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Lesson 10
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Lesson 10, Part 1
There are many intriguing layers in Breaking Bad. These are some of them:
This Episode
Marie, whose husband is a law officer, is a thief
Will the school figure out who stole the equipment?
Will Walt and Jesse find enough ingredients?
Will Tuco kill them?
Will the real estate agent expose their lab in the basement of Jesse’s house?
Although still as yet a reasonable man, Walt is gradually transitioning into a full blown criminal
What will become of their deal with Tuco to supply him two pounds per week?
The Show
Walt’s hidden agenda, and thus his deception, in making meth
Can Walt keep up his lies as he conceals ever more complex deceit?
What is he losing as he goes deeper into his lies?
The ever present question of Hank discovering Walt’s actions
Can Walt function in a very dangerous criminal environment?
Will the dealers respect Walt’s abilities as a meth maker? Or will they kill him?
Will Walt and Jesse get along well enough to run their enterprise?
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Assignment 1: Mr. Robot’s Plot and Character Layers
PLOT LAYERS:
Major scheme revealed: Elliot’s plan to destroy E-corp
Mystery revealed: who is Mr. Robot? Who is the Dark Army? Who is Whiterose?
Thought the story was one thing, but it is another: think it’s about Elliot’s plan BUT really about Whiterose’s much bigger plan
Major shift in Meaning: Mr. Robot IS Elliot and Elliot isn’t experiencing same reality as we do!
Hidden history: how/why Elliot hates Evil Corp, how/why Elliot created Mr. Robot
Hidden plan: Whiterose’s plan keeps getting bigger and bigger with each reveal
Major betrayal: Elliot’s love interest partners with Whiterose
CHARACTER LAYERS:
Secret identity: truth of who Mr. Robot and Whiterose are
Character Intrigue: Whiterose has layers and layers of motivation/plans/goals/schemes until finally revealed that she’s a mirror image of Elliot
Hidden relationships and conspiracies: Elliot and Mr. Robot, Elliot and his sister, Elliot and Angela, Angela and Whiterose, Elliot and Tyrell, Tyrell and Mr. Robot
Hidden Character history: real reason behind both Elliot and Whiterose stems from same root conflict/event
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Assignment 2
CJ’s Plot and Character Layers for Patient X:
What I learned from this assignment is… by untangling threads of individual characters and how they’re connected to the plot it’s possible to weave a rich tapestry of intrigue that creates the show’s greater picture over time. The most difficult part for me was arranging them to decide the most effective time to reveal each hidden layer.
1. Brainstorm a list of possible PLOT layers.
PLOT LAYERS:
Major scheme revealed: children are being “infected” with Fatal Insomnia by unknown group
Mystery revealed: Rossi’s symptoms stem from Fatal Insomnia
Thought the story was one thing, but it is another: hunt for missing kids/mystery of Rossi’s illness turns into search for serial killer and then Cabal
Major shift in Meaning: Rossi’s search for cure isn’t about just saving her life but countless others
Hidden history: Rossi’s birth mother behind the Cabal and Fatal Insomnia
Hidden plan: What does the Cabal intend to do with powered children/Rossi?
Major betrayal: Rossi’s physician isn’t trying to cure her but instead control her for birth mother and Cabal
2. Brainstorm a list of possible CHARACTER layers.
CHARACTER LAYERS –
Secret identity: Rossi’s true parentage
Character intrigue: Rossi’s budding romance with Detective, why did Devon leave and what is he hiding
Hidden relationships and conspiracies: Devon’s connection to killer, Rossi’s mother running the Cabal
Hidden Character history: Devon’s history with killer, Rossi’s true family
3. Organize them each into a possible sequence of reveals.
Plot Surface:
Layer 1: Thought the story was one thing, but it is another: hunt for missing kids/turns into search for serial killer
Layer 2: Mystery revealed: Rossi’s symptoms stem from Fatal Insomnia
Layer 3: Major scheme revealed: children are being “infected” with Fatal Insomnia by unknown group
Layer 4: Major shift in Meaning: Rossi’s search for cure isn’t about just saving her life but countless others
Layer 5: Major betrayal: Rossi’s physician isn’t trying to cure her but instead control her for birth mother and Cabal
Layer 6: Hidden plan: What does the Cabal intend to do with powered children/Rossi?
