Lesson 3

[Allie Theiss]

Alison’s Characters for Horror

I learned during this assignment that I did not realize the different character styles in a horror movie.

1. Concept and Group:

Concept: A group of six art history students and their professor spend the night in a museum with a cursed painting. The old guard, bound to the painting, lures them toward their doom. Their souls become trapped as the painting consumes them, visible only as paint dots.

Group: Social Group (college art history class).

2. Dying Pattern:

Pattern A: The characters are killed off until only the blind student and one other remain.

3. Characters:

Leader (Claire): An ambitious student determined to analyze the cursed painting in depth, confidently leading the group. She is dating Derek.

Innocent/Blind Student (Emily): Shy, reserved, and passionate about art despite her blindness.

Complainer (Jake): A sarcastic student who constantly complains about being in the museum overnight.

Out of Control (Derek): Bold and reckless, Derek tries to confront the guard and solve the mystery through force rather than reason. He is dating Claire.

Moral One (Sarah): A compassionate student who believes there is a way to save everyone.

Red Herring (Max): A mysterious student who seems to know more about the museum’s dark history than he lets on.

Professor (Dr. Harrison): A knowledgeable art history professor who accompanies the students, she initially dismisses the legends surrounding the painting but quickly becomes desperate to find a rational way out as the danger escalates.

[Zachary Hunchar]

A Fright At The Museum! I love that the one who survives is blind. However, I guess she creates through touch. Or maybe she has terrible eyesight, and her glasses get destroyed early.

[Allie Theiss]

I like the idea for her with bad eyesight and her glasses getting broken or lost. I appreciate your idea!

[Diane Keranen]

Diane’s Characters for Horror
What I learned doing this assignment is that a group of online friends can be very similar online but very different from each other and when they get in an in-person crisis, their personalities start to stand out as a valuable part of the group.
My CONCEPT: A group of Alcatraz Island tourists discover an area not included in the tour and decide to ditch the tour and explore on their own.
The GROUP I have chosen: A group of prison buffs interested in the horrible ways prisoners have died while incarcerated. They range in age from 18-30 and just met, in person, on this trip to visit Alcatraz.

The DYING PATTERN of this movie: Pattern B, but three die and the others survive together.
• The first victim’s death seems accidental (crushed by rocks let loose by running underground water).
• The second victim’s death not, they witness the person drown while water behaves in a strange way.
• A third victim is a close call but doesn’t die; they see a Great Escapee made of water flees. This wakes the group up to what could be going on.
• The fourth victim, a third death, shows that the group must figure out how to leave, they must combat the water-ghosts to save their lives.
An IDENTITY OF EACH CHARACTER that makes up my group.
Leader: Frankie, 30, the online group leader and organizer of the group trip to visit Alcatraz. Knows everyone’s interests in the group and presses each to contribute to their self-tour.
Out of Control Know-it-all: Blake, 18, has all “the answers” for everyone. Always interrupting and correcting others.
Loner: Travis: 19, keeps to the margin, likes to observe others observing the chambers, catches the details that others miss.
Monster Bait: “Ghoulie,” 18, only uses his gamer-nickname. Awkward in real life, always in a hurry to “get” the monster first in order to “win” the game. Approaches life that way.
Historian: Cal, 22, bookworm, she actually knows folklore, rumors, and myths. Friends with Vincent and this is the first time they actually meet. They have some good chemistry.
Tag-Along/Rescuer: Jorge, overheard the group planning to go off-tour and followed them. He knows more about the Island and the water than the others who are focused on the prison.
Moral One: Harold, 22, just graduated from college, majored in Forensic Science, and about to go to the Police Academy. Interested in fixing a broken prison system.
The Carrier: Vincent, 25, has been on many tours of many prisons. Quiet, just loves traveling with others but not very chatty. Friends with Cal who he becomes protective of.

• This reply was modified 7 months ago by  Diane Keranen.

[Zachary Hunchar]

An Alcatragedy!

[David Wetzel]

Dave Wetzel’s Characters for Horror

What I learned doing this assignment is that just as in Situational Comedy, the horror genre has it’s own Universal Characters as well.

1. Tell us your Concept and the Group you have chosen. Outcast college coed preparatory school students between the ages of 13 and 18 and the Administrative Assistant and janitor who has befriended them.

