Lesson 3

[ATAUR BACCHUS]

ATAUR’s ENGAGING MAIN CHARACTERS

What I learned doing this assignment: Sellable is NOT = likeable, quirky or relatable.

ASSIGNMENT 1 – FROM CHOSEN SHOW, HOUDE OF CARDS

Frank Underwood: He is a power-hungry Democratic congressman. Conniving. Machiavellian.

A) Role in the show – Protagonist. Driver of the plot.

B) Unique Purpose and/or Expertise – master of political manipulation.

C) Intrigue: Hides evil intentions from other characters.

D) Morals – Immoral, crosses every moral boundary

E) Unpredictable – Bold and ruthless moves

F) Empathetic – challenges audience to question their own morality

Zoe Barnes: Ambitious journalist, Enters into a sexual relationship with Frank Underwood, in exchange for stories and sources.

A) Role in the show – Antagonist, Frank Underwood’s mistress.

B) Unique Purpose and/or Expertise – Talented journalist, uses charm and courage to get stories.

C) Intrigue – Willing to take risks. Dangerous relationship with Frank Underwood, who uses her for his own benefit.

D) Morals – She crosses moral boundaries

E) Unpredictable – e.g. confronting Frank

F) Empathetic – Curious, ambitious, exposes corruption in Washington D.C.

ASSIGNMENT 2 – FROM MY PROPOSED SERIES – PROVISIONAL TITLE – THE ROAD THAT ZIG-ZAGS

Journey of show – Innocent characters get in on a construction project in Guyana, in which unknown to them, the true agenda is mineral exploration at the expense of indigenous people and the environment. The main character Diego undergoes a transformation from a naïve and idealistic engineer to a brave and principled activist.

Diego: Protagonist, but it’s the world of conspiracies against him that drives the show.

A) Role in the show – Protagonist, audience surrogate, who discovers the real agenda of the road project.

B) Unique Purpose and/or Expertise – Canadian Engineer, originally from South America. Skilled engineer with a passion for Nature and Culture.

C) Intrigue – Secret alliance with Indigenous people and the environment, which puts him in conflict with his employer and local corrupt officials.

D) Morals – Dilemma between duty to his employer and his personal values.

E) Unpredictable – Risks life and career

F) Empathetic – Represents the common man who cannot be bought.

Leila: Undercover Journalist disguised as road technician. Diego’s love inroad Construction

terest.

A) Role in show – Discoverer of sham, which puts her in danger

B) Unique Purpose and/or Expertise – Journalism, Road Construction.

C) Intrigue – Secret identity and mission. Hidden past and motive

D) Morals – Dilemma – expose the corruption, or protect Diego and the Indigenous people from the consequences.

E) Unpredictable – Surprises everyone with daring and passion.

F) Empathetic – Challenges power and stereotypes

[Marie Jordan]

Marie’s engaging main characters.

What I learned doing this assignment is that it helps focusing on the essential parts of the characters before fleshing them.

Assignment 1

My example show: Bridgerton

Journey:

Daphne must marry before the end of the year and wishes to find love and friendship in her future husband. The only man that ticks the boxes, Simon cannot get married.

Characters that sell the show: Daphne and Simon

A – Role in the show

Daphne: the diamond of the season, the most beautiful woman ready to be married.

Simon: the most eligible bachelor.

B – Unique purpose / expertise

Daphne: purpose = going through the process of balls and visits to choose one amongst the young men.

Simon: purpose = he is there to sort out his father’s estate after his father’s death but doesn’t want to be chased by the mothers of all the young ladies of the town.

Expertise = he knows what love is.

C – what secrets are beneath the surface?

Daphne: Pretending to love Simon.

Simon: he made a vow on his father’s death to never have a child so his name would die with him.

D – Moral issue, what moral boundaries are they crossing?

Daphne: pretending to be courted by a duke in order to attract other suitors, lying to her own family.

Simon: letting Daphne fall in love with him despite his vow, playing the game a little too long.

E – Empathetic – Why do we care?

Daphne: she found what she was looking for: love and friendship in one man, Simon. But she loses it when he breaks up abruptly.

Simon: he knows Daphne is the right match for him. He is in love with her but he cannot impose her a marriage without children. So he must sacrifice his love and let her marry the prince.

Assignment 2

MY OWN SHOW

WORKING TITLE: HOUSE MARKET

(After the prompt, are my own notes before consulting AI)

PROMPT: For each of the [main characters] for this [genre] about this [concept], please brainstorm the [Character Basics] of that character that fits this TV series well.

Character Basics =

Characters: Kayla and Austin

A – Role in the show:

Kayla: student on holidays, helping the business

Austin: manager of real estate family business

B – Unique purpose / expertise:

Kayla: (purpose) save the business (expertise) It expert

Austin: (purpose) inherit of the business (expertise) manager

C – Intrigue

Kayla: when she is unable to return to Paris, due to her mum’s terminal illness, her possessive boyfriend in Paris, king of a group of international bad hackers, hacks the business to challenge her (as she knows too much about his group’s activities), to destroy the business and to make her come back to Paris.

Austin: was involved in the death of a girl a few years before. Kayla had to give him a false alibi but was he innocent as he claims? When her family’s house is on sale, it triggers new information. His school friend who has always been a bully, knows about it and is now member of a gang.

D – Moral issue

Kayla: around lying – as she bet with her mum, now in a coma, that she wouldn’t lie, she realizes she could not save the business without using lies, and covering her brother.

