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Lesson 3
Reply to post your assignment.
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9 Replies
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Mary Albanese’s WORLD and CHARACTERS
What I learned – give secondary characters their own mystery and intrigue. They’re not there just to help the main character, but to add depth as we mine their inner layers as well.
1. 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 this murderous cult after our hero Mia?
Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine,
underhanded part that will live under the surface for most of the movie?What secret does the cult think Mia will discover?
Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that
will continue to escalate throughout the script?Will Mia discover the secret before the cult destroys her?
2. Tell us the Intriguing World you have selected for this story.
This is the world of a medieval religious fanatic cult that still exists to destroy anyone who gets close to the secret they protect.
3. With your top 2 or 3 characters, tell us the role they play and then answer these three questions:
PROTATONIST
A. What is the mystery of this character?
Why is Mia, an arctic biologist, so dangerous to this cult?
B. What is the suspense of this character?
Will discovering who she really is help her evade the killer cult?
C. What is the intrigue of this character?
Who is she? What secret about herself doesn’t she know and will she uncover it in time to save herself?
THE BOYFRIEND
While he doesn’t know anything about the cult, will he be able to help Mia understand important things about herself?
Will he survive and/or help Mia survive the cult?
What about him will give Mia an edge (or a hinderance.)
ANTAGONIST
Why is the new cult queen so eager to get Mia?
Will she destroy Mia before Mia even understands she’s being hunted?
Why isn’t the new cult queen following cult rules? What’s her hidden agenda?
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Leslie Aguillard’s WORLD and CHACTERS
What I learned doing this assignment is __that I’m not sure how to state a character’s Mystery, Suspense and Intrigue, so I described desires, fears, but am not sure that is it.
The Concept: There is a Mystical ‘thing’ to save life on Earth which seems irrational, absurd even, and those in power do not believe it will prevent the oncoming extinction event. (which is??? On-coming gamma burst from a nova star?? Not sure yet.)
The Mystery: How to prove to those in power that there is a Mystical ‘Thing’, and by doing the Mystical ‘thing’ they will saves Life on Earth from Extinction, and prevent the extinction event, and only they can do it. Can they do it before the extinction event arrives? Is utter transformation to something unrecognizable any better than death?
The Intrigue: The plan of the Villain – he believes he will not die and all his worldly goods/power will remain for him to enjoy, and to give that up is worse than death, it is eternity in Hell, which he believes is more real than the extinction event.
The Suspense: The villain wants to kill the hero, kill even the idea of some “mystical anything” could/will save anyone/everything because the villain believes Hell is more real and that only he can cheat death. Human societies are beginning to panic; doom looms.
The Intriguing World: There are Shamans and there are Shamans – history is filled with stories, fables, wishful thinking and none of it is based on much if anything, and people are sick of being scammed… No religion has ever gotten “it” and no practice so far has either, however… and while people panic, some want to believe there is the fundamental Reality of the “Mystical Thing” that could save them. What really is “salvation?” Reality?
Some used meditation to reach ‘understanding’, some used drugs, some used money and power and nothing worked. The planet Earth is dying and extinction looms and the powers that be refuse to change anything because they believe nothing can be done.
until……the actual location of the ‘ Altar of All Light’ is discovered. What is it? A portal? The basis of every legend? But to go there requires a breakthrough in consciousness no one has yet achieved, and panic is definitely NOT the way.
Should I even be Hinting at alternative realities and the multi-verse???
So, how to cut through the woo-woo and B.S. to that one transcendent FACT, which once known/experienced/grasped/felt/whatever, allows anyone, even the most cynical selfish psychopath to be transformed into “That which Saves the World” and becomes unrecognizable as anything he or she was before? Is that also not death??The clock is ticking.
The top two characters:
A. The Research Analyst Mystic-loving beautiful young professor – loves the idea that such a Mystical Thing exists, though even she thinks it is just another story. She is feminist and though compassionate to males, feels it is not possible to be on an equal footing with men. Her success thus far has made her independent.
Her Mystery/Secret: she is afraid that “normal” relationships will only end her ambitions to attain “Fame, Wealth, Safety”. She thinks THIS world is the only one that is real because she can’t wrap her mind around the concept of alternate realities. Her core belief is if she can understand a thing then she can teach it to someone else. She thinks she is always right because so often it has been true. She has mostly always been the smartest person in the room.
