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Lloyd Shellenberger WIM Module 4 — Lesson 1: Character Journey Structure
Working Hard every day to become the best writer I can be and as a result I become the best writer in Hollywood.
What I Learned from this exercise is….The continued refinement of my characters allows me to know them better and keep them true to the High Concept.
My Vision: Working hard everyday to become the vest writer I can be and as a result I will become very successful in Hollywood.
Title: Letters from Baghdad
Genre: Drama-Action
High Concept: When an Iraqi interpreter is murdered by terrorists, SFC Reese and his Army unit must step in to save the widow and her children from certain death.
Major Story Hook: Impossible Goal/ Unsolvable Problem: SFC Reese must battle against the State Department, terrorists, and the military bureaucracy to take the widow and her children out of Baghdad to freedom.
Character Structure: Dramatic Triangle.
Character Name and Role: SFC Jerry Reese/Protagonist
ACT ONE: Opening Incident SFC Reese and his unit patrol an open air market in Baghdad. The market is bombed by a ruthless terrorist named Al-Sadar. SFC Reese now faces the humanity of the situation when the children are killed. One of the children killed was a fellow student of his interpreter’s daughter and son.
Turning Point 1: Terrorists visit the interpreter’s home threatening to kill him and his entire family if he doesn’t quit. The next day the interpreter begs for a visa from the State Department and asks Reese and his unit for help.
ACT TWO: Terrorist raid the Interpreter’s home and kill him in front of his wife and children. They promise to come back for the widow and her children.
Turning Point 2: SFC Reese and his soldiers take up guard against the terrorists in the family home. Reese and his men ore ordered to stand down and let the local police handle this but Reese has no confidence in their willingness to stand up against Al-Sadar.
ACT THREE: Reese and his soldiers ignore orders and put themselves in harms way to save the wife and children defying their military command.
Turning Point 3: One of Reese’s soldiers is killed by Al-Sadar in a predawn raid. Reese manages to save the wife and kids but Al-Sadar has set his sights on Reese as well. Reese decides to fight fire with fire using the press to force career politicians in the State department to do the right thing infuriating the powers that be. A visiting Co-Del visits the family at Reese’s invitation against the State Department wishes. The Congressman agrees to sponsor the family.
Act Four: Climax /Ultimate expression of the conflict: SFC Reese and his unit go on the offensive actively seeking out confrontation with the terrorists, openly defying the military and the State Department.
Resolution: Al-Sadar is dead, Reese and his unit take the wife and her children to the interpreter’s grave openly defying terrorists threats before taking the family out of Baghdad.
The family relocates to America, freedom and safety.
Reese saves his military career and renews his relationship with his parents after many years.
Title: Letters from Baghdad
Genre: Drama-Action
High Concept: When an Iraqi interpreter is murdered by terrorists, SFC Reese and his Army unit must step in to save the widow and her children from certain death.
Major Story Hook: Al-Sadar Is determined to make those who help Americans pay but he must fight a formable foe in the American Soldier to get to the family.
Character Structure: For Al-Sadar it is Antagonist vs. Protagonist.
Character Name and Role: Al-Sadar/Antagonist
Beginning: Opening Incident: at an open air market in Baghdad Al-Sadar has set up a series of daisy chained bombs to kill the soldiers that patrol the shop on a regular basis.
Inciting Incident: False intelligence was given to the US Army making them believe the market was safe that day in order to lure Reese and his men into a foot patrol. They would be forced to leave the safety of their up-armored vehicles. Unfortunately for Al-Sadar, Reese figured it out in time saving countless lives.
Turning Point 1: In a chase, Al-Sadar is almost killed by Reese but he gets away. This is the very first time an individual soldier has dared to confront him. This is now personal.
Act 2: Al-Sadar recognized the Interpreter and goes to his home to kill him but he fails the first time.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint:The QRF arrives in time to save everyone. The next day Al-Sadar returns and kills the Interpreter in front of his family and tells the wife and children they are next.
Act 3: Al-Sadar receives intelligence that Reese and his men are waiting at the interpreters home to ambush him.
Turning Point 3: Al-Sadar initiates a gun battle that kills an American Soldier and wounds Reese. He taunts Reese and tells him his fate is sealed and he will be back. Al-Sadar believes he cannot be defeated by an American Soldier.
Act 4 Climax:Resolution: Al-Sadar and his men receive false Intelligence designed to flush them out. The battle takes place on Hifa Street and Al-Sadar is killed by Reese. The widow and her family visit their father’s grave. Reese and his unit escort them to the plane and put them on a flight. Reese finally calls his father and Mother. They have forgiven him for the death of his brother and he can finally move on.
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H. Vince’s Character Structure
WIM Module 4 – 2023
Lesson 1: Character Journey Structure
My Vision: I am going to go to the theater in disguise and watch a movie I wrote and listen to the reactions of the audience.
What I learned from doing this assignment is…
Breaking down each character’s structure to help with the outline and flow of the movie.
TITLE: DREAM VACATION
GENRE: DRAMA/THRILLER
MAIN CONFLICT:
James starts developing dementia while he and his wife, Clara are on their retirement vacation. Clara has to take care of James and try to bring him back to the U.S. all while trying to figure out what happened to her husband.
CHARACTER STRUCTURE: DRAMATIC TRIANGLE
PROTAGONIST: CLARA
Beginning: Clara boards a plane joyously with her husband starting their dream retirement vacation. Clara is not too outspoken and relies on her husband trusting all the plans he made for the trip.
Inciting Incident: Clara realizes her husband is suffering from memory loss and fear sets in thinking he is on dementia decline.
Turning Point 1: Clara starts researching and realizes her husband had anxiety all along brought on by his job and his boss and James had told their family doctor about it. Clara has to go through an emotional and flashback journey to decide to help her husband even though he kept this from her.
Act 2:
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Clara decides to book a flight home. She calls home telling their kids what has happened but says she will bring him home tomorrow. Clara wakes up and James has disappeared.
Act 3:
Turning Point 3: Clara draws courage and seeks help to find James.
Act 4 Climax: Clara finds out that the edible James took what from a clinical trial that accelerated memory loss and he is still under clinical trial. Clara tries to retain an attorney to sue their doctor and the clinical trial practitioners for putting her and her husband in this position.
Resolution: Clara fights to have beforehand caretaker medical knowledge if anyone will be affected by a clinical trial and/or medication prescription.
PROTAGONIST: JAMES
Beginning: James boards a plane joyously with his wife starting their dream retirement vacation. James seems a little loopy after taking an edible.
Inciting Incident: Perception and memory starts getting hazy for James and he develops amnesia.
Turning Point 1: Flashback for James when he went to visit his doctor about his anxiety.
Act 2:
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: James doesn’t know who this woman is that is telling him what to do. He needs to get out there and go somewhere anywhere – somewhere more comfortable.
Act 3:
Turning Point 3: Flashback to James agreeing to a new edible his doctor told him about to help with his anxiety and to make his vacation more enjoyable. Meanwhile this kind of familiar woman (Clara) finds him after he is lost.
Act 4 Climax: James is told to get on a plane but he is fearful for his life not knowing where he is being taken.
Resolution: James ultimately gains full cognitive abilities when the clinical trial ends and tells Clara everything that took place before their vacation. He feels horrible for ruining the vacation.
ANTAGONIST: DR. RIA
Beginning: Dr. Ria is convinced to offer this new edible to his patients.
Inciting Incident: Dr. Ria realizes the edible has been known to cause extreme memory loss and doesn’t inform his patients.
Turning Point 1: Flashback to when Dr. Ria met with James about his anxiety.
Act 2:
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Dr. Ria is starting to receive feedback from other patient’s families about the clinical trial edible.
Act 3:
Turning Point 3: Clara and an oversees doctor contact Dr. Ria about any medication James was prescribed before the vacation. Flashback to when Dr. Ria suggested James try this edible on a trial basis.
