Lesson 2

[Hilton Garrett]

Hilton Garrett, Character Descriptions

What I learned – to look at each character in a more detailed way and to see how the characters’ stories and arcs intertwine

Will Calhoun – protagonist

Role: In 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia, a dogged investigative reporter is disillusioned with his career and failing marriage. He is at a low point when he gets an innocuous tip about a recently-chartered waste management company and a shipment of used trucks that will prove life-changing..

Noteworthy traits: an uncanny ability to uncover the hidden links in a story that no one else sees, he is willful and confrontational at work, but guarded at home.

Intriguing history: he has never “outgrown” the guilt and shame for not having saved his mother from drowning in a car accident when he was 12. He served one tour of duty in Viet Nam and couldn’t get out of the army fast enough.

Mystery: Why the deep-seated suspicion of Rountree?

Intrigue: How will the FBI deal with him when they determine he is an impediment to their undercover operation?

Drive conflict: He wants to save his marriage but won’t agree with Becca that they have a baby. He craves respect and won a Pulitzer for investigative journalism when he was in his 20’s by exposing a criminal link in the military supply chain in Vietnam, which he published as soon as he got out of the army. It’s been trending down for Will ever since.

Intriguing relationships: Rountree, Mafia boss, FBI, Maartan

Start: A once lauded but now dogged investigative reporter on the staff of a leading newspaper in Atlanta gets a tip about a recently chartered waste management company and a suspicious shipment of used trucks from a company in New Jersey thought to be controlled by the mafia.

Middle: he has an uncanny ability to uncover secret links in a story and suspects mob ties to the man running for governor which may lead back to his family’s tragedy 20 years prior.

End: he gets seemingly in over his head with his new boss, the FBI, and Rountree while teaming up with a cocaine exporter and admitted murderer on an investigation that could very well kill them both.

Draft Version for Will:

A former Pulitzer-winning journalist, now disillusioned with his career and home life, chafes under his new boss, Vinnie, who got the job Will had been promised. Using his uncanny ability to sniff out hidden links to much larger stories, he becomes obsessed with tying the waste management company to a New Jersey mafia group threatening to infiltrate the state of Georgia.

When his relentless digging threatens to interfere with an undercover FBI investigation, they try to silence him, but as a Viet Nam vet with a deep mistrust of the government’s motives, he is not deterred. He will cross any line as he endeavors to expose the man running for governor, Byron Rountree, who Will discovers also has ties to the mob, and may have been responsible for past murders. Despite his solo demeanor, Will teams up with others from his home town who also have personal motives and scores to settle as he moves ever closer to revealing the awful truth.

Candar Martaan – Supporting

Role – A resident of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Martaan comes to Atlanta with a mysterious message for Will. At first Will denies his information but gradually accepts it as true and the two begin to work together. Despite his criminal activities he becomes an indispensable ally of Will as they seek to uncover the truth of the death of Will’s parents, and later as they investigate the connection between the mafia leader moving into Georgia and the leading candidate for governor in the upcoming election.

Noteworthy Traits – Elegant, calm, resourceful, deadly. He controls a mid-sized cocaine enterprise in the islands that sells to major dealers in the U.S.

Intriguing History – He is on the hunt for revenge for the lynching of his father by “unknown persons” two weeks after Will’s parents die. He has already killed the ringleader of the lynching party but wants to know who put him up to it.

Mystery – What is his connection to the events on the bridge that day?

Intrigue – Can Will trust him?

Drives conflict – pushes Will to question his (Will’s) belief that the wreck was an accident

Intriguing Relationships – with Will, with Santorro

Start – He appears out of nowhere with a questionable piece of information which if true completely upends Will’s life

Middle – He gradually convinces Will the information is true and begins to forge a working relationship with Will

End – Having unleashed the dogs of revenge he and Will come to a showdown when they come face to face with the man who wrecked both their lives

Rough Draft for Martaan – With seemingly no connection to the tragic event in Will’s past he inserts himself into the equation and becomes a major part of unravelling the mystery

As the two men forge an uneasy bond Martaan reveals his own connection to the same mafia infiltrating Georgia, causing Will to further doubt Martaan’s trustworthiness.