2. Tell us the Dying Pattern of this movie. Alone in their rooms at night or in the locker rooms

3. Give us an Identity and a sentence for each character that makes up your group.

Moral One – WILLIAM HARPER “JOHNNY” LITTLEJOHN (16) tall, gangly, biology, archaeology and geology student, loves all things science and biology related, religious, very shy.

Rebel / Rule Breaker – JOHN “RENNY” RENWICK JR (16) African American, tall, large build, engineering wiz, loves to wrestle and box in his spare time.

Monster Bait – THOMAS “TOM” ROBERT’S (16) short, skinny, pale as a sheet, electrical wiz, has bad asthma which is worsened by extreme exertion but is controlled with twice monthly injections and daily medication.

Love Interest or lovers – MISAKI “MARLEY” BROOKS (15) Asian, small, cute girl, extremely intelligent, sharp wit, likes to practice fencing and martial arts Bo staff fighting. Marley is very attracted to Terry but too shy to say anything.

Leader – TERRENCE “TERRY” LEE JR (16) tall, wiry, dark skinned, intense, has Asperger's syndrome, is the unspoken leader of the small group of outcast students. When one of the students is killed and another student goes missing, Terry and the gang try to find out who or what is abducting and possibly killing students at the school. They eventually enlist the reluctant help of Jennifer.

Introvert / Loner – JENNIFER WEATHERLY (24) naturally attractive, recovering opioid addict now one-year sober, attempted suicide survivor by opioid overdose, administrative assistant as the school, synesthete. A person with synesthesia may mingle with sound, taste with touch, etc. The senses are cross wired. For example, when a digit-color synesthete sees or just thinks of a number, the number appears with a color film over it. Since Jennifer’s attempted suicide (she was clinically dead for two minutes) her synesthesia has since manifested in way that allows her to visualize a person’s true nature in form of a colored “aura” around that person in certain stressful or heightened situations. For example, a dangerous person may have a red aura around them etc. Jennifer eventually learns that the best way to begin to love yourself again is to help someone else in need (or in danger).

Rescuer – NEVILLE “NEAREST” GREEN” (late 60’s) African American, school janitor, a former priest in the armed services who lost his faith, Iraq war veteran, former alcoholic, now sober. Nearest can relate to Jennifer’s struggles and self-hatred and being ashamed of her mistakes but he sees the natural goodness in her too. He likes the outcasts, the gang of misfits and wants to help. He knows that there is evil lurking in the church / school and wants to help destroy it too.

The Carrier – DEACON MALUM [David Dastmalchian] (49) is a visiting deacon to the school from Europe who allows the monster to rise from hell (from a portal in the bowels of the school). Jennifer can see the red aura of evil around Deacon Malum in Act III of the story

• This reply was modified 6 months, 4 weeks ago by  David Wetzel.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 4 weeks ago by  David Wetzel.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 4 weeks ago by  David Wetzel.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 4 weeks ago by  David Wetzel.

[Zachary Hunchar]

Knicknames are what keep people alive in this story!

[David Wetzel]

Thanks Zachary!

[Timothy Barley]

What I learned from doing this assignment is that I had these characters in mind from the beginning, I was just working on a way to kill them off! But, I found a way to boil them down first before remaking them more fully.

CONCEPT: A group of social media influencers invited to a secluded Long Island off-season beach house must survive each other and their murderous doppelgängers inhabiting their worst traits.

Social event/social group type

Character:

Influencers:

1. Mason – The Leader
– Identity: Mason is the self-proclaimed leader who tries to take charge, but his arrogance makes him more of a liability than an asset as the group turns against him.

2. Riley – The Rescuer
– Identity: Riley positions himself as the moral compass and caretaker of the group, always trying to help, but his performative empathy becomes his downfall.

3. Lily – The Innocent
– Identity: Lily is the fragile, anxious one who seems harmless, often needing protection but gradually revealing hidden strengths in the face of horror.

4. Sophia – The Out of Control / Obnoxious One
– Identity: As an OnlyFans star, Sophia’s shameless, brazen attitude and desperate thirst for attention make her stand out. She lashes out, seeking control in all the wrong ways.