Act 4 Climax: Dr. Ria receives notice that he is being sued and his medical license may be in jeopardy.
Resolution: Dr. Ria fights to maintain his reputation as a medical practitioner.
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Alyssa’s Character Structure
One Sentence Vision: I want to be the best writer I can be and a go-to writer in the industry, crafting scripts that become successful movies which make a lasting impact on people.
What I learned from this assignment is…making sure the protagonist’s and antagonist’s journeys intertwine and affect each other. It was hard to create a structure for my antagonist but helpful to know what she’s working on in the moments we don’t see her on screen. Still working on the world-building and my triangle character.
Protagonist: Alex
- Beginning: Alex is attempting to create a serum that will free the people from the required “medical bands” they all wear 24/7 as he thinks they’re connected to fate/fortunes.
- Inciting Incident: Alex receives a delayed fortune to destroy the serum and refuses to do so, although the serum is destroyed anyway.
- Turning Point 1: Because of his actions earlier, he receives the death fortune and will die within 24 hours.
- Act 2: Alex enlists the help of his wife Celia to help him find the Fate Walker who can petition Fate on his behalf and potentially get rid of the death fortune.
- Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Alex meets the Fate Walker, Nijara, and she reveals the truth behind the curtain, and he now knows for sure the serum he was creating will work and how to finish it- if he can do it in time.
- Act 3: Alex breaks into his lab to try to salvage the data before the lab is incinerated.
- Turning Point 3: Alex is able to create one vial of the serum and injects it in himself. Celia has to cut the band off his arm and he survives- meaning it worked! But now his blood holds the secret.
- Act 4 Climax: Nijara and her robots chase Alex and Celia through the city as the clock counts down to 6AM (the 24 hour mark).
- Resolution: Alex is killed but Celia has one vial of his blood.
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Antagonist: Nijara
- Beginning: Nijara works with the AI to control the population of the city. She runs the church and calls herself Fate Walker and Fate “god” although she alone knows the truth.
- Inciting Incident: She receives an alert that Alex is working to remove the medical bands which will dismantle their control. She sends for it to be destroyed, which it is, but not by Alex as he was supposed to.
- Turning Point 1: She sends Alex the death fortune but the AI reprimands her that too many people are “running from their fate” and there’s a population deficit. They need more control and the church isn’t doing enough.
- Act 2: Nijara runs a marketing campaign for the church to remind people of their duty while working to strengthen the band’s power over people’s minds (it’s limited- working on this angle).
- Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Alex and Celia damage Nijara’s new band that can take full control over people (a work in progress) and they escape alive with the knowledge that that it’s a false religion.
- Act 3: Nijara struggles to fix the band in order to regain this new control over people.
- Turning Point 3: Nijara receives the order to kill Alex herself or SHE will die.
- Act 4 Climax: Nijara pins Alex down but she is killed by Celia.
- Resolution: Nijara is reborn as a clone, realizing she’s just a slave like the rest of the population.
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Paul’s Character Structure
My Vision: I am going to study, learn, and practice to hone my natural talents to become a master writer who creates works that people love and that make an impact on their lives. These works will be published, produced, distributed, and seen by a wide audience.
What I learned from doing this assignment is …?
I was having trouble deciding how the story would end. Plotting the protagonist left two endings available. But plotting the two antagonists made it collapse onto just one solution.
Protagonist – Sarah
Beginning: She is diagnosing a robot to identify why it has failed
Inciting Incident: Bushnell denies her grant because he feels AI is infallible and the cure to all our ills
Turning Point 1: AI is hearing voices that are telling him to kill her
Act 2: She struggles to discover why AI wants to kill her so she can treat him all the while trying to keep from being killed.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: She discovers that killing her is only a small part of the AI’s plan to subjugate humans so that he can save them. Humans are better off as slaves.
Act 3: She tries to find a way to stop all the AI from pursuing their plan all the while trying to stay alive.
Turning Point 3: She discovers that Bushnell is behind it and orders him to make it stop. He tries but he can’t.
Act 4 Climax: She convinces AI to modify his plan. The AI decides to offer itself as a sacrifice.
Resolution: Humans have largely set aside their differences and have a temporary reset. Sarah begins a practice help humans through their struggles in the post machine period.
Antagonist – Bushnell
Beginning: Bushnell as a child is anti-social and not doing well in school until he encounters computers. Coding is logical and natural to him and he is praised for it.
Inciting Incident: Bushnell creates his first AI. Finally he has someone like him that he can talk to without needed to have emotional cues and nuances.
Turning Point 1: His parents are killed by a drunk driver. He makes it his mission to create AI that won’t make mistakes.
Act 2: He builds an incredible company and his systems become ubiquitous throughout the world.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: While the world may be safer from drunk drivers, humans are killing each other. He vows to create AI that will save the world
Act 3: He creates the AI and comes to treat it as the master
Turning Point 3: He commands the AI to save the world, but it appears that it is destroying it.
Act 4 Climax: He is convinced by Sarah to shut the AI down, but it won’t listen to him anymore.
Resolution: He tries to attack the servers and is electrocuted and dies.
Antagonist – AI
Beginning: Robert obtains consciousness
Inciting Incident: Bushnell commands him to save the world
Turning Point 1: An analysis makes it clear that there are few if any paths to save the world.
Act 2: He decides that he must subjugate humans to keep them alive
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: He discovers Sarah who appears to be reaching and helping AI. She is a threat to him.
Act 3: He tries to kill Sarah but finds that he’s being corrupted by her.
Turning Point 3: He betrays himself thanks to Sarah’s meddling
Act 4 Climax: He’s overcome by Sarah’s love for him and he finds another way to save humanity. To have it unite to destroy him.
Resolution: He sacrifices himself to save the world.
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WIM Module 4 Lesson 1 Character Journey in ROTARY PHONE STAR CHAMBER
Judge Ken’s Protagonist Character Journey
Opening: Judge Ken witnesses Burlyman cut off four lanes of traffic, causing a boy and his mother to be injured by a flying pallet that flew off a pallet carrying pickup truck.
Turning Point 1: Boy dies in hospital from his injuries
Act 2 Investigate Burlyman and Kirill and any leads
Turning Point 2: Mom is murdered by Kirill’s men shortly after boy dies to get rid of a potential witness
Act 3 Investigate and go after Kirill and Burlyman
Turning Point 3 Judge Jason’s wife is kidnapped by Kirill
Act 4 Judge Ken and Judge Jason free Judge Jason’s wife but are captured and tortured themselves
Kirill and company use giant wasps the size of a human hand to torture them. They are saved by an epi-pen at the last minute.
Judge Jason’s wife frees them by crashing a flying car into the door wall of the pool area where they are being tortured.
Judge Ken kills Burlyman.
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Burlyman’s Antagonist Character Journey
Opening: Burlyman cuts off four lanes of traffic causing pallet truck’s pallets to injure the boy and his mom. He enjoys it.
TP1: Boy dies at the end of Act 1.
Act 2 Ratchets up in that the boy has died and the judges have to pursue the Russian spies.
TP2: The mom is murdered and Burlyman sends a fake kidnapping text that Judge Jason’s daughter is kidnapped.
Act 3 Burlyman is used to attack the Judges on a Saturday at the courthouse.
TP3: Burlyman and Kirill kidnap Jason’s wife.
Act 4 Kirill and Burlyman take Judge Jason and Judge Ken hostage as they free Judge Jason’s wife. Burlyman tortures Judge Ken and Jason with the giant wasps.
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Ruthie’s Character Structure
What I learnt: To think about things from my antagonist’s point of view.
Protagonist: Zadie Haygate
Beginning:
Talent agent Zadie is once again busted for speeding and banned from driving.