Byron Rountree – Antagonist

Role – A small town banker who has enjoyed a successful career as a state legislator, Rountree is now running for governor. He has a long record of questionable business dealings but has never been shown to be guilty of a crime. Will has long investigated his activities and published several exposés in the Atlanta newspaper.

Noteworthy Traits – Charismatic, friendly, ruthless, greedy

Intriguing history – Rountree’s bank was about to go under when a chance meeting with a New Jersey crime boss resulted in a large cash infusion which saved his bank and forever tied him to his benefactor

Mystery – what is Rountree’s connection to Will’s family and to Will’s past?

Intrigue – can he navigate the treacherous waters of his mafia “boss” and Will’s relentless investigation? What is his connection to the occult and to a mysterious seer who advises him?

Drives conflict – he chafes under the thumb of Santorro, dodges Will’s inquiries

Intriguing relationships – With Will, with Millie, with Santorro, with Madame Tiffany

Start – He came out of south Georgia and became a leader in the state legislator.

Middle – As he has grown wealthy over the years he wants more political power which he knows translates to money. His ambition is affected by his relationship with Santorro.

End – With both Will and Santorro closing in on him Rountree resorts to desperate measures to retain his power and stay alive.

Rough Draft for Rountree – He is a small town banker who believes he’s ready for the big time. He is running for governor with a good chance of winning. If that’s all he had to worry about. But it’s not. He also has to dodge Will’s investigation and Santorro’s tightening grip. He has an amazing ability to make people like him, until they really know him. But only a few actually do.

As the election draws nearer the vise tightens and Rountree becomes ever more desperate to protect his future and keep his past hidden.

Carlo “the Grip” Santorro – Antagonist

Role – Santorro is a New Jersey crime boss who is expanding his operation into Georgia against the wishes of Rountree who wants him to stay the hell in New Jersey. But Santorro doesn’t take unsolicited advice.

Noteworthy traits – Dapper dresser, visionary, ruthless, deadly

Intriguing history – As a boy lived on a farm in rural New Jersey before moving to the city and hooking up with a local mafia outfit which he now controls.

Mystery – Why did he give Rountree the money initially?

Intrigue – Can he establish his operation in the South? What about the Dixie Mafia?

Drives Conflict – He takes what he wants and does it over the objections of whoever objects, in particular Rountree.

Intriguing Relationships – With Rountree, with Martaan

Start – He showed up one day when he was on the way to Miami and the train he was on broke down in the little town of Ashton, Georgia. With the unexpected delay he and his men got off the train and walked through the town. They stopped at the bank and made a connection with Rountree, whose bank, at that time, was failing. That chance meeting revitalized Rountree’s bank and gave Santorro a toehold in the south.

Middle – He now wants to expand the toehold to become a far reaching empire in the south

End – He pushes Rountree to extreme measures which threaten not only his empire but also his life.

Rough Draft for Santorro – Santorro has been the head of a crime family for many years, and now sees an opportunity to expand his empire. He decides, against Rountree’s wishes, to set up a southern base in Rountree’s (and Will’s) hometown and begins the move. When his entry into Atlanta results in the death of a prominent citizen, Will discovers the body and begins an investigation which conflicts with the F.B.I.’s own investigation. Santorro dispatches two of his thugs to deal with Will but Rountree does not want anything to happen to Will until after the election.

As things begin to take shape for Santorro in the south, Will’s relentless pursuit of the truth exposes Santorro’s connection to Will’s past and threatens to end his venture.

[Lloyd Shellenberger]

Working hard every day to become the best writer I can be and as a result I do become the best writer in Hollywood.