Her Suspense/danger to self/ her high stakes: She thinks she is more rational than she is; she is suspicious of men even as she is attracted to men; she wants to save the world but fears it isn’t possible; She can’t see that her own desire for “Fame-Glory-Wealth” is not any different from the 1% she blames for the problems in the world. Her work/research/ book deals/teaching/talks and relationships are seductive and she both wants them and rejects them as distractions from the idea of the “Mystical Thing”. She shrinks if and when she is shown to be not the smartest in the room. And now, she is fears someone will kill her for ‘no reason’, like a nameless casualty, her biggest fear, and feels no one can keep her safe.
Her Intrigue/ plan: She justifies her actions: not really using someone to gain her ends, or that she really doesn’t have agendas when she does. Facing herself, being honest that she is human/vulnerable and flawed horrifies her. Finding out she may be wrong about everything she has known terrifies her…. In this way, she and the villain are alike?
B. The eccentric fabulously wealthy handsome man who teeters on insanity believing he can avoid death and Hell as long as he can, once and for all, rid people of the idea there is a way to avoid extinction…. For Them…. Not him. He is “a scientist” when it suits him. When he notices “A” he is triggered into fear, hatred, and desire to destroy as never before.
His Mystery/Secret: he convinced he alone knows the truth of how the world works. He has so much money no one has ever said no to him, he feels invincible – except he is afraid of death and that nothing ultimately matters. He doubts himself but can’t have anyone suspect that. There is no time left to send people to Mars or establish a colony there.
His Suspense/danger to self: The thought that nothing matters scares him, undermines his confidence; he plans his suicide just in case but this causes him more doubt. He believes that if the organization around him knows that he is willing to let them all die to save himself, they will kill him first. He has zero trust but doesn’t want to show that. He thinks money will buy anything, anyone, will accomplish survival of his consciousness.
His Intrigue/plan: “A” triggers his fear even as others seem to embrace her mystical ideas and are inspired to help her save the planet. He feels he must discredit her, defame her or destroy her but cannot be seen as the one to do it. Maybe he will try to woo “A” and trick her into surrendering to him romantically. He feels like a good vampire.
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Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?”
While I like working from my protagonists angle, I believe that I will need to turn the book on its head. My FBI and DHS agents or at least a couple of them will need to be come the focus. I think the M.I.S will be focused on the disbelief of their superiors that the perpetrator could be working alone and not part of a larger group. The story stays essentially the same but with the focus on the law enforcement effort. The rogue agent’s focus will be not on the lawyers and judges killed or the destruction across the country but on the small number of civilians killed in and around Fargo, ND who are not part of the justice system. Using these, they back track more than a dozen years to find linkage to Scott but when they look into Scott, he not only has an alibi but his build is nothing like what is shown on the captured video in Fargo.
WORLD: After an attack in Fargo,ND on the lawyers, magistrates, judges, and a number of private citizens, there are a continuous series of attacks running through the Mid-West, South, and Southeast on power infrastructure, lawyers, politicians, and justice system (Federal, State, and local).
Big Mystery: Why the attacks in Fargo, ND? While Fargo is an important city in North Dakota, it is not on the majority of American’s radar. If Fargo, then why the continued attacks?
Big Intrigue: The FBI and Homeland Security cannot find the perpetrators of these attacks. Homeland security deputy director absolutely convinced the acts are from a domestic terrorist group.
Big Suspense: The Federal LEA closing in on him. An female FBI agent absolutely sure that he is the perp but unable to find any proof and unable to convince her superiors.
Tell us the Intriguing World you have selected for this story.
How one person using skills gained over many years in special operations experience can bring the Federal government to a near standstill. The combination of special operations skills, intelligence tradecraft combined with the use of current technology including advanced encryption, unmanned vehicles (air, ground, and sea) for surveillance and obfuscation (electronic and more), with much of this controlled through general artificial intelligence systems are used to confuse and mislead. The use of the tradecraft and technology builds an infrastructure of money, safe houses, vehicles, and attack sites which work together to keep the LEA personnel off balance.
With your top 2 or 3 characters, tell us the role they play and then answer these three questions:
HERO: Scott Guderian
Mystery: Why did Scott attack Fargo, ND?
Intrigue: How can his attacks be so thorough? How can he avoid being captured on close circuit TV? How does he escape the most intense manhunt in US history?
Suspense: How does Scott manage to not only escape but continue to attack other areas in the Mid-West, South, and Southeastern United States? Is he working alone or is this a terrorist group? Does the killing of the Fargo, ND civilians – who are not lawyers – indicate a possible motive and point to an individual(s)?