Austin: around getting the best deal for his company selling the dead girl’s family home while it is the worst deal for the family.

E – Unpredictable

Kayla: If she would return to Paris, the Cyber attack would be resolved but she wouldn’t be there in Auckland to care for her family who need her.

Austin: He believed he could get some help from his school friend and the gang but would this endangered even more the company?

F – Empathetic

Kayla: she thought she was living the dream in Paris but lost her illusion.

Austin: he is manipulated by his school friend, the man who caused the girl’s death.

Genre = 1 hour drama

Concept = In Auckland’s tumultuous real estate scene, KAYLA, bets with her unexpectingly dying mother to never lie to buyers, turning her proclamation into a risky, game-changing strategy amid a cyber attack and an uncertain future for the property market, endangering the small family’s business.

______________________________________________________________

CHATGPT’S ANSWER:

Character Basics for TV Series: “Auckland Lies”

A – Role in the show:

1. Kayla:

<ul type=”circle”>

2. Role: Student on holidays, assisting the family business.
3. Unique Purpose: To save the family business from a cyber attack and navigate personal challenges.
4. Expertise: IT expert, using her skills to counteract cyber threats.
5. Austin:

<ul type=”circle”>

6. Role: Manager of the family real estate business.
7. Unique Purpose: To inherit and sustain the family business amidst a turbulent real estate market.
8. Expertise: Effective managerial skills, striving to maintain the company’s stability.

B – Unique purpose / expertise:

3. Kayla:

<ul type=”circle”>

4. Purpose: Saving the family business from a cyber attack initiated by her possessive ex-boyfriend in Paris.
5. Expertise: Proficient in IT, using her knowledge to counteract the hacking attempts.
6. Austin:

<ul type=”circle”>

7. Purpose: Inheriting and preserving the family business.
8. Expertise: Managerial skills, dealing with the complexities of real estate, especially when faced with personal and ethical dilemmas.

C – Intrigue:

5. Kayla:

<ul type=”circle”>

6. Intrigue: Forced into a predicament when her past in Paris resurfaces, bringing a cyber threat to her family’s business.
7. Twist: The involvement of her possessive ex-boyfriend, the kingpin of an international hacking group, creates a dangerous and personal challenge.
8. Austin:

<ul type=”circle”>

9. Intrigue: Haunted by a mysterious death, needing Kayla’s false alibi, and discovering unsettling secrets during the sale of a family home.
10. Twist: A former school friend, now part of a gang, holds information that could unravel Austin’s life and the family business.

D – Moral issue:

7. Kayla:

<ul type=”circle”>

8. Moral Issue: Struggling with lying, breaking a bet with her dying mother to save the family business.
9. Dilemma: The conflict between loyalty to family and the moral values she vowed to uphold.
10. Austin:

<ul type=”circle”>

11. Moral Issue: Balancing the best deal for the business against the well-being of a grieving family.
12. Inner Conflict: Wrestling with the ethics of exploiting a tragic event for the benefit of the real estate company.

E – Unpredictable:

9. Kayla:

<ul type=”circle”>

10. Unpredictable Element: Choosing between resolving the cyber attack in Paris or staying in Auckland to care for her vulnerable family.
11. Consequence: The resolution of one dilemma intensifies another, creating an unpredictable chain of events.
12. Austin:

<ul type=”circle”>

13. Unpredictable Element: Relying on a questionable alliance to save the business, unaware of potential dangers.
14. Consequence: Every decision made could either salvage or further jeopardize the family business.

F – Empathetic:

11. Kayla:

<ul type=”circle”>

12. Empathetic Aspect: Relating to her disillusionment in Paris and discovering the importance of family during crises.
13. Growth: Evolving from a carefree student to a resilient individual facing challenging moral dilemmas.
14. Austin:

<ul type=”circle”>

15. Empathetic Aspect: Manipulated and haunted by the past, struggling to redeem himself.
16. Redemption Arc: The journey of self-discovery and overcoming manipulation, striving for redemption and familial loyalty.

This character foundation provides a solid base for “Auckland Lies,” a 1-hour drama filled with suspense, moral complexities, and unexpected twists in the Auckland real estate landscape.

[Rashit Ismail]

<div>What I learned about this module is how the two main characters carry the show and are surrounded by secrets and intrigue at several levels whether in their private or public lives.</div><div>
</div><div> For each of the [main characters] for this [genre] about this [concept], please brainstorm the [Character Basics] of that character that fits this TV series well. Character Basics = A. Role in the show: B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? F. Empathetic: Why do we care? </div><div>
</div><div> Genre = biopic historical thriller</div><div>
</div><div> Concept = “Fortune’s Fugitives”: Dona Gracia wages a perilous war against the Inquisition, orchestrating a human smuggling network while fending off her sister’s vendetta in this riveting renaissance historical thriller.</div><div>
</div><div> Main characters = </div><div>
</div><div> Dona Gracia Mendes: Unique Role: Takes on the Inquisition, fights her sister Brianda, and orchestrates a major human smuggling operation. </div><div>
</div><div>Secret or Intrigue: Uses her merchant ships to smuggle crypto-Jews to the Ottoman Empire. </div><div>
</div><div>Brianda Mendes (sister of Dona Gracia): Unique Role: Aims for her inheritance and enjoys a luxurious lifestyle, attending parties with nobility.</div><div>
</div><div> Secret or Intrigue: Possesses irresistible beauty and is determined to achieve her desires.</div>

Dona Gracia Mendes: A. Role in the show:

• Central protagonist leading the resistance against the Inquisition and managing a clandestine network for human smuggling.