Lloyd Shellenberger WBWTV Module 2 Lesson 2 Compelling Character Descriptions B

What is learned from this assignment is how to write a short and interesting Bio about your show’s characters.

START: Protagonist/Lead Col. Benjamin Greene is a former CIA assassin, current Special Operations Commander, recruited by a top-secret Pentagon Agency into a world of murder and intrigue. He is a middle-aged man who is true patriot but wants to retire. Instead, he must make life and death decisions every day. He can be described as a ruthless, merciless killer with a heart. A true anti-hero. He is a competent, knowledgeable, born leader. Spent time in the Middle East with First Sergeant Desmoines.

MIDDLE: After the sudden death of his beloved wife, he doesn’t care anymore. He promised his wife he would leave the agency and coming back eats away at him. He likes his drinking and can be a bit of a mean drunk. He is also a master at reading the room and cheating death. His one saving grace is his love for his son Brian, who is also in his unit. His contacts and people he knows is long and impressive.

END: His dislike of the Puzzle Works, his ruthless nature, along with desire to amass wealth on his way out is an indicator his time is running short. The last thing he would do is to protect his son. His triggers are disloyalty, dishonesty, and threatening his son.

START: Protagonist/Lead Lt. Brian Green is an aid to the Commander and a unit Intel officer, 37Fox. He often doubles as his Father’s keeper. Unlike the other soldiers in the unit, Brian is in competition with other soldiers for his father’s attention and acceptance. Following the death of his mother he has watched his father struggle emotionally. He himself wants to stay true to his mother’s memory but the job won’t let him.

MIDDLE: He is Doing things that are against his good nature. His father’s brutality is also a trigger for him as well. He is bagging Black ops money and stealing from drug lords. He has an exit plan. Lt. Greene’s ability to outthink others around him is his coping mechanism. Agent Stockton is doing everything he can to turn him but so far, he has been unsuccessful. In the end, does Lt. Greene set up Agent Stockton or does he betray his father?

END: His fall from grace has been dramatic and sad. He is a sex addict who often puts himself in dangerous situations. He is no longer a good man, instead he is the very definition of a hypocrite. His hope was to cultivate a great Army career. The Puzzle Works may have ended that. His fear is he may have to turn on his father or go to jail. Like his father he is a true patriot even though the Puzzle Works has tainted his time in the military.

START: First Sergeant William Desmoines, 2^nd in command, he is a tough kid who grew up in Brooklyn. Former Golden Gloves champion. Joined the military at 18 to get out of the neighborhood and has never returned. Became a Green Beret and Special Operations soldier. Served several tours with Col. Greene. They know each other well. Greene trusts and respects him completely.

MIDDLE: Since becoming part of the Puzzle Works, he has partnered with Lt. Green to sell drugs, rob dealers and steal black bag money. We feel bad for him as he worked his entire life to retire, he is being drug back into the fray. He wonders if he can do this anymore. Selling drugs was never in his wheelhouse till now. Desmoines has anger, resentment, frustration over his career and financial setup. This was not how he wanted to go out. He is a born leader second in command Always in control.

END: He conspires with Col. Greene to throw off the Puzzle Works and make them believe he is dead once it is over. He is deceiving Col. Greene about what he is doing with Lt. Greene, this creates moral conflict with him

as well. When he has saved enough money to fund his exit strategy he is gone. He wants to disappear once this is over, possibly Faking his own death. He knows the Puzzle Works has a long reach. His triggers are disloyalty and dishonesty. Oddly enough his life choices are in direct conflict with his core beliefs. For him, the 12^th hour is approaching, he sees the writing on the wall.

SGT Jones Sgt. Jones may be the spoiler alert in the crew. She is an agent, Lt. Greene’s love interest and perhaps the most dangerous person in the mix.

SPC Jones is the most compromised and best avenue of approach for Agent Stockton to exploit. He is a good kid that made a bad mistake, and he has never left it behind.