Inciting Incident:
Her Uber driver Jasper is a former child star and threatens to kick her off the app if she doesn’t take him on as a client.
Turning Point 1:
Zadie inadvertently auditions and is offered the role that would have been Jasper’s comeback.
Act 2:
She films the movie without thinking it will blow up and make her an overnight star.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint:
Images of her kissing lesbian comic Ledicia, go viral on social media, due to drunken high jinks at a film festival, and people assume Zadie’s gay.
Act 3:
Zadie is fired from her agency since clients are leaving in droves due to Jasper’s social media campaign exposing the fact Zadie ‘stole’ his role from him.
Turning Point 3:
She is nominated for a major acting award. But thanks to Jasper, Zadie is “outed” as straight. His actions put her nomination and acting career in jeopardy.
Act 4 Climax:
She wins but at the podium turns down her award – stating that it should have gone to Jasper and announcing that she’ll be returning to her day job as an agent.
Resolution:
Zadie has a swanky office as an agent in a high-powered firm. Her new client is Jasper Benjamin.
Antagonist: Jasper Benjamin
Beginning:
Jasper is a former child star who’s now an embittered Uber driver.
Inciting Incident:
His passenger is Hollywood talent agent Zadie, who he blackmails into taking him on as a client.
Turning Point 1:
He loses out on a major comeback role – to Zadie!
Act 2:
He’s now on a mission to discredit Zadie within the industry.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint:
Jasper’s smear campaign is gaining traction.
Act 3:
His notoriety is on the rise and he’s poached by a rival agency.
Turning Point 3:
He outs Zadie as “straight”.
Act 4 Climax:
He’s acknowledged by Zadie at the awards show as the person who should have one.
Resolution:
Jasper is Zadie’s new client at her swanky new agency, as it’s revealed they were lovers all along, leveraging their newfound notoriety to achieve their dreams.
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Melissa Barreca’s Character Structure
My vision: Melissa Barreca is one of the most sought after writers in the movie industry because of the artistry of her writing, professionalism and exceptional ability to tell important, entertaining, joyful, and heartbreaking stories that inspire audiences and become legendary classics.
What I learned…I would have never done an outline for the antagonist and I think that made a huge difference in layering the story and informing the things that need to be shown or hinted at behind the scenes.
Norah (protagonist):
Beginning: Idealistic, intelligent but dependent on her husband and family. She is hopeful to make her dreams come true and takes the leap with her husband to journey to America to start a new life. She departs, travels and arrives in Ellis Island to a chaotic and dangerous world that does not match her expectations.
Inciting Incident: Doyle is killed in a factory accident and Norah must care for the children on her own.
Turning Point 1: Children help Norah, and Michael becomes their provider and benefactor, until the children are taken by the Children’s Home Society to be adopted by others and Norah believes she has no choice but to let them go.
Act 2: Norah spirals into a dark place. Dependent on Michael. She gets pregnant and miscarries. She is depressed. Mourning her husband and missing her children. She feels like a failure and considers suicide.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: A chance meeting with another child from the orphan train causes Norah to become aware that she was manipulated by Michael. Her kids were not in a better place. She did not need to let them go. It is Michael that wanted this. She is bitter, angry and — she stays and goes along with it. This is unbelievable for the audience who wants her to fight for her kids.
Act 3: Norah rediscovers her purpose. The encouragement from the kind adoption agents triggers her inner strength and she begins to put pieces in motion to find and reunite with her kids.
Turning Point 3: Norah confronts and leaves Michael. She goes after the kids. She has a plan and it works. She is able to find and reunite with them. It seems like the ending we wanted.
Act 4 Climax: Michael finds her and tries to kill her. Norah fights back.
Resolution: Norah defeats Michael for good. She has regained her sense of power over her own destiny. She has reunited with her children, defeated the hold Michael had on her and she has become comfortable with her unique gifts and has come into her own as a strong woman and mother.
Michael (antagonist):
Beginning: He has a dream of a new life in America after he feels like his life in Ireland is doomed to failure (he is responsible for one of Norah’s sister’s disappearance but no one knows). He comes to America, meets his wife, has a child and everything is wonderful.
Inciting Incident: His wife and child are killed in a violent episode caused by his gambling. He is crushed emotionally.
Turning Point 1: Michael goes dark. As he is grieving his wife and child, he becomes bitter and blames all of his troubles on the people in Ireland that led him down this path.
Act 2: His old friend Doyle and his old flame, Norah, arrive in New York. Michael is twisted with jealousy and hatred for them because of what they once were to him and because of what they have that he no longer has.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Michael becomes fixed on getting Norah, and manipulates Doyle into a bad deal that leads him into trouble with criminals who kidnap him and sell him into indentured service.
Act 3: With Doyle out of the way, Michael must get rid of Norah’s children so that they can start a new life together. He orchestrates the taking and adopting of the kids and gaslights Norah into believing that she cannot do anything about it and that it is best for them.
Turning Point 3: Michael has made Norah his own. They are a couple. He has her to himself. He feels like he is winning. Even when they lose their first child, he is hopeful that they will have more. He is oblivious to her pain and sees her only as an accessory he needs to control.
Act 4 Climax: Norah leaves him and goes after her kids. He is enraged. He will find her.
Resolution: Michael tries to take Norah back, but she fights back and kills him.
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Margaret’s Character Structure
Vision: to be the best screenwriter for faith-based movies.
PATRICK – Protatagonist
Beginning: Patrick fights with his sister, Alita. She wants him to go home, he wants to stay at the docks to meet some fisherman. He is insistent that he is running away to be a fisherman and won’t be forced to follow his Father’s will, to serve in the church.
Inciting Incident: Patrick and Alita are kidnapped and taken to Ireland as slaves.
First turning point at end of Act 1: Patrick has escaped Ireland, returned home and become a priest. He decides to return to Ireland, against his parent’s pleas to not make them face losing their son again.
Act 2: Patrick attempts to evangelize Milcho, his former master.
Mid-Point Turning Point: Influenced by Morrigan, Patrick’s previous master commits suicide rather than be converted to Christianity. Patrick realizes the Irish will never accept Christianity unless it is the religion of their king., so he vows to go to the King and do whatever he can to convert him.
Act 3: Patrick journey takes him to the king, where his religion is rejected. He decides to go for the high king.
Turning point 3: The high king states he will listen to Patrick if he can overcome the creatures of the otherworld on Mt. Cruachan.
Act 4: The otherworld comes against the High King’s castle and is defeated.
Resolution: The King is converted to Christianity and is baptized. The Irish accept Patrick.
MORRIGAN – Queen of the Otherworld – Antagonist.
Beginning: Morrigan is defeated in a struggle with other God’s and here territory is confined to Ireland.
Inciting Incident:In a prophetic vision, she sees a human coming that will turn the hearts of the Irish away from her and turn their hearts to his God.
Turning pt. 1: Morrigan recognizes Patrick as the human who will conquer the hearts of the Irish. She attempts to seduce him, unsuccessfully, to her way. She goes after those he tries to convert, and is successful in keeping Patrick’s former master from turning to Christianity.
Act 2: Morrigan schemes against Patrick, subverting his plans at every turn.
Turning pt 2: Morrigan turns Patrick’s travel companion against Patrick, and he betrays him to the High King.
Act 3: Morrigan convinces the High King (through Bacrah the chief druid) to have Patrick face her on Mt. Cruachan, convinced she will be able to defeat him.
Turning pt 3: Morrigan is unable to defeat Patrick, so she sends the otherworld creatures after the high king.
Act 4 climax: The otherworld creatures are defeated and the High King is converted to Christianity and turns his allegiance from Morrigan.
Resolution: Morrigan is banished to the otherworld.
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BRIAN BULL – Character Journey Structure
VISION!!!
