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Lesson 1
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Heather’s Actor attractors for Gravity
Vision statement: I want to see my scripts optioned this year and turned into movies that the audience will remember long after they leave the theatre.
What I learned from this assignment : to look at our scripts the way a star might see themselves in the story. If I can’t see these enticing qualities in the script, then I need to make the character more interesting.
· Actor Is known for this movie:
Sandra Bullock carried the whole movie and George Clooney’s part was just as important, although smaller.
· What makes this character one of the most interesting characters.
The character takes an arc from inexperienced astronaut to one who saves herself in a landing capsule from another country in a language she doesn’t understand.
· the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie.
Adapting to the new equipment in different languages. Putting out fires to save herself. Learning how to jury rig propulsion systems when she’s out of fuel and she’s given up. Leaving a capsule filling with water and struggling out of a spacesuit under water.
· How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Fixing a piece of equipment on the Hubble telescope in Zero G when space debris strikes, throwing her into space.
· What is this character’s emotional range?
Everything from insecurity to confidence and despair to elation.
· What subtext can the actor play?
There is the subtext that her lack of confidence in herself has something to do with the death of her daughter.
· What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
George Clooney’s character, the experienced astronaut who talks her through getting to the space station and tells her how to get to earth.
· How is this character’s unique voice presented?
In the way she doesn’t care for music. (It reminds her of her daughter) In the way she doesn’t share personal stories or jokes like the other astronauts do. She’s focused on work. I think she’s so focused on work because she doesn’t believe in herself enough to get the job done.
· What makes this character special and unique?
She thinks she’s underqualified compared to the others, but she’s highly intelligent and adaptable. She’s also physically strong enough to do the demanding work in space. She can make the hard decisions (like letting go) even though she thinks she can’t, so she has a well of inner strength to match her outer strength as well.
· (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
In the Russian capsule when she discovers she has no fuel, she decides to give up and turns down life support, getting ready to die. She hallucinates George Clooney coming in through the hatch challenging her not to give up, then she is jolted out of her hallucination by more debris hitting. She realizes he isn’t really there, but he has given her the answer for how to get to the Chinese space station, using the landing jets. She uses all her resources to get there, even though she has failed on the simulators every time.
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Wow. Congrats. I thought about doing Gravity but I didn’t think I could find the elements — And here you have it all laid out.
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Thanks Pam. I was just blown away because it was a contained script that held my interest for the whole movie!
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Cameron Martin’s Actor Attractors for JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 (Spoilers)
Vision: To write a movie that connects with audiences on a deep, spiritual level, regardless of background, while prioritizing quality time with my family.
What I learned doing this assignment is…How to create complexity and differentiation between characters, even in the Action genre where the emphasis is on the action and not character deconstruction (though that does occur in CASINO ROYALE and THE DARK KNIGHT). I really wanted to add more characters and breakdowns, but I have to move on. The JOHN WICK series is a fun microcosm of intriguing characters that are all basically the same (a best of the best assassin), where the film makers have to find different and fun ways of having said characters stand apart and engage in cool sequences.
Movie Title: JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4
Lead Character Name: Caine
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Deliver a modern and more ruthless version of the blind swordsman trope for mainstream audiences.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Caine is an “old friend” of John’s, which at this point translates to “One of the best damn assassins on the planet, and one of the few that could possibly take out John Wick. Donnie Yen gets to showcase his martial arts skills as a blind man with a cane sword, demonstrate plenty of practical tactics a blind super assassin might use to take out as many targets as John Wick does.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Sword fights real-life samurai, Hiroyuki Sanada. Kills a whole lot of people to ensure his daughter’s safety, all while looking bored. Showcase a different fighting style from his other movies, and completely different from John Wick’s gun-Jitsu. Keep up the brand of being a total badass.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? The emotional dilemma of keeping his daughter safe by killing his friend, the most dangerous assassin on the planet. Followed up by wiping out two dozen killers in the first scene with brutal efficiency.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Doesn’t need to be profound for an action movie, but there’s enough with the anger and frustration over his past life dragging him back into the hell the he tried to leave, while also experiencing the satisfaction of being so good at what he does, it’s not even fair. Befriending and catching up with the man he’s been assigned to kill in the only way it could be, awkward and layered with subtext.