B. Unique Purpose/Expertise:

• Financial genius with a vast network of merchants and ships. Expert in diplomatic negotiations and strategizing against the Inquisition.

C. Intrigue:

• Beneath the surface, Dona Gracia is secretly driven by a personal tragedy – the loss of her family to the Inquisition. This fuels her determination to save others from the same fate.

D. Moral Issue:

• Dona Gracia grapples with the moral dilemma of putting innocent lives at risk for the greater good. The constant struggle to balance righteousness with the necessity of her actions adds depth to her character.

E. Unpredictable:

• Her unpredictable actions stem from her desperation to outsmart the Inquisition. Willing to take extreme measures, including forming unexpected alliances, to ensure the success of her human smuggling operation.

F. Empathetic:

• Audiences empathize with Dona Gracia because of her tragic past and her relentless fight against the oppressive Inquisition. Her compassion for the persecuted creates a connection with viewers.

Brianda Mendes: A. Role in the show:

• Primary antagonist, fueled by personal vendetta against Dona Gracia. Explores the opulent side of Renaissance society.

B. Unique Purpose/Expertise:

• Socialite and manipulator, skillful in navigating the aristocratic circles. Uses her charm and cunning to achieve her goals, contrasting with her sister’s more overt methods.

C. Intrigue:

• Beneath her glamorous facade lies a dark secret – her loyalty to the Inquisition. She manipulates the social elite to serve the interests of the Inquisition, creating a complex web of deception.

D. Moral Issue:

• Brianda grapples with the morality of her allegiance to the Inquisition, torn between familial loyalty and personal ambition. Her internal conflict adds a layer of complexity to her character.

E. Unpredictable:

• Brianda’s unpredictable actions arise from her desire for power and revenge. Willing to betray even her closest allies to achieve her goals, keeping viewers guessing about her next move.

F. Empathetic:

• While Brianda is the antagonist, her vulnerability and internal struggle with her choices make her a more nuanced character. Audiences may find themselves torn between disdain for her actions and sympathy for her internal turmoil.

<div>
</div><div>
</div>

[Hiram Taylor]

Hiram Taylor

1.

I am still watching Succession. Logan is out of the hospital and has taken over the CEO role again at his company, which upsets everybody. Ken especially. The 4 children have defined their characters more through the ordeal of trying to kiss up to their ill father and get around his wife. It is still hard for me to figure out who I should be cheering for. I hate all of them. I cannot decide who the protagonist is, the Father, Logan with the 3 evil children? Or is Logan the antagonist depriving Ken his due and I should be on Ken’s side.

What have I learned from this? A writer does not need any likable characters if the story is compelling enough. I don’t think I can get through 8 seasons of this show that’s for sure. I have no idea why it is such a big hit. I discussed it with my manager and she said she hates the show too and thinks that I have worked with so many asshole people in my life by this age I really don’t want to deal with such people anymore. I think she may be right.

2,

My show. Working title only is FINDING RAYMOND. GENRE = Horror

1. Lily (30’s)

ROLE: Protagonist. Skeptical news reporter

UNIQUE PURPOSE: To expose the truth behind the sudden disappearance of a group of people which includes her cameraman and Raymond, Rivina’s husband.

EXPERTISE: Investigative journalism, tenacity, critical thinking skills, mystery solver.

INTRIGUE: Secretly harbors past trauma involving a missing loved one. Her cameraman just asked her to marry him before he disappeared.

UNPREDICTABLE: Will take reckless risks to get the story even if it puts herself and others in grave danger.

MORAL ISSUES: She questions the line between objective reporting and emotional involvement.

EMPATHETIC: We care because of her vulnerability, her yearning for answers, and her fierce determination to solve the crime and do the right thing.

2. RIVINA (40’s)

1. Role: Successful Spiritual Channeler with a large group of faithful followers. In the first episode, she will have a feud with Lily over a story about her church making the audience think she is the antagonist, but by the end she becomes friends with Lily. Rivina’s husband Raymond has disappeared and she pays Lily to find him and is supportive. She does not know about the cameraman. By the end of the first episode MADAM ROSA will be the series ANTAGONIST (covered next).

2. UNIQUE PURPOSE: Unraveling the mystery by using her spiritual powers which makes the story into the horror genre as they deal with the spirit world and evil entities.

EXPERTISE: Knowledge of the spiritual realms and connections to the unseen horrors of the 4th Dimension.

3. INTRIGUE: She talks with spirits and sometimes they take over her body and speak through her.

4. UNPREDICTABLE: She is haunted by visions of a dark force that might be taking her to the dark side herself. She does not know if she can really trust Lily and fears maybe Lily should not trust her.

5. MORAL ISSUES: Initially resists helping Lily fearing the consequences of revealing the truth. Is she helping the right side since Lily has no religious beliefs?

6. EMPATHETIC: Struggles with guilt because she feels she caused the disappearances by unleashing the spirit from the realm of darkness through her channeling. We care because of her inner conflict, her genuine desire to find her husband and her vulnerability to the entity’s power to possess her.

MADAM ROSA (60’S)

1. ROLE: The antagonist, a shadowy manipulator, poses as a healer but is a fake and practices witchcraft to get her results. She is the true cause of the disappearances.

2. UNIQUE PURPOSE: She is the human controlling the entity from the other dimension causing transformations in humans and making them disappear.

