Lesson 2

[Renee Miller]

Renee’s Character Descriptions

What I learned doing this assignment is how to look at each character profile and determine the most intriguing aspects of it to create intriguing character descriptions for a TV pitch bible.

Veronica

Who is the character? Role in the show? A relentless journalist investigating the cult that kidnapped her when she was a teen.

Noteworthy traits: determined, impulsive,

Intriguing history: her mother was murdered by the cult and she was kidnapped by them, barely escaping with her life.

Intrigue? Mystery? She harbors a personal trauma involving a mysterious cult, making her even more motivated to expose the truth.

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? May inadvertently trigger hidden traps or unearth secrets that some would like to keep hidden, creates chaos with her unpredictability,

Irony — she’s both a skeptic and a believer, a hunter and the hunted, rational yet irrational when it comes to the cult.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: her pursuit of the truth could put her allies in danger. Her individual quest to find out more about the cult and her father could cause issues with the collective good.

Unpredictable: she doesn’t discuss everything with her allies and often jumps into danger without thinking things through.

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters: she has a growing bond with Samuel, respects Dr. Stone, and is weary of Father Malachi.

Start: a relentless journalist, haunted by her mother’s cult-linked murder and her own kidnapping at the hands of the cult is determined to find out the truth about her family.

Middle: Her investigation leads her into a labyrinth of ancient evil where her probing could unleash cataclysmic truths or bind her to the same dark fate.

End: With her unpredictability everything she discovers and her personal vendetta against the cult could lead to either revelation or ruination.

Samuel

Who is the character? Role in the show? Current cult leader posing as a lost follower.

Noteworthy traits: charming, manipulative

Intriguing history: he grew up in the cult and remembers Veronica from her time at the cult after they kidnapped her.

Intrigue? Mystery?: unexplained supernatural abilities

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? His manipulation and hidden agenda create turmoil within Veronica’s investigation.

Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: he poses as a lost follower but is the cult leader, he sees himself as the protector of the cult’s ancient traditions and the cult’s future but has to destroy lives and souls in order to achieve it.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: he wants to fulfil the ancient prophecy by manipulating Veronica to gain her trust while she wants to expose the cult for what it is.

Unpredictable? Will he use his abilities to aid Veronica or for his own agenda?

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters: Veronica is the key to fulfilling the ancient prophecy for Samuel but he also has to keep up the façade of being a helpful ally to keep her close. He has a common interest in ancient relics like Dr. Stone but their goals are fundamentally different. He has a shared history with Father Malachi whose goal of redemption directly opposes Samuels need for power.

Start: the cult leader, posing as a lost follower to gain Veronica’s trust so he can fulfill an ancient prophecy.

Middle: he fears discovery and his unpredictable supernatural powers that are as lethal as the ancient horrors he worships.

End: He never expected to get close to Veronica in a way that could be his undoing.

Dr. Stone

Who is the character? Role in the show? Archaeologist and expert on the cult’s origins

Noteworthy traits: intelligent, curious, ambitious

Intriguing history: she has been studying ancient cults and their rituals making her a pariah in the academic world

Intrigue? Mystery? She possesses a forbidden text that holds secrets and is willing to take great risks to share it with Veronica.

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? She mentors Veronica in understanding the cult history and supernatural elements but subtly manipulates her actions to ensure her own goals are advanced. She is in direct conflict with Father Malachi over the ancient relics. Dr. Stone could unknowingly further Samuel’s agenda while believing she is advancing her own, or she could become a knowing co-conspirator if it suits her ambitions.

Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: Dr. Stone is a preserver of ancient relics and knowledge, yet her ambition to use these for personal power may lead to the very destruction of the history she seeks to protect.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: she doesn’t want to expose the cult but wants to find the lost artifacts that Father Malachi secretly possesses.

Unpredictable?: her quest for knowledge puts her in harm’s way

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters: she respects Veronica but doesn’t trust her. She wants to get close to Father Malachi because she believes he might possess the ancient relics she’s looking for.

Start: She’s a brilliant archaeologist with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge searching for ancient relics that will grant her the power she desires.

Middle: Her desire for vindication and power threatens her allegiance with Veronica and puts her into direct conflict with Father Malachi who aims to protect the stolen ancient relics at all cost.

End: Her dual role as a seeker of truths and a harbinger of potential doom destabilizes the fragile balance between the known world and the supernatural one.

Father Malachi

Who is the character? Role in the show? Provides spiritual perspective and insights into the cult.

Noteworthy traits: committed, understanding

Intriguing history: After trying to infiltrate the cult and finding himself in some compromising situations he was defrocked by the church and has been trying to find forgiveness ever since.

Intrigue? Mystery? He stole the ancient relics from the cult and is trying to keep them hidden so he can use them for the greater good.

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? He is secretive and not as forthcoming as Veronica would like. He is in direct conflict with Dr. Stone who wants to ancient relics for her own personal gain.

Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: Father Malachi desires to save others from the dangers of the cult and its relics, yet he himself is tempted by the very power he wishes to protect them from.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: He might seek to protect Veronica from the dangerous truths of the relics and the cult’s intentions, potentially hindering her pursuit of the story and her personal quest for answers about her mother’s death. Malachi’s intention to use the relics for salvation and dismantling the cult directly opposes Dr. Stone’s desire to harness their power for her own gain Malachi’s agenda of atonement and correcting past wrongs contrasts starkly with Samuel’s pursuit of domination and control through the cult and its supernatural connections..

Unpredictable? His temptation to use the ancient relics he stole makes him a volatile ally who has the capacity to pull everyone deeper into the shadowy abyss.

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters: he brings Samuel under his wing not realizing he is the current cult leader. He has deep respect and trust in Veronica’s ability to get to the truth. He is weary of Dr. Stone knowing her desire for more power and vengeance on the academic world that turned its back on her.

Start: Once a revered priest, his involvement in the cult has left him questioning his spirituality.

Middle: his quest for redemption is fraught with peril as his inner conflict and the allure of the ancient relics power undermine his altruistic façade.

End: Aiding Veronica in the investigation puts his own salvation in jeopardy as he straddles the line between divine and damned.

[Sunil Pappu]

Sunil Pappu’s Character Descriptions
What I learned doing this assignment is…to identify the most intriguing parts of the characters and create a beginning, middle and end to their character pitches

Title: Hawala Heist
Format/Genre: One-hour Heist Thriller Series

Concept: A rookie RAW agent joins a crew of international thieves to penetrate an underground banking network to retrieve a ledger that can crash the financial world.
Intriguing World:In the murky depths of unregulated finance lies the Hawala Network, an ancient system now intertwined with the digital underworld – where espionage and cybercrime blend seamlessly, and faceless entities manoeuvre from the shadows in a high-stakes game of shaping conflicts. This world, brimming with clandestine dealings and digital ghosts, offers a playground where every transaction is a puzzle, every disguise a doorway, and every revelation could ignite global chaos.

Lead Character Pitches

Character Pitch: Priya Rao (AKA Rookie)
Priya Rao, known among her peers as Rookie, is the perfect storm of brilliance and naivety—a mathematical prodigy whose expertise in pattern recognition makes her invaluable in infiltrating the Hawala Networks labyrinthine security. Yet, beneath her analytical prowess lies a wound that bleeds distrust the arrest of her father for a financial crime she's determined to prove he didn't commit fuels her every move. Torn between the moral quagmires of her covert operations and the burning need to clear her family name, Priya’s inner turmoil and impulsive nature under stress promise to unravel not just the network she’s penetrating but the very team that relies on her genius.

Character Pitch: Arjun Nair (AKA Raven)
Arjun Nair, the enigmatic Raven,is the operations nucleus—a former RAW agent turned mastermind with an intimate knowledge of the Hawala Network and espionage tactics. His calculating mind is as dark as his alias, plotting moves with a relentless obsession fueled by a vendetta against The Cobra, whose actions led to his sister’s tragic death. This personal crusade for vengeance threatens to consume him, pushing ethical boundaries and risking the mission and his own morality, as he maneuvers through a web of deceit and danger, driven by rage yet masked by a facade of strategic calm.

Character Pitch: Meera Verma (AKA Ghost)
Meera Verma, the elusive Ghost,is the digital wraith of the team, a hacking virtuoso whose fingertips dance across keyboards to unlock the world’s secrets. Haunted by a treacherous past with a cybercriminal syndicate, her expertise now serves as a double-edged sword, cutting through the Hawala Network’s defenses while weaving a complex web to conceal her own tracks. With each keystroke, she seeks redemption, erasing the sins of her history, all while her former allies shadows loom, threatening to drag her back into the abyss she’s desperately hacking to escape.

Character Pitch: Sofia Petrovna (AKA Chameleon)
Sofia Petrovna, the enigmatic Chameleon,is a paragon of adaptability, a master of disguise whose true face is as elusive as her shifting personas. Her quest to rescue her sister from the Hawala Networks clutches is the linchpin of her duplicity, driving her to betray her team and feed information to the enemy. Yet, as her feelings for a teammate grow, Sofia’s layered deceptions weave a precarious web, threatening to entangle her in her own lies, as she teeters on a razor’s edge between familial loyalty, forbidden love, and the treacherous duplicity of her double life.

Character Pitch: Mandeep Singh (AKA Shadow)
Mandeep Singh, known in the dark alleys of espionage as is the embodiment of stealth and loyalty—a master thief turned field operative whose skills in covert operations are as legendary as his manipulative prowess. Tasked with investigating a mole within the team, Mandeep’s world is a canvas of shadows, where trust is as fleeting as the whispers of treachery that haunt their missions. His heart is an unwilling participant in a duplicitous game of affection with Sofia, the enigmatic Chameleon, where each stolen moment deepens the moral abyss he must navigate, all while his true mission—to unmask a traitor—threatens to cast him as the ultimate betrayer.