6. What subtext can the actor play? The subtext of being John’s friend, but in a position where he either has to kill him or allow his daughter to die. Caine is also friends with other assassins, and hates the man he’s forced to work for.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? His relationship with the friends he has to kill to save his daughter. There’s a moment where he talks with Hiroyuki’s character, and encourages him to live so he can have what Caine’s lost for the time being. Caine also talks with the samurai’s daughter and makes sure she doesn’t give up what her father sacrificed for her.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He’s similar to John: caring for those he loves, ruthless killing machine, and seemingly past his prime, but unlike John there’s a different type of confidence. Whereas John is vengeful and angry, Caine is calculated and annoyed.
9. What makes this character special and unique? He’s just as good as John, despite being blind. His blindness allows for some Daredevil-esque action sequences where we see how a ruthless assassin might compensate for not being able to see his targets.
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Jeff’s Actor Attractors for The Hunger Games
My Vision: To create commercial studio size films that move people. To create characters that can live forever and bring electrifying memories to those that have watched one of my films.
What I learned from doing this assignment – To concentrate on a wide range of emotional journeys throughout film.
Movie Title: The Hunger Games
Lead Character Name: Katniss
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Female Lead, strong character, huge novel, fun
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Protector of her family, stubborn, possesses a skill set necessary for survival, noble.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? The Hunger Games
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Caring, rebel, hunter, smart (stay down wind), courageous, went beyond the fence, talk of escape but can’t.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Brave (volunteered), strong, vulnerable, moral. Self-sacrificing
6. What subtext can the actor play? More of mom to sister than real mom, hate for other local contestant.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Woody Harrelson (mentor), Sena (wardrobe), Rue (Young Black girl), Peta
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Young woman becomes a rebel and beacon for her people.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Reluctant hero.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) Winning the game then willing to kill herself instead of killing her friend/boyfriend.
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My Vision: Win the Nicholl Fellowship and receive a 10 rating on the Blacklist.
What I learned: The character should really be matched with the genre story and also what are the conventions of the genre that make is functional.
Marc’s Actor attractors for the movie: Argo
Movie Title: Argo
Lead Character Name: Tony Mendez. (Ben Affleck)
Genre: Drama/Thriller
1. Why would an actor want to be known for this roll?
He is a “Hero” with real world experience who knows how to think outside the box to solve difficult problems.
2. What makes the character the most interesting character in the movie.
He can come up with workable ideas very quickly to solve complex problems and he knows how to “follow” through and execute.
3. What are the most interesting actions the lead takes in the movie.
a. He convinces the government to approve the “fake” movie idea to release the six hostages from the Canadian Embassy.
b. He goes to Hollywood and finds a make up artist to produce the fake movie called Argo.
c. He convinces the six hostages that his plan can work.
4. How is the Character introduced that could sell it to an actor.
After a brief history of the power shift in Iran and the insurrection at the American Embassy of the six missing hostages, Tony Mendez is woke up in the early morning, at home, after having slept in his clothes, he gets the call to immediately to CIA headquarters to be briefed on the hostage situation.
5. What is the Character’s emotional range.
From calm to extremely calm.
6. What subtext can the character play.
Scheming and lying to the Iran authorities about producing the “fake” Argo movie.
7. What is the most interesting relationship the character has.
The Make-up artist and the movie producer.
8. How is the character’s unique voice presented.
He is calm, persuasive, and always the voice of reason.
9. What makes the character special and unique.
He is an expert on the history and cultural nature of foreign countries.
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I thought ARGO was an interesting choice. I see how the chess master maneuvering and low key suspense (not a lot of gun action) is a good fit to the poker world.
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Pam Ewing’s Actor Attractors for “The Proposal”
My Vision: Professional. Produced. Prolific. Popular.
What I learned: I am enjoying auditioning the traits with the actors in my head. I am trusting that some drifting vapor in my head will be useful – oh – I can use that.
The Proposal
Female Lead: Margaret played by Sandra Bullock
2. What makes character one of the most interesting? She is honest about herself (likes control, not perfect, goes after what she needs) even as she is deceiving others about her relationship.
3. Most interesting actions of Lead? How she spins things to work out her way i.e. meeting with her bosses, telling story about her assistant’s proposal
4. How character introduced? Intro subtext sells it: She is running (ambitious) on a treadmill (stuck) reading a manuscript (always working) but the manuscript surprises her (later we find out it was submitted by her assistant)
5. What’s emotional range? From bossy and know-it-all to vulnerable and uncertain
6. What subtext can the actor play? Everything challenges her relational vulnerabilities.
7. Most interesting relationships? With assistant she relies on him but also calls out and uses his ambitions. With bosses she calls them out.