EXPERTISE: She has occult knowledge, and practices witchcraft spells and dark magic. She manipulates people and twists information

3. INTRIGUE: She hides a dark tragic past that fuels her obsession with the entity and her desire to practice evil.

4. UNPREDICTABLE: Will resort to any means necessary to protect her secrets and ruthlessly pursue her agenda.

5. MORAL ISSUES: She has no qualms about exploiting and endangering others for power.

6. EMPATHETIC: We may not condone her methods but understand her deep-seated pain that drives her actions.

.

[Moses Quainoo]

“What I learned doing this assignment is…?”

ASSIGNMENT 1:

Watch the next episode of your Example Show to see any places the lead characters might fit this model.

Example Show: Hijack

Season1 Episode 3

Lead Character:

Sam Nelson

Lead Hijacker

Air Traffic Investigator

Tell us the name and Engaging Profile answers for at least one character from your example show.

Lead Character:

Sam Nelson

A. Role in the show: A passenger on the flight from Dubai to London

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

To ensure the safety of the passengers and flight crew.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Sam will sabotage the Hijackers on the flight

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

ASSIGNMENT 2:

Now, do the process with your show.

1. Tell us the journey of your show.

JOURNEY:

SKYY LAR, a pigeon in London, lives a typical life alongside its flock. SKYY LAR heads to the market to search for food. It confidently enters a mall and accidentally gets its feet tangled in synthetic hair. SKYY LAR becomes completely immobilized and cannot break free.

EMMA, along with her mother and baby brother in a stroller, is walking by. EMMA locates SKYY LAR and contacts her mother, who retrieves a pair of scissors from a kit to remove SKYY LAR’s strings. SKYY LAR loses the left leg.

EMMA tries to imitate SKYY LAR by hopping on one leg but confesses her inability. EMMA and her mom designed a homemade prosthetic leg for SKYY LAR. SKYY LAR visits a London benefits office, to seek help, blurring the boundaries between human and animal rights.

SKYY LAR receives an enticing proposition from her mentor, the RAVEN. The RAVEN proposes an initiative to form a coalition of urban birds to address the challenges posed by human encroachment and environmental degradation.

This offer aligns with SKYLAR’s core motivations of community protection and wisdom sharing. SKYLAR has the chance to take on a leadership role and make a big difference.

SKYY LAR gains power and awakens to human-induced environmental destruction.

SKYY LAR recognizes its special talent for communicating with birds and humans. Rallying birds worldwide, it organizes a rebellion to stand against environmental neglect.

SKYY LAR encounters many obstacles, such as uniting various bird species, planning demonstrations, and safeguarding its flock.

SKYY LAR wrestles with moral dilemmas, including how far the rebellion should push for its cause and the ethical consequences of its actions, particularly when innocent individuals are affected.

The rebellion reaches its climax as birds confront a symbol of environmental harm, like the significant incident tied to the beauty industry. Five birds from five continents travel to the Grand meeting at Hackney Marshes in London with their stories. They are the Swift Kingfisher from South Africa, the South American Macaw, the North American Eagle, the Chinese crane, the Asian urban sparrow, and the dancing bird from Australia. The leadership of SKYY LAR needs to show wisdom, courage, and innovative thinking.

SKYY LAR’s leadership undergoes tests and requires wisdom, courage, and innovative thinking.

The journey of SKYY LAR and the fight for environmental justice continue.

2. Who are the main characters that will sell your show?

SKYY LAR

EMMA

RAVEN

DR. AVA GREEN

RAPHAEL (English
Trumpeter Pigeon)

3. Answer these questions for each of those characters.

1. SKYY LAR (Homing Pigeon)

A. Role in the show:

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

2. EMMA

A. Role in the show:

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

3. DR. AVA GREEN

A. Role in the show:

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

4. RAPHAEL (English
Trumpeter Pigeon)

A. Role in the show:

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

5. RAVEN:

A. Role in the show: SKYY LAR’S Mentor

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

4. Go to AI and use this prompt to generate another version of your characters:

PROMPT: For each of the [Main Characters] for this [Genre] about this [Concept], please brainstorm the [Character Basics] of that character that fits this TV series well.

(Character Basics) =

A. Role in the show:

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:
C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?
D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?
E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

Genre = 1 hour Drama/Family/Animation
Concept = SKYY LAR, a pigeon injured by human negligence, collaborates with a compassionate girl EMMA, in London to ignite a worldwide bird rebellion against environmental destruction, focusing on the beauty industry’s influence.

Main characters =

1. SKYY LAR:

Role in the show: The Unpredictable Leader

Unique Purpose / Expertise: Leader of the bird rebellion, skilled in communication with birds and humans.

Intrigue: Mysterious past and abilities, possibly linked to human activities.

Moral Issue: Struggles with the extent of the rebellion’s actions, balancing the cause with potential harm to innocents.

Unpredictable: Unpredictability in strategies for the rebellion and in interactions with humans.

Empathetic: Overcoming injury and adversity, fighting for a cause bigger than itself.

2. EMMA:

Role in the show: The Conscientious Ally

Unique Purpose / Expertise: Brings a human perspective to the rebellion, and bridges the gap between animals and humans.

Intrigue: Internal conflict with her family’s indirect support of the beauty industry.

Moral Issue: Navigating the clash between her family ties and her commitment to the environmental cause.

Unpredictable: Unpredictability in how she balances her family life with her role in the rebellion.