VILLAIN: Frank Walters (FBI Supervisory Special Agent) and Denise Johanson (FBI Special Agent)
Mystery: Why the devastating attack on Fargo, ND including the use of poisonous gas (Mustard) and numerous IEDs?
Intrigue: Is this a single event or just the start of something larger? How can they identify the terrorist group? Were there indicators of this attack that the FBI and DHS missed?
Suspense: There is no DNA recovered from any of the scenes which is beyond belief and the FBI and Homeland Security bring in their own teams to gather evidence at every site (more than twenty sites within Fargo and another dozen outside the city).
RED HERRING(S): Lakota Indian and Arab Activist
Mystery: Is this the start of a ‘Native American’ uprising? Are the tribes cooperating with a group of Arab terrorists to bring down the American Justice System?
Intrigue: How did these people gather the information about the lawyers in Fargo and other cities within North Dakota? Why did they attack the civilians in Fargo but no where else in ND?
Suspense: The FBI makes a discovery of the safe house in Sioux Falls, SD but is unable to capture anyone when the house blows up. The evidence from the house points to other safe houses in several other states but not the specific addresses. Weapons recovered from the wreckage are all ‘Ghost’ guns created with sophisticated 3-D printers with many full automatic rifles with suppressors.
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Heidi’s World and Characters!
What I learned doing this assignment is the importance of worldbuilding and also making sure that your characters have elements that we can all relate to and at the same time something that sets them apart in a way that we get engaged and involved in their story/journey.
Remind us of your CONCEPT and the Big M.I.S. of your story.
LOGLINE:
In the harsh Utah desert, a haunted investigator, burdened by her mother’s unsolved murder, dives into a series of puzzling killings. Unraveling eerie ties to a secretive cult’s supernatural rites, she’s compelled to confront the elusive killer and the chilling truth about her mother’s death. Racing against time, she battles her own demons, pushing her fragile psyche to its limits in a quest to solve both mysteries.Big Mystery: What is the main
mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story?
Is Ylva on the right track to solve her own mother’s murder or is her own
mind misleading her?
Big Intrigue: What is the
covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for
most of the movie?
What is the relationship between Ylva, Henrik “the Seer” and Ylva’s deceased
mother – does Henrik have a special purpose for Ylva to fulfill his own twisted
prophecy
Big Suspense: What is the main
danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script?
Will she be framed/arrested for the serial murders, or will she be able to
stay one step ahead of both the FBI and the cult leader?Tell us about the Intriguing World you have selected for this story.
A small town in the desert of the US SouthWest where there is a secret subworld that is dark with supernatural elements (scratch the surface for all the bad stuff to come out)
With your top 2 or 3 characters, tell us the role they play and then answer these three questions:
HERO: Ylva Andersen
Mystery: Plagued/haunted by her past and memories of her
murdered mother.
Intrigue: She is hiding the mental decline this case has on her
Suspense: For her, it is now or never – she feels this will
finally solve her own tragedy, and it might be at the risk of her own
mental health or her deathVILLAIN: Henrik Voss “The Seer”
Mystery: Who is he and what is his relation to Ylva (and her
deceased mother)
Intrigue: What is his intention – was he instrumental to get Ylva
to that location/he attention – did he want her to investigate the serial
murders for his weird game/pursuit?
Suspense: He is actively setting up traps – physical and mental
for Ylva that is a threat to her life -
Heidi’s World and Characters!
What I learned doing this assignment is the importance of worldbuilding and also making sure that your characters have elements that we can all relate to and at the same time something that sets them apart in a way that we get engaged and involved in their story/journey.
Remind us of your CONCEPT and the Big M.I.S. of your story.
LOGLINE:
In the harsh Utah desert, a haunted investigator, burdened by her mother’s unsolved murder, dives into a series of puzzling killings. Unraveling eerie ties to a secretive cult’s supernatural rites, she’s compelled to confront the elusive killer and the chilling truth about her mother’s death. Racing against time, she battles her own demons, pushing her fragile psyche to its limits in a quest to solve both mysteries.Big Mystery: What is the main
mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story?
Is Ylva on the right track to solve her own mother’s murder or is her own
mind misleading her?
Big Intrigue: What is the
covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for
most of the movie?
What is the relationship between Ylva, Henrik “the Seer” and Ylva’s deceased
mother – does Henrik have a special purpose for Ylva to fulfill his own twisted
prophecy
Big Suspense: What is the main
danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script?
Will she be framed/arrested for the serial murders, or will she be able to
stay one step ahead of both the FBI and the cult leader?Tell us about the Intriguing World you have selected for this story.
