Lesson 2

[William Whiteford]

Assignment 2
William Whiteford
Big M.I.S
.
What I Learned From This Assignment?

In this assignment, I learned about the premises and techniques necessary to write a compelling thriller. Adhering to thriller conventions and integrating the Big M.I.S. (Mystery, Intrigue, Suspense) framework, with its multiple layers, form the essential foundation for crafting a successful thriller. To maintain the essence of the thriller genre and avoid drifting into drama, it’s crucial to stack M.I.S. elements effectively.
I also learned valuable prompts for brainstorming these M.I.S. elements, illustrated with examples from successful thriller films as “exempla trahunt.”

My Logline:
A celebrated author chases his enigmatic secretary, who frames him for a heinous crime, only to uncover a web of betrayal spun by his alluring but treacherous wife.

1.What Are the Conventions of Your Story?

•Unwitting but Resourceful Hero:
My hero, Glen G., is in his 40s—a tough and determined former captain of the Merchant Navy with sharp analytical skills. However, he is somewhat naïve when it comes to his wife, Grace, who is 24.
•Dangerous Villain:
Jack Hamilton, alias Roy Jackson, 25, is Glen’s secretary. He embodies the archetype of a trickster, skilled in hacking and bomb-making, and is relentless in pursuing his own goals.
•High Stakes:
The stakes involve public safety and Glen’s life.
•Life and Death Situations:
There are multiple attempts on Glen’s life throughout the story, culminating in a climactic confrontation in an airport underground garage, where Glen faces a life-or-death struggle.
•Why This Story is Thrilling:
The thrill comes from the escalating duel between Glen and Jack, the unfolding mystery, and the intrigue of Glen’s investigation and efforts to defend himself, all while unraveling Jack’s devious plan.

2.What is the Big M.I.S. of Your Story?

•Big Mystery:
The main mystery revolves around Glen’s enigmatic secretary, Jack Hamilton, who assaults Glen and then vanishes. The central question is: Who is Jack, and how can Glen find him? Additionally, can the 40-year-old Glen outwit his 25-year-old opponent and bring him to justice?
•Big Intrigue:
Beneath the surface lies a covert plot: Jack seduces Glen’s wife, Grace, and persuades her to flee abroad with him. To “neutralize” Glen, Jack frames him for a series of staged animal killings—a twisted idea stolen from Glen’s own thriller project—with the intention of landing the writer in jail.
•Big Suspense:
The primary danger facing Glen is the threat of being convicted for animal cruelty, which could land him in a psychiatric clinic or prison. However, when he escapes the clinic, a deadly showdown awaits him.
# # #

[Ann Jordan]

Ann Jordan’s Big M.I.S.

What I learned doing this assignment is that it’s helpful to have genre conventions that must be met, as well as the M.I.S. Having a predetermined structure to hang your story on may seem constricting, but it’s actually very useful.

Project: “An Older House”
LOGLINE:
When a young mom inherits a quaint fixer-upper, she has no idea that the house holds restless ghosts from the founding of a cult – or that there are people who will do anything to get her house into their hands.

THRILLER CONVENTIONS:
• Unwitting but Resourceful Hero:
MEGGIE, 28, school librarian. Mom to a four-year-old boy and wife to TYLER, 30, with a new BABY GIRL on the way. Raised in an affectionate but oddly secretive household, Meggie was called by a boy’s name and dressed like a boy in her childhood, and required to learn martial arts. After Meggie’s mom died in an apparent accident, her dad allowed her to change her name and finally dress like a girl. Now she’s happy as a teacher and academic, but wants to be a stay-at-home mom for a few years.
• Dangerous Villain:
BRIDGID, undetermined age, once a beautiful young Irish woman who came to the States to get into “moving pictures.” Rage, greed, and the discovery of a supernatural ancient object led her to find a way to renew her youth, over and over again. But in recent times, lack of the right circumstance has kept Bridgid from restarting that cycle of youth. Now, with Meggie taking possession of the house, Bridgid intends to finally reclaim her arcane powers.
• High stakes:
Meggie and her new baby girl are directly in Bridgid’s crosshairs, once she understands exactly who they are. Bridgid has become a practiced killer over the decades, so anyone else who gets between her and her intended victims is also likely to go down.
• Life and death situations:
The story begins with a life or death situation, and then takes a few pages to introduce us to Meggie and her family’s circumstances. By the end of Act I, we’re seeing life or death situations again, and they become more frequent as the story progresses and what is going on becomes clearer.
• This story is thrilling because?
The story of AN OLDER HOUSE is thrilling because engaging but normal characters that we like and sympathize with – chief among them Meggie and her new baby – are in danger of dying in horrific ways.

