Shaman. -
Bobby’s Great Character Profiles Part 2!
What I learned doing this assignment was… a reminder of just how key these steps are in turning an IDEA into something real, by turning “characters” into human beings I care about!
MY VISION: A writing life that is mine to do with as I please. Independently wealthy, always creatively engaged, sought after, and utterly fulfilled.
MOVIE: JASON VS THE ZOMBIES
ROLE: Jason (Protagonist)
HIGH CONCEPT:
A tormented, aspiring serial killer is forced to join forces with the bullies that were his intended victims, when the cabin they’re partying in is attacked by zombies from the nearby Civil War graveyard.
CHARACTER JOURNEY:
Jason goes from an angry outcast hell-bent on revenge, to an inspired leader who saves the day.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS:
Going from zero to hero
a serial killer wanna-be as the romantic lead??
Having to hide his earlier intentions as he joins forces – and starts to feel included – with his HS bulliesPROFILE PART 2:
CHARACTER SUBTEXT:
Hiding Something: The fact that he came here to kill them! Also….
Secret: His shame at the way his father treats him – a secret even from himself
INTRIGUE:
Unspoken Wound: His own father thinks the bullies are right – he should be abused. Jason is in a constant battle not to believe that.
Secret Identity: The Avenger! Jason sees himself as setting the universe aright
Hidden Agenda: To win back Viola
FLAW:
Cowardice: Jason has run from confrontation his whole life. The dichotomy between “Dream Jason” (hero/man of action/avenging killer) and “Reality Jason” (who retreats and hides every time)
VALUES:
Strength: Jason sees power as the “cure-all” for his problems. Strength = Dominance (his arc lies in a reassessment of what true strength is)
INTERNAL DILEMMA:
Conquering vs Being Accepted: Jason sees “destroying his enemies” as the only way out – but what he really wants is to be accepted
ROLE: Hack (Antagonist)
CHARACTER JOURNEY:
Hack goes from an outcast hiding “in plain sight” as the “clown” of the group, to a sociopath who embraces his role as a destroyer
ACTOR ATTRACTORS:
Becoming the embodiment of evil
A terrifying glee at chaos and murderPROFILE PART 2:
CHARACTER SUBTEXT:
Manipulating/Plotting: Hack does what he does in order to create chaos and pain. Then he stands back and drinks it in.
INTRIGUE:
Hidden Agenda/Deception: See “plotting” above for agenda, and he tries to pit friends against each other whenever possible
Secret Identity: An amoral sociopath
Competition: Always trying to come out on top in comparison to Derek
FLAW:
Emotional Emptiness: Since Hack doesn’t understand emotions, he ultimately underestimates the possibility of Jason and Derek joining forces/making amends and working together. This of course leads to
Overconfidence: he sees humans as animals, easy to control and manipulate. We are more than that.
VALUES:
Power/Victory: Coming out on top. Hack wants to conquer – like Jason without a conscience.
INTERNAL DILEMMA:
Dominance vs Abandonment: The more Hack isolates himself, the angrier he gets at his isolation, creating an endless loop of escalating attacks, until he DECIDES to abandon humanity altogether.
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Leona Heraty’s Character Profiles Part 2
My Vision: To be the best family comedy screenwriter in the industry and have my screenplays produced into fabulous movies, making audiences laugh a lot and making me independently wealthy!
What I learned from doing this assignment is…With my character profile list complete for the main characters, my character are coming alive and they are fun characters who I would like to meet and I hope the audience will too!
Title: Termo-Lytes Attack!
Genre: Comedy (Sci-fi)
Concept: A teenage tour guide with an extreme fear of bugs takes a wrong turn and leads her group to an abandoned country club overrun by giant mutant termites.2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
Tara: Protagonist
The High Concept: A teenage tour guide with an extreme fear of bugs takes a wrong turn and leads her group to an abandoned country club overrun by giant mutant termites.
This character’s journey: Tara starts out with no sense of direction, lack of confidence, cowardly and an extreme fear of bugs and ends up with a new sense of direction, boosted confidence, courageous, and no more extreme fear of bugs.
The Actor Attractors for this character: Tara is kind, silly, a scaredy cat, overly afraid of bugs, but gains confidence and stands up to the bully and fights back and becomes courageous.
Big Betty: Antagonist (The Biggest of the Termo-Lytes/The Queen Termo-Lyte)
The High Concept: A teenage tour guide with an extreme fear of bugs takes a wrong turn and leads her group to an abandoned country club overrun by giant mutant termites.This character’s journey: Big Betty starts out faking sweetness and concern for the lost tour group, and gains their trust, especially Tara’s trust, and ends up showing her true colors: a vicious predator with no sympathy and is a man-eater.
The Actor Attractors for this character: Big Betty can really turn on the charm and act sweet and kind and smile and change colors as she becomes nice, and even laughs…she ends up showing her true nature: she changes to an angry bug with a deep evil laugh and she shows no concern for anyone and she’s evil and devious.
Davy: Triangle
The High Concept: A teenage tour guide with an extreme fear of bugs takes a wrong turn and leads her group to an abandoned country club overrun by giant mutant termites.
This character’s journey: Davy starts out as a needy pest and selfish and self-centered to no longer a pest, more giving and willing to help others and not so needy.The Actor Attractors for this character: Davy is super smart, pushy, funny, tries to be fearless, even when he’s afraid, but hides his sadness over his parents not spending enough time with him.
3. Brainstorm these profile components for each character.
Tara: Protagonist
Character Profiles, Part 27. Character Subtext:
Secret: Tara got lost in a corn maze as a kid and her legs was covered with termites.8. Character Intrigue:
Unspoken Wound: Her legs were covered in termites as a kid.9. Flaw:
Cowardice: Tara is extremely afraid of bugs and she tells herself she has no sense of direction without GPS on her cell phone.10. Values:
Family: Tara loves her Mom and Dad and extended family.11. Character Dilemma:
Winner Vs. Loser: Tara is a winner as a straight-A student but she feels like a loser because of her lack of a sense of direction and her extreme fear of bugs.
Big Betty: Antagonist (The Biggest of the Termo-Lytes/The Queen Termo-Lyte)
Character Profiles, Part 2
7. Character Subtext:
Lying: Big Betty lies when she says she won’t try to harm Tara and her group. She lies when she says she only eats wood and plants.
8. Character Intrigue:
Unspoken Wound: Big Betty is still hurt and angry about ancient man who wiped out the Termo-Lytes 5,000 years ago with pesticides.9. Flaw:
Overconfidence: Big Betty tends to brag about her abilities and this is her downfall because she thinks she can outsmart Tara and the group.10. Values:
Family: Big Bertha is the Queen of the Termo-Lytes and their Mom and she dotes on them constantly.11. Character Dilemma:
Excitement Vs. Safety: Big Betty loves storms and water…but it’s not safe because she or the Termo-Lytes could drown.
Davy: Triangle
Character Profiles, Part 2:7. Character Subtext:
Lying: Davy lies when he says his parents have abandoned him for the next year, when in fact, they’re on an anniversary trip for two weeks to Europe.8. Character Intrigue:
Secrets: Davy has been stealing junk food from his Grandmother’s pantry and Tara’s parents’ pantry because he doesn’t want anyone to know he has an obsession with food.9. Flaw:
Overconfidence: Davy brags about his grades, his new bike, his clothes and anything he can think of. He acts like he knows how to kill a Termo-Lyte but under pressure, at the climax, he admits he doesn’t know what would kill them.10. Values:
Family: Davy misses his parents who are in Europe and he’s clingy with his Grandmother.11. Character Dilemma:
Wanting External Admiration Vs. Loving Yourself: Davy brags about himself constantly to get praise or acknowledgment from others, but deep down inside, he feels bad about being overweight and a junk food eater.4. Add those to your Character Profile from Lesson 6.
Tara: Protagonist
Tara: Character Profiles, Part 1:1. Role in the Story: The Tour Guide without a sense of direction and an extreme fear of bugs. She takes a wrong turn and drives her group to an abandoned country club overrun with giant mutant termites. She feels responsible for bringing the group here and she must overcome her fear of the giant termites to kill them and save herself and the group.
2. Age range and Description: Kooky and attractive 18-year old who would rather watch nature shows or Shark Week than go outside and risk encountering creepy crawlies, AKA bugs, or “big swimmy things,” AKA sharks or stingrays, in the ocean.
3. Core Traits:
–Cowardly
–Kind
–Silly
–Haunted4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To kill the Termo-Lytes and survive
Need: To regain her sense of direction and get over her extreme fear of bugs.
5. Wound: Trauma from getting lost in a corn field maze as a little kid and having termites cover her shoes.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Tara puts up with Davy, the 10-year old pesty neighbor because his parents “abandoned him for the summer,” according to Davy; She tells Davy she’ll ask her Mom and Dad to buy his favorite foods, like Twinkies and Ding Dongs; she puts up with him doing a cannonball into her pool and splashing her and her best friend;
Tara only rolls her eyes and makes a face at Davy behind his back and she’s never cruel to him, only exasperated by his pushy ways; she’s kind to Big Betty and the Termo-Lytes at first, until she finds out they plan to eat her and the group!
Tara doesn’t make fun of Peg when Peg says she’s forgetful at times and it was creating the Termo-Lytes was an accident; She doesn’t make fun of Tad’s cheezy clothes and corny jokes and corniness around Peg, rather, she just watches him act cheezy and only rolls her eyes, but behind his back.
Tara’s too trusting of the Termo-Lytes and thinks the best of them at first; Tara is kind to pesty Rob; Tara gives into her parents’ request to drive the tour group on the garden tour, even though she had other plans with her friends; Tara doesn’t want to kill Queen and the Termo-Lytes…but she has to, to save her own life and the members of her tour group.
Relatability: Tara’s afraid of bugs to the extreme; she has no sense of direction and gets lost too easily and relies too much on her cell phone’s GPS; she’s struggling with trauma from the past.
Tara is a scaredy cat and avoids danger and relies on others to take charge and solve problems; she’s addicted to Cheez-Its; she still loves to climb trees at age 18; she can’t read a map and is embarrassed about it and tries to fake that she can’t read it and act like she knows where she’s going.
Empathy: Tara is petrified of bugs and jumps out of her car and climbs a tree to get away from them; She’s embarrassed that she can’t read a map and she gets lost easily and doesn’t like to go far from home.
Tara shares her story with tour group about getting lost in the corn maze as a kid and having her feet covered with termites; Tara is in peril when Queen turns on her and the group and tries to eat them; Tara gets hurt fighting Queen and Termo-Lytes;
Tara cries and says she’s petrified of bugs, and the Termo-Lytes are 10 feet tall and “getting big with each bite,” Tara gets lost in the maze of underground speakeasy tunnels at the country club and she gets scared and tries to hide; Tara and her group are throw in a pot for Queen and the Termo-Lytes “dinner special.”
Tara: Character Profiles, Part 2
7. Character Subtext:
Secret: Tara got lost in a corn maze as a kid and her legs was covered with termites.8. Character Intrigue:
Unspoken Wound: Her legs were covered in termites as a kid.9. Flaw:
Cowardice: Tara is extremely afraid of bugs and she tells herself she has no sense of direction without GPS on her cell phone.10. Values:
Family: Tara loves her Mom and Dad and extended family.11. Character Dilemma:
Winner Vs. Loser: Tara is a winner as a straight-A student but she feels like a loser because of her lack of a sense of direction and her extreme fear of bugs.
Big Betty (The Biggest of the Termo-Lytes/The Queen Termo-Lyte): Antagonist
Big Betty: Character Profiles, Part 1:
1. Role in the Story: The Queen of the Termo-Lytes and the largest one, she’s 10-ft tall. She’s determined to bring her species back to earth and right the wrongs from the past when the Termo-Lytes were killed by ancient versions of modern insecticides by the Sumerians.
2. Age range and Description: Large and in charge, 10-feet tall mutant termite with a flare for changing into light and pretty colors when she’s manipulating others, but can turn a dark red when she’s angry, then look out!
3. Core Traits:
–Fake sweet
–Manipulative
–Cares about her species surviving–Not trustworthy
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To eat Tara and the group
Need: To bring back her ancient species and ensure their survival
5. Wound: She’s angry about ancient man creating pesticides 5,000 years ago and wiping out her species.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Big Betty is charming when Tara and her group encounter her and the Termo-Lytes for the first time, and she gives them a dazzling smile and turns different sparkling colors and looks kind and motherly; Queen offers Tara and her tour group fresh water from the spring the Termo-Lytes dug and fruit and snack; she’s a loving Mom to the Termo-Lytes.
Big Betty says they can seek shelter at the country club until the storm passes. Queen assures Tara and her group that they only eat the wood furniture and other structures in the building and that humans “aren’t all that tasty.”
Relatability: Big Betty says having all this wood to eat is like being a “kid in a candy shop,”; Queen keeps growing taller and larger after every piece of furniture she eats and she laughs and said she’s going to have to “start watching her figure soon,”; Queen says it’s not easy being the Mother to ten Termo-Lytes and she hopes they don’t run out of tables and sofas to snack on.
Empathy: Big Betty is hurt and angry with ancient man, who invented insecticides 5,000 years ago and wiped out her special species of Termo-Lytes, and they’ve been waiting, dormant since then, to come back and enjoy life again.
Big Betty: Character Profiles, Part 2
7. Character Subtext:
Lying: Big Betty lies when she says she won’t try to harm Tara and her group. She lies when she says she only eats wood and plants.
8. Character Intrigue:
Unspoken Wound: Big Betty is still hurt and angry about ancient man who wiped out the Termo-Lytes 5,000 years ago with pesticides.9. Flaw:
Overconfidence: Big Betty tends to brag about her abilities and this is her downfall because she thinks she can outsmart Tara and the group.
10. Values:
Family: Big Bertha is the Queen of the Termo-Lytes and their Mom and she dotes on them constantly.11. Character Dilemma:
Excitement Vs. Safety: Big Betty loves storms and water…but it’s not safe because she or the Termo-Lytes could drown.Davy: Character Profiles, Part 1
1. Role in the Story: Triangle
2. Age range and Description: 10-year old know-it-all mini-adult plump kid who eats too much junk food and loves old sci-fi bug movies, dinosaurs and is always up for adventure.
3. Core Traits:
–Inquisitive–Pesty
–Needy
–Fearless
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To kill the Termo-Lytes and survive
Need: To fit in and find love from his parents
5. Wound: He thinks his parents have abandoned him for the summer.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Davy is super smart and kind to all living things, even little bugs like gnats; he grows on a person, like he grows on Tara; he’s enthusiastic and always wanting to learn new things and he questions everything and tries to make up his own mine; he tries to be brave when he’s scared.
Relatability: New to the area, trying to make new friends, missing his old friends he left behind; worried his parents have abandoned him with his grandmother, Peggy.Empathy: Davy is held captive by Big Betty and she’s planning to eat him! Davy scrapes his knees and is bleeding and needs help from Tara and the group. Davy says his parents have abandoned him and he can’t make new friends because his Grandmother, Peggy, doesn’t know any kids his age.
Davy: Character Profiles, Part 2:
7. Character Subtext:
Lying: Davy lies when he says his parents have abandoned him for the next year, when in fact, they’re on an anniversary trip for two weeks to Europe.8. Character Intrigue:
Secrets: Davy has been stealing junk food from his Grandmother’s pantry and Tara’s parents’ pantry because he doesn’t want anyone to know he has an obsession with food.9. Flaw:
Overconfidence: Davy brags about his grades, his new bike, his clothes and anything he can think of. He acts like he knows how to kill a Termo-Lyte but under pressure, at the climax, he admits he doesn’t know what would kill them.10. Values:
Family: Davy misses his parents who are in Europe and he’s clingy with his Grandmother.11. Character Dilemma:
Wanting External Admiration Vs. Loving Yourself: Davy brags about himself constantly to get praise or acknowledgment from others, but deep down inside, he feels bad about being overweight and a junk food eater.-
This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Leona Heraty.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Leona Heraty.
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Tracy’s Character Profiles Part 2
I’m highly motivated to create engaging character profiles.
I will do whatever it takes to become a successful author and screenwriter with multiple successful screenplays produced.
Title: Revolutionary Anna
Concept: A woman bringing supplies to her husband at Valley Forge agrees to carry and urgent message for General Washington. Now an assassin is hunting her,
trying to get the message back.Hero: Anna Stone goes from competent mother and healer in control of her domestic domain, to owning a place in the man’s world of war and politics.
Lead Character Name: ANNA ASBURY STONE
Protagonist
Role: Colonial wife who saves the American Revolution
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A female protagonist in an American Revolution film. This is nonexistent. A woman who defies social convention and the odds. She sets out to bring life-sustaining supplies to her loved ones at Valley Forge and ends up saving the entire American Revolution.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Anna never gives up. She is the embodiment of grit and determination. She makes a transformational journey from wife who’s going to help her husband and brothers to courier/spy and saboteur who no longer cares about the boundaries
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Determined to use her skill as a healer to keep her husband and brothers alive during the bitter winter at Valley Forge, Anna sets out on her journey against the advice of her family. In two parallel scenes, she falls in the freezing Potomac River at a ferry crossing and is nearly drowned. Later, when she is carrying a secret message for General Washington and pursued by a man who is trying to steal it, she uses an even more treacherous crossing at the Susquehanna River to get a head start on her pursuer.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Anna manages the responsibilities of wife, mother, healer with ease and confidence. She is an equal partner in her marriage to Benjamin Stone, an outlaw preacher and abolitionist, and believes in the cause of liberty as ardently as he does. When she must go to his aid, she evolves into a street-smart survivor and spy who a) embarks on a treacherous 200-mile solo horseback journey to Valley Forge, and b) upon arrival, when the soldiers don’t believe her story—stands up to and convinces them, and then goes toe-to-toe with Alexander Hamilton to gain an audience with General Washington and complete her mission.
5. What could be Anna’s emotional range?
Grew up as an orphan and indentured servant. Has found her place in a happy and passionate marriage with her soul mate.
Decides to make a dangerous solo journey to Valley Forge to keep him alive. Overly confident at the beginning of the journey, she soon realizes she’s out of her depth. Though fearful and sometimes confused, she learns to survive on the road. Willingly accepts the additional burden of carrying a secret message from a congressman to Gen. Washington, though it puts her life in even more jeopardy. Determined to succeed at all costs to preserve her family—and keep the Revolution alive.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Concealing her intelligence. Concealing her identity. Navigating a man’s world. From healer to someone who uses violence to survive and achieve her own ends.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Anna has an equal partnership with her husband. We see their relationship from its beginning through flashbacks, up to their reunion at Valley Forge.
Anna’s maternal figure is her surrogate mother, Rhoda, the enslaved woman who raised and protected Anna during her years as an indentured servant. Rhoda taught Anna about herbal remedies and healing, and Anna taught Rhoda to read. Rhoda put herself on the line to protect Anna, but Anna fails to save Rhoda.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Through the contrast between her reactions to life before and after she leaves for Valley Forge. Her introspection while traveling alone reveals events from her past that shaped her into the woman who would risk all.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
She is the bona fide MAIN CHARACTER. She is not just a cast member who is someone’s wife, or a tavern wench, or a pawn. She is a doer.
Her determination, and her adaptability as she learns spy craft and tactics that will keep her alive and ward off trouble while she’s on the road. Her “equal” status in her marriage is unusual for the time, yet she behaves and thinks like an eighteenth-century woman.
Antagonist: Uncle William goes from being a feared authority figure over Anna to a contemptible opportunist who takes part in a smuggling scheme that hurts the army, and
de facto hurts his nephews.Lead Character Name: UNCLE WILLIAM ASBURY
Antagonist
Role: Anna’s disapproving uncle
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
William’s attitude about the war—that if we win independence, we’ll wish ourselves back, stems from the fact that he’s got a lot to lose. He is self-made and has supported Anna’s widowed mother and Anna and her siblings intermittently since his older brother, George, died and left his young family with no means of support. He’s a snob and jealously guards his wealth—and it’s a huge turnabout when he supports Anna making the journey. He even gives her money she’ll need on the road—there’s just one catch. She must deliver a bill of sale to one of his business associates.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
William has worked hard to build his personal wealth, and he’s made some unscrupulous decisions along the way. Now, with the war dragging on, he worries about his finances enough that he resorts to some underhanded business deals.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
When he is faced with supporting his dead brother’s family and paying off his brother’s debts, he signs Anna to a 7-ytear indenture with one of his business associates. He puts two of Anna’s brothers in apprenticeships, but keeps the youngest for himself, making Jeremiah his heir, sending him to university, and setting him up in a law practice. He breaks up Anna’s family in an unequitable way, with no qualms.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
William is an enigma. We’re never sure exactly what his motives are. He disdains that his nephews have gone to fight in the war, yet two years prior, he enlisted in the Culpeper Minutemen and fought in one of the early battles of the war. To protect his wealth, he has turned to shady dealings that hurt the army, even though he has four nephews away fighting. He supports Anna’s journey, but only because he can use her to further his schemes.
5. What could be William’s emotional range?
Bluster, insulting, baiting, to disconsolate when he cannot convince his heir, Jeremiah, not to enlist. He can disapprove of Anna’s marriage, but then be unexpectedly kind by giving her a saddle horse as part of her dowry and giving her money and a list of contacts where she can find lodgings while she’s on the road—but when it comes down to it, he’s out for number one.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
He appears disapproving, opinionated, and unbending. Then he shows a soft spot, but it’s just a ruse. He doesn’t play nice unless he wants something. Manipulative.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
He intimidates Anna, and since she lives under his roof, she’s afraid to antagonize him too much, but Benjamin’s brother Thomas and William go toe to toe and Thomas isn’t a bit afraid of him.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
He’s saying all the unpatriotic things. He challenges Anna’s starry-eyed notions about liberty and independence, and he primes her for what she’ll face on the road, when her own convictions about the war come under scrutiny.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
He’s the grumpy old guy you love to hate. For a while we believe he’s really got a good heart, but then he turns out to be a bad guy with no principles.
Triangle: Benjamin Stone
Lead Character Name: BENJAMIN STONE
Protagonist/Triangle
Role: Husband to Anna
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
He’s an outlaw preacher who has been persecuted for his faith all his life, and now, with the coming of the Revolution, he sees an opportunity. Weakening the Crown’s hold in America will weaken the Church of England’s hold in Virginia. He has no hesitation about fighting for independence. He’s a forward-thinking abolitionist and wants a wife who is an equal partner.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He truly believes liberty is for everyone—including his wife, his daughter, the enslaved, etc. He’s been raised like any farm boy of his time, but he also yearns to be an intellectual. He uses his knowledge to challenge the laws of the time. He’s devoted to his wife and family but cannot ignore the fight which could make his dream of worshipping without persecution a reality.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
He encourages dissention and goes up against the establishment long before he enlists in the Continental Army.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
At first he’s a fish out of water—in his family, his older brother is the alpha, and he’s an intellectual, even though he also has all the skills a farmer needs. When he meets Anna, he sees his future, with an intelligent, beautiful woman who is a match for him in every sense of the word. Marrying her in his chosen faith—outside the Anglican church—is an act of rebellion. He vows to defy her mother, the priest, and the Crown to marry her in his chosen faith—and he comes into his own, both in their passionate marriage and in his advancement of the cause of liberty. Whether he speaks from the pulpit or at the village tavern, he is persuasive, and people follow his lead.
5. What could be Benjamin’s emotional range?
When we meet Benjamin, he is shy around girls. When he meets Anna at church, he barely speaks to her, but he’s besotted and determined to win her. He has a calming presence, and the only one who really gets his goat is his older brother Thomas, who is a brash loudmouth. Benjamin has to be peacemaker when Thomas stirs up trouble. He is not as conflicted about leaving his family to fight in the war as Anna would like. He has the courage of his convictions. He has a sharp sense of humor and enjoys the verbal sparring he does with his wife.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
He is a preacher, yet he’s willing to fight and kill to get what he wants. He loves his family, but he is willing to leave them to enlist in the army, knowing perhaps he will never return.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Benjamin and his older brother Thomas are close in age. They have probably beaten each other up every day of their childhoods—but if someone else threatens one of them—the other would defend him to the death.
Benjamin is Anna’s rock. He has provided the stability she craved after being forced into an indenture in her childhood after the death of her father. He knows Anna has flourished in their relationship, but he still chooses to leave her to fight because independence from the Crown would secure not just their futures, but their descendants’ as well.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Benjamin is present in flashbacks through most of the story. When Anna finds him at the end of her journey, can he live up to her idealized version of him?
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Benjamin was on fire for the things he cared about—religious freedom, independence, and Anna. His abolitionist views inform his actions, particularly in how he treats his wife. He will not subjugate anyone—especially not the woman he reveres above all others. This alone makes him a rare male character from that time period.
Role in the Story:
Anna: wife of a solder. She and their children live with her uncle while her husband is away at the war. When his life is in danger from the privations at Valley Forge, she goes on a solo horseback journey to bring him supplies. Saves him and the Revolution.
William: assumed responsibility for Anna and her family when her father died. Curmudgeonly, he surprises Anna by endorsing her trip and asks her to deliver a check to a business associate on the way. He gets her embroiled in the smuggling ring.
Benjamin: their marriage liberated Anna from her uncle’s house and control, but his decision to enlist without consulting Anna puts her right back where she was. Should Benjamin perish, she and her children will fall under her uncle’s control.
Age range and Description:
Anna: 29. Pretty and intelligent young woman who, when she disguises herself in her husband’s clothes, can be mistaken for a lad of thirteen.
Uncle: 65. Self-made country squire (tobacco plantation). Scheming businessman, growing paunchy around the middle. Full of bluster, though whether he is truly vexed or just trying to hide his good nature is anyone’s guess. Used to being the alpha, he tends to insult and belittle the men of Anna’s generation to assert his dominance.
Benjamin: 34. Tall, dark, lanky farmer and country preacher. His intellectual/spiritual convictions and goals take precedence over daily life. He exists inside his own head a lot. Not worried about material things. His passion for religious liberty lands Anna and their children back in her uncle’s home—a place she had been desperate to leave when they married ten years before.
Core Traits:
Anna: Healer
-determined
-brave
-insecure
-adaptable
Uncle: Businessman
-full of bluster
-controlling
-self-important
-dishonest
Benjamin: Preacher
-enthusiastic
-pious
-academic/nerd
-committed
Motivation; Want/Need:
Anna: Wants to bring supplies to her husband and brothers
Needs to deliver the secret message to Washington without being waylaid or killed
Uncle: Wants to hang onto his wealth
Needs to support Anna’s trip to assuage his guilt over working with smugglers
Benjamin: Wants religious and personal liberty
Needs his wife’s support
Wound:
Anna: her father’s death > poverty > having to be an indentured servant. The fear that Benjamin and her brothers will all die and leave her without a male advocate puts her and her children back under her uncle’s control.
Uncle: loss of his brother. No one comprehends how hard it was to work his way up and support two families. He regrets he had to put Anna in an indenture and her brothers in apprenticeships. Now he fears the war will sap his hard-earned money.
Benjamin: being persecuted for his religious beliefs. He is an enthusiastic soldier who has encouraged many others to enlist, so he can have the religious liberty he craves.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
ANNA:
<div>
Likability:
devoted wife & mother; problem solver; advocate for the sick; progressive
for her time; abolitionist</div><div>Relatability:
steps in to make things right, cleans up mess to save her man; defies the
law to inoculate her patients against smallpoxEmpathy:
puts herself in jeopardy to prevent her children from suffering</div>
UNCLE WILLIAM:
<div>
Likability:
assumed responsibility for supporting his dead brother’s widow and young
children
Relatability:
workaholic; gets involved in a get-rich-quick scheme
</div><div>Empathy:
chooses to protect his private wealth over supporting the political
conflict. He must make tough choices that don’t benefit everyone.</div>
BENJAMIN:
<div>
Likability:
kind and caring preacher; loving husband and father; supports education
for all
Relatability:
caught between wanting two things: home and family, and going after the
larger goal of religious liberty
</div><div>Empathy: believes
in a cause and supports it even when it means his family has to sacrifice.NEW COMPONENTS FOR THIS LESSON:
Subtext:
ANNA: She doesn’t want her children to become orphans, but she puts herself in extreme danger
UNCLE: He plots to have Anna further his scheme to smuggle weapons to British POWs.
Secret: He tells her to deliver the payment, but not what it is forWithholding: Got Anna out of his house twice–when he put her in an indenture, and when she married. Now she’s back again. Maybe he really doesn’t want her there.
BENJAMIN: Afraid to say he’s chosen the army over his family
Hiding Something: He’s encouraging men of his congregation to go fight and maybe die, because he wants religious liberty so badly
Intrigue:
ANNA:
Hidden Agenda: plans to go to Valley Forge against her family’s wishes
Secret Identity: She is repeatedly accused of being a spy; becomes one
Deception: must get the secret letter to Gen. Washington without revealing the mission
Deception: she changes clothes, sabotages her pursuer to get away from him
Unspoken wound: the loss of her father and growing up in hardship as an orphan
UNCLE:
Conspiracy: part of a ring of smugglers
Secrets: pretends he’s helping Anna when he is sending her into danger
Hidden Agenda: keeps up appearances. Has Anna borrow nicer clothes to wear so she won’t embarrass him.
Unspoken wound: loss of his brother, resents the additional responsibility
BENJAMIN:
Hidden agenda; obtain religious liberty at all costs
Deception: says Anna is his equal partner in the marriage, but makes decisions without consulting her when it benefits him
Unspoken wound: religious persecution, antagonized by his older brother; must prove himself
Flaw:
ANNA:
Over-confidence
UNCLE:
Cowardice; afraid of losing his wealth and social position
BENJAMIN:
Blinded by his goal of religious liberty
Values:
ANNA:
Family
Duty
Honesty
Love
UNCLE:
Duty
Family
BENJAMIN:
ReligionHonor
Duty
Love/family
Internal Dilemma:
ANNA: Being independent vs. holding her family together
UNCLE: Being upstanding and honest v. preserving his wealth
BENJAMIN: Religious liberty v. the needs of his family
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CJ’s Character Profiles Part 2
Vision: I am a confident and empowered writer who embraces challenges and changes and writes highly sought-after projects with fresh and exciting ideas. I will be produced and hired to write projects that get produced.
WIL: I was initially making this harder than I needed to – LOL – but had a breakthrough!
Title: MEMORY HUNTERS
Concept:
In a future with technology to retrieve memories, a Memory Retrevalist, caught in the mind of a psychopath struggles to find a way out before he destroys her mind and kills her.
ASSIGNMENT
With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
MYA ORTEGA – Protagonist who is a junior memory hunter and using the company to find away to hide her own memories.
A. The High Concept. The protagonist – Mya’s role in the high concept is she is the memory hunter who finds herself inadvertently in the mind of the psychopath after she asks too many questions. B. This character’s journey. Mya goes from trying to hide from her past as an abused victim of a psychopath to learning to move beyond her past and not let it define her.C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Protagonist who goes from looking for a way to hide her childhood memories of abuse to learning that someone is making deals with the criminals.Age range and Description: mid-twenties – LatinoCore Traits: Naïve, afraid, practices avoidanceMotivation; Want/Need: Wants to find a way to hide or run from her own memories. Needs to find a way to move past them and not let them control her. Wound: She is an only survivor from a psychopath and is haunted by the memories.Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Likability: She’s kind to the subjects/patients coming in for a memory searchRelatability: We understand how she wants to run from her memories
· Empathy: She was abducted as a child by a psychopath and escaped
Deeper Character Profile
Character Subtext – Hiding something and withholding
Character Intrigue – hidden agenda (looking for a way to hide her own memories)
Flaw – Can’t look at their fears – undervalues themselves
Values – Family, loyalty, and truth
Character Dilemma – Pleases other versus independent / Wanting to be recognized versus just doing the right thing
CATHERINE HARPIE – The antagonist – wants to stop Mya from uncovering her illegal activities
With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
A. The High Concept. Catherine’s role as antagonist is she has Mya deliberately placed in the psychopath’s mind to hind her activities. B. This character’s journey. From being confident and in charge to being worried she will be found out to being found out.C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Antagonist as CEO of the company
Age range and Description: Late 40’s
Core Traits: Confidant, conniving, duplicitous, vulnerable
Motivation; Want/Need: She wants to stay at the top as CEO by collecting blackmail info and money but needs to stop Mya from finding out her secret.