Character Pitch: Lina Chen (AKA Oracle)
Lina Chen, the prescient is the linchpin of foresight in a world shrouded by financial shadows—a seasoned analyst whose ability to predict the ebbs and flows of the Hawala Network’s funds is as uncanny as it is indispensable. Yet, her infallibility is marred by a past blunder, having unknowingly entangled herself in the very network she now seeks to dismantle. Lina’s struggle for redemption is palpable, as she grapples with the specter of past guilt, her analytical veneer cracking under the strain of paranoia, even as her sharp intellect aims to outmaneuver the clandestine financial tides she once helped swell.

Character Pitch: Raghav Patel (AKA The Hyena)
Raghav Patel, the formidable Hyena, is the epitome of survivalist guile—a charismatic yet ruthless overlord at the helm of the Hawala Network's financial machinations. His strategic mind orchestrates the underworld’s cash flows with the same predatory instinct as his namesake, prioritizing self-preservation and power with a ferocity that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. With the network’s damning ledger under his claw-like grip, Raghav’s thirst for domination is unchecked, even as his past betrayal gnaws at him, propelling him toward a future where he must balance the paranoia of leadership against the raw ambition that fuels his empire.

Character Pitch: Harsh Mehta (AKA The Cobra)
Harsh Mehta, known ominously as The Cobra, is the embodiment of silent danger—a loyal and lethal enforcer within the Hawala Network whose cold-blooded efficiency in eliminating threats is as feared as his namesake. Shrouded in the dark allure of power, his path is one of ruthless ambition, each act of compliance to the network’s codes etching deeper the secret of his involvement in the attack that haunts Arjun’s nightmares. This serpent’s dance with destiny is fraught with the tension of hidden truths, as Harsh’s quest for ascent within the clandestine order is poised against the looming specter of a past that threatens to strike at the heart of his existence.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by  Laree Griffith. Reason: Removed HTML tags so others can post
• This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by  Laree Griffith. Reason: Removed HTML tags so others can post

[Margaret]

What I learned doing this assignment is?

I used my previous history with Chat GPT to make a very quick summary of the characters

Character Pitches:

Jake

Start: Pet store worker transported to an alien planet

Middle: Becomes a reluctant leader for the Donek as he channels Masada’s echoes

End: Forms secret alliance with Imara to kidnap her son and with a spy – a Hedeon soldier

Jake, a former pet store worker with a turbulent past rooted in a fraudulent tele-evangelist father, harbors a reluctance toward spiritual leaders. Transported to an alien world, his mysterious origin raises questions among the Donek tribe, especially when he becomes the reluctant prophet figure. As Jake navigates the complexities of the Masada event, his mysterious past and evolving alliances, especially his growing connection with Imara, introduce an unpredictable element that could reshape the delicate balance between the Donek and Hedeon tribes.

Armann

Start: Rejection of the Donek

Middle: Plan to attack the Donek

End: Plans to reunite with Imara even as he plans to destroy the tribe she has aligned herself with

Armann, the formidable Hedeon leader, conceals a hidden vulnerability stemming from a traumatic betrayal within his own Donek family. Born a Donek, he rejected the Orb and joined the Hedeon, harboring a secret plan to attack the Donek tribe. His complex relationships, especially his clandestine knowledge about Taron and his conflicted feelings for Imara, add layers of intrigue and potential betrayal that challenge the stability of both tribes.

Alo

Start: Spiritual leader of the Donek

Middle: Places Jake in a leadership position

End: Finds himself competing with Jake for control of the Donek tribe

Alo, the spiritual leader of the Donek, grapples with doubts about the true source of Jake’s visions and the interpretation of Masada’s echoes. His hidden burden of uncertainty, coupled with a clandestine alliance with Taron for covert peace talks, creates a web of complexity. Alo’s inner turmoil and subtle competition with Jake for the tribe’s trust add layers of intrigue, questioning the authenticity of his leadership and the path towards reconciliation.

Imara

Start: Imara is the wife of Armann and mother of Grigo

Middle: Imara plots with Jake to kidnap her son from his father (Armann) who has custody

End: Accepts the Orb and wants to convince Armann to do the same

Imara, a bridge between Hedeon and Donek, navigates the complexities of her hidden relationships and conspiracies. With a secret identity as Armann’s wife, she battles conflicting loyalties, striving to protect her son Grigo and orchestrating secret plans with Jake. Imara’s internal struggle and attraction to both Armann and Jake create a captivating character, shrouded in mystery and driven by the desire for redemption and family reunification.