A small town in the desert of the US South-West where there is a secret subworld that is dark with supernatural elements (scratch the surface for all the bad stuff to come out)
With your top 2 or 3 characters, tell us the role they play and then answer these three questions:
HERO: Ylva Andersen
Mystery: Plagued/haunted by her past and memories of her
murdered mother.
Intrigue: She is hiding the mental decline this case has on her
Suspense: For her, it is now or never – she feels this will
finally solve her own tragedy, and it might be at the risk of her own
mental health or her deathVILLAIN: Henrik Voss “The Seer”
Mystery: Who is he and what is his relation to Ylva (and her
deceased mother)
Intrigue: What is his intention – was he instrumental to get Ylva
to that location/he attention – did he want her to investigate the serial
murders for his weird game/pursuit?
Suspense: He is actively setting up traps – physical and mental
for Ylva that is a threat to her life -
PETER FELIZ “WORLD & CHARACTERS OF A THRILLER
ASSIGNMENT
PETER FELIZ Tentative movie title: BEADY EYES
1. WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM THIS ASSIGNMENT? The big question: Why would Lucky Lunes endanger himself for a fair weather friend?
Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? When Lucky Lunes visits His estranged friend Cuichi Valenzuela in a Mexican jail an imposter takes Cuichi’s place. Where is Cuichi Valenzuela? Why is he missing?
Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded part that will live under the surface for most of the movie? A Mexican Cartel kingpin needs Cuichi alive, and Lucky’s friendly visit has jeopardized that. What is Lucky’s reason for wanting to visit Cuichi in jail.
Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? Lucky Lunes can’t trust anyone in Mexico but can’t find any place safe.
2. Tell us the Intriguing World you have selected for this story.
Sonora Mexico, it’s metropolis Hermosillo and the desert rural and beaches. Nothing and no one is safe there.
3. With your top 2 or 3 characters, tell us the role they play and then answer these three questions:
A. What is the mystery of this character?
The Hero: Lucky Lunes.
Why is he being duped when he attempts to visit Cuichi Valenzuela in a Mexican jail? Who is pursuing him and why? But the big mystery is What is really compelling Lucky Lunes to meet with his estranged friend Cuichi Valenzuela.
B. What is the suspense of this character? Lucky Lunes ‘s reason for finding Cuichi Valenzuela may not be altruistic.
C. What is the intrigue of this character? As naive as Lucky seems, why would he invite danger looking for Cuichi Valenzuela?
A. What is the mystery of this character?
The Villain: Cuichi Valenzuela.
Why did he end up in Sonora? Why did he end up in jail? And how did he become missing? And is he dead.
B. What is the suspense of this character?
Is or was Cuichi Valenzuela more than just a petty con man?
C. What is the intrigue of this character? Is Cuichi responsible for all the danger Lucky Lunes is in.
4. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.
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PETER FELIZ “THE WORLD & CHARACTERS OF MY THRILLER”
ASSIGNMENT
PETER FELIZ Tentative movie title: BEADY EYES
1. WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM THIS ASSIGNMENT? The big question: Why would Lucky Lunes endanger himself for a fair weather friend?
Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story?
When Lucky Lunes visits His estranged friend Cuichi Valenzuela in a Mexican jail an imposter takes Cuichi’s place. Where is Cuichi Valenzuela? Why is he missing?
Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded part that will live under the surface for most of the movie? A Mexican Cartel kingpin needs Cuichi alive? and Lucky’s friendly visit has jeopardized that. What is Lucky’s reason for wanting to visit Cuichi in jail?
Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? Lucky Lunes can’t trust anyone in Mexico but can’t find any place safe.
2. Tell us the Intriguing World you have selected for this story.
Sonora Mexico, it’s metropolis Hermosillo and its rural desert and beaches. Nothing and no one is as seems and nothing and no one is safe there.
3. With your top 2 or 3 characters, tell us the role they play and then answer these three questions:
A. What is the mystery of this character?
The Hero: Lucky Lunes.
Why is he being duped when he attempts to visit Cuichi Valenzuela in a Mexican jail? Who is pursuing him and why? But the big mystery is What is really compelling Lucky Lunes to meet with his estranged friend Cuichi Valenzuela.
B. What is the suspense of this character? Lucky Lunes ‘s reason for finding Cuichi Valenzuela may not be altruistic.
C. What is the intrigue of this character? As naive as Lucky seems, why would he invite danger looking for Cuichi Valenzuela?
A. What is the mystery of this character?
The Villain: Cuichi Valenzuela.
Why did he end up in Sonora? Why did he end up in jail? And how did he become missing? And is he dead.
