Lesson 2

[Janet McGinn]

LESSON 2 :TV example: PRISON ESCAPE, Episode 2, Three Circles of Characters:
WHAT I LEARNED… Characters relationships reflect the theory, “Six Degrees of Separation” as to their connectedness to the story.
A. MAIN CHARACTERS:
-A1- Inmate, Michael Scofield, structural engineer, prison map tattoo on chest, plans prison break.
-A2- Inmate, Lincoln Burrows, on death row, execution in 30 days
-A3- Victoria, female defense attorney, Lincoln’s ex-girlfriend.
B. CONNECTED CHARACTERS:
-B1- L.J. (Lincoln, Jr) Mike’s nephew
-B2- Prison Cellmate
-B3- Prison Doctor (Governor’s daughter)
-B4- Prison inmate, John Abruzzi, high-ranking member of the Mafia
-B5- Two F.B.I. agents including Alexander Mahone
-B6- Prison Warden Pope
-B7- Prison inmate “Cooper”, senior robber with hidden money
C. ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERS:
Tattoo Artist; Lincoln’s mother (Lisa); Bishop
BANK… staff, victims during robbery
COURT… Bailiff, Judge, 1st Defense attorney, Victoria’s office assistant
PRISON… chaplain, four guards, 50 inmates

[Xochi Blymyer]

LESSON 2 –

What I learned doing this assignment is that AI prompts give that extra push to gather ideas to round out a new story idea.

ASSIGNMENT 1 :

SWAGGER – CIRCLES

MAIN CHARACTERS –
Jace – 14-year-old basketball star
Ike – Former Pro player, now a coach
Crystal – Jace’s friend, on the girl’s team
Phil – Phil has given Jace a hard time but now they are teammates, his dad is not around

CONNECTED CIRCLE –
Tonya – Jace’s mom, protects Jace but wants to get him to his best abilities
Ms. Lacy – the team’s coordinator
Jerome – Jace’s former best friend

ENVIRONMENT CIRCLE –
Referees, Parents, Recruiters, Local News Reporters

ASSIGNMENT 2:

Xochi’s TV SHOW –

MAIN CHARACTERS:

The Old Woman – Queen of the dog park
The Single Woman – Escaping the chaos of her job, she walks her dog
The Doctor – Retired Pediatrician that give unsolicited advice

CONNECTED CIRCLE –
Mark & Jules – New parents also with a Great Dane, Harriet
Reese – The cross dresser with a tiny chihuahua w many outfits
Diego – The silent dog walker, always with many dogs

ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERS –
New Dog Owners
Dog Park Committee
Child
Off-Leash Rule Enforcer
Someone looking for their lost cat

A. Main Characters (Core Ensemble)
1. The Old Woman – Mags (Margaret Everly), 78
• Unique Role: The self-appointed queen of the dog park. Wields the rules like a sword and speaks as if she owns the land.
• Dog: A blind and possibly immortal poodle named Lemon.
• Secret or Intrigue: Mags once starred in cult B-movies in the ’60s… and still gets residuals. She’s hiding a health scare and possibly hoarding secrets in her rent-controlled brownstone nearby.

2. The Single Woman – Jo Vega, 39
• Unique Role: A tightly-wound 1st Assistant Director escaping the chaos of set life by walking her dog during her “golden hour” off.
• Dog: A neurotic border collie named Spielberg.
• Secret or Intrigue: Jo secretly writes rom-com scripts and is emotionally allergic to romance—until a new dog owner arrives.

3. The Doctor – Dr. Levi Zafar, 64
• Unique Role: A semi-retired pediatrician who gives unsolicited (but accurate) advice while his golden retriever socializes better than he does.
• Dog: Captain, an aging golden retriever with a mysterious limp.
• Secret or Intrigue: He’s considering physician-assisted death—but not for himself. He’s quietly helping a terminal neighbor and wrestling with what he still believes in.

[Madeline Smith]

Lesson 2: TV Series THE AMERICANS
A. Main Characters
1. Elizabeth Jennings – KGB Spy, in an arranged marriage with Philip. Committed to the motherland.
2. Philip Jennings – KGB Spy; in an arranged marriage with Elizabeth. Potential defecter. Not as committed as wife
3. Stan Beeman – FBI agent in Counter Terrorism division and new neighbor to the Jennings

B. Connected Characters
1. Henry Jennings – son of the KGB couple
2. Paige Jennings – daughter of the KGB Couple
3. FBI Agent Chris Amador = Stan’s partner
4. Sandra Beeman – Wife of FBI agent
5. Matthew Beeman – Son of FBI agent

C. Community
1. US government officials targeted by the spys
2. FBI officials/agents
3. KGB officials/agents
4. Jennings’s travel agency employees and clients
5. Soviet Union Embassy staff

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by  Madeline Smith.