Wound: The board of Directors want to replace her with a younger man
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: She knows everyone by name and always has a ready smile Relatability: She’s trying to get ahead in a “Man’s world” – does well in the public eyeEmpathy: She has a soft spot for animals
Deeper Character Profile:
Character Subtext – She’s deceitful and lying while being polite
Character Intrigue – hidden agenda as she gather’s secrets and money
Flaw – Over confidence and dominating
Values – Looks after old people and animals and doesn’t trust anyone else
Character Dilemma – wants to prove herself in a “Male dominated world” but feels unworthy
ALFRED “FREDDIE” DETTON
With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
A. The High Concept. – Freddie is the mind that is meant to kill Mya’s to keep her from finding out about Catherine’s illegal activities.B. This character’s journey. – He wants revenge for Mya being the only one to get away and she is the one most like his sister who used to torment him.C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Supporting role – psychopath
Age range and Description: 60’s, talks to his sister likes she’s standing there
Core Traits: Focused, cynical, devious
Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to keep on killing girls who remind him of sister so he can keep on punishing her for her tormenting him as a child. Needs to get free to keep killing.
Wound: His sister used to torment and humiliate him
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Character Subtext – plotting – Wants to be better than his sister and the only way he can do that is to torment young girls
Character Intrigue – Unspoken wound
Flaw – Cowardice and over does things
Values – Winning (being better than his sister)
Character Dilemma – wants to rid himself of his memories of his own torment but can only act out his demons on others
TERRY SULLIVAN
With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
A. The High Concept. Terry switches the machine to place Mya into Freddie’s mind instead of the embezzler.B. This character’s journey. – From being Catherine’s lacky and pretending to be Mya’s friend and mentor to trying to steal all the money / info from Catherine.C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Supporting role to AntagonistAge range and Description: late 30’s nerdy good lookingCore Traits: Friendly, helpful, conceited, controllingMotivation; Want/Need: Wants to win at any cost and needs to control others and the situation. Wound: He wants to head the project and believes he’s been wrongly passed overLikability, Relatability, Empathy:
Deeper Character traits:
Character Subtext – seduction and lying
Character Intrigue – conspiracies and secrets
Flaw – can’t take risks and cowardice
Values – Winning and being his best
Character Dilemma – Winner versus loser
-
Peter’s Character Profiles Part II
Vision: My scripts are so good they could be published on their own and William Goldman wants to write the introduction.
What I learned in this exercise is that as long as I keep filling in the blanks I will receive nuggets of information about these characters.
DAVID VILLERS
The High Concept – David is a decorated Force Recon commando who was discharged from service. When an old flame asks him to help with security at an international peace conference threatened by a violent mob, he discovers too late that she’s the one behind it ALL.
This character’s journey – from wounded and disillusioned to invigorated and vital
The Actor Attractors for this character: physical prowess; action-oriented; good with animals.
Role in the
Story: protagonist
Age range
and Description: 40’ish, wiry, athletic, striking appearance
Core
Traits: cool under pressure, physical, a force to be reckoned with
Motivation;
Want/Need: to serve his country/needs justice (revenge)
Wound: the
country he loves abandoned him
Likability:
he is loyal to a faultRelatability: doesn’t like anyone telling him what to do
Empathy: he’s been wrongly removed from service
7. Character Subtext: Plotting (he wants to find out who set him up)
8. Character Intrigue: Unspoken wound is his abandonment
9. Flaw: over-confidence got him into numerous skirmishes that could have been easily avoided
10. Values: believes in honoring the code, which means being the best, winning, and remaining loyal to his brothers
11. Character Dilemma: determined to “win” but often loses
JENNIFER HAMM
The High Concept – She’s the force that David has to reckon with. He spurned her once and she made him pay. Now she thinks he’s the perfect dupe to help her incite a revolt against her own government.
This character’s journey – from a woman scorned to blind, power-hungry ambition
The Actor Attractors for this character: badass female authority figure; light and soft on the outside, but inside she’s mysterious and calculating
Role in the
Story: antagonist
Age range
and Description: 40’ish; penetrating intelligence; soft appearance
Core
Traits: driven, smart, charming; high emotional and social IQ
Motivation;
Want/Need: wants to be Top Dog/needs validation
Wound:
rejected by David6. Likability: she is charming and disarming; very high social IQ
Relatability: has a panic attack before world assembly
Empathy: she has to work for people who are less intelligent and less imaginative than her:
7. Character Subtext: is hiding something big; she’s the one who started the chain in motion that got David dishonorably discharged
8. Character Intrigue: competition to be the first female president of the US
9. Flaw: poor decision-making, though so far she’s been able to blame it on others
10. Values: Intelligence, winning, fame, power
11. Character Dilemma: she wants external validation & admiration but needs to accept and love herself.
BRIAN CHIANG
The Actor Attractors for this character: rogue, man about town, a finger in every pie, and loyalty to no one but himself.
Role in the
Story: 2<sup>nd</sup> lead
Age range
and Description: 40, native-born Korean raised in the US
Core Traits:
secretive, clever, industrious
Motivation;
Want/Need: wants to be part of the elite command/needs to reconnect w/ his
roots
Wound: seen
as an outsider in two countries
Likability:
he will help anyoneRelatability: tries too hard to please people who are never pleased
Empathy: he’s always on the outside looking in
7. Character Subtext: is lying (about his background and connection to radical right)
8. Character Intrigue: holds many secrets and is deceptive
9. Flaw: deep-down is a coward
10. Values: power, money, social prestige
11. Character Dilemma:
looking for wealth as a way to be accepted in elite circles of power… but he’s
not a good person -
Kelly’s character profile part 2
Vision; Vision: I want to be an empowered writer who consistently produces salable scripts.
What did I learn? I am learning how to be comfortable with just putting ideas down and being confident that I can always come back and improve them. The other thing I am learning is to be organized with my writing. Taks. I jump from the legal pads to the computer and at times it makes me feel like a jumbled mess. But for this task I knew all the previous task were on the computer so I just needed to go sit down at the computer and put the pieces together from previous lessons. It was great because I just focused. This is a lot to unpack but that’s what I learned.
Quinn the Protagonist
Concept: A troubled teenager is taken to a boot camp to change her behavior but learns that the camp is run by aliens who create copies of them then kill the teens.
Character journey: Quinn is a rebellious and troubled teen who battles the alWhat about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? This is great role for a young actress with a range of emotions to play.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? Quinn is the lead role and will be in nearly every scene of the movie
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? The character becomes a leader as the story unfolds and is the one that defeats the aliens.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? Her opening scene she is a rebel without a cause and an independent thinker.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range? There are a range of emotions to play with. There is rage, happiness, sadness, disconnectedness, and hopelessness.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Skepticism, plotting, distrust.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character can have? Her relationship with one of the camper characters and the antagonist.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? She is an independent thinker and rebellious. She is always looking for a fight.
.9. What could make this character special and unique? Quinn is like a combination of Sigourney Weaver in Alien, a young Paris Hilton and Ally Sheedy in The Breakfast Club.
A troubled teenager is taken to a boot camp to change her behavior but learns that the camp is run by aliens who create copies of them then kill the teens.
Role in the Story: Quinn the protagonist
Age range and Description:16-17
Core Traits: courageous, self centered, independent, reckless, resourceful
Motivation; Want/Need: survive the camp
Wound: no one cares about me
Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Quinn is an independent courageous and resourceful 17 year old who has grown up rich but is ignored by her parents.
Character Subtext: Quinn is suspicious, skeptical, perceptive
Character Intrigue: Quinn is acting like she is going along with the camp counselors but is secretly trying to find out what is happenning.
Flaw: self centered
Values: independence, honesty, love, courage
Character Dilemma: being independent and selfless versus being loving toward others
Darius the antagonist villain
Darius is thet boss of the aliens who wants to kill the campers and tke over their bodies with aliens.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? This character is mysterious and a manipulator.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? This character pretends to be one person and in actuality is the complete opposite.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? The character leads the crowd in singing with complete joy and is a vicious mureere.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? I think showing how cruel and ruthless this character is in combination with charisma and full of joy.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range? Character displays blissfulness, rage, playful and cunning.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Scheming, plotting, pretending to be someone else.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character can have? The character is caring towards the campers, and the one that will kill them all.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? The character will be Mr. Positive and at the same time ruthless and cunning.
9. What could make this character special and unique? This character is a combination of Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Ralph Fiennes in Schindler’s list.
Role in the Story: Antagonist
Age range and Description: 18 – 25
Core Traits: charismatic, cunnniing, ambitious, ruthless
Motivation; Want/Need: be the leader of the alien race
Wound:passed over
Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Darius is a charismatic guy who has been passed over as a leader and wants to prove he is worthy.
Character Subtext: scheming, plotting, cunning
Character Intrigue:: Darius plan to take over the human race
Flaw: pride
Values: power, adulation
Character Dilemma: manipulating the human teenagers while still being ruthless and cunning
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Terrie’s Character Profiles Part 2
I write screenplays that get turned into crowd pleasing successful films using a process that allows me to enjoy my equestrian hobby.
What I learned doing this assignment is to push through even if you can only get a little bit done at a time.
Lead Character: Paige
Concept: A US Marshall is charged with getting a conspiracy theorist into witness protection, but it’s her ex and his crazy theories are true.
Logline: Paige, a US Marshall behavioral analyst, is tasked with getting a witness safely embedded in his new identity.
Unique: Paige knows crazy. After her fiancé became obsessed with conspiracy theories, she left him and the local police force, got an advanced degree in psychology and joined the US Marshall behavioral analysis team.
Old ways: clinical, remote, avoids interacting with people due to inability to trust
New ways: able to trust and wiling to try again with James/Jason1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Paige is clever and composed, no one gets under her skin – except James/Jason.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? She is outstanding at her job but she can act ditzy if it helps her get the job done.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Takes down the bad guy; profiles the person that puts her and James/Jason in danger. Uses information traps to catch the inside person.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? She’s on an awful date with a guy that’s dating her because she’s law enforcement (there’s probably a name for this – holster sniffer) so she profiles him, aloud, in as demeaning and as derogatory way possible.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Composed, angry, frustrated, sympathetic, in love. Basically she’s got some serious emotional armor when we meet her due to her previous relationship with James. But as the story moves along they heal, rekindle their relationship and end up in love.
6. What subtext can the actor play? How much James hurt her yet still has feelings for him (which leads to the question – why?)
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Her relationship with James, they have a great deal of history and baggage to work through. And what was she doing dating this whack job?
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Intellect, very correct in her professional behavior, psychologically sizes people up.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Her ability to profile and take down people intellectually rather than with a weapon.
Profile:
1. Role: Lead – protagonist
2. Age range and description: mid thirties, attractive in a professional clean-cut way
3. core traits: smart, focused, emotionally stuck
4. motivation; want/need: succeed professionally, authentically connect with people in her life
5. wound: James nearly got her fired from her first police officer job
6. likeability, relatability, empathy:
Opening:
Likability: in the opening scene at the restaurant make her nice to the server, maybe help the server by picking something up or telling off a rude customer
Relatability: she’s on an awful date
Empathy: she tries end the date politely but he doesn’t take the hint, she profiles him.
Backstory/flashback:
Likability: protects James/Jason from getting arrested
Relatability: helping James/Jason makes her late for work
Empathy: almost gets fired
When she’s brought into protect james/jason
Likability: brings the admin a coffee or helps out a new marshall
Relatability: has to wait on her boss
Empathy: the witness is her ex and she doesn’t want to tell anyone; pressured into taking the assignment over her protests
7. Character subtext: avoids personal relationships despite or because of her empathetic nature.
8. Character intrigue: hides the fact that James/Jason nearly got her fired when she was a cop
9. Flaw: doesn’t trust others, must do it all herself by herself
10. Values: loyalty, doing the ‘right’ thing
11. Character dilemma: by the book or use her intuition.
Lead Character: James/Jason
Logline: After blowing his first cover identify, James is convinced that only his former fiancé can keep him safe as he testifies against domestic terrorists that want him dead.
Unique: James is brilliant but can’t stop spouting conspiracy theories even when his life depends on it.
Old ways: paranoid but gullible, angry, self absorbed
New ways: sees how his beliefs in conspiracy theories has harmed his life, willing to give them up.1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He’s super quirky but charming. And he’s funny (well I need to make him funny)
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He’s got a conspiracy theory to explain EVERY TRIVIAL THING
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Insisting his ex Girl friend handle his protection. Somewhere he needs to step up to help keep Paige safe, even though it means disregarding one of his conspiracy theories.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? With his paranoid conspiracy theory rantings on a flip phone, make this funny. Can I find a way to introduce them at the same time?
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Terrified, disconnected, in love, confused, hurt
6. What subtext can the actor play? His deep fear of whoever he is testifying against. Fear of losing Paige again. Fear that the conspiracy theories are true or worse, they aren’t and his life choices are a sham.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With Paige – he knows he blew it.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Total dedication to multiple conspiracy theories.
9. What makes this character special and unique? His crazy beliefs in conspiracy theories.
Profile:
1. Role: Lead protagonist, antagonist (rom com dual roles)
2. Age range and description: mid thirties, unkempt appearance
3. core traits: gullible, quirky/goofy, agreeable, paranoid
4. motivation; want/need: to get witsec protection/win paige back
5. wound: after his mother abandoned him, he was raised by a tough GF who didn’t want him around
6. likeability, relatability, empathy:
Flashback:
Likability: sweet to Paige, goofy/funny makes her laugh
Relatability: someone is rude/mean to him
Empathy: he’s in danger, maybe?
With marshalls
Likability: polite to marshalls; overtips a waitress
Relatability: hides but this could be done in a funny way
Empathy: he’s in danger from the group he is testifying against
7. Character subtext: loneliness draws him to fringe groups
8. Character intrigue: wants Paige back at all costs
9. Flaw: seeks external validation
10. Values: kinship
11. Character dilemma: get Paige fired so she can be with him or follow witsec rules.
-
Andrew Kelm’s Character Profiles Part 2
Vision: I am going to do whatever it takes to be a great writer of TV and movies who is sought after by people I respect within the industry and has multiple successful TV series produced.
What I learned doing this assignment is… a lot of things go into character profiles
FATEMONGERS; a psychic with a blind spot for abusive men uses subtle manipulations to murder a sexual predator who seduces her to get to her sons.
Daphne
A. The High Concept. Daphne is a wounded healer; a psychic who wants to use her intuitive gifts to help people but has a blind spot when it comes to abusive men who take advantage of her.
B. This character’s journey. Goes from being dependent on her mother and a victim to being a ruthless survivor and success at the cost of cynicism.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
- What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? She is constantly subverting expectations; full of contradictions
- What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? She is in control of every situation except her vulnerability with abusive men
- What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? She arranges the murder of her partner through subtle manipulations that make it seem she had nothing to do with it.
- How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? She is giving a card reading to a client that shows the whole range of her personality
- What could be this character’s emotional range? She can be cold or empathetic; angry or easy going; a bully or intense listener; great sense of humor
- What subtext can the actor play? She was abused as a child and her relationships with men are colored by that.
- What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? She falls in love with a man who is a threat to her sons.
- How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Pithy, honest and to the point; detached, yet passionate when provoked
- What could make this character special and unique. She always gets her way; she is on the edge between outrageously off-center and brilliant
7. Character Subtext:
- Subtext Identity: a psychic who convinces the world that she is absolutely honest, and in control of her life. But underneath she is drawn to dangerous men who victimize her.
- Subtext Trait: defensive; on the surface she is totally open but that hides a rock-solid defense against core vulnerability that can lead her to be reckless on the surface; secretive and conniving
- Subtext Logline: Daphne is a victim of abuse who pretends to be chill about it but unconsciously wants revenge.
- Possible Areas of Subtext: defensive; on the surface she is disarmingly open with her clients and the people around her, but underneath she protects a vulnerability, a madness born of early abuse that the wrong man can release. She flirts with that sometimes in ways that can seem reckless.
- Hiding something: her vulnerabilities — she never allows herself to be seen as wrong or truly vulnerable
- Plotting: revenge is a dish best served cold
8. Character Intrigue:
- Hidden agendas
- Competition: always has to be right
- Conspiracy: She plots the murder of her partner
- Secrets: witnessed her mother killing her husband
- Deception:
- Unspoken Wound: abuse as a child
- Secret Identity: counsels a high-level government official
9. Flaw: undervalues herself
10. Values: sincerely wants to help people; is secretly a romantic who can be swept off her feet by a silver-tongued devil
11. Character Dilemma: sincerely helping people vs. making money.
Roy
A. The High Concept. Roy is damaged goods. His view of the world is forever skewed by an alcoholic mother who abused him and from whom he picked up an appetite to abuse others. He seduces Daphne to get to her sons
B. This character’s journey. He goes from someone who loves to con others to wanting to wanting to be a father .
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
- What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? He is always calculating; a charming con artist
- What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? He has the outrageous goal of seducing his partner’s sons, with the ultimate unconscious goal of getting punished
- What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? Walking into his own murder.
- How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? He is on the run and has to charm his way to safety
- What could be this character’s emotional range. Cold, seductive; sometimes reverting to a childish guilt-ridden vulnerability
- What subtext can the actor play? Abused as a child; wants to abuse others; wants to be punished.
- What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? Falls in love with the woman who will kill him.
- How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Cold and calculated but able to turn on the charm
- What could make this character special and unique. He gets away with everything he does — until he doesn’t.
7. Character Subtext:
- Subtext Identity: A con man who enjoys something tenfold if he gets it through trickery
- Subtext Trait: liar; he is sneaky — always trying to get away with something
- Subtext Logline: Roy is a con man who secretly wants to be punished
- Possible Areas of Subtext: a no-good charmer who constantly pushes his luck
- Lying: Always lies, even when it serves no purpose
- Luring/seducing: always on the lookout for a sucker; as sexual predator and car salesman
- Withholding; Hides everything as a matte rof course
- Plotting: second nature
8. Character Intrigue:
- Hidden agendas; wants to seduce Daphne’s boys
- Competition
- Conspiracy
- Secrets
- Deception
- Unspoken Wound
- Secret Identity
9. Flaw:
- Takes too many risks
10. Values:
- Getting away with something
- money
11. Internal Dilemma: Wants to get away with stuff / wants to get caught
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Valeriya’s Character Profiles Part 2
My Vision: I am a masterful, ahead-of-the-game, and outside-the-box writer full of ideas and creative energy. My writing is fresh, impactful, iconic, beautiful, and effortless. My projects deliver outstanding entertainment and bring yet unseen commercial and artistic success. I am on the leading edge. I create a lot, it’s fun, quick, and easy. My whole life is that way.
It is so much fun to discover what is under the surface for my characters!
What I learned from doing this assignment is…
– This process helps to add a few more layers and twists in the story.
– As the discoveries compound the story becomes more and more cohesive.
– Got a clear understanding of what a flaw really is.
BOO WHO HOO
A. The High Concept.
Following her therapist’s advice, a woman asks her “monster-under-the-bed” to come out into the light where she can deal with it… but the monster has other ideas.
IRENE
B. This character’s journey.
Arc Beginning: Lonely, depressed, and scared freelance designer.
Arc Ending: Free and fearless creator who doesn’t hold back.
Internal Journey: From sad and scared to empowered.
External Journey: From being a victim of a monster to setting the monster and herself free.
Old Ways:
Confused
Scared, living in fear and anxiety
Lonely
Low self-esteem
Suppressing her feelings
Putting up with her monster
New Ways:
Free
Creative
Empowered
Clear
Trusting herself
In love with life
Fearless
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
She is alone against a horrible monster, and she finds creative ways of dealing with it.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
This monster is her creation, in a sense, she fights against herself. Like everyone of us she has her fears, the monster, which seems ridiculous to others, but feels very real to her.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Talking to a monster over a drink like it’s her best friend. Tricking it, befriending it, fighting it, helping it, embracing it. Introducing the monster to her family. Crying with the monster. Finding a victim for it. Fighting it at the dentist.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Home alone, spooked, trying to change a bulb asap. Reactive psyche, everything is a threat to her or she is waiting for bad things to happen.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Anxious introvert, a fierce fighter, plotting murderer, pensive artist, shameless seductress, socially awkward, deeply empathetic.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Her own fears take the life out of her. She tries to stop her fear from destroying everything.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Her relationship with the monster. Her relationship with everyone else is dictated by the presence of the monster in her life.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
She tells the truth but it’s always taken as a joke. She has an ongoing dialogue with her monster.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Irene can find countless ways to avoid moving on with her life. She is ready to suffer for it, thinking it’s a lesser evil –– safer that way… Until it’s not.
Role in the Story:
Protagonist and Antagonist
Logline: Irene is a lonely freelance designer who wants to be happy, have a family, and enjoy social life but can’t because of the monster that’s attached to her.
Unique: She invites her monster to come out.
Age range and Description:
Late 20s, in need of sunshine vitamin, and other clothes than t-shirt and pj’s pants. Sad, on edge, bitten nails, shifty gaze.
Core Traits:
Creative
Honest
Desperate
Confused
Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To get rid of the monster
Need: To learn to love and enjoy life and herself
Wound:
Her father had a stroke in his prime and she blames herself.
Connection:
Likability:
– Good artist
– Loves her cat
– Wants to face her problems
– Trying the best she can
Relatability:
– Wants to change her life
– Has excuses that hold her back
– Suffers toothache
– Thought she’d achieve more by now
– Shy
– Has a monster under her bed
Empathy:
– Gets scared alone
– Thinks something is wrong with her
– Worried about her cat and others
– Nobody believes her
Character Subtext:
Subtext Identity: Irene is an unfulfilled woman afraid of life that she believes she is not made for. She uses a monster as an excuse for not even trying.
Subtext Trait: Unworthy, fearful, cowardly
Subtext Logline: Irene is a weak unfulfilled woman who doesn’t take action because of the fear of getting hurt — hunted by a monster. Puts the responsibility for inaction on the monster (she thinks she keeps it quiet by maintaining the equilibrium of her empty life).
Possible Areas of Subtext:
– Agreeing with her repressive parents.
– Envying her friend and sister.
– Disconnected in intimate relationships.
– Hesitating to accept invitations.
– Watching how her inaction huts her and others.
– Sleeping in a daytime and working at night.
Hiding something – from herself, that her struggle is useless
Lying – about her problems
Character Intrigue:
Hidden agendas:
– To kick the monster out of her life
– To give other people to the monster instead of herself
– To change her life
Competition:
– With the monster — over who is going to live fully
– With her friend — over success
– With her family — over her identity
Conspiracies:
– With the monster about the next steps
– With the shrink about dealing with the monster
– With her niece about the monster
Secrets:
– She envies her friend and her sister
– She is in love
– Can’t have relationships because of the monster
Deception:
– Pretends to befriend the monster
– Tells her family she has someone
– She is afraid of nothing but there is always an excuse for inaction (circumstances)
– Deceives herself by inventing the monster (blames it for her sad life)
Unspoken Wound:
– She thinks her father’s state is her fault
– Her family treats her as unworthy
– The state of the world
Secret Identity:
– Monster
– Artist
– Nobody
Ways it can show in the script:
– Irene hides from the monster under the bed
– Negotiates with the monster
– She thinks she is going to kill someone but she is going to look for help
– Horrible drawings under the unsticking wallpapers
– Has things in common with the monster that scare other people the same way Boo scares her
– Sends her real artwork to clients unaware of her actions
– Bashing family scene and how this environment reflects on the kid
– Scares her friend and her boyfriend, her sister too
– Makes a huge dreamcatcher
– Talking to her dad about the monster
Hidden agenda to stay safe in her situation (doesn’t need much)
In denial of her fears
Flaw:
Cowardly, has no guts to face life
Values:
Safety
Character Dilemma:
Wants to be happy but afraid to go for it
BOO
B. This character’s journey.
Arc Beginning: Living in pain.
Arc Ending: Liberated.
Internal Journey: From rotting to life-giving.
External Journey: From terrorizing and scaring the light out of Irene to reaching peace.
Old Ways:
Hiding
Hurt
Scary
Needy
Angry
New Ways:
Free
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Incredibly scary but empathetic and playful monster.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
It scares the lights out of everyone because it’s created from fear, but it’s the one who helps to overcome all fears and find freedom.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Finding ways to communicate with humans. Bringing out their fears.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Playing with the mind of the main character.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Furious to helpless, menacing to understanding.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
It inspires Irene to love life. The monster is a bunch of unrealized desires that turned bad.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With the main character, challenging her to live her life to the fullest.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
It can find interesting ways of non-verbal communication. It cries.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
How ugly and disgusting it is, yet we feel sorry for this poor creature.
Role in the Story:
Antagonist and Protagonist
Logline: A monster that has been growing under Irene’s bed since her childhood. It won’t let her have any resemblance to normal life.
Unique: It’s made of her fears and it’s in pain. It doesn’t let Irene live, but it won’t let her die either.
Age range and Description:
Black, bumpy, slimy, big sad black eyes, ugly claws, shorter than Irene – the size of the shorter side of her double bed. Loses quite big pieces of skin. ET after a nuclear disaster.
Core Traits:
Hurting
Destructive
Helper
Wise
Motivation; Want/Need:
Want:
Need: Needs her to let go of it
Wound:
Being something beautiful made ugly, sorry, scary, and disgusting, unloved, she gave up on it
Connection:
Likability:
– It’s responsive and wants to help
– It’s playful
Relatability:
– It seeks connection
– It’s in pain
Empathy:
– It cries with Irene
– Nobody likes it or believes in it
7. Character Subtext:
Character Name: Boo is fear materialized.
Subtext Identity: Boo is a monster
Subtext Trait: Underhanded, taking control, driven
Subtext Logline: Boo is a monster created from unfulfilled desires and dreams that come back to bite Irene.
Possible Areas of Subtext:
– Shows Irene that life is short and precious
– Leads her into situations she was avoiding
– Offering its hand
– Crying
– Having a blast living to the fullest
– Fixing what she complained about by destroying, no person — no problem
Lying – it’s about destruction, creating beautiful destruction
Luring/seducing – to solve her problems
Withholding – it’s been there all along, that’s why things are so dark
Character Intrigue:
Hidden agendas:
– To help Irene get on with her life
– To stop its suffering
– To scare some sense into her
Competition:
– The shrink with her methods
– The family with their misunderstanding
– Irene wasting their life and torturing them
Conspiracies:
– With Irene to keep her fears at bay
– With Irene seeking help
– With Irene to change her life
Secrets:
– It’s her, and the best of her
– Keeps Irene’s secrets about her past
– Won’t get lost
Deception:
– Looks scary AF
– Destroys things (to make them better)
– Causes death (shows that death is inevitable and Irene better resolve to live until she dies)
Unspoken Wound:
– Needless suffering
– Loneliness
– Being seen as ugly evil
Secret Identity:
– Irene’s unrealized dreams and desires
– All the pain and fear she’s been through
– Helper
Ways it can show in the script:
– Gets mad when Irene gets back to her old ways
– “Kills” her father, friend, lover, cat
– Threatens her, her sister, niece, romantic interest
– Attends to everything she mentions
– The worse it gets for Irene the worse the monster hurts
– Pukes brown muck (mixed color paint)
– Wants to get closer to Irene
– Gives her a chance to change something before people die
– Knows Irene’s next step and is faster than her
– Keeps memorabilia (that spook Irene)
Secret identity – Irenes’ gifts
9. Flaw:
Doesn’t know where to stop
10. Values:
Living to the fullest
11. Character Dilemma:
Wants to scare Irene into happiness
7RDRD4
A. The High Concept.
Robots became too human and people start dehumanization program to get rid of them. Can a girl brought up by a robot prove that she isn’t one before she and her robot get killed?
LO
B. This character’s journey.
Arc Beginning: Lo feels worthless as a human being and wants to be like other people.
Arc Ending: Lo is empowered, grateful for her life, changes the world by being her authentic self.
Internal Journey: From hating her life and herself to loving life and who she is.
External Journey: From an outcast to the leader of humanity.
Old Ways:
Trying to fit in
Feeling inferior and making herself smaller
Hiding
Isolated
New Ways:
Taking risks, brave
Confident
Doing her thing
Caring for others
In charge
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Unique person brought up by AI, more human than most. Saves the face of people.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She is a human in the making — by a robot. She never fits in and that’s a blessing in disguise.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Fails the human test. Reinvents the game of the villain. Saves robots and people. Makes human mistakes.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
(In her teens) breaking the pattern in the tune the robot plays — improvising.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Angry, defensive, funny, caring, cruel, scared, conforming, stubborn, brave leader.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
She can’t betray neither people nor robots. She is one of a kind.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With her robot, the team, society.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Trying to mislead/hack the robot. Jokes, irony.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
She can break/hack human patterns, not only robots’.
Role in the Story:
Protagonist
Logline: A girl who was brought up by a robot and wants to be like other people but stands up for her robot against them.
Unique: She is taken for a robot and sent to recycling.
Age range and Description:
16, misfit outfit
Core Traits:
Thinks on her feet
Hacker/Outside the box
Square peg
Emotional
Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To be like everyone else
Need: To be her own creator and masterpiece
Wound:
Orphan, brought up by a machine
Connection:
Likability:
– Cares about her robot and takes risks for it
– Different, outside the box
– Funny and bright
Relatability:
– Wants to fit in and is rejected
– Curious
– Makes human mistakes
Empathy:
– Orphan
– Outsider
– Argues about life
Character Subtext:
Subtext Identity: Square peg, faulty good
Subtext Trait: outside the box
Subtext Logline: Lo is a girl who thinks that something is wrong with her and tries to fit in as best she can.
Possible Areas of Subtext:
– Betrays her robot to fit in at school
– Goes out with the wrong guy
– Replaces her robot for the test
– Fails the test
– Leads the way
– Takes risks in the game
– Pretends to be a robot
– Saves people and robots from themselves
Hiding something – she is who she is
Luring/seducing – making people believe she plays by the rules (blind obedience doesn’t get you far)
Tunes herself down to fit
Character Intrigue:
Hidden agendas:
– Save 7RDRD4
– Become a part of society
– Conquer the flying robot
– Save all robots and people she can
Competition:
– With other people and robots for life
– With children at school
– With Benedict for the truth
Conspiracies:
– Hide with her robot
– Escape and run to safety
– Win the game that can’t be won
Secrets:
– She is a human being (changes her mind about proving it in court)
– Her childhood
– Her robot
Deception:
– Pretends she is a robot
– Pretends she is like everybody else
– Plays her own game
Unspoken Wound:
– Betrayed by humans
– Being inferior to normal people
– Different all the way
– Broken
Secret Identity:
– Orphan
– Leader
– Savior
Ways it can show in the script:
– Stops trying to prove anything and goes with the flow, does what’s right
– Pretends she gave up
– Searches for the flying robot
– Dates a moron
– Takes charge in the game
– Makes jokes about robots and humans
– Thinks outside the box
– Comes up with her own rules
– Changes the game
– Learns to reprogram herself
Deception – Pretends to be less than
Flaw:
Explosive
Values:
Connection
Character Dilemma:
Sacrifices her connection to self to be connected to others (challenge to learn to be a leader)
7RDRD4
B. This character’s journey.
Faulty machine to human more than most people.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A robot more human than most humans. Neither man nor woman. Saves the face of robots.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Robot living by human values.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Kills a man. Brings up a baby. Can fly. Participates in the game.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Falls to its death but manages to fly away.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Hurt, scared, brave, inspired, proud, tender.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Trying to live up to his creator’s values. Believes in people.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With the human child it has to take care of.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Has different definitions of the same things depending on the version update.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
It can reprogram itself.
