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Lesson 2
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Kevin Lobo’s Hero and Villain.
What I learned…This lesson helped me define my hero and villain, their personalities, strengths, weaknesses and other finer details long before the story/plot takes shape. It helped me focus entirely on these two important entities in themselves, thus building the two strong pillars before getting caught in the noise of the plot.
ASSIGNMENT:
1. Fill in the blanks and see what shows up.
Concept:
<ul type=”disc”>
- Hero Morally
Right: Cyber Security specialist – white collar hacker and defender.If he fails then, banking, government and health networks are compromised.
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- Villain
Morally Wrong: Money launderer who moves and handles hundreds of millions
of dollars from illicit arms and drug sales in the cyber world.If he fails to supply arms to the rogue armies and terrorist around the world, he might have to pay for it with his life, lose his earnings in millions; if his cyber world is compromised, he will be exposed and lose out to his rival who wants this black market exclusively for himself.
Hero
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- A. Unique
Skill Set: Knows cyber security, IT protocols, loop holes and zero day exploits
intricately.- B. Motivation:
To achieve cyber crime free world, to prevent cyber fraud and prevent
innocent IT users from being defrauded.- C. Secret or
Wound: Let his parents down in his childhood, leading to their early death
and thus robbing his younger brother of their parents. Thus feels bound to
keep coming to his errant younger brother’s aid while neglecting his wife
and kids.Villain
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- A. Unbeatable:
Has an international, well established network of connections in the
underworld to trade large illicit arms deals and supply terrorist networks
and drug networks with deadly weapons. Has a large army of IT specialists
from the dark web and scores of hit men.- B. Plan/Goal:
Use the hero to take down a rising rival and by pass government watchdogs
that are working to end his trade and bring him to justice.- C. What they
lose if Hero survives: The villain will lose his underground empire,
earnings in hundreds of millions and face justice – a long prison sentence
and possible the death sentence.Impossible Mission
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- A. Puts Hero
in Action: The hero must sacrifice his ideals, put his killer IT-Cyber
skills to take down the IT set ups, both good and bad – all against his
good ethical practices to rescue his brother.- B. Demands
They Go Beyond Their Best: When the Villain, uses a charming business man
to lure his disappointed wife away from their marriage, he must take up
arms – gun and physical violence – two things that are totally alien to
him.- C. Destroy the
Villain: He must secretly bring down the villains own IT & Cyber
resources and physically take down the villain himself. - Hero Morally
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Lesson 2 Nov. 1, 2023
Dave’s Hero and Villain
What I learned from this lesson: None of this story even crossed my mind until Monday. It’s just an exercise for class, but maybe there’s a comedy here worth developing.
CONCEPT:
Morally right hero – Weary divorced dad seeks to please his kids, and maybe his ex-wife, on Christmas Eve while saving his fledgling delivery service.
Morally wrong villain – New husband of ex-wife tries to win the hearts of the kids by crushing the dad’s promise and destroying his business.
HERO:
Unique skill set – He knows every street, alley, tunnel, and secret passageway in town from his days as a bicycle messenger.
Motivation – Trying to salvage relationships with his kids, and maybe his ex-wife.
Secret or Wound – His father was a failure and abandoned his family. He has never forgiven him.
VILLAIN:
Unbeatable – He has the resources to stop the hero at every turn.
Plan/goal – To completely disgrace the hero in the eyes of his kids.
What he stands to lose – The respect of his stepchildren, and his standing in the community if his unscrupulous nature is revealed.
IMPOSSIBLE MISSION:
Puts hero in action – Hero must deliver for his clients alone because the villain has run off the hero’s men.
Demands they go beyond their best – The villain turns up the heat on the hero by using his connections in the city.
Destroy the villain – Hero completes his rounds to save his business, then exposes the villain’s dishonesty and treachery.
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Carol L Paur Hero and Villain
What I learned by doing this lesson is I probably am in the wrong class. I also feel my idea is cliche. And I didn’t do improved answers because I had all I could do to finish this exercise.