Agent Stockton is relentless and smart. He sees every angle, every avenue and knows how to take anyone down that dark road. He is also not what he appears to be. Col. Greene is always looking in his rear-view mirror for him. This is the antagonist who is every bit as capable as Col. Greene.

Environment Characters: The FBI, Police, Politicians, gang members, agents all play their part but are pawns in a larger scheme they are caught up in. Col. Greene uses them pawns on a chess board with impressive skill.

[CJ Lyons]

CJ’s Character Descriptions

What I learned from this assignment was that while the details helped shape my understanding of the characters, to effectively pitch them I need to zoom out to more big picture overview of what makes them compelling and drives their part of the plot.

DR. ANGELA ROSSI, aka PATIENT X:

Gifted ER physician Angela Rossi discovers she’s dying from a rare disease, Fatal Insomnia, that will destroy her body and mind, but also has given her an unexpected benefit: the ability to experience the memories of the dying. Determined to save as many lives as possible before the end, she uses her new gift to embark on a search for missing children, only to cross paths with a serial killer.

When she saves the children she discovers they’re all also suffering from Fatal Insomnia. Which is impossible—the disease is inherited and, although Rossi is adopted she isn’t related to any of the children—and some of the children have strange new psychic powers similar to Rossi’s.

Someone has created a new form of Fatal Insomnia and is spreading it. Is it the killer? Why? Is there a cure? Rossi may be dying, but if she’s Patient X in a man-made epidemic targeting innocent children, she won’t stop at anything until she has the answers—even if it means breaking every oath she took as a physician, every law, even, in the end, using violence.

The one thing she never expected: to fall in love. It’s a bittersweet irony that can only end in tragedy. But when she confronts the murderer and uses her power to strip his memories before killing him, she learns something even more horrifying: the person who has been infecting children with Fatal Insomnia, who has engineered this outbreak and used Rossi as Patient X, is Rossi’s own biological mother.

DETECTIVE MATTHEW RYDER:

Returning to his rustbelt hometown after a decade serving in the Army, Ryder is finally able to live with the horrors of war by becoming a police officer. Now a homicide detective, he’s relentless in his pursuit of the truth and fight to protect victims. He never expected that his main obstacle in his hunt for a serial killer would be the ER doctor who patched him up—an ER doctor whose fierce passion for saving lives is irresistible. For the first time in his life Ryder finds himself torn between saving the woman he’s falling in love with and fulfilling his duty.

What will he sacrifice to protect Rossi, save the children, stop the killer? More than his honor, more than his heart, when he falls victim and is injured, he’ll be forced to watch helplessly as Rossi takes on the killer herself.

DEVON PRICE:

After being forced to leave the girl he loved, Devon never expected to return to his down and out hometown, much less to be called back urgently by the love of his life only to find her brutally murdered, their daughter missing. He’ll do anything to find his daughter, including partnering with an ER doctor who suffers from catatonia but who has strange psychic powers that might be his girl’s only hope. The detective on the case knows about Devon’s violent past and is determined to block Devon’s less-than-legal methods, but in the end they join forces to save both Rossi and the missing children.

When Devon learns he has hidden ties to the killer and that his daughter has been infected with the same terrible disease as Rossi, he’ll stop at nothing to find a cure and punish those responsible.

[Brian Bull]

BRIAN BULL – Character Descriptions

“What I learned from doing this assignment is…
To write a great character description it is extremely helpful to make a list of fascinating /intriguing traits along with an order of how to present those traits. If I did the assignment correctly it was a lot of fun and easy to do, it just took a little bit of time and some thought. I also discovered a few new things about each of my characters in the process.

ASSIGNMENT

JIM BROWN

Role in the show? Lonely Optometrist creates a pair of glasses from a crystal ball then pursues the girl of his dreams.