Taron

Start: Dedicated Hedeon commander

Middle: Becomes a spy for the Donek

End: Provides spy information for both Jake and Alo, unbeknownst to each other, but secretly known by Armann who uses that information to stir the controversy between Jake and Alo and feed them false information.

Taron, a conflicted Hedeon soldier, engages in hidden relationships and conspiracies as a spy for the Donek. He engages in intricate political maneuvering, providing information to Jake and Alo. His internal struggle and pivotal role in stirring controversy between Jake and Alo make Taron a compelling character in the unfolding drama.

[Art Blum]

What I learned: I started by turning a screenplay I wrote into a BWTV show. I discovered there's a ton more to the story. I feel i understand what I was trying to do a whole lot better with this class.

I watched the entire first season of 24. I was surprised at how few times Jack actually went into action, (fights, gun play). They really got into that more in the succeeding seasons. Also, watching a lot of episodes, I see how the plot got real thin. For instance, Kim was kidnapped and escaped 4 times in the first season. The wife got amnesia for one episode. It didn’t hold up as well when you watch it all at once. Better when it only played one hour every week.

Ryan:Top of Form

Bottom of Form
Start. A kid with an ability to channel spirits, on the run from Hermes, a secret psi-ops government agency tries to navigate high school and discover how he fits into this world.

Middle: Ryan sets out to free classmates who are kidnapped by Hermes to gain his cooperation.

End: Discovers the true nature of the program Hermes is running and sets out to destroy them after saving his classmates.

Ryan, 14, Ryan, with his blend of vulnerability, courage, and unique psychic abilities, is the perfect character to anchor the series, navigating the treacherous waters of adolescence while wrestling with the moral complexities of his powers and the clandestine government agency pursuing him.

Start: Indigo is a classmate of Ryan and learns he has psychic abilities is happy to meet a fellow traveler.

Middle: She tries to match psychic skills with Ryan, and introduces him to Madam Olga, her grandmother and town psychic. She helps Ryan discover the true nature of the alien spirits.

End: She’s the rock Ryan needs to support him when he decides it’s more important to fight for freedom, even if it means dying, than to live as a prisoner in a government program.
Indigo’s enigmatic aura, unpredictable psychic gifts, and ties to the town’s mystical underbelly make her the ideal character to introduce an element of uncertainty, providing both support and challenges to Ryan’s journey.

Jimmy: (St. Christopher, maybe) Jimmy: (St. Christopher, maybe) Start: Serving as Ryan’s spiritual mentor, Jimmy is an enigmatic presence connected through a mystical medallion.

Middle: Jimmy aids Ryan in overcoming insurmountable challenges, playing a pivotal role in helping him reclaim his destiny as Star Rover.

End: As Ryan leads an army against Hermes, Jimmy remains a cryptic guide, infusing the narrative with an otherworldly dimension and leaving a trail of unanswered questions surrounding his true identity.

Connected to Ryan through a mystical medallion, Jimmy becomes the ethereal guide bridging the earthly and spiritual realms. His cryptic counsel and mysterious origins make Jimmy the perfect character to infuse the narrative with an otherworldly dimension, his enigmatic presence serving as a key to unlocking Ryan's destiny while leaving a trail of unanswered questions that beckon further exploration.

Dr. Blaine:Start: The formidable head of Hermes Psi-Ops program, Dr. Blaine runs the agency with an iron fist, concealing a dark secret from her past experiments.

Middle: Driven by a morally complex agenda, she reveals her knowledge of the spirits true origin as the lost children from the Christopher project. Her conflicted conscience propels her towards a desperate quest to reanimate her first love, Teddy. She is behind the deaths of all the children in the Christopher project.

End: Realizing the only path to free the spirits is through her own death, Dr. Blaine orchestrates her demise, adding a layer of complexity to her character as she grapples with the consequences of her actions.

SETH
Seth: Start: Orchestrating Ryan’s recruitment into Hermes, Seth is a mysterious figure with a dark past entwined with the agency’s sinister experiments.

Middle: Haunted by his role in the suffering inflicted by Hermes, Seth attempts to set the spirits free and protect Ryan, ultimately failing in both endeavors.

End: Driven by a relentless determination to free the children held captive by Hermes, Seth embarks on a one-man rampage, revealing his ambiguous loyalties and adding an element of uncertainty to the complex web of allegiances.

Seth’s mysterious past, conflicted loyalties, and haunting connection to Hermes make him a compelling and unpredictable figure, adding layers of intrigue and moral ambiguity to the narrative. Dr. Blaine, as the formidable head of Hermes, perfectly embodies the morally complex antagonist, grappling with a dark secret from her past experiments and navigating the consequences of her relentless pursuit of scientific breakthroughs.

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[Michael Jones]

M. Morgan’s Character Descriptions

I learned that focusing on character descriptions helps with possible plot directions and gives characters to create dramatic situations out of. It is overwhelming to deal with so much data at the moment and to lose some of it when distilling it into manageable pieces but it’s interesting to see how a thought has developed into a possible series.