8. How character’s unique voice presented? She spins and sells everything – outing co-worker, selling reluctant author on Oprah appearance, selling bosses, knuckling assistant to be her fiancé
9. What makes character special and unique? She’s honest with herself that she is affected by opinions of others
10. (example scene) Andrew has forced her to relay how they got engaged so she turns it into an overly drippy romance story and when Andrew interjects so masculine elements she emasculates that input as well
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MY VISION – To write cutting edge, unique, human, soul-inspiring, Oscar-winning scripts that have commercial success and that producers line up to buy and make into multi-million dollar movies with me in important leading or supporting roles. I’m a Force in the Hollywood Entertainment industry – as a writer, actor, producer, and director/filmmaker.
What have I learned doing this assignment – I had to start watching three movies I didn’t like much, before I finally settled on one I did like enough to study and watch all the way through, so that was a pain and time consuming. But it was interesting to see what were the things that drew me to the character and why it made me like the story. I would say surprise and subtext are things that draws me in. And if it draws the audience in, it probably draws the A-list actor in.
MOVIE TITLE: Sleeping With The Enemy
GENRE: Psychological Thriller
CHARACTER NAME: Laura Burney (Julia Roberts)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? It’s a juicy iconic role. Abused, wounded woman in danger for her life has to show great bravery and balls to survive and escape her evil husband. Lots of emotional range to play. This character is full of surprises you wouldn’t expect from her. She shows insurgency in her most imprisoned moments. And that’s a delicious thing to play.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? She surprises you in some big ways. And also little ways. From her very first line, she shows her humor and resourcefulness in spite of her fear of her husband – ‘I like a man who dresses for clamming’ – when he’s dressed in a suit for work, and then she (not so inadvertently) gets his suit dirty and full of sand by hugging him, then apologizing. She shows several surprising moments like that.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? She is afraid for her life, and her husband says she can either call the police or kill him with the gun. He thinks she’ll crumble and he will overpower her. But instead, she calls the police – AND kills him. Also, she is afraid of being in the ocean, and can’t swim, and it looks like she’s fallen out of the boat. Then it turns out she had been secretly taking swimming classes and she finds her opportunity to escape her husband for good by jumping in the ocean and pretending to have died, then swimming to shore, despite her fear of the ocean.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? It shows such an insight into her when she is introduced clamming on the beach and then gives her husband the clamming line, about how she likes a man who dresses for clamming when he is dressed in a suit for work, then she gets him sandy and dirty, though she seems too timid to do that.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? From simple and submissive, to great fear, terror, and angst, to a subversive humor, to great balls and bravery.
6. What subtext can the actor play? She is always saying something behind her lines, and behind even the fear. She is being quite subversive in her own way, putting him down in gentle ways that aren’t so gentle. Like when he is intimidating and hitting her, he says, ‘do you think I enjoy this?“ And she says very meekly, ‘no, because then you would be a monster’. But that’s exactly what she’s calling him. Like I said earlier, she shows insurgency in her most imprisoned moments.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? The abusive, passive-aggressive and homicidal husband that she must be very smart and wily and patient to escape. The way she does it, she really cuts his balls in a big way. Also she has a very playful relationship with the new boyfriend. They are both like children who love to play, and she really needs it at that point in her life.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? With a lot of things she says where it looks like she means one thing, but with a subversive humor, she is meaning the very opposite. And her actions too, are very tricky and unexpected.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Her amazing ability to do double entendres, and her amazing ability to pull the rug out from under her abusive husband – 1) in the way she escapes, and 2) in the way she kills him.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) The entire ending scene brings in all her terror of her husband, first when she finds all the cans in the cupboard of her new house and the towels in the bathroom have been re-arranged with obsessive neatness – who could think towels in a bathroom or cans in a cabinet could bring such terror. And then when she finds him in her house after a lot of false alarms, she is able to fight and kick him and catch him by surprise and she takes the gun. But she is in such terror and angst and shaking, you would never think she could shoot him, or at least, not shoot straight. He is intimidating her, making her feel small, and asking if she can really kill him – or – if she will call the police. Which is it gonna be? He taunts her. She holds the gun on him as she calls the police. We think it will be a 911 please help call. Instead, she says, ‘please come to my address – I JUST SHOT AN INTRUDER.’ And then she does kill him, which neither he nor we as the audience expected.
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