Concept: An environmental scientist must stop terrorists from infiltrating the world’s water supply
Hero Morally Right: Protect the water while saving the planet
Villain Morally Wrong: Destroy water and destroy the planet
Hero: Davis
A. Unique Skill Set: Intuitive scientist; Japanese weapons expert – especially with the chigiriki: the Japanese mace
B. Motivation: To stop the terrorists from poisoning the water systems
C. Secret or Wound: Widow who neglected her daughter in grief
Villain: Chagro, a widow of a terrorist who wants to destroy the world in revenge because her husband was executed.
A. Unbeatable: She has unlimited resources, owns her own island and people to do her bidding
B. Plan/Goal: Destroy the water supply and kill anyone who tries to stop her.
C. What they lose if Hero survives: Chagro will lose her life and everything her husband worked for.
Impossible Mission: Davis has to stop Chagro to save the earth
A. Puts Hero in Action: Chagro sends assassins to shoot at Davis, bomb her car, chase her in river and finally fights her –
B. Demands They Go Beyond Their Best: Davis investigates where Chagro is and the damage that can be done all while avoiding assassination and bombing attempts.
C. Destroy the Villain: Stopping Chagro from poisoning the world’s water supply – then fighting Chagro to her death.
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Mary’s Hero and Villain
Concept:
A CIA agent must rescue her sister who’s been kidnapped by a mysterious Russian Operative in order to force the agent to access and divulge classified information which the Operative plans to sell to the Russian and Chinese governments.
Hero Morally Right:
Sky Silver, CIA agent must save her kidnapped sister from (Russian crime organization?, Russian FSB?) and take down the Operative in order to protect U.S. classified nuclear info.
Villain Morally Wrong:
Andros Zmey, known as The Serpent, is a Russian Crime Boss. He sends one of his operatives to kidnap Sky’s sister in order to force Sky to access and divulge the location of U.S. nuclear subs. He plans to sell this info to the Russian government.
Hero
- Unique Skill Set: Duel U.S./Israeli citizen, Sky was an Olympic gymnast in her teens, served in the Israeli army where she developed skills as a sharp-shooter, was then recruited and trained by CIA
- Motivation: Loves her sister, who is her only remaining family. Devoted patriot to U.S.
- Secret or Wound: Lost her parents in a terrorist bombing in Israel. Conflicted from witnessing the oppression of the Palestinians while serving in the army, she jumped at the chance to train with the CIA in the U.S., hoping to eventually train in de-escalation and negotiation to make a difference from the inside.
Villain
- Unbeatable: Andros heads a formidable crime organization—a virtual army of paid, ruthless mercenaries
- Plan/Goal: To become the next Putin
- What they lose if Hero survives: The favour of the high-placed Russian government official who is the next wrung on the ladder to his ultimate goal. As well, will lose the considerable fee to be given by both the Russian and Chinese governments in exchange for the classified information.
Impossible Mission
- Puts Hero in Action: the kidnapping of her sister.
- Demands They Go Beyond Their Best: Sky finds a way to forge and deliver the classified info, but just after the trade (her sister for the info) Andros discovers the ruse. Now Sky must use all her skills (smarts, parkour, sharp-shooting) to elude or kill the army of assassins the enraged Andros sends after her.
- Destroy the Villain: Sky frees her sister but is captured by Andros’ men who take her to face him in his secret lair. Using all her skills she manages to escape and ‘turn the tables’, obliterating his crew and forcing Andros to off himself.
What I learned from this assignment:
To think more deeply about the motivations of both my hero and villain and ensure that the stakes for each of them are life-or-death high. To ensure that they are on opposite sides of the moral compass.
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Tony J Scott Hero and villain
Fill in the blanks and see what shows up.