ATTICUS TAYLOR

Role: A post-university undergraduate struggling to make a living while dealing with the disappearance of his brother.

Noteworthy traits: Smart, insightful, kind, curious.

Intriguing history: Offered post-grad opportunity but couldn’t afford it.

Intrigue: Brother disappeared looking for this powerful artifact; wants to have purpose, wants to find brother; might blur ethical boundaries in the process.

Mystery: What is the artifact? What does it have to do with his brother’s disappearance?

Drive the conflict: In over his head with all the competing groups vying for the artifact; sometimes acts alone and makes his friends feel outside or jealous.

Irony: Artifact power vs personal weakness; insecurity leads to bad decisions; attempting to do good, fails to do so by letting the power go. Unpredictable: Moments of insecurity lead to poor decisions.

Intriguing relationships: Morrigan, Olivia, Thad, Sophie, cousin Kieran Hawthorne, and archaeologist Mortimer Greenfield.

MORRIGAN GRIMOIRE

Role: Struggling bookstore owner who joins a newfound secret society with grandiose plans of global influence and control.

Noteworthy traits: Well-read, wounded, idealistic, charismatic.

Intriguing history: Successful bookstore owner; decline since online commerce; able to find rare books for people; both parents died.

Intrigue: Joined a secret society and wants to lead it into the future.

Mystery: What is this secret society? Why does he want the artifact?

Drive the conflict: Volunteers on an archaeological excavation to find the artifact for himself and challenge the societal founder and change the world; he will do what he has to in order to get what he wants.

Irony: Wants to control the world for good, but will behave in ways that show he isn’t so concerned for others as he is for seeing a world where his values are justified and others are condemned. Unpredictable: Violent outbursts and behaviours that lead to threatening situations; impulsive.

Intriguing relationships: Atticus, Mortimer, Thad, Olivia, Sophie, Claire, Helen, and the anonymous leader of the the secret order.

HOW TO WRITE IT

For this rough draft, it is a matter of two things. First, having us experience who the characters are early in the show. What do we see for the first few scenes they are in? Second, take the list from the Key Ingredients above and organize them into a start, middle, and ending.

START: Present the character as someone we can relate to.

MIDDLE: Conflict, intrigue, and issues.

ENDING: A final punchline that hooks us and sends us into the future of the story.

And remember, this isn’t about perfection. It is about selecting the intriguing parts and organizing them so they flow in a way that makes sense. Once you’ve done that, then do a quick edit to create the description.

ATTICUS TAYLOR

START: An insightful post-university undergraduate struggling to make a living while dealing with the disappearance of his brother.

MIDDLE: Traits, insights that will lead to finding the artifact; fear when confronted with the artifact and its power.

END: Finding the artifact but not prepared for its power and has guilt over the methods he used to find it.

An insightful post-university undergraduate struggling to make a living after so much promise and haunted by the disappearance of his brother has another opportunity to make something of himself when his cousin hires him to join an excavation and seek the artifact.

Since the artifact is tied to his brother’s research, he thinks there’s a chance he’ll find what happened to him. He struggles for identity, for purpose, for the family he lost and the illusions he had before finding his gifting wasn’t good enough. He’ll find the artifact but in a moment of weakness, lower his guard and lose it.

MORRIGAN GRIMOIRE

START: Struggling bookstore owner who joins a newfound secret society with grandiose plans of global influence and control after living with the hardships of his parents deaths.

MIDDLE: Traits, struggles to keep his bookstore afloat but finds rare books for people and houses a new secret society that is really just forming into a cult and has grandiose plans to accomplish a better society.

END: He thinks the artifact is key to his success and that he’ll overthrow the anonymous founder and usher in a utopian future so pain isn’t so common.

A struggling bookstore owner who finds a new identity in a newfound secret society joins an archaeological excavation as a volunteer digger to retrieve an supposed artifact purported to have powers of influence.

The leader of the secret order is anonymous and wields massive control but Morrigan thinks he can replace him for something better. This is realized when he convinces Atticus’s friend Thad to steal the artifact for him. Once in his possession, his aspirations cloud his judgment, and he doesn’t much care about it.

AI Prompt:

In 3 sentences, can you write an intriguing description of this [character] for [format/genre] about [concept] in [intriguing world] that comes from the best parts of the character’s dilemmas, mystery, hidden layers, secrets, wounds, and intriguing points for the [character pitch]. Especially focus on what it is about this character that will cause problems for the others or the story line.

Character Pitch = A 3 sentence introduction to this character that have us see why this is the “perfect character” for this role and will instantly intrigue the reader and cause them to want to know more.

Format/genre = 1 Hour TV Mystery/Adventure

Concept = An archaeological undergraduate teams up with a charismatic bookstore owner to stop a secret society from acquiring a powerful artifact to be used in their desires for global control.