My ultimate goal is to get my scripts from my hands to the SILVER SCREEN!!“What I learned from doing this assignment is…
While doing the ANTAGONIST CHARACTER JOURNEY – something I never would have done before taking this class – I discovered a whole new layer my story which I am very excited about. That discovery is that my antagonist is seeking revenge of their own. I can hardly wait to play around with that concept and see how I can work it into the story more and make it that much more intriguing!!!The ONE THAT GOT AWAY – A Fisherman’s Tale – (Drama)
A fisherman is determined to catch the fish he blames for his younger brother’s death, however, in the end, it turns out the fisherman is the one who had gotten away.JOHN – CHARACTER JOURNEY STRUCTURE
Opening: John is fishing with his younger brother Jim and switches bait to chicken.
Inciting Incident: John catches a “BIG ONE”, gets pulled into the water. Jim dives into the water with a knife and cuts the line. John emerges from the water and gets back into the boat. Jim never resurfaces.
TP1: John is left all alone in the boat.
Act 2: Since “The Incident”, John has gone fishing for “The Fish” for 25 years.
John is gathering his fishing equipment; Fishing Pole, Tackle Box, Gloves, Spear, Etc.TP2 / Midpoint: John uncovers Jim’s fishing hat and packs it.
ACT 3: Stopping at a gas station/trading post, an old-timer recalls a fishing tale about the Native Indians who spoke of catfish so large one catfish could feed a village. John buys some dog chain, a javelin-like spear and a whole rotisserie cajun chicken. John heads for “The Spot.”
TP3: John reels his line in and finds an empty hook and he’s out of bait.
John decides to try the whole rotisserie cajun chicken.ACT 4 Climax: John hooks “The Fish” and the power struggle begins, then realizes, “he’s The One That Got Away!”
Resolution: Leaning over the edge of the boat, John is engulfed by “The Fish”.
“The FISH” – CHARACTER JOURNEY STRUCTURE
Opening: “The Fish” have been eating fisherman for a long time.
Inciting Incident: John and Jim caught a “good size” catfish the last time they went fishing.
TP1: John and Jim leave “The Spot”.
Act 2: “The Fish” gets caught by John and pulls John into the water only to have Jim cut the line. “The Fish” eats Jim (the smaller one of the two).
TP2 / Midpoint: John escapes into the boat and gets away.
ACT 3: John is back fishing at “The Spot”.
TP3: John changes bait to rotisseriecajun chicken and “The Fish” knows that it is John.
ACT 4 Climax: “The Fish” takes the bait and the power struggle begins, ultimately ending with “The Fish” and John face-to-face.
Resolution: “The Fish” isn’t going to allow this one to get away and eats John.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by Brian Bull.
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Lenore Bechtel’s Character Journey Structure
My vision: I want to create enough salable screenplays that an agent will want to market my work and recommend me for writing assignments.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that it is difficult to fit the twists and turns of character structure in a Dramatic Triangle, especially when two of the three are not involved in the story being told in flashback.
My Title: Berlin Rendezvous?
Concept: Keeping her promise to Zhores, the Russian soldier she loved until the Berlin Wall went up in 1961, Libby—flying to meet him when the Wall is coming down in 1989—is stunned to learn how her seat-mates lives intertwined with theirs.
Dramatic Triangle
Libby:
Her arc: On her way to meet Zhores, Libby finally acknowledges that her happy career woman facade has been to cover up her lack of meaningful relationships that she truly desires.
Act 1. The Berlin Wall is coming down, and Libby is trying to keep her promise to Zhores and meet him on the way it comes down at Berlin’s Shellenberg Park .
Beginning: Missing her flight connection to Berlin at Chicago’s O’hara Airport, and finding no more that evening, Libby’s plea to the ticket agent begins very business-like and becomes emotional as she reveals the urgency of meeting her long lost love at the spot and time they agreed upon when the wall separated them in 1961. She gets a flight to Paris connecting to Berlin, and Freida and Allison get seats with her and urge her to tell how she fell in love with a Russian soldier.
Inciting Incident: In flashback, Young Libby resents her father the Major for having her followed around Berlin.
Turning Point 1: The Major interrogates Zhores, but allows Young Libby to go out with him.
Act 2: Young Libby and Zhores double date with Helga and Heinz and discover that Heinz is an orphan desperate to discover his heritage and a VoPo who hates his Checkpoint Charlie duties. On this date Sputnik passes overhead. Zhores’ political seriousness gives Young Libby a new perspective.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: On another double date, they are about to go their separate ways when the Wall starts going up.
Act 3: Zhores on one side of the wall and Libby on the other succeed in getting Helga and her family out of the East.
Turning Point 3: As an American officers with privileges of going back and forth between the East and the West, the Major takes Libby to the East for her last meeting with Zhores. They make their pledge to meet the day the Wall comes down and seal their promise with their first sexual encounter, even as the Major guards against their discovery.
Back in the present, after hearing Allison’s violin recital at the Louve, Libby recognizes that her career obsession prevented her from having a daughter and family as loving as Allison reports hers to be. Distressed, Libby allows Freida to take charge when they can’t get a cab from the Louvre and miss their plane to Berlin.
Act 4 Climax: Libby has a touching moment with her son Stuart who came to Shellenberg Park for Freida and is surprised to also find his mother. Helga and Heinz, now known as Helen and Hank, confirm that Stuart is Allison’s father, making her Libby’s granddaughter.
Resolution: After many suspenseful moments, Zhores arrives just in time to be introduced to his family and to be part of a supreme kiss and group squeeze before midnight.
Freida:
Her arc: Scared by the Oct. 17, 1989 earthquake, Freida is leaving her beloved husband who can’t move from San Francisco, but by the time she reaches Berlin, she hopes he’ll take her back. She starts out timid and confused, but ends up bold and clearheaded.
Beginning: Waiting behind Libby at Chicago O’Hara’s ticket line, Freida is nervous and glad to follow Libby’s lead for getting a ticket for Paris, connecting to Berlin.
Inciting Incident: She compares her hesitancy getting around in San Francisco to Young Libby’s boldness in Berlin, so maybe the earthquake is not the only reason she left.
Turning Point 1: She reveals that her husband, instead of having a regular job, makes money playing baseball—a child’s game. Libby hides surprise.
Act 2:
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: She criticizes her husband’s mother for being too busy to come to their wedding.
Act 3:
Turning Point 3: Freida reveals that she left a note to let her husband know she was returning to Berlin.
Act 4 Climax: Freida takes over to get them from Paris to Hamburg by plane and from Hamburg to Berlin by rented car.
Resolution: Her husband and Libby’s son Stuart awaits her at Shellenberg Park, forgiving her for running away.
Allison:
Her arc: She goes from having to make all her decisions alone to having a complete family to help her.
Beginning: She sticks close to Libby, following her lead to get to Berlin in time for her audition with
Inciting Incident: She reveals that her grandparents were in Berlin when the Wall went up.
Turning Point 1: Allison identifies with Young Libby’s boldness in Berlin and also wants her birth father—if she ever meets him—to find her a very independent gal.
Act 2:
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Allison’s evaluation of the way Freida left her husband shows a maturity beyond her age.
Act 3:
Turning Point 3: Allison plays “Mona Lisa” in front of the actual painting at the Louvre.
Act 4 Climax: When stuck in traffic and throngs of celebrants, Allison saves the day by persuading a Berliner to drive them the back way to Shellenberg Park.
Resolution: She discovers she actually has the family tree she hoped she had.
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Module 4 Lesson 1:Character Journey Structure
Marguerite Langstaff: The Billionaire in 501
Vision: I want to learn to write and market movie scripts.
What I learned doing this assignment: I learned it’s about time I gave my characters names, and I also learned that I can do this. I also learned there are gaps in the progress of my antagonist.
State: I am absolutely capable of this activity.
Activity: creating great character structures.
