Lesson 3

[Karen Christine Angermayer]

Karen Christine´s Assignment – my own project THE BUG

What I learned doing this assignment is that the intrigue and the suspense of also the villain and the red herring require some thoughts to make those characters on a par to the hero.

Part 1: My Big M.I.S.

Big Mystery: Who kills former strangers and puts them together as a family?

Big Intrigue: A young former paralegal whose aim is to take revenge for a trauma in his past.

Big Suspense: Will Tessa find and stop this psychotic guy? Will she save her children in time? Will she be killed by him? Will the life of her best friend who helps her be affected, too?

Part 2: Intriguing World I´ve selected:

The youth welfare service, the court and the chancellery of Tessa´s father where she worked for a couple of years until she quit.

Part 3: My characters:

HERO: TESSA

A. What is the mystery of this character: Will Tessa get her 2 children back alive? Will she find out who the kidnapper is and get her children back alive?

B. What is the suspense of this character: Will she be attacked by the kidnapper herself? Will she or someone close to her die? Does she have to pay for a decision her father made?

C. What is the intrigue of this character?

Tessa found out that her father took some illegal action in the past (in one case) to do somebody a favor. This one action is the cause for this series of crimes right now. How does Tessa cope with that? And how does she cope with the fact that a man whom she believed to be a one night stand is the father of her unborn child?

Side note: In addition to my thought and my logline from Assignmen2 I am actually thinking about her sister whose 2 kids could have been kidnapped while Tessa was witnessing. And Tessa herself could have made a decision the killer knows about in the past. He worked in her office and was her assistant. Tessa could be pregnant right know, carrying a child whose life by now has not been affected – which is the perfect target for the killer.

RED HERRING: ROLF

A. What is the mystery of this character: Has he kidnapped the 2 kids of Tessa´s sister? Why is he following them all the time?

B. What is the suspense of this character: Will he be arrested, because he was seen close to the latest crime scene?

C. What is the intrigue of this character: He is charming and does everything to get Tessa´s and her sisters attention.

VILLAIN: VIKTOR

A. What is the mystery of this character: Why does he kidnap and kill all these people? What is his motivation and wound?

B. What is the suspense of this character: Will he be stronger, faster and more clever than Tessa, her friend and the police?

C. What is the intrigue of this character: He has built a cobweb of possible victims – Tessa and the police have to go back in time and to unroll a lot of cases and family connections nationwide to find the root of his scheme. Intriguing to see is that in one point he is right: Some decisions the court makes are simply not good or helpful – they might be understandable from a rational side. But in Viktor´s case they did wrong. What makes him guilty is that he overtaxes his perspective and rage, and involves innocent people.

[pat jasin]

Pat Jasin’s assignment-World and Characters

Big mystery: Why does Jacki want to kill a famous racehorse? Why does Christy want to keep her psychic talent a secret?

Suspense: Will Christy stop Jacki? Will she save the horse? Will she be killed?

World: the thoroughbred racehorse underground of drugs, rich deviant owners and trainers, mafia, animal abusers.

Christy: Hero- Why does she want to keep her psychic power a secret? What is her background to have psychic power?

Suspense: Will Jacki kill the horse and Christy?I

intrigue: Christy goes along with Jacki’s plot to find out her real motives and stop her.

Jacki: Villain-Why does she really want to kill the famous racehorse? And Christy?

Suspense: Is the horse going to be killed? Will she kill Christy?

Intrigue: What is Jacki’s real motive? Background? She is a psychopath killing animals.

Jim: Jacki’s much older husband.

Mystery: Does Jim know Jacki’s plans to kill the horse?

Suspense: Is Jim involved in the plan?

Intrigue: Does Jim know Jacki’s real background? Is he bring used as the fall guy?

[Liz Janzen]

Concept: A woman living alone on her rural property after her husband leaves her is unaware she is about to become a victim of his illicit past.

Big Mystery: Should Laura Slater trust the stranger (Steve Garrett) who reveals her husband’s secret criminal history to her and claims that he has been sent to protect her?