Intriguing World = Volunteers for an archaeological excavation and cultic underground.

Character = ATTICUS TAYLOR

Role: A post-university undergraduate struggling to make a living while dealing with the disappearance of his brother.

Noteworthy traits: Smart, insightful, kind, curious.

Intriguing history: Offered post-grad opportunity but couldn’t afford it.

Intrigue: Brother disappeared looking for this powerful artifact; wants to have purpose, wants to find brother; might blur ethical boundaries in the process.

Mystery: What is the artifact? What does it have to do with his brother’s disappearance?

Drive the conflict: In over his head with all the competing groups vying for the artifact; sometimes acts alone and makes his friends feel outside or jealous.

Irony: Artifact power vs personal weakness; insecurity leads to bad decisions; attempting to do good, fails to do so by letting the power go. Unpredictable: Moments of insecurity lead to poor decisions.

Intriguing relationships: Morrigan, Olivia, Thad, Sophie, cousin Kieran Hawthorne, and archaeologist Mortimer Greenfield.

MORRIGAN GRIMOIRE

Role: Struggling bookstore owner who joins a newfound secret society with grandiose plans of global influence and control.

Noteworthy traits: Well-read, wounded, idealistic, charismatic.

Intriguing history: Successful bookstore owner; decline since online commerce; able to find rare books for people; both parents died.

Intrigue: Joined a secret society and wants to lead it into the future.

Mystery: What is this secret society? Why does he want the artifact?

Drive the conflict: Volunteers on an archaeological excavation to find the artifact for himself and challenge the societal founder and change the world; he will do what he has to in order to get what he wants.

Irony: Wants to control the world for good, but will behave in ways that show he isn’t so concerned for others as he is for seeing a world where his values are justified and others are condemned. Unpredictable: Violent outbursts and behaviours that lead to threatening situations; impulsive.

Intriguing relationships: Atticus, Mortimer, Thad, the anonymous leader of the the secret order.

Answer:

In the depths of an archaeological excavation and a world cloaked in cultic intrigue, Atticus Taylor, an astute yet financially constrained undergraduate, wrestles with the haunting disappearance of his brother. His relentless pursuit of purpose intertwines with the enigmatic artifact coveted by shadowy factions, blurring ethical boundaries and risking isolation from friends who feel sidelined by his solo ventures, all while his insecurities push him toward morally gray decisions.

Meanwhile, Morrigan Grimoire, a once-prosperous bookstore owner, harbors a wounded idealism within his charismatic facade. Struggling against the decline of his trade and grappling with a secret society’s allure, Morrigan’s ambition to steer the organization’s future converges with his quest for the artifact. His paradoxical desires for global change clash with impulsive, even violent actions, hinting at a darker, unpredictable side that threatens the very values he claims to champion.

Together, their intertwined pursuits and inner conflicts ignite a labyrinthine narrative, weaving a tapestry of mysteries surrounding the artifact’s significance, the covert society’s intentions, and the unsettling revelations about their own motivations, promising a riveting tale of ambition, moral complexity, and unforeseen consequences.

OLIVIA MASON

Role: Skeptic, friend of Atticus and science undergrad.

Noteworthy traits: Scientific, logical, ethical, deceptive.

Intriguing history: Has smuggled evidence from a lab she works at and ponders exposing their unethical practices while on leave to help Atticus.

Intrigue: She has information that could harm her lab and others’ careers but her personal decisions don’t always override the logical choice.

Mystery: What is the lab doing? How will she help acquire the artifact? What path will she take when the artifact is found?

Drive the conflict: Her struggles with ideals over practical realities and the consequences such might have parallels the struggles with Morrigan and the others.

Irony: Facts of science with moral ambiguity and decisions that take emotions into account. Life can’t be distilled down into material observation and experimentation only but she strives to do both.

Intriguing relationships: Morrigan, Atticus, Thad, Sophie, Kieran Hawthorne, and archaeologist Mortimer Greenfield.

START: Skeptical friend recruited by Atticus goes on leave to aid him on the archaeological excavation at a moment she’s uncovered evidence for unethical practices in the lab she works at.

MIDDLE: Traits, struggles the ethical dilemma on what to do when a journalist publishes it leaving her to deal with the fallout. She clashes with Sophie over a scientific worldview over a conspiratorial one.

END: The artifact exposes her weakness and threatens her perspective as she comes to terms with what it is and what it does.

SOPHIE FAIRCLOUGH

Role: Conspiracy Theorist, Influencer, Bachelor of Arts degree.

Noteworthy traits: Analytical, open-minded, sympathetic, insecure.

Intriguing history: Has an pseudonym social media presence, popular dealing in conspiracies and utopian ideals.

Intrigue: Her background and interests allows her to know about the newfound cult and Morrigan’s association with it.