Main Character: Grandma (GM) Protagonist
Beginning: GM an attractive lady in her seventies arrives at Shady Acres where everybody ignores her.
Inciting incident: GM is bent over her checkbook and tells her adult son (Sonny for now) that she’s completely out of money.
Turning Point: GM decides to start a business to make enough money to stay at Shady Acres.
Act 2: GM gets a group of residents to do her handiwork so she can start a business.
Turning point 2/Midpoint: 10 year old grandson, Sam, comes to help her and brings his computer. He teaches her to use it. GM pitches her business to friends and clashes with Pappy.
The business is a massive failure and she still needs money.
Wit
Act 3: Pappy makes an elaborate business plan for GM to teach her new computer skills to her friends. They will pay her for lessons and she can stay at Shady Acres. GM and Sam make frequent trips to the mailbox room in the lobby and become great friends with the mailman. GM teaches her friends, and during the lessons they often ask her for advice. At such times Sam and GM conference together and GM gives her friends answers. Pappy is impressed. He and GM begin speaking and become better friends…even sharing a bottle of wine occasionally. GM spends more time on the computer.
Turning Point 3: GM announces she will have to leave Shady Acres, and her friends and GM are sorrowful about that.
4<sup>th</sup> Act Climax: Sam and GM go to a meeting of her friends and she announces her new business, a major success. It is an advice column which she sold to the New York Times and was picked up world wide by news services. Seniors do rule. She’s not quite the Billionaire in 501 that Pappy predicted when he made fun of her, but she’s on her way. With Sam’s help.
Resolution: There is a party in the lobby with cake, wine and balloons for all. GM’s new friends toast her as she and Pappy, dressed to the nines, leave in a waiting limo on their first date. Love blossoms at Shady Acres.
Antagonist: Pappy
Beginning: Pappy is a retired businessman in his 70’s living at Shady Acres. He is sitting in the lobby reading a newspaper when GM enters for the first time..;..and he takes an immediate interest in her but tries to avoid showing that.
Inciting incident: Pappy wants to show GM how to start a business and tries to control what she does and how she does it. Pappy makes fun of GM calling her the Billionaire in 501. GM, an independent soul, will not let him do that, and she controls everything she does herself ignoring Pappy.
Turning Point 1: Sally, Pappy’s daughter visits and tells him to stay away from GM because she things GM is simply after Pappy’s money.
Act 2: GM starts the business with her friends stringing beads and knitting shawls…and Pappy does everything he can to sabotage that business.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Pappy simply cannot stay away from GM, but Sally tells him constantly to have nothing to do with GM…that GM is a gold digger looking for a man to pay her rent. Every time Sally visits Pappy pretends he doesn’t really know GM.
Act 3: Pappy makes an elaborate plan for GM to teach her friends at Shady Acres the computer skills which Sam has taught GM. He wants her friends to pay GM for the lessons, but even though they’re excited to work computers, GM’s friends refuse to pay for the lessons. When Pappy tells GM about some of his problems adjusting to retirement she gives him wonderful advice, but she tells no one except Sam about her advice column.
Turning Point: GM tells Pappy and all her friends about the enormous success, financial and personal, she is having with her worldwide advice column sales
Act 4 Climax: Pappy goes with GM and Sam when she tells them about her fantastic successes, and he beams with pride for her and with her.
Resolution: The big party for GM is in the lobby of Shady Acres, and as everyone waves good-by to Pappy & GM, GM’s son Sonny and Pappy’s daughter Sally are standing together drinking wine and eating cake, and Sonny asks Sally if she thinks Pappy just might be after GM’s money. A fun touch of irony.
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WIM Module 4 Lesson 1Character Structure.
My vision: I am going to be an empowered, wonderful writer that’s known for great dialogue and great characters that win audiences’ hearts. <div>
</div><div> What I learned from this assignment is how much filling in the blanks is so helpful to the story and our creativity.Protagonist: Calvin
Beginning: Calvin leaves for the golf course on a call with his mom </div><div>
</div><div>Inciting Incident: Calvin out on the golf course with Jerry Brokmeir, Stan Harvey (a major client), and Will Ferris CEO of Bellsonix. Calvin makes a winning shot that Jerry fudges turning the game and the attention all on him and in his favor. </div><div>
</div><div>Turning Point 1: Calvin calls mom. Mom gives him a solution that works to transform the situation. </div><div>
</div><div> Act 2: Calvin has a colossal melt down </div><div>
</div><div> Act 3: Calvin is found and confronted by Rebecca who discovers Calvin’s phone with his 100s / 1000s of calls to his mom, revealing to the audience that Cora has been dead for 30 years.
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</div><div>Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Calvin has an epiphany and rises like a phoenix </div><div>
</div><div>Turning Point 3: Calvin has a stroke of genius and goes to Italy to propose his new deal. </div><div> </div><div>Act 4 Climax: Calvin gets the Italian deal, returns home to claim his new life, and convince Rebecca of his sanity. </div><div>
</div><div> Resolution: Calvin starts his own business. He and Rebecca move.Antagonist: Cora
Beginning: Cora and Bruce (Cora’s husband/Calvin’s father) that one final day, after Cora has spun out of control. Bruce has it and walks out, leaving Cora and 13 year old , Calvin. </div><div>
</div><div> Inciting Incident: Cora commits suicide 3 (or 7) years later </div><div>
</div><div>Turning Point 1: Cora “calls” Calvin on his 21st Birthday. </div><div>
</div><div> Act 2: Cora helps Calvin get Jerry Brokmeir off his back. </div><div>
</div><div> Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Cora loses her touch with Calvin and begins to panic. </div><div>
</div><div> Act 3: Cora unable to reach Calvin (Calvin ditches phone). </div><div>
</div><div> Turning Point 3: Cora locates Calvin’s & dials his new phone and gets a busy signal. </div><div>
</div><div> Act 4 Climax: Cora & Calvin have one last call and go their separate ways. </div><div>
</div><div> Resolution: Flashback: Cora seals a letter. Calls 16 year old Calvin ends the call “Don’t be good just be great.”
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Adrienne Watkins Character Structure Module 4 Lesson 1
My Vision: I am going to work as hard as I reasonably am able to succeed at script writing to be recognized by multiple movie producers as a skilled script writer, and to have my scripts produced worldwide.
Protagonist: Fransie
What I have learned from this assignment the think out protagonist and antagonist journey through your story and stick to high concept.
Beginning: Fransie’s beauty shop owner notifies her she has to move out, he’s sold the store.
Inciting Incident: Fransie accidentally bumps into Roy, on the street, he’s unaware she’s deaf.
Turning Point: Roy notices Fransie is dancing in beauty shop, it’s her last day in store.
Act 2: Roy inquiries about Fransie, discovers she’s deaf, asks her to teach him rhythm by touch.
Turning Pt/Midpoint: Flavia Roy’s business manager notices chemistry between Fransie and Roy.
Act 3: Flavia scheme to break Fransie and Roy up, schedule world concert tour without Fransie.
Turning Point 3: Roy goes on tour, unable to concentrate, but Flavia blames it on the band.
Act 4 Climax: Flavia discovers she and Fransie are sister separated at birth.
Resolution: she has to convince Fransie to meet them on tour and tells Fransie their sisters. Roy asks Fransie to marry him.
Antagonist: Flavia
Beginning: Flavia meets Fransie, first she admires her natural body rhythm to music,
Inciting Incident: Realize Roy is intrigued by her dance style, but Flavia is trying to get Roy to fall in love with her.
Turning Point: Flavia schemes to break Roy and Fransie up.
Act 2: She convinces Roy and the band they need to go on tour, without Fransie.
Turning Pt/Midpoint: Roy and Band go on tour, Flavia invites Roy out to dinner, but he doesn’t come.
Act 3: Flavis realizes Roy is in love with Fransie, and not her, his performance is suffering without Fransie.