THE BIG M.I.S. OF THIS STORY
• The Big Mystery: How are Meggie and her family, especially her dead mom and her newborn daughter, connected to the spooky events that seem to happen at first, and then to the life-threatening events? Are the spooky events real, or is Meggie experiencing post-partum psychosis? Was someone after Meggie’s mom, and is that why she died? Or did Meggie’s mom have mental issues, and her death was the result of her own problems? Is someone after Meggie and her daughter right now, and if so, why?
• Big Intrigue: Bridgid’s decades-spanning, relentless plan to reassemble the elements she needs to achieve renewed youth and more-or-less eternal life for herself – regardless of its cost to anyone else.
• Big Suspense: The danger to Meggie and her daughter (and by extension, the rest of her family) originates with Bridgid, but for a good portion of the story it isn’t clear if there truly is a danger, and if so, who or what it is from. At about the midpoint, things escalate, and also become clearer to the audience.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by  Ann Jordan. Reason: I'm editing this so it's not all one huge paragraph!!

[Liz Holliday]

Untitled Movie

Thriller

WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT: It’s too easy to opt for the first thing that pops into your head – my first version of this had Amy as a teenage tearaway constantly in trouble with the law for things like shoplifting. Also, there was no psychological manipulation/ gaslighting involved. In my view, this idea only came alive when I developed Amy into being an environmental activist and added the gaslighting element in order to fulfil the ‘intrigue’ requirement of the course – a wonderful breakthrough!

LOGLINE

AMY, a sixteen year-old who is frequently in trouble with the police because of her environmental activism, suspects her stepfather, MARK, is cheating on her mother – but eventually discovers he is actually a serial killer. When no one believes her, she sets out to find evidence, and must fight first for her sanity when her stepfather attempts to gaslight her, and then for her life when he finally strikes back.

THRILLER ELEMENTS

UNWITTING BUT RESOURCEFUL HERO: A streetwise teenage environmental activist, whose quick wits and sharp tongue constantly get her into trouble – and then out of it again; she’s athletic, good with social media, and has minor ‘thief’ type skills such as picking locks. She cannot abide bullies, and has sometimes got herself in trouble – either physically or with the police – when she’s attempted to step in and stop it going on.

DANGEROUS VILLAIN: Mark is a manipulative serial killer who goes from relationship to relationship, using them to divert attention from himself as a suspect. He has a firm rule he’s never yet broken: he doesn’t kill his current or previous partners or their families. But he’s forced to break this rule when Amy comes after him.

HIGH STAKES: Amy’s sanity is threatened by Mark’s attempts to gaslight her – she ends up incapable of trusting her own memories and perceptions; later, her life is at stake when that fails and Mark decides to break his own rule and kill her.

LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS: Mark’s relentless manipulations threaten Amy’s sanity, and she is eventually sectioned (placed in a residential psychiatric care unit). She escapes but now she can’t go home because her parents will return her to the unit. She turns to her activist friends, but when one of them turns out to be an undercover police officer she has to run again. Now living on the streets, she continues to try to find evidence. Mark almost catches her. Later, she finds his secret stash of kill souvenirs, but by this time she isn’t willing to turn to the police again. Instead, she manipulates them into chasing her, and leads them to the stash – but her timing is off, she arrives too soon and is confronted by Mark, leading to a physical fight.

THIS STORY IS THRILLING BECAUSE: It offers an intense mixture of psychological and physical danger, and leads us from a relatively safe environment (Amy’s home) through environmental activism, to life on the streets of London
M.I.S.

BIG MYSTERY – Is Amy's stepfather actually a serial killer, or just cheating on her mother?

BIG INTRIGUE – Amy's stepfather, Mark, is a master of manipulation and attempts to persuade her – and everyone she might turn to – that she is mistaken about him; he’s so successful that she stops trusting her own memory or perceptions.

