Lesson 3: Character Subtext (NEW THREAD)

[Andre]

Subject Line: André’s Subtext Characters.

My one-sentence Vision for my success from this program.

To learn how to write the best script(s) of my life, so far, by dramatically improving the quality of my writing in the genres of Action, Erotica, and Horror; while having both the Financial and Time resources to travel the world doing so, with colleagues / friends /peers, (the few that I have).

What I learned from doing this assignment is…?

· Dialogue is what they say.

· Action is what they do.

· Subtext is what they play. Subtext is one of the places they show their talent.

Designing a Character’s Subtext is about searching, thinking, rethinking, and comparing the Character to the story to discover something that fits.

Subtext is about writing so the audience experiences both what is on the surface and what is beneath the surface.

Character Subtext means there is something under the surface that the Character is not talking about and the audience perceives it-either now or in the future.

When a Character has
subtext, it is because of some internal state they are communicating through,
but are not directly addressing.

<b align=”center”>Title: The Planetary Prince. Lead Protagonist Human

· Character Name: INDIGO.

· Subtext Identity: The survivor of a near fatal vehicle accident is never the same.

· Subtext Trait: Near Death Experience. Fatherhood abandonment.

· Subtext Logline: A NDE survivor whose guardian angel also deals with abandonment issues.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Abandonment since childhood and abandoned by the service, betrayal is ever present. Coming to grips with his experience in crossing the veil and being stigmatized for being seen in mental health for what is deemed a mental illness, our Protagonist learns that his experience was a set up for the trial of the Millennium.

Lead Antagonist Angel

· Character Name: LUCIFER.

· Subtext Identity: Default and betrayal of Trust resulting in the miscarriage of modern-day humankind.

· Subtext Trait: Personality Pride, Planetary Prince. 666. Fatherhood abandonment.

· Subtext Logline: Perfecting the human condition. Personal liberty and Self-Assertion.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Self-Assertion is the battle cry of the Lucifer Rebellion. THE EVIL ONE concludes that the only hope for success lay in the adroit employment of suitable persons belonging to the upper strata of the Nodite group, the Descendants of his onetime Corporeal-Staff Associates. God is not real. “The way of the transgressor is hard; Within every sin is concealed the seed of its own destruction”; The wages of sin IS Death.”

Lead Female Human

· Movie Title: The Planetary Prince

· Character Name: BBB BossBitchBaddie.

· Subtext Identity: Indigo’s “girlfriend”. She is a serial killer. She kills babies, that are in her own body. Her character arc is to found abortion clinics, to pursue her career. She’s a jezebel.

· Subtext Trait: Engages in unprotected promiscuous sex, especially with powerful married men (and sometimes their wives).

· Subtext Logline: My body, my choice. [BBB] is a [Indigo’s “girlfriend”] who [is also a promiscuous serial killer of babies].

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Church going good-girl. Seeks power, especially over men.

Serial Killer definition: a person who commits a
series of murders (abortions), often with no apparent motive (although the
motive for our lead female BBB is power, with money being means to survival) and
typically follows a characteristic, predictable behavior pattern (unprotected
promiscuous sex with powerful wealthy married men). Our female serial killer.

End The PLANETARY PRINCE.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Begin OMEGAMAN.

<br clear=”all”>

<b align=”center”>Movie Title: ΩmegaMan

Lead
Protagonist:

· Character Name: EDM

· Subtext Identity: Sixth man to walk on the Moon.

· Subtext Trait: Test Pilot, Astronaut and Engineer.

· Subtext Logline: Pilot of Apollo14 and 6^th man to walk on the Moon.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Conducted secret ESP experiment into human consciousness with four earth receivers.

Lead
Antagonist:

· Character Name: Space.

· Subtext Identity: Dark, empty and vast.

· Subtext Trait: For flat-earthers, doesn’t exist. For others, not possible due to firmament not being penetrable.

· Subtext Logline: Silence.

Possible Areas of Subtext: Mans
final frontier. The explored.

End André’s Subtext Characters. WIM Module 4, Lesson 3.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  Andre Howard.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  Andre Howard.

[Andre]

update…

1. Subject Line: André’s Subtext Characters WIM Module3, Lesson3.

2. Start assignment by empowering myself using State-To-Activity empowerment process.

State: I love discovering…

Activity: …the subtext of my Characters!