5. Cassidy – The Complainer
– Identity: Cassidy is the vain beauty influencer who constantly whines about the conditions around her. Her narcissism keeps her focused on trivial things, even as chaos unfolds.

6. Tyler – The Rebel / Rule Breaker
– Identity: The conspiracy theorist influencer who constantly challenges authority and refuses to play by the rules, which sometimes helps and sometimes makes things worse.

7. Zara – The Introvert / Loner
– Identity: The cynical photographer who stays distant from the group, observing from the sidelines and always skeptical. Her instincts about the sinister happenings are sharp, but she keeps to herself.

8. Jonah – Monster Bait
– Identity: The tech mogul whose arrogance and refusal to believe in anything he can’t explain makes him a prime target. His wealth and success can’t save him from his fate.

9. Brooke – The Carrier (The one who brings the horror to the group)?????
– Identity: The adventurous influencer, initially unsuspecting, who inadvertently attracts the attention of the doppelgängers through her exploration of the mirrors and reflections.

Other Characters:
10. Vivian – The Host (The Monster)
– Archetype: The Carrier/The Monster
– Identity: Vivian, the mysterious once-revered influencer from pre-social media days, now a cold, calculating doppelgänger, is both the source of the horror and the one who unleashes it on the influencers. She orchestrates the whole event to entrap and replace them.

11. Conrad – The Groundskeeper (The Red Herring)
– Identity: A mysterious figure, Conrad appears to know more than he lets on, and his aloof behavior casts suspicion on him as an accomplice or even a threat.

12. Maria – The Housekeeper (The Sacrificial Lamb)
– Identity: The quiet and seemingly unimportant housekeeper who meets a grim fate early on, signaling the arrival of the horror.

13. Jake – The Pool Technician (Monster Bait)
– Identity: The lighthearted and oblivious pool tech, who provides a brief moment of levity before falling prey to the doppelgängers.

Die-Off Pattern:

First to Die:
– Maria (The Sacrificial Lamb): Killed early, perhaps brutally and off-screen, to demonstrate the severity of the threat and that no one is safe, setting the tone for the escalating horror.

– Brooke (The Carrier): Her exploration or selfie-taking near a reflective surface inadvertently draws out the first doppelgänger. She is the first influencer to die, symbolizing how curiosity and thrill-seeking in the influencer world can lead to devastating consequences.

Next to Die:
– Jonah (Monster Bait): His arrogance leads him to dismiss the warnings and threat, only to be taken in a gruesome, ironic death that emphasizes his blindness to the danger right in front of him.

– Cassidy (The Complainer): Her obsession with her appearance leads to her demise, as her doppelgänger exploits her vanity, perhaps pulling her into a mirror as she’s fixing her makeup.

Middle of the Movie:

– Conrad (The Red Herring): The group suspects Conrad of being complicit, only for him to die in a way that proves he’s just another victim. His death adds to the confusion and paranoia among the group.

-Jake (Monster Bait): He dies suddenly, almost comically, but his death shifts the tone back to seriousness. He’s caught in the crossfire of the unfolding terror, reminding everyone how unpredictable the doppelgängers are.

– Sophia (Out of Control / Obnoxious One): Her reckless ambition drives her to betray someone, but she’s outmatched by her doppelgänger, who exploits her desperation for fame and attention. Her death is visceral and reflects the darker side of her persona.

Final Deaths:
– Riley (The Rescuer): His self-proclaimed empathy backfires. His reflection manipulates him into thinking he’s saving someone, only for him to walk into a deadly trap, possibly involving a reflection of someone he trusts.

– Mason (The Leader): His arrogance and need to maintain control leads to his downfall. His doppelgänger tricks him into believing he can control the situation, only for him to be overtaken in a climactic battle.

Survivors:
– Tyler (The Rebel / Rule Breaker): His paranoia and instincts pay off, allowing him to survive. He pieces together the truth about the doppelgängers’ nature and, despite his reputation as the conspiracy theorist, manages to outlast the rest.