Big Intrigue: A Russian mafia boss is out to get revenge on Richard Slater and wants to kidnap and kill Laura as part of it.

Big suspense: Will Laura escape the Russian’s attempt to kidnap her?

WORLD

There are two worlds in this story and the intrigue arises when they collide. One is set in 2010 on a rural acreage in Canada which is home to a successful market garden entrepreneur. The second is set in the black market and Russian organized crime world after the collapse of the Soviet empire in the early 90s.

LEAD CHARACTERS

HERO: Laura Slater

Mystery: Why is her husband’s past putting Laura in danger?

Intrigue: Can she trust Steve – the stranger she has let into her life – even after she learns he is not who he pretended to be?

Suspense: Will she fall victim to Richard’s past and be killed?

RED HERRING: Steve Garrett

Mystery: He appears out of nowhere and gains Laura’s trust by deceiving her. Who is he really and what does he want?

Intrigue: He intercepts Laura’s emails and phone calls, has photos of her, and a sat phone and a gun in his possession. After he gains access to her life his demeanour changes from the down and out ex-con she hired to help her with her business into an assertive, in-control strategist with international criminal experience.

Suspense: Will he be able to fend off the threat about to arrive at Laura’s door?

VILLAIN: Vasily Kornikov

Mystery: Why is Laura in danger from this man?

Intrigue: A Russian mobster who controls his own gang, Kornikov landed in a Latvian jail in the mid-90s after an import deal in the Baltic port of Riga went awry. He blamed Richard Slater, whom he had contracted for it. Now out of prison, Kornikov is out for revenge and killing Laura in front of her husband is part of it.

Suspense: When will the Russian mafia arrive at Laura’s house and what will happen when they do?

[Zachary Hunchar]

Remind us of your CONCEPT and the Big M.I.S. of your story.

Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? Why is Slash stalking and killing members of the group?

Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie? April manipulates others for her enjoyment and then puts them in harm’s way so she doesn’t get hurt.

Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? Ellie relies on April to help her stop Slash, but April is working against her.

Tell us the Intriguing World you have selected for this story. A fight for survival by a group of friends at a ski resort against and nearly unstoppable killer.

With your top 2 or 3 characters, tell us the role they play and then answer these three questions:

HERO – Ellie

What is the mystery of this character? What is going on in her life that is preventing her from enjoying herself on this trip?

What is the suspense of this character? How does she keep everyone else alive?

What is the intrigue of this character? What is the secret project she’s working on for JPL?

RED HERRING – SLASH

What is the mystery of this character? Who is the parent(s) of the future despot? Are they merely the parent(s)?

What is the suspense of this character? He must stop the correct person, as other deaths might disrupt the timeline? His protective gear will only allow him so much time in the present.

What is the intrigue of this character? Who is the correct target?

VILLAIN – April

What is the mystery of this character? How does she become the future despot? Why is she suspicious of Ellie’s actions?

What is the suspense of this character? Why are her friends getting killed off for her?

What is the intrigue of this character? What is behind all of her actions?

[Rebecca Sukle]

Rebecca’s World and Characters!

What I learned from this assignment is to use my concept as a guide to create my characters. Brainstorming this turned out to be more fun and interesting than I anticipated.

Perfect Pitch

A reclusive security systems expert finds a young singing sensation hiding in his garden and offers her refuge from an abusive manager, unaware that his help includes evading detection from bounty hunters, government agents, and hired assassins in a nationwide search to find her.

1. What are the conventions of your story?

Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: security systems expert
Dangerous Villain: someone high up on the power chain
High stakes: The villain must get the girl back at all costs.
Life and death situations: His minions will kill anyone who gets in their way
This story is thrilling because? We don’t know why the singing star is so important to the antagonist. How long can the protagonist continue to outwit the singer’s pursuers? Will he learn the identity of the man in charge and be able to expose his diabolical plan without killing him?

2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?

Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? Why is the girl so important to those looking for her.
Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie? The many attempts from bounty hunters, covert government agents, and hired assassins to capture the girl and kill anyone who helps her.
Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? He continues to protect the girl and outwit experts who hunt them down and will eliminate him on capture?