3.
With my example movie, give the following
answers for the Character with the most subtext:

Movie Title:

Character Name:

Subtext Identity:

Subtext Trait:

Subtext Logline:

Possible Areas of Subtext:

4.
My one-sentence Vision for my success from this
program.

To learn how to write the best script(s) of my life, so far, by dramatically improving the quality of my writing in the genres of Action, Erotica, and Horror; while having both the Financial and Time resources to travel the world doing so, with colleagues / friends /peers, (the few that I have).

5.
What I learned from doing this assignment is…?

· Dialogue is what they say.

· Action is what they do.

· Subtext is what they play. Subtext is one of the places they show their talent.

· The KEY is that both the Subtext Identity and the Subtext Trait are designed to cause real Subtext. There is something hidden beneath the Surface and the Character doesn’t want it to come out…but it is part of them, so they can’t help but express it in some way.

· Designing a Character’s Subtext is about searching, thinking, rethinking, and comparing the Character to the story to discover something that fits.

· Subtext is about writing so the audience experiences both what is on the surface and what is beneath the surface.

· Character Subtext means there is something under the surface that the Character is not talking about and the audience perceives it-either now or in the future.

· When a Character has subtext, it is because of some internal state they are communicating through, but are not directly addressing.

Brainstorm these answers for my two Leads:

<b align=”center”>Movie Title: The
Planetary Prince.

Lead Protagonist Human

· Character Name: INDIGO.

· Subtext Identity: The survivor of a near fatal vehicle accident is never the same. There is a contempt he has for life, perhaps it is survivors grief, perhaps it is contempt for the corruption he now sees in many people.

· Subtext Trait: Naïve-Angry-Adventurous-Abandoned.

· Subtext Logline: A NDE survivor whose guardian angel also deals with abandonment issues.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Abandonment since childhood and abandoned by the service, betrayal is ever present. Coming to grips with his experience in crossing the veil and being stigmatized for being seen in mental health for what is deemed a mental illness, our Protagonist learns that his experience was a set up for the trial of the Millennium. (do not know why this is inked in red formatting, not on original document).

Lead Angel- Antagonist/Protagonist
Transformational Character

· Character Name: LUCIFER.

· Subtext Identity: Default and betrayal of Trust resulting in the miscarriage of modern-day humankind.

· Subtext Trait: Personality Pride-Planetary Prince- 666- Fatherhood abandonment.

· Subtext Logline: Perfecting the human condition. Personal liberty and Self-Assertion.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Self-Assertion is the battle cry of the Lucifer Rebellion. THE EVIL ONE concludes that the only hope for success lay in the adroit employment of suitable persons belonging to the upper strata of the Nodite group, the Descendants of his onetime Corporeal-Staff Associates. God is not real. “The way of the transgressor is hard; Within every sin is concealed the seed of its own destruction”; The wages of sin IS Death.”

Lead Female Human

· Movie Title: The Planetary Prince

· Character Name: BBB BossBitchBaddie.

· Subtext Identity: Indigo’s “girlfriend”. She is a serial killer. She kills babies, that are in her own body. Her character arc is to found abortion clinics, to pursue her career. She’s a jezebel.

· Subtext Trait: Engages in unprotected promiscuous sex, especially with powerful married men (and sometimes their wives).

· Subtext Logline: My body, my choice. [BBB] is a [Indigo’s “girlfriend”] who [is also a promiscuous serial killer of babies].

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Church going good-girl. Seeks power, especially over men.

Serial Killer definition: a
person who commits a series of murders (abortions), often with no apparent
motive (although the motive for our lead female BBB is power, with money being means
to survival) and typically follows a characteristic, predictable behavior
pattern (unprotected promiscuous sex with powerful wealthy married men). Our
female serial killer.

End <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>André’s Subtext Characters WIM Module3, Lesson3

[Vernall Ritchey]

Assignment : Module 3: Lesson 3

Vision: I want to write a smart, well-written, and blockbuster script which I can then produce and direct.

What I learned from doing this assignment is: how hard and important it is to write subtext for characters.

Subject Line: WIM – Vernall Ritchey – Subtext Characters

· Character Name: Kyla

· Subtext Identity: Hidden Demonic Malevolence

· Subtext Trait: Demonic, Cruel, Evil, Immoral, Invasive, Sadistic, Manipulative

· Subtext Logline: Kyla hides her Demonic Malevolence but her demonic, cruel, evil, immoral, invasive, sadistic, and manipulativeness subtly shows.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Kyla

Subtle Gestures:

· Kyla, with her seemingly innocent gestures, always carries a small cross necklace. However, there are moments where she clutches it tightly, revealing an inner turmoil.