– Zara (The Loner) or Lily (The Innocent): One of these two survives alongside Tyler. Zara, with her skeptical, detached approach, might keep herself out of danger by thinking critically and trusting no one. Alternatively, Lily’s innocent nature could be her shield—she doesn’t engage with her reflection as much as the others, and this keeps her safe.
Final Standoff:

– Vivian (The Host): In the final moments, either Tyler or Zara/Lily confronts Vivian and realizes she’s not who she appears to be. Vivian, being a fully-formed doppelgänger, hints at the larger threat, leaving the door open for a sequel as she seemingly disappears or is only temporarily defeated.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 4 weeks ago by  Timothy Barley.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 4 weeks ago by  Timothy Barley.

[John Amato]

What did I learn?

Taking the time to create rich characters is pivotal to making the horror element thrive. I hadn’t thought much about the different patterns they fall into..

1. Tell us your Concept and the Group you have chosen.

An amateur ghost hunter team is trying to become famous enough to get a network show, and they don’t mind using props to up the scare level.

2. Tell us the Dying Pattern of this movie.

6-8 people working on the show. Commit a heinous act. Almost everyone dies.

3. Give us an Identity and a sentence for each character that makes up your group.

Harry: Ghost hunter: He is the frontman. He is in great shape, attractive, and intelligent, but he has a psychopathic edge.

Charlie is a co-host. His family has money. He is not as bright as Harry, but he is in sync with Harry’s vision as they try to manipulate their viewers.

Jackson: The cameraman with an ego who wants to be a real director.

Kevin: The second cameraman. He's quiet, does what he is told, and wants to fit in.

Jessica: Charlie’s girlfriend who scouts locations, does social media and PR, is very attractive, and may be having an affair with Harry.

Sheila: She runs the lighting. She comes from an abusive family dynamic. She is a bit overweight and kind but not confident.

Belch: He runs the sound and always does dumb things he thinks are funny.

Nerd: Video tech. He has pale skin, is overweight, is shy, and is very smart underneath his shyness, but he is teased the most.
(I may cut the characters down)

• This reply was modified 6 months, 4 weeks ago by  John Amato.

[Dean Burkey]

Dean's Characters for Horror

What I learned doing this assignment is how to get a god complex and choose who lives and who dies. ;oP

Tell us your Concept and the Group you have chosen.

Concept: A mist envelopes an isolated seaside town.

Group: The townspeople.

Tell us the Dying Pattern of this movie.

Each one disappears. One by one.

Give us an Identity and a sentence for each character that makes up your group.

Main Characters:

1. Anna (Young Mother)

Role: Anna is a central character who symbolizes hope and resilience. She is driven by her love for her young son, and her primary motivation is to protect him. She tries to form connections with the other survivors in an effort to fight against the Myst's power. Anna's maternal instincts and determination to save her child serve as the emotional core of the story.

2. Marcus (Elderly Widower)

Role: Marcus represents the vulnerability of loss. Haunted by the voice of his deceased wife, he succumbs to the Myst's whispers, unable to bear the isolation any longer. His character highlights the Myst’s ability to exploit grief and the emotional weight of losing loved ones.

3. Claire (Reclusive Artist)

Role: Claire is a loner by nature, having pushed people away for years. Her character is used to illustrate how self-imposed isolation can be just as dangerous as imposed loneliness. She is unable to trust others, which ultimately leads to her isolating herself further and becoming an easy target for the Myst.

4. Daniel (Village Schoolteacher)

Role: Daniel represents guilt and the burden of responsibility. As a teacher, he feels responsible for the children who have vanished, and this guilt eats away at him, making him susceptible to the Myst’s influence. His arc shows how guilt, when left unaddressed, can lead to self-destruction.

5. Dr. Evelyn Hart (Psychologist)

Role: Dr. Evelyn Hart is the voice of reason within the group. She begins to understand the nature of the Myst and tries to explain its rules—that it feeds on isolation and despair. She urges the group to stay connected and support each other, but her warnings are ignored as paranoia takes over. Evelyn's role is crucial in revealing the true nature of the Myst to the audience.

These are the main characters for the main part of the story.

A different set of characters appear in the post-traumatic twist ending.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 4 weeks ago by  Dean Burkey.