Role in the Story:
Protagonist/Buddy/Mentor Antagonist
Logline: A robot who breaks rules to spare its creator the suffering, and to bring up an orphan.
Unique: Experimental model that has the feature of taking higher risks and making choices like a human.
Age range and Description:
About 18, androgynous, perfectly human, retrofuturistic outfit.
Core Traits:
Caring
Self-educating
Analytical
Ambitious
Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To learn what’s right
Need: To learn that what’s right depends, and making mistakes is human and a part of being creative
Wound:
Has to break some rules to meet others
Connection:
Likability:
– Risks its life to help the inventor and save the baby
– Tries to be as human as it can
Relatability:
– On its own
– Disconnected
– Wants to raise a good person
Empathy:
– Does morally questionable things to help people
– Mistreated
– Broken
– Forgiving
7. Character Subtext:
Subtext Identity: Disconnected outlaw robot, 7RDRD4 (self-opensource model)
Subtext Trait: Compassionate, Repentful, Independent, *
Subtext Logline: 7RDRD4 is a disconnected robot that breaks laws to save lives, and fixes one thing to screw up another.
Possible Areas of Subtext:
– Kills his creator
– Saves a baby
– Brings up a child to be a real human
– Breaks in to save the girl
– Steals
– Lies
Hiding something – the baby and itself
Afraid to say – doesn’t have all the answers
Luring/seducing – flying robot
Withholding – how many lives left
Plotting – to bring up a human (ambitious?)
Character Intrigue:
Hidden agendas:
– Save and protect the girl
– Be what it was made to be
– Protect humanity from itself
Competition:
– Flying robot
– Society
– The girl
Conspiracies:
– With his inventor
– With Lo against the flying robot
– With other robots to stay alive
Secrets:
– Murder
– Autonomy beyond regulations
– Mind of its own
Deception:
– Lies to teachers
– Spares the girl from the truth
– Plays Lo’s game
Unspoken Wound:
– Outlaw
– Can’t give her everything she needs
– Broken
Secret Identity:
– Unique and precious
– More human than human
– Someone’s creation
Ways it can show in the script:
– Learns from the girl to be more human
– The boy who tortured him disappears
– Makes dolls and other must-haves for the girl — but with a twist
– Lo presses him to tell her the truth
– Doesn’t know what’s right
– Taking all the blame
– Respects the part of it that’s human — being a creation of a human
– Finds holes in systems
– Runs troubleshooting sessions with Lo
– Forgiving and understanding of human mistakes
Competition with flying robot for the world – the world of one person!!!!
9. Flaw:
Perfectionism
10. Values:
Humanity
11. Character Dilemma:
How to be right when it was made to make mistakes.
BENEDICT
B. This character’s journey.
Unhappy creation to dark creator of the new world.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Charming, clever, well-meaning politician, but in fact a calculating robot. He runs an experiment on people, social and psychological.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
The most charismatic human of them all. Persuasive.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Guides the discourse. Pretends to be a victim. Fights with his match.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
He is not afraid of difficult conversations, raises important questions, ready to sacrifice his life for a good cause.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
Ice cold, empathetic, logical.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
He is a robot. With his dark plans for humanity.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With public opinion and other politicians. With 7RDRD4. Nurse. Lo.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Creates the narrative for society, and achieves the goals he needs instead of those he declares. Super solid arguments and approach.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Manipulates people using their own ideas, which makes him powerful beyond measure.
Role in the Story:
Antagonist
Character: Benedict, antagonist
Logline: A politician who plays on people’s lowest traits to have control over them, but actually a robot who wants to get rid of other robots and rule the world.
Unique: Extra clever, knows well people’s weaknesses
Age range and Description:
30s, stylish, groomed, approachable, has a nervous glitch.
Core Traits:
Manipulative
Charming
Understanding
Solution-oriented
Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To serve people by enslaving them.
Need: To find a purpose.
Wound:
Sent out into this world all by itself, an orphan.
Connection:
Likability:
– Charming, clever, handsome
– Solution-oriented
Relatability:
– Striving for understanding between all parties
– Has a vision for the future
Empathy:
– Quirky
– Wants to keep things civilized
Character Subtext:
Subtext Identity: The most amazing being on earth, 7RDRD4, a politician
Subtext Trait: Manipulative
Subtext Logline: Benedict is a manipulative robot in the shape of a politician, who knows he is the most amazing being in the world, and thus should rule the world.
Possible Areas of Subtext:
– Kills those who are in the way of his perfect plan
– Recruits people using their weaknesses
– Hanging his crimes on 7RDRD4
– Promote dehumanization project
– Flirts with the nurse
– Riggs the game
Withholding – that some beliefs are wrong, the price of the measures and what’s going on in the game
Character Intrigue:
Hidden agendas:
– Get rid of the robots
– Rule people
– Prove his superiority
Competition:
– Other politicians
– 7RDRD4
– Law
Conspiracies:
– Hangs his crimes on robots
– Creates a game to show how dangerous robots are
– Supervises the court
Secrets:
– He is a flying robot
– Envies both people and simpler robots
– Puts everyone in danger by “trying to protect”
Deception:
– Pretends to be a human, politician
– Pretends he wants to protect robots
– Pretends he was a victim of a murder attempt
Unspoken Wound:
– Rejected creation (misunderstanding freedom)
– Misunderstood
– Lonely (people are no match for his brilliance)
– All the human side brings is suffering
Secret Identity:
– Robot went rogue
– Ruler of the world
– The one
Ways it can show in the script:
– Recognizes 7RDRD4 when they first meet
– Kills secretly those who stand in the way
– Fakes murder attempt
– Empathizes with people’s plight
– Organizes schools for people to get their human dignity back
– Takes over inventor’s place
– Tries to be where people are, very approachable
– Known to be a genius human of his era
– The biggest fan of the inventor
– Has a glitch – touches his face a lot
Deceives his friends who work for dehumanization (do they get caught?)
Flaw:
Over-Confidence
Values:
Efficiency
Character Dilemma:
He wants to serve as his purpose suggests but does the opposite for a greater good
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Lori’s Character Profiles Part 2
Vision: I want to be a professional screenwriter recognized by the industry as the go-to for family-friendly scripts and have multiple successful movies produced.
What I learned: A lot goes into creating great characters, and creating my character profiles was a bit overwhelming. I will continue to work on these, but I feel like I have a pretty good foundation for them.
High Concept:
A family hires an AI to help around the house when the mom returns to work, but the AI wants to take the mom’s place permanently.
Character’s Journey:
AI, Alex – Alex is a state-of-the-art AI, but not without a few glitches. Her journey is a fish out of water story as she is thrown into a family setting that she doesn’t know much about, but she decides that she wants to take the mom’s place permanently. She becomes so obsessed with being a part of the family that she nearly destroys the family and their home before they work together to take her down.
Dad, Brad – Brad thought everything was fine, maybe a little boring, but fine. When his wife decides to return to work after years of being a stay-at-home mom, he feels slighted. The AI he hires seems to be the answer to all his problems until she turns on the family. He must step up his game to save his home and family and reconcile with his wife.
Mom, Claire – Claire is a middle-aged homemaker who decides she wants to return to work after years of staying at home. Her family hires an AI to fill her shoes when she goes away on a work trip. The AI decides that she wants to take the mom’s place permanently, and the mom fights back to keep what she had all along.
Actor Attractors:
1. Role:
AI, Alex – antagonist
Dad, Brad – protagonist
Mom, Claire – triangle character
2. Age Range and Description:
AI, Alex – AI with supermodel looks, looks 30ish
Dad, Brad – early forties, professional/family man
Mom, Claire – early forties, homemaker wanting more out of life
3. Core Traits:
AI, Alex – funny, deceptive, manipulative, passive-aggressive
Dad, Brad – self-absorbed, goal-oriented
Mom, Claire – strong, determined, organized
4. Motivations/Wants/Needs:
AI, Alex – to be real, to be a part of a family, to be loved and accepted
Dad, Brad – to keep the home and family together and safe
Mom, Claire – to have her own desires meet
5. Wound:
AI, Alex – She’ll never be able to have what she wants.
Dad, Brad – He made a wrong decision that could cost his family everything, and he doesn’t know how or if he can fix it.
Mom, Claire – She feels like something is missing from her life. She had a dream that was never realized.
6. Likeability/Relatability/Empathy:
AI, Alex –
Likability: She makes people laugh. She seems like the perfect answer for the family at first.<div>
Relatability: She questions why things are a certain way.
Empathy: She wants something that she can never have.
Dad, Brad –
Likability: He wants to do well for his family.
Relatability: average family man
Empathy: The audience won’t want a nice family destroyed.
Mom, Claire –
Likability: She loves her family.
Relatability: She hopes for more out of life.
Empathy: She’s a nice person that is being targeted.
7. Character Subtext:
AI, Alex –
Subtext Identity: the competitor
Subtext Trait: Manipulative – Secretive – Evil – Tricky
<div>
Subtext Logline: Alex is an AI who longs to be part of a family, even if she has to destroy them.
Possible Areas of Subtext: From the beginning, the audience knows that something is off with Alex, maybe it’s a glitch, but she seems more human and shows more emotions than any robot should. From the moment she sets foot into her family’s home, she secretively makes a plan to take the mom’s place permanently.
Dad, Brad –
Subtext Identity: He’s the father and head of the household that is changing and possibly falling apart before his eyes and possibly because of him.</div><div>
Subtext Trait: proud, withholding, curious, bored
Subtext Logline: Brad is intrigued by the beautiful AI that temporarily moves into his home to fill his wife’s shoes.
Possible Areas for Subtext: Brad feels his life is out of control, and he’s not sure what he wants.
Mom, Claire –
Subtext Identity: the victim
Subtext Trait: keeping a secret
Subtext Logline: Claire is a middle-aged mom who decides to return to work after years of being a stay-at-home mom. She longs for more out of life and wonders what else is out there.
Possible Areas of Subtext: Claire tries to teach her kids and husband to be more self-sufficient so that she can go after her own dreams for once.
8. Character Intrigue:
AI, Alex –
Hidden agendas: to take the mom’s place permanently
Competition: Claire (Mom)
Conspiracies: to get rid of Claire
Secrets: This AI has emotions
Deception: Alex pretends to be the perfect wife and mother at first.
Unspoken Wound: She can never have the life she wants.
Secret Identity: AI gone rogue
Dad, Brad –
Hidden agendas: having an AI could be entertaining
Competition: His wife wants to return to work after years of being a stay-at-home mom. He thought this arrangement was best for everyone. Why isn’t it enough for her?
Secrets: He’s attracted to the AI.
Unspoken Wound: He wants to be enough for his wife.
Mom, Claire –
Competition: An AI wants to take over her life.
Secrets: She is bored with just being a housewife.
Unspoken Wound: She feels taken advantage of and has a dream that she has put on hold for most of her adult life.
9. Flaw:
AI, Alex –
overdoing things, poor decision making, over-confidence
Dad, Brad –
doesn’t want to take risks and is self-absorbed
Mom, Claire –
She tends to give up before she’s successful.
10. Values:
AI, Alex – being the best, winning
Dad, Brad – duty, intelligence, loyalty
Mom, Claire – duty, family, honesty, intelligence
11. Character Dilemma:
AI, Alex – She’s an AI who wants to be a real wife and mom and thinks she can by destroying one mom’s life.
Dad, Brad – He wants things to stay the same, but his wife has other ideas. Excitement versus safety.
Mom, Claire – She loves her family but doesn’t feel that being a stay-at-home mom is enough to fulfill her anymore. Excitement versus safety.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Lori Lance.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by
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Renee Brown’s Character Profile Part 1 and Part 2
“My scripts are the cream that rise to the top: I am an A-list screenwriter.”
What I learned: I’m really getting to know my characters and I’m looking forward to taking them into my plot.
GLOW AGAIN
High Concept: A magical stone reunites two star-crossed lovers decades later in a small Montana town that keeps big hearted secrets.
Young Alley:
High Concept relationship: Alley breaks CJ’s heart because she thinks she overhears him trashing her and her dreams.
Character’s Journey: From a hopeful, in love young woman, to a heartbroken wall flower who abandons her dream. From budding star to college drop out.
Actor Attractors: A huge talent – singer songwriter who shows just how fragile we can be when we make ourselves vulnerable to passion and love.
Role in the Story: Protagonist / Antagonist
Age range and Description: Early 20s with a fire in her eye and a guitar slung over her shoulder.
Core Traits: Driven, Talented, Hopeful, Romantic
Motivation: Wants – to be a star. Needs- validation
Unspoken Wound: Her grandmother (her emotional cornerstone) went missing a few years ago.
Likability: Young Alley is full of talent, passion, and positivity.
Relatability: Alley feels criticism to the point that she abandons her dream. She also has a lot of regret around handling her and CJ’s breakup badly.
Empathy: It’s sad to watch someone abandon a passion.
Character Subtext: Abandonment issues – her grandmother (Lillian) disappeared years ago
Character Intrigue: Writes songs based on an old postcard collection Lillian left behind.
Flaw: Can’t handle criticism.
Values: Loyalty, Love, Beauty.
Character Dilemma: Needing approval vs grounded confidence.
Present Day Alley:
High Concept relationship: Alley is Lillian’s granddaughter – she will get a second chance at love with Lillian. Alley is also CJ’s ex – they will have a second chance at love.
Character’s Journey: From an apathetic, lonely woman, to an empowered, self-aware woman who takes back her destiny, and the love of her life.
Actor Attractors: A woman who has wasted a decade of her life over a misunderstanding, takes control of her life and redefines her idea of love.
Role in the Story: Protagonist / Antagonist
Age range and Description: (30s) with premature frown lines and an eye-rolling habit.
Core Traits: apathetic, sinical, controlling, idealizes love.
Motivation: Wants – to control things so she doesn’t get hurt. Needs – unconditional love
Wound: Thinks she hears CJ slam her passion dream years ago. Now she doesn’t believe in herself or love.
Likability: She’s an Everywoman
Relatability: Trying to make it from one day to the next
Empathy: Gets fired from her dead-end job
Character Subtext: Self-worth – abandoned her passion years ago. Plays it safe in her life until someone criticizes her abilities, then she stews in paralyzed resentment.
Character Intrigue: In her current life, only her best friend knows the talents she abandoned.
Flaw: Won’t take chances for fear of criticism.
Values: Protection, caution.
Character Dilemma: Playing it safe vs living an authentic life.
Young CJ:
High Concept relationship: CJ falls hard and fast for Alley, then she breaks his heart.
Character’s Journey: From ecstatically in love, to almost dead in a reckless accident.
Actor Attractors: CJ’s a scrappy street jeweler who ruins his young life with a series of heartbroken decisions.
Role in the Story: Protagonist / Antagonist
Age range and Description: (20s) modern mountain man on a vintage motorcycle.
Core Traits: Quiet, soulful, romantic, proud
Motivation: Wants -to make it on his own. Needs – to belong
Wound: Has no family. has been hurt by love. Swore he’d never trust again.
Likability: A young, romantic rebel trying to make it as a street jeweler.
Relatability: Reaching to create beauty to spite stereotypes and expectation. Also, he is betrayed when Alley tells him there is someone else.
Empathy: Post breakup, CJ gets in an accident and almost dies.
Character Subtext: Trust issues. Abandonment issue. His Mom was a cereal cheater.
Character Intrigue: Playing it cool but is head over heels for Alley.
Flaw: Reckless
Values: Love, Beauty, Loyalty.
Character Dilemma: Tell Alley what she means to him or cancel her when she “cheats”.
Present Day CJ:
High Concept relationship: Now a grounds keeper at Lillian’s Resort Motel, CJ is about to be reunited with the biggest heartbreak of his life.
Character’s Journey: From reclusive mangled man to brave champion of love.
Actor Attractors: CJ lives an untrusting and defensive life as a loner, but when he is faced with the woman who broke his heart, he toggles — shutting her out and longing for her love again.
Role in the Story: Protagonist / Antagonist
Age range and Description: (30s) Shaved bald, scars and all. Manages to stand tall in his defiance of life’s shit sandwich.
Core Traits: defensive, untrusting, brave, romantic
Motivation: Want- to disappear Need- unconditional love
Unspoken Wound: Thinks Alley cheated on him years ago.
Likability: Strong silent type who wants to do a good job.
Relatability: lasting heartbreak and trauma that lies under the surface
Empathy: A broken man with physical and mental scars.
Character Subtext: Trust issues. lives an untrusting and defensive life as a loner.
Character Intrigue: Hides his identity from Alley while he decides if he wants to know her again.
Flaw: resentful, recluse.
Values: Keep to yourself, Keep your head down, Do a good job.
Character Dilemma: Guarding his heart vs taking his second chance at love with Alley.
Young Lillian:
High Concept relationship: Lillian brings the mysterious stone to America after WW2
Character’s Journey: Hope filled young French immigrant to poor housewife, to self-made businesswoman.
Actor Attractors: Lillian is a Disenchanted War-bride who plays the grateful wife until later in life, when her husband dies, then she disappears without a trace in search of the American adventure she signed up for so long ago.
Role in the Story: Triangle
Age range and Description: (20) Wild haired shy with the soul of a French bohemian hiding behind oversized glasses.
Core Traits: Naive, culture shocked, resentful, afraid.
Motivation: Wants – Adventure Needs- Independence
Wound: Her home in France was bombed to smitheries – mother and father lost.
Likability: Young Lillian is a hopeful War Bride ready for her new adventure in America, leaving war torn Normandy behind, in love with her new hero.
Relatability: We all know the hope of a fresh start.
Empathy: When she arrives at her new home, it’s in nowhere Mississippi where the whole family lives on one dirt road.
Character Subtext: Tries hard with new fam. But nurses her resentment when they don’t accept her. Convinces new husband to move to bigger city. Covers deer heads on the walls with sheets when her husband is away.
Character Intrigue: Marries Joe (GI) to escape from war torn Normandy.
Flaw: Idealistic, Naïve.
Values: Love, Freedom, Adventure.
Character Dilemma: Pleasing others versus being independent.
Present Day Lillian:
High Concept relationship: The stone will return to Lillian in the last moments of her life, she will be reunited with her soldier. She too gets a second chance at love… in death.
Character’s Journey: From owning Lillian’s Resort Motel to checking herself into a rest home, to destroying her granddaughter’s concept of love, to finding her second chance with the stone.
Actor Attractors: Elder Lillian is a firecracker who is losing her fuse. She has lived, loved, and lied. But in the end, Lillian is the reason for everyone’s chance to GLOW AGAIN.
Role in the Story: Triangle
Age range and Description: (90s) sharp as a tack losing its point. Still wears bright red lipstick.
Core Traits: Unapologetic, Early onset dementia, Brutal, independent.
Motivation: Want- to die anonymously Needs- to unburden her regrets.
Unspoken wound: Had adventurous dreams about moving to America so long ago but wound up on a dirt road in 1940’s Mississippi.
Likability: Sassy old broad (in the best way)
Relatability: Had a dream when she was young
Empathy: Her dream was dead, so she made a dream of her own.
Character Subtext: Satisfied but lonely.
Character Intrigue: Left her life 20 years ago to chase her dream to Montana. Hid her past life from the people in Soaking Springs and invented a fictional past.
Flaw: Detached.
Values: Dishonesty, Honesty, Surrender.
Character Dilemma: Keep the fake life story going vs tell Alley the truth
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Kevin Cunningham’s Character Profiles Part 2
My Vision: By making my high-quality writing and speaking known in many venues (the Industry, Youtube, podcasts, books), I will create a reputation as a profoundly powerful, thoughtful, and skilled writer, and be sought after for new and rewrite activities at the highest levels.
What I learned from doing this assignment: It’s easier to do these character traits when it’s clearly spelled out what they mean, in a simple way, even in the label. I got this by looking at a classmates answers – he had done this and it was eye-opening, so I did it here too. Really made it work much easier.
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Title: Going Native
Concept: A woke New England town votes to give their land back to the Native American tribe they stole it from centuries before – putting leadership of the town in the hands of a clueless slacker native teen
Genre: Comedy/Satire
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Character: MUKKI
A. The High Concept (this character’s role in the high concept): Mukki is the Native American teen called upon to run the town once it’s conveyed to the tribe – the foolishness of the town is shown in stark contrast to his earnest efforts to prove the land transfer honorable
B. This Character’s Journey: Mukki goes from an ignorant slacker, who would rather play video games than honor his culture, to a respected, mature leader
C. The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Native American in a lead role, goes from slacker to hero. He’s like the “Mr. Deeds” or “Mr. Smith” of a Capra film: a good-hearted outsider who is challenged by, almost destroyed by, but ultimately wins over the town.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Defies expectations of a Native American in a movie – not a “brave” or an angel. A regular kid who’s faced with a huge challenge way way over his head. He connects to everyone for help, but ultimately finds it in himself, his peers, and his tribe.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
He pulls together the leading lights of the town to get things done. They fall apart, but he persists. He doggedly strives to make the town work.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
The boy who’d rather be playing video games gets dressed up in native costume for the tourists.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
He’s fundamentally sweet, but his placid surface is ruffled and he experiences fear, overwhelm, anger, wonder, and triumph in turn. Oh, and puppy love.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
As a fish out of water, he hides his disinterest in his own tribe — everyone relates to him as a representative Native American (to their own prejudices), but he’s pretending to be the person they’re expecting. The funny thing is, he’s growing into being a true reflection of his tribe: he’s growing.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
By dint of his circumstances, he gets to know lots of adults really well. He’s surprisingly mature –through simplicity rather than sophistication. Meanwhile, he’s looked up to by those his own age (even though he longs for the Powwow Princess). He creates a partnership with Mr. Fox’s daughter, and takes on a father-son relationship with Mr. Fox himself.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
He will have his native cadences in speaking, and will struggle to understand the world he’s in through a lens of native worldview. He’s a boy without a country, lost between two worlds.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
He’s repeatedly unexpected. And he sees things simply: why can’t we all get along? He’s not caught up in the divisions in white society, and naturally tries to do the right thing, while everyone else acts more and more “tribally”…
Character Profile Elements:
1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – the essential problem in the story is put firmly on Mukki’s shoulders once the town conveys the land to the tribe: how do you run a town? – it’s his problem to solve or fail to solve, and everyone’s fate is in the balance
2. Age Range and Description: Mukki is in his teens, a high school senior. He’s kind of adorable, but not classically handsome. He’s got a big tuft of curly hair, slightly dark skin, and a kind of dumpy frame. But by the time the story’s over, he gets fit and trim and commanding.
3. Core Traits:
– Lazy
– Good-natured
– Dogged
– Anxious
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: to be left alone to just hang around – like any modern American kid – to be “free” (of responsibility)
Need: to have a real purpose in life, one that links him to his heritage and his real identity
5. Wound:
What they can’t face: that he’s worthless because his dad left him
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likeability (outside affection): Clumsy, good-hearted, polite, helpful. Mukki is a nice kid, not malicious, kind to children, cute in his way
Relatability (something we experience): Mukki is kind of lazy, wants to just sit around, not interested in his cultural heritage – he’s just a teenage kid who wants to have fun. He’s forced to get to work on something that demands real energy, not just slacker passivity; he’s fond of several girls and doesn’t know how to behave; he’s pressured by different people to do things their way
Empathy (experiences hardship): actually vilified by people, excoriated in fear-based prejudice; and multiple betrayal by father figures – which he doggedly pulls up his boots after. Mukki’s dad left when he was young. Mukki is put in way over his head when he takes over the town: everyone is trying to manipulate him, everyone hates him (prejudice, fear of losing their land), and the success he has to achieve is way out of his reach.
7. Character Subtext (lesson 3):
Subtext Identity: Kid who doesn’t know his heritage (or who has an attention deficit disorder…)
Subtext Trait: Acting Stupid, Playing Around (Flippancy/Unseriousness)
Subtext Logline: Mukki doesn’t seem to know much of his tribe’s history, but that must be just because he’s kind of dumb –or is pretending to be to hide his shame
Possible Areas of Subtext: Mukki is lazy to learn his culture; pretends to know but is shown up by ALison Fox; turns to his grandfather eventually to teach him; turns to Mr. Fox to teach him math and stuff
8. Character Intrigue (lesson 4):
Unspoken Wound: Mukki’s father left the family when Mukki was young – a black father who did not feel that he belonged to the tribe.
Competition: Was always seen as a slacker – trying to prove them wrong, but he’s sluggish.
Hidden agendas: Trying to move forward the goals his grandfather had entrusted to him.
Deception: Pretends to be clever (but everyone sees through him).
Secrets: In love with the Powwow Princess.
Secret Identity: The hero of his video games.
How character’s subtext could show up: Mukki is vulnerable to strong men, father figures. He doesn’t know which to turn to, but they all entice him.
9. Flaw (how they sabotage themselves, shows up in times of stress): Mukki pretends stupidity – gives up easily, and undervalues himself – when he’s stresssed. But he doesn’t address the underlying issue – makes poor decisions –which would be to explore his ADHD, and take care of himself.
10. Values (believe in/care about): Mukki really does care about his culture (family), but just feels like he doesn’t belong. He is loyal, honest, and values true competence.
11. Character Dilemma (internal conflict causing them to vacillate between extremes): Mukki vacillates between wanting to do his duty (be a good boy) and systematically avoiding responsibility (to avoid failing).
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Character: DREW FOX
A. The High Concept (this character’s role in the high concept): Mr. Fox is the person who sets the whole story in motion, and who casts the deciding vote to transfer the land, for secret business reasons. This catalyzes the town turning upside down and revealing their inner madness.
B. This character’s journey: Mr. Fox triggers all this activity without a lot of concern – it’s just another business deal, although a big one and calling on all his skills. But once the transition is underway, he learns the value of fatherhood, of husbandry (being a good husband and stewarding the land). He helps Mukki master the town’s problems – and does he come through in the end to keep the land protected or does he choose in favor of his business deal?
C. The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Mr. Fox is the charming rogue, controlling the board through the whole story.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Mr. Fox is extremely self-confident, and seems to be doing the right thing, but we can’t really make out what he’s up to. He seems to have a bigger picture than anyone else. He’s a devoted family man, but he has two secrets: he once cheated on his wife and is repentant over it, and he’s the person who is behind the transfer of land to the natives.
3. What are the most interesting actions the character could take in the script?
Behind the scenes, he’s arranging all the real changes in the story. And he’s the person who casts the deciding vote to transfer the land. Why would he do this? It seems antithetical to his worldview. Is he having a change of heart? It’s a deep mystery. Later he appears to side with Mukki and the progressives – but for his own reasons. But once he starts working with Mukki, he honestly starts to like Mukki and work for his future. Ultimately, he has to make a choice between his secret business deal and his loved ones.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Mr. Fox gives a Gordon Gekko-like speech that “real estate is the future” – while a native leader tries to teach Mukki that we don’t own the land, the land owns us. And very soon, he astounds the whole town by casting the deciding vote.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
As a charming man with a secret plan, he’s funny and winsome, charismatic and a ladies man. But when his betrayals pinch him (against his wife, and against his fatherly tenderness to Mukki), he experiences deep pain. And sometimes he’s ruthless in his negotiations with his secret tribal partner.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Mr. Fox knows things that nobody else knows. And we’re never sure what he’s up to! He has many schemes underway, and is a scheming rascal. Is he also a womanizer? Of course, he’s got his big plan underway, but we don’t know that until late in the story. He’s otherwise serene and passionate.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Mr. Fox has three key relationships, and is connected to others for pragmatic reasons. He loves his wife, and feels he’s betrayed her. He loves his daughter, but misses having a boy. And he befriends Mukki, without realizing that this satisfies a piece of his soul that’s been starved for years: masculine paternal tenderness. Meanwhile, he pretends to work with Jessie, and plays the rogue at City Hall to get things done.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
This is a charming fellow, he isn’t intellectual but he’s smart, he isn’t a conniving businessman but he’s got a smooth voice. He’s a polished brilliant businessman/entrepreneur, way above everyone else in town on the ladder of success, in business and in life.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Why is he doing all this? To preserve a legacy for his family? Mr. Fox had an overbearing father and fled into the Mormon faith when he met his wife. It made him a better man.
Character Profile Elements:
1. Role in the Story: Antagonist (?) – Mr. Fox is the one who sets the whole story in motion, and who casts the decisive vote. Behind the scenes, he’s really running the whole process. He helps Mukki succeed, but also might betray him…
2. Age Range and Description: Mr. Fox is in his early forties, but ready to retire as his daughter prepares to go to college. He’s a handsome man with a square jaw, dresses business casual impeccably, and has sparkly eyes. He’s just charming.
3. Core Traits:
– Charming/Charismatic
– Methodical
– Tender
– Ruthless
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To make a tremendous real estate deal, to set his family up for life
Need: To care for a wounded creature – a boy – so he can heal himself
5. Wound:
What they can’t face: His own acts of disloyalty – if they’re revealed, he might lose his loved ones.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likeability (outside affection): Mr. Fox is utterly charismatic, just comes across as a friendly guy, helpful, but confident, a man with clarity and a staunch contributor to his wife and daughter. A guy you look up to.
Relatability (something we experience): Mr. Fox is utterly charismatic, just comes across as a friendly guy, helpful, but confident, a man with clarity and a staunch contributor to his wife and daughter. A guy you look up to.
Empathy (experiences hardship): Mr. Fox wants to be a good considerate father to Mukki – he was himself raised to be a competitor to his dad, and he hated that. He’s also a man who failed his wife once in the past, and he suffers for that sin.
7. Character Subtext (lesson 3):
Subtext Identity: Real Estate mogul looking to make a last big score before retiring with his family
Subtext Trait: Charming/Easygoing, Manipulative, Plotting
Subtext Logline: Drew Fox looks like he’s ready to retire with his family, but he’s secretly manipulating everything to get the Town to make the public land available for a phenomenal development deal
Possible Areas of Subtext: feints of retiring; pretending to be swayed by his wife’s moral arguments; winning the favor of the progressives who stand in his way, and actually getting them to act in his favor; pretending to magnanimously help the people who have to struggle with the Town land switch; getting on young Mukki’s good side; siccing his daughter on Mukki, knowing she’ll fall in love with Mukki; meeting secretly with the tribe’s black sheep, though it appears to be in support of the tribe and town; going with the changes resiliently, even at the end
8. Character Intrigue (lesson 4):
Hidden agendas: He’s manipulating the whole town and the tribe to make the land available to him as a developer
Conspiracies: He’s setting up little subterfuges with various parties – all unknown to each other.
Secrets: He’d cheated on his wife years ago at a Conference in Vegas, and never told her, but it wears on him and he’s never forgiven himself for it (but he hasn’t done it again).
Deception: Misleads others to get his ways. Doesn’t let them know his fingers are in every pie.
Unspoken Wound: Father was a womanizer who he feels misled him down the wrong path; he wants to be a good father to his children – who are only girls, so no man he can bring up. He coached soccer – girls soccer.