Noteworthy traits: Finest Optometrist. Honest. Overly-protective,

Intriguing history: Can make glasses fr. Coke bottles, Father is MIA, fiancee’ was a “no-show”

Intrigue? Witnesses a murder through the glasses and must try and stop it. Invades the privacy of others with glasses, overly-protective of mother,

Mystery? Why did fiancee’ not show up? What happened to dad?

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? Tells people their future without their consent, intervenes with the lives of others knowing their future.

Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: Doesn’t believe in psychics, everyone else is in “love” but not Jim, lives in the past but has glasses that see the future.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: Jezebel and Gloria want the crystal ball Jim used to make the glasses, Jim falls “in-love” with Gloria and Gloria doesn’t “love” Jim, Jim tries to protect his mom but she has a “new lust-for-life” doesn’t want Jim’s protection.

Unpredictable? Will take the shortcut when it presents itself, lazy.

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters: Delores and Jim disagree on the Psychic Realm, “Loves” Gloria but she doesn’t “Love” Jim, Jim and Howard, his Mom’s boyfriend, compete for her attention.

START: Lonely Optometrist, who’s fiancee’ was a “no-show”, Jim still lives in the past. He can make glasses from anything, including the bottom of Coke bottles, Jim and Delores disagree on the Psychic Realm.

MIDDLE: Traits, Jim is presented with a crystal ball which accidentally splits in two. He takes the crystal ball and creates a pair of glasses from it which miraculously has the capability of seeing the future. Witnesses a murder through the glasses and must try and stop it, through the glasses Jim sees the girl of his “dreams”, Jim’s mom has a “new lust-for-life” and this worries Jim.

END: Jim invades the privacy of others with the glasses, everyone else seems to be in “love” but not Jim, Jim tries to stop the murder from happening but he’s too late.

ROUGH DRAFT

Jim Brown is a lonely Optometrist, who’s fiancee’ was a “no-show” causing Jim to live in the past with a broken heart. He’s a talented optometrist who once made a pair of glasses from the bottom of Coke bottles. Jim and Delores, his office manager, disagree on the Psychic Realm; Delores believes and Jim does not.

Jim is an honest man and probably too honest. He speak his mind and often gets in trouble for it. His mother is living at Fairhaven, an assisted living facility and Jim wants to make sure she is well protected.

The psychic next door gives Jim a crystal ball for “safe keeping” however, she suffers a heart attack and drops the crystal ball splitting it in two. Jim proceeds to make a pair of glasses from the two halves. To Jim’s amazement the glasses he creates enable him to see the future. He “sees” the girl of his dreams and he also “witnesses” an attempted murder which he feels compelled to stop.

DELORES

Role in the show? Jim’s Office Manager

Noteworthy traits: Resourceful. Fun. Funny.

Intriguing history: Comes from wealth, wants to make it on her own.

Intrigue? Loves the Psychic Realm, especially Horoscopes.

Mystery? Why does she want to be so independent?

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? Reads Jim’s horoscope to him everyday and Jim laughs at it.

Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: Delores orders online just to see the delivery guy but he doesn’t get the message she’s sending.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: Delores believes in the Psychic Realm and Jim does not.

Unpredictable? Goes from super nice to super tough.

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters: She’s got Jim’s back, the stuff she orders she always tells the delivery guy to get his reaction.

START: Jim’s office manager is resourceful and fun. Daily she reads the horoscope to Jim but he disregards it. She likes to orders things online.

MIDDLE: She orders Chinese food for lunch just to get the fortune cookies. When her online package arrives she flirts with the delivery guy mentioning the contents to gauge his reaction. She has no idea Jim’s “psychic glasses” are real.

END: Delores will remind Jim his horoscope was “spot-on” in some obscure way.