Layer 7: Hidden history: Rossi’s birth mother behind the Cabal and Fatal Insomnia
Character Surface:
Layer 1: why did Devon leave and what is he hiding
Layer 2: Rossi’s budding romance with Detective
Layer 3: Devon’s connection to killer
Layer 4: Rossi’s true parentage
Layer 5: Rossi’s mother running the Cabal
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Jerry’s Plot and Character Layers
What I learned doing this assignment is that mining the character profiles brings up new ideasASSIGNMENT 1: GoT e2S1
Ned’s agreement to return to Winterfell in exchange for his life is dishonoured
Sansa is forced to betray her familyASSIGNMENT 2: Running Towards The Light
Plot Surface: Linda is opposing corrupt developers who want to tear down the Tin Tabernacle
Layer 1: ROARING CECIL and BIG NASTY conspired to offer the Tin Tabernacle to the developers
Layer 2: Both DARRAN and WEE HENRY want LINDA to fail and return to being a housewife
Layer 3: DARRAN once killed a man on behalf of BIG NASTY
Layer 4: LINDA wants to destroy the corrupt Council and their pals
Layer 5: LINDA wants to tear down the corrupt ruling class2. Brainstorm a list of possible CHARACTER layers.
Character Surface:
Character Surface:
LINDA a God-fearing housewife
DARRAN a good-natured but useless husband
WEE HENRY a wide boy with a crush on LINDA
ROARING CECIL a God-fearing Pastor to his flock
BIG NASTY a paramilitary thugLayer 1:
LINDA a class warrior
DARRAN former gunman and murderer
WEE HENRY Loan shark and slum landlord
ROARING CECIL has the ambition to build a Mega-church and gain the power and money that would come with it
BIG NASTY tired and ill but too many enemies to step downLayer 2:
LINDA a devastatingly ruthless politician
DARRAN worked for BIG NASTY as a enforcer
WEE HENRY will betray anyone, will do anything for money
ROARING CECIL and BIG NASTY are partners in a property consortium -
Hilton Garrett, Plot and Character Layers
What I learned – that it is essential to have layers of Intrigue and Reveals, and a little about how to create them and how to pace the reveals
Lesson 10, Part 2, My show
Plot Layers
1. Major scheme revealed – The wreck was not an accident
2. Mystery Revealed – Martaan was at the bridge
3. Major shift in meaning – the wreck goes from an unexamined accident to murder
4. Hidden History – Martaan’s, Rountree’s
5. Hidden Plan – Santorro rescues Rountree’s failing bank; Will devises a plan to expose Rountree
6. Major Betrayal – Becca cheats on Will
Character Layers
1. Secret Identity – Martaan is actually Crider Martin
2. Character Intrigue – we don’t know who Martaan is; why did Will not investigate the wreck?
3. Hidden Relationships and conspiracies – Rountree and Santorro; Millie and Rountree; Mary-Grace and Will; Vinnie and Santorro
4. Hidden Character History – Will and Martaan, Rountree and Jenny, Will’s mother
Sequence of Reveals
Plot surface – Will is a respected journalist who tries to maintain control of his life as his marriage is falling apart and his dream job is snatched away, all while he carries the pain and guilt of having let his mother die (so he believes) instead of saving her
1. Will and Rountree have a long and painful (for Will) past
2. The wreck is revealed as not an accident
3. Martaan was at the bridge
4. Becca cheats on Will
5. Will devises a plan to expose Rountree
6. The truth about the wreck comes out
Character Surface – Every character except Will is not who they appear to be
1. Rountree is driven by superstition
2. Rountree and Santorro have been in business together for 30 years
3. Martaan is from Elam county, not the islands
4. Rountree and Millie had a thing years ago and she might be still available
5. Mary-Grace has been secretly compiling dirt on Rountree
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Lloyd Shellenberger Plot and Character Layers
Module 1 Lesson 10 Creating Intriguing Layers
Vision Statement Working Hard every day to become a better writer and as a result I do become the best writer in Hollywood.