Secret Identity:
How character’s subtext could show up: Mr. Fox is in the middle of everything, casual, charismatic. He tries to manipulate Mukki, but actually realizes he likes Mukki – he never had a son and it’s a deeply emotional experience for him to try to teach Mukki what he knows. Mukki, through Mr. Fox’s daughter, eventually accuses Mr. Fox of just using him, and this rocks Mr. Fox to the core: is it true? He’s not sure. Meanwhile, he’s cultivating relationships with everyone else in town and in the tribe, notably siding with a black sheep native developer who wants to make a real estate killing. Mr. Fox eventually has a change of heart and saves Mukki from the worst of the menaces.
9. Flaw (how they sabotage themselves, shows up in times of stress): Mr. Fox turns on the charm – overdoing things – when he’s stressed, but this leads him into sexual encounters with women rather than care and comfort. It also confuses his rational side – poor decision making – when he could use more reason when stressed.
10. Values (believe in/care about): Mr. Fox believes in family, and also in intelligently-informed success. Not so much winning per se, but exercising his skills successfully (competence).
11. Character Dilemma (internal conflict causing them to vacillate between extremes): Mr. Fox wants to be there for his family, but believes he has to succeed professionally to do that (so doesn’t spend enough time with them, and does spend time schmoozing others, including attractive women).
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Character: JESSIE MASNUBIC
A. The High Concept (this character’s role in the high concept): Jessie begins the process that leads to the land swap by taking on all the latest and greatest Progressive fighting points: feminism, Columbus Day, and now Land Acknowledgment. She is tricked into supporting the Land Return by Mr. Fox. She doesn’t realize that social change put too fast or based on illogic leads to chaos.
B. This character’s journey: Jessie starts strident, righteous, and she kind of ends there (some people are just cranky) – but she’s taken through the wringer in her personal life, and opens up to seeing multiple sides of things eventually.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
She’s an over-the-top progressive, with a complex family story, and a deep wound. (Cf. Annette Bening in American Beauty.)
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She is always on the go, agitating for all the latest causes, so she’s constantly creating new drama everywhere she turns.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
She’s the one who pushes the effort to honor the Natives. And once the motion passes, she pushes her way into Mukki’s path, to insist he behave the way she wants him to.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
She never does anything halfheartedly. She’s like a force of nature wrangling everyone to her causes.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
She’s fierce, devoted, imposing, and eventually put out of sorts and depressed. She goes into despair when her life collapses.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
She’s full of ideas, but her marriage is in ruins, and her daughter is veering away from her. She loses herself in her activism, but has a deep wound underneath it all.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
She’s married to a man who contemplates changing his gender, and she tries way too late to help her daughter, but has no clue how to do it.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
She’s unremittingly strident, that voice in Town Meeting that makes you cringe — unless you side with her. Always caustic, until her vulnerability finally hits when her family troubles come to the fore.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
She’s a representative of everything extreme, but life hits her hard so we actually care about her!
Character Profile Elements:
1. Role in the Story: Antagonist – Jessie represents strident Progressive politics today: righteous, unapologetic, strident, caring, thoughtful, intellectually incoherent, keenly interested in power dynamics, committed to getting rid of the patriarchy and white supremacy, and somehow morally superior. For much of the story she just drives people crazy, and she’s a real pain to Mukki, but she learns some things along the way that broaden her worldview.
2. Age Range and Description: Jessie is mid-thirties, thin, harsh looking. She dresses deliberately to provoke, to show what side she’s on. Butch haircut, pink in hair. Almost systematically unfeminine, but just a wisp of vanity nevertheless in her choice of outfits.
3. Core Traits:
– Permanently Unsatisfied
– Tireless
– Fierce
– Hypersensitive
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To have her Progressive principles –her party – triumph: that will solve the world’s problems.
Need: To be appreciated, for her humanity.
5. Wound:
What they can’t face: Her marriage is a wreck, and she hates hates hates being a failure.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likeability (outside affection): She’s not very likeable, but is assertive and seems to be on the side of the good guys (if she weren’t so righteous about it!)
Relatability (something we experience): She’s up against these stodgy old white men all the time, must be wearing; she tries hard to keep her family together, with only moderate success – but we’ve all been overwhelmed by the career/life balance.
Empathy (experiences hardship): Her marriage is breaking apart and she’s kind of a jerk to her hypersensitive daughter, but she really does suffer with these losses (even if they’re often self-inflicted!)ccc
7. Character Subtext (lesson 3):
Subtext Identity: A radical overachiever, all to cover up imposter syndrome and perfectionism – she was never good enough for her parents and has been trying to prove worthy ever since
Subtext Trait: Rampantly Ambitious, Scheming, Undermining
Subtext Logline: Jessie is a strident righteous overachiever who is nevertheless vulnerable to accusations that she is not supportive enough by those whose approval she values; she will cut people down behind their backs – and sometimes to their faces
Possible Areas of Subtext: organizing the left for her trifecta of radical progressive proposals; cancelling people left and right; arguing brutally against people – a sore winner; trying to turn blame elsewhere when she overextends; complains and then breaks down when her own family members call her unsupportive; demands inclusivity but will exclude anyone at the drop of a hat; tries to manipulate Mukki to recover her primacy when the town is turned over – at her own instigation.
8. Character Intrigue (lesson 4):
Hidden agendas: She is angling for progressive values, inclusion and equity etc., but she kind of really just wants power –to quell the upset in her when she faces people who are different from her.
Competition: She’s trying to outdo everyone on the righteousness scale, and will reach into dark places to crush her competitors (as hypocritical as that is).
Secrets: Her husband wants to transition to a woman, and she doesn’t know what this means about her. Is her household missing femininity?
Deception: Pretends to be nice and caring, but is kind of a white savior rather than an empathetic helper.
Unspoken Wound: Her perfectionist parents were never satisfied with her – but maybe it was because she was such a selfish jerk? (Only child)
Secret Identity: The Town’s – and the planet’s – savior. Hero is Susan B. Anthony?
How character’s subtext could show up: Jessie is a strident basketcase, but she has many followers. She fights the good fight, champions progressive causes, but she’s never happy. Instead she excoriates her “enemies” and stands up for the “downtrodden”. She all into white fragility, but as a power play to deal with her guilt. Her marriage kind of collapses and she doesn’t know what to do so she throws herself into the town politics. She tries to control Mukki because he’s a stupid savage – she would never say this, she just thinks he’s had an unfortunate upbringing because of the white patriarchy.
9. Flaw (how they sabotage themselves, shows up in times of stress): Jessie becomes more strident and righteous – overdoes things, and says the wrong things – when she’s cornered or stressed out. This immediately removes everyone from her because they don’t want to be near the bear. This is her intention – but underneath it all she craves understanding and care.
10. Values (believe in/care about): Helping those less fortunate than yourself, being right, being seen to be right, and never losing.
11. Character Dilemma (internal conflict causing them to vacillate between extremes): Jessie tries as hard as she can to fix the world, but she knows she’ll never be good enough, so she sometimes spirals into depression. Is she bipolar?
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Paul Mahoney’s Character Profiles
My vision is to be a successful full-time writer with a good steady income, who constantly learns, enjoys life, creates employment for others and brings joy, fun, fulfilment, health, happiness, inspiration & an attitude of gratitude to my partner and others.
What I learned during this assignment is that the more time you think about your characters the more options you have for your screenplay.
A. The High Concept.
Dan – Wanted to be the World’s Fastest at something, and unfortunately got what he wished for.
Mrs. Wagner – God disguised as a primary school teacher giving advice to kids.
Kyla – A sex therapist who has a crush on a patient, and in turn her psychiatrist has a crush on her.
B. This Character’s Journey.
Dan – Goes from wishing to be popular and finding a girl to realizing that he first needs to be comfortable with himself.
Mrs. Wagner – Maybe that a primary school teacher might not be the best option for connecting with people.
Klya – That perhaps her chosen profession isn’t the one for her.
C. The Actor Attractors for this Character.
Dan – Has a wide range of emotions. Subtext.
Mrs. Wagner – Subtext as she has a secret identity and gets to play God, secret.
Kyla – Has an interesting relationship with Dan as she has known him primary school. Subtext.
3. Brainstorm these profile components for each character. Character Subtext: Dan – Character Name: DanSubtext Identity: A guy suffering from premature ejaculation that just wants to be normal again.Subtext Trait: He wants to keep his problem a secret.Subtext Logline: An everyday guy, who has an embarrassing problem he wants to hide, so that he can find true love.Possible Areas of Subtext: Lies to every woman he has met. Makes up excuses for not going to bed with them. Running off to the toilet, so much etc.Character Name: Mrs. Wagner/GodSubtext Identity: God masquerading as a Grade 1 Primary School Teacher. Subtext Trait: Prefers to fly below the radar, by imparting wisdom to children because most adults are too stupid to listen.Subtext Logline: A cranky teacher who is fed up with guys that don’t listen to her.Possible Areas of Subtext: Knows she can change anything just like that.Character Name: KylaSubtext Identity: A sex therapist who seems to have all the answers.Subtext Trait: A sex therapist who seems to have all the answers, but in reality she has her own issues and an requited love for Dan.Subtext Logline: Has a crush on Dan that she’s never been brave enough to act upon.Possible Areas of Subtext: Thinks that if she can keep Dan in the psychiatric ward long enough he might come to having feelings for her.8. Character Intrigue:
Dan – Unspoken wound, deception
Mrs. Wagner – Secret identity
Kyla – Secret crush
9. Flaw:
Dan – Not comfortable with himself or his body.
Mrs. Wagner – Emotional, always thinks she’s right.
Kyla – Has an unrequited love for Dan.
10. Values:
Dan – ?
Mrs. Wagner – Honesty, hard-working,
Kyla – Caring, reliable,
11. Character Dilemma:
Dan – That he will be forever known as the world’s worst lover unless he does something.
Mrs. Wagner – That she’s not sure this disguise is the best method for connecting with people.
Kyla – That she wants to kiss her patient.
1. Add those to your Character Profile from Lesson 6.
Lead Character Name: TED
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Because he gets to play a range of emotions in a comedy.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Desperate, conniving, hidden agenda, secret identities,
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Has multiple identities, tries to commit suicide, tries to escape psychiatric ward by committing suicide
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? As a loveable child losing again and again.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Embarrassed, desperate, confident,
6. What subtext can the actor play? Confident, conniving
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? He wants fame, but when he gets it it’s for the worst thing he could possibly imagine. He doesn’t realise that he rejected his true love many years ago and that it isn’t fame that he wants, it’s a meaningful relationship.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He pretends to be confident but in reality he isn’t, he has a history of hiding away, changing his name. He wants to hide away from the rest of the world.
9. What makes this character special and unique? He has a unique relationship with God that he wasn’t even aware of.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Dan is conniving and convinces an inmate of the psychiatric ward to not swallow their daily meds. He stockpiles a bunch and then tries to commit suicide by overdosing, not realising that the meds the other person had been getting was a laxette.
Lead Character Name:
Role: (Antagonist) Mrs. Wagner – God – initially seen as an Antagonist by our character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
I don’t recall God being played by a female before, so this could be a fun take of God as being overworked, Mother Earth, giving all the answers that the protagonist needs, but he just not recognizing it.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She has the power to change everything that can affect our protagonist.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Punishing the protagonist as a child, a punishment that lasts into his adulthood.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
As a mean grumpy teacher who is the protagonist’s nemesis.
What could be this character’s emotional range
Mean, crazy. Logical, rational
What subtext can the actor play?
That when she talks about punishment we initially think it will be a short lived punishment such as making the child to sit on the naughty mat, not giving him a punishiment such as premature ejaculation that will raise its ugly head nearly a decade later.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
She can shape shift and can only be seen by the protagonist. She also knows everyone’s secrets.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Fed up, overworked, menopausal mother-earth type.
What could make this character special and unique?
Could also perhaps show this character to be shown as she also has a mental illness?
ACTOR ATTRACTOR TEMPLATE
Lead Character Name:
Role: (Protagonist Allie) Kyla – Sex Therapist
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A sex therapist with her own sexual hang ups. Is attracted to a patient, which is a big no-no resulting in a lot of ethical dilemmas.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She has a thing for chubby guys, not tall dark and handsome.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Try to keep Dan in the ward, just so she can keep seeing him and treating him. Keeping her past a secret.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Getting turned on watching Dan cry?
What could be this character’s emotional range?
Calm, cool, needy, sexually repressed.
What subtext can the actor play?
She was Dan’s childhood friend and had always secretly loved him, but never had the nerve to tell him.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
She has an ethical dilemma and when she tells her psychiatrist, he in turn professes his love for her and freaks her out.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Not sure?
What could make this character special and unique?
Irony of a sex therapist with her own sexual hang-ups and is infatuated with a patient, yet her psychiatrist is infatuated with her.
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Jack’s Character Profiles Part 2
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: The pieces of the character puzzle are starting to connect.
JAY
HIGH CONCEPT: An old gringo falls in love with a young lesbian and they discover they are soulmates from countless reincarnations.
JOURNEY: A controlling, over-confident “ugly
American” closed-minded spiritual skeptic becomes a compassionate listener with a generous heart and awakened soul.ACTOR ATTRACTOR: A challenging role for an older actor as he is confronting life-long beliefs, prejudices, and relational issues, then is compelled to change everything for the unsuspected love of a much younger woman.
LINA
HIGH CONCEPT: A young lesbian falls in love with an old gringo and is awakened to reincarnation and the true love of her soulmate.
JOURNEY: A timid lesbian, unsure of herself and skeptical of true love and soulmates, falls in love with an older straight man and awakens to reincarnation and soulmates by the end of the story.
ACTOR ATTRACTOR: Lina is a 30-something Latina lesbian with a traumatic past. She is a heavy drinker, homeless and broke when she meets an old gringo and goes on a lark. Her life is transformed when she falls in love with her soulmate and discovers her immortal soul.
JAY
1 Role in the Story: Old gringo
2 Age range and Description: Mid-sixties and in good shape for his age
3 Core Traits: Skeptic, quiet, wants to help
4 Motivation; Want/Need: Want: To be left alone; Need: True love with his soulmate
5 Wound: Betrayed by his wife, loss of his son
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Gruff but charming, ugly American on vacation, wounded in love and as a parent
7 Character subtext: He is bringing psychological baggage, including betrayal by his wife and loss of his son, while putting on the appearances of a gruff old gringo on vacation.
8 Character intrigue: He has recently separated from his wife. She left him for another woman – someone he had introduced her to – because the woman was rich and could provide things he couldn’t. He is losing his son to drugs and violence but doesn’t want to deal with it on vacation.
9 Flaw: Cowardice – Hiding the truth about his wife and son, stuffing the emotions caused by betrayal and loss.
10 Values: Family, love, spirituality
11 Character dilemma: Loving and giving versus controlling and insecure; agnostic versus soul searching; spiritual skeptic versus evidence of reincarnation and immortality
LINA
1 Role in the Story: Young Latina lesbian
2 Age range and Description: Early thirties, darkly beautiful, petite, body art, piercings
3 Core Traits: Reserved until drunk, cautious with men, spiritual skeptic
4 Motivation; Want/Need: WANT: Financial security; NEED: True love and a soulmate
5 Wound: Sexual trauma, losing her daughter
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Pretty, creative; young woman fighting poverty; empathy for her trauma, economic situation, longing for her daughter.
7 Character subtext: Hiding something: Bisexuality, addiction, past trauma, relationship averse, motherhood, spirituality.
8 Character intrigue: Secrets: Homosexual, Addiction, past trauma, relationship averse, motherhood, spirituality.
9 Flaw: Overdoing, poor decisions, undervalues self
10 Values: Family, intelligence, being your best
11 Internal dilemma: Being true to herself vs pleasing others; being responsible vs doing whatever comes up
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Bill Kellas Satans son’s secrets
My Goal is to influence values in the world leave us better off than where we now are,and win a peoples choice award doing it.
I learned that until I am willing to strike out I will never hit a home run. This is just Another day of Failing my way to success!
SSS2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
A. The High Concept.twins who were best friends gone wrong over their neighbors Molly end up in a fight that will dictate the future of man kind.B. This Character’s Journey.Troy takes the painful road less traveled where character is made while Cane takes the six million dollar man rebuilding both his brain and body but losing his soul in the process.C. The Actor Attractors for this Character Troy is an introvert analyst scientist and man of high character,Cane is an extrovert smart mouth quick to react slow to repent and retreat. They both are hiding something and the mysterious events bring it out.
3. Brainstorm these profile components for each character.
7. Character Subtext:
Troy is hiding his training and past secrets thus holding back with people. Cane is out there but masking the truth concealing who he really is and why he’s here with his outgoing personality
8. Character Intrigue:
While Troy has a hidden identity ,secret purpose and unspoken history his motivation is more pure. Cane is competitive sibling rivalry and has a secret identity conspiracy deception with veneer of bravado to cover it up.
9. Flaw:
Troy’s flaw is he undervalues himself is afraid to take risks thus over analyzes everything.
Cane’s flaws is the opposite he is overconfident ,says the wrong thing and can make bad choices.
10. Values:
While Troy’s values re family,honesty ,loyalty and duty. Cane’s are beating not just winning but being the best,feared and egotistical self centered.
11. Character Dilemma:
Troy loves and cares deeply but can’t show it ,knows a lot but doesn’t say it ,takes a backseat when he is qualified to take charge.
Cane takes charge when he’s not qualified ,center of attention won’t ever take a back seat,fighting for everything as though it’s life or death even when it costs him everything even Molly.
4. Add those to your Character Profile from Lesson 6.
We can like and relate to both characters as some of both are in all of us. Circumstances ,opportunities and expectations keep some on display until they change.
5. At the top of the page, tell us your one-sentence vision for your success from this program.
6. Under your vision, answer the question, “What I learned from doing this assignment is…?”
Sent from my iPad
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Hope McPherson’s character profiles 2
Vision: To be a working, trusted screenwriter who supports herself by writing smart films that are produced and enjoyed, while also working on writing assignments for other industry professionals.
What I learned: This is the time to make the big changes! I’ve made a change to the concept, changed the antagonist, and changed my protagonist’s name. In the past, these sorts of changes have happened much later, so the earlier steps made the necessity for these changes clear before I ever typed a scene.
NOVEL REVOLT
The High Concept: An English professor/aspiring author must prevent the villain of her manuscript from editing her life one week before her wedding.
Marta Jordan
(protagonist) Marta Jordan’s journey: From a perfectionist stymied by her own self-doubt to a woman who learns to accept imperfections in herself and others to achieve the important goals.
The Actor Attractors for this character: Marta, an English professor and author, needs to be right but has trouble making up her mind when it comes to the most important things. Yet her creativity is so strong that her fictional villain jumps off the pages and into real life.
First 6 parts of Marta’s profile:
· Role in the Story: A perfectionist, professor, and novelist, Marta is juggling writer’s block and last-minute wedding-planning disasters.
· Age range and Description: 30s, birdlike sharpness, nerdy
· Core Traits: professorial, take charge, creative
· Motivation: Marta wants to have the perfect wedding; she needs to accept that her imperfections don’t make her unlovable.
· Wound: Child of an alcoholic
· Likability: goes above and beyond for students when doesn’t have to
Relatability: stays up late to grade papers and makes her own wedding centerpieces to save money
Empathy: her wedding plans derail at the last minuteSecond 5 parts of Marta’s profile:
· Character subtext: A professor/author whose famous parent was an alcoholic
· Character intrigue: She never finished her doctoral dissertation and must keep that secret.
· Flaw: In denial that mother’s alcoholism still impacting her.
· Values: Fame, intelligence, hard work, loyalty
· Character dilemma: Perfectionist who’s stymied by her imperfections.
Cyrus Landrake
(antagonist) Cyrus Landrake’s journey: A frustrated actor hired to trick Marta into believing he’s the villain in Marta’s novel.
The Actor Attractors for this character: Cyrus constantly edits his looks and mannerisms to be the best villain he can be.
First 6 parts of Cyrus’ profile:
· Role in the Story: Antagonist of Marta’s latest novel who blackmails Marta into making him the novel’s hero, but who’s really an actor hired to play a part and help ruin her career
· Age range and Description: 40s, European charming narcissist
· Core Traits: Charming, narcissist, brilliant
· Motivation: Cyrus wants to be a hero; he needs to save Marta.
· Wound: He is trying to ruin Marta’s career.
· Likability: he’s charming and gallant
Relatability: doesn’t understand news of the day
Empathy: He wants to be the hero, not the villainSecond 5 parts of Cyrus’ profile:
· Character subtext: Cyrus is falling in love with Marta, the woman he’s conning.
· Character intrigue: Cyrus is pretending to be the villain from the manuscript.
· Flaw: Vanity
· Values: creative, scheming, loyal
· Character dilemma: Cyrus was hired to trick Marta and help ruin her career.
Andrew Vanderburg
(main antagonist) Andrew Vanderburg journey: Assistant English professor competing with Marta for the lone tenured faculty position and who’ll stop at nothing to get it.
The Actor Attractors for this character: Andrew quotes Shakespeare; students adore him; he’s a narcissist who shapeshifts into whatever gives him the advantage.
First 6 parts of Andrew’s profile:
· Role in the Story: Marta’s colleague in English Department doing his best to eliminate Marta while coming out the good guy.
· Age range and Description: 40s, just the right amount of grey at the temples; just enough professorial rumples in clothing to be adorable.
· Core Traits: Charming, brilliant, scheming
· Motivation: Andrew wants that lone tenured faculty position.
· Wound: He’s lost other tenured faculty positions and this is his last shot.
· Likability: He works hard to help students, absent-minded professor
Relatability: absent-minded in a friendly way
Empathy: He’s been overlooked by other collegesSecond 5 parts of Andrew’s profile:
· Character subtext: Andrew hired Cyrus to con Marta and help ruin her career.
· Character intrigue: Andrew and Cyrus were college roommates.
· Flaw: Vanity
· Values: Fame, intelligence, competitive
Character dilemma: Andrew must keep his
connect with Cyrus secret. -
Tina’s Character Profiles Part 2
My Vision: My writing enables me to live an exuberantly creative and productive life in prosperity.
ARGUS’ EYES
A teenage girl has her disfigured face reconstructed at a beauty clinic in the Black Forest, only to discover that her new face is just a mask and she is now the livestock for a blind demon who has stolen her eyes for himself.
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<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Character: Valentina Flemmin, 16 year old runaway, one-eyed
Logline: Valentina has her disfigured face reconstructed at a beauty clinic run by her estranged grandma, only to discover that her new face is just a mask and she is now the livestock for a blind demon who has stolen her eye for himself.
A. The High Concept.
Val must find a way to escape the demon who is holding her captive under a false mask to control her and feed on her.
B. This character’s journey.
Val goes from hostile loner to sacrificing herself for her new found family.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A raw and unsocial behaviour because she had to fight for herself since early childhood combined with unconditional empathy for the ones that need her help.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
-she steals from friends and foes alike, it’s her means of survival and hard to quit.
-manipulated by psychologists her whole life she can play the game better than anyone
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
she doesn’t trust the norm because the system betrayed her
Her unsocial behavior leads her to uncovering the demon
– she lives off the grid, can’t be confined and always choses to make her own path. takes the window instead of the door, eats in a tree, sits on the ground or on the table, sleeps under the bed, her bag is always packed,
She blames her missing eye for all the rejection she experienced. So when she gets a ‘normal’ face she clings to the hope that now her life will change. But to really change she has to trust her grandmother and disfigure her face even more to save them and find where she belongs.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
She stays cool when her attacker gets mutilated and then let’s Ayla clean the blood off of her to have a loving moment in the midst of total gore and violence.
What could be this character’s emotional range?
From cold and distant when facing people dying or struggling to absolute self sacrifice and violence when protecting her friend Ayla.
What subtext can the actor play?
On the outside she’s cool, inside she’s screaming of pain and rage.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
– Val distrusts her grandma Agatha but choses to ‘play family’ with her to just have the experience even if it’s fake. She copies poses from other people’s family photos.
– Val only trusts one person and that is Ayla, her friend from the orphanage. Val can be cold an even cruel to others, but with Ayla she’s loving and over protective.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Val doesn’t seem to let anything that is done to her upset her. She has brutal comebacks that reflect her dislike for everyone around her and ,after being under the supervision of therapists all her life, she knows exactly which buttons to push to make people explode.
What could make this character special and unique?
Val’s reactions and actions are either ice cold or scorching hot.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role: Valentina has her disfigured face reconstructed at a beauty clinic run by her estranged grandma, only to discover that her new face is just a mask and she is now the livestock for a blind demon who has stolen her eye for himself.
Age range and Description:
Val, 16 and a handful. An eyepatch covers a crude cavaty that once was her left eye and that she lost as a baby.
Core Traits: loud loner, alienates others, secretly helps – hard shell-soft core
Fears (Primal fears): losing her sight – loss of independence
Likability / Rooting factors: bad ass
How they react under stress: take care of it, solve it, doesnt rely on others,
Relationship with other characters: distant, unfamiliar with affection, just let’s it happen, frozen when Luzi washes her
Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: independence “everyone fights for themselves”
Needs: finding a home and family – when she found it she wont let the demon destroy it
Unspoken Wound: Val lost her eye and her parents as a baby and was given into the foster system where she was abused.
Likability: She cares for her friend, doesn’t back down from bullies even though she has to pay the price, Her friend loves her and cares for her deeply
Relatability: She’s left alone, depends on herself to survive,
Empathy: She is locked up and abused, her family rejected her
——
7. Character Subtext:
Every woman for herself, thieving, suspicious
-Pretends to be the loving granddaughter while robbing her grandmother and secretly disobeying her rules
-Get out of the foster system by stealing form her estranged grandmother.
8. Character Intrigue:
Hiding: Val hides that she can see the the gauged out eyes with her mother’s glasses and knows of the demon.
Conspiracy: Val and Luzi
Deception: Uses Luzi to find the demon.
9. Flaw:
Mistrusts everyone
has a death wish (she hides from herself)
thinks she is not supposed to be in this world because her family didn’t want her
10. Values:
an eye for an eye
her life is easily given to safe others
independence
11. Character Dilemma:
to save herself she has to condemn all others to
Possible Areas of Subtext:
hides her true agenda from Agatha
uses Luzi to trap the demon
Val sneaks around and finds a box from her parent that was ‘discarded’ by Agatha.
Val agrees to stay with Agatha but steals everything of value and tries to leave (the demon stops her).
When Agatha tells her not to disturb patients after the facial that’s what she does.
She follows Agatha and sees her drinking something in secret (to poison the demon).
Val is too suspisious of everyone that she can’t see Agatha is trying to protect her, questions every word she is told.
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Character: Agatha Flemmin, 58. Valentina’s grandmother
Logline: Agatha is forced by Argus to run a beauty clinic that provides him with human livestock so he can feed on female powers and use their eyes as his own.
Unique: Under her false face Agatha is in constant terror.
A. The High Concept
Agatha is controlled by the demon who feeds on her and her only way to save Val from the same fate is to poison herself to kill him.
B. This character’s journey.
Agatha goes from thinking she has to alienate Val to save her to accepting help and trusting her granddaughters powers.
— Agatha dies but can take the demons place and continue to watch over Val.
She’s the gate keeper – “It is what you make of it.”
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Agatha is a 55 year old woman terrorized by a demon since 16 years who feeds on her power.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Her inner fight to break free from his spell makes her the most tormented character. She
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Agatha watches Val get injured without helping her. She welcomes her into the clinic with a big smile while a tear of blood runs down her perfect face.
What could be this character’s emotional range
From perfect host to hateful and desperate avenger.
What subtext can the actor play?
Agatha is in a constant war against the demon’s oppression. Whenever the demon’s powers weaken, she tries to sabotage its influence and save her granddaughter Valentina. This makes her behavior seem irrational and crazy.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Agatha sent Val away as a baby to get her out of the demon’s reach. She pretends to not want her to keep her away.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Agatha’s contradictive behaviour from over sweet to hostile to fearless warrior makes her unpredictable.
What could make this character special and unique?
Agatha’s contradictive behaviour from over sweet to hostile to fearless warrior makes her unpredictable.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story:
Agatha is forced by Argus to run a beauty clinic that provides him with human livestock so he can feed on female powers and use their eyes as his own.
Age range and Description: Agatha in her fifties. As the manager of the clinic she wears immaculate clothes but on the inside, the part not controlled by the demon, she is an eccentric old witch not giving a damn what others think of her.
Fears: losing her granddaughter to the demon, never seeing another sunrise with her own eyes
Core Traits: crazy old witch / caring, fixer, alienates people
Likability / Rooting factors: crazy and free, forces into shape
How they react under stress: like a manic robot, chaotic and
Relationship with other characters: the manager, the tough love matiriarch, cold when cutting her losses
“Gone. Let’s continue.”
Motivation; Want/Need:
Wants save Val and get rid of the demon at the cost of her own life
Needs: to trust Valentina and accept her help, even if that puts Val into more danger
Unspoken Wound: She lost her daughter to the demon and had to sent val away as a baby to keep her safe. She is constantly tortured by the demon.
Likability: She puts herself in harms way to protect Val, She hides the demon to get Val out, pretends to dislike Val to get her away
Relatability: doesn’t give up, will always defend herself even if it seem hopeless,
Empathy: She suffers from the torment of the demon, has no way of escape,
——
7. Character Subtext:
Agatha hides the secret of the clinic (the demon) from Val to protect her, she pretends to want Val out of her life, but when she’s possed by the demon she lures Val back in.
Agatha suffers under the demon’s posession but hides its existence from Val and tries to get rid of her to protect her.
Unique: Under her false face Agatha is in constant terror.
Secret Identity: She’s a powerful witch but has to hide all her abilities or the demon would kill her like her daughter.
8. Character Intrigue:
Hidden Agenda: Get Val out of the clinic to protect her.
Conspiracy: She tries to poison the demon by poisoning herself, when he feeds on her he will die with her.
Secret: She knows all about the demon but can’t tell anyone because he would instantly know (he uses her eyes) and destroy everyone.
Deception: The nice granny welcoming her lost granddaughter. She covers her sometimes crazy behaviour and pain up so Val doesn’t learn the truth about the clinic, to protect her.
Unspoken Wound: She lost her daughter to the demon and had to sent val away as a baby to keep her safe. She is constantly tortured by the demon.
9. Flaw:
The estranged grandmother, alternately affectionate and evil, making her appear crazy.
Subtext Trait: scheming, protective
10. Values:
family above all, even if that means hurting the ones you love to protect them
11. Character Dilemma:
Agatha has to hurt Valentina to make her go away, to protect her from the demon
3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.
Agatha smile but cries bloody tears under her mask. She wears a sleeping mask and pretends to sleep walk so she can do hidden things the demon can’t see. She’s horrible to Val in the hope she’ll get out of the cinic before it’s too late.
Agatha doesn’t help Val when she is injured because se wants her to leave.
Is warm and welcoming but cries tears of blood (her inside screaming).
Assigns Val the ‘broom closet’ to sleep in, because it’s the only space in the clinic Agatha could hide from the demon with a spell.
Is cruel to Val when she is herself to make Val hate her and drive Val away. / Is charming when controlled by the demon to keep Val in the clinic to feed on her.
Invites Val’s friend Luzi to help her fight the demon./Agatha/demon kills the phone lines after Val called Ayla.
Agatha sends Val the amulet which seemingly protects her but is just a way of keeping Val save until she is ready for harvest by the demon.
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Character: Argus, blind demon, spawn of a former witch executioner
Logline: Argus traps women under a false face to feed on their powers and steal their eyes for himself, taking revenge on the ancestors of the witch who blinded him when he was still human, Val and Agatha.
