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Day 8 Assignments
Reply to post your assignment.
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11 Replies
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Emmanuel’s Likability/Empathy/Justification
What I learned doing this assignment is the hero can also be likable even if he/she has to do horrible things. The audience can empathize with a hero that has to react to situations out of their control or dangerous plots the villain placed the hero in, which forces a fight or flight scenario.
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Carlos and Aliyah’s Likability/Empathy/Justification
What I learned doing this assignment is that even if you’ve developed multiple ways to inspire the viewer to care about your character(s), try to work in even more.
LIKABILITY/LOVABILITY
1. Carlos and Aliyah embody the excitement/aspirations of young love.
2. Their families and friends aspire to and admire such love.
3. They’re funny and innocent.
4. They have carved out time from their busy honeymoon to help girls in the sex trade.
EMPATHY/DISTRESS
1. Their plans are up-ended upon arrival when they are victimized
2. They are scared and helpless in a foreign land.
3. Their honeymoon dreams are shattered when the theft prevents them from leaving Amsterdam.
4. When they go searching for the bag, they are traumatized again seeing someone wearing her clothes.
5. They are further traumatized when they chase after the guy who stole the bag, and he’s smashed by a truck.
JUSTIFICATION
1. The thieves ruined their honeymoon. They have a right to want revenge.
2. The thieves are heartless and don’t care about the incredible difficulties they cause their victims.
3. Beyond that, the money they steal is funneled into the trafficking of young girls.
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Renee’s Likability/Empathy/Justification
What I learned doing this assignment how important it is to make the hero likable and how to make the audience care about their journey.
LIKABILITY/LOVABILITY
A. He’s a highly respected retired FBI agent.
B. Watched his marriage fall apart after his daughter’s death.
C. He’s trying to shut down a large human trafficking ring.
D. He’s trying to save a young boy that might be his grandson.
E. Trying to save more young people from the horrors of human trafficking.
EMPATHY / DISTRESS
A. His daughter was kidnapped and eventually killed by a human trafficking ring.
B. Extreme emotional loss with his daughter’s death.
C. He is forced to choose between his life and the life of a young boy.
D. His daughter’s possible son is a victim of the same human trafficking ring.
JUSTIFICATION
A. His daughter was killed.
B. The leader of the human trafficking ring thinks they are untouchable.
c. Lost his daughter and wife as a result of his daughter’s death.
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Mark Dotz
What I learned from this assignment is… a sympathetic character does not have to always have loss or even do likable things. There are many categories that make a hero likable or sympathetic.
Likability/Lovability –
1. We see our hero, Damian take Mercy on the mystery knight he defeats in a tournament, instead of revealing her like the kingdom wants he lets her escape like she is begging to do.
2. When the kidnap is attempted, Damian doesn’t kill Archibald’s men, and his moment of mercy in turn leads to him being locked in a dungeon.
3. Damian is a somewhat bubbly and light-hearted personality who doesn’t want to kill anyone, Damian is very fun, humorous and likable who likes to look at the bright side of things when possible.
Empathy / Distress
1. Damian doesn’t know why Archibald’s men are attacking him and even though he is careful not to kill them he is locked in a dungeon.
2. Damian doesn’t know he is the kings illegitimate son and is being chased by Archibald although he doesn’t know the true story.
Justification
1. The King is a good king and it is honorable for a knight to defend him.
2. Archibald is using dirty tricks to try and become king and should be stopped.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Mark Doddy.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by
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David’s Likability/Empathy/Justification
“What I learned doing this assignment is…?” Identification with the Hero (or villain and secondary characters too, presumably) must be consciously built into the script.