[Micki Hess]

Micki’s Characters for Horror
What I learned doing this assignment is knowing which characters are going to unfortunately die and how they are going to die, it was kind of fun doing this assignment. Another layers add to the plot.
1.Tell us your Concept and the Group you have chosen.
Concept:
Looking into a mirror will kill you!
On Friday the 13th, a mysterious hotel materializes, trapping those who enter for one night. Ruled by an ancient curse, the hotel commands a terrifying beast that stalks the guests through mirrors, forcing them to confront their deepest fears before dawn—or be consumed by both the beast and the hotel itself.
For “The Mirrorbound Hotel”
A. Put 6 to 8 characters together and kill them off one by one would be the best dying pattern.
This pattern builds suspense and tension as each character succumbs to the terror in unique, horrifying ways, especially when they look into the mirrors and lose parts of themselves. The group dwindles as the curse escalates, leaving the survivors increasingly desperate. It would follow a classic horror structure where the deaths become more gruesome and personal, creating a rising sense of dread.
2. Tell us the Dying Pattern of this movie.
In “The Mirrorbound Hotel,” each character’s death follows a pattern where they face their deepest fears, ultimately leading to their demise as the creature in the mirror takes a body part from them. Here’s how the dying pattern could play out for each character:
1. Ben (The Sacrificial Lamb):
Death: Ben is the first to die after innocently glancing into the mirror while fixing a light. His fear of being unnoticed leads the creature to steal his eyes, leaving him blind and helpless as it finishes him off. His death sets the tone for the others, showing how real the threat is.
2. Jake (The Rebel / Rule Breaker):
Death: Jake, ignoring all warnings, deliberately looks into the mirror out of defiance. His greatest fear is losing control over his own body, so the creature steals his limbs one by one, leaving him paralyzed before delivering the final blow. His cockiness turns into terror as he realizes the consequences.
3. Emily (The Innocent):
Death: Emily’s fear of being worthless is manifested when she looks into the mirror. The creature takes her voice, symbolizing her lost ability to express herself as an artist. She tries to warn the others but is rendered mute, ultimately being consumed by the creature in a quiet, heartbreaking death.
4. Danielle (The Complainer):
Death: Danielle’s fear of ugliness and imperfection comes to life. After looking into a mirror to mock the curse, the creature steals her face, leaving her disfigured and in agony. Her death is slow and filled with horror as she desperately tries to hold onto her beauty and identity.
5. Kevin (Monster Bait):
Death: Kevin’s fear of being helpless and weak comes true when he accidentally sees his reflection. The creature steals his heart, causing him to suffer a slow, agonizing death from fear and panic, clutching his chest as his life fades away.
6. Sarah (The Carrier):
Death: Sarah feels overwhelming guilt for bringing everyone to the hotel. When she looks into the mirror, the creature takes her hands, symbolizing her inability to fix the situation she started. She tries to save the others, but the guilt overwhelms her, leading to her demise.
7. Liam (The Moral One):
Survival: Liam’s fear is being unable to save the ones he loves. He might sacrifice himself by looking into the mirror to save someone else, and the creature takes his heart or brain, leaving him emotionally or mentally broken. Alternatively, his morality might help him survive by resisting temptation and never looking in the mirror.

8. Maya (The Leader):
Final Survivor: Maya, the leader, may be the last to face the creature. Her fear is losing control or failing to protect the group. She could face a final showdown with the creature, where she either manages to outsmart it or dies heroically, with the creature stealing her voice as she tries to command one last time.
This pattern not only kills the characters off one by one but also deeply ties each death to their personal fears, adding psychological horror to the physical terror.
3. Give us an Identity and a sentence for each character that makes up your group.
Here’s an identity for each character in “The Mirrorbound Hotel” group, with one defining line that captures their role and personality:
1. Maya (The Leader): A sharp, no-nonsense businesswoman who refuses to believe in curses, determined to keep the group calm and find a way out.

2. Jake (The Rebel / Rule Breaker): A cocky thrill-seeker who thinks the warnings are a joke—until he’s the first to look into the mirror.

3. Sarah (The Carrier): The event planner who organized the stay at the hotel, horrified to realize she’s the reason they’re all trapped in this nightmare.

4. Ben (The Sacrificial Lamb): The quiet maintenance worker who innocently checks the mirrors while fixing a light, becoming the first gruesome victim.

5. Emily (The Innocent): A sweet and shy artist who came for inspiration, now caught in a web of terror as her own fears of self-worth are turned against her.