What I learned from this lesson is… The more layers and questions you create about your characters the more interesting they become.
Assignment 1
Breaking Bad
List of possible plot layers.
Layer 1: Walter White and Jesse Pinkman produce Meth and distribute it while posing as a chemist teacher and car wash owner.
Layer 2: Jesse tries to go straight but no one wants to give him chance. The hidden message here is that Jesse will be back to manufacturing meth whether he wants to or not.
Major Scheme revealed: The life each lead character her wants is being chosen for them and they don’t even know it.
Layer 3: Walter attends a party of one of his colleagues and sees the life they are living vs. his. He wants that too. This is telling as he realizes he no where he wants to be and he may just have to go back to cooking.
Assignment 2
Title: Benjamin Greene
Genre: Action Drama
Character: Col. Benjamin Greene/ Protagonist Anti-hero
List of Possible plot layers
Layer 1: Col Green and his men are assigned to an off-grid agency called the Puzzle Works to complete missions for the Pentagon.
Layer 2: The agency is black bag and unsanctioned, putting Col. Greene and his crew in peril and at odds with his military command.
Additional Plot layers:
1. Col. Greene may have contacted the Puzzle Works himself since he believes they may have killed his wife. He may be seeking revenge.
2. Col Greene may appear as a Special Operations commander racing to retirement but he wants one last “Score” before he goes off into the sunset.
3. Col Greene is being forced back in to protect his son.
4. He has a particular target in mind he needs to get close to so he appears to be the dutiful soldier, he is anything but that.
5. The dynamics of the crew is varied and unpredictable. Who will be the patriot and who will be the villain?
6. Who can Col Greene trust and who does he eliminate?
7. Is there an ultimate betrayal just below the surface and from whom?
8. The dynamic between Col. Greene and Agent Stockton is tense and multi-layered.
9. Because of Col. Greene’s history, do we empathize with Col. Greene or does he turn out to be a greater villain than we suspected?
Major Scheme revealed:
1. The crew has been embezzling the Black bag money themselves for an exit pan.
2. Stealing the drugs and cash of local drug lords appears to be a selfish act of enrichment. It is revealed later to be a setup to end the cartels business with the military and bury the story of the militaries involvement with them.
3. Deidra Jones is Lt. Greene’s lover and she could be an FBI agent or Puzzle Works mole. Either way it will be revealed and she will probably die.
4. The Puzzle works finds out about the money the Greenes are laundering and stealing.
5. Lt. Greene finds out about his fathers prior work with the CIA. He also finds out it may have contributed to his mothers death. They devise a plan to even the score with the Puzzle works.
Mystery Revealed:
1. We get a glimpse of who the Puzzle works are and the scope of their influence. It is frightening!
2. Col Greenes history and influence is revealed and the audience sees how deep into the rabbit hole Greene was in.
3. Will the FBI agent Stockton get Col. Greene? He does have him for a brief second thanks to his son apparent betrayal but we later see it was an illusion.
Thought the story was one thing and we find out it was another.
1. We believed this was a story about a Special Operations unit completing missions for an unknown entity but it could have been a set up to steal money or extract revenge first and foremost.
2. We believed this was also about burying the facts and protecting the government but it was really about the Puzzle Works eliminating its enemies and enriching themselves as well. The level of corruption is disturbing.
Major Shift in Meaning:
1. Once we find out that Col. Greene may have recruited the Puzzle Works and not the other way around it changes the relationship. Why did he contact them and to what end? He is no longer the victim we perceived him to be.
2. Once we find out the true mission statement behind the Puzzle Works, is it as noble or trustworthy as we were led to believe?
3. When Agent Stockton figures out it is Col. Greene, and tries to flip his son does it turn out to be about the money? What is the real reason the FBI wants this shut down?
4. When the audience finds out the major players are planning an exit strategy everything they do takes on a new meaning.
5. There is a reason that 1st Sergeant DesMoines is so vicious. Once we find out why we seem him in a whole new light.
6. When the truth about SGT. Jones is revealed we now understand why she does the things she does.
7. When we see that Lt. Greene has contact with Agent Stockton we believe he is in collaboration with him until the great reveal and we understand he is misleading him or paying him off. Everything he does after that means something entirely different.