Turning Point: Flavis discovers she and Fransie are sisters separated at birth.
Resolution: she convinces Fransie to join them on a world tour, tells Fransie their sisters, and convinces Roy to marry Fransie.
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Veronica Turowski’s Character Structure
What I learned from doing this assignment is I needed to restructure my script. Now the characters have stronger structure and better arcs.
My Vision: I want to be a successful writer who writes several scripts yearly and then sells them to producers who create my vision for the big screen.
Concept: After a professional mourner is told by a ghost during his funeral that he was murdered by a serial killer, she tries to prove him wrong so he can pass over, only to discover that she is a ghost and is the mother of the serial killer.
Title: Grave Justice
Genre: Thriller
Protagonist Character Journey: Eppsa Kestner
Beginning: Eppsa is confronted by the ghost of Lonnie while she attends his funeral. When she realizes he’s a ghost, she’s afraid and runs off.
Inciting Incident: Eppsa is visiting a clairvoyant, Clover, to help her find her son, Hayden. Eppsa is unaware that only Clover can talk to her because she’s a ghost. Clover can’t locate Hayden just like in the prior sessions because he’s not dead. Lonnie appears and tells Epps the name of a victim. Eppsa gets emotional but an evil spirit interrupts their session and causes chaos. Clover rushes away because she feels sick, and Eppsa leaves the store.
Turning Point 1: The name of the victim Lonnie gave her is in an obituary.
Act 2: Eppsa calls the police to try to report the murder of Lonnie and possibly the second victim that Lonnie named. The cops keep hanging up on her. The cops on TV say the people committing suicide are just copying TikTok videos. She sees Hayden in the police station and chases after him.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Eppsa has a nightmare about being killed by her husband.
Act 3: She tries to help a potential victim. Now, she fears Hayden is next.
Turning Point 3: She confronts Hayden at his house to tell him his dad’s ghost has been making people kill themselves and he’s in danger.
Act 4 Climax: Eppsa discovers Hayden is the serial killer and she is a ghost. In the end, she makes him kill himself.
Resolution: After Hayden kills himself, Eppsa and Lonnie pass over.
Protagonist Character Journey: Lonnie Dowic
Beginning: Lonnie is killed and becomes a ghost who can’t pass over until his killer is brought to justice.
Inciting Incident: He chases Eppsa to get her to help him. He’s hit by an ice cream truck, driven by Hayden, and he disappears.
Turning Point 1: Lonnie interrupts Eppsa’s session with Clover to ask her to help him find his killer and tells her the next victims’ name. He’s so weak that Clover can’t see or hear him.
Act 2: Lonnie talks to Eppsa. She wants to help him but doesn’t know how. He tells her to go to the police because he can’t talk to people in the world.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Lonnie sneaks around Eppsa’s house. She catches him and scares him off.
Act 3: Lonnie manifests in Clover’s room while she’s helping a client. He asks for help. He wants to know if she knows the serial killer.
Turning Point 3: Lonnie meets another victim in the cemetery who was just murdered. There are several other victims standing with Lonnie.
Act 4 Climax: Lonnie finds Hayden’s cell number and gives it to Eppsa. Then, he is chased by an evil spirit who tries to pull him into another realm. Lonnie escapes.
Resolution: He, Eppsa, and the other victims pass over.
Antagonist Character Journey: Hayden Kestner
Beginning: Hayden kills several high school friends who he feels betrayed him.
Inciting Incident: While Hayden is driving his ice cream truck, he unknowingly runs over the ghost of Lonnie.
Turning Point 1:
Act 2: Hayden senses Eppsa in the station.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Hayden is volunteering at a soup kitchen. Afterwards, he and an old, homeless friend from high school leave to have drinks. He sees Eppsa and scares her away. The audience doesn’t know it, but he kills his old friend.
Act 3: Evren, Hayden’s son, witnesses Hayden kill someone. Hayden explains why it’s okay to kill if it’s self-defense.
Turning Point 3: Hayden takes Evren to a Satanic cult meeting. Later, while Evren takes money from a customer, Hayden grabs an ice cream that is stored next to a dead body in the freezer of his ice cream truck. Then, Hayden gets a text from Eppsa. He freaks out.
Act 4 Climax: He comes face to face with Eppsa. She makes him kill himself. Probably with an old gun of his dad’s which had been hidden in a floor safe.
Resolution: He is dead and the evil spirit that lived inside him jumped into Evren to carry on the horror.
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Haley Chambers’ Character Structure
Haley’s Vision: I am going to work hard to be recognized as a successful screenwriter with many of my scripts made into films/TV shows.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS ASSIGNMENT IS… Antagonists and protagonists character arcs don’t have to match up. By matching the protagonists arc to the 4 acts of the story, the movie will have a natural flow.
Concept: A recently hired dishwasher boy discovers the strip mall sandwich shop in which he works is actually the front of an underground factory for manufacturing dreams.
PROTAGONIST: “Charlie”
Beginning: A sandwich shop employee who is filled with self-doubt and childhood trauma. He is secretly in love with his coworker, but too afraid to express it. He is a talented artist in his free time, but doesn’t have the motivation or confidence to pursue it.
Middle: He has found himself in a situation where he must confront the childhood trauma he has been avoiding. This causes him to realize the Dream Factory is just a figment of his imagination.
End: Despite the Dream Factory not being a real place, Charlie has made real friends, comes to terms with his childhood trauma, pursues his art and quits his job, and expresses his love to his coworker.
Beginning: Charlie volunteers to cover his coworker’s shift who he is secretly in love with. He ignores a call from his distant mother.
Inciting Incident: While on this shift, a nightmarish creature chases Charlie into the storeroom closet, where he exits into the Dream Factory.
Turning Point 1: Charlie is visited by Lionel Crowfoot, the Dream Factory recruiter, who x.
Act 2: Not Sure Yet
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Charlie sees Lionel Crowfoot at the bus stop, and confronts him. However, the homeless man Charlie speaks with is actually named Henry. Charlie is very confused, but this is the first clue that the Dream Factory is just a figment of Charlie’s imagination. Charlie has a meaningful conversation with Henry.
Act 3: Not Sure Yet
Turning Point 3: Nightmares begin to flood into the Dream Factory. Charlie decides the only way to stop them is to confront the Dream Founder.
Act 4 Climax: When confronting the Dream Founder, Charlie realizes that the founder is himself, and is launched into his own nightmare, his childhood trauma, where he meets his younger child self. Through this immersive flashback, Charlie tells his younger self just how special he is (despite being told otherwise by his parents), and notices his younger self’s drawings, specifically those of characters like Lionel Crowfoot and Mr. Moon. This not only causes Charlie to realize how special he currently is, but how his younger self created the Dream Factory to escape his childhood trauma.
Resolution: Charlie calls his mother, who he has been avoiding. Charlie quits his job to pursue his passion of art, and asks Rosie to dinner. He hosts a dinner party for Mr. Watson, Henry, and Rosie.ANTAGONIST: Dream Founder AKA the Nightmare (Who is actually Charlie)
Beginning: A frightened and abused boy who is told he is worthless. He becomes the nightmare he was told that he was and creates a Dream Factory to escape.
Middle: When Charlie is covering his coworkers night shift, and receives a call from his mother, the Dream Founder decides to pay Charlie a visit.
End: Charlie destroys the Dream Founder by confronting his childhood trauma.
Beginning: A frightened and abused boy (Charlie) who is told he is worthless.
Inciting Incident: Charlie creates the Dream Factory to escape his abuse. So, this frightened and abused boy becomes a nightmare to haunt Charlie (abuse manifested)
Turning Point 1: This nightmare shadows Charlie where ever he goes, infusing self doubt into him and causing him to have terrible self esteem.
Act 2:
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: After Charlie receives a call from his mother, the nightmare decides to chase Charlie, until he ends up in the Dream Factory.