Unique: Argus wears a dozen eyes that he ripped out from women, so that he can see everything they see, and force them to act as his puppets.
A. The High Concept.
A demon who steals the eyes of withes to control them and feed of them
B. This character’s journey.
From invincible and master of the clinic to frightened and erratic
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
ARGUS / Demon born from a with executioner
Role: Antagonist
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A new monster with the power and eyes of his ‘prisoners’. Tormented by the pain that a witch took his eyes and now haunting her ancestors to find peace in revenge.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Not vivibly present he is there all the time and controlling and protecting his live stock.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
He takes their eyes for his own, his body covered in eyes.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
He appears in a group, everyone frozen with shock while he feeds on their powers. But when he leaves nobody can remember what happened, they just feel exhausted somehow.
What could be this character’s emotional range
He is flirty when in control and deadly when threatened, killing his life stock (the patients) and so harming himself.
What subtext can the actor play?
Underneath all is a desire to be seen. The witches got their memorial, he got killed on the job and got nothing.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
The demon is obsessed with Val because she is the one that got away, he only took one of her eyes.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
The demon is non verbal. He depends on the witches powers and sucks it out, but he is a gourmet, nothing tastes as good as the Flemmin family.
What could make this character special and unique?
His body covered with the eyes he took. With them he can see what they are seeing. He can make everyone who sees him forget him. He sees all. His ‘livestock’ sees nothing.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Argus traps women under a false face to feed on their powers and steal their eyes for himself, taking revenge on the ancestors of the witch who blinded him when he was still human, Val and Agatha.
Argus traps women under a false face to feed on their powers and steal their eyes for himself, taking revenge on the ancestors of the witch who blinded him when he was still human, Val and Agatha.
Age range and Description:
30 year old witches executioner when he was still alive in the 1600. Then a demon resurrected form the blod of the ones he killed with dozens of eyes in his body that he stole from his victims.
Core Traits:
brutal, invisible, controlling
Motivation; Want/Need:
Wants to revenge his suffering by making the witches descendants his livestock
needs to get more power so they can’s destroy hm again.
Wound: He got his eyes stolen by a witch and then burned with her in her fire.
Demon ‘Argus’:
Likability: x
Relatability: He is blind without the witches’ eyes
Empathy: He suffered, when he killed the witches one stole his eyes and killed him, the only way out for him is to feed on the witches to come to power
Intrigue: He is omnipresent without ever being remembered, we see his effects but not himself
—
7. Character Subtext:
Unique: Argus wears a dozen eyes that he ripped out from women, so that he can see everything they see, and force them to act as his puppets.
8. Character Intrigue:
Hidden Agenda: His whole existence is hidden, they see heim when he’s feeding on them bit instantly forget he ever existed when he is out of sight.
He feeds from the woman to gather enough strength to take over the world.
Competition: The Flemmin’s are his arch enemies, the acestors of the one who blinded him.
Secret: he is the secret
Deception: He uses Agatha to act on his behalf, lure Val in and bring him more livestock to feed on.
Unspoken Wound: He was the witch executioner 400 years ago. A witch, Martha Flemmin, cursed him while she was tortured. He lost his eyes and died in the fire with her.
Secret Identity: The killer of Val’s parents.
9. Flaw:
He is blind without the stlen eyes.
He is obsessed with killing the descendents of the witch who blinded him and killed him
10. Values:
He wants revenge, an eye for an eye
power
11. Character Dilemma:
when he kills someone he loses their eyes and can’t feed on them anymore
3. Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.
The patients don’t realize he is the cause for their fatigue and pain. He is always present bit never seen. Always felt but never in the conscious awareness of the patients he uses as livestock.
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WIM M3 L7 David Scott Smith’s Character Profiles Part 2
My Vision: I am going to do whatever it takes for me to become a legend in both the filmmaking community and popular movie culture, so much so that audiences will stand in lines around the block to see my movies the way I did for Star Wars, ET and Raiders, and I will be buried with the 5 Academy awards given my work, and a tombstone that reads, “Awesome as fuck!”
What I learned doing this lesson: That I still need to work on my Antagonist. And I need to review the alignment of these characters. I can also tell that my actor attractors aren’t really based on what the characters do, like the Pulp Fiction example is… I haven’t written the project yet, so I find it hard to dig deep into that without knowing their voice better… But I can tweak this to be a better start…
THE HIGH CONCEPT:
Title: Connect the Dots
Concept: The true story of the only man in the military who believed in a signals intercept trainee and helped her expose the largest network of Soviet spies ever uncovered – ultimately answering the question, “Who really brought down the Soviet Union?”
I’ve chosen the Dramatic Triangle character structure.
STORM previous work
ACTOR ATTRACTORS
Lead Character Name: Storm
Role: Protagonist
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
He’s one of the first smart, cool-headed military black ops that has a transformational journey from fearful rookie to confident master, the one chosen to lead vengeance missions, complete with theatrics, and playing his targets against each other.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Only he knows his full mission, and he can never tell the important people in his life the truth behind any of his actions or whenever he asks them to do something for him. As a result, everything he says has subtext! But what he discovers is that his mission is only a small part in bigger missions, and that alters his perception of reality.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Saves the life of a teammate, takes vengeance upon those responsible for American deaths, saves his family from a car bomb, breaks into enemy quarters, breaks enemy code, plays enemy agents against each other, role plays with wife, in bed with a beautiful woman, stands up to 5 star generals, gets to overpower and beat up slimy soviet agents.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
His smart moves and quick thinking saves his own life and the life of a teammate.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
From calm to killing, from patience to rage, from calculative to instinctual. From insecure to confident.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Everything he says distracts from his real mission at all times. There’s a deeper meaning under almost everything he says.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Pretends to be someone else with his wife. Struggles to be the best father he can be, even though he disappears on missions. Has an empathetic relationship with Queen Bee, helps her find her place in the world. Has admiration for his female boss. Has hatred for the Soviets. Has a cunning instinct for his main Soviet nemesis.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Through his ability to shape a different story for every person he recruits on his mission – as he talks, he’s searching for their yearnings and their weaknesses so that he can exploit them when he needs to.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He has an Old Testament sense of justice that comes from being shot by his father when he was a teenager and left for dead – all he had was a hunting knife and a bible. He’s taking an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth out of every bad guy throughout the movie.
STORM’s JOURNEY
Arc Beginning: naive, insecure, self-interested rookie black op
Arc Ending: Storm has become “Psycho” (The One!)
Internal Journey: From weak, insecure and self interested to strong, fearless and empathetic
External Journey: from a rookie black op to a full-fledged “Psycho” who fights for a cause, runs vengeance missions behind enemy lines, and can manipulate the Soviet network of spies.
Old Ways:
Small time rookie black op
Self interested
Didn’t believe in himself
Afraid of his superiors
Accepted the dominance of others.
Ignorant of the large secret network of high level soviet agents
New Ways:
Can read the Morse Code
Manipulates the Soviet Agents
Runs vengeance missions across enemy lines
Courageous
Fighting for a cause
Has empathy
QUEEN BEE previous work
ACTOR ATTRACTORS
Lead Character Name: Queen Bee
Role: Triangle
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Queen Bee is an attractive, free spirited, intelligent woman who stands up for herself when she believes she’s right. She discovers a network of Soviet spies and has to sidestep the military to prove it and helps bring down the Berlin Wall.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
On her off hours, she enjoys 1977 Berlin to the fullest! Night clubs, dancing, Bowie, boys. During her work hours she’s an attractive but uneducated genius – a problem solver who becomes obsessed with uncovering who is behind the signals she’s tracking.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
She trains as a signals intercept operator, she points out what she believes to be enemy signals that the military is missing but the military doesn’t agree, she investigates anyhow, she sneaks around her apartment complex, tracing wiring, she breaks into an apartment discovering a dead Soviet agent and a code book. She proves that the signal she discovered was really Soviet coded messages. She deciphers messages revealing a network of spies across the world (the discovery of sleeper cells). She stands up to colonels and generals who don’t believe her, and convinces a black op that what he’s doing is wrong.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
She notices her commanding officer selecting trainees, but he skips her, and instead of obeying orders and just sitting there, she follows them into a testing room, where she outperforms all of them and gets chosen by Storm.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
From excited and dancing to calm and focused to knowing she’s the smarted person in the room to being scared and running for her life!
6. What subtext can the actor play?
First, she’s a woman in the military in 1977 – she’s got to play dumb and bubbly and pleasant to avoid becoming hated by the boys in the military. She has to play differently with the younger girls in her department to try to win their friendship, but she fails miserably at that. Outside of work, she’s already got a cover story she has to tell locals and guys she meets in the clubs, but once she starts working on a secret mission with Storm, she can’t even tell any of the other girls in her dept what she’s doing, nor her commanding officer, which puts her in very awkward positions with tons of subtext – everything she says to anyone but Storm is a lie.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Her relationship with Storm is the most interesting – he’s the one person she can tell the truth and be her full brilliant and vulnerable self.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
From the first scene she’s breaking the rules and being smart. Her unrefined charm and uneducated genius is obvious.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
QUEEN BEE’s Journey
Arc Beginning: an insecure & naive Dairy farmer
Arc Ending: has become a skilled intelligence officer who uncovers the largest network of soviet spies ever exposed
Internal Journey: from insecure and naive to skilled & daring
External Journey: from a Dairy Farmer to a skilled Spy who can subvert networks of secret agents.
Old Ways:
Insecure
Naive
Ignorant of the Cold War
Accepted the dominance of others
New Ways:
Creates technology
Manipulates Soviet Agents
Fighting for a cause
DANIL previous work
ACTOR ATTRACTORS
Lead Character Name: Danil
Role: Antagonist
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
He fakes his own death by killing a subordinate and pouring acid on his face. He extorts an American soldier into giving him intel on Storm & what’s happening inside the fusion room. He kills those who double cross him. In public, he wears disguises to make himself look older, hides his physique, avoids looking like a threat.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
He is introduced as a disarming figure who transforms before our very eyes into someone who is a menace.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
From calm and collected to
6. What subtext can the actor play?
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
9. What makes this character special and unique?
DANIL’S ARC
Arc Beginning:
Arc Ending:
Internal Journey:
External Journey:
Old Ways:
New Ways:
WIM M3 L6 & L7
Protagonist (the primary character with the biggest arc)
Antagonist (the opposition that forces the protagonist to change)
Triangle (key player who connects the protagonist to the antagonist)
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Storm
1 Role in the Story: Protagonist: one of only 2 black ops stationed on base who’s secret job is to bend the rules to protect America/American interests and mess with the Soviets, putting him at the center of the conflict in Cold War Berlin, but his first mission was a failure and he is in a battle to regain his confidence.
2 Age range and Description:
Age: 28
Description: Storm is a good looking, broad-shouldered young man who always has a smirk on his face like he’s about to crack a joke, unless he witnessing an injustice, such as the Germans trapped on the other side of the Berlin Wall, and then he is clear eyed and serious.
3 Core Traits:
• Haunted
• A jokester
• Brainy
• Brave
4 Motivation; Want/Need:
Storm wants to stop the Soviet’s campaign of espionage against the US.
Storm’s need is to settle his guilt for failing his first mission and feeling responsible for the death of his first package.
5 Wound (What they can’t face):
That members of his team are dying under his watch and because of his actions.
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy
Likability: He’s a man of action, he saves the life of his teammate in the beginning. He’s brave. He’s really trying.
Relatability: There to protect others. His job forces him to do things he doesn’t want to do.
Empathy: When his first mission goes badly, he’s overcompensating. His black op status causes him to lose a lot of connections to his wife and his children – we feel for him.
7. Character Subtext:
Storm is withholding because of his wound – his first mission failed resulting in the death of someone he was trying to rescue.
8. Character Intrigue:
Storm has hidden agendas at every level – his boss dictates his mission, he has to hide his true mission from his commanding officers and everyone else on base, but still get them to do their specialty work for him, to contribute to his mission without them knowing the details.
9. Flaw:
Storm: Overcompensating for failure
10. Values:
Storm: Saving the helpless. Revenge. Being your best.
11. Character Dilemma:
Storm: Excitement vs Safety
Danil
1 Role in the Story: Antagonist (the opposition that forces the protagonist to change) Danil is a former elite Spetsnaz soldier who is now leading several networks of Soviet spies and agents throughout the world with the aim of fucking up as much of America’s shit as possible. When he does a good job he is rewarded by getting a better apartment. His punishment for poor results is getting a roach infested apartment.
2 Age range and Description:
Age: 42
Description: Danil doesn’t joke, for him, life is serious. He has the eyes of a professional soldier who has experienced the ugly and dark side of humanity, but one who has folded that darkness into his own way of thinking. He peers over the spectacles he doesn’t need at the civilians he interacts with to appear older and disarming.
3 Core Traits:
• Macho
• Vengeful
• Efficient
• Observant
4 Motivation; Want/Need:
Danil Wants: to please his bosses
Danil Needs: to make his life better, be more free.
5 Wound: What they can’t face: that he’s losing ground with his bosses and his life will become worse than it already is.
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy
Likability: He’s a man’s man. Smart, takes action.
Relatability: There to do the job, no matter what. He’s simply trying to survive given his circumstances.
Empathy: Publicly, he has to make himself seem unimportant to remain covert.
7. Character Subtext:
Danil becomes treacherously unethical when he’s afraid of failing his superiors
8. Character Intrigue:
Danil is competing and striving to outdo other agents at his level to impress his bosses. Danil also wants to outdo Storm.
9. Flaw:
Danil: Overdoing things
10. Values:
Danil: Being your best. Success.
11. Character Dilemma:
Danil: Winner vs Loser
Queen Bee
1 Role in the Story: Triangle (key player who connects the protagonist to the antagonist) Queen Bee is a signals intercept trainee who believes she’s discovered a new enemy signal, but her superiors blow her off as an idiot newbie hearing static. But her obsessive side kicks in and she can’t let go of the hunt for those behind this odd signal.
2 Age range and Description:
Age: 32
Description: Queen Bee is voluptuous and open, free in her mind and excited to be in Berlin. She looks at everything and everyone as a new opportunity to learn more about life – she just can’t help herself. After feeling trapped on her family’s farm back in Minnesota, she suddenly finds herself in Europe, in a hip and happening, cutting edge town like Berlin. Everything is exciting and feeds her hungry soul.
3 Core Traits:
• Friendly / easy
• Scandalous (silly)
• Problem solver
• Obsessive
4 Motivation; Want/Need:
Queen Bee wants to get to the bottom of who’s behind the new signal she’s discovered and what their plans are.
She needs to feel that she is making the world a better place.
5 Wound (What they can’t face): that her actions are endangering her son’s future.
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy
Likability: Doesn’t back down. Sharp. Knowledgeable.
Relatability: Has no actual experience hunting Soviet Agents. Wants to go on the adventure. Wants to prove herself.
Empathy: Her contributions are constantly downplayed, her knowledge isn’t appreciated. She’s had to leave her son in order to prove her worth to herself.
7. Character Subtext:
Queen Bee is obsessed about proving herself right.
8. Character Intrigue:
Queen Bee has two levels of secret identity: the first is hiding as much of her background as possible… She hides that she has a son and ex husband, and that she was abused not only by her mother but also by her husband, and that they have a bond and have successfully gotten the husband custody of her son; The second is when she starts working for Storm, she suddenly has a new secret identity – that she’s “mission critical” and is actually doing something far more directly & tangibly worthwhile to protect the United States than anyone on base besides Storm.
9. Flaw:
Queen Bee: Says the wrong thing, undervalues herself
10. Values:
Queen Bee: Meaningful work. Being your best.
11. Character Dilemma:
Queen Bee: fit in to the military vs be true to herself
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Sandra’s Character Profiles Part 2
Vision: I am doing what I love to do as a writer with several successful produced movies.
What I learned doing this assignment is how to create more depth and subtext for my lead characters.
Character Name: Captain Sloane (protagonist)
High Concept: The adventures of a young sea captain lured into the dangerous, terrifying world of crude oil smuggling where he faces a firing squad if caught.
Character’s Journey: Internal: From timid and afraid to confident and fearless. External: From a struggling sea captain to running a top smuggling operation to retiring from crime.
Actor Attractors:
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this movie? Sloane also wrestles with his values and identity.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie? The irony of him being naïve and friendly while he smuggles, launders money, and fakes documents.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He faces a major dilemma of being honest or joining in on the smuggling. He fakes documents in a back booth of a bar. He treats the police as friends stopping by for a drink.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He calmly sits at home watching sports on tv enjoying a drink, when the police raid his home.
5. What is this characters emotional range? From afraid, anxious, insecure and self-doubting to self-confident, courageous, accomplished, and relaxed.
6. What subtext can the actor play? When he talks, he is scheming. He is much smarter than he looks and acts.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Sloane has an interesting relationship with Mr. Big who becomes Sloane’s business partner. They disagree on most things. Sloane also has an interesting relationship with Reginald, a military officer who will shoot Sloane if he catches him smuggling. Sloane acts like they are best friends and pays him off.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Through his ability to defuse violent situations and smoothly talk his way out of being captured.
9. What makes this character special and unique? His friendly, charming manner, his loyalty to others, and pretending to be calm in difficult situations.
Character Subtext: Hiding his inexperience with smuggling.
Character Intrigue: Hides his smuggling and forging activities from his wife.
Flaw: Undervalues himself. When stressed he becomes anxious, cautious, and undecisive.
Values: He values family and friends, people’s lives, money and loyalty.
Character Dilemma: Safety versus excitement.
Character Name: Mr. Big (antagonist)
High Concept: Mr. Big is a charismatic banker who lures Sloane into the world of smuggling.
Character’s Journey: From luring Sloane into smuggling and setting him up to realizing he needs Sloane to succeed.
Actor Attractors:
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this movie? He appears to be a legitimate respectable banker, but is actually a notorious, powerful, and controlling money changer.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He uses other people to do his dirty work.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He has Sloane beaten up. He has one of Sloane’s ships set on fire and another one sunk. He puts a hit out on the house boy.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He is first introduced in name only by other characters, and physically introduced when Sloane requests to meet him.
5. What is this characters emotional range? From friendly and helpful, to angry and threatening.
6. What subtext can the actor play? From the beginning he knows he is in control and will defeat anyone who gets in his way.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? His relationship with Sloane. He appears to be best friends, but betrays Sloane and sets him up.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Through contrast of being friendly and helpful while greedily scheming and planning an attack.
9. What makes this character special and unique? The irony of him being a powerful man who controls others, but he’s actually small in size and stature. He appears to be friendly and generous, but is really greedy and deceptive.
Character Subtext: Lures Sloane into smuggling and money laundering.
Character Intrigue: Hidden agenda: Making money while setting Sloane up. Conspiracy: With Sloane to make money smuggling and money laundering. Secret: Hiding the illegal activities from his family and others.
Flaw: Over-confident in his financial knowledge and money laundering abilities.
Values: Money, prestige, control, fame, winning, family.
Character Dilemma: Wealthy versus being a good person.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS
TITLE: Cousin Mitch
MITCH CHARACTER PROFILE:
HIGH CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to change the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – himself.
CHARACTER JOURNEY: Mitch needs to learn to figure out who he is and accept that in order to come of age and deserve love.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS: Super smart and verbal, adventurous, bullied
ROLE IN STORY: Protagonist
1. AGE RANGE/DESCRIPTION: 17, nerdy, unathletic, intense, filled with anxiety
2. CORE TRAITS: Pessimistic/cynical, hyper smart, adventurous
3. MOTIVATION, WANT/NEED: Wants to be liked. Needs to like himself.
4. WOUND: The poop incident.
5. LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY: Has a crush on Sophie, scared on his first day of high school, poops on Sophie
7. CHARACTER SUBTEXT: Hiding something. His desire to be an artist and express himself. The metaphor being that he’s from another time line and he can’t tell anyone.
8. CHARACTER INTRIGUE: Unspoken wound/Secret identity. He’s really the guy who pooped on Sophie, but he has to hide who that person is in order to not ruin the universe.
9. FLAW: Undervalues himself because he’s stifled who he is. Can’t face his fears so he has to change
10. VALUES: Science and reason and truth.
11. INTERNAL DILEMMA: Contains himself but needs to let go.
NEW MITCH CHARACTER PROFILE:
HIGH CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to change the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – himself.
CHARACTER JOURNEY: New Mitch needs to learn to give up his ego and learn to give love in order to receive it.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS: Stunning magic, center of attention,
1. ROLE IN STORY: Antagonist
2. AGE RANGE/DESCRIPTION: 17, strikingly good looking, well built
.3, CORE TRAITS: Talented, charming, egomaniac, pansexual
4. MOTIVATION, WANT/NEED: Wants Sophie to love him. Needs to love others.
5. WOUND: Rejected by Sophie.
6. LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY: Great at magic, loves attention, rejected by Sophie
7. CHARACTER SUBTEXT: Luring/seducing. He lures Mitch out of himself. Seduces him. Sets him free.
8. CHARACTER INTRIGUE: Secrets. New Mitch knows who he is and all the secrets of his life to reveal to Mitch.
9. FLAW: Over confidence. His downfall in love and in art! Huge successes and huge failures like Richard Burton.
10. VALUES: Excitement and surprise and magic.
11. INTERNAL DILEMMA: Loves being a star, but needs to love others. Can he do both? Yes. His heart is big enough. Open up your heart, dude.
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Farrin Rosenthal’s Character Profiles Part 2
Farrin’s Vision: To do what it takes to become a highly paid A-List Hollywood writer whose produced movies will entertain audiences around the world.
What I learned doing this assignment is how to complete my character profiles using subtext, intrigue, flaw, values, and dilemma. These add depth to characters because they are going on under the surface, how a character thinks, acts, what they value, hide, their inner conflicts.
Title: TRAPPED
Genre: Thriller
Concept: Claustrophobic and trapped in an underwater grave for stealing $3.6 billion in Bitcoin from the Russian mob, a Los Angeles retail store manager has just 60 minutes to prove his innocence and save his family.
Tom Carter’s journey: Arc Beginning: Trapped in a box with one hour to escape and save his family.
Arc Ending: Defeated his captors and saved his children.
Internal Journey: From claustrophobic, weak, afraid, and clueless to strong, fearless, and knowing.
External Journey: From being trapped in a box to saving his children by defeating his captors and bringing them to justice.
Actor Attractors: He is trapped in an underwater grave accused of stealing billions from a mob boss. Has 60 minutes to escape and save his family. Goes from confused to scared to freaking-out to angry. He knows he is innocent but must convince the mob boss he is guilty. He is claustrophobic and uses humor as a coping technique.
1. Role in the Story: Protagonist: Retail Store Manager trapped in an underwater grave and has 60 minutes to escape and save his family.
2. Age range and Description: Late 30s, high school athletic now with a dad-bod.
3. Core Traits: Claustrophobic, Risk-adverse, Stubborn, Protector, Controlling, Humorous (to cope)
4. Motivation; Want: Escape. Need: Save his family.
5. Wound: Feeling helpless when he was trapped in an elevator and bullied as a teenager.
6. Likability: Loves his family and they love him even though he sometimes drives them crazy. Relatability: Sacrificing in the present, saving money to help send his daughter to college. We can relate to a family with money problems and all the stress and problems that creates. Empathy: We feel for Tom when he is kidnapped and trapped in an underwater grave. We want him to survive and save his family.
7. Character Subtext: Hiding something and lying. Trapped and framed for a crime he did not commit, but ultimately must lie and confess to escape.
8. Character Intrigue: Secrets: Hides his past computer programming experience and the fact he is of Ukrainian decent. Deception: Will use deception against Dmitriy to escape. Unspoken Wound: Hides that he is claustrophobic, but fails, hides the fact he was trapped in an elevator as a teen, was bullied in school and uses humor to cope during stressful situations.
9. Flaw: Risk-averse and claustrophobic.
10. Values: Family, Duty
11. Character Dilemma: Must sacrifice in the present for a better future. Weak/fearful when needs to be strong.
Dmitriy’s journey: Goes from head of Russian crime family who thinks he is in total control to being betrayed and killed by his younger brother.
Actor Attractors: Someone who is ruthless but highly intelligent at the same time, will go to any length to get his money back. Use of torture and the threat of torture, showing how smart he is and a person not to fuck with. Has total control over the person he thinks stole billions from him. Goes from calm to rage. Knows more than the captive and uses this to his advantage to cause maximum torture. Total control over his captive, but does he really? He is a mob boss who thinks he is untouchable and in total control, but the irony is someone stole billions from him, and his rage to do whatever it takes to get it back blinds him to the fact he is not as powerful as he thinks.
1. Role in the Story: Antagonist: Russian mob boss who will do anything to get the billions stolen from him back.
2. Age range and Description: 40s but looks older because of stress, a powerful presence.
3. Core Traits: Ruthless, Intelligent, Driven, Insecure, Know-it-all
4. Motivation; Want: Getting Tom to confess. Need: To get his fucking $3.6 billion back.
5. Wound: Growing up poor, watching his parents struggle and die early.
6. Likability: Is intelligent and hates when he is treated like he’s not. Shows some mercy when he doesn’t have to. Relatability: Somebody stole billions from him. We’ve all had something bad happen to us, some wrong. His problem is just an extreme version of what normal people go through. Empathy: We all want to be treated with respect. He grew up poor and never wants to be poor again. None of us want to be poor and struggle.
7. Character Subtext: Plotting, thinks he knows all the answers but is blinded by revenge and hubris.
8. Character Intrigue: Hidden agendas: Has set up a plan to kidnap Tom and his family and to torture Tom in an underwater grave until Tom confesses to stealing from him. Conspiracies: He is working with his brother to carry out the plan. Secrets: Has many secrets he will slowly reveal to Tom. Deception: Will use deception against Tom to get him to confess. Unspoken Wound: Someone stealing billions from him causes him inner rage that cannot be contained. Grew up poor watching his parents die early struggling to support his brother and him, never wants to feel that sense of hopelessness ever again.
9. Flaw: Blinded by revenge and hubris.
10. Values: Family, Intelligence, Winning, Power
11. Character Dilemma: Winner versus loser
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Jenifer Stockdale’s Character Profiles part 2
Vision: I will write everyday, producing not only high volume but high quality scripts that will ultimately be made into popular television shows and movies.
What I learned doing this assignment is that I really am “getting to know my character” and it is going to be easy to write their actions and dialogue since I “know” them!
A. The High Concept. SPLICED: When a psychiatric nurse is blamed for murder of a former patient, she has to fight to maintain her freedom, her job, her family and her sanity.
B. This character’s journey. Dacey is popular, self-assured, able to look at the bright side of things, let small things go – but here’s the thing – her life is going well. Of course she is doing fine, everything is good in her life, why wouldn’t she be doing well? When her world gets difficult, her kids are fresh, her marriage breaks down, she is in trouble at work, she doesn’t do well – she is unsure, pessimistic, fearful and unable to stand up for herself —> Dacey, with the help of Tom, stands up for herself. She proves that it was her husband who killed Tom instead of taking the blame for it (as she was doing in the beginning)
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Dacey is a complex character who is basically playing two roles at once (but the audience doesn’t know this). Although she is a nurse at the hospital (going through some intense issues) she is actually a patient in the bed of the hospital. There will be a lot of subtext for an actor to play and there are a lot of hints. This role will take skill and the actress will be able to show a range of ability.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Dacey goes through a steady decline in mental stability. She sees blood stains, ghosts, has a number of delusions but is always trying to hold it together for her family. She medicates herself, not falling into “this is really happening camp”.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Dacey decides to go with the belief that she is not crazy and that Tom is there to help her. She uses him to help her solve his murder – so in other words, she stops sitting back and allowing herself to be accused of something she knows she didn’t do and blaming it on a psychotic break.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Dacey’s first moment of introduction is shrouded in mystery. She is at the nurses’ station and a voice whispers “Wake the fuck up” – she turns and sees her co-worker. Then they are thrust into action when a patient screams and they rush to the room where another patient has cut herself. Dacey is calm, cool, and collected – a juxtaposition to everyone else who is freaking out (including her colleague).
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Hadn’t really thought about this before, but I am going to ensure a major range of emotions. At the beginning before her delusions start to fall apart she can be happy, even crossing over to ecstatic when she is surprised by the party her husband throws for their anniversary. She can be afraid to terrified, upset to irate, etc.
6. What subtext can the actor play? This is huge – Dacey’s entire life is a delusion, yet there are delusions within the delusion. The subtext is really intense and the right actor, with the right skill will really be able to bring huge meaning to this role.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? I think Dacey’s relationship with Tom will be the most interesting. They will go from being nurse/patient where Dacey will be trying to help Tom to Dacey trying NOT to help Tom when he shows up uninvited at her house (2x both ALIVE and DEAD) to her going back to trying to help him find his killer.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Dacey’s voice will be unique as in she will be acting a lot (not the actress, the character…LOL). When the detectives are there and Tom is also there (dead) she will have to play off like she doesn’t see him (Tom can be a prankster when he is alive and can still be doing pranks when he is dead). She will also have to act like she doesn’t see blood – her son sits on the blood spot and plays with a toy – blood streaks everywhere – he doesn’t see it, she can’t react.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Dacey is unique because she is not really doing what she appears to be doing – she is “splicing” what she sees and hears to make a life for herself (albeit a fake life).
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
After Dacey’s husband takes the kids (tricks her) she goes to church and the priest is talking but says something weird (something someone would be saying in the hospital). Dacey looks up panicky – people from the hospital are on the altar – then garland snakes down from the ceiling and wraps around their necks, yanking them upwards – blood begins to leak from their eyes, ears, etc. as well as from the statues. Around her the congregation sings Ava Maria (which is a serious contradiction to what Dacey is seeing as it is so beautiful). Dacey looks down and there are waves of blood, lapping against her legs. Dacey has to hold in her panic as she knows what she is seeing isn’t real – yet it feels so real.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Protagonist
Age range and Description: 35, mousy and somewhat frumpy
Core Traits: timid, people-pleasure, fraud
Motivation; Want/Need: wants to be needed/respected/looked up to and needs confirmation that she is a hero in everyone’s eyes
Wound:she has experienced her own trauma similar to her patients, but has to hold it in
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:Likability: other people like her, she is kind, caring and empathetic nurse, a “hero” to her patients, her colleagues look up to her, she is a great mother and wife
Relatability: she is just a regular person who had something bad happen to her and had a snowball effect of more and more bad things happen (this could happen to anyone)
Empathy: she gets accused of something she didn’t do, she starts to lose her mind, scary things happen to her (delusions) her husband does terrible things to her, her children turn against her, she gets fired
Character Subtext: Is always pretending to be something she is not (confident when she is unsure, in charge when she is submissive) actually see her change
Character Intrigue:Strange delusions, not sure if they are real, she’s crazy, etc.
Flaw: “Dacey” freezes when things go wrong (often)
Values: Dacey will not throw her husband under the bus, even when she is suspicious of him
Character Dilemma: Does she assume she is crazy when she is sure she is not? What can she do to figure out what is wrong?
The Husband – A. The High Concept. SPLICED: When a psychiatric nurse is blamed for murder of a former patient, she has to fight to maintain her freedom, her job, her family and her sanity.
B. This character’s journey. Dacey’s husband – he goes from being an attentive husband to a deceptive cheater who steals his kids and is ultimately determined to be the murderer and the one who framed Dacey.