· Kyla’s attentive caregiving takes a darker turn as she exhibits subtle, unsettling behaviors. Her touch becomes invasive, and her gaze lingers a little too long, creating an eerie atmosphere around her character.

· Kyla’s caring gestures become increasingly possessive. A gentle touch transforms into a grip that borders on the invasive, reflecting the growing influence of the demonic entity within her.

· Kyla’s caring demeanor masks subtle, sinister undertones that are expressed through small, seemingly innocent actions.

Contradictory Actions:

· Despite being a caregiver, Kyla occasionally exhibits moments of cruelty, such as withholding medication or offering strange prayers that hint at her darker intentions.

· Kyla, on the surface a compassionate caregiver, starts displaying contradictory actions. Moments of kindness are juxtaposed with sudden outbursts of anger, creating an unsettling dynamic that suggests a hidden darkness within her.

· Kyla’s actions, meant to portray her as an attentive caregiver, start to contradict her true nature as the demonic force within her begins to surface.

Reactions to Stimuli:

· In tense situations, Kyla’s reactions betray a hidden malevolence beneath her caring façade. A flicker of a sinister smile or an unsettling calmness during chaotic moments raises suspicion.

· Kyla’s reactions, on the other hand, become increasingly erratic as the exorcism progresses. Seemingly insignificant stimuli trigger intense emotional responses, hinting at the internal struggle within her.

· Kyla’s actions become more contradictory as she struggles with her dual identity. Moments of genuine compassion clash with sudden, malicious impulses, leaving both the audience and other characters questioning her true nature.

· Kyla’s reactions become increasingly erratic, ranging from paralyzing fear to maniacal laughter. Seemingly mundane stimuli trigger intense emotional responses, revealing the internal turmoil as she grapples with her demonic nature.

· Kyla’s reactions to the exorcism rituals and holy objects initially seem genuine, but subtle expressions betray a sinister pleasure derived from the failed attempts to expel the suspected demon from Father Gill.

· Character Name: Father Gill

· Subtext Identity: Victim (thought to be antagonist)

· Subtext Trait: Suspicious, Fearful

· Subtext Logline: Father Gill is a Victim (thought to be the antagonist) who is suspicious and fearful of Kyla

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Father Gill

Subtle Gestures:

· Father Gill’s eyes often follow an unseen presence as well as Kyla, subtly hinting at the demonic entity’s presence.

· Father Gill, despite his physical limitations, communicates through subtle gestures that hint at a deeper understanding of the supernatural. His eyes hold a knowing glint, and his fingers, when not in sign language, form a pattern that suggests protection.

· Father Gill’s sign language takes on an otherworldly quality, with subtle protection gestures. His eyes convey a silent plea for understanding and comprehension.

· Father Gill’s initially subtle gestures during his sign language conversations become more pronounced as the demonic presence within Kyla intensifies.

Contradictory Actions:

· Father Gill, bedridden and vulnerable, sometimes displays unexpected strength during moments of demonic possession, showcasing a contradiction between his frailty.

· Father Gill’s slurred speech and limited movements seem at odds. His contradictory actions leave the audience questioning whether he is a victim or harbinger of the malevolent force.

· Father Gill’s slurred speech seems to conceal a deliberate eloquence. His contradictory actions, alternating between vulnerability and quiet strength, hint at a deeper understanding of the demonic force surrounding him.

· Father Gill, bedridden and seemingly vulnerable, occasionally exhibits contradictory actions that hint at a hidden strength or knowledge beyond his physical limitations.

Reactions to Stimuli:

· Father Gill’s reaction to Kyla is unpredictable; sometimes he reacts violently, while other times he seems strangely comforted by her presence.

· Father Gill’s reactions to supernatural stimuli are not typical for witnessing a possessed individual. Instead of fear, there’s a calm acceptance, as if he is meant to exorcise the demonic entity.

· Father Gill’s reactions to supernatural stimuli are not fear-driven but rather marked by a solemn acceptance. His calm demeanor in the face of unearthly occurrences suggests he is ready to take on the demonic presence in Kyla.