[Robert Condon]

June 23, 2025 TV Series Choice: The Queen’s Gambit
What I learned: I learned that AI can help fill in the blanks of certain characteristics of each character. It is an excellent tool to supplement, but not replace, human research. However, unfortunately, AI can include characters that are not present in the episode. Still, it is an excellent support system for writers.
Main characters circle:
Beth – Main character who has many setbacks, namely people standing in the way of her chess dream, or causing some roadblocks.
Alma Wheatley- Beth’s foster mother. She was initially not supportive of Beth’s endeavors to play chess. She refused to purchase a chess set for Beth. Alma was very depressed and almost reclusive because of Allston’s treatment toward her. However, once he moved away and they separated, Alma became more upbeat and supportive.
Harry – Although he wasn’t present throughout the episode, he was a main character who was a chess champion who was only defeated by Beth.
Connected circle:
Allston Wheatley – Beth’s foster father. He was very distant and negative. He caused Alma to be depressed.
Matt – Ran table at entrance to chess tournament. Gave vital information to Beth, but also was a “roadblock” by not believing in her potential.
Mike – Just like Matt, Mike ran table at entrance to chess tournament. Gave vital information to Beth, but also was a “roadblock” by not believing in her potential.
D.L. Townes – Met Beth at tournament. There was some romantic tension so to speak. Beth was curious about boys and romance and D.L. and Beth had some slight romantic chemistry. He lost a game of chess to Beth.
Annette – She was at the chess event and helped Beth during her first period.
Environment circle:
Mr. Shaibel – He is only seen very briefly at the beginning of the episode. We see him turn away sad at the door of the orphanage and reenter it after Beth’s foster family drives her away. Beth wrote a letter to him asking for money for the chess competition. He sent her the money not long after. As a result, he was an essential character because Beth otherwise wouldn’t have been able to attend the competition.
Margaret – Beth’s nemesis. She was rude to Beth at school, but also piqued Beth’s curiosity in romance after watching Margaret and her boyfriend kiss.
Librarian – Made important suggestions to Beth about chess books.
Girl in lunchroom (not named – talks with Beth) – Gave Beth some information about clubs at the school.
Apple Pi girls – There were three or four who hang around Margaret. They were park of the Apple Pi girls club and talked negative about Beth. As a result, Beth seemed to push harder to succeed at chess.
Chess spectators: They help with the tension by their “hovering” and facial expressions, especially between Harry and Beth’s chess game.
AI Version:
A. MAIN CHARACTERS (Episode 2 focus: pressure, mentorship, unraveling secrets)
1. Ellie Mae Dalton
• Unique Role: Teenage chess prodigy navigating life in a conservative small town. In this episode, Ellie plays in her first official chess tournament.
• Secret or Intrigue: Ellie begins having vivid dreams that mimic chess games—one of which leads her to a hidden object in her mother’s old sewing box.
2. Father Jude Carroway
• Unique Role: Priest, reluctant mentor, and guardian of secrets. In this episode, he takes Ellie to her first out-of-town match.
• Secret or Intrigue: Father Jude receives an anonymous letter warning him to “stay away from the Dalton girl” — referencing a past scandal he thought was buried.
3. Nina Rose Dalton
• Unique Role: Ellie’s overworked cousin/guardian. Struggling between wanting to support Ellie and fearing she’ll spiral like her mother did.
• Secret or Intrigue: Nina starts to suspect that someone in town is watching Ellie and hiding information about her mother’s final days.
4. Caleb “Hawk” Hawthorne
• Unique Role: Streetwise chess hustler who tags along to Ellie’s tournament under the guise of “supporting her.”
• Secret or Intrigue: Hawk begins to question the motives of his unseen benefactor—and whether Ellie is in danger.
________________________________________
B. CONNECTED CHARACTERS (Key influences and turning points in this episode)
1. Coach Baird – Ellie’s math teacher who slips her a strategy guide before the tournament but warns her not to trust anyone there.
2. Dr. Sylvia Grant – Ellie’s counselor, who challenges her to consider what winning means to her—and whether she’s playing for herself or someone else.
3. Miriam Dorsett – Ellie’s first tournament opponent: a rich girl from Lexington with private coaching and a bitter, humiliating attitude.
4. Officer Tad Riles – Local cop who questions Hawk at the tournament parking lot and recognizes him from past criminal activity.
5. Mrs. Langdon – Librarian who helps Ellie research tournament history—accidentally revealing her mother’s name in an old chess registry.
________________________________________
C. ENVIRONMENT CHARACTERS (Background, local color, and realism)
• Tournament Organizer
• Hotel Receptionist
• School Bus Driver
• Church Volunteer
• Fast Food Cashier
• Radio Announcer
• High School Janitor
• Motel Housekeeper
• Waitress at Roadside Diner
• Local Teen Spectators