Lesson 3

[mark.napier2022@gmail.com napier]

ASSIGNMENT 3 (Mark Napier) Profiles People

“What I’ve learned that is improving my
writing is….?”

What I learned during this exercise was realizing and adapting personal experiences of ‘Human Traits’ from my interactions with real people to applying how my characters in a fictional or true story would interact with one another to come across as real behavior. To simply say a character in the script is to be portrayed as Charming requires a demonstration that the audience can relate to as being authentic in a film.

Question 1 and 2 are encapsulated into questions 3, 4, and 5.

3. Name the people Person 1, Person 2, and Person 3, and list their 4 core
traits.
Person 1 (Ct): Extreme Person: Temperamental and Caring; Daffy and Kardashian
Person 2 (C): Good Guy: Respectful and Trustworthy; Suspicious and Deceptive
Person 3 (J): Bad Guy: Deceptive and Egotistic; Respectful and the ‘God Father’

4. Interact with them, knowing their traits, and see if they respond in a
way that is consistent with those traits.

5. Post the results of your testing and how their traits stayed the same
or changed.

My test subjects could may have well as been the ‘Three Stooges.’ But I chose three people that I have had close and continuous contact with over the years. Two are homeless people I have assisted in getting off the streets. The last one is a very well to do businessman.

Person 1: is the Extreme Person who has a fiery Temperamental temper and is quick to fly off the handle when things do not go as planned. He even broke his hand hitting a wall in anger. Every day he comes with another story that not only has him stressed out, but his mere presence starts to raise my blood pressure. He is a very sweet and Caring person and will give the shirt off his back when he can hold down a job but is otherwise ‘a flaming hemorrhoid in the ass of life’ to those around him. He lacks common sense being the Daffy person he is and constantly asks me to do the most mundane things that he himself could ‘Google’ if he took the time to research it. As a result, he can be very needy and is high maintenance. Did I forget to mention he is a Millennial? Yes, he is a ChaCha Queen and very concerned about his ‘Kardashian’ image. His hair, eyebrows and clothing has to be a certain way. The car (a Jaguar) that he cannot afford is a glorified Plymouth with the name Jaguar attached. When he parks at the beach by the parking meter…he does not pay. So he racks up tickets as ‘money is no object’ to Cleopatra.

Person 2: is the Good Guy who is very Respectful and thoughtful around others. He maintains a light footprint to not overstay his welcome and is grateful for whatever assistance that can be provided. He is Trustworthy to call upon when assistance is needed for whatever task is at hand, but he otherwise does not pay visits. He is quick to assist his aunt and other family members and when he comes into my place I know nothing is going to be stolen. He does have a Suspicious side to him where he lacks trust in others as if he perceives he is being judged by the type of simple question you can innocently ask. It is as if he is a wounded animal or is being stalked like prey. I suspect his prior years of homelessness played a role in his behavior. He does have a Deceptive side to him whereby when he contacts me by phone late in the evening that he is unexpectantly on his way over. In essence, he seeks to use my place to layover in inclement weather, until his true intentions for his visit become apparent that he was just burning time until his friends he intends to go partying with become available. Last time it was raining and when he tried it, I said I had a visitor (which was true) and for the first time he chewed me out.

Person 3: is the Bad Guy who is Deceptive in his ulterior motives as a businessman. He looks out for himself and is shrewd in surrounding himself with other businessmen from other industries that can give him an edge. He pretended to be the loving husband until two weeks after his wife’s funeral where he proclaimed her to be ‘the love of my life.’ Then two weeks after the funeral, a large box of KY Gel is found, then the pictures from his wife that sat by his bed side were faced backwards then turned back to where you viewed them. This went on for 6 weeks following the funeral until one day his late wife’s photos were placed outside behind the bar. He proceeds to erase the history and existence of his wife from the home and declares a girlfriend whom he just met two months after the wife’s funeral is now moving in. He is Egotistic in how he plays his role in the community sitting on business councils as President and seeking community roles that highlights his ego and he wants the fame , glory and recognition, but at the end of the day it is those positions that give him insider information that grows his fortunes and areas offshore to place his wealth from the prying eyes of the IRS. He is Respectful in his encounters with others who he knows has a skill he requires. Each year he Spring cleans from his mansion and takes all the expensive and unique goods to his place of business to allow his employees to take what they want and the rest to charity. He loves Christmas goes out of the way to overly decorate the home and place of business for the holiday to include throwing parties at his company and giving away again expensive gifts that any normal employee could not afford. He engages in community events for children, though of course with the twist of free advertising to promote his business. Nonetheless, it makes for good public relations and many approach him as if he were the ‘God Father’ of advice and assistance. He was once a cocaine addict and serves to intervene when needed as well, but he is always there to give his worldly advice as if his approval is needed.