B. What is the suspense of this character?
Is or was Cuichi Valenzuela more than just a petty con man?
C. What is the intrigue of this character? Is Cuichi responsible for all the danger Lucky Lunes is in
C.
4. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.
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What I have learned. I’ve learned that a strong story concept revolves around multiple layers of mystery and intrigue, intertwined with character’s motivations and the world they inhabit.
Big Mystery: The main mystery surrounding Graham is the truth behind his sister’s murder, which he has witnessed and repressed. The memory gradually resurfaces revealing his hidden guilt and the role he inadvertently played in her death.
Suspense: The suspense surrounding Graham revolves around whether he can successfully piece together his fragmented memories, and outsmart the pursing mafia and FBI agents.His ability to stay ahead of danger becomes increasingly precarious.Intrigue: Graham’s intrigue lies in his hidden past as an art thief. His skillset and his involvement in art theft play a crucial role in his memory loss and the dangers he faces.
For the Claire character (Therapist): The mystery centers on her motivation to help Graham. As their partnership develops, the audience will wonder why she’s willing to put herself in danger, and what person stakes in the situation she has. Her suspense lies in her growing involvement in Graham’s journey. As they evade danger together and her true role in the unfolding events creates tension. Her intrigue comes from her perspective as a therapist. Her determination to help Graham recover his memory and stay involved in the dangerous situation he is is hints at a hidden facet of her character.
The main mystery for the ANTAGONISTS – the Russian mafia is their motivation for pursuing Graham. The main suspense is the escalating danger to Graham and his survival. The main intrigue for the mafia lies in their hidden agenda and the covert power struggle between them.
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Jen’s World and Characters!
What I learned doing this assignment is this story is forming nicely by doing these processes. It also allows me to “walk around with it in my head” and come up with scenarios that I will later use to fill in the actions of the story.
Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your
story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? I was having
trouble with the big mystery because I was having a dilemma with the antagonist/protagonist.
I think what I am going to do is follow (make the clear “protagonist” be
the woman who is the “bully” ) – when we see the woman kill herself in the
beginning we will think it’s her mother, so we’ll wonder all through the
movie who is harassing her and why? What is the issue with her mother? Who
is the woman who moved in next door?
Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine,
underhanded part that will live under the surface for most of the movie?
Someone is trying to destroy Nemi’s life. The underhanded part is the
online bullying that Nemi partakes in – cyberbullying of adults who are on
a grandparent’s support page Or should it be a live support group? Or
both?). We will think that Nemi is a victim, but this is revenge on her
(women who dies at the beginning is not hers, even though next scene jumps
to her with her husband saying you told us your mother died 5 years ago – and
not get into whether she is alive or dead – maybe there is a letter/some
sort of paper that will make the audience think that was her mother).
Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that
will continue to escalate throughout the script? The “hero” will
systematically have her life destroyed, there will be situations like her
dog will be missing (and there will be blood) and then a mobile dog groomer
will drop him off as she is looking for him, her husband will be seduced
and she’ll get pictures of him (and then we’ll see the woman get paid off)2. Tell us the Intriguing World you have selected for this story: A few different “worlds” – the world of adult “bullying” which isn’t even on anyone’s radar, but which happens, the world of estranged children, which is becoming an epidemic and is also not known about until it happens to you, and Munchausen by Proxy with an adult – most people think it is only mothers and children, but it can be anyone (still mostly women are the perpetrators but the victims can be their husbands, parents, etc.)
3. With your top 2 or 3 characters, tell us the role they play and then answer these three questions:
A. What is the mystery of this character? NEMI JONES – why is
she so angry and why does she try to hurt grandparents who are estranged?
What happened with her own mother (she actually Munchausened her) but it
appears that she hanged herself at the beginning of the movie.
B. What is the suspense of this character? Will she get out of all
the issues that she is set up in? Will her life be destroyed? Will she
continue to take bad advice?
C. What is the intrigue of this character? She has multiple online
personalities, she is a bully (and why? Because she can’t get to her own
mother)A. What is the mystery of this character? HARPER NIELSON – who is she? Why has she implanted herself in Nemi’s life? Who is her mother? (the woman who hanged herself at the beginning)
B. What is the suspense of this character? Worry that she will get brought down by Nemi as she is her friend and her life is going downhill (this needs to be HUGELY important)
C. Suspense- Is Nemi really a bad person who will hurt her? Will she lose her children (as she is allegedly being investigated by children’s services for her association with Nemi (not real), will her own family get her kids?
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