Empathetic: Young and innocent, her journey into environmental activism is relatable and inspiring.

3. DR. AVA GREEN:

Role in the show: The Innovative Scientist

Unique Purpose / Expertise: Develops environmental technology, and provides scientific insight into the rebellion.

Intrigue: Mysterious past with possible connections to the beauty industry.

Moral Issue: Ethical dilemmas in his scientific methods and past affiliations.

Unpredictable: Uncertainty in how he balances his scientific integrity with the needs of the rebellion.

Empathetic: His struggle with personal redemption and the ethical challenges of his work.

4. RAPHAEL (English
Trumpeter Pigeon):

Role in the show: The Doubtful Participant

Unique Purpose / Expertise: Holds a dual perspective, potentially acting as a mediator or a double agent.

Intrigue: Conflicted loyalties and possible double agent role.

Moral Issue: His decisions could sway the rebellion’s course, testing his ethics.

Unpredictable: His true allegiance and next moves are uncertain.

Empathetic: His internal conflict and the pressures he faces from both sides make him relatable.

5. RAVEN:

Role in the show: SKYY LAR’s Mentor

Unique Purpose / Expertise: Wise and experienced, offers guidance and proposes forming a coalition of urban birds.

Intrigue: The RAVEN’s long history and deeper understanding of human-bird dynamics.

Moral Issue: Challenges SKYY LAR to consider broader implications and responsibilities of leadership.

Unpredictable: The RAVEN’s methods and teachings might hold unexpected wisdom or challenges.

Empathetic: Represents the wisdom of age and the importance of mentorship in movements.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  Moses Quainoo.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  Moses Quainoo.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  Moses Quainoo.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  Moses Quainoo.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  Moses Quainoo.

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[Laurie Stoner]

Laurie’s Engaging Main Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is how difficult it is to develop all of this character work up front from scratch rather than developing it organically during plot development but AI really speeds up the process.

Assignment 1

The Americans

A. Role in the show:

<ul type=”disc”>

[Jean-Pierre Serra]

JP Serra’s Engaging Main Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is a character doesn’t necessarily need to be likable so that we care about him/her.

ASSIGNMENT 1:

The show I watched is Supernatural, S1E3.

Sam Winchester fits the model.

[Ashton Reech]

My TV Show’s Engaging Main Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is that I can create the depth that my main characters need if I do my best to flesh out these six elements of this model. And I could have completed this lesson in much less time if I had used the AI prompt as my first step.

Journey:

When Johnny and Steve are presented with an opportunity to make some fast money to get them out of debt and help their mother, find themselves transforming from poor, struggling, streetwise …. they find themselves caught up in a criminal underworld they know nothing about.

Main Characters: Johnny and Steve

A. Role in the show:

Johnny: Twentysomething telemarketer struggles to support his mother and ailing grandfather.

Steve: Looks for a get-rich-quick scheme to pay off his debt to local loan shark and take care of his family.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

Johnny:

Expertise: Natural salesman
Purpose: Make money to take care of his family

Steve:

Expertise: charisma, resourcefulness
Purpose: Start his own business and make money to pay back his loan

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

Johnny and Steve hide their weed smuggling business from family, friends, law enforcement, and the local organized crime boss.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

Is it okay for Johnny and Steve to smuggle weed, engage in violence, lie to their mother, kill people even if it’s self defense?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

Johnny and Steve rely on their talents and resourcefulness to overcome each hurdle, but they find themselves making ethical compromises and slipping deeper into a world of crime.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

Johnny and Steve’s father left them and their teen mother when they were very young forcing her to take care of two small boys on her own. As they grew up, Johnny and Steve learned to fend for themselves on the streets of Baltimore. Now in their twenties, they work menial jobs while their mother juggles a job and takes care of their ailing grandfather.

[Vernall Ritchey]

Subject line: (Vernall Ritchey’s) Engaging Main Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is the thought process that goes into how to create characters that are engaging.

ASSIGNMENT 1:

Example Show: 24 – Episode 2

• A. Role in the show: Jack Bauer head of the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU)

• B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

• Highly skilled CTU Agent.

[Rashit Ismail]

1. For your Inner Circle characters, fill in any of the Intrigue items that apply.

• Character Name: Dona Gracia Mendes
• Role: smuggle the crypto-Jews to safety in the Ottoman Empire
• Hidden agendas: Create a homeland for the crypto-Jews
• Competition: for keeping her independence, fortune and her real religious beliefs. With Emperor Charles V, her sister Brianda, the Pope etc..
• Conspiracies: Works covertly against the Inquisition by setting up a railroad to help Crypto Jews escape by using her own sea captains and merchant ships
• Secrets: burry the remains of her father in the holy land
• Deception: deceives the Inquisition, the Pope and Charles V
• Wound: her father took her to see crypto-Jews burned at the stake.
• Secret Identity: she is a crypto-Jew

• Character Name: Brianda Mendes
• Role: force her sister Dona Gracia to give her her part of the inheritance
• Hidden agendas: embrace the catholic religion so as to integrate with European nobility.
• Competition: with her sister Dona Gracia to get her inheritance
• Conspiracies: works with the Inquisition to denounce her sister as a crypto Jew in order to get her inheritance.
• Secrets: wants to become a true catholic
• Deception: Deceives her sister into thinking that she is on her side.
• Wound: her father always preferred Dona Gracia over her.
• Secret Identity: Is a true believer in Catholicism

• Character Name: Charles V Holy Roman Emperor
• Role: confiscate the fortune of the Mendes family by accusing them of being crypto-Jews.
• Hidden agendas: raise money to be able to wage his wars in Europe and against the Ottoman Empire
• Competition: competes with France and the UK over control of Europe and Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent to control the Mediterranean
• Conspiracies:works with his sister Queen Mary of Austria to convince Dona Gracia to marry her daughter to a Spanish nobleman to put his hands on Dona Gracia’s fortune.
• Secrets: wants to get rid of all non-Christians in the world
• Deception: deceives his sister to think that he is doing all this in the name of Christianity.
• Wound: Did not have the recognition he deserved as a child.
• Secret Identity: is part of a secret society whose goal is to eradicate Jews and Muslims.