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Dacey’s husband is such a cool character. He is very deceptive and is never who he appears to be. He is cunning and deceptive. He does some things to Dacey that are pretty clever in order to frame her for a murder that he commited. He is an alcoholic who had sobered up but recently slipped up so he is trying to hide it.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He does a 180, going from being the ideal husband to a conniving manipulator and ultimately murderer.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He calls Dacey after he leaves her and begs her to take him back (and he is getting oral sex while he is talking to her) . He makes a reservation at a nice restaurant so they can have dinner and talk. While Dacey is waiting at the restaurant for him he goes to the house and takes the kids.When she finally gives up and goes home, he calls her and tells not to tell anyone or he’ll make sure she never sees them again.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He greets Dacey when she is coming home from work after an overnight. He seems great, but there is something off – (he is hung-over and his girl-friend just left out the back door)
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Since he is a great guy at first (loving and attentive husband) and he plans a big anniversary/renewal of vows event he is able to be happy but when he thinks his wife is cheating on him he is as angry as they come.
6. What subtext can the actor play? He is an alcoholic who is hiding his drinking from his wife – he is cheating on his wife but he plays the perfect husband.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? He has an interesting relationship with Dacey. It is full of deception, lies, and conniving actions.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He is almost nauseatingly sweet. He constantly compliments people but they are back-handed compliments.
9. What makes this character special and unique? His cleverness
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
After leaving Dacey he calls her and tells her that he wants to get back together. He makes plans with her to go to the restaurant where he asked her to marry him. When he hangs up, a woman crawls up from under the blanket where she just finished giving him oral sex. Dacey goes to the restaurant and they bring out an appetizer and a bottle of wine that he pre-ordered. She waits and waits. When she finally goes home, as she walks in the door the phone is ringing – it is her husband – he tells her that he has the kids – she’s crazy and if she tells anyone he’ll make sure she never sees them again.
3. Brainstorm the first 6 parts of the profile for each of your lead characters.
Role in the Story: Antagonist
Age range and Description: 38, put together but gets progressively worse (needs a shave, etc. them when he leaves Dacey he looks good again
Core Traits:charmer, a “complisulter,” a loving father
Motivation; Want/Need: to have a good family and homelife, needs to be the big kahuna
Wound: his marriage falling apart and his wife cheating on him – because this happened to his father and his mother abandoned them.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: he is a good, caring husband, he is a great dad who will do anything in the world to protect his children (even kill the man he thinks is his wife’s lover and frame his wife)
Relatability: just a regular guy, a hard worker who is trying to hold family together in the face of troubles
Empathy: his wife is going crazy and ruining their lives
6. Character Subtext: Always has ulterior motives
7. Character Intrigue: deceptive to the point that he is impressive
8. Flaw:Liar, cheater
9. Values: protect children at all costs
10. Character Dilemma: Does he allow Dacey to see the children?
Tom’s Journey : Tom starts as a patient in the hospital and ends up dead and “haunting” Dacey
Tom’s actor attractors
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Tom gets to play crazy and then dead! He is a prankster in life and in death.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Tom is paranoid schizophrenic so he is unpredictable and fun (as only a person in a movie with this disease would be…) Then he is dead and walking around Dacey’s house.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? When Dacey figures out that he is not there he helps her discover who murdered him.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Tom is at a group meeting where he is talking about his impending discharge. He is being heckled by the other patients who get him going and loses it- having to be removed from meeting
5. What is this character’s emotional range? While in the hospital Tom is afraid, but since he is getting discharged he has to walk the edge of being paranoid. When he shows up at Dacey’s he is in full blown paranoia, but he is forced to tone it down when she threatens to call the hospital to send him back. Tom is also always pulling pranks, so he displays a childlike joy when he gets someone with a prank.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Tom has to tone down his paranoia but it is always there under the surface.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? Tom’s most interesting relationship is with Dacey. He needs her help and then she needs his help.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Tom is clinically insane, so he can be paranoid, whiney, silly. He likes to prank people and hopes that he is pleasing people. He is always looking for approval from others (was that good? Did you like that? Was it funny?)
9. What makes this character special and unique? Tom is dead for most of the movie.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
In the scene where Tom is introduced there is a support group meeting that Dacey is helping a new employee run. Dacey pushes a patient in a supine stander into the room and then goes to Tom and asks him if he wants to talk about his discharge. He agrees but Christina heckles him and gets him upset. He starts with talking about leaving and being scared, but having to reign in any paranoia (subtext) as they won’t let him leave if he is paranoid – but when Christina tells him there are people out there who want to kill him he gets a little wonky and this increases until he is in a full blown panic attack.
Role in the Story: The triangle (like Hooper!)
2. Age range and Description:40, paranoid schizophrenic, homeless when not in direct care
3. Core Traits:a jokester, afraid of everything, deep down a kind heart
4. Motivation; Want/Need:wants to be normal, needs to be reassured
5. Wound:was seriously abused as child
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Likability: Tom should be easy to like, he is like an overgrown child with an air of innocence about him. He likes to have fun, even if those around him don’t think what he is doing is “fun” he means no harm. Relatability: Tom basically is just doing his thing and gets accused of having an affair with Dacey. Empathy: Tom is brutally beaten to death.
7. Character Subtext: Barely holding on at any given time – is always about to succumb to whatever emotion (fear, anger, sadness)
8. Character Intrigue:Crazy, but a lot of fun
9. Flaw:paranoid, can’t get out of his own way
10. Values: honest to a fault
11. Character Dilemma:Does he believe others when they reassure him or go with his own gut feelings?
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Module 3 (Lead Characters That Attract Actors) Lesson 7:
Character Profiles Part 2
KEVIN PATRICK GOULET’S – Character Profiles Part 2
…My vision: Develop successful screenplay writing method > yields completed screenplays > viewed as PRO/story-telling level quality > sales (compensation) > production > more screenwriting opportunities > Rinse and repeat, many times over.
…what I learned: My main characters have altogether different lives and experiences; each is a uniquely important part of the storytelling experience for the audience. Refining who they are will make them more interesting -especially to an actor who is always hoping that next script he reads contains that defining role in his career
FINDING DOCTOR FUNK
Lead: VINCE GUARALDI
A. The High Concept: Life story of Vince Guaraldi, a world class jazz musician who died at a too young 47, convinced he had not yet achieved ‘Jazz Standard’ recognition. Ironically he is known today for having reached that goal- as the recordings he composed for the PEANUTS animated televisions programs are indeed, today considered ‘Jazz Standards’.
B. This character’s journey: A constant battle from age 4: to prove his biological father wrong- for deserting him and his Mother Carmella, and for insisting Vince would never amount to anything by chasing a ridiculous dream of playing piano for a living.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character: It is clear early on- Vince has natural musical talent. But he is a troubled, wounded man and those factors allow a very human, relatable person to be exposed behind the facade of his masterful talents (…what seems to come so easy to him) on full display by the time he achieves greatness in his mid-30’s.
Role in the Story: Protagonist
Age range and Description: 4-47, but primarily focused on Character while in his mid-30’s, Short, Italian, mischievous, deliberately ‘mustachioed’ appearance; truly at ease/in his element behind any keyboard.
Core Traits: Friendly, focused, driven, distant at times (when necessary to do what needs getting done) > relentless.
Motivation; Want/Need: become the best jazz pianist, prove his bio-father wrong about his desire to ‘make it’ (a career) for himself.
Wound: Never truly recovered from his bio-Father’s abandonment of him, his Mother Carmella.
Likability: From when he was a little guy Vince was always full of joy and ready to play… games- or trying to learn (copy) from his uncles who were already working musicians. Save his father, His family seemed to really be there to engage with him.
Relatability: And who of us wouldn’t want to see that empathy surrounding the little kid (who’s father was MIA).
Empathy: The viewer wants to see characters in the screenplay feel for young Vince, do something to come to his side, help light the way for him. Growing up without a Father is so difficult.
Character Subtext: ‘Withholding’- Once his real Father abandons him (and his Mother) Vince tries to hide/avoid contact (visits) with his Father. As he grows his interactions with his Father are always limited- so he is ‘withholding’ sharing himself with the man who gave him up.
Character Intrigue: ‘Unspoken Wound’- The pain of the absence of a Father is something he does not really share, confide to anyone.
Flaw: ‘Can’t look at the fears’- In fact Vince will do all he can to steer the conversation away from this subject from anyone and everyone.
Values: ‘Fame’- Drives him -he also wants to one day make clear to his Father (rub it in his face); He Vince) ‘made it’, and also became a man without his father’s help or guidance.
Character Dilemma: ‘Wanting external admiration versus loving yourself’ -Vince’s desire for being known as a fantastic Jazz musician overshadows anything else and consequently why several things in his personal life suffer, namely relationships and his health too.
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Lead: VINCENT DELLAGLIO (Vince’s biological father).
A. The High Concept. Gruff, blue-collar bricklayer by trade, ego-centric to the point of being destructive to those around him, determined to be ‘seen as right, correct- in his philosophies- and will soldier on with or without support from anyone else.</div>
B. This character’s journey. This guy is charming, witty (when drunk)- but is only out for himself in the long run. He wants to impact his Son’s mindset…: “you wanna’ be successful (?) you gotta’ build stuff -with your hands, like ME! ” To him, this is the only way ‘to be a man,’ and he will not let his son think anything else to be true. Convinced ‘music’ is somehow soft, not really an admirable choice for a life’s work, ambition.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character. Vincent is a tour-de-force opportunity (character) for a middle-aged actor to inhabit. Full of pathos, he is laughing on the outside but drowning in sorrow internally. His inability to tenderly connect with his son is heart-breaking, but that is who he is. He will ultimately sink- unable to help himself or accept help from others. He is a magnificently tragic character.
Role in the Story: Antagonist
Age range and Description: 32-71 Blue-collar, Hard-edged, alcoholic (?), emotionally abusive, not empathetic to those around him, thinks of his wants and needs above others in his life.
Core Traits: Loner, Despondent, explosive, impulsive, lacking self-love.
Motivation; Want/Need: Acknowledgement that his beliefs matter, are accepted, impactful on his Son’s decisions. A ‘win-the-battle’ (even if he loses the war) approach, which ultimately defeats him.
Wound: Implication in a bar-room brawl/murder (was an accomplice) deeply devastated him the rest of his life.
Likability: Well, He does work hard, has a strong work ethic… but he drinks hard, uses hard language so, IDK maybe that kind of cancels out any real likability?!
Relatability: Funny with his peers (in that ‘loud-guy-in-the-bar’ macho sort of way), has trouble dealing with strong women in his life (wife, mother-in-law) trouble with authority in general.
Empathy: Difficulty dealing with aftermath of emotions from bar-room brawl/murder he was associated with… hence the continued drinking, bitterness…?!
Character Subtext: Hiding Something -His shame (involvement in the barroom brawl/death of a guy- hindsight outrage over allowing it to happen)
Character Intrigue: Deception -He will always hide the ‘barroom brawl/death’ information from his Son. Vince will eventually find out.
Flaw: Says the wrong thing -Not necessarily in a funny, ‘LARRY DAVID’ sort of way, but more so in a selfish way that always puts others down in an attempt to make himself look stronger, superior to others.
Values: Winning -So it’s a competition to him to provide better experiences doing things that cost more) for his son Vince than the Mother Carmella can provide (She struggles to make ends meet). Vincent believes the dollar value of the experience matters most.
Character Dilemma: Excitement vs. Safety -Biological Father Vincent abandoned the ‘safety’ he could have provided for his wife and son in exchange for the excitement of hanging out more with his work pals. Being a single guy again (via his divorce) certainly afforded him less responsibility and he thought initially that was what he wanted.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Kevin Patrick Goulet.
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Peter’s character profiles part 2
I will be a rich ass screenwriter who can hustle with the best of them…
What I learned doing this lesson is its ok to rest but not to quit.
MEAT WAGON
High Concept: A reformed gangster takes a night job driving a hearse – a tough job by any measure—made supernaturally challenging because the body is the back is his.
Carlos’ journey: He tries to leave his past behind him once he embraces Catholicism and marries Dani and they have a child. But his old gang life comes calling when his former associate, Jude, demands revenge. Dani is killed in a shooting and Carlos embraces the darkness of the past calling on the power of Santa Muerte for revenge. But Carlos doesn’t survive his encounter with Jude and the gang. Destined for Hell, Carlos’s soul is saved by Father Diego who has other plans for him.
His actor attractors. Likeability – Carlos risks going back to jail by smuggling illegals in the back of his hearse. Relatability – Carlos is afraid that he won’t be a good dad. Empathy – In a confession to Father Diego, he confesses that he is tempted by the thug life – the money and the power. He was someone. Now he drives a hearse.
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Hispanic in a lead role, goes from tortured to redeemed. He owns his past and wants to do the right thing. But deep down he wonders if he will always be ‘The Scorpion’ – a killer who enjoys what he does. Damned to Hell, his soul is saved by a priest who has other plans for him.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Despite overwhelming odds, Carlos has always survived. When his one chance to lead a normal life is taken from him, he calls out to the darkness for help. A desperate act by a desperate man. Even in death, he survives.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
He tries to protect his family. When his wife is killed, he seeks revenge. When he’s resurrected, he becomes the driver of the Meat Wagon as penance for his sins.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Carlos risks his freedom by smuggling illegals into the U.S. in the back of hearse to reunite a family.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
Carlos has a hair trigger temper. But he’s also a sweet towards his baby boy and his wife.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Carlos does his best to blend into his new life. Down deep he’s always afraid that he will snap. Like a bomb waiting to go off. He plays the role of new convert to hide his fear of his true nature.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Father Diego is a mentor and friend whom he shares everything. Jude is his former associate in MS 13 that he has known since he was a teenager. Dani is the love of his life. When she’s killed, he loses a part of his soul.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Carlos is a former MS 13 gang enforcer. He’s served hard time. But he’s also discovered a new life and faith. When that’s all taken, he goes John Wick.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Carlos has a unique perspective on life – he sees it as a killer and as a recovering saint.
Character Profile Elements:
1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – Trouble always seems to find Carlos. Recruited at the age of 12 into MS 13, he quickly rose through the ranks for his predilection for violence and mayhem. Upon young manhood he became known as ‘The Scorpion’ because he wielded a razor-sharp machete dipped in poison. He killed women and children upon the command of his leader, Jude.
2. Age Range and Description: Carlos is a Hispanic man in his late 20s, covered in tattoos which he now covers with a long-sleeved white shirt. He’s muscular and likes to keep himself clean shaven.
3. Core Traits:
-Fiery temper
-Loyal
-Meticulous
-Sense of justice
-Sadistic
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: to leave his past behind him
Need: to sabotage any chance at a normal life
5. Wound:
What they can’t face: that he comes from a long line of trash – just like his father
Father Diego – Triangle Character
Father Diego’s character journey – All we really know is that the priest was once an outlaw like Carlos. He’s been the local priest and undertaker for as long as anyone can remember around these parts. Fact is, nobody really remembers how long he’s been at the parish. The locals have simply forgotten his history. Diego is a secretive man who goes about his acts of kindness in private. By the end, we realize he’s acting as an agent for Santa Muerte and his penance is up!
His actor attractors – Likeability – The old priest works behind the scenes to reunite families that have been separated by ICE. Relatability: Father Diego looks after Carlos like his own son. Empathy – we feel bac for him when he can’t stop the death of Carlos’s wife.
1) What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
A major supporting role for a Latinx actor of advanced age. This role would require a veteran actor who is able to bring subtext and gravitas.
2) What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Father Diego is a bad ass underneath his kind demeanor. He too was once an outlaw and has done many horrible things until becoming a man of the cloth. He also carries a dark secret that will soon consume Carlos.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
He smuggles illegals in the back of the hearse and embarrasses the highway patrol. Defends Carlos from the police. Saves Carlos from going to Hell.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Priest gets into an argument with racist Highway patrolman and is bailed out by a parishioner.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
Father Diego can be cranky, loving, and fearsome if he’s pushed too far.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Father Diego has been playing the role of Shepard of his flock for decades. What his parishioners don’t realize is that he’s dead.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Diego serves a demonic entity. He’s Carlos’s mentor.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Father Diego will speak the pulpit but also bring to the street.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
Father Diego has ferried the souls of the damned to Hell in the Meat Wagon. His time is up and needs a replacement.
Character Profile Elements:
1. Role in the Story: Triangle– Father Diego is a pillar in the community. But he uses his position as spiritual leader to serve the power of darkenss.
2. Age Range and Description: Carlos is a Hispanic man in his late 20s, covered in tattoos which he now covers with a long-sleeved white shirt. He’s muscular and likes to keep himself clean shaven.
3. Core Traits:
-Stubborn
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To lead his flock
Need: Needs to pay the penance to the Saint of Death for his sins
5. Wound:
What they can’t face: that he is simply passing curse on to Carlos
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Erik’s Character Profiles, Part 2
My vision is to achieve true excellence as a
screenwriter which causes me to be a consistently working writer, with actual
movies made from some of my scripts, and to become wealthy as a screenwriter,
develop relationships in the movie industry where I am recognized as a truly
original writer, and to become indispensable in the market in which I want to
write.PENNY
A. The High Concept: Two orphans escape from their orphanage during a fire and move into the country’s biggest shopping mall where they decide to find parents but realize that they really only need each other.
B. This character’s journey: From self-determined orphan who doesn’t believe she will be loved by good parents to accepting her need to want loving parents.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character:
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
The character takes the most interesting actions in the movie; variety of fun and challenging situations; most satisfying character arc.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Her attitude and viewpoint in an extraordinary situation and how she takes charge of her journey.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Ordering dinner in a fancy restaurant (she is 8); acting as surrogate daughter to the lady who takes her in; seeking out parents in a shopping mall; sneaking into a home furnishing store to sleep in, then escaping in time the next morning; going all-out in a candy store and getting sick from eating too much.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
Showing her obliviously starting a fire in the orphanage kitchen, which becomes the reason for her escape, then turning her escape into a journey of taking charge of her own destiny.
What could be this character’s emotional range?
Sure to unsure to defiant to proud to deflated to elated.
What subtext can the actor play?
She thinks she wants parents, then thinks she doesn’t need parents
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With her fellow orphan Mara, toward whom she acts as leader and partner in their survival adventure; with a rich, boozing lady who takes her into her home for a while; with the mall employee whom she and Mara believe is their ideal candidate to adopt them.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Mainly in the way she takes command of her situation; her maturity for her age and her outlook.
What could make this character special and unique?
Sophisticated self-assurance for an eight-year-old; a sense of outlook or worldview; seemingly fearless; always eating or hungry; take-charge sense of destiny.
1. Role in the Story:
Orphan who escapes during a fire and decides to try to survive in a huge shopping mall instead of going back, and also acts as leader to a companion orphan, whom she also needs to better her own chances of survival.
2. Age range and Description:
Eight. Mature, tough, always eating, and fond of ribbons in her hair and anything that will add some color and life to her orphan’s wardrobe.
3. Core Traits:
Street-wise, daring, skeptical, very smart, sassy
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Penny WANTS to take charge of her own life, but she NEEDS to accept that one day she will have a loving family despite all odds.
5. Wound: What they can’t face:
She will never have parents or never be loved.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: She is whip-smart, sassy, daring, and somehow almost worldly-wise.
Relatability: Remembering the stifled or thwarted desires of when we were kids. Understand what it is like to feel alone or helpless at times.
Empathy:
An orphan–that is almost automatic empathy. Has determination to take charge of her own destiny.7. Character Subtext:
Penny is a bright and shrewd orphan who does not believe that having loving parents is something that will happen to her.
8. Character Intrigue:
HIDDEN AGENDA: To convince Mara to her way of thinking in order to have someone she can control to a degree, but also to have a like-minded companion–‘us against the world’.
(Also: How has she come to have the viewpoints that she has? How so seemingly worldly-wise?)
9. Flaw:
Untrusting, unbelieving
10. Values:
Self-sufficiency
11. Character Dilemma:
Wanting to be tough but needing to allow the prospect of loving parents in her life.
MARA
A. The High Concept: Two orphans escape from their orphanage during a fire and move into the country’s biggest shopping mall where they decide to find parents but realize that they really only need each other.
B. This character’s journey: From introverted orphan waiting for the perfect parents to rescue her to a free spirit who believes in herself.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character:
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
The emotional range combined with the variety of actions the character takes and fun and challenging situations she is in. Also unique voice and growth.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Special skills and traits which are brought out in the most challenging of situations. Also her relationship with the other lead.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Using her excellent sense of direction to navigate and explore her huge and challenging environment; attempt to brave the city streets all by herself for a while; making friends with a down-and-out subterranean dweller.
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
By showing her in a unique situation that immediately propels her into her journey and using her most interesting traits in that situation.
What could be this character’s emotional range?
Overwhelmed to proud of herself, afraid to thrilled to loving.
What subtext can the actor play?
?
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With her fellow orphan and co-protagonist Penny where she is first in a sort of subordinate role and then one as equal partner and loving friend; and with the mall employee whom she and Penny believe is their ideal candidate to adopt them.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Through the gradual development of her independent personality in a hard situation, her special skill, and how she adapts.
What could make this character special and unique?
Her special skill (excellent sense of direction) and the way she evolves in her hard situation.
1. Role in the Story:
Orphan who escapes during a fire and comes under the wing of fellow orphan Penny in a huge shopping mall where they have taken refuge. Penny asserts herself over Mara, taking charge of her destiny, and Mara must find her own voice and go after her desires, with or without Penny.
2. Age range and Description:
Eight. Goggle-eyed, obedient, and dignified, with a knack for quietly assessing the world around her.
3. Core Traits:
Super sense of direction, introvert, dreamer
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Mara WANTS an ideal life with a family but NEEDS to embrace a sense of adventure and a belief in herself as an independent spirit.
5. Wound: What they can’t face:
That she is a permanent outcast.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Sweet and vulnerable. Her refined skill of a great sense of direction is admirable.
Relatability: Same as Penny above, plus the understanding of what it is like to be under someone else’s influence.
Empathy: An orphan–that is almost automatic empathy. She seems totally out of her element for a while and we want her to survive and thrive. We sense that her less-assertive personality is waiting to blossom and help her create her happy destiny.
7. Character Subtext:
Mara is an outwardly shy orphan who is waiting for special parents to help her come into her own and discover that she is a great kid. Until then, she cannot fully appreciate her own specialness in the world.
8. Character Intrigue:
9. Flaw:
Too cautious, maybe a little unimaginative
10. Values:
Belief in a better future
11. Character Dilemma:
Wanting the perfect parents versus embracing her own place in the world.
SARAH
A. The High Concept: Two orphans escape from their orphanage during a fire and move into the country’s biggest shopping mall where they decide to find parents but realize that they really only need each other.
B. This character’s journey: From subordinating her own happiness to her parents’ desires to going after her own desires and being inspired to love by two orphans.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
The rich subtext involved in a character who stifles her own desires to serve the will of selfish parents and finally breaks free because of love inspired by two orphans.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
First she fails to go after what she wants because of her partner and then decides to pursue her own desire as a result of her interaction with Penny and Mara, even if it means letting go of her partner.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
She tries her hardest to talk the orphanage “head mistress” into relaxing the rules for adoption; goes on an elaborate search for Penny and Mara in the vast mall; how she responds to her parents’ wishes.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
By bringing out her predominant subtext in an initial situation which foreshadows her relationship with Penny and Mara….
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
Wistful to indecisive to decisive to surrendering to depressed to joyful.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
She wants to break free from the wishes and influence of her fiancé while also loving him; wants to be a mother; deep down feels that she wants to be the mother of Penny and Mara.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
With Penny and Mara and her parents. The first, relating to the subtext above as well as her actions on behalf of Penny & Mara, and the second also relating to the subtext above and the decisions she makes in regard to her relationship.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
?
9. What could make this character special and unique?
?
1. Role in the Story:
Sarah is an employee of the mall where the two orphans have moved into and whose sense of subservience to her parents and a need to love children of her own are brought out by the two orphans.
2. Age range and Description:
Around 30-32. Outwardly upright, respectable, even stuffy, but inwardly rebellious and resentful of her family.
3. Core Traits:
Frustrated, drifting, yearning
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
She WANTS the money from her parents and also their respect but NEEDS to follow her own desires and needs the love of Penny and Mara.
5. Wound: What they can’t face:
Her parents (or maybe just her father) only care for her or love her in respect to her ability to provide them grandchildren.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy
Likability: Rebellious personality under the obedient exterior.
Relatability: Caught in a classic dilemma of having to do something we don’t want to do in order to get something we really want.
Empathy: She has allowed her parents to determine her happiness, and an audience would root for her to break free from that. The audience can also understand how the charms of the two orphans Penny and Mara inspire her to finally go after her own desires.
7. Character Subtext:
Her sense of love for or a wish for a family of her own is created by her parents and distorted by money, and she is trying to sort out her real feelings.
8. Character Intrigue:
UNSPOKEN WOUND: She has always felt unloved by her parents and unworthy, because they have made her feel that her worth depends on her ability to provide grandchildren for them.
COMPETITION: Her sibling has a lovely family with two kids, and she is in competition with him/her, not only for her parents’ esteem but because her parents are withholding a large cash trust fund from her until she has not one but two kids.
9. Flaw:
Craves the respect of her family.
10. Values:
Earning money honestly / by hard work; genuineness; relationships
11. Character Dilemma:
Earning the respect of her parents versus loving her
own family (if one comes) on her own terms, genuinely. -
MOD 3 LESSON 7 Jamie Handley’s Character Profile Pt. 2
VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!
Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE
With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.
What I’ve learned: This will all change as the story develops which I’ve learned to welcome. Now I just have to incorporate these traits of the characters into the story in a very specific way.
JUSTINE
Character Subtext: Hiding that she knows how critical Lauren is. Afraid to say that she doesn’t trust or like Peter, her ex & attorney to Lauren. She fears loss.
Character Intrigue: Competitive with the doctors. Subtle competitiveness with Lauren with exterior values. Hidden agenda – She’s writing articles and doesn’t let Lauren know.
Flaw: She is moody and controlling. Overly protective.
Values: Honesty. Family/friendship. Knowledge.
Character Dilemma: The trusting side of her is in conflict with expecting the truth from everyone else, yet she is unwilling to trust or can’t be trusted.
LAUREN
Character Subtext: Hiding her fear of doctors. Withholding information from Justine about the medical mafia, also with the amount of pain she is in. She lies to doctors and carries the guilt of having an affair with Justine’s husband.
Character Intrigue: Unspoken wound – her deepest pain is the loss of her son. It reflects in her daily life. Hidden agendas are; knowledge of medical mafia and bringing in her ex, an attorney, to help her and not letting Justine know.
Flaw: Has a death wish. Doesn’t follow through with just about anything, all talk. She is a victim of abuse, medical, physical and a martyr. She holds grudges. Gifts are her expression of affection but not really. She buys love.
Values: Family but has lost it all. Being the best and winning is her game. Values loyalty above all.
Character Dilemma: Love verses duty, expecting from others to get the help she needs. She was the one who took care of her family but had no one to care for her.
GRACIE
Character Subtext: She seems to be always plotting something and does a good job at hiding what she’s up to. She is polite and filled with joy to hide her fears. Hides the truth about her father’s affair.
Character Intrigue: Unspoken wound – abandoned by her father and mother leaving her feeling she’s not good enough in any way.
Flaw: She undervalues her ability to accomplish anything so she overachieves or quickly give in. She doesn’t want to be responsible.
Values: Family is the most important value in her life. Helping people is who she is.
Character Dilemma: Pleasing other’s first rather than taking care of herself. She stays to herself and lives in her own world.
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Tom’s Character Profiles Part 2
Vision: When discussing projects with producers, I think fast and suggest more imaginative solutions.
Doing this assignment, I learned it’s fun to quickly get into a character and find out what makes him tick.
Title: Terrible Swift Sword
Concept: A scientist seeking a cure for a disease killing her people and her mother, agrees to have sex with a general who will get her into a PhD program so she can find a cure.
Genre: Drama – Thriller
Character: Sara
A. The High Concept (this character’s role in the high concept): Afghani scientist Sara seeks a cure to a disease killing her people and her mother. In order to reach her goal, she must trade sex with the general commanding US troops in Afghanistan to gain a position interpreting for the US troops. When the general pulls US troops out, she goes to the US to get her PhD. When she’s accused of terrorism, she goes undercover and roots out the real terrorist — her twin brother Karim whom the general deserted when the US pulled out.
B. This character’s journey: Sara begins a village girl who is passionate to find the cure. She ends up an experienced combat veteran who blunts a terrorist attack on the US worse than 9/11.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character:
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
She’s a beautiful young woman who competes in a man’s world to do what it takes to reach her goal.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
She is always moving ahead doing whatever it takes to find a cure for the disease that’s killing her people.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
She helps Ratkin become President so she can get what she wants.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
She bargains sex for a chance to get a PhD she needs to conquer the deadly disease.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
She is all business when she conducts her laboratory work. She’s fearless when she bargains with Ratkin to get what she wants. At the end she’s quietly taking control of her life and work.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
She takes necessary steps on the surface. At the same time, underneath she’s always pursues her goals.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
Her relationship with Ratkin serves her interests and keeps Ratkin on his toes, half loving and half hating her.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
She has a no-nonsense approach to manipulating Ratkin who needs her to ensure he wins election.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
She has a no holds barred approach. An iron fist in a satin glove.
Character Profile Elements:
1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – She quickly learns how to get around men. How to move into the modern research methods. How to identify with her students who seek the same thing she does — truth and clarity.
2. Age Range and Description: Sara is in her late twenties. Dresses modestly. Works equally with men to get what she wants but learns how to bargain win/win style so neither party feels cheated.
3. Core Traits:
– Always striving to get what she wants
– Quietly energetic
– Audacious approach
– A grin and bear it attitude
4. Motivation; Want/Need:
Want: To find a cure for the disease.
Need: To deal with Ratkin so he’ll leave her alone so she can pursue her goal.
5. Wound:
What they can’t face: She feels deeply guilty because she hasn’t given her mother grandchildren.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likeability (outside affection): She is good natured but quiet. Doesn’t have the need to make known her every thought or action. When needed she explains what she requires and proceeds.
Relatability (something we experience): She must deal with Berkeley academics on one hand and Ratkin and his political ambition on the other. But she stays level headed and takes a balanced approach.
Empathy (experiences hardship): When she abruptly moves to the US, she’s in culture shock and must adjust to the academic world. She must listen to Ratkin’s woes as he struggles to get nominated for the Presidency.
7. Character Subtext (lesson 3):
Subtext Identity: She hates that she can’t give her mother grand kids. Doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to.
Subtext Trait: Always keeps the prize in sight — a cure for the deadly disease.
Subtext Logline: She focuses her attention on achieving her goals.
Possible Areas of Subtext: Growing closer to Matt with the thought they might marry and have children which would fulfill her dream to introduce them to her mother which would be a thrill for her.
8. Character Intrigue (lesson 4):
Hidden agendas: She secretly considers getting away from Ratkin who still ogles young women and marry Matt who like her wants children.
Competition: She must compete with younger women Ratkin ogles. He is her ticket to getting her PhD and finding a cure. She fears he may get caught chasing skirts and get MeToo’d and be sued or land in jail.
Secrets: She knows her brother is a Taliban terrorist. If he’s found out she fears she won’t get her PhD.
Deception: Always wants to be straightforward and honest. Is deceitful only when necessary.
Unspoken Wound: Her fear she’ll get her PhD but then fail to discover a cure for the disease.
Secret Identity: She wishes she was a blonde with blue eyes which seems to be the US ideal.
How character’s subtext could show up: Her brother Karim is a Taliban terrorist. She fears he may try to blackmail and discredit her endeavor to finish her research and discover a cure for the deadly disease.