LIKABILITY/LOVABILITY
1. Pictures on his desk. Family – wife, daughter and himself, very happy.
2. Joke about colleague’s metal hat (worn by some believing it prevents Alien mind control).
3. Loving phone conversation with wife to pick up daughter.
4. Gives routine dollar to beggar outside office.
5. Glad his daughter didn’t see exterminations (mentioned during cop chat).
EMPATHY / DISTRESS
1. Uncle committed suicide before being exterminated by Aliens (mentioned during cop chat).
2. Seeing cop shot before he realizes what is happening.
3. Freezes as his first reaction.
4. Sees children being shot.
5. Fires back.
6. Goes after daughter.
7. Pushes children and teachers out of way.
8. Gets daughter. Thinks they are safe. Thinks Cult leaving.
9. Daughter and Saul shot.
10. Cradles dead daughter.
11. Realizes his injuries. Lost about his future.
12. Sees comatose wife.
13. Must decide whether to work for Agency with questionable ethics.
JUSTIFICATION
1. FBI/Agency agent.
2. Revenge against Cultists.
3. Vow to his wife.
4. Doing his job.
5. Maybe, saving the world.
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Janeen’s Likability/Empathy/Justification
What I learned doing this assignment is the list of ways to engage people makes it easy to make the hero likeable.
Likability/Lovability
– Has a teacup poodle as a PTSD dog that he dotes on
Served in a war and has PTSD <div>
Is a really good mall Santa — kids love him, he tolerates bad kids, sticky hands well.
Hasn’t had the nerve to talk to the Secret Service agent he thinks is so hot because he’s not worthy — or so he tells the elf that encourages him to go after her.
Is always courteous to the President’s parents when they walk by his Santa chair
Quick witted and funny
Empathy/Distress
Had a battle go bad -</div><div>
– the PTSD dog gently wakes him up in a comical fashion.
Sounds can set him off and the sight of the dog being there for him calms him down.
Can’t hold a better job because of a particularly odd PTSD trigger — have to think of that one.
Never killed anyone in war, but will do so now to protect the SS agent and the parents.
When shots are fired for real, he looks at the little dog to reassure him it’s just a dream and the dog says otherwise so he believes the tiny dog and takes off after the villains.
Justification
– War veteran and damaged by war
<div>
</div>Attacked by villains
Lost buddies in the war
The villains have killed a Secret Service agent and are hustling off the President’ parents.
Revised Opening:
Opening scene: Hero in spartan apartment is having a flashback dream and his PTSD teacup poodle licks his ear to wake him, his dream turns to a beautiful woman nibbling his ear and the dog barks. He shoots up and gives the tiny dog in his hand a kiss on the nose. Thanks Grizzly!
Once dressed as Santa at the mall, his aging elf fails to protect him from sticky hands, shrieking kids and impatient parents, but he is the soul of patience.
The elf investigates and tells him that the elderly couple with the beautiful companion who matches the woman in his dreams are the President’s parents and their Secret Service agent and that they mall walk here every day. Santa and the agent flirt from a distance every day and the elf and parents give each other thumbs ups.
Five days before Christmas, the parents and agent have a tough looking guy with them. He steps to Santa, flips his FBI badge and tells Santa he has his eye on him. Grizzly growls and Santa is puzzled because the pup is a good judge of character.
MISSION 1 Motivation: A failed mission in a war (Afghanistan, Iraq?) and a chance at redemption and self-respect again if he can do his duty to protect the parents while they are mall walking. He is on high alert every day they come in – because they are important and because of the agent.
VILLAIN 1 PLAN: To use inside double agents to kidnap the President’s parents and force the President to transfer a huge ransom and release members of a terrorist network before killing them and escaping.
INCITING INCIDENT
</div>
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Sung-Ju Suya Lee’s Likability/Empathy/Justification
Lesson 8: Why Do We Care?
“What I learned doing this assignment is…?”
This is a good lesson. I liked doing this. It was challenging. Finding out why we like the old timers. Besides being a hero. I had to come up with others ideas. The FIRST ACT scenarios for my story aren’t Action related. Wondering if I should make the Pirates attack the cruise ship earlier (currently, at the FIRST ACT turning point)? Still figuring this all out. Right now, it’s all at the Veterans’ retirement home.
Logline:
When a group of old timers at a veteran’s retirement home win the mega lottery, they buy an old cruise ship to sail around the world with their extended families, but Pirates hijack their ship in South-East Asia and the Veterans must face the last battle of their lives to save their families.
