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Day 9 Assignment
Reply to post assignment.
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5 Replies
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Bob Rowen’s Act 1: Opening Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is a really neat way to draft introductions to my characters (What I’m working on is having my protagonist and antagonist in the beginning of the story both believing nuclear power is the future only to have them in total and complete disagreement at the end)
Simple outlines for the following character introductions
Opening scene introducing Virgil, Protagonist:
INT. PERSONNEL MANAGER’S OFFICE – DAY
BEGINNING: The personnel office secretary tells Virgil there currently are no job openings.
MIDDLE: Virgil insists on completing an application, does so, and then asks the secretary to take the pre-employment test. The frustrated secretary once again says there are no openings. Virgil continues to be insistent.
END: The personnel manager enters, takes a quick look at Virgil’s application, decides to have Virgil take the pre-employment test, asks Virgil where he sees himself in five years, and is impressed with Virgil’s response that nuclear power in the energy source of the future. The personnel manager is able to get Virgil a position in the line department at the very bottom of the food chain.
Opening scene introducing Edgar, Antagonist:
INT. EDGAR’S OFFICE – MORNING
BEGINNING: Edgar notifies Virgil he’s being transferred to the nuclear unit as an apprentice nuclear control technician.
MIDDLE: Edgar reflects on Virgil’s favorable performance reports he has received from the Instrument Repair Foreman. The two of them seem to hit it off.
END: Edgar tells Virgil that he, too, strongly believes nuclear power is the panacea to the immerging energy crisis and with a gritty smile, says it’s his undying mission to make it happen.
Opening scene introducing Kathryn, supporting character:
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Virgil’s wife, Kathryn, knows he desires to work in the nuclear Unit 3; and is planning to use the current job offer, apprentice instrument repairman position for Units 1 and 2, as a steppingstone to get into Unit 3.
MIDDLE: Kathryn is opposed to Virgil accepting the current job offer at the power plant because she believes it will get Virgil to Unit 3, which she feels is too dangerous a place to work. They argue.
END: Because Virgil remains steadfast in wanting to accept the current job offer; it puts Kathryn at odds with Virgil.
Opening scene introducing Forrest, supporting character:
INT. UNITS 1 AND 2 COLD INSTRUMENT SHOP – MORNING
BEGINNING: Virgil meets Forrest Williams, who once served on a U.S. Navy sea rescue tug in the South Pacific during America’s atomic bomb testing during the 50s.
MIDDLE: Forrest has worked in the power plant since day one of the nuclear unit’s start up.
END: Forrest tells Virgil he believes nuclear power is not safe, clean, or economical which leaves Virgil befuddled and in total disagreement.
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Rob Springfield’s Act 1: Opening Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is how to write the core opening scenes to introduce the protagonist(s) and antagonist(s).
Simple outlines for the following character introductions
Opening scene introducing Mark, Protagonist:
EXT. BASEBALL FIELD – DAY
BEGINNING: Mark’s drunken dad, Jeff, makes him do push-ups on the pitcher’s mound in front of a crowd of people.
MIDDLE: Mark cries and struggles with each push as Jeff guzzles beer and staggers over him. He criticizes Mark’s pitching performance. Jeff threatens the crowd if they interfere.
END: Jeff’s boss, also in attendance, steps forward and puts a stop to the spectacle.
Opening scene introducing John Stein, Antagonist:
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
BEGINNING: Teacher, JOHN STEIN, lectures the students on passing their final project, then conveys a look of disappointment to Mark, like “you can forget it.”
MIDDLE: John Stein introduces the class to Dr. Green. John Stein criticizes Mark’s work in front of Dr. Green and the whole class. Dr. Green encourages Mark.
END: Dr. Green shows John Stein a sample of what his new developmental app can do–It’s an unbelievable visual. John almost salivates like a hungry wolf. Mark sees the entire exchange.
Opening scene introducing Manny, Secondary Antagonist:
INT. TUSCAN MANSION – DAY
BEGINNING: MANNY-age 30, slicked-back hair, cool threads, greets Jeff, gives him a pound. He’s super excited that Jeff showed up for poker night.
MIDDLE: Jeff sits at the poker table and wins big against Manny and others.
END: Unknown to all inside, Mark lurks outside, peeps in the window and sees Jeff playing. Suddenly, someone grabs Mark, it’s Manny’s SECURITY. Jeff finds out and blows his stack.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by Robert Springfield.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by
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ML Palidofska Act 1. Opening Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is the importance of an effective intro to the characters that hooks the viewer. It was a great way to show the contrast of the protagonist/antagonist.
Act I.
INT./GOVERNMENT OFFICE/DAY
BEGINNING: Everett James called into office and given assignment to investigate Margaret Strong. Boss hands him folder on her.
MIDDLE: There are roundtrip tickets, a brochure on the Snowbank Hotel and a room reservation. This leads to the discussion of Everett’s past career and that this will probably be his last assignment as he’s retiring. His boss comments that it’s a great place to relax and even if she’s guilty, don’t worry about it. He’ll tell him how to handle her.
END: Boss also informs him that a criminal he put away many years ago is now up for paroll.
2. INT./CONDO/DAY
BEGINNING: Neighbor bangs on Margaret’s door. She tells her that she has to go out East for a funeral and offers Margaret roundtrip tickets and a hotel room which are all paid for to the Snowbank Hotel.