• Character Name: Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent
• Role: provide refuge to Crypto-Jews and help Dona Gracia fight the Inquisition
• Hidden agendas: Weaken Charles V and the European powers and reduce their influence on the Mediterranean Sea.
• Competition: Charles V the Holy Roman Emperor to control the Mediterranean Sea.
• Conspiracies: Conspires with Dona Gracia to organize the embargo of the port of Ancona to weaken the Pope and Emperor Charles V
• Secrets: want to eventually conquer Rome and the rest of Europe
• Deception: Deceives the European powers with a Ring of spies that inform his actions.
• Wound: Had to kill his brothers to access the throne.
• Secret Identity: a true lover of Hurrem sultan, his favorite in the harem

[Rashit Ismail]

Dona Gracia Mendes:

• Intriguing Layers:
  1. Visionary Leader: Dona Gracia’s desire to create a homeland for crypto-Jews adds a visionary dimension, portraying her as a leader with a long-term goal beyond immediate survival.
  2. Sisterly Struggle: The intense competition with her sister Brianda, not just for inheritance but also for independence and religious beliefs, deepens the family drama and adds personal stakes.
  3. Historical Activism: Setting up a covert railroad against the Inquisition showcases her as a historical activist, contributing to a larger narrative of resistance against oppression.
  4. Traumatic Past: The emotional wound of witnessing the burning of crypto-Jews provides a powerful motivator, driving her to protect her people and rewrite their history.

Brianda Mendes:

• Intriguing Layers:
  1. Religious Transformation: Brianda’s pursuit of Catholicism to integrate into European nobility creates a complex internal struggle, questioning her loyalty to her family and personal beliefs.
  2. Sibling Rivalry: The competition with Dona Gracia for both inheritance and paternal approval intensifies the familial conflict, contributing to a nuanced portrayal of sibling dynamics.
  3. Betrayal Within: Working with the Inquisition against her own sister reveals a dark layer of betrayal, adding tension and unpredictability to the plot.
  4. Yearning for Acceptance: The wound of feeling neglected by her father adds depth to her character, fueling her desire to prove herself within European society.

Charles V Holy Roman Emperor:

• Intriguing Layers:
  1. Unrecognized Childhood: Charles V’s quest for recognition as an adult stems from childhood wounds, offering a psychological layer that influences his actions and decisions.
  2. Religious Extremism: His involvement in a secret society aiming to eradicate non-Christians adds a layer of dark fanaticism, showcasing the extremes he is willing to go to fulfill his goals.
  3. Political Machinations: The collaboration with Queen Mary of Austria to secure Dona Gracia’s fortune adds a layer of political maneuvering, depicting him as a cunning strategist.
  4. Humanizing Motivations: His desire to raise money for wars sheds light on the human side of a powerful ruler, revealing vulnerabilities beneath the authoritative exterior.

Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent:

• Intriguing Layers:
  1. Strategic Mastermind: Suleiman’s political calculations and desire to weaken European powers present him as a strategic mastermind, elevating him beyond a mere ally to Dona Gracia.
  2. Forbidden Love: His genuine affection for Hurrem Sultan contrasts with his political pursuits, adding a layer of vulnerability and humanity to a powerful ruler.
  3. Sibling Sacrifice: The necessity of killing his brothers to access the throne introduces a dark and ruthless side, exploring the sacrifices made in pursuit of power.
  4. Deceptive Tactics: Suleiman’s ring of spies and deceptive actions against European powers showcase his cunning nature, making him a formidable and unpredictable ally.

[SUNIL BATRA]

CHAPTER 3 ASSIGNMENT 1

THEY RICK FENELLY, DARLY AND CHIENESE GUY ESCAPE IN VAN and GOING TOWARD SHELTER AT ATLANTA. nick find his family and friend Shane and co on his way

RICK FENELLY IS THE most engaging character around whom the story revolved. shane is the cliffhanger and hook is the rick, and the guys.

assignment 2.

story revolved around HARRY.

major roles are muslim girl , john , paru, equally important are Jewish man and his chinese girlfriend.

role in the show. everybody gone through their own religious belief while paru a serious GUY narrating which god tell what and if there is different god or one god.

SECREAT behind. whose god will win.

harry is crossing moral boundary by attempt to marry Muslim girl.

unpredictable , will harry marry muslim girl’. was there any god if there is who is the god

why we care we are in journey to find God in hilarious way.

[Vernall Ritchey]

BWTV-AI Module 1 – Lesson 3:

Subject line: (Vernall Ritchey’s) Engaging Main Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is the thought process that goes into how to create characters that are engaging.

ASSIGNMENT 1:

Example Show: 24 – Episode 2

• A. Role in the show: Jack Bauer head of the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU)

• B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

• Highly skilled CTU Agent.