6. Kevin (Monster Bait): The nervous accountant who’s always sweating and easily panicked, making him an easy target for the lurking creature.

7. Danielle (The Complainer): A cynical and sarcastic travel blogger who constantly mocks the others and whines about the hotel’s old-fashioned décor, until she’s faced with real danger.

8. Liam (The Moral One): A med student who insists on helping the injured and refuses to abandon anyone, even when the odds of survival grow grim.
This ensemble would allow for a wide range of interactions, tensions, and dynamics as they confront the deadly curse of the hotel.

[Timothy Allen]

Tim Allen Characters for Horror

I learned from this doing this assignment, is that giving your characters more to their individual characters makes the concept and plot more interesting.

Concept: Thrills seekers take a vacation to visit a new concept adventure park designed to scare to beyond your imagination, hence making you a much stronger person consciously.

Dying Pattern: B; each character experience the horror beyond the camp's provision, but only three dies and three survive.

Characters: Kniles; he complains about everything the group does but is still thrilled to be involved.
Whittaker; a serious rebel who has been to prison numerous times and brags he doesn’t fear anything.
Rueben; Leader/Carier responsible for convincing the group to try this new camp.
Followers: Ron, Jarred, and Christie the three survivors but left mentally stained.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by  Timothy Allen.

[christopher Cochran]

Chris Cochran’s Characters for Horror

What I learned doing this assignment: You need to maximize the dynamics in your characters to make them memorable and push the story through their differences.

After a plague has decimated the world, a group of scientists and doctors trek weeks to a remote rocky coast where they seek out the remaining scientists of the Infections Disease Institute. Once they reach the island a creature hunts them down for food. They all die except for one.

Leader: Ray(45)- she is a fierce and brilliant doctor. She knows the Institute is close to a cure and they need to get there to complete the work.

Innocent: Violet(65) Grandmother who lost everyone. She was picked up by the group on their way up the coast.

Complainer: Martin(52) Scientist, highly intelligent, and loathes the lower standard of living after the plague.

Out of Control: Delaney(28). Snarky intern to Ray, lacks fear due to suicidal tendencies.

Rescuer: Winston (70). Doomsday prepper. Tons of survival knowledge. In better shape than anyone else.

The Moral One: Chase. (45). Zoologist. Firm believer in Darwin. Able to sacrifice for the greater good of the group.

Monster Bait: Bruce (German Shepard). Monster kills him first.

[Karyn Laitis]

Subject: Karyn L. – Character for Horror
Lesson 3 – Assignment 3

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that the characters can provide wonderful elements to bait a monster of superior intelligence.

Concept: Four explorers/researchers enter a cave to retrieve the body of the twin sister of the lead explorer only to discover perfectly preserved remains of ancient human and alien civilization.

Group: It is a group of professionals—Jean-Leader, forensic anthropologist (twin sister), Brett–archaeologist, Cameron “Cam”—astroarcheologist/technologist, Margaret (Maggie) indigenous studies/ancient petroglyphs expert.

Dying Pattern: Cam is badly injured in Act 1 and presents a Turning Point he becomes separated but re-unites at Turning Point 2-end of Act 3; Brett dies at the Midpoint; Jean faces the dilemma of her sister’s disappearance in Act 4 and she succumbs to injuries. Cam and Maggie survive with Jean’s twin sister (Carly).

Identity-Characters:

Leader: Dr. Jean Lester-She is an experienced cave explorer (spelunker), forensic archeologist. She is driven by her twofold mission—retrieve her sister’s body and finish what her twin sister (Carly) started before she died, in this cave.

Rebel/Carrier: Brett Halston-He is an experienced cave explorer, archaeologist interested in antiquities and money.

Rescuer: Cameron Sobu—astro-archeologist/technologist. He understands elements of space and alien technology. He is the “MacGyver” wizard of the group.

Moral/Introvert: Dr. Margaret (Maggie) Barnard—Professor of Indigenous studies and ancient communications, petroglyphs, cuneiforms, hieroglyphs. She has an elevated understanding of the cave.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by  Karyn Laitis.

[Ryan Benson]

Ryan’s Characters for Horror
What I learned doing this assignment is that there are set types of characters that the audience expects and these are there for a reason. It helped me to see several of my characters and groups fit into these groups and there are others I have to further tailor.