END: Margaret graciously accepts.
3. INT./AIRPLANE/DAY
Margaret is on the plane and happens to be sitting next to Everett James.
He knows who she is and starts chatting her up.
In the seat behind them is the ex convict laying low.
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Harley Grant’s Act 1: Opening Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is quick way to create intros to my main characters.
Opening scene, introducing Priyanka, protagonist:
EXT. BACKYARD — NIGHT
BEGINNING: As Priyanka and her daughter Sia walk into the reception of a small family wedding, the crowd hushes. All eyes focus on them.
MIDDLE: Raj, Priyanka’s brother, suggests that they are taking the focus away from the event and should leave.
END: Priyanka agrees. Before exiting, she walks directly to the head table. She congratulates the bride and groom, hugs the bride’s parents, and tells a dirty joke to the groom’s parents.
Opening scene, introducing Rohan, antagonist:
INT. JAIL – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Rohan, handcuffed and guarded, is lead past admiring inmates and is escorted into warden’s office. The warden informs him that his parole will happen the next day.
MIDDLE: Rohan talks to his cellmate about his plans to see his daughter after he gets out and to restart his business.
END: Rohan calls Raj about his release and picking him up in the morning. Rohan is very specific about the clothes he wants and to schedule a visit from his barber.
Opening scene, introducing Rick, secondary important character:
INT. BAR – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Rick is talking sports with Jack, his last customer of the evening.
MIDDLE: Jack leaves. As Rick is putting away some glasses, there is a knock at the door and he walks over. No one is there.
END: He looks down. There is an envelope on the ground and Rick picks it up. He closes and locks the door. Rick opens the envelope and slowly shakes his head.
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Subject line: Arial Burnz’s Act 1: Opening Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is…how important the opening scene is, but it also helped to push me outside of my self-imposed boundaries by exploring the purpose of the opening scene as not just the beginning of the story, but in setting tone and introducing the characters.
Opening scene introducing Aylen Elcaryn, Protagonist:
EXT. CITY OF RADARIO – DAY
BEGINNING: Title sequence – we follow a piece of paper folded into an origami-type bird, which is flying around Radario, the capital city of the Kingdom of Solinta. There are also dozens of other such flyers flitting through the air.
MIDDLE: The flight of the paper bird gives us the 20k-foot view of the beautiful elven city, before it starts descending and flying between the buildings and its citizens, where we are introduced to the various classes of people living in Radario. The residents who dominate the population are the dark-skinned Solini elves. We see both the beauty of this city and the very ugly parts of Radario.
END: The flyer eventually lands in the palm of Aylen (half-elf, light-brown skin, appears to be about 18) who reveals the paper bird is an advertisement for The Copper Dragyn, a tavern on Thatch Lane.
Opening scene continues with introducing Aylen and one of her antagonists, Tanyth…
EXT. ALLEY OF THE COPPER DRAGYN – DAY
BEGINNING: Aylen smiles proudly at the piece of paper, but it’s snatched from her hand and stomped into a muddy puddle in the alley by Tanyth, her co-worker (full-blood Solini elf, dark-skinned, appears to be about 45). Tanyth calls Aylen a half-breed, ridicules her for the flyer idea (to help drum up business for the tavern where they work), and shoves her to the ground. She isn’t fighting back, not wanting to cause waves and keep the peace.
MIDDLE: When the owner, Jaeros (full-blood Solini Elf, dark-skinned, appears to be about 60), sees Aylen on the ground, Tanyth helps Aylen to her feet, suddenly friendly and helpful for the benefit of the owner. Tanyth calls Aylen a “clumsy girl” and explains he just came out here and saw the poor lass on the ground. The owner looks a little suspicious, but his wife calls from inside asking for assistance. Tanyth glares at Aylen before going inside after the owner.
END: Aylen, still not wanting to cause waves, keeps her mouth shut about Tanyth’s cruelty and uses the barrel of water to clean herself up.
Opening Scene for Kylantha, Main Antagonist. By the time this scene happens, Aylen has been proposed to and has received the offer to be a partner of the Copper Dragyn.
INT. VON ABEL ESTATE – DAY
BEGINNING: Kylantha von Abel (Solini elf, noble blood, appears to be about 18) bosses her servants around, who are getting tea ready for Aylen’s visit. We see a cruel side of Kylantha, which she doesn’t make much effort to hide when Aylen arrives.
MIDDLE: But Aylen is too excited to make a big deal about Key’s treatment of the help. She’s super excited to tell Kylantha that the enchantment she (Key) did on the fliers worked wonderfully. So much so, she was offered a partnership at the tavern! Key tries to be happy for her friend, but she makes it a point to be sure Aylen told the tavern owner that she was the one who enchanted the fliers, and kinda rubs it in that Aylen cannot do magic, so she shouldn’t be presenting herself as having such abilities. This takes the wind out of Aylen’s sails, but she rebounds and shares the best news – Dylan (their childhood friend) has proposed to her! Aylen’s getting married!! That really pisses Key off and it’s a monumental effort for her to be happy for her friend. In fact, she tells Aylen she isn’t feeling well and tells her she has to end their teatime early. Congratulations (not!).
END: Aylen’s efforts to ensure Key is okay are waved off, but after Aylen leaves, Kylantha has a temper tantrum, breaking the expensive porcelain tea set and screaming to have Dylan von Shain summoned at once.
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