[Holli Castillo]

Holli’s Engaging Main Characters Assignment 3

What I learned doing this assignment is that AI kind of thinks like me, but does NOT like morally reprehensible characters.

Part 1:

The Morning Show: Corey Ellison

A. Role in the show:

Network president, boss of everyone except Fred, the other network president.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Unique purpose:

Corey is newly hired and is trying to shake things up at the Morning Show to improve ratings and draw in a bigger audience. He is a charming manipulator with a unique ability to see five steps ahead of everyone else as well as an uncanny innate ability to fix shit.

C. Intrigue:

He is either amused by or smitten with Bradley. No big secret has been revealed about him yet, but I do wonder about his motivation.

D. Moral Issue:

He seems to have no moral line he won’t cross in the name of improving the show’s ratings.

E. Unpredictable:

Because Alex named Bradley Jackson as the new co-host on the air, he has to maneuver a lot of people– the reporters who thought they were going to get the job, the show producer, the other network president, Alex, and Bradley. He manages to come up with just enough to placate everyone and make them think he is on their side. But since we know he isn’t on anyone’s side but his own, he’s likely to do whatever he needs to for the show, including firing people.

F. Empathetic:

He got screwed because of his own flippancy to Alex. She announced Bradley to take control from Corey after Corey told her she could quit and they ‘bought’ the award she was receiving that night. So he has to find a way to make it work so he doesn’t look like a jackass and so the station doesn’t look jackass adjacent.

ASSIGNMENT 2: Process with my show (working title) The Backwoods

1. Journey of show:

Lucy, a prosecutor, returns to her backwoods home to represent her estranged sister in a murder trial. In trying to exonerate her sister, Lucy uncovers family secrets and the small town’s government corruption. When the show starts, Lucy sees everything in right and wrong, black and white, and believes her sister is guilty. She is estranged from and embarrassed by her family. Through the season she begins to see the grays, until she is breaking the law to free her sister, and finally understanding the value of her family, no matter how shady they may be.

2. Who are the main characters that will sell your show?

1. Lucy- Protagonist

A. Role in the show: Prosecutor who turns defense attorney to save her sister from a murder charge.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Aggressive prosecutor, she also knows the tricks defense attorneys use in court. Smart and knows the law, can handle herself in court.

C. Intrigue: Lucy wasn’t as good as she seems when she was a prosecutor. She

D. Moral Issue: She must forego playing by the rules and following the law to defeat the corrupt local government in the town she grew up in so she can get her sister set free. She will also have to ignore her family’s constant criminal activity.

E. Unpredictable: When others don’t play by the rules, she changes her game to win.

F. Empathetic: Lucy comes from this horrible family, got out and got educated, and got sucked back in to defend her sister. She can’t turn her back on her sister, but really doesn’t want to be associated with them.

2. Chip – Antagonist

A. Role in the show: Small town assistant district attorney prosecuting Lucy’s sister.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: He seems a big dumb country boy but he’s really a shark and knows everything going on in the town, including that Lucy’s sister is not guilty.

C. Intrigue: He has sadistic proclivities he keeps well-hidden, but sometimes just can’t stop himself. Because his daddy owns most of the town, he gets away with shit all the time.

D. Moral Issue: He is prosecuting a girl he grew up with, trying to convict her of killing someone he knows she didn’t kill. He’s a bad guy, but he does feel some sense of guilt because of his relationship with Lucy’s sister. (He’s not a psychopath, just bad.)

E. Unpredictable: In his father’s shadow, he sometimes makes poor decisions on purpose, because then his father has to help cover them up. It’s how Trey proves to himself his father loves him.

F. Empathetic: Trey is a horrible person, but he’s funny and seems a little slow, and if he had been raised by a different father he probably would be a great guy. He’s a product of his environment.

3. Sharla – Lucy’s younger sister

A. Role in the show: She’s being prosecuted for killing her cop boyfriend.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Sharla’s an easy target. She has low self-esteem and a big heart, and doesn’t like to make waves or cause problems, so she’s easy to victimize.

C. Intrigue: Sharla has a well-hidden drug problem. Sharla resents Lucy for having made it out of the town and away from their mother.

D. Moral Issue: She does bad things to get drugs.

E. Unpredictable: Sharla’s motivation is driven by loyalty, but not always to her family. Her actions seem out of character, because no one else knows who her loyalties are to.

F. Empathetic: She’s a nice girl who is accused of doing something she didn’t do, a crime she could get the death penalty for if convicted.

4. AI’s version:

1. Lucy, the big-city prosecutor protagonist:

A. Role in the show: The determined protagonist striving to clear her sister’s name and unearth the truth behind the murder in the small town.

B. Unique Purpose/Expertise: City legal expertise and tenacity; adept at navigating complex legal systems.

C. Intrigue: Beneath the surface, Lucy is haunted by a dark family secret that connects her to the crime and makes her question her own family’s involvement.

D. Moral Issue: Lucy grapples with bending the rules and compromising her principles to expose the corrupt justice system in her hometown.

E. Unpredictable: Motivated by a mix of loyalty to her sister and a quest for justice, Lucy may take unexpected risks or unconventional approaches to solve the mystery.

F. Empathetic: We care about Lucy because she is fighting not just for justice but also to protect her family, despite the shadows lurking within.

2. Trey, the small-town prosecutor who is prosecuting Sharla:

A. Role in the show: The local prosecutor with a strained history with Lucy, prosecuting Sharla and serving as a foil to Lucy’s outsider perspective.