Concept:
<ul type=”disc”>
- Hero Morally Right: Needs to protector her nephew’s
life- Villain Morally Wrong: Needs to kill the nephew and the
hero.Hero
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- A. Unique Skill Set Ex Vatican Nun Assassin team
leader, trained in weapons and mixed martial arts close in fighting
techniques and knife fighting.- B. Motivation: The person she is protecting is her 12
year old nephew with downs syndrome whom she’s never met.- C. Secret or Wound: She’s been estranged from her sister
since becoming leaving the Vatican for becoming a vampire.Villain
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- A. Unbeatable: He runs the largest drug cartel in the
world and has control of cops, gangs, and vampire connections on the
council.- B. Plan/Goal: He’s been indicted on drug and vampire
trafficking and is facing the death penalty- C. What they lose if Hero survives: He gets put to
death.Impossible Mission
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- A. Puts Hero in Action: The hero had no idea the nephew
existed or that his mother was the whistle blower she heard had been
murdered. He shows up on her doorstep with a video message from his
mother, her sister.- B. Demands They Go Beyond Their Best: She’s not just
trying to keep her nephew alive, she has to deliver him to the Vatican
Embassy hearing in time.- C. Destroy the Villain by keeping Joey alive, staying
alive herself and killing everyone who tries to stop them trying to get to
the embassy2. Once you have filled in a quick answer to each, go back and extrapolate (If _____, then how might _____?) to elevate any answers you can.
3. Tell us your improved answers.
- Hero Morally Right: Needs to protector her nephew’s
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What I learned from this assignment is: Turning what was going to be a fantasy story into an action/adventure makes it feel more exciting and compelling. It was an enjoyable fantasy, fun to think about, but this element of conflict makes it more interesting.
1. Fill in the blanks and see what shows up.
Concept:
<ul type=”disc”>
- Hero Morally Right: She wants to find her friend, learn the
truth, and write a story about it. Her motives are first to help her
friend if she’s in trouble, and also to follow the story and spread the
virus.- Villain Morally Wrong: He puts
money over the well being of humanity as a whole. He is fearful of losing
what he has and feels entitled to hurt people if that’s what it takes to
keep what is his. He’s a bully to people who work for him. He only really
cares about himself and being a Big Man. He’s used to being very powerful
because of all of the money and influence he has.Hero
<ul type=”disc”>
- A. Unique Skill Set: She is
intelligent, a talented journalist, curious, a loyal friend, and she has
many contacts who are experts in their fields. She is able to get her
message across on the media to counteract all the disinformation being
spewed by the villain. Once she contracts the virus, she also has more
mental clarity, a deeper sense of calm.- B. Motivation: First to save her
friend, and second to write her story if it turns out there is one.- C. Secret or Wound: Mother died a
year ago of cancer. She was in her mid-50s.Villain
<ul type=”disc”>
- A. Unbeatable: He has lots of power
and money, plenty of lackeys willing to do his bidding. He learns he can’t
physically harm them, but knows they love the island and value the monk
seals, so threatens to destroy the island and kill the seals.- B. Plan/Goal: Keep what he has
and get more of it. Kidnap people with the virus, threaten to destroy the
island and kill all the monk seals to convince them to stop spreading the
virus.- C. What they lose if Hero
survives: The truth could help dispel the propaganda he’s been spreading
that keeps people buying their medications. The virus would spread more
quickly if people stopped believing there was a downside to it or if
religions would stop claiming it came from the devil. Nobody would need
his pharmaceutical products. He would lose money, power and control.Impossible Mission
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- A. Puts Hero in Action: Her
friend disappears, she can’t find her. She learns about the island and the
virus, contracts it herself and is going to tell the story.- B. Demands They Go Beyond Their
Best: Finds out the villain has her friend and many others from the
island. She is at risk of capture herself, but manages to get off the
island with a tour group filled with international travelers on a
snorkeling trip. They have been kept away from the inner area of the
village and its people. They catch the virus from her and go on their
travels all over the world, without the villain knowing about them.- C. Destroy the Villain: She
learns that people who have this virus are invulnerable and have increased
clarity and sense of well being. She writes her story, wires it to her
boss who doesn’t print it. The villain has gotten to him. She decides to
go over his head and wires it to the wire service that often carries their
stories and they print and broadcast it.2. Once you have filled in a quick answer to each, go back and extrapolate (If the villain seems unstoppable, then how might our heroine find ways to stop his plans to harm those who have the virus and to destroy the island?)