• This reply was modified 1 day, 5 hours ago by  mark.napier2022@gmail.com napier.
• This reply was modified 1 day, 4 hours ago by  mark.napier2022@gmail.com napier.

[Mary Albanese]

What I learned — I came up with four traits for each person. But after considering their actions, I had to add a fifth trait that I never realized before. Maybe by putting a character in a proposed situation, it can help discover what their traits are. Maybe traits and actions don't only go one way, from trait to action. But also from considering a hypothetical action or situation to discovering their traits.

Person 1. Traits: Smart, does funny whacky humorous extreme things (although maybe this isn’t a trait but a consequence of her traits), high anxiety, insecure. I might add – extremely focused like a dog with a bone that won’t let go.
Interaction – Her daughter goes on a field trip to South Africa and doesn’t call her right away. She contacts her senators, state reps, and has the air force doing fly-bys tracking down her daughter to make sure she is safe. Totally extreme actions, from an anxious mind that conjures all kinds of possible disaster, smart enough to pull it off, but so clueless what a massive problem this has created for the daughter.

Person 2. Traits: Creative, insecure, competitive, self-absorbed. I will also add – inflexible.
Interaction – he claims to be a strong, talented person. But unable to congratulate colleagues on their success. Doesn’t realize he’s not strong, he’s brittle and fragile. When the boss asks for changes on a deal, he can’t change it the required way. He loses a major contract and becomes suicidal.

Person 3. Traits: Smart, hard-working, identifies as a victim, so overly sensitive to her own feelings that it inhibits empathy for others. I will also add skilled at passive-aggressive manipulation to get what she wants, without considering the consequences for others.
Interaction – stays with a relative without asking permission, causing huge potential problems she’s totally oblivious to. Expects everyone to consider her needs before their own. Completely unaware her intrusion nearly caused lethal complications for others.

• This reply was modified 11 hours, 12 minutes ago by  Mary Albanese.
• This reply was modified 11 hours, 11 minutes ago by  Mary Albanese.

[Chris Dorsey]

What I’ve learned that is improving my writing is incumbent on knowing how my characters would behave, as it relates to their core traits, in scenes.

Person 1: charming, thoughtful, lazy, and manipulative. This is the kind of person who would charm you into doing a favor for you and have you thank them for doing it.

Person 2: funny, confident, domineering, and self-serving. This is the kind of person who would bend the rules because no one is going to tell them otherwise… until they get caught.

Person 3: kind, intelligent, anxious, and manipulative. This is the kind of person who will steer others in a direction that soothes their own anxieties — and they’re good at it too.

[Jeremy Kirk]

Jeremy Kirk: Profile People

What I’ve learned that is improving my writing is: Even the bad guy will hold the door for a little old lady before detonating a bomb in the bank.

Person 1
Loyal
Good-natured
Friendly
Self-destructive

Person 2
Humorous
Smart
Passive
Addict

Person 3
Bully
Cruel
Racist
Friendly

The litmus test for Person 1 was rather easy. He tends to get self-destructive while drinking. So, apply ample amounts of alcohol and watch him piss me off, his wife, make a fool of himself etc., etc.

The litmus test for Person 2 is rather difficult as they have passed away. However, Person 2 was a good friend who had a hidden fentanyl addiction. This ultimately took his life.
The litmus test for Person 3 was an individual I was friends with in my youth. This person was a bully, cruel to people weaker than himself and an inherit racist (his father taught him these things). But he was a friend to me until one day I just had enough and never sought his company again.

• This reply was modified 2 hours, 38 minutes ago by  Jeremy Kirk.