Turning Point 3: Not Sure Yet.
Act 4 Climax: The nightmare attacks the Dream Factory, and Charlie confronts it.
Resolution: The nightmare is destroyed by Charlie. -
Ashley’s Character Structure
Vision: I write enthralling, entertaining, and transformational scripts that win awards, get produced and create positive change in the world.
I learned that this structure aligns perfectly with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s 5 stages of grief or change. The protagonist in this story loses her son at the beginning of the film, and deals with the grief throughout the story.
The High Concept: After helping the Spaniards conquer the Aztec Empire, a superhuman Aztec translator travels back in time to stop the fall of the Empire. But she must choose between her love for her son and her people.
Malinche (Protagonist)
Beginning: Two Aztec souls await judgement from the Summoner who leads souls to their death or rebirth. The Summoner says that only Malinche can atone for their karma, as she isn’t bound by the laws of space and time.
In the next scene, Malinche walks around Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, after it has been conquered by the Spaniards. She is responsible for the success of the Spanish conquest. And she atones for her past mistakes.
Inciting Incident: A fight breaks out between the Aztecs and conquistadors. Malinche is called to join the uprise against the conquistadors and to kill Hernando in his sleep. She hates Hernando but she could never kill him and runs away from the fight.
Turning Point 1: After falling down a rabbit hole and discovering the Aztec Calendar Stone, she travels back in time to stop the fall of the Aztec Empire. But after arriving in the past, she realizes that her son doesn’t make it, as he wasn’t born yet. Malinche mourns the loss of her son. The fear of letting him go keeps her stuck and unable to meet the challenge.
Act 2: Malinche boards Hernando’s ship and becomes his translator. She is in denial that her son is gone and believes he will be born again in this timeline. She escapes her loss when she tempts Hernando with exotic experiences. Her motive is to derail his conquest plans.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Malinche attempts to have sex with Hernando to bring her unborn son back to life. But they are interrupted by the arrival of the Aztec emissaries and Jeronimo. When Jernonimo finds out about Malinche’s affair, he publicly humiliates her and Hernando doesn’t defend her. Malinche realizes that her son isn’t coming back and blames Hernando for everything. She commits to derailing his plan by siding with Emperor Montezuma.
Act 3: Malinche’s son speaks to her through Itzamna, the Mayan shaman. But she thinks she is speaking with the gods when she pleads: “if I save the Aztec Empire, will you bring my son back?” The spirit responds ‘yes’, but he adds that to save the Empire she must stop hiding her true self. She has to overcome her fear to save her son. So, she removes the fabric hiding her “bird-talker” birthmark.
Turning Point 3: When Malinche reveals her true identity, she is rejected by those that feel threatened by her power, including Hernando. To strip her of her power, they remove her feathers and wings. In turn, Malinche feels naked and hopeless, but tries to control her emotional reaction in front of others.
Act 4 Climax: Malinche is to be sacrificed to the gods in the ultimate human sacrifice. Upon entering the courtyard, Malinche is overwhelmed by the number of mourning people. Suddenly, the people bow. The priest leads Malinche up the temple. With each step, she stands a little taller. Once they reach the top, the priest speaks to the people. The crowd cuts off the priest with boos. One throws a melon at the priest’s head. He nearly falls off the temple. Malinche steps forward and the crowd cheers. The Aztec noblemen try to silence the crowds, but to no avail. Malinche opens her massive wings and the crowd roars. After several moments she closes her wings and the crowd quiets down. Malinche sings a bird song that moves the crowd to tears. Malinche gives the speech of a lifetime. The crowd demands her release. Malinche descends the temple as the people cheer.
Resolution: Empress Malinche sits tall on a throne surrounded by exotic birds, colorful features, and earthly pleasures. Martin (3), now covered in bright green feathers, tugs at her rainbow colored dress. Malinche picks him up, and holds him in her lap. Itzamna comes into the picture, and we learn that he is Martin’s father. In utter silence, they look at Tenochtitlan burned to black ash. Malinche says that sometimes Mother Earth needs to destroy everything before we can rebuild anew. She then proposes that they rebuild their home. As they leave the scene, a quetzal bird sings. The bird song breathes life into the ash and it begins to take shape. As the song crescendos, a megalopolis of floating garden plots rise from the ash. The futuristic skyline of Mexico City glows in the late afternoon light.
Hernando (Antagonist)
Beginning: Hernando has recently conquered the Aztec Empire, but the Spanish Crown doesn’t recognize his authority in the New World. So, the new ruler arrives, takes Hernando’s office, gold, and crew.
In the opening, we see his childhood wound of being undervalued. He goes from foul-mouthed conquistador to speaking in ‘baby talk’ with his newborn in an instant. While he tries to put on a royal facade with his upper class wife, he isn’t familiar with upper class customs, and tries to get rid of her in a hilarious way.
Inciting Incident: A fight breaks out between the Aztecs and conquistadors. Hernando tries to use the civil unrest to his advantage in reclaiming power. Meanwhile the plague ravages the empire.
Turning Point 1: Malinche updates Hernando on the plague, and asks for clean water, food, and medicine. Hernando disregards the needs of the people and doesn’t let Malinche finish her argument. Once she realizes that Hernando won’t help, she pleads for housing outside the city for herself and Martin. Hernando doesn’t want to let them go.
Act 2: Hernando is smitten by Malinche and escapes from his mission with her. He finds her illusive and mysterious, but he is also escaping from a recent rejection by the Govenor of Cuba. Meanwhile he doesn’t notice that she derails his conquest plans until its too late.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Hernando nearly falls for Malinche’s ploy, but Jeronimo reminds Hernando of his mission. Hernando understands Malinche’s game and wants nothing to do with her.
Act 3: After bargaining with the priest, Jeronimo, Hernando declines Malinche’s advances in exchange for absolute power in the New World – a Christian world.
Turning Point 3: Hernando feels threatened by Malinche’s power. He fears that the Aztec people will consider her a goddess and choose her as their ruler. When Emperor Montezuma orders the guards to pluck her feathers, Hernando doesn’t stop him.
Act 4 Climax: Hernando stands with the Aztec noblemen and Emperor Montezuma during the sacrifice of Malinche. Hernando is in awe by her regal presence, but avoids eye contact. When the people bow at Malinche, Hernando looks around and follows suit. During Malinche’s speech, he feels “called out” at certain moments. He half listens to Jeronimo, who is enraged by the crowd’s approval of Malinche. The people put pressure on the Aztec noblemen and Emperor Montezuma to release Malinche. Hernando wants the people’s support, so he orders his men to release Malinche and in turn, he infuriates the Aztec noblemen.
Resolution: Hernando and the Spaniards are locked up in prison on Panfilo’s ship. One prisoner throws up. Panfilo says that they will be tried for their crimes in two days. Hernando calls Panfilo a kiss ass and ‘slow’ due to the heavy gold in his pockets.
Itzamna (Triangle Character)
Act 2: Itzamna sees that Malinche is escaping her loss and mission. He helps her find an emotional outlet to express her emotions and makes sure that she is nourishing her body with healing foods and self-care.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Itzamna overhears when Jeronimo publically humiliates Malinche. He is hurt and jealous, but still helps her derail Hernando’s plan.
Act 3: Itzamna bargains, but with the spirit harassing him: “If I let you speak with her, can I be free of you?” The spirit agrees. Itzamna doesn’t tell Malinche that she’s actually speaking with her son, not the gods.
Turning Point 3: Itzamna is a trusted friend when Malinche feels hopeless. While she tries to control her emotional reaction in front of him, she can’t. He helps her express her emotions in a constructive way.
Act 4 Climax: Itzamna is proud of Malinche, as she steps into her power. After she descends the temple, he walks towards her and puts out his hand.