World: The underworld of of music stardom, abusive managers who hold their singers captive, control every aspect of their life, and exploit them for financial gain.

Top Characters:

Hero: Jacob Alden, A reclusive security systems expert who agrees to hide Jade.

Mystery: Why is he a recluse? What does he know about making it in the music world.
Intrigue: Underneath his mild demeanor, he fights like a Navy Seal.
Suspense: How long can he continue to outwit experts who hunt them down? Will he learn the identity of the man in charge and be able to expose his diabolical plan without killing him?

Villain: Howard (Howie) Biggens

Mystery: Why is the girl so important to him?
Intrigue: Who does Biggens answer to and what is his diabolical master plan?
Suspense: Will his minions be able to capture the girl alive and kill her protector.

Red Herring: Jade Evans, A child singing sensation turned bulimic pop star who escapes her abusive manager.

Mystery: Why did the ten year old singing sensation change her name and style? What caused her bulimia? What diabolical plan did Biggens want to use her for?
Intrigue: What horrible fate prompted her to escape and hide from the world?
Suspense: Will she survive the hunt without losing her life or face a fate worse than death.

[Michelle]

What I learned: Interesting characters can make the story foundation stronger.

Big M.I.S.

• Big Mystery: Who killed Nora’s best friend?

• Big Intrigue: The killer’s clandestine scheme to fund separatist activity and his relationship to Peter.

• Big Suspense: Nora’s increasing chances of becoming a victim as she closes in on the killer.

World: Eastern European country predisposed to military aggression

Nora – Protagonist

Mystery: How does she find the killer?

Intrigue: How does she get others to help with the hunt?

Suspense: Will she die in the process?

Peter – Red Herring

Mystery: Why is he helping?

Intrigue: Why does he lie?

Suspense: Will his loyalty change when new information surfaces?

The Elegant Man – Antagonist

Mystery: Why is he covering up the murder?

Intrigue: What business is he really in?

Suspense: Will he get caught?

[Zachary Hunchar]

@Karen that’s one of the things I’ve enjoyed about this class. We get so caught up in the hero’s drama that we don’t give the Villain (and the Red Herring’s) stuff. It’s exciting when you start thinking about them, more story ideas open up.

Overall, pretty cool idea!

[pat jasin]

Lesson 3- World of MIS. Main MIS: why does Jacki want to kill a Kentucky Derby winner? Why does Christy want to keep her talent a secret? Intrigue: drugs, mafia connections, psychi powers. Suspense: Will Christy stop Jacki and save the horse? Will she be killed? World: drugs, rich deviant owners and trainers, mafia, animal abusers. Christy: why does she want to keep her talent secret? What is her background? Suspense: Will Jascki kill Christy? Intrigue: Christy goes along with Jacki;’s plan to find out her real motive. Jacki: Why does she want to really kill the famous horse? Suspense: will the horse be killed? Will Christy be killed? Intrigue: What is her background? Is she a psychopath? Animal abuser? Jim: Jacki’s ex husband. Older, a top horse t5rainer. Does he know Jacki’s background? Why did he divorce her? Is he involed or the fall guy for Jack?

[Carmen Radtke]

Carmen’s world and characters <div> What I learned doing this assignment is…?” I still have a long road ahead to find all the puzzle pieces that propel the villain’s plan. The villain has to be at the core of every decision.</div><div>
</div><div>The concept: A struggling actress and her screenwriter best friend are hired for a one-off gig to help out the CIA, but as a result they find themselves in the deadly crosshairs of spies and assassins. </div><div>Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story?
What is on the encrypted drive and why is it worth killing for? </div><div>Big Suspense: Who set Laney and One Take’s employer up – is it really Turner who is pulling the strings? </div><div>Big Intrigue: Can our heroes stay alive long enough to deliver the encrypted drive?

2. Tell us the Intriguing World you have selected for this story.

Laney and One-Take Jake come from the world of acting and screenwriting, where make believe is everything, and nothing can ever be taken at face value. They know nothing about real life espionage or manhunts, but everything about those concepts.