Hidden History:
1. Col. Greene’s past as a CIA operative changes our view of him and helps us understand why he is so good at what he does.
2. The First Sergeant has a history as a Special Forces soldier and ex-gang member himself which is why he gravitates toward SPC. Jones
3. SPC Jones is a potential murderer himself and is running from his past.
4. SGT. Jones has been a member of the FBI or Puzzle works for years.
5. Lt. Greene has a sorted hidden story himself that he would prefer to keep secret. That will be plotted later.
Hidden Plan.
1. Is Col. Greene setting up the Puzzle Works to kill those responsible for his wife’s death? Is Lt. Greene helping him or is he even aware of what is happening.
2. Both Col Greene, Lt. Greene, and First Sergeant Des Moines are putting away Black Bag money for a secret exit plan. Everything they do is centered around this. They all know this will go south. Will the Puzzle Works ever find out? They know they can trust no one.
3. SGT. Jones is incognito but we don’t know who she is working for.
4. Col. Greene is aware of this and is planning to get rid of her as discreetly as possible. What he says around her is completely different that what he tells the First Sergeant and even his son. He often uses his son for disinformation purposes since he knows they are secretly dating.
5. Col. Greene and the First Sergeant are working together to deceive the Black Suits and the Puzzle Works. In a reveal to the audience we see they do not betray each other as previously thought.
Major Betrayal:
1. Lt. Green appears to betray his father. Agent Stockton continues to turn up the heat trying to flip him.
2. SGT. Jones will betray Col. Greene and possibly Lt. Greene but she may or may not do it before she is killed.
3. Agent Stockton may turn out to be dirty and betray the FBI.
4. Does Col. Greene betray the First Sergeant or vice versa?
5. Does SPC Jones flip on the crew to save his skin from prosecution?
6. Will the Puzzle Works see Col. Greene and his crew as a liability and end the relationship?
7. Does Col. Greene ever betray his son?
Character Layers:
Secret Identity:
Col. Greene: Killer, ruthless, well connected and former assassin. Alcoholic.
Lt. Greene: Sex addict, manipulator, drug dealer and drug Lord.
First Sergeant: Former Special Forces, ruthless, partner with Lt. Greene stealing drugs and money from dealers and reselling them on the streets.
SGT. Jones: Works for the FBI or Puzzle Works. She is more than likely the reason for the fall of the crew.
SPC. Jones is a former gang member and murderer. Informant.
Plot Surface:
Col. Greene: Protagonist
Layer 1: Protagonist, He is a dutiful Soldier who follows orders. Competent and caring about his crew. His ability to think outside the box is amazing. He is at odds with the world. He appears to be just a commander of a Special Operations unit. Nothing more.
Layer 2: He is well connected with resources and intel he often deploys.
Layer 3: He protects his son and his First Sergeant and is loyal to those in his command. He increasingly becomes more and more at odds with his military command because of the opposing agenda of the Puzzle Works.
Layer 4: He appears to have much more resources available to him than he should. It leads to the questin “who is this guy”. As his military assets decrease, his government assets have increased. This is extremely questionable.
Lt. Greene:
Layer 1: A loyal and competent soldier and son who plays an important role in the success of the mission. Outwardly, he is loyal to the crew.
Layer 2: A trusted confidant to his father and the First Sergeant
Layer 3: A great boyfriend and trusted soul mate to Sgt. Jones but he must keep their relationship secret.
Layer 4: His morals and convictions are far more evident than anyone in the show or they appear to be. He is his father’s keeper and conscience.
SGT Jones:
Layer 1: The Love interest of Lt. Greene
Layer 2: Possibly the Wedge between Lt. Greene and his father.
Layer 3: The question mark that leaves you wondering who she really is. Is she an agent? Is she the possible foil to the crew?
Layer 4: She is Lt. Greenes inner voice and his soul mate. Can she save him?
First Sergeant:
Layer 1: A career soldier who has seen it all. He is Col. Greenes most trusted advisor.
Layer 2: He is willing to do what needs to be done when most others in the crew are not.
Layer 3: Smart and manipulative. He sees danger before everyone else and is Col. Greenes henchman.