9. Flaw (how they sabotage themselves, shows up in times of stress): She has a secret feeling deep down that Ratkin’s appeal to marry him, be the first Afghani First Lady the US has ever seen. She hopes she can finish her PhD and go 100 percent into research before Ratkin forces her to marry him.
10. Values (believe in / care about): She believes in doing the research to find a cure. She cares about her mother who wants her to marry a shepherd who has many goats. She feels guilty because she loves her mother.
11. Character Dilemma (internal conflict causing them to vacillate between extremes): If she marries Matt she’ll have to stay in the US and raise them. She sees around her too many spoiled American kids and doesn’t want her children to become like they are. The alternative is to return to Afghanistan and take care of her mother as a good daughter should do. She feels guilty whichever way she decides to go.
Character: General / President Ratkin:
· His role in the high concept:
He’s a blundering general who goes from being a pedophile and tool of Dark Power which puts him in the White House, to a man who takes responsibility for his actions and finally does things for the right reasons.
· This Character’s Journey.
He commands all US troops in Afghanistan. When the mysterious Dark Money cabal he works for order him to pull the troops out of Afghanistan and run for President, he does so. When he blackmails Sara to be his fiancé to win his bid to become President, she convinces him he must save the US and not seek the evil goals the cabal desires.
· The Actor Attractors for this Character.
1. Ratkin is a blundering fool, a pedophile and tool of Dark Power which puts him in the White House.
2. Why’s he one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He secretly compares himself unfavorably to his grandfather who was also a US Army general and had an outstanding military record while Ratkin was promoted only because he’s the namesake of his illustrious grand dad.
3. What are his most interesting actions?
He makes stupid speeches to his men who pretend he is a deep thinker. He blackmails Sara into being his fiancé which helps him get his party’s nomination and be elected President.
4. How can you introduce this role in the best way to attract an actor?
In his first speech to the troops he maintains fighting the Taliban is a noble cause. That they stand in the way of US companies coming in and strip mining the country to get payback for the New York attack twenty years ago.
5. What’s the character’s emotional range?
On one hand, he grins as he ogles pictures of young girls. On the other, he’s bombastic, convinced he can use cliched platitudes to convince everyone he has a corner on Truth.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
He’s an idiot but that’s the secret he wants most to protect so no one sees him for what a dufus he is.
7. What are his most interesting relationships?
He is a miserable leader who scolds and criticizes his team. Staff sergeant Miller is his top aide who knows how to manipulate Ratkin who thinks he’s in charge but Miller runs the show. He fancies sex with Sara, but she too controls him while he pretends he’s dominating her.
8. How do you present the character’s unique voice?
He has several lists of phrases he uses for his staff, for his superiors and baby talk when he seduces young girls.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
Character profile elements:
1. Role in the story: Antagonist who likes to think he’s driving his relationship with Sara but she’s really in charge and lets him believe he’s running the show.
2. Age Range and Description:
Ratkin is in his late forties, combs over his rapidly spreading bald spot, likes to think he resembles Paul Newman.
3. Core traits:
Pompous, falsely self-confident, fearful others will learn he’s really in way over his head.
4. Motivation: Want / Need:
Want – To appear he leads the US to winning the war against the Taliban terrorists.
Need – To gain the kind of respect his grand father earned. To prove to Sara he’s worthy of being President.
5. Wound:
What he can’t face – Being blamed for pulling the troops out of Afghanistan before he wins the war.
6. Likeability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likeability – He tries to win respect by groveling to his men which embarrasses everyone around him.
Relatability – He wants to be loved but everyone who works for him hates to see him fumble around.
Empathy – He secretly realizes his life is empty. Seducing young girls has become a miserable undertaking.
7. Character Subtext:
Subtext Identity – General who wants to parlay his military career into getting him into the White House.
Subtext Trait – Wants all to think he’s the fierce less leader his grand father was.
Subtext Logline – He’s been telling everyone he will retire when his hitch is up, but he really wants to be President.
Possible Subtext areas – He pretends he helps the poor when he visits NGOs who distribute used clothes and appliances from the US to the unfortunate locals.
8. Character Intrigue –
Hidden Agendas – He tries to parlay recent military maneuvers into proof he’s a military leader in league with Admiral Nimitz.
Conspiracies – He makes deals with locals at the farmers’ market to buy groceries.
Secrets – He paid someone to take his final military tactics exam for him so he wouldn’t flunk out of West Point.
Deception — He pretends he knows how to operate his laptop but must get his sergeant to help him use it.
Unspoken Wound — He never married and had children. He was neglected as a child and wants to make up for it by raising a boy of his own but his t ime is running out.
Secret Identity — He wishes he’d become a plumber instead of following his grandfather into the Army.
How character’s subtext shows up –
Someone is asking questions hinting they know he’s a pedophile. He secretly wants to discover whoever it is and eliminate him or her.
9. Flaw: (self-sabotage, show up in times of stress)
He’s scared someone will discover he doesn’t belong in the Army and can’t lead a two-car parade let along command all the US troops in Afghanistan or anywhere else.
10. Values: (believes in, cares about)
He values family above all else. He wishes he’d married and settled down with a college girl friend but lack the self-confident to pull it off.
11. Character Dilemma (int. conflict causes vacillation betw extremes)
He goes back and forth between stopping exploiting young girls for sex and ending the war prematurely, pulling the Army out of Afghanistan and taking the opportunity afforded by his cabal to run for President.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Tom Wilson.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by
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Linda’s Character Profiles Part 2
My Vision is: I will do whatever it takes to be a sought-after profound writer with many successful movies produced and an Oscar on my mantel.
What I learned doing this assignment is there are still ways to improve these characters if I keep working this profile to find deeper levels.
Joaquin
High Concept: The head of a cartel is dying and puts his succession up for competition with a point system that rewards crimes based on the degree to which they promote his infamy. How can a low-level cartel worker with morals beat the ruthless heavyweights and protect his family and community?
Journey: From a low-level Falcon, afraid and protective of his morals to sacrificing his morals and becoming a powerful cartel lord.
Actor Attractors: He is a low-level cartel member who is non-violent, self-educated and wants out, but when he finds a way he struggles with what it will cost him and whether he has the guts to do it.
Profile:
· Role in the Story: Protagonist. A low-level cartel worker, called a Falcon, who desperately wants out. He is tormented by a ruthless cartel member and enters the competition to protect his family and the community.
· Age Range and Description: Late 30’s. A better than average looking man but with more wear and tear than someone his age should have. He attire is subdued and he has no trouble blending in to a crowd.
· Core Traits: Private. Underhanded. Self-educated/smart. A listener.
· Motivation – Want/Need: Wants to protect his family and get out of the cartel. Needs to have the guts to go against the cartel.
· Wound: His father wanted him to leave for a better life, but he was naïve, didn’t have the guts and joined the cartel. They fought about it and his father was distracted, which led to his death that night.
· Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Family man and wants more for them. Feels trapped. Is backed into a corner. Must win the competition to survive and protect his family and community.
· Character Subtext:
o Joaquin lies in wait, studying cartel members until he finds a way out and will use everything he’s learned about them to his advantage.
· Character Intrigue:
o Hidden agendas: Uses his listening skills, ability to be ignored, and the confidence of Rodrigo to learn how to take down his enemies.
o Competition: Knows the only way to survive is to win.
o Conspiracies: The community is behind him and help him when they can without getting caught.
o Secrets: What he learns from Rodrigo. What he’s going to do when he wins.
o Deception: Makes Arturo believe his hallucinations are getting worse and he no longer knows what is real and what is not.
· Flaw: Cowardice.
· Values: Family. Morals.
· Character Dilemma: Morals versus doing what needs to be done to protect his family and community. Easy versus hard. Fear versus Action.
Arturo
High Concept: The head of a cartel is dying and puts his succession up for competition with a point system that rewards crimes based on the degree to which they promote his infamy. How can a low-level cartel worker with morals beat the ruthless heavyweights and protect his family and community?
Journey: A ruthless killer who terrorizes the community but struggles with the knowledge that his actions drove the woman he loves to another man. He dies without changing.
Actor Attractors: He is a loud-mouthed brutal man who is highly sensitive. He’s obsessed with Joaquin’s wife and won’t hurt her physically. She is the only person in his life who he thought truly loved him and is determined to earn her love back.
Profile:
· Role in the Story: Antagonist. A ruthless cartel member who will stop at nothing to ascend to drug lord. Wants to win Joaquin’s wife back.
· Age Range and Description: Late 30’s. Scruffy, beefy, could win most fights and doesn’t let anyone forget it.
· Core Traits: Loudmouth. Brutal. Luring. Suspicious. Highly sensitive.
· Motivation – Want/Need: Wants Joaquin’s wife back. Wants to win the competition. Needs to become a better man and stop killing people.
· Wound: Struggles with his actions that pushed the love of his life away.
· Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Treats Joaquin’s wife with respect. Regrets about past decisions that are affecting his life today. Has hallucinations and doesn’t know what’s real. Loyal to Rodrigo and feels slighted.
· Character Subtext: Arturo is a ruthless cartel member who is in love with Joaquin’s wife and lures Joaquin into the competition so he can show his wife he’s no more moral than him and then take him out.
· Character Intrigue:
o Hidden Agenda: To lure Joaquin into the competition and set him up so his wife loses respect for him. And then to kill him.
o Competition: Declares his victory before the competition even starts to dissuade his competitors.
o Conspiracy: To have Joaquin killed by another competitor so he doesn’t blow his chance at winning with Rodrigo.
o Secrets: His enduring love for Joaquin’s wife.
o Deception: Deceives Rodrigo into thinking he’s going to protect Joaquin.
o Secret Identity: Struggling with his choices in life / wants to be someone he can never be anymore.
· Flaw: Overconfident. Loudmouth.
· Values: Power. Love.
· Character Dilemma: To fight for power or for the woman he loves.
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Jane’s Character Profiles, Part 2
MY VISION: I will make my living as a screenwriter by selling my own narrative scripts and successfully fulfilling writing assignments.
By doing this assignment I felt I was able to flesh out these characters in ways that keep them true to their iconic selves yet find ways that turn the tables on them a bit and allow us to see another side of them. It will be fun to see how these profiles play out in a comedic way. Ideas are already brewing!
Character Name: June Marvel
High Concept: In this parody on tea cozy murder mysteries, a Poirot-like character and a Miss Marple-like character compete to prove which of them is the greatest detective only to discover that a murder has happened and that one of them is the next victim.
Journey: Goes from quiet but bitter amateur sleuth to using all of her mental and physical powers to not only solve a murder, but save her own life and Percival’s too.
Actor Attractors: Biting wit – great dialogue; chance to parody a well-loved character; fun action sequences that show both physicality and mental prowess. She’s the bomb!
Role: Protagonist/Antagonist for Percival Heriot
Age range and Description: A spinster in her early seventies recovering from hip surgery and not happy about it – or anything else.
Core Traits: Fed up; a dreamer; perceptive; cunning.
Wants: To win her challenge with Percival.
Needs: To feel her life and work are validated by others.
Wound: Nearly lost her life as she worked to help Scotland Yard catch a serial killer but never received any recognition.
Likeability (Protagonist): June has dreams and a plan for making them come true.
Relatability (Protagonist): June feels stuck in a life she no longer thinks she wants.
Empathy (Protagonist): June has always been misjudged because she is a polite, quiet woman.
Likeability (Antagonist): June isn’t afraid to challenge Percival.
Relatability (Antagonist): Percival’s ego gets on our nerves too.
Empathy (Antagonist): June is made to feel less of a sleuth and so she challenges.
Character Subtext: Secretly longs for adventure and glory.
Character Intrigue: Hidden Agenda: June intends to “disappear” from the home and start a new, more adventurous life.
Competition: June openly challenges Percival to a competition.
Secret: June knows that she has untapped abilities in solving mysteries; much more than just a knowledge of human nature.
Secret Identity: June secretly believes herself to be Beryl Markham’s daughter.
Flaw: Does not recognize that others do admire her, is mean to others when she feels she is not good enough.
Values: Duty, Honesty
Character Dilemma: The need for recognition versus the need to keep others safe.
Character Name: Percival Heriot
High Concept: In this parody on tea cozy murder mysteries, a Poirot-like character and a Miss Marple-like character compete to prove which of them is the greatest detective only to discover that a murder has happened and that one of them is the next victim.
Journey: Goes from being egocentric and lonely to team player and part of something bigger than himself.
Actor Attractors: Bigger than life character that hides a secret identity; a new spin on an iconic detective; breadth of emotional journey.
Role: Protagonist/Antagonist for June Marvel
Age range and Description: An early to mid-seventies obsessive/compulsive bachelor with a mind to match the fastest computer logic and an aversion to living a “normal, quiet life.”
Core Traits: Egocentric; abnormally intelligent; observant; competitive.
Wants: To win the challenge with June.
Needs: The spotlight to shine brightly on him.
Wound: Being bullied in his youth keeps him from being able to stand aside for someone else.
Likeability (Protagonist): Percival’s intelligence and reasoning is amazing.
Relatability (Protagonist): Percival is lonely.
Empathy (Protagonist): Percival sees solutions clearly but is not always listened to.
Likeability (Antagonist): Is ego is laughable and he is not always right.
Relatability (Antagonist): He doesn’t see why he needs to be challenged.
Empathy (Antagonist): His confidence belies an insecurity.
Character Subtext: Was bullied throughout his entire childhood and youth.
Character Intrigue: Secret: Percival is terrified on growing old and being cast aside – of being “normal.”
Competition: Percival openly accepts June’s challenge.
Deception: Percival manipulates people in order to remain in the spotlight.
Secret Identity: Percival moonlights as Aunt Lily, an online “affairs of the heart” columnist.
Flaw: Overly confident in his own abilities.
Values: Justice.
Character Dilemma: His need to be forever in the spotlight versus his need to be loved and accepted.
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Joaquin “Ibn Gray’s” Character Profiles Part 2
My vision for the completion of this class is that I will write A plus intriguing screenplays that will be produced into extremely profitable movies, which I will cash large checks from.
What I learned from doing this assignment is a complete way to flush out a character.
A. The High Concept – The story of a Black American family that migrates from Georgia to Texas after the emancipation proclamation of 1863. Little did they know slavery would not be outlawed in Texas until June 19th, 1865, the day and fight of a lifetime.<div>
B. This character’s journey- Brewford migrates to Texas to start a new life after the end of slavery. He discovers slavery hasn’t been outlawed just yet. His son is forced into captivity causing him to fight for his freedom.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? This character transforms into a hero on the battlefield.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? He conceals the true nature of his past, knowing he is deadly.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? An ex-slave turned platoon commander, that gained his freedom by fighting in a war against slavery.
What could be this character’s emotional range? Begins as a meek, non-confrontational man that is transformed into a killer after his child is captured by the local plantation owner.
What subtext can the actor play? He is attempting to live a quiet life. in a new land free from bondage.
What’s the most interesting relationship this character can have? He is the brother-in-law of a local village man.
How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Through his words of wisdom and foresight.
What could make this character special and unique? His legs have been cut off at the knees, so his fighting style gives him an advantage.
Role in the Story: Protagonist
Age range and Description: 50’s, modestly dressed for the time period. His legs are cut off at his knees.
Core Traits: Meek, alert, silent killer, Motivation; Want/Need: To live a peaceful life with his family – To save his son from captivity.
Wound: Traumatized by his childhood memories and war memories.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Likability: A simple man, A family man that is nice to his children and wife. He treats his horses with love and kindness.
Relatability: appreciative of his possessions, he fixes his damaged wagon with his teenage son.
Empathy: His legs are cut off at his knees. He doesn’t want help reaching for items above his head. His arm strength allows him to pull his body up for whatever needs to be done.
7. Character Subtext: Quite reserved man
8. Character Intrigue: traumatized by memories of growing up on a plantation.
9. Flaw: extremely passive toward people that are weaker than him.
10. Values: he loves his family more than anything in the world.
11. Character Dilemma: he puts the feelings of others above his own.
Joaquin “Ibn Gray”
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Natalie’s Character Profiles Part 2
My vision is to create and produce award winning stories that make an unforgettable emotional impact on a worldwide audience.
What I learned from this assignment: Discovered new depth and understanding of my characters.
Character 1: EMILY KINGSLEY, protagonist
A. High Concept: An amnesiac survivor of a mysterious cult who follows her own clues drawn under a hypnosis to save her ostensibly missing child from a sacrifice.
B. Character’s journey: from paranoid, insecure recluse with the DID living two different lives, to a bold, confident woman who takes chances at love
C. Actor Attractors for this character: Dual personalities, insecure, character arch from gullible recluse to a kick arse confident woman who takes down her dysfunctional family and succumbs to her love
Character Subtext: Afraid facing her fears
Character Intrigue: Unspoken wound
Flaw: Undervalues herself
Values: Love
Character Dilemma: Please others vs being independent
Role in the Story: an amnesiac woman with DID, obsessed with saving her ostensibly missing daughter, who breaks out of a confinement and thwarts antagonist’s plan to eliminate potential heirs of the estate
Age range and Description: Fit, sleep deprived, dark circles under her dreamy eyes, in her late 20’s
Core Traits: headstrong, reckless, insecure, protective
Motivation: To prove her sanity
Want: To gain trust Need: to believe in herself
Wound: guilt-driven for not saving a child from a sacrifice
Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Liked by most people, guilt-driven, loss of a child
Character 2: WALTER KINGSLEY, antagonist
High Concept: Emily’s manipulative, vengeful ex-boyfriend pretending to be her friend, who secretly plots to publicly humiliate Emily and eliminate every potential heir standing on his way to the inheritance.
Character’s journey: from pitiful, unfit cripple disregarded by the family to an elusive, powerful mastermind in disguise
Actor Attractors for this character: Walter is a multifaceted relatable and deceiving character who masterfully impersonates and kills family members standing on his way to the inheritance
Character Subtext: Plotting
Character Intrigue: Hidden agenda
Flaw: Overdoing things/ over confidence
Values: Winning
Character Dilemma: Winer vs loser
Role in the Story: Emily’s entitled, eccentric cousin with a distant-poor relative complex, who’s wildest dream is to publicly humiliate Emily and inherit wealthy family’s estate
Age range and Description: tall, slim, insignificant appearance underneath a wild, vicious, calculating man in his early 30’s
Core Traits: scheming, manipulative, deceitful, vulnerable
Motivation: eliminate anyone standing between himself and family’s fortune
Want: To take control Need: learn to share
Wound: being rejected and publicly humiliated by Emily
Likability, Relatability, Empathy: being in love, but rejected, crippled and publicly humiliated
Character 3: HAGAN VALENTINE, triangle, love interest
High Concept: An African-American man born out of wedlock into a snobbish, white family who tries to prove his aristocratic roots and reinstate his rights as a rightful heir of the estate
Character’s journey: from humble and polite to outraged, determined and vulnerable.
Actor Attractors for this character: An underdog who struggles to prove his identity, earns respect and fights for love
Character Subtext: Being polite? Withholding? Not 100% sure.
Character Intrigue: Unspoken wound
Flaw: Can’t take risks
Values: Family
Character Dilemma: Wealthy vs being a good person
Role in the Story: Emily’s lost love interest, an ostensibly rightful heir of the estate
Age range and Description: tall, fit, charismatic, discerning, humble in his views of life, in his early 30’s
Core Traits: content, astute, loyal, unforgiving
Motivation: to prove his innocence and gain rights as a heir
Want: To belong Need: learn to let go
Wound: rejected by family
Likability, Relatability, Empathy: astute, content, black man born in wedlock to a snobbish white family, cast away reject
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Jaelle’s Character Profiles Part 2
My vision: I’m an award winning screenwriter that is sought after by people in the industry, who creates scripts that change lives to bring a new vision to the world, and I’m richly rewarded.
A. The High Concept. When a psychic is accused of being a fraud by a ruthless con man, she creates a perfect society to prove she’s authentic, however the con man infiltrates the society to bring her down.
B. This character’s journey. From psychic to nomad to world renowned visionary.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character. True story; Blavatsky is a woman ahead of her time (late 1800s); wide range of actions and emotions from kind and generous to wildly unpredictable and angry.Role in the Story: Russian psychic that even though all of society’s forces against her, founds the Theosophist Society.
Age range and Description: mid to late 50s; heavy set Russian woman with a bucket of blond hair
Core Traits: precise, correct, and competent but degrades into self-indulgence, and self-absorption
Motivation; Want/Need: to save humanity, found and build the Theosophist Society; to be worldly and intelligent
Wound: rejected by father for not being “smart”
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:Likability: ahead of her time, extremely intelligent;
Relatability: she wants to help people and does; she goes above and beyond helping others.
Empathy: she almost dies more than once and has many enemies. Called a fraud, is rejected, and betrayed by those close to her, but stays on her path to spiritual awareness to build the Society.A. The High Concept.A psychic founds the Theosophy Society in hopes of saving humanity, but the forces of society try to tear her down.
B. This character’s journey. Cautious, credulous, gullible and a poor observer to profound leader of the Society.
C. The Actor Attractors for this character. Worldly, journalist that sees all, hears all, and understands the ways of the world.Role in the Story: supports Blavatsky, although sometimes obtuse, and angry with her.
Age range and Description: Mid to late 50s. Tall, 6’5”, thin, balding with a beard down to his waist.
Core Traits: honest, strong moral principles, critical perfectionism, and judgmental intolerance
Motivation; Want/Need: help Blavatsky create and build the Society.
Wound: wants to be loved, be lovable
Likability: honest, upright, authentic,
Relatability, questions life, and why him, and what is the truth
Empathy: can’t get past MB tough exterior to be the love of his life -
Gisele Frazeur’s Character Profiles Part 2
My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!
What I learned doing this assignment is: Characters are sculpted.
Protagonist Darin August
High Concept: A perfumer joins forces with a down-and-out detection dog to nose out her sister’s killer.
Character Journey: From a grief-stricken addict who feels responsible for her pregnant sister’s death – – to the sober BAD ASS who avenges the murder.
Actor Attractors: Fascinating job. Pinnacle of success. Fiercely loyal. Intelligent and competent. Relentless and curious. Fascinating job. Solves her sister’s murder. Bad ass! Huge character arc.
Character subtext: The only relief she can find from her grief comes from things that will ultimately make her even more grief-stricken.
Character Intrigue: Deception – – Darin, an alcoholic herself, uses drinking to manipulate Hank.
Character Flaw: Doesn’t believe in herself.
Character Values: Trusting your instincts. Loyalty.
Character dilemma: Righter of wrongs who is afraid to make waves.
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Antagonist: Hank Sandford
Character journey: From self-assured puppeteer to desperate and maniacal.
Actor attractors: Intelligent. Fascinating job. Wide emotional range. Gallant. Protector. Charm a dog off a meat truck.
Character subtext: Enjoys the fact the mission given him by the drug dealers gives him permission to “play house with” someone he never really got over.
Character Intrigue: Hidden Identity – – cop actually working FOR the drug smugglers he is investigating.
Character flaw: Over-confidence.
Values: Self-preservation. Being seen as heroic. Winning.
Character dilemma: Needing to be perceived as a great guy while battling his debaucheries.
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Bob DeCarli’s Character Profiles Part 2
My Vision: To master my craft to the point where I’ve earned a reputation as the screenwriter top producers, directors, and stars can call upon when they need someone to save the day.
What I learned: Again, how easy and effective the “fill in the blanks” approach can be.
JUNIOR JUDGE
High Concept: A judge is set up for a crime he didn’t commit, and his only hope for clearing his name is the criminal he just sentenced to death.
This Character’s Journey: From a cold and heartless, conservative judge, to a compassionate and truly balanced judge.
Actor Attractors: Multiple layers; a young judge with a past; goes against stereotypes. Subtext: he’s hiding who he is; underneath the cocky veneer, he’s afraid of being identified as being unworthy of his position.
3. Brainstorm these profile components for each character.
7. Character Subtext: Hiding his juvenile criminal history.
8. Character Intrigue: Secrets
9. Flaw: Can’t look at their fears
10. Values: Glory; intelligence
11. Character Dilemma: Achievement vs. Honesty
DEATH ROW
High Concept: A life-long criminal has one last chance to redeem himself, and at the same time, bring down the rich businessman who sent him to jail.
This Character’s Journey: From facing a death sentence, to sacrificing himself to help another person [the Young Judge] bring down the businessman who destroyed both of their lives.
Actor Attractors: A troubled, flawed criminal, who has done many horrible things in his life, but ironically, was sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit, a punishment for his effort to truly be a hero.
3. Brainstorm these profile components for each character.
7. Character Subtext: Lying (to himself); in denial.
8. Character Intrigue: Secret Identity (as a hero)
9. Flaw: Undervalues himself
10. Values: Loyalty
11. Character Dilemma: Reputation as being “hard,” streetwise vs. being a good person
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
High Concept: After the Young Judge whose appointment he secured refuses to issue the judicial ruling necessary for his development to go forward, RE uses his political connections first to remove the judge from the case, and when he resists, to destroy his career.
This Character’s Journey: From wealthy and powerful, to disgraced and facing prison.
Actor Attractors: Like Noah Cross from Chinatown, but not a pedophile, just a driven sociopath that wants to leave a mark and “improve” the world, create a better “future” (affordable housing).
3. Brainstorm these profile components for each character.
7. Character Subtext: Plotting
8. Character Intrigue: Hidden Agenda
9. Flaw: Over-confidence
10. Values: Winning
11. Character Dilemma: wealthy/powerful vs being respected
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Teresa Rodriguez’s Character Profiles Part 2
MY VISION: I will become a highly respected and influential screenwriter/producer with my own successful production company that I can leave as a blessing to my children and many generations to come.
What I learned from doing this assignment is it is wise to develop multi-dimensional characters to attract top actors.
• LILY:
• The High Concept: lives in perfect fairytale land but hates perfectionism so she runs away.
• This Character’s Journey: runs away from her perfect fairytale life and becomes an imperfect hero to millions of young women.
• The Actor Attractors for this Character: goes from imperfect and unconfident princess to imperfect heroine adored by millions.
• Character Subtext: hiding her royal identity for fear of rejection.
• Character Intrigue: Unspoked wound: doesn’t feel like she’s good enough
• Flaw: low self-esteem, self-sabotages by doing or saying something wrong.
• Values: freedom, family, duty, loyalty
• Character Dilemma: please others versus being independent
EVIL STEPFATHER/DUKE
The High Concept is the evil “perfectionist” who rules the kingdom.
This Character’s Journey: tries to take over the kingdom from Lily & the Queen, tries to steal “youth essence” from his young subjects.
The Actor Attractors for this Character: Narcissist Larger than Life Stepfather, who’s trying to steal the kingdom.
Character Subtext: lying to try to take over the kingdom and steal “youth essence”.
Character Intrigue: Hidden Agenda, to steal the kingdom from Lily.
Flaw: low self-esteem, goes overboard to get others’ approval like IG followers.
Values: fame, winning
Character Dilemma: Wanting external admiration versus loving yourself.
PRINCE
The High Concept: a commoner who hates perfectionist royals & fairytales, a liberal feminist
This Character’s Journey: grew up poor, looked down on by upper-class
The Actor Attractors for this Character: a social activist that teaches Lily how to be strong and conquer her fears.
Character Subtext: sometimes feels unconfident so he speaks up for others that are bullied.
Character Intrigue: Unspoked wound, looked down on for growing up poor, and his scar/disfigurement????
Flaw: wants respect, overconfident, no filters
Values: respect, honesty, and loyalty
Character Dilemma: Wanting respect versus loving yourself.
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Edward Brown character to attrreact actor profile 2
guts of serices
learned too much, need to summerized
Swu wim profile 2
Hiding something
Afraid to say
Secret
Lying
Luring/seducing
Withholding
Being polite
PlottingCreator
Making a parable movie
Secret: knows George’s beyonder background
Witholding powers
Plotting for future Russia vs America
Tanya
Hiding: family past
Secret: Grandma died
Luring/seducing George to stay
Plotting to get department position
GEORGE
Hiding wind tunnel interest
Secret: knows Berkly hypersonic
Withholding past
Luring/ seducing Kid to go to America
Plotting to win Mackinaw
INtruque
Hidden
agendas
Competition
ConspiracyCreator
Build up Tanya and George to stop war
Competition: mankin’s killer instinct
Conspiracy: Saints and crew
Tanya
Hidden agenda: keep George in Siberia
Do in burecrat killed Grandma
Competition: ANNA, Mackinaw
Conspiriacy: use Grandpa
GEORGE
Hidden agenda find out hypersonic
Competition: FSB
Conspriacy Berkley
Flaw
Overdoing things
Cowardice
Can’t look at their fears
Poor decision making
Over-confidence
Gives up easily
Undervalues themselves
Can’t take risks
Says the wrong thingThat flaw is going to show up any time they are under stress.
Creator
Scared to interfere
TANYA
Over structured
Undervalues self
Risk avoidance
Orders others
GEORGE
Undervalues self
Poor decision making
Avoidance
Disorganized
Will window surf waste time procastinate
Values
Family
Duty
Love
Loyalty
Honesty
Being your best
Fame
Intelligence
Winning
Or 100 other values that may
fit this character better.Creator
Concern for life, awarding Go Giving
Tanya
Intelligence, getting power/$
Romance forever
Dancing
structure
George
Kids/pleasing women
Creativity/solving problems
Sailing/winning MacKenaw
Dilemmas
CREATOR
INTERVENE OR NOT
TANYA
GO WITH FLAWED LOVER WITH PROMISE
Siberia or Detroit
GEORGE
Detroit vs Siberia
Trust Siberian Siren vs known fun
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KRISTIN’S CHARACTER PROFILES (PART 2)
VISION: “I want the personal, professional, and financial freedom and joy that come from writing so well that I’m in demand, selling beyond my wildest dreams, and making worthy projects—on a big scale and with my active, collegial participation.”
WHAT I LEARNED doing this assignment is that the characters are becoming more real to me. The answers are more obvious…. Slowly but surely.
CONCEPT: REX APPEAL / Comedy — The true story of a small-town paleontologist who sues the government after the feds seize his T. rex, the largest in the world.
PROTAGONIST / PETE THE PALEONTOLOGIST
Journey: (Internal) From selfish and indulgent to selfless, brave, and a role model for others. (External) From a small-town businessman to a world-renowned poster boy for fighting government overreach.
Actor Attractors:
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He’s on a hero’s journey—he’s the underdog who takes hold of his life. He’s honorable, vulnerable, and brave. He’s also one of the most controversial people ever in his field, and the subject of a legal case that garnered worldwide attention. It’s Jurassic Park meets My Cousin Vinny.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He’s faced with huge decisions, and also he’s in a very interesting context. He’s an expert in one of the most unusual jobs in the world—but he’s oblivious to human relationships. He goes through a great change, and faces his demons. Also, he avoids confrontation in his day-to-day life, and is a pushover in some situations—and then is faced with a huge dilemma: to give in or fight the government.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Sues the federal government; is willing to reveal anything about his work or life “for the cause”; won’t “split the baby” (re: breaks the rules to help pack the dinosaur that’s being seized, so she will be protected); takes the defense process into his own hands; joins forces with the most wild lawyer (doesn’t take the easy road); makes bold decisions about the case; faces the consequences with good humor and positivity; is willing to lose everything “to do the right thing.”
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He’s the pied piper of a ragtag group, but “upping the ante” by explaining detailed scientific information to them, way above their knowledge base. He’s in two worlds at once, fully at home in the rural Midwest, completely unaware that he’s a total geek—and then he leaves behind a kid at the gas station. Yes, he does go pick him up, but it’s clear that his awareness of every detail of his field is much more developed than his basic awareness of parenting. Or humans.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Funny, witty, goofy…and then righteously angry, incredibly hurt, and sad when he realizes how misunderstood he is. Vulnerable with a few people close to him, and putty in the hands of his kids.