Mystery: Will she expose Morrigan and risk her identity becoming public? What will her relationship be with her friends.

Drive the conflict: Her conspiracy-prone opinions clash with Olivia and cast doubt over her understanding leaving her to feel dismissed. Will they believe her knowledge about Morrigan? The artifact?

Irony: Seeks truth and openness to knowledge while shrouding herself in secrecy.

Intriguing relationships: Morrigan, Atticus, Thad, Olivia, Kieran Hawthorne, Helen Voss, Charlotte Foster, and archaeologist Mortimer Greenfield.

START: Conspiracy-prone podcaster and You-Tuber under a pseudonym joins her friends for the dig to take a break and try to find herself.

MIDDLE: Traits, struggling for transparency while keeping secrets. Knows who Morrigan is but to expose him is to expose herself. She leaks the story to Helen about Olivia’s lab and Olivia blows up on her. Conflict of worldviews ensues.

END: The artifact and what happens to it tests her loyalties and who she wants to be depends on what choice she makes.

THAD PARKER

Role: Historian and Atticus’s friend given an opportunity by Atticus while struggling to survive while saving for Grad school.

Noteworthy traits: Bitter, opportunist, proud, sympathetic.

Intriguing history: Dad a janitor at a museum and member of a secret society.

Intrigue: To document rise of new secret order for Ph.D. Thesis and wants to join it and rise in it.

Mystery: Will Thad betray Atticus to help Morrigan and his own future career? What is he trying to accomplish? Whose side is he on?

Drive the conflict: His bitterness and desire to advance beyond his station in life cause him to conflict with both Atticus, Morrigan, Olivia, and Sophie while he becomes the key in what happens to the artifact when Atticus finds it.

Irony: Knows history but doesn’t learn from it. Tries to use logic but acts emotionally.

Intriguing relationships: Morrigan, Atticus, Sophie, Olivia, Kieran Hawthorne, Helen Voss, Charlotte Foster, and archaeologist Mortimer Greenfield.

START: History major who has to pause studies to save money for Grad school deals with the challenge of saving money while struggling to survive. Joins Atticus for an opportunity to both make money and pursue the topic for his Ph.D Thesis.

MIDDLE: Traits, tests loyalties when Morrigan has the means to solve his problems, both scientific and academic. Offered a chance to be in the order but must betray Atticus to do so.

END: He steals the artifact from Atticus and gives it to Morrigan.

[Adite Banerjie]

Adite’s Character Descriptions

What I learned: I can quickly create interesting character descriptions by focusing on key traits and elements from the BW Framework profile and combining some of the most intriguing parts.

Characters

Simone Mehta, a brilliant banker and fiercely protective single mom, faces a chilling conundrum as a routine fund transfer gets entangled with the abduction of her 10 year old daughter. She is thrust into the perilous realm of tech-savvy kidnappers linked to cryptocurrency. As financial investigators close in, Simone initiates her own covert inquiry into the world of cyber mercenaries, forging unexpected alliances, in a relentless pursuit to rescue her daughter. Her perilous journey not only unravels a dark conspiracy that threatens to destroy the banking system, but also exposes shocking secrets about her own family’s involvement. Her quest could turn out to be a huge gamble leading to both her imprisonment and the endangerment of her child.

Jai Arora, an uncompromising police officer, has been sidelined in his career due to his unyielding commitment to truth. Haunted by a profound sense of failure, he carries the weight of an unfulfilled promise to his father—that he would protect his younger brother, Kunal. When tasked with investigating the enigmatic banker Simone, he discovers a personal connection to the case—Kunal’s unresolved disappearance. As he secretly assists Simone in her illegal operations to rescue her daughter, his internal struggle intensifies. Torn between loyalty to the truth, his job and his growing attraction for Simone, he risks exposure to his superiors who may hold the key to his brother’s disappearance.

Maddy, a genius cryptocurrency entrepreneur with a twisted sense of justice, hides behind a philanthropic facade to orchestrate a criminal network of tech-savvy kidnappers. Betrayed and sent to prison by a former partner, Maddy seeks revenge on society by exploiting bright students as cyber mercenaries. Unknown to Simone, her father was one of those who had betrayed Maddy and she is unwittingly entangled in Maddy’s vengeful game. As Maddy’s genius unfolds in a relentless pursuit of payback, the cracks in his malevolent empire threaten not only the kidnapped victims but also the very foundation of the banking system he aims to destroy.

Bella, a scorned financial expert, is haunted by a traumatic exit from the bank she once worked in with Simone, her competitive rival and former friend. Bella, an orphan who seeks respect, allies with Maddy, a genius in cryptocurrency with questionable morals. Entangled in Maddy’s unholy activities and driven by a misguided belief that Simone orchestrated her downfall, Bella’s quest for revenge unveils a web of dark secrets and moral dilemmas that threaten not only Simone’s ruin but force Bella to confront the deadly consequences of her own actions.