Layer 4: He is also well healed and resourceful. What Greene cannot bring to the table or lacks he can provide. They are two pieces that compliment on another.
SPC. Jones:
Layer 1: Highly technical and competent
Layer 2: Top notch soldier who follows orders without question but he is compromised
Layer 3: He seems a bit off as though we never seems to see the complete story behind him.
Layer 4: Guarded and distrustful.
Agent Stockton Antagonist
Layer 1: Antagonist Highly technical and competent, A bulldog and a bit of a thug.
Layer 2: Well respected by the agency and above reproach.
Layer 3: He is brilliant and misses nothing. He is designed to connect the dots for the audiences.
Layer 4: Confrontational and not above using his authority to his advantage.
Character Surface:
Col. Greene: Protagonist
Layer 1: Competent and experienced commander. Committed and patriotic.
Layer 2: Loving father.
Layer 3 Grieving Husband
Layer 4: Uncompromising and knowledgable. A born leader.
Lt. Brian Greene:
Layer 1: Competent Soldier and loyal son. A good man. Like his father a born leader.
Layer 2: Cautious and observant. He misses nothing.
Layer 3 Devoted and loyal to those around him.
Layer 4: His immoral choices are causing internal conflict. Of all the characters on the show his is the most conflicted by far.
SGT.Jones:
Layer 1: Competent Soldier brilliant tactician and advisor behind the First Sergeant
Layer 2: We don’t know much about her. She was assigned to the unit one day and there are question marks that exist about her.
Layer 3: From and intel perspective she is the best in the unit. How does she know the things she does?
Layer 4: Loving and nurturing to Lt. Greene. Does not approve of Col. Greene.
SPC Jones:
Layer 1: Amiable and friendly but not necessarily forthcoming. Doesn’t speak about his past.
Layer 2: We know he lied to the commander about where he was from. He was assigned to the unit one day and there are question marks that exist about him.
Layer 3: From and weapons and technical perspective, he is the third best in the unit behind Col. Greene and the First Sergeant.
Layer 4: He is perhaps the hardest worker in the unit. Like Pauline from CSI he is dependable and knowledgeable.
Agent Stockton: Antagonist
Layer 1: While he appears to be man of conviction their is an air of brutality about him that suggest their are no limits he won’t cross to accomplish any goal.
Layer 2: Brilliant and unflappable.
Layer 3: His methods and approach to others leaves little room for compromise.
Layer 4: Willing to do whatever is needed to win.
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BRIAN BULL – Plot and Character Layers
“What I learned from doing this assignment is…
I discovered more layers to both my story and to my characters that weren’t there before. This is what is so impressive about this class… It continually requires you to go deeper and deeper and as a result I know I will have a TV show which will be 100% better than it would have been if I hadn’t taken this class.
ASSIGNMENT 1Watch the next episode of your Example Show and notice how layers show up in this show — both in this episode and throughout the episodes you’ve already seen.
Tell us the layers you have discovered in the Example Show.
RIVERDALE
PLOT LAYERS – Story beneath the story.At first, Cheryl said Jason fell into the Sweetwater River and it was presumed he drowned but a week later his body was discovered with a bullet hole in his forehead.
It appeared at first that Archie and Betty were going to be soulmates but with the arrival of Veronica it became apparent they are going to be best friends. Instead, it is Jughead and Betty who are dating as they work on the school newspaper, The Blue & Gold. Archie and Veronica are showing interest in one another.
Polly and Jason were a couple and then they broke up only to get back together again when they found out Polly was pregnant. They got secretly engaged with Grandma Blossom’s blessing and a ring. Jason is dead. Polly leaves Quiet Sisters of Mercy and chooses to stay with the Blossoms. Betty tells her mother that Polly did this so she could spy on the Blossoms from the inside.
There is bad blood between the Blossoms and the Coopers as a direct result of Grandpa Blossom killing Grandpa Cooper in order to take over the Maple syrup industry they created together.
The lives of Fred Andrews, FP Jones, Alice & Hal Cooper, Hermione & Hiram Lodge and Clifford & Penelope Blossom are all intertwined because they all went to high school together and now their children do as well.
CHARACTER LAYERS – identity beneath the identity.