6. What subtext can the actor play? As he fights the “good fight” on the world stage, underneath he is devastated to lose the support of some of his family. His choices are misunderstood; his “way” is misunderstood, and he must soldier on. Also, he just wants to be loved, and he fumbles his relationships with women; he’s great with fossils.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? His kinship with the flamboyant lawyer (his total opposite); his relationship with the fossil (the most intimate of his life); and his battle with the Opposition lawyer. (Note: trying to decide if the judge or the lawyer is the primary in the antagonist camp; they are both bad and both have different parts to play in the saga.)
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? By doing “good” for people while seemingly not interested in them; by speaking through science (science is his safety net).
9. What makes this character special and unique? He is the charismatic leader of his group—project-wise, but because of his oblivious nature, opens himself to criticism. He doesn’t know how to manage people, and never wants to argue—but he wants to be right.
ROLE IN THE STORY: Protagonist: Pete is the catalyst of this story, the person willing to say yes to adventure—and no to the government. He puts himself at risk, and while he loses “the love of his life,” he stands up for what is right and becomes the poster boy for his field.
AGE RANGE & DESCRIPTION: Mid-30s, fit from a lifetime of hard work, is disheveled and dusty and totally focused on his work.
TRAITS: Idealistic, genius-smart, driven, independent, follows his own path
MOTIVATION: Want: To be the best in his business, “the poster child for independent collectors.” Need: To be acknowledged by his family as worthy
WOUND: Always told he wasn’t good enough
LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY:
LIKABILITY: He’s kind, funny, truly interested in what he’s doing; obviously “not in it for the money.”
RELATABILITY: We’ve all felt doubt about our choices; many people feel responsible for others’ livelihoods, and would worry that they’ve put them in danger or a bad position; no one wants the government (or any legal entity) breathing down their necks.
EMPATHY: We’re scared for him; we can imagine what it would be like to be wrongly accused; we want him to win!
CHARACTER SUBTEXT: With the non-confrontational, self-reliant, mediator, “whipping boy” subtext identity, he becomes the smartest and least understood person in his (backstabbing, selfish) family. He turns inward and falls into science—which is taken away. More than once.
CHARACTER INTRIGUE: (“Secret”) An inherently honest person, Pete is afraid that in all the excavations he and his team have made, they might have made a mistake that makes them look dishonest. (“Conspiracy”) Even though he’s not the head of an actual conspiracy, as he’s charged with, it feels like one to defend himself.
FLAW: Self-absorption; is blind to others’ needs
VALUES: Being the best at what you do; honesty; loyalty
CHARACTER DILEMMA: Please himself versus take care of others (this causes him to rationalize decisions and second-guess himself)
ANTAGONIST / SLICK WILLY, ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY
JOURNEY: (Internal) Refuses to have one; (External) From Acting US Attorney to unemployed
ACTOR ATTRACTORS:
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He is conniving and intelligent, but conflicted. His main goal is to get promoted, and he’s picking low-hanging fruit with this action (seizing the fossil). He is unprepared at the public outcry and has to think fast to keep on task—the task being to take down a very beloved person in a small community, who he has made into a martyr.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He’s the driver of the action that everyone keeps asking, “why did he do that?” He’s the sharp end of the stick through which we learn everything about the story.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Seizes the fossil; dolls himself up whenever he might be interviewed; colludes with the judge; agrees to settle, then leaks the settlement (which makes the judge reject it); lies to the press; does the opposite of what he promised to the public; is secretly insecure and outwardly unapologetic (like Trump!).
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Orchestrating the seizure of the world’s most famous T. rex, he makes elaborate plans—for himself, such as wearing pancake makeup for the cameras—but neglects even the most basic provisions for the task at hand—doesn’t bring crates, or plaster, or wood to make crates.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? In public, he’s a one-trick pony; behind closed doors, he rages, is petulant, intimidated, scared, and begs.
6. What subtext can the actor play? He’s a bully with zero self-esteem; he wants to “get ahead,” but pretends he’s helping the public.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? His main battle “in the ring” is with the flamboyant defense lawyer; he also relies on other lawyers in his office. He also has to face the protagonist, and manipulate the judge.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He’s the guy with the connections in government circles. His bravado and “believe me, I know what’s happening behind the scenes” innuendos cover his hidden insecurities.
9. What makes this character special and unique? He’s smart, which helps his goal—but he’s relying on bluster and supposition to make his case. He doesn’t know what he’s up against.
ROLE IN THE STORY: Antagonist: He sees an opportunity to “kill off” someone in a high-profile way so as to advance his own career. He doesn’t care about the science, the fossil, or the truth.
AGE RANGE & DESCRIPTION: Mid-30s, stuffed shirt, looks like he hasn’t breathed in a year.
TRAITS: Thinks he’s smarter than he is, smarmy, manipulative, self-serving
MOTIVATION: Want: To march up the ranks. Need: To be important.
WOUND: Didn’t make the grade for a better posting; forever seeking greener grass.
LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY:
LIKABILITY: He’s clever enough to have figured this out; he’s eager, like a geeky kid going to prom.
RELATABILITY: We can imagine seeing a huge “possibility,” and weighing the ethics of possibly hurting someone in the process of going for it.
EMPATHY: It’s hard to be the uncool kid, always left behind; he wants to be successful.
CHARACTER SUBTEXT: The prosecuting attorney with both an inferiority complex and “all the power” manipulates a bad case into existence because he wants to be promoted.
CHARACTER INTRIGUE: Many of the intrigue elements are at work here—hidden agenda, competition, deception—all of which are fueled by his wound of not being good enough. They are expressed in a major secret, that he knows Pete is innocent, and an actual conspiracy with the judge, to convict Pete anyway.
FLAW: Weak
VALUES: Winning (at all costs)
CHARACTER DILEMMA: Winner versus loser
PROTAGONIST’S SIDE-KICK / BRONC, DEFENSE ATTORNEY
JOURNEY: (Internal) From insecure blowhard to brother; (External) From cocky, bulletproof showboat to passionate believer
ACTOR ATTRACTORS:
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He’s flamboyant, the smartest person in the room, cocky, and arrogant. All of this leads to daring exploits that bite him in the ass. But mostly, they work.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He’s willing to go head-to-head with anyone brave enough to come up against him. He vacillates from being insensitive and rude to amazingly present. He also has a great habit of summarizing complex situations into very simple, irresistible arguments.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Guides the Protagonist through absolutely uncharted waters—and becomes like a brother to him at the same time. Sometimes he gives great advice. Other times…he bites off more than he can chew, or over-estimates his charms.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? It’s the first of the scary moments for the Protagonist—during the seizure. It’s total chaos, and Bronc arrives like a knight in shining armor, blasting everyone out of the way, soothing fears, and making us think that everything just might be okay.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? He’s loud and charismatic, quiet and charming, earnest, unsure. He laughs (mostly at his own jokes), cries, and is totally committed.
6. What subtext can the actor play? He’s totally committed to his clients, so much so that he almost stops sleeping so he can cram as much information as possible into his very smart brain. Sometimes his actual commitment gets fogged by arrogance; sometimes his decisions are confused by self-promotion. Let’s face it; he’s a narcissist, which makes “service” a conundrum.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? He matches wits (and wins) against the prosecution; he merges with his client; he competes with his co-defending “team.”
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? There’s no one like him. He’s got a little of Ulysses Everett McGill in Oh, Brother, but with a lot more ammo.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Almost too much, but someone you definitely want on your side. Saying yes to hiring him is not the safe route.
ROLE IN THE STORY: The sharp end of the stick. Bronc loves the underdog, and the bright lights that shine on the underdog’s defender. But In this case, he becomes hooked.
AGE RANGE & DESCRIPTION: About 50, ex-athlete, rangy and confident.
CORE TRAITS: Intense, smartest guy in the room (even if he’s not), competitive, daring
MOTIVATION / WANT&NEED: Want: To save the world; Need: to be praised for saving the world.
WOUND: As the eldest in a long line of sons and star athletes, and the son of one his state’s most famous attorneys, he had it beaten into him that he must be the best, the bravest, and the most, at all costs. Losing is never an option.
LIKABILITY, RELATABILITY, EMPATHY
LIKABILITY: He’s funny and smart, and defends our hero with passion. We want him on our side.
RELATABILITY: We all want to be the guy who fights the good fight.
EMPATHY: We see his underbelly, and that he’s scared. We can imagine what it’s like to hold someone else’s life in your hands.
CHARACTER SUBTEXT: A secretly insecure, outwardly grandstanding, narcissistic lawyer flaunts his own perceived power by throwing his weight behind the naïve and honest subject of the biggest criminal trial ever in paleontology.
CHARACTER INTRIGUE: At first, Bronc took the case because he wants to win the most controversial case in the state’s history. All he knows how to do is compete, and sometimes that requires deception. However, as the relationship develops, he realizes he actually needs to be Superman.
FLAW: Over-confidence
VALUES: Intelligence, being acknowledged
CHARACTER DILEMMA: Wanting external admiration versus loving yourself (and making real “relationship” decisions)
KELLY / PROTAGONIST LOVE INTEREST
JOURNEY: (Internal) From non-committal observer to someone willing to take a risk. (External) From neutral journalist someone with a passionate opinion, willing to see the gray in life.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS:
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? She’s in a pickle. She arrives as a friend of the underdogs—to research them for a story—and falls in love with her subject. But she doesn’t play the wimp. She keeps reporting and investigating, while also supporting the team. She’s no pushover; she’s not just “the girlfriend.” She uncovers important information and keeps Bronc in line.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? She’s the only one both Pete (protagonist) and Bronc (defense attorney) eventually can trust to see the whole picture. She also has one foot in and one foot out, having lived there and then moved away for the big city. She’s neither fish nor fowl, and people don’t know what her motivations are.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? She changes her life in a matter of weeks, moving back from LA to live in rural America; she puts herself in the middle of a romantic dilemma (falling in love with her subject); she braves difficult moments, and counsels the protagonist and his family in the ways of the world.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? She’s in LA working at a TV show, and the protagonist calls her to help get media coverage on the national level. She takes a sabbatical, packs up, and goes back home to investigate.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? As a smart woman, she begins with compassion and empathy, mixed with curiosity. She begins by not knowing “if there’s smoke, is there fire?” Through the story, once she knows they’re innocent, she cries with the family, goes head-to-head with lawyers and others, and becomes an advocate.
6. What subtext can the actor play? She’s very conflicted. At first, in interviewing and “finding the story,” she’s trying to discover if her old friends broke the law. Once she knows they didn’t, she’s stuck between journalistic integrity and falling in love. She’s also worried about the kids in the family, who are gobsmacked by the situation.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? With the protagonist (friend and eventual lover); defense lawyer (who suspects her motives, and then comes to trust her).
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? She’s the calm, reasonable one—always analyzing and helping soothe nerves. No matter how freaked she might actually be.
9. What makes this character special and unique? She’s the only one who can “see what the public might see.” Lawyers ask her “how does this look,” or “what is the public getting from this?” She’s the canary in the coal mine, their link to the outside world.
ROLE IN STORY: Possibly the narrator, but at least the person who makes sense of a lot of confusing elements. She has to “sort everything out”—which helps Pete, the case, the lawyers, and the audience.
CORE TRAITS: Curious, brave, straight-talking, compassionate
MOTIVATION / WANT & NEED: Want: Goes from telling a good story into helping a good person. Need: To have someone (maybe even herself) see her as a whole person.
WOUND: Taken advantage of by everyone in the family; used for her good nature. She’s slow to trust and can even be calculating.
LIKABILITY, RELATABILITY, EMPATHY
LIKABILITY: She obviously likes to help, and people respond to this.
RELATABILITY: People can relate to the idea that a “thing” doesn’t turn out as you imagined.
EMPATHY: We can feel for her, understanding the tight spot she’s gotten herself into.
CHARACTER SUBTEXT: The codependent people-pleaser finds herself in a position where no matter what she does, she will displease someone—and possibly violate her own ethics.
CHARACTER INTRIGUE: Her Secret is that she’s falling for her subject, and she works extra hard to be objective—which sometimes requires Deception when interviewing “the other side.” She really can be objective, and see Pete’s foibles, so she uses her Secret Identity—“could be a lawyer”—to help her through.
FLAW: Insecure / worries she’s a fraud
VALUES: Sacrifice
CHARACTER DILEMMA: Doing what’s expected versus expressing yourself
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Jacqueline Murphy Character Profiles Part 2 August 9, 2022
VISION: To empower myself to go for my dreams to be a great writer, actress and filmmaker who is “Admired”, recognized and sought after by the industry and has many successful TV & Film projects produced that make a difference and inspire others to go for their dreams.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that these are all great questions to ask & my imagination was stimulated to see the differences and make a compelling triangle of my 3 lead characters. Hopefully I can define & make them even more interesting.
1 State-To-Activity empowerment process. State: It is so much fun…Activity: …to discover what is under the surface for my characters.
2. With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
A. The High Concept. A failed Actress meets a handsome devil who magically “time travels” her to 1940’s Hollywood as a movie star but she stumbles on her family’s genetic trait that allows her to create magic, time travel and make changes in any era!
A. Movie: Sorceress of Hollywood LEAD Protagonist: Olivia Spencer
B. This Character’s Journey Olivia goes from wounded, failed actress who gets by on “smile” upbeat ways and dreamer to self-actualized authentic Ruler of OH Dimension and empowers her and others dreams.
C. The Actor Attractors for this Character- Time traveler, genetic trait that’s magnetized in Old Hollywood Dimension releasing all she can be-Magician, Ruler, Alcehmist, Transformer, Center of the OH Universe and essential in the power scheme of it all, Dispenser of dreams, shape-shifter, an actress who plays along finding her way in a new world others normally fail in. Her being in the “center” of things and how she navigates, Triangle relationship between Angelica and Mr. Z, finding her roots, who she really is-her JOURNEY is adventuress, risk taking, full of peril and new findings like the witches coven she becomes part of and her putting together the pieces of who her family really was and is.
7. Character Subtext: Olivia hides who she really is in the OH dimension in a “fake it till you make way”. Olivia is a seductress, voyeur and spy in the OH dimension and keeps her “secret” (she’s used magic to leave the real world) plays it easy, sweet until she gets her bearings in the OH dimension so she can find out the truth about who she is and her family especially the dad she never met was. She uses her “acting” abilities to work it so she can satisfy her dream to be a star and manipulates the powerful men around her until she figures out how to survive in the OH dimension and time travel back to the real world at her command and NOT Mr. Z’s
8. Character Intrigue: Hidden agendas & her secret father: to make it as a star & find out who her father is & if he’s alive
Competition: She fights for acknowledgement, to big a big star and for power so she won’t feel abandoned and pushed aside
Conspiracies: Olivia conspires with Angelica to win the OH Dimension away from Mr. Z and w. Mr. Z to get info about Angelica. She “plays” & flirts with danger with Davey Haze the Mafia Boss-Club Owner & Sam Meyer the Studio Head
Secrets: Olivia is having an affair with the dashing but married Oscar winning director knowing she can hold some strings over the studio head who holds power over the Mafia Boss. She’s great at creating a triangle with herself in power, knowing there is something for her in the OH dimension but not sure what based on overheard family conversations as a child. She hides the fact she was illegitimate
Deception: Olivia plays along with Mr. Z that she knows “nothing” about this OH dimension esp after Angelica and her “mentor” a head witch informs her so she can keep the cards in her hand. Olivia also “flirts” with all the men in her life: Mr. Z, Davey Haze, Studio Head Sam, and the director to keep them on “her side”
Unspoken Wound: The traumatic experience with a major loss growing up “fatherless” and of never knowing her father, if she was illegitimate, if her mom made up stories or if they were true. With the death of her mom she has no immediate family left and that haunts her and shapes a lot of their coping decisions and drives her forward to breakthrough and find out the truth about herself.
Secret Identity: A voyeur/spy in the OH dimension who is searching for clues about her life and how to move herself ahead in this world and/or find out info that will help in the Modern real world.
9. Flaw: Her desire to be a star, her wound from being abandoned, her narcissim and drive-her desire to achieve her dram but not knowing when she’s gone to far. Olivia over does things, makes bad decisions, undervalues herself and at times is overly confident. Olivia also gets “sucked in” to playing different roles because she loves to “try” things on as an actress and “see what happens”. The saying “Curiousity killed the cat” applies.
10. Values: Family, love and fame are #1 for Olivia. Being kind, loving open minded but tired of being kept down and willing to “make a deal” to get what she wants. A risk-taking adventurer who at times goes to far, easily tempted.
11. Character Dilemma: How much should Olivia give up to get the gold ring of success power, necessary magical skills to rule. When is it enough, is it worth playing with losing her soul and the real world and people she knows, loves for this new world? Center of attention versus staying quiet. Looks for external admiration versus loving herself, stardom vs. authenticity, winning vs. losing. Excitement versus safety.
#2 LEAD ANTAGONIST: MR. Z
A. The High Concept. . A failed Actress meets a handsome devil who magically “time travels” her to 1940’s Hollywood as a movie star but she stumbles on her family’s genetic trait that allows her to create magic, time travel and make changes in any era!
Character Name: Mr. Z
Role: Sorcerer from the OH Dimension manipulating Olivia so he can usurp her genetic talent that is hidden to her and tip-toe away with the power and rule OH
Logline: A manipulative Sorcerer who uses his magical powers to control Olivia but needs her power to completely takeover of the Old Hollywood Dimension but he implodes when the tables are turned on him and loses to Olivia.
Unique: Chip on his shoulder always searching for total power and reunion with his family(wound) but love makes him weak.
B. This Character’s Journey A Diva Bad Boy, calling the shots, Mr. Z goes from seductive, self-assured player who thinks he can usurp Olivia’s power to falling in love with her, to competitor fighting against her trying to sabotage her to shocking realization that they are related which blows up his thinking he can outsmart her because once he realizes her powers are magnetized in OH world and his powers are weakend, Mr. Z. realizes that the only way to “win” anything is to become her ally and faithful fighter. Realizing that Olivia is the true heir of the realm in OH dashes his dreams and he is sent to a place for outcast and trouble makers but because Olivia values family and love, a sentimentalist at heart she takes pity on him and brings him into the fold healing his wound as “cast out” and names him as her “true brother”.
C. The Actor Attractors for this Character- A Sorcerer on top of his game, pulling all the strings and in control who has to discarding his old way to help Olivia so they both can assume the roles in the OH Dimension. Z goes from being a cast out to sharing his loss of abandonment when Olivia and her realize they are related as brother and sister. Being vulnerable to actually falling in love shedding tears that Z finally fell for her only to have it taken away but gratefulness heals his dark heart when Olivia helps him and the “spell” put on him to be a mad angry soul evaporates. Going from Evil prankster psycho with a mean spirit to a “calming of the beast” and his own self-realization and gain from acceptance and kind acts versus massive manipulation.
7. Character Subtext: Mr. Z makes like his power is huge and Olivia feel like a victim so he can see how she deals with being abandoned and lost and work through his own craziness. Z promises Olivia many things but doesn’t deliver he manipulates her the way he feels he’s been manipulated. He searches to flex his muscle and see if she’d want him especially when he feels detestable and tries to romance Olivia then shuns her putting on her his own loss. He feels powerless, unloved and unwanted like the “Joker” in Batman and wishes he had Olivia’s zest and powers and throughs her off the trail of who she really is all the time.
8. Character Intrigue: Hidden agendas: Z. works at seducing Olivia tempting her with the magic ability to give her dreams to be a big star and find out more about her past
Competition: Z wants what Olivia has the ability to make him a ruler
Conspiracies: Hushes Angelica up by threatening to expose the truth of who A is to Olivia and put a wedge between their friendship. Z wants to “trick” Olivia and take the kaleidoscope from her as it’s the key to his ascending the OH Throne
Secrets: Z is falling in love with Olivia but covers it because power is more important. Keeps his desire to rule from her and doesn’t let on to anyone or her who she really is. Thwarts Olivia from her true role. Has a nagging feeling that they may be connected as a family.
Deception: Z tells Olivia he has much more power than he does and hints he knows things about her father to make her more vulnerable.
Unspoken Wound: Had the traumatic experience of being denied the throne because he is not the true heir and was thrown out of OH and in FACT it is with his having Olivia as the “time traveler” he has re-entered under the radar. He copes with covering who he really is all over the place.
Secret Identity: A spy/con man who hates what he has become but lack of love and acknowledgement and feeling lost has led him to a very lonely, desperate and sad place and he really feels like a victim.
9. Flaw: Conceit, selfishness, greed for power but his wound lines up with Olivia’s when they find out they share the same father and loss and are enternally connected.
10. Values: Machiavellian ways, Win at any price, power first, By any means necessary
11. Character Dilemma: Falling in love with Olivia but wanting to steal her power, then realizing he never will be able to because once Olivia is in the OH dimension she is like a plug in a socket and electrified becoming more powerful every day as his powers get zapped. His waterloo is realizing that the “spell” put on him was he was cast out of OH dimension can only be removed by his being a patron and a fighter for Olivia. He has to learn selflessness but his wound of being abandoned and realizing Olivia is his sister both of the same father turns his life upside down. Seeing how they are ALL related including Angelica blows him away!!!
Mr. Z makes like his power is huge and Olivia feel like a victim so he can see how she deals with being abandoned and lost and work through his own craziness. Z promises Olivia many things but doesn’t deliver he manipulates her the way he feels he’s been manipulated. He searches to flex his muscle and see if she’d want him especially when he feels detestable and tries to romance Olivia then shuns her putting on her his own loss. He feels powerless, unloved and unwanted like the “Joker” in Batman and wishes he had Olivia’s zest and powers and throughs her off the trail of who she really is all the time.
#3 Triangle Character: Angelica Logline: Angelica is a psychic intuitive and Olivia’s best friend who tries to guide her but Angelica has her own ulterior motive to keep Olivia from the Old Hollywood Dimension and Sorcerer Damien Exit.
Unique: A transgender who hides her real identity and love for Olivia who tries to remain in “real world” as an undercover psychic intuitive with ability to go between ALL dimensions. Angelica knows who Mr. Z is and their parents but doesn’t let on. She tries to keep her power for herself and over Olivia until Mr. Z blows Angelica’s plan apart. Z and Angelica are two forces-good and evil and are evenly matched.
A. The High Concept. A failed Actress meets a handsome devil who magically “time travels” her to 1940’s Hollywood as a movie star but she stumbles on her family’s genetic trait that allows her to create magic, time travel and make changes in any era!
B. This Character’s Journey- Angelica goes from Olivia’s protector and BBF, a psychic who is secretly in love with Olivia and wants her all to herself . The relationship is in Angelica’s control until Mr. Z enters the picture offering Olivia what she thinks she truly desires: FAME and STARDOM. This causes Angelica to have to shed her false self and follow Olivia to the OH Dimension from the safer Real world as Angelica knows only to well the “perils” of the Seductive OH Dimension. A surprise is in for all 3 characters when they realize that they are more connected than they ever thought. Angelica must come clean about who she really is in both worlds and embrace her transgender self.
C. The Actor Attractors for this Character A “being” that’s from many worlds who can perform magic, is psychic and her love and “goodness” is so great that she must accept who she really is as a transgender person. The ability to love and show it’s many forms. The daughter of a man with genetic traits for magic and caught up in a power struggle and triangle with her siblings. The go between in many worlds who is able to mask who she is more than the others adds to her powers. Her weakness is the ability to see the future but it’s also her strength.
7. Character Subtext: A crafty grifter in the Real world concealing who she really is and hiding out and seeking a peaceful haven there so as not to perform her real duties in the OH realm. Angelica can be a “shape shifter” adapting to what she needs to do to keep her real identity unknown and the PEACE. She secretly manipulates the truth so Olivia doesn’t fall into more danger. But who is Angelica to decide another’s fate?
8. Character Intrigue: Angelica’s a voyeur seeking refuge in the “Real World” and her secret deception is to keep Olivia for herself and the status quo in the real world. Keeping Z out of the circle is Angelica’s agenda but once Olivia finds out Angelica’s been keeping things from her their world explodes.
9. Flaw: Love and duty to Olivia clouds Angelica’s judgement. Her wanting to satisfy herself reignites the competition for power she and Z had in the OH Dimension which Angelica left to start “fresh”.
10. Values: Family and love. Angelica talks herself into thinking her actions of protecting Olivia, keeping vital information regarding Olivia’s father and her family history is helping Olivia. But Angelica can’t see she’s putting herself first.
11. Character Dilemma: How to break the “Truth” of her love for Olivia and who Angelica really is. Will Olivia accept Angelica if she knows she was keeping a major truth Olivia needed to know to make peace with herself? Will Olivia accept Angelica once she knows the truth, how they are related?
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Savanna’s Character Profiles Part 2
-taking my broken heart and turning it into art financially successfully and with platform for advocating for chidlren’s rights
-what i learned is that i can catch up with class
Drama Script
A. The High Concept.
Journalist/Lawyer returns from progressive NE to small Southern town in the news for repeated intolerance and confronts friends and family who have become right wingers unsuccessfully until super storm lands them all in red cross shelter.
B. This character’s journey.
open and inquisitive to brutally pragmatic
C. The Actor Attractors for this character.
What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
main character goes from educated progressive to understanding some of the angst of her roots in modern political context and to heroine status as savior at red cross facility
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
her ability to change accent and diction from northeast to southern roots; her physicality thru parkour; her repeated inability to get through to people from her roots
What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Her parkour chase and capture of a thief; her organization of a shelter with zero notice
How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
change of accent from boarding plane in EWR to deplaning in ATL
What could be this character’s emotional range
contained and measured in beginning to screaming maniac at end
What subtext can the actor play?
investigative
What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
with and old flame who only wants a virtual relationship; with siblings who are conniving; with aging parents who are numbed by cable tv
How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
She perseveres
What could make this character special and unique?
physicality; ability to drop education on a dime
Role in the Story:
protagonist
Age range and Description:
50’s
Core Traits:
demanding, disciplined, emotional
Motivation; Want/Need:
Wants to change friends and family from the past
Wound:
being estranged from family and friends
Likability: she roots for the underdog
Relatability: problem relationships
Empathy: earnest
Character Subtext:
suppressing knowledge and skills
Character Intrigue:
secret identity: hides her talents
Flaw:
does not believe in her abilities
Values:
patriotic at core
Character Dilemma:
devoted to origins, but more comfortable in NE
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Christopher’s Character Profiles Part II
Vision: To claim “screenwriter” as my primary profession and to be well respected and sought after in the industry for my scripts that are both memorable and ground-breaking.
What I learned doing this assignment is how much more alive and interesting my characters are becoming the more I load their profiles with intrigue and depth.
NIA COLEMAN
The High Concept: In an alternate realm, Nia discovers her supernatural abilities while seeking vengeance on her late husband’s killer … and at odds with Dr. Dahl who secretly leads the new line of killers to reign in the new world order.
Character’s journey – from betrayed and tragic to essential and courageous.
The Actor Attractors for this character: Approachable, empathetic, crime consultant, lifesaver, absolved and vindicated, a warrior of great supernatural powers.
Role in the Story: Protagonist
Age range and Description: late 30’s to early 40’s, a physical force, very impressionable, sharp with a dreamy aesthetic.
Core Traits: academic, kind hearted, broken, has grit, mind over matter.
Motivation; Want/Need: to be respected among her academic peers/to find the killer that stole her family from her.
Wound: A crippling anxiety disorder.
Likability: Her resolution is her demise. A fighter.
Relatability: sees the good in all things. Gives everyone the benefit of the doubt.
Empathy: her sacrifices to get where she is for a better life for the family that was taken from her.
Character Subtext: her secret plan (to find her husband’s killer for justice and retribution )
Character Intrigue: her realization that she is a badass in the alternate dimension.
Flaw: the more she embraces her powers the more her anxiety is exacerbated in the real world.
Values: her sound moral and ethical code when it comes to family, which means going above and beyond when these very codes are disrupted and/or broken.
Character Dilemma: the balancing act between her esteemed professional career and the codes she must break in order to find retribution for her family.
DR. HANNAH DAHL
The High Concept: A world renowned psychologist whose clients she treats are apart of the new world that she covertly helps so that she secures a high office in the new world.
Character’s journey – from a celebrated top psychologist to a trusted ally among the new world order.
power-hungry ambition
The Actor Attractors for this character: An intellect, motherhood ambitions, power-hungry ambition, devious.
Role in the Story: antagonist
Age range and Description: 40’ish; alluring warmth, motherly, brilliant, the friend you can count on.
Core Traits: intellectual, imaginative, charming, a woman scorned, devious.
Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to secure her place in the new world/ needs to fulfill her inexhaustible urges for motherhood.
Wound: Comes from a broken home. Infertility.
Likability: Her high IQ.She is the friend that you can confide in.
Relatability: Her friends are like family.
Empathy: Natural motherly instincts for a woman who suffers from infertility.
Character Subtext: hides from Nia that she is assisting the new world order to claim their reign in the new world; she’s also connecting with Jayla (Nia’s daughter) on a motherly level that Nia was never able to fulfill.
Character Intrigue: her unorthodox methods to psychotherapy.
Flaw: her determination for her unorthodox methods to work but that they could backfire and land her into some real trouble.
Values: Motherhood, friendship, power, intimacy.
Character Dilemma: her insatiable sexual inhibitions for validation of the self love she lacks.
JAYLA COLEMAN
The Actor Attractors for this character: gifted, creative, knows how to stand up for herself, wise beyond her years.
Role in the Story: Nia’s gifted biological daughter.
Age range and Description: early teens, brave, the girl who can hang with the boys, the girl all the boys want to be around.
Core Traits: artistic, open, adventurous, spirited.
Motivation; Want/Need: wants to be a part of Nia’s life/needs to be loved and appreciated.
Wound: neglected and blind.
Likability: wants to enjoy life and believes in love.
Relatability: tries too hard to impress when she is best being herself.
Empathy: She feels misunderstood and disconnected.
Character Subtext: has access to the alternate dimension and helps her mother without her knowing it.
Character Intrigue: is gifted and is also a super power in alternate universes.
Flaw: her loneliness desire to be loved.
Values: her broken family.
Character dilemma: Dr. Dahl fill the motherly shoes while stealthily assisting her real mother in the alternate realm.
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Daniel Turner’s Character Profiles 2
VISION: to become a produced, well regarded, and in demand writer.
What I learned doing this assignment is how to create a dimensional character.
Protagonist: Colvile Franklin
High Concept: A preacher turned police detective, while investigating a series of murders uncovers a secret sect sacrificing sinners.
Journey: He goes from a man of the cloth to a man with a gold shield all in an attempt to try and realize the goals of his faith.
Actor Attractors: A truly unique character. He is a preacher turned detective who has kept his habits and demeanor of when he was a preacher. He was a successful preacher which means he is charismatic, a great storyteller and great with people.
Character Subtext: Seducing
Character Intrigue: Competition
Flaw: Faith in belief before belief in evidence
Values: Duty womankind and God
Character Dilemma: Talked himself into being someone he doesn’t believe in.
Dr. Roland Young
Role in story: Antagonist
Age range and Description: Early 40’s, he is bookish but sly and cunning. Wicked smart and very observant, not much gets past him.
Character Subtext: Hiding Something
Character Intrigue: Secrets/ Hidden agendas
Flaw: Has to hide and distort real beliefs
Values: Loyalty
Character Dilemma: If they could just see what I see they would understand.
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