3. Tell us your improved answers. I gave my heroine another advantage in having many expert contacts in various fields and an ability to get her message across on the media to counteract the villain’s misinformation campaign. He needs to be stopped from gaining access to whatever weapon he plans to use to destroy the island. I also added that she comes to realize she is invulnerable physically, although could still be overpowered and imprisoned. She is willing to risk that in order to be able to confront him directly to save her friend. I added that the villain discovers he can’t physically harm those who have the virus but can control them by overpowering and imprisoning them. He is also harming them emotionally, threatening and planning to destroy the island, and especially the beloved monk seals, who were endangered but nurtured by islanders, and some believe to be the original source of the virus.
- Hero Morally Right: She wants to find her friend, learn the
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John’s Hero and Villain
What I learned… to add more depth (and aspects) to the main characters and plot in order to make the journey more interesting and, in some ways, satisfying.
Hero Morally right: Evan wants to avenge his friend’s killing and destroy the international smuggling operation.
Villain Morally Wrong: Vovk killed Evan’s friend and partner, stole a large haul of rough diamonds, continues his violent rampage and raids on diamond mining operations around the world.
Hero: Evan Merritt: Mining Engineer
A. Unique Skill Set: Brilliant Chemical Engineer, photographic memory, resourceful planner, fearless
B. Motivation: avenge the death of his friend, recover stolen diamonds, destroy the smuggling ring, restore his tarnished reputation
C. Wound: Failed to stop two site raids by violent criminals, no one wants to hire him
Villain: Nikolai Vovk: Russian mercenary
A. Unbeatable: Ex-military, weapons/explosives expert, has a team of violent, well-trained and -equipped mercenaries, amply-financed
B. Plan/Goal: to conduct raids on diamond-mining sites around the world at any cost to disrupt the world supply
C. What they lose if Hero survives/wins: hundreds of millions in ransoms, and raw and polished diamonds
Impossible Mission: Evan must stop Vovk and his henchmen, and destroy the smuggling organization
A. Puts Hero in Action: Evan determines the most logical location for the next raid, and sets a trap to thwart it and capture or kill the mercenary team
B. Demands They go Beyond Their best: Evan liaises with the Fed’s for help to no avail, later discovers he has an undercover “assistant” working in the background, sets up a ragtag team to help carry out his plan to stop the marauding mercenaries and their violent, thieving activities.
C. Destroy the Villain: Evan sabotages the raid, but Vovk gets away, hidden by his married lover. A final do-or-die takes place in an airport parking lot between Evan and Vovk, ending in Vovk’s death. The head of the organization slinks away to a foreign country, and gets taken down a week later.
I skipped ahead after reading the assignment and asked, “If Evan can’t convince Police Departments to take him seriously, then how might Evan stop these guys himself.” The improved answers are already incorporated above.
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What I learned in this assignment is how to create the hero and villain in relation to one another, making them the best possible match and giving more opportunities to build conflict and action throughout the script.
Concept: Champion MMA fighter Valentina returns home to El Salvador to seek and destroy the psychotic MS-13 leader who has kidnapped her son.
Hero Morally Right: Save her son from the kidnappers. Villain Morally Wrong: Murderous gang boss involved in drug and human trafficking.
Hero A. Unique Skill Set: Champion MMA fighter, trained in multiple martial arts and weapons since adolescence. Was recruited by the CIA in college and trained as a master negotiator before dropping out of the program. B. Motivation: Will do anything to save her son from being killed or becoming part of MS-13. C. Secret or Wound: Valentina was raped in El Salvador by an MS-13 member and became pregnant with her son. It’s the reason she was taken to the U.S.
Villain A. Unbeatable: Esteban is the leader of a notoriously violent gang and has a legion of deadly members, corrupt police officers and government officials in his pocket. He is a trained boxer that could have gone pro. He has a personality disorder that makes him unpredictable. B. Plan/Goal: To kill Valentina before she can rescue her son. C. What They Lose if Hero Survives: Esteban and countless accomplices will die.
Impossible Mission A. Puts Hero into Action: Valentina tracks her son down and must get past sicarios sent to kill her. B. Demands They Go Beyond Their Best: She is captured and put in prison. C. Destroy the Villain: Valentina comes up with a plan that uses both her fighting skills and psychological warfare to bring Esteban to his knees.
After doing the if…then… questions I added a few traits to the villain that would make him an even more difficult opponent for Valentina, hopefully raising the stakes and setting up a few nail-biting confrontations and an epic final battle royal.
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