Jason Blossom was a conflicted kid.
He was the star Quarterback on the football team, but not a good role model as he demonstrated with his participation in “The Book of Conquest”.
He broke-up with Polly but then got together with her when finding out she was pregnant. He got involved with a drug deal.
He was going to fake his own death and runaway with Polly and start a new life.
What else is there that we don’t know yet about Jason Blossom?Archie Cooper loves football but he loves music more.
He is willing to date the music teacher in school for private lessons.
He dates Val, one of the Pussy Cats, so they can collaborate together and write songs.
He’s quick to accept Veronica’s help when Val goes back to the Pussy Cats for the upcoming Talent show though he ends up going on stage alone.
He befriends Cheryl because her parent’s are going to help him get into the Brandenburg School of Music.
The question is – what will Archie do and how far will he go to further his music career?Betty Cooper appears to be sweet and innocent, but she has displayed “Dark Betty” in full force when Veronica was trying to get even with Chuck. This “Dark Betty” has surfaced a couple of times throughout the season so far with Betty clenching her fists so tight the her finger nails dig into the palms of her hands; this happens mainly around Cheryl Blossom, Betty’s arch rival.
Betty is also, an investigator/reporter, something that runs in her family who own the local newspaper, The Riverdale Register.
Betty and Jughead are collaborating on trying to solve the murder of Jason Blossom.
So far, they have helped Polly Cooper “escape” from the Quiet Sisters of Mercy facility and discovered she was pregnant with Jason Blossom’s baby/twins.
They also discovered the getaway car that Jason and Polly were going to elope in which contained Jason’s Letterman Jacket. Later, when they reported the car to the police the car was set on fire before the police arrived.ASSIGNMENT 2
Discover the layers that could exist for your show.
Organize them each into a possible sequence of reveals.FORESIGHT
PLOT LAYERS – Story beneath the story.
Plot Surface: An Optometrist, Jim Brown, creates a pair of glasses from a crystal ball.
LAYER 1: Jim Brown invades the privacy of others by looking through the psychic glasses and seeing their future. (Moral Issue)Jim can’t help himself but to meddle in other people’s business which always leads to unfavorable consequences for Jim, however, Jim never learns and continues to do this throughout the season.
LAYER 2: Zelda, the Psychic next door to Jim’s Optical store, has a heart attack and is in the hospital. Later, Jezebel tries to kill her. Jim arrives too late and Zelda flatlines as the nurses come rushing in to save her.Do the nurses save Zelda?
If the nurses save her will she be in a coma?
If Zelda survives, how will Jim explain to her the crystal ball broke and he has made a pair glasses from it?
Will Zelda understand?LAYER 3: Jezebel comes into Jim’s optical store looking for Zelda, the Psychic next door. Having just created the glasses, Jim can’t help himself but to put them on and he looks at Jezebel. He “sees” Jezebel with a Day-glow syringe standing over Zelda’s hospital bed. (Open Loop)
Jim has to help his friend Zelda and he must try and stop Jezebel from doing the deed. He knows where but not when.
LAYER 4: JoAnn, starts a romantic relationship with Howard, a free-spirited younger man, because she has finally come to terms with her husbands “death”.
Can an older woman keep up with a younger man?
Will their relationship blossom or wilt as Jim predicts?
Is Howard in it for the money or is his love for her real?
Is JoAnn enjoying herself and her “lust for life” attitude?LAYER 5: Jim is constantly trying to protect his mother, JoAnn from harm and thus stifling her from living her life and all she wants to do is live life to the fullest.
How far will Jim go to prevent his mom from “endangering” herself?
What adventures will Howard/JoAnn do to “live life to the fullest”?LAYER 6: Jim sees Gloria and falls in love with her; Gloria has no interest in Jim other than being “friends”.
Will Jim and Gloria ever become more than “just friends”?
LAYER 7: Jezebel wants the crystal ball for herself and is willing to kill anybody to acquire it, including her sisters.
Will Jezebel succeed in finding out that the crystal ball is now a pair of glasses?