1. Tell us your Concept and the Group you have chosen.–Concept–A newly unemployed man named Cas, sees a horror in his surburban neighborhood, but is literally incapable of stopping the horror in front of him. Family and neighbors begin to question his sanity. My group is a social group of neighbors. However the two main characters are outsiders in that group.

2. Tell us the Dying Pattern of this movie.—B. The characters experience the terror and survive together, but one or two die.

3. Give us an Identity and a sentence for each character that makes up your group.
Leader: Cas- protagonist. Newly unemployed family man who is the only one who can see the spirits but cannot affect them in any way. Nevertheless, he does not give up.

Rescuer/Introvert Loner: Aisha- twenty something woman who lives with her parents. Seems a bit aimless but also wise or at least more confident than Cas. Becomes interested in Cas’s behavior and then forms a friendship.
Sacrificial Lamb: Alberto -One neighbor Cas is friends with at beginning. He is among the first that is murdered by the spirits.

Lover: Cas’s wife- She puts up with Cas’s ‘craziness’ for a while but then starts to tire of his antics as they begin to cast suspicion on him as the neighborhood killer. Later she is threatened by the spirits at the end. The spirits finally involve Cas’s life, but he is still powerless.

Innocent: Cas’s children- threatened by the spirits at the end. The spirits finally involve Cas’s life, but he is still powerless.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by  Ryan Benson.

[Zachary Hunchar]

Zachary’s Characters for Horror

What I learned doing this assignment is that I’d love to learn more about these tiny nuggets presented.
1. Concept and the Group. THRILL SEEKERS – Friends looking to blow off steam at a near-abandoned ski resort.
2. Tell us the Dying Pattern of this movie. – 8 Friends who are quickly getting killed.
3. Give us an Identity and a sentence for each character that makes up your group.
1. The Carrier: April Wagner is the trip organizer. Her life is out of control because she is sloppy, and her world is crashing down. She’s not the nicest person but puts on a fake smile.
2. Leader: Essie Bishop is an extremely intelligent astrophysicist engineer about to make a major career change—everyone’s big sister.
3. Innocent: Trevor Willis is the youngest of the bunch and as smart as Essie but shy. Crushing on her, but too scared to say anything.
4. Obnoxious: Cody Kendrick is a trust-fund attorney who thinks he’s better than EVERYONE. Unbelievably obnoxious and self-centered.
5. Introvert: Jeff McKinney is the only group member without a college degree. Mechanic. He hides his sexuality and buries himself in cars.
6. Conplainer: Ian Stewart is an openly gay and struggling actor who can be charming but also very loud.
7. Rebel: Valerie Burns is Cody’s girlfriend and is in medical residency. Used to the lifestyle Cody provides but doesn’t want to be married or mother to the philanderer. Being pulled into family practice, but wants to be a plastic surgeon.
8. Love Interest: Lance Nash is April’s boyfriend, though he’s losing interest because of her poor choices. He is an all-American athlete type and works for his father’s investment firm.

[Brian Bull]

BRIAN BULL – Characters for Horror

My Vision: I’m a writer that producers want to work with and can’t wait for my next script!!!

“What I learned from doing this assignment is…?” Picking and choosing my characters for this script was super easy for me and a lot of fun.

ASSIGNMENT

Tell us your Concept and the Group you have chosen.

CONCEPT = A group of 4 college graduates are road tripping to California, one of the four has unknowingly been bitten by a werewolf while he was in England a month earlier, and the full moon is tomorrow.
GROUP = Social Group – The characters are part of an existing social group. Examples include families (THE PURGE, INSIDIOUS), co-workers (SEVERANCE), classmates (JENNIFER¹S BODY), or close friends (IT FOLLOWS).

2. Tell us the Dying Pattern of this movie.

DYING PATTERN = A. Put 6 to 8 characters together and kill them off one by one.