[Bob Creager]

Bob’s Character Descriptions

What I learned: The AI put my thoughts together in a meaningful way.

2. Select a main character and answer the following questions:

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[Deanne]

Deanne’s Character Descriptions

What I learned while doing this lesson: don’t get careless about keeping my room locked up.

1. Tandy Takuma, retired dietician, café co-owner and long-time town leader, is a devious Pollyanna who uses her cheerful nature and political savvy to manipulate people in a sincere effort to improve the world. Behind the scenes, though, she has hidden ambitions and a closet full of skeletons she wants to keep locked up. When former homeboy Lee Roberts moves back into town, Tandy guesses his intention to spread fascist ideology. As a victim of racist attacks herself, Tandy is determined to throttle Lee before he can spread his poison throughout her town. But she can’t bad-mouth Lee in public. He was a football hero, the town’s golden boy, and still has the community’s affection and respect. Criticizing Lee might cost Tandy re-election to the County Board of Supervisors or even the School Board. And if Lee attacks back, that closet full of skeletons might get knocked open in the fray.

2. Dieter Jergens, principal of one of the town’s elementary schools, is the student body’s best friend by day, Antifa crusader by night, striving to gain the town’s respect and be a role model for students and his own kids despite his disruptive history. The problem is, his School Administrator façade is an act, one of the many personalities he can project, thanks to acting classes. The role is confining. Sometimes he needs to break out of that character and become Malcolm X with a school bus. . . especially after Lee moves back into town.

3. Jorge Baltierra. As a yard maintenance specialist in three towns, Jorge runs his one-man landscape business with grit and determination, always on the lookout for new clients. This surly leaf-blower guy may not talk much, but he sees plenty, sometimes things people don’t want him to see. A few years ago, he filed a report with the FBI and now he works as an informant, eyes and ears for an organization that helps him find clients who need watching. With Lee in town, Jorge’s going to find a lot of work.

4. Lee Roberts, after his perfect life as a high school hero in a small town, Lee became an invisible nobody in the big city. Furious that people no longer worshipped him, Lee found friends who taught him who to hate. Now Lee believes the resurgent Aryan Nations will bring him back to a position of power and fame. Then Aunt Dolores calls: Uncle Ned’s auto shop blew up and before it could be rebuilt Ned disappeared. All is forgiven. Dolores needs Lee to come back home and help her cope. Lee is eager to move back into the small pond where it’s easy to be the Big Fish. It helps that Ned and Dolores have a large house that can’t be seen from any road – a perfect gathering place for the people Lee intends to recruit.

[Gayla Betts]

Gayla Betts Character Descriptions

What I learned doing this assignment is how to use AI input to hone my descriptions to get more precise.

Title: Starlight Café

Format/Genre: One-hour fantasy/drama series

Concept: A young woman discovering her magical abilities must navigate a portal to her mysterious past or risk destroying humanity.

Intriguing World: Through a hidden portal on Earth exists another world – that of sidereal astrological beings residing amount the stars – including the elusive 13th sign, Ophiuchus – where guarded alliances that may threaten both worlds have been forged.

START: Present the character as someone we can relate to.

MIDDLE: Conflict, intrigue, and issues.

ENDING: A final punchline that hooks us and sends us into the future of the story.

Jess Harper Character Pitch:

Jess is a college student pursuing her passion in journalism against the wishes of her father, who happens to be the President.

When her latent magical abilities begin to emerge, she wants answers to long-held secrets involving the fate of her mother who died when she was born.

Only through a forbidden portal into a world beyond the stars, will she find what she seeks, though she risks destroying a delicate balance between worlds and everything she holds dear.

Lilah Thornwood Character Pitch:

Lilah is the magical Protector of a mystical portal in the Starlight Café between Earth and the Sidereal world who has committed the gravest sin of falling in love and secretly marrying a human.

Lilah must maintain her secret and protect her native world when she meets Jess who could upend everything.

Lilah makes a decision to become politically involved in a conflict that could irrevocably change both worlds.

Gabriel Frost Character Pitch:

To secure his royal magical line, Gabriel Frost needs to marry and produce an heir.

When he recognizes who Jess might be, he believes he’s found the solution, and puts on the full court press, aware that Lilah could expose his agenda.

Too late, he realizes he may be walking into a trap from which he cannot extricate himself as their relationship entangles them into political layers that could destroy everything he’s trying to protect.

Caroline Jackson Character Pitch:

Caroline Jackson, the ambitious wife of the vice president, has been blackmailed into being a double agent investigating the president’s knowledge of a magical realm.

To keep her secret truly safe, she concocts her own plan for control over the portal, which has farther-reaching consequences than she imagined.

She recognizes Jess as the linchpin to her ruthless goals and sets in motion a scheme to gain her confidence which may culminate in more than she’s bargained for.