BIG SUSPENSE – Mark has one solid rule: no killing in his own back yard. But when his attempts to gaslight his stepdaughter fail and she runs away from the psychiatric hospital where she’s been sectioned (placed against her will, under legal constraints), he breaks this rule and sets out to murder her, culminating in a massive fight.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by  Liz Holliday.
• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by  Liz Holliday.
• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by  Liz Holliday.

[William Peed]

Mike's Big MIS

What I learned From This Lesson: The importance of establishing these big three early. You must plant these ideas quickly so they can continue to be built upon throughout the movie.

LOGLINE: A wounded hero of the Spanish/Ottoman Wars is kidnapped, tied up, taken away and held for ransom by his enemies in the fabled city of Algiers, where he must choose between his freedom and the love of his life.

THRILLER CONVENTIONS:

1. Unwitting Hero

Miguel Cervantes, a Spanish soldier held in captivity in Algiers, has risen to the post of Court Poet and has fallen in love with Daniella, Pasha Hassan's Favorite Concubine.

2. Dangerous Villian:

Pasha Hassan, the cruel and tyrannical Pasha of Algiers, who has fallen head over heels in love with his Favorite Concubine, Daniella.

3. High Stakes – If Daniella marries Pasha Hassan, he will lose her forever

4. Life and Death Situations:

He's been kidnapped.
Return to the city in chains
The Gate of Grief
The mock execution
The Proposal
Benengeli
The Promise
Miguel's dignity
Pasha Hassan's Power
Escape from the harem
DanIella finds out about Pasha Hassan's Proposal
Daniella proposes to Pasha Hassan
Hajji Murad's Prize
Escape

5. Why is this story thrilling?

Miguel is willing to risk his life to save his friends from Pasha Hassan

THE BIG MIS OF THE STORY

1. The Big Mystery: Can Miguel get his friends and himself out of Pasha Hassan evil clutches?

2. The Big Intrigue: Pasha Hassan grants Miguel his freedom if Miguel can convince Daniella, the concubine they're both in love with, to marry Pasha Hassan.

3. The Big Suspense: If Pasha Hassan discovers that Miguel has been seeing Daniella behind his back, he'll have them killed

• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by  William Peed.

[CHRISTOPHER WEBB]

Subject line: Christopher’s Big M.I.S.

ASSIGNMENT

Confession #1 – This is for a TV show rather than a movie.

Confession #2 – I had already started writing the pilot before I started the class.

What I learned doing this assignment is:

I learned my hero needs his own personal mystery In my as-of-now-unfinished pilot, I had revealed too much information about why my hero, Martin Avery, was in prison for 18 months. I did this because his past as Military Investigator who then went to jail would perfectly serve the story and make him an attractive person for the insurance company to hire. However, by revealing too much too soon I had caused him to be less interesting. Also, there is way too much exposition as a result. Now I will keep the reason for his imprisonment a mystery while still making him a uniquely qualified person in this world, without whom there wouldn’t be a story to tell.

I also learned to flesh out my villains motivation and plan in full detail. This way, I can structure the plot as such when I create it. I hadn’t put together the final piece of why the villains were collecting these criminals and ex-felons. But having a corrupt politician in control of a private militia operating on U.S. soil is a great motivator.

I learned I needed to add an additional element to the story. I had not added the serial killer element to the story. I needed a more personal touch to the story. More than just a man who was caught between two warring criminal syndicate. A murder mystery added to it brings the story more intrigue, mystery, and depth. It also draws unwanted police attention which adds another complication to the story.

Logline: A disgraced former soldier must survive trained assassins, a criminal syndicate, and corrupt politicians after getting into the middle of criminal conspiracy involving a corrupt insurance company that caters only to the country’s most dangerous criminals.

What are the conventions of your story?

Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Martin Avery – a dishonorably discharged veteran recently released from military prison after serving 18 months for an undisclosed military offense. His conviction was overturned and his military record is sealed but his dishonorable discharge remains. He moves back to his hometown where he is reunited with his sister (Kara), her husband (Douglas) and his mother (Laurenita). He steps into a a dangerous situation when he obtains a high paying job as an investigator for Adherence Insurance, a company that strictly caters to former and current criminals as well as their businesses.

Dangerous Villain (s): The Triumvirate – The leaders of a three separate global criminal factions. They provide the financial backing for Adherence Insurance while monitoring and blackmailing the criminal element that they insure to expand their criminal empire.

