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Lesson. 11
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4 Replies
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Hi Cheryl,
Help! It seems only two writers signed for this class. I know Karen was trying to keep up – but she may have dropped out a few lessons ago. I am finding it hard to keep up myself. If this class requires us to “exchange scripts” I will need to pass and probably drop out as well.
How many more Lessons are there? I don’t have much staying power given there are no other writers.
Thanks, Rae
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Hi Rae, I hope you are well.
Just an update for you here: I decided to take the horror class that starts in these days, so I will write my outline of this project during that class, as many changes may appear on the way.
If I can help you in any way, and give you feedback, just let me know.
All very best to you and your great story,
Karen Christine
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SWU – CONTAINED MOVIE – LESSON #11 (#1)
What I leaned is this helped me flesh out the existing and also the new characters I’ve added.
CHARACTER DEPTH
CHARACTERS:
JESI JOHNSON (35)
GERARD (40)
JASON (60)
SHEILA (55)
JACKSON (59)
JESI
1. INTERNAL CHARACTER DEPTH
MOTIVATION: Deserted at four by an alcoholic mother, Jesi works at becoming her father’s clone. A brave millennial who can seal a real estate deal, also a tomboy who can plumb a house as well as any man. At thirty-five she’s jilted at the altar. Vows never again to marry and then moves back in with her Dad
SECRET: She misses her mother every day but would never admit this to her father who is still bitter and will not speak her name. All the same Jesi looks for her – but always gets sabotaged.
WOUND: Still in search of her mother, she finds the marriage cert. Go to the church, finds her records. Stops right there, afraid she will hurt her Dad, reveal the lie.
SUBTEXT: She prays for her mother every day – does her own search to find her.
LAYERS: She’s a smart, feisty millennial – but also a little girl in search of her mother.
2. CHARACTER TO CHARACTER:
JESI & SHEILA
CONFLICT: After Jackson dies, Jesi revs up her search for her mother. At the same time, starts at West Coast Investments, where ninety percent of the sales staff are men. Three months later, two female agents, both married, quit to attend to family. The company CEO lays down a new rule – from now on the company hires single females only – starting with Jesi. But Jesi is busy closing two big sales and desperate to keep this job. She tells Jason, office broker, it’s illegal, she will report to the Dept. Of Real Estate – unaware the CEO Sheila, is the mother who’s been missing most of her life.
HIDDEN AGENDA: Jesi is unaware her mother Sheila is the CEO who is calling the shots in her company.
CONSPIRACY: Sheila tells her broker Jason her secret. Says if he makes this known he’s fired.
INTRIGUE: Sheila is not that tough. She runs every day and then sits praying at the foot of the Buddha.
3. CHARACTER SITUATION:
Jackson lies to Jesi, and when he suddenly dies takes the lie with him. His wife Sheila, Jesi’s mother is alive and well and still works in Long Beach.
Jesi needs the big money, will do anything to keep her job at West Coast Investments. Even when she knows she is being sabotaged, forced to remain single.
4. DILEMMA:
Jackson dies suddenly, leaving Jesi a huge amount of debt, medical and IRS, that must be paid.
Even though Sheila works in the same building as her abandoned daughter Jesi, she will not reveal herself.
5. SECRET IDENTY: Although she shows a tough exterior most of the time, after Jackson dies she can still be reduced to a frightened four year old.
6. WOUND: Her mother left because she didn’t love her.
7. SUBTEXT: Jesi is tough and gutsy – but on the outside only.
GERARD:
INTERNAL CHARACTER DEPTH: He loves his profession, brain surgeon, but is pressured by the certain image he his to project.
MOTIVATION: After their first meeting, he vows to marry Jesi Johnson no matter what.
SECRET: He has a twelve year old boy Julian, undisclosed to Jesi.
WOUND: His secret love was international sailboat racing. He wanted this career, but his father would disinherit if he give it up and pursue medicine.
SUBTEXT: He is Canadian at heart, and not as at home in America as he says.
LAYERS: A brilliant, committed surgeon – he is a lover of the sea at heart.
CHARACTER TO CHARACTER: He is warm and fully engaging with Jesi – who does not have time for him.
CONFLICT: He worries he’s not a good enough father to his twelve year old, Julian.
HIDDEN AGENDA: He really did illicit his friend the wedding celebrant to show up at the restaurant to marry him and Jesi.
CONSPIRACY INTRIGUE: He committed to marry Jesi – no matter what.
CHARACTER SITUATION: He lied and withheld his son, Julian from Jesi.
DILEMMA: Jesi is too busy at work to consummate her wedding vows.
SECRET IDENTITIY: He’s Canadian through and through, and plans to return some day.
WOUND: He left his elderly mother and father at home in Canada.
SUBTEXT: He intends to pay off Jesi’s debt to get her back in his life.
SHEILA:
(INTERNAL CHARACTER DEPTH:
MOTIVATION: She’s bound and determined to keep her company sales force exclusively male agents.
SECRET: She has an estranged daughter who is now one of her staff.
WOUND: She regrets the pain she caused her husband Jackson and Jesi.
SUBTEXT: She is tough – does not want to admit her guilt.
LAYERS: She has regretted her early life decisions. Wants to make it up to Jesi – but it’s hard – much easier to block her out.
CHARACTER TO CHARACTER: She confides in Jason, tells him she is Jesi’s mother – but will not concede to his requests to meet her.
CONFLICT: She fights with Jason – who refuses to enforce the company’s “single women only rule.”
HIDDEN AGENDA: She wants desperately to make it up to her daughter – but it looks impossible.
CONSPIRACY: Jason pressures Jason to non-disclose.
INTRIGUE: We do not know the real reason she left the marriage.
CHARACTER SITUATION: She becomes trapped in her lie.
DILEMMA: She’s watching and tracking Jesi – unafraid to meet her.
SECRET IDENTITY: Very few people have met Seila, the CEO.
WOUND: Her own families desertion – left in foster homes.
SUBTEXT: She will make it on her own, no matter what.
JASON:
INTERNAL CHARACTER DEPTH: He has elderly parents he cares for and needs the job. So he puts up with Sheila’s demands.
MOTIVATION: The money to take care of his family.
SECRET: He hides Sheila’s identity.
WOUND: He fears he is too week to stand up to his boss.
SUBTEXT: He knows Gerard. Also knows about his secret vows with Jesi.
LAYERS: He’s a good man. Wants to see Jesi happy.
CHARACTER TO CHARACTER: He goes head to head with Sheila but she always wins.
JACKSON
INTERNAL CHARACTER DEPTH
Jackson neglected to tell Jesi why her mother Sheila really left. The truth – they both had a drinking problem – the marriage was toxic. Sheila severed it the only way she could. But Jackson never told Jesi the real truth. Sheila’s biggest regret was Jesi always leaned on Jackson, not her. Finally decided Jesi would have a healthier life with her father. Made him promise he’d stop drinking, raise their daughter to his utmost ability. Jackson agreed.
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Hi Rae, so sorry for my silence here, I am sadly lagging behind, because of a long business travel and other assignments that held my attention.
I will get back to my lessons (creating outline, I have already started with part 1), and will do my best to keep up.
Thank you for moving forward during the last days. It would be wonderful, if the two of us would successfully finish this class 🙂
All very best, enjoy the rest of your week,
Karen Christine
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