Brainstorm answers to Likability/ Empathy/ Distress/ Justified for your Hero.
LIKABILITY/LOVABILITY
A. Other
people like or respect the character – 4 Veterans are friendly towards the
other Veterans at the retirement home. Other Veterans’ families also know
these 4 Veterans. <div>B. The
character shows love for something – 4 Veterans help keep the war memorial
display unit nice. Dust-free, polish the war medals, photos, plaques, etc.C. They’re
trying to do something good – each saves money they made not on recreation,
but to give back to the retirement home, maybe help each other, i.e., new
hearing aids.D. Save the
cat — rescue or do something good for someone else – help the other
Veterans with their recreational activities. Such as a fallen Veteran on a
bicycle.E. Funny,
humorous, witty – 4 Veterans teach other grandchildren on the farm, have
fun.F. Kindness –
4 Veterans take care of the animals at the country retirement home,
without pay.G. Good moral
decisions and actions. Being on the right side – 4 Veterans help the older
Veterans live daily lives.EMPATHY / DISTRESS
A. Undeserved misfortune- 4
Veterans are poor, can’t afford the retirement home activities, which cost
extra. So, they do chores around the place for extra money. </div><div>B. External
Character conflicts – each Veteran is declining in health in some way.
They come back from a funeral, another Veteran at the retirement home
dies. Their time is running out, too. Notice of about retirement home
re-organization. Veterans who can’t pay will be kicked out.C. Plot
intruding on life – Veterans’ families are far away. So, families don’t
visit. Other Veterans have families come and visit. They miss their
families, do skype, zoom, Facetime, etc.D. Moral
dilemmas – Can they continue life on the veterans’ retirement home as second-class
citizens (due to not having enough money)?E. Forced
decisions they’d never make – Veterans give their all in the retirement
home, but now they are being kicked out soon with no where to go. Do they
rebel?F. Wound
attacked – Retirement home will kick out some Veterans (our protagonists) due
to money issues. A kick in the gut for War Veterans who have no money.JUSTIFICATION
A. The
character or their family abused – 4 Veterans are told to leave. Their
government discards them.B. Threatened by others – Administration team warns the 4 Veterans they have one week to pack up.
C. The Hero is the victim of attacks – 4 Veterans refuse to leave, they are locked out of their bedrooms.
D. They’ve suffered major losses – health problems, financial problems, family can’t visit them, etc.
E. The Villain or their representatives have trespassed – Administration team toss out their belongings onto the road.
Scenes to Keep:
Veterans to be kicked out. So, when they win the mega lottery, it’s a nice reversal.
I liked some of the other scenes, i.e., polishing war medals.
</div>
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Denice’s Likeability/Empathy/Justification
What I learned doing this assignment is how well is shows what’s happening on an emotional level and where to add the elements you don’t have that you need.
Likability/Lovability
• She’s telekinetic.
• She’s great at martial arts
• She’s liked by her instructors
• She saves an animal.
• She cares for Dad’s assistant in a daughterly way
• She’s competitive.
• Helps Mom pack for concert tour.
Empathy/Distress
• She’s shunned by the workers in her Dad’s conglomerate
• Scientist/Researcher hates her, he’s in charge of water test
• Her dad lies to her
• Fails water tank test
• Mom disappears
• Assassin beats her up
• Hired guys try to kill her, but she doesn’t want to kill them
• Mom dies in her arms
• Villain has vendetta against family
• Dad kidnapped by Villain
• Triple left in water tank to die
• Dad thrown off airplane
• Triple has to jump out of jet to save Dad
Justification
• Her life has been a lie, why?
• Wounded by assassin,
• Attacked by hired killers
• Villain kills Mom
• Villain almost kills Dad
• Villain will destroy company workers
• Crazed Villain needs to be eliminated
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Mary’s Likability/Empathy/Justification
What I learned doing this assignment is to increase aspects of likeability and empathy for my hero. Originally I had more justification.