ROUGH DRAFT

Delores is Jim’s office manager. She is resourceful and fun. Daily she reads Jim his horoscope despite Jim’s disregard for such “rubbish”. She will order things online just so she can see the delivery guy daily and then she tells him the contents of the package so she can gauge his reaction. She has a major crush on him, however, to him Delores is just another customer. Delores believes in the Psychic Realm so much that she orders Chinese food for lunch just for the fortune cookies. Ironically, she has no idea Jim’s “psychic glasses” are real. At the end of the day, Delores will remind Jim his horoscope was “spot-on” in some obscure way.

GLORIA

Role in the show? The girl of Jim’s dream

Noteworthy traits: Sweet. Innocent. Reads Tarot cards.

Intriguing history: Romanian gypsy. Youngest of 3 sisters. Family of Fortune Tellers.

Intrigue? She wants the family’s crystal ball for herself not knowing Jim transformed it into a pair of glasses.

Mystery? Why is Gloria living under Jezebel’s thumb?

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? She has no interest in Jim though Jim has “seen” him and Gloria getting married.

Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: She’s a traveling Fortune Teller that just wants to settle down.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: She has no interest in Jim though Jim has “seen” the two of them getting married.

Unpredictable? Self-interest; not to be trusted as she will betray.

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters: Her hatred for her sister, Jezebel, who has Gloria under thumb.

START: Gloria is sweet and innocent. She comes from Romania where she grew-up as a Fortune Telling gypsy. She and her sister, Jezebel have come to Los Angeles to collect the crystal ball their oldest sister, Zelda has.

MIDDLE: Jezebel doesn’t treat Gloria very nice. Gloria enjoys giving Tarot Card readings which she’s very good at. Jim begins to flirt with Gloria who only wants the crystal ball.

END: Gloria wants to settle down in Los Angeles and open her own Psychic Shop. which means “getting out” from under Jezebel’s thumb.

ROUGH DRAFT

Gloria is sweet and innocent coming from Romania where she grew-up as a Fortune Telling gypsy. She and her sister, Jezebel have come to Los Angeles to collect the crystal ball their oldest sister, Zelda has. Jezebel doesn’t treat Gloria very nice. Gloria enjoys giving Tarot Card readings which she’s very good at. Jim begins to flirt with Gloria who only wants the crystal ball. Gloria wants to settle down in Los Angeles and open her own Psychic Shop, which means “getting out” from under Jezebel’s thumb.

JOANN BROWN

Role in the show? Jim’s mom

Noteworthy traits: Charming. Lust-for-life. Adventurous.

Intriguing history: Single mom who’s husband died in a government “accident”.

Intrigue? Her lust-for -life attitude, daring

Mystery?

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? Doesn’t want to be told what not to do, she acts childish at times.

Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: She is elderly but acts like she’s in her 20’s.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: Wants to push the boundaries and get the most from life against Jim’s wishes.

Unpredictable? Willing to take risks.

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters: Her new boyfriend is half her age causing Jim and him to compete for her.

START: JoAnn, Jim’s mom, is living at Fairhaven Assisted Living. She’s a charming old lady with some spunk. Her husband mysteriously disappeared/died while working on a Special Operation for the government leaving her heartbroken for many years.

MIDDLE: Jim soon discovers through the “psychic” glasses that JoAnn is dating a much younger man. She and Howard are “living life” to the fullest; trying new things.

END: These adventures of JoAnn/Howard’s “appear” to be quite dangerous to Jim causing Jim to intervene revealing Jim had misinterpreted his “vision” causing embarrassment and strengthening their relationship.

ROUGH DRAFT

JoAnn, Jim’s mom, is living at Fairhaven Assisted Living. She’s a charming old lady with some spunk. Her husband mysteriously disappeared/died while working on a Special Operation for the government leaving her heartbroken for many years.

Jim soon discovers through the “psychic” glasses that JoAnn is dating a much younger man. She and Howard are “living life” to the fullest; trying new things.

These adventures of JoAnn/Howard’s “appear” to be quite dangerous to Jim causing Jim to intervene revealing Jim had misinterpreted his “vision” causing embarrassment and strengthening their relationship.