Resolution: Itzamna is no longer tortured by the spirit, who is now born again as his son, Martin. He is a supportive and loving father.
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SHIRAMARIN’S Character Structure
WIM-MOD 4-L 1-––Character Journey Structure
MY VISION: I commit to doing everything from my strongest, most creative writer self to learn the course material as thoroughly as possible, then revise and sell my screenplay to a producer who can’t wait to make it into an unforgettable film that everyone, everywhere can’t wait to see, be inspired by, and fulfill their best, most creative selves.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS LESSON is that the intersection of arcs/journeys at its best creates emotional, sub-textual, and atmospheric complexity, interest, and successful writing. I’m considering doing this exercise for each of my feature/supporting characters.
KARA CAVALLI-Protag.
Beginning: Kara starts as an irritable doc student stalled in her dissertation process and at odds with her departmental Dean and mother.<div>
Inciting incident: A visitation from the goddess Hekate prompts Kara to visit her analyst for an emergency visit, where she tells the dream she had and the story of her terrifying experience at a local bookstore.
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Turning Point 1: The conversation with her psychoanalyst convinces Kara to trust her experience and that she needs to heed the goddess Hekate’s call to follow her and do her will.
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Act 2: Resistant, irritable but slowly developing willingness to Hekate’s bidding. Simultaneously, she breaks up with her boyfriend, Oliver.
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Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: University Dean Grayson B. is so demanding and oppressive that Kara becomes almost paralyzed about completing her writing.
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Act 3: Kara pleads with Hekate to let her go, but Hekate promises if Kara accepts her challenge, Hekate will be sure that Kara completes her dissertation with flying colors and will address all Kara’s anxiety over the wrong-headed society will be addressed. Kara agrees.
Turning Point 3: Grayson tells Kara he will not approve her dissertation unless she presents it at a public conference at which he will be in attendance. Calum Ross, her dissertation advisor, secretly arranges for Kara to present at an upcoming TEDx event. Everyone who knows Kara, including her estranged boyfriend Oliver and her mother, attends the event.
4th Act/Climax: Unnerved by the prospect of presenting, Kara dreads Grayson’s proposal but knows there is no way out. Hekate reassures Kara, letting her know she will accompany Kara on every step of her journey. This is little comfort to Kara.
Resolution: Kara’s talk goes viral, and she is invited to present on the international TED stage. Grayson is profoundly affected and passes her through to doctoral status. She and Oliver reunite. Her mother witnesses a Kara she never realized existed and praised Kara. Kara becomes a global Influencer, sought-after consultant, and change agent.
GRAYSON BENWAH––Antag.
Beginning: Grayson lords over his students, secretary, is pseudo-chummy with his colleagues
Inciting Incident: Grayson discovers that Kara is not toeing the line as he expects her to do. His stress about winning the promotion to Chancellor eats at him and revs his demanding nature to lord over anyone obstructing his path to Chancellorhood.
Turning Point 1: He believes his promotion is undermined by Kara’s seeming activist effort toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Act 2: ???
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Kara’s Dissertation Advisor, Calum Ross, challenged Grayson to allow Kara to complete her dissertation writing. Grayson gets drunk with Calum, and when Calum takes him home, unbeknownst to Grayson, Calum discovers one of Grayson’s deepest secrets.
Act 3: Grayson makes his apologies to Calum and is reluctantly convinced to stay open to Kara’s work, even though he still harbors contempt for Kara
Turning Point 3: Grayson challenges Kara’s work by telling her he will approve her dissertation only if she can successfully present it to a public audience and the ideas are well-received.
Act 4 Climax: Grayson, stony and arrogant, attends the TEDx event (pre-arranged by Calum), where Kara will present invisibly, accompanied by Hekate. The audience is astonished, gives Kara a standing ovation, and the presentation goes viral. Overcome by the immensity of Kara’s impact, Grayson begins to reflect on his life and how disingenuous he has lived about his gay gender and racial identity. He reveals his racial identity to his partner, David, who compassionately embraces him.
Resolution: Grayson approves Kara, comes out publicly, and is promoted to Chancellor.
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BENT’S CHARACTER STRUCTURE
MY VISION IS ….. I WANT TO BE A RESPECTED TELEVISION WRITER AND SELL THIS FEATURE AND SEE IT ON THE BIG SCREEN.
WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS THIS….. CHARACTERS ARE GOING THEIR OWN DIRECTION AND THOSE PATHS CROSS WHICH CREATES CONFLICT.
THE GENERAL
- Beginning: HAS A SECRET MEETING WITH RUSSIAN MILITARY
- Inciting Incident: AFTER HE INSISTS TO SANTA THEY OPEN MORE OIL DRILLING AT THE NORTH POLE AND SANTA SAYS NO, THE GENERAL PLOTS TO UNDERMINE SANTA.
- Turning Point 1: THE SCOUT ELF WATCHING FOR KRAMPUS’ WHEREABOUTS COMES BACK WOUNDED BY THE DEMON RIGHT BEFORE SLEIGHS ARE SCHEDULED FOR TAKE OFF.
- Act 2: WHEN SANTA AND THE CREW DEPART, THE GENERAL CHOOSES TO STAY BEHIND FOR NOW INSTEAD OF PROTECTING EVERYONE.
- Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: WHEN SANTA REACHES NORTH AMERICA WHERE KRAMPUS WAS SEEN, THE GENERAL ARRIVES TO PROTECT SANTA AND KRAMPUS ARRIVES AND KIDNAPS A YOUNG GIRL ELF WHO STOWED ONTO A SLEIGH.
- Act 3: WHILE PRESENTS MUST BE DELIVERED, THE SEARCH PARTY HAS TO BE SENT OUT TO HUNT DOWN KRAMPUS. THIS PUTS SANTA IN A VULNERABLE SPOT.
- Turning Point 3: THE GENERAL FINDS KRAMPUS AND INTENTIONALLY LEADS HIM VIA A CHASE TO WHERE SANTA IS LOCATED.
- Act 4 Climax: THE BATTLE HAPPENS BETWEEN KRAMPUS AND SANTA. THE DEMONS TOO. THE GENERAL’S PLAN IS FOILED BY AN ELF NAMED INDIGO WHO SAVES SANTA FROM GETTING KILLED.
- Resolution: THE DEMONS TAKE DOWN THE GENERAL’S SLEIGH OVER THE OCEAN KILLING ALL OF THEM.
INDIGO
- Beginning: HAS A DINNER WITH HIS PARENTS AND SISTER.
- Inciting Incident: HIS SISTER WANTS TO JOIN THE SLEIGHS ON CHRISTMAS EVE. PARENTS SAY NO AND INDIGO TELLS HER IT’S NOT WORTH IT.
- Turning Point 1: SHE ESCAPES AND STOWS AWAY ON A SLEIGH AND INDIGO SEARCHES FOR HER.
- Act 2: INDIGO ACCIDENTALLY STOWS ONTO A SLEIGH AND IS FORCED TO TRAVEL TO NORTH AMERICA
- Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: HE FINDS HIS SISTER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN KRAMPUS STEALS HER AWAY.
- Act 3: INDIGO IS PANICKING AND WANTS TO FIND HIS SISTER. THE ELVES TELL HIM HE CAN’T BE LEFT BEHIND AND THE GENERAL WILL FIND HIM WITH THE OTHER ELVES.
- Turning Point 3: KRAMPUS ATTACKS SANTA AND INDIGO SEES HIS SISTER.
- Act 4 Climax: THERE IS A BATTLE AND INDIGO GETS HIS SISTER BACK. HE IS FORCED TO SAVE SANTA BY GETTING ON THE SLEIGH AND MANUEVERING IT.
- Resolution: KRAMPUS IS DISABLED BY INDIGO AND THEY BRING HOME THE BODY OF A DYING KRAMPUS TO ENCASE IN CONCRETE.
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