Lesson 2

[Joan Butler]

Day 2. Optional Characteristics To Create Depth

I learned that I know these characteristics but I must make sure I show the audience.

Selma

Logline: To atone for her mother’s death, a novice counselor must save an abused woman from a husband who is mentally abusing her.

1. Selma’s arc: trusts no one/Trusts her boss Gaia and Elizabeth.

lies when she feels cornered/ Doesn’t lie.

fears the shelter/ Willing to counsel another woman.

2. Values: love and forgiveness.

3. Attitude: Frustrated with Elizabeth. Distrusts Gaia. Love/hates her father.

4. Defining Event: Watching her father kill her mother.

5. Mission: to atone for her mother’s death by saving Elizabeth.

6. Secret: She lies and is responsible for her mother’s death.

7. Proud of not lying for a month.

8. Psych issues: trauma bonded to Daddy. Guilt-ridden about Momma’s death. Lies due to childhood fears.

9. Paradox/ Warring Elements: Love/hate for Daddy. Frustration/ caring for Elizabeth.

10. Worst nightmare: Being kicked to death.

Elizabeth

Logline: When an abused woman flees to a shelter, she must realize that her husband is not a good man in order to leave him.

1. Arc: Mark is a good man/He tried to destroy me.

2. Fear’s Mark’s cruelty.

3. Mission: to look after Jasmine’s baby because she gave away her own baby. To take care of Mark because he is “broken”.

4. Secret: She is delusional. She steals.

5. Values: Love. Loyalty.

6. Motto: Love Heals All Wounds.

7. Proud of the selfie pictures of grandparents and their grandchildren in her office.

8. Psych Issues: She believes she is delusional. She believes that Mark is a good man.

9. Inner conflict: Mark is a good man. / He is an abuser.

10. Worst nightmare: To realize she isn’t delusional and gave her baby away for nothing.