· Father Gill’s reactions to religious artifacts and symbols become increasingly unpredictable, indicating a struggle between his devout faith and the demonic influence taking hold of Kyla.

[Margaret Doner]

MOD 3: Lesson 3 CHARACTER SUBTEXT

Margaret Donner

My Vision: I find the time to create well-written scripts that will sell and be produced

What I learned: How to build subtext into my script.

MOVIE I CHOSE:

1, Bladerunner 1982

Character name: Rick Deckard

Subtext Identity: A Bladerunner (replicant killer) who doesn’t want to do the job anymore because of the violence.

Subtext Trait: Suspicious, secretive

Subtext logline: Rick is a Bladerunner who has begun to doubt the morality of his job and secretly falls in love with a replicant.

MY SCRIPT:

2. The Knowledge Keeper – TITLE

Character 1 Name: Arthur Pelias

Subtext Identity: Only shows happiness and goodness, but isn’t really happy.

Subtext Trait: Secretive, sneaky

Subtext Logline: Arthur must be well-behaved at all times, but secretly wants to express passionate emotions.

Possible areas of Subtext:

Act I: Arthur looks outside the borders of his world and hears voices calling him to explore.

Act 2: Arthur answers the call of the Knowledge Keeper and discovers a world of violence.

Act 3: Arthur falls in love with a woman other than his wife and experiences love and loss.

Act 4: Arthur chooses to return to Earth in a previous time when the world was filled with passion and emotional extremes.

Character 2 Name: The Knowledge Keeper

Subtext Identity: Appears to be happy as a loner, but longs to join his life with another for a purposeful mission.

Subtext Trait: Secretive, Vulnerable

Subtext Logline: The Knowledge Keeper must pretend to be completely independent and without emotion when he wants to express love and concern.

Possible areas of Subtext:

Act 1: The Knowledge Keeper is deeply impacted by the violence he witnesses in Vlad’s Forest of the Impaled.

Act 2: The Knowledge Keeper calls Arthur to him and send him back in time. He has a secret plan, in the end he wants to join forces with Arthur to set up a utopia called Camelot.

Act 3: The Knowledge Keeper knows he is endangering Arthur, but he realizes the only way to free them is to get caught.

Act 4: The Knowledge Keeper hatches a plan to separate Arthur from his world permanently and take him back in time to start a new world on the Earth. One that allows passion but also fairness.

[John P. Hallar]

Subject Line: John P. Hallar’s Subtext Characters.

My vision: To be a successful, highly sought after, highly paid writer who has had multiple movies produced and optioned.

What I learned from doing this assignment is: How to build the subtext dialogue and actions into my characters.

Example Movie:

Movie Title: Dune
Character Name: Paul Atreides
Subtext Identity: The Reluctant Messiah
Subtext Trait: Chosen, Reluctance
Subtext Logline: Destined as a messianic figure, Paul grapples with the reluctant acceptance of his extraordinary powers and the ethical dilemmas that accompany them.
Possible Areas of Subtext: The association with being the heir to the House of Atreides and the prophesied Kwisatz. His internal struggles with his evolving abilities. Navigating the power dynamics within the Houses of the Landsraad. His cultural differences with the desert dwelling Fremen. The loss and sacrifices on this journey and the ethnic dilemmas he faces concerning his use of his power and the potential upheaval of entire worlds.

Melody’s Reprise Two Leads:

Character Name: Melody Burton
Subtext Identity: Resilient Maestro
Subtext Trait: Resilient, Creator
Subtext Logline: In a journey of rediscovery, Melody leads a group of elderly musicians to a transformative final performance while discovering her true self.
Possible Areas of Subtext: Defying the aging process and her illness. Leaving a legacy by raising the money for the music conservatory. Her personal discovery of who she truly is. The new friendships and community that the retirement home offers. The loss of her abilities but also the loss of Keys. Her maestro instincts of leading musicians transcend to leading the other residents.

Character
Name: Malcolm “Groove” Thompson
Subtext Identity: Humor, Wisdom
Subtext Trait: Funny, Stability
Subtext Logline: Groove provides the group with comic relief and
stability while grappling with the abandonment of his own family to pursue a
music career.
Possible Areas of Subtext: The wisdom and stability he brings to the
group, the guiding presence if you will. Showing his daughter that he is more
thoughtful of other people and his family.