Secondary Villain: Ciella Lawrence – Ciella is an investigator for Adherence Insurance and has been a member for over a year. Before that, she was a key cog in the German criminal organization, The Gigante. Trained by her father from a young age to be a killer, she is an expert fighter, bomb maker, and criminal tactician.

High stakes: Martin becomes a caught up in a criminal conspiracy. The criminals that are insured by this company are being murdered. When Martin and his co-worker Ciella discover this, they realize that this goes deeper than they imagined. When they delve too deep they to become targets.

This story is thrilling because? All of the major parties involved, not just the hero has something at risk. Their livelihood is threatened at every turn and they don’t know how to escape. There is mystery, betrayal, intrigue, suspense, drama… and even love (if there’s enough time for it).

2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?

Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story?

Who is are killing the criminals in town?

How will Ciella’s loyalty to her criminal life & ties in Europe interfere with her chance at potential happiness in America?

Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie?

To create a collection of criminals to form an illegal militia under the control of corrupt politicians to enact their will and maintain power.

Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script?

Martin is beset on all sides by opposition – His coworker, Ciella, works for a rival criminal element who has enemies that target the both of them. The politician’s using the criminal element for their own benefit see Martin as a threat to their plan and work on a way to eliminate him. There is also serial killer killing the criminals.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by  CHRISTOPHER WEBB. Reason: unlocking clunkiness

[Diane Caldwell]

Project: (The Laughing Stock)

Logline: When a deranged failed comedian (or successful comedian?) begins murdering sitcom stars, a determined investigator must race against time to unmask the killer before he turns the entire entertainment industry into his stage of ghoulish horrors.

What I learned doing this assignment is when it comes to this stage of planning of a project, in which I don’t have a clear idea yet of my three acts, more is more, as opposed to less is more as long as I remain mindful of the M.I.S. conventions. I listed all the ideas I feel are highly marketable that I’m interested in writing. The story will become clearer and I can make cuts and sort things out as I go through this process.

1. What are the conventions of your story?

• Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Reno Jenks, LAPD Homicide Detective

• Dangerous Villain: Randy Lemke (a variant of Lambert)

• High stakes: Options—The killer manipulates a trusted crew member to assist him in his crimes; the killer hacks into the security system of the production studio, creating a scenario where every move is monitored; the climax of the movie occurs during a major, live television event where the killer plans to strike. (The stakes are raised as the safety of a large, unsuspecting audience is at risk, and the team must prevent a massacre while managing the chaos of a live broadcast)

• Life and death situations Options—: The killer forces his victims into dangerous, life-threatening situations that mimic stunts from sitcoms but with potentially fatal twists, e.g., a seemingly harmless stunt like a fake fall could be rigged to cause serious harm; the hero is trapped in a sinking car, fighting against rising water levels and a lack of air.

• This story is thrilling because: develop high-stakes emotional conflicts among characters that amplify the tension. Personal betrayals, conflicted loyalties, and intense emotional confrontations should be portrayed vividly to enhance the thriller’s dramatic impact; incorporate dynamic action sequences with choreographed fights, chases, or near-fatal accidents. Make these sequences visually and audibly stimulating, creating an adrenaline-pumping experience for viewers; use a suspenseful and evocative musical score that builds tension and anxiety during critical scenes. The music should change dynamically to reflect the mood, escalating the emotional impact of key moment; integrate surprising plot twists and unexpected revelations that keep the audience guessing and engaged. These twists should challenge assumptions and shift the direction of the story, maintaining suspense throughout; showcase authentic reactions of fear and anxiety from the characters, emphasizing their vulnerability. Close-up shots, intense performances, and realistic portrayals of panic and dread can make the threat feel more immediate and palpable to the audience.

2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story

• Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? Who is this crazed killer and how can he be stopped?

• Notes for later: Viewers are kept guessing about the identity of the killer, who is hidden behind layers of misdirection and false leads; the real motive behind targeting sitcom actresses is obscured, with hints and clues scattered throughout the film; the mystery revolves around finding out why each victim was chosen, and whether there’s a deeper connection or common factor among them; the audience is left wondering about the killer’s ultimate plan and what he hopes to achieve by terrorizing the cast and crew; the killer leaves cryptic messages related to his failed comedy career, and deciphering these messages is key to understanding his next moves; important pieces of evidence go missing or are tampered with, leading to speculation about who might be obstructing the investigation; throughout the film, seemingly insignificant clues resurface, forcing viewers to question their relevance and connection to the larger mystery; there are suspicions about whether the producer has a hidden agenda or secret connection to the killer (red herring); The backstory of the killer is gradually revealed, with crucial pieces of his past remaining shrouded in mystery until the climax.

• Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie? Comedian is either crazed from his childhood or is seeking revenge against those he think wronged him and ruined his life.

• Notes for later: The killer is seeking revenge on a hidden target who is connected to the sitcom industry but is not immediately revealed; the killer is secretly collaborating with someone within the production team, who provides inside information or logistical support; the killer’s true aim is to get revenge on a specific individual connected to the sitcom’s success, but this is obscured by a broader pattern of attacks; There’s a covert operation to cover up the true nature of the killings, including tampering with evidence or misleading the investigation; the killer is orchestrating events to manipulate media coverage and public perception, creating a distraction from his true intentions; some of the apparent murders are staged to create fear and mislead the investigation, while the actual target remains hidden; key evidence is deliberately hidden or destroyed by an insider, allowing the killer to continue their spree without detection; The killer is part of a larger conspiracy within the entertainment industry, aiming to expose or disrupt a hidden scandal or corruption.

• Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? Detective thinks killer has begun to target him.

• Notes for later: The killer begins targeting the Hero directly, escalating from threats to actual attempts on their life, creating a personal vendetta; the hero is framed for the murders, leading to a legal battle and public scrutiny that endangers their career and safety; the killer threatens to expose the Hero’s personal or professional secrets, increasing the pressure and stakes as the Hero’s life and reputation are at risk; the hero’s safety is increasingly compromised as the killer manages to infiltrate their personal life, such as breaking into their home or threatening loved ones; the hero discovers that someone close to them is aiding the killer, leading to escalating danger as they face threats from trusted allies; the killer’s methods become increasingly violent and brutal, directly endangering the Hero and pushing them to their limits; the killer plays psychological games with the hero, creating paranoia and instability, which threatens their ability to effectively combat the threat; the hero faces a ticking clock scenario where they must solve the mystery and prevent the next murder before time runs out, escalating the danger and urgency (or catch him before live event climax).

• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by  Diane Caldwell.

[Antonia Roman]

I learned from this assignment that practicing these same questions gets you to respond more quickly.

What are the conventions of your story?
Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Event Planner
Dangerous Villain: Identical Twin Brother
High stakes: Twin brother wants to live the life of the Event Planner.
Life and death situations: Twin brother kills their mother, the Event Planner survives a car accident, and twins fight until the end leaving only one alive.
This story is thrilling because? The twin will never give up on attaining the life he always felt should have been his and will do anything to get it.
2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? Will the Event Planner admit that he caused his brother’s incarceration for thirty years?
Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie? The event planner will try to hide everything under the sun, while the twin brother will do everything to expose it.
Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? His twin brother impersonates him and sabotages his every move.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by  Antonia Roman. Reason: It's all clumped together when I post it

[Christine Torres]

Thriller Assignment #2
Subject line: Chris’ Big M.I.S.

What I learned doing this assignment is…?” – Be patient and don’t rush the story.

Logline: When her only son is kidnapped by a coven of ancient witches, a single mom is confronted with an impossible choice: rescue the boy and condemn the world to unimagined evil or sacrifice him to prevent demons from taking over the earth.

1. What are the conventions of your story?
• Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Sarah – Mom of Jake who goes missing, and Jenny, 9 month old daughter
• Dangerous Villain: Sam, a detective who helps her track down those who kidnapped her son. He turns out to be a manipulative but very charming demon trying to take over the earth.
• High stakes: If the coven doesn’t renew itself in time, earth will fall under demon control.
• Life and death situations: Sarah and her children are always in jeopardy. They are in the company of a demon and kidnapped by witches.
• This story is thrilling because? Sarah is a modern woman caught in an ancient curse. She just wants to be free of her past and find a future for herself and her children. She moves from a rural town, where her family has lived for generations, to the big city in search of opportunity and a fresh start. But just when she thinks she is free, she gets sucked back into the world she so desperately wants to leave.

2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?
• Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? Who are these members of the coven and why did they kidnap Jake?
• Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie? Sam tries to romance and manipulate Sarah to stop the ritual and save her son.
• Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? Will she save Jake in time?

• This reply was modified 8 months ago by  Christine Torres.