3. With your top 2 or 3 characters, tell us the role they play and then answer these three questions:

Hero: Laney is an actor in her thirties, but despite her talent she’s still waiting for her big break.

Mystery: How does an actor evade ruthless killers?

Intrigue: What can she do to keep herself and the others alive? Play different characters, create improvised scenes, change her appearance completely

Suspense: Can Laney fool trained operatives long enough to stay alive?

Red Herring: CIA-operative Turner.

Mystery: Why is he after the encrypted drive?

Intrigue: He knows every trick in the playbook about hunting and killing people, but is he working alone?

Suspense: Will he catch his targets and kill them?

Villain: Turner and Wyatt’s boss.

Mystery: Why isn’t he protecting Wyatt? What is on the drive?

Intrigue: He has a network of operatives and the best technology to find Wyatt and stop Turner.

Suspense: will he sacrifice the lives of Wyatt, Laney and One-Take?

</div>

[Agnes McCourt]

Agnes’s World and Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is everything is not always as it first appears. There are many factors involved and powerful people can totally control a situation. A person’s innocence or guilt can be quickly judged before having all the facts or doing a full and proper investigation. The story must unfold slowly in order to maintain the mystery, intrigue and suspense and keep the audience engaged.

Pitch

A man with a very violent childhood is accused of murdering his wife by a powerful father-in-law who hates him when his wife, his daughter, suddenly disappears without a trace. The Chief of Police is quick to agree to charge the husband for murder, as the father-in-law, Mike Deans is a powerful man in the Community and there are no other suspects. The son-in-law is also an employee of the father-in-law who is head of the town bank and sits on their town council.

Subject Line: Big M.I.S. of my story

Big Mystery: Helen Roberts, missing wife. What happened to her?

Big Intrigue: Mike Deans (father-in-law’s) role in his daughter’s disappearance. There are secrets in his household, concerning his mentally ill wife. Why does Mike continue to keep the secret of is sick wife?

Big Suspense: John Roberts, the husband accused of murdering his wife. He’s the only suspect. The father-in-law, Mike Deans is adamant he murdered and did away with his daughter’s body. Mike Deans never liked John Roberts. The Chief of Police cannot find any other suspects, so they take him at his word, that John Roberts is guilty of murder.

World: Small mid-western town secrets among its citizens that add to the mystery.

Protagonist: John Roberts

Mystery: Where or why did his wife disappear after their yet brief marriage? There were some issues in their marriage but nothing that can explain her sudden disappearance.

Intrigue: Why are they (townspeople, father-in-law, Chief of Police), all so against him? His past childhood had nothing to do with his wife’s disappearance as far as he knows.

Suspense: Will John be charged, convicted and go to jail for a crime he says he did not commit? Can no one prove his innocence before he is convicted of his wife’s murder?

Villain: Mike Deans, John’s father-in-law, a powerful banker and member of their town council.

Mystery: What secrets does Mike have concerning his own household about his wife’s mental condition?

Intrigue: Why is he so quick to accuse John and have him charged with Helen’s disappearance and murder? Why does he keep a close reign on what is going on in his own home?

Suspense: Will John Roberts be found innocent or guilty and will he pay the ultimate price for his wife’s disappearance? Where did Helen disappear to?

Red Herring: Mary Dean, what is her condition? Why is Mike so protective of revealing her illness to anyone?

Mystery: How bad is her condition and how long has she been ill?

Intrigue: Does Mary know anything about her daughter’s disappearance?

Suspense: Can Mary shed light on her daughter’s disappearance?

Missing Wife: Helen Roberts

Mystery: What happened to her? Was she murdered? Where did she go? Why do they believe she is dead?

Intrigue: Why did Helen befriend John Roberts throughout school and push for a quick marriage, though her father was opposed to the marriage? John had wanted to wait until he was financially set, but she arranged a job for him at her father’s bank so that they could marry quickly.

Suspense: Where did she disappear to during a town picnic in the nearby park? John only saw her briefly in the park, as he had to close up late at the bank and arrived at the picnic late. Will Helen be found in time to keep John out of prison for murder?