Will she kill Jim just for the sake of his making the glasses from the crystal ball?LAYER 8: Gloria does romantically like Jim but her sister, Jezebel, has a strangle hold on her and Jezebel is using Gloria as a pawn to get the crystal ball that Zelda possesses. The crystal ball has been in the family for centuries.
Will Gloria break-free from Jezebel’s grasp and be with Jim?
Will Gloria find out that the crystal ball is now a pair of glasses?
Will she allow herself to love Jim regardless about the crystal ball?
LAYER 9: Delores has a huge crush on the Delivery Guy and she keeps ordering stuff online just so he has to stop by the store.Will Delores and the Delivery Guy ever get together?
What “tricks” will Delores “pull” to get him to notice her?
LAYER 10: There is a serial killer that has been terrorizing Los Angeles.Will Jim have a run in with this serial killer?
If he did, how would that turn out?
LAYER 11: With the Psychic Glasses, Jim “sees” his father, who has been “dead” for 30 years, with his mother. Now he must get to the bottom of what really happened and find his dad. (Open Loop)Jim starts the investigation into looking for his father.
CHARACTER LAYERS – Identity beneath the Identity.
Character Surface: Jim Brown, an optometrist, creates a pair of glasses from a crystal ball.
LAYER 1: Secret: Jim Brown goes from being a private man who hates the internet/Google because you can learn so much about someone to being a voyeur with his newly created psychic glasses that he can’t prevent himself from putting on and seeing into the private future of individuals.LAYER 2: Secret Identity: Jim doesn’t believe in the psychic world and Delores, his office manager does. Delores is always ordering Chinese food to get the fortune cookies, reading horoscopes and going next door to Zelda’s for a Reading from time-to-time. Jim creates the glasses and now has the ability to see people’s future. He soon discovers he must keep this secret because there are people who are willing to kill for such a device.
LAYER 3: Competition: Jim is in competition with his mom’s boyfriend, Howard, who happens to be the same age as Jim. Jim believes his mom is acting foolish and is taking unnecessary risks to be with Howard. Through the psychic glasses Jim “sees” his mom doing “crazy” things but in the end they are very benign. Once again Jim has overreacted for his mom’s protection.
LAYER 4: Hidden Agenda: Jim goes from a lonely optometrist to a love-stricken psychic when he sees Gloria, the girl of his dreams.
LAYER 5: Wound: Jim’s father mysteriously died in a work related incident after being told by a psychic to move to California for Golden Opportunity. Jim discovers through the vision of the psychic glasses that is father is alive and well. Jim is full of hope, but the question is where could his father be and where does Jim start to look? -
John Duvall’s Plot and Character Layers
“What I learned doing this assignment is…” how to elevate my character’s interpersonal conflicts and interweave plot layers and character layers.
ASSIGNMENT 1: Example Show
Watch the next episode of your Example Show and notice how layers show up in this show — both in this episode and throughout the episodes you’ve already seen.
Layers in The Handmaid’s Tale
Tension between Serena Joy and Fred Waterford increases as she comes to suspect his infidelity
Tension between Serena Joy and Offred develops between her jealousy for Offred and her desire for a child from her. Offred learning that Serena Joy is in control of her daughter puts further pressure on her, both to conform to Serena Joy’s wishes and to seek support from Fred (which raises the stakes in their relationship).
Nick’s support for Offred in her pregnancy – and the possibility that the child could be his – deepens their emotional connection, despite her devotion to her husband.
Moira escapes to Canada and reunites with June’s husband Luke, raising questions about the future of their relationship.
Fred’s defense of Putnam at his trial raises questions as to whether he could face the same fate for his behavior with Offred.
Offred refuses to participate in the “salvaging” of Janine by dropping her stone, leading all the other handmaids to do the same. It’s a public demonstration of her courage which puts her in great jeopardy.
ASSIGNMENT 2: Your Show
Discover the layers that could exist for your show. 1. Brainstorm a list of possible PLOT layers.
PLOT LAYERS – Story beneath the story.Jacob’s work at Willow Run makes him an absentee husband and father
Orsa and Jacob both decide to enter military service, causing rifts in both their marriages and radically changing the lives of Carolyn and Rose.
Rose must move to Detroit to find work, then must find another place to live after Uncle Thurm dies.