3. Give us an Identity and a sentence for each character that makes up your group.

LEADER: James – responsible, drives the car, successful at everything he does. Adventurous – brings a metal detector for Ghost town.
LOVE INTEREST: Mary – James’ girlfriend; generic girlfriend figure who will go anywhere for James.
OUT OF CONTROL OBNOXIOUS: Charlie – party’s all the time, James’ best friend and his alter-ego. Brings a Colt 6-shooter to fire during their visit to a ghost town.
COMPLAINER: Zoey – friend of Mary’s who kind of likes Charlie, if he wasn’t such a jerk all the time.
THE CARRIER: The one that brings the horror to the group – Henry – After graduation from college, went to Europe for a month. While in England, he was attacked by large “dog” and stayed in the hospital for observations. He left the hospital in the middle of the night – that was a month ago. The moon is full tomorrow night and Henry is feeling a bit “hungry.”
MONSTER BAIT: Sammy – RV-er who happens to be camping nearby.
MORAL ONE: Molly – Sammy’s wife, a bit religious, senses something isn’t quite right.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by  Brian Bull.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by  Brian Bull.

[Renee Johnson]

Renee’s Characters for Horror
What I learned… I was thinking of my boring story with the usual bad boy suspects and realized with this assignment what it needs. More Cow Bell!!!
They are All Sinners. Diirty Rotten all of them and all deserve what they get. Hopefully the audience will see it my way.

They will be One by One, set up, BAM-boozled and slowly have their last breath squeezed out of them.

Ahhhh what fun. Great assignment. Thanks Hal.

[Suzanne Thomas]

Suzanne’s Characters for Horror:

“What I learned doing this assignment is…?” The biggest takeaway for me would be categorization techniques, especially when it comes to personalization of the victims/survivors of the group. Very helpful in determining the personalities of the characters targeted by the monster.
1. Tell us your Concept and the Group you have chosen. Lead character/Monster bullied by a group of classmates festers over lifetime about plotting revenge towards these 5-6 individuals; Social Group-Classmates
2. Tell us the Dying Pattern of this movie. A: 5-6 being targeted one by one
3. Give us an Identity and a sentence for each character that makes up your group. LEADER, RESCUER, MORAL ONE, COMPLAINER, OUT OF CONTROL, THE CARRIER
Unnamed Male 1: Leader-Group seems to follow his direction based off of his status/popularity at school, even if they have doubts.
Unnamed Male 2: Out Of Control/Obnoxious-Group already deems him the wildcard as you never know what he will do or suggest and accepts his behavior.
Unnamed Male 3: Complainer-Always seems to have issue with decisions made or directions considered within group; always wants to disagree with the majority.
Unnamed Female 1: Moral One-She always looks at each decision with a moral compass and tends to operate with empathy.
Unnamed Female 2: Rescuer-She is level headed and tends to strategize her directions; strong willed and determined to survive.

Example: Leader: Without much consideration, Mike sets a direction, then inspires or pushes the group to go there. Hopefully, he guesses the right direction.
4. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” See above.

[William Sokolic]

SUBJECT: The alien girl takes the name Brenda, says she is the housekeeper, hired to see that the new gadgets run correctly. She is tech versed, with a degree in Astrophysics from UGA. Leader wondering why he was not notified if your presence.

1. Tell us your Concept and the Group you have chosen. Alien crash lands on Earth one co-pilot dead. The other uses powers to become convincing woman who speaks language and breaks into a well-appointed home in the Alabama woods just off the Aerospace campus. A group of five scientists plan to spend a weekend at the house unaware of the unexpected visitor.
2. Tell us the Dying Pattern of this movie. Kill characters one by one, without revealing the killer, but two survive.
3. Give us an Identity and a sentence for each character that makes up your group. VP of Mars Human Probe, Chris. She’s the leader of the group. Second in command and her love interest is Sheila. All six are brilliant minds. Terence is the doubting Thomas convinced Mars mission is a pipe dream, but his math comprehension skills are invaluable. Braden volunteered to be among initial set of astronauts; he’s gung-ho. Hendy, the lone black guy has mixed feelings about the mission. It’s a cost factor not a skill factor. He wants to prove he belongs. Frederick or Freddy, known as the collector. His job is to map landing and travel stations for more relevant locations.
Example: Leader: Without much consideration, Mike sets a direction, then inspires or pushes the group to go there. Hopefully, he guesses the right direction.
4. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work. How the group will not only act as a match for the alien skill set but learn more than any computer printout. Of course, if the alien is a blood-thirsty monster such learning is out the window.

Comparisons: Alien with a monster with an advanced brain and a degree,