B. Unique Purpose/Expertise: Deep knowledge of the town and its residents; understands the local dynamics and how justice is often compromised.

C. Intrigue: Trey’s past connection to Lucy’s family is shrouded in mystery, leading to questions about his true motivations and whether he can be trusted.

D. Moral Issue: Trey faces a dilemma between his loyalty to the town and his duty to uphold justice, raising questions about his willingness to overlook certain crimes.

E. Unpredictable: Trey’s actions are unpredictable as his loyalties waver between old alliances and the pursuit of justice, making it unclear whose side he is truly on.

F. Empathetic: Despite his local biases, Trey’s internal conflict and the pressure he faces in the corrupted system humanize him, making the audience empathize with his struggles.

3. Sharla, Lucy’s sister, charged with murder:

A. Role in the show: The accused sister whose innocence becomes the central mystery, driving Lucy’s quest to clear her name.

B. Unique Purpose/Expertise: Holds crucial information about the town’s criminal underbelly due to her connections; she becomes a key source of information.

C. Intrigue: Sharla is not as innocent as she appears; she has her own secrets that, when revealed, will complicate Lucy’s quest for justice.

D. Moral Issue: Sharla grapples with her own moral choices in the past and the consequences they now pose for her and her family.

E. Unpredictable: Sharla’s actions may be driven by a mix of self-preservation and loyalty, making it unclear whether she can be fully trusted.

F. Empathetic: The audience cares about Sharla because her fate is intertwined with Lucy’s, and her past choices add layers of complexity to the unfolding mystery.

This set of Character Basics aims to create a web of intrigue, moral dilemmas, and unpredictable twists, keeping the audience engaged in the unfolding mystery.

[Jenifer Stockdale]

This is lesson 2 – I could not put it on either of the Lesson 2 forums, so I am posting here so I can move on.

What I learned doing this assignment – I have had the basic premise of this story floating around in my head for awhile. I thought Izzy was going to have grown up within a drug family, but something AI wrote (?) triggered in my head that she was born in Mexico and was taken to the US when her family was killed. AI can really help to trigger things in your mind, even if it doesn’t tell you something,

A. Main Characters Circle: Wednesday, Enid, Thing, Tyler, Sheriff, Xavier, Bianca, Rowan Principal Weems

B. Connected Circle: Therapist, house mom, Morticia, Gomez, Eugene, mystery girl that looks like Wednesday

C. Environment Circle: students, townspeople

Calculated Risk – first suggestion for title, and not bad, at least for a working title.

A. Main Characters:

1. Isabella “Izzy” Rodriguez

· Unique Role: High School Math Teacher

· Secret or Intrigue: Izzy uses unconventional methods, incorporating drug references into her math lessons, to engage her students and inadvertently gets involved in their dangerous world. My addition – Izzy actually has a past with the world of drugs. She was the daughter of a drug kingpin who was taken away and raised by a foster family when the rest of her real family was killed by a rival drug gang. That rival drug gang thinks they killed her (maybe her sister had a friend over and the police used her as a cover for it being Izzy). Izzy has a vendetta and is using her students to get to them.

2. Carlos “CJ” Juarez

· Unique Role: Street-Smart Student

· Secret or Intrigue: CJ, one of Izzy’s students, discovers her accidental involvement in their drug world and becomes a bridge between the students and the street-level drug dealers. I like him –

3. Detective Marcus Ramirez

· Unique Role: Seasoned Detective

· Secret or Intrigue: Marcus suspects there’s more to the recent crimes involving students than meets the eye. As he investigates, he uncovers a link between the students, Izzy, and the drug trade.

4. Sofia “Spark” Martinez

· Unique Role: Charismatic Drug Dealer

· Secret or Intrigue: Spark, a street-level drug dealer, takes an interest in Izzy’s math skills and sees potential in using her to expand their operation. She becomes both a mentor and a threat to Izzy.

B. Connected Characters:

· Principal Anita Wallace

· Role: School Principal

· Interaction: Anita is unaware of Izzy’s involvement but notices the positive change in the students’ engagement. She unwittingly becomes a key factor in protecting Izzy from scrutiny.

· Raul “Razor” Rodriguez

· Role: CJ’s Older Brother

· Interaction: Razor is a small-time drug dealer who wants to keep CJ away from the dangerous world he’s involved in. His actions inadvertently affect Izzy’s choices and decisions.

· Elena “Echo” Garcia

· Role: Tech-Savvy Student

· Interaction: Elena aids CJ and Izzy by using her tech skills to navigate the digital aspects of the drug trade. She becomes a valuable asset in their attempt to protect themselves.

· Tony “T-Bone” Gonzalez

· Role: Troubled Student

· Interaction: Tony is directly affected by the consequences of the drug trade. His story weaves into Izzy’s journey, highlighting the real impact of

· her unintentional involvement.

· Adding Susanne Morris

· Izzy’s “mentor”

· thinks that her guidance has helped Izzy to be a good teacher, reach students

C. Environment Characters:

1. Officer Rodriguez

· Job: School Resource Officer

2. Ms. Garcia

· Job: School Counselor

3. Coach Thompson

· Job: Physical Education Teacher

4. Mr. Patel

· Job: Science Teacher

5. Mrs. Hernandez

· Job: School Nurse

[Jenifer Stockdale]

Lesson 3 – Engaging Main Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is that AI is racist – as soon as I mentioned that there were drugs involved, all of the character names given were Hispanic!

Wednesday Addams:

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