Jacob’s enlistment and the resulting loss of income forces Carolyn to let Melba go.
The attack on Pearl Harbor and the coming of war leads to rationing and fears of attack at home.
2. Brainstorm a list of possible CHARACTER layers. CHARACTER LAYERS – identity beneath the identity.
Jacob hides his Jewish identity, costing him his job when he’s revealed to be Jewish
Carolyn hoped for a professional business career but sacrificed it to be a housewife and mother.
Melba conceals her resentment to Carolyn’s condescension while cultivating a close relationship with daughter Joanie.
Lou avoids returning to Ford to pursue a musical career. Melba harbors similar desires but keeps them to herself.
Carolyn’s drinking descends into alcoholism under new pressures.
All characters fall back on their respective religious roots in response
to the coming of war
3. Organize them each into a possible sequence of reveals.I listed my layers mostly in chronological order, to outline their development.
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Mary’s Plot and Character Layers
What I learned doing this assignment is there are endless possibilities for under layers and that as you brainstorm for one character or storyline, applying that layer to a different character or storyline can produce even more intriguing twists and turns.
Example show: Riverdale
Surface: Veronica is new to town and seems like sophisticated New York girl.
Layer 1: Hidden Agenda — Veronica and her mom are in Riverdale to escape the scrutiny of NYC criminal actions involving her father.
Layer 2: Conspiracy — Veronica’s mother is hiding what she knows from Veronica.
Layer 3: Secret Identity — Keeping family secrets gives Veronica great power over her mother most teens wouldn’t have to leverage to get their way.
Layer 4: Wound — Veronica’s pain over her family circumstances leaves her emotionally vulnerable to other events/people in Riverdale.
Mayr’s Show: My PS
PLOT LAYERS – Story beneath the story.
Major scheme revealed- Lizzy’s tryst with Geoff’s son, Ryan who figures out what first?
Mystery revealed- Geoff is financial advisor whose own finances are a mess.
Thought the story was one thing, but it is another- Lizzy is supposed to be in WPP, but plans to break the rules and contact her high school BFF when he vacations in Palm Springs.
Major shift in Meaning-Lizzy frames herself as innocent witness of a crime, but she’s really managed to frame someone else as revenge.
Hidden history-Geoff and Ryan have a long-buried hatchet that resurfaces.
Hidden plan- While Sean is busy digging up dirt on Lizzy, she’s doing the same on him.
Major betrayal- When both Geoff and Ryan promise to not pursue Lizzy, who will keep their word?
CHARACTER LAYERS – identity beneath the identity.
Secret identity- Lizzy’s secret identity from WPP, but also someone else?
Character intrigue- One member of the HOA is hiding a secret – they’re dying!
Hidden relationships and conspiracies- Sean and Lizzy figure each other’s secrets out and then do they have each other’s backs or leverage power of outing the lies?
Hidden Character history- Sean’s whole cover story of dead family is a lie, he was disowned.
Plot Surface:
Layer 1: Geoff is attracted to his new neighbor Lizzy and brags to his son about his interest without knowing those two just had a one-night stand.
Layer 2: As sparks fly between Lizzy and Geoff, the mutual attraction seems on a set path. But once Lizzy figures out that Geoff is Ryan’s father, she puts the brakes on.
Layer 3: Geoff is confused and upset about Lizzy’s change of tune. As he complains to Ryan, he starts to notice Ryan defending her. An odd behavior for Ryan when it comes to someone he doesn’t know. He also observes the two having conversations that seem overly familiar.
Layer 4: When Geoff learns Ryan and Lizzy had a fling, he feels duped. His competitive streak also kicks in.
Character Surface:
Layer 1: Lizzy can play innocent when she first introduces herself. Even framing herself as a bit of a prude.
Layer 2: When she realizes Geoff is Ryan’s dad, she knows her initial story is at risk. And she must navigate the underlying old issues between father and son.
Layer 3: Lizzy also finds herself attracted to both father and son. She puts on the brakes with Geoff, but does she dare another secret tryst with Ryan?
Layer 4: What does it do for Lizzy to have two men wanting her after her troubled past and where do her trust issues rise up to cause problems as they figure out the triangle?
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