LIKABILITY/LOVABILITY
Sam is trying to “be his own man” and find a job.
Sam shows tenderness for a horse that is being mistreated and seems to be “on it’s own” like Sam.
Enos admires and feels indebted to Sam because he saved him from being trampled by a horse
EMPATHY / DISTRESS
All Sam’s money was stolen as he sleeps on the street in Philadelphia.
He is on his own with no one to turn to.
Sam is hungry and so tries to steal a cake but then backs down.
A kidnapping gang preys on Sam’s lack of money, lures him into a false job and kidnaps him
JUSTIFICATION
Sam is confined in the hold of a boat.
Eb threatens to slit Sam’s throat if he calls out.
Sam is regularly beaten or threatened with beatings by the kidnappers.
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Kathy’s Likability/Empathy/Justification
What I learned doing this assignment is I can add more emotions.
This is a simple way to brainstorm the three emotional situations that will connect the audience to the Hero. Once you have brainstormed a list of ways to accomplish each one, then you make decisions about which you want to keep and how they will play in the story.
LIKABILITY/LOVABILITY
• A. Other people like or respect the character. Wife, other detectives
• B. The character shows love for something. Wife, kids, father
• C. They’re trying to do something good. Stop smuggling ring at first, then find out the smugglers are terrorists
• D. Save the cat — rescue or do something good for someone else. Rescues wife.
• E. Funny, humorous, witty. Occasionally.
• F. Kindness. But can be ruthless with terrorists/bad guys.
• G. Good moral decisions and actions. Being on the right side. Always.
EMPATHY / DISTRESS
• A. Undeserved misfortune. Put on low priority cases.
• B. External Character conflicts. Auction house director, NYC Mayor, wife
• C. Plot intruding on life. Wife kidnapped.
• D. Moral dilemmas. What about the Christie’s director? Why is his wife involved?
• E. Forced decisions they’d never make. Must save wife, stop terrorists.
• F. Wound attacked. Put on low priority cases so increases his insecurity.
JUSTIFICATION
• A. The character or their family abused. Put on low priority cases so increases his insecurity
• B. Threatened by others. Wife attacked.
• C. The Hero is the victim of attacks. Wife attacked.
• D. They’ve suffered major losses. Wife attacked.
• E. The Villain or their representatives have trespassed, hostages in the UN building. .
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Linda’s Likability/Empathy/Justification
What I learned doing this assignment is I didn’t have near enough reasons to care for the hero at the beginning. This was a great way to think through creative ideas to add likability/empathy/justification.
LIKABILITY/LOVABILITY
1. Parents worry for his safety.
2. Surprises his parents for the weekend because he missed them.
3. Considering quitting border patrol because it is disheartening turning people away.
4. Saves children from human smuggling.
5. Witty comeback to his parents or neighbors.
6. Helps the elderly neighbors with something.
7. Finds a kid on the property, bring him/her into the house for food, etc.
EMPATHY/DISTRESS
1. Drug smugglers or terrorists converge on his parents’ house.
2. Conflict at the border.
3. Family members killed.
4. What to do with the child.
5. Killings push him to want to shut the border.
6. Lost his first love from an attack in foreign country.
JUSTIFICATION
1. Parents and wife killed by drug smugglers or terrorists.
2. Threatening note left with his son who they left alive.
3. Victim of attacks.
4. Suffered the love of his life.
5. Drug smugglers use the kid to distract so they can steal.
Why we Care
The Commish surprises his parents with a visit and they are very happy to see him. His son and ex are there and he is emotional seeing all of them. There is tension with his ex, but you can see love there.
Terrorists approach the property. Send a young disheveled girl to get their attention.
The Commish searches the property, but doesn’t see anyone.
Commish takes the girl in, feeds her, etc.
Terrorists steal transportation and take off.
The Commish takes the girl to the border and is appalled by conditions on the ground. Barks orders. Demands they take care of the girl and keep him updated on her status. His family will take her in if they don’t find her parents.
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