Lesson 4

[Carole Avila]

Carole Avila – Horror Plot
What I learned doing this assignment is the importance of properly outlining the structure of a script.

ACT 1
• Adley and her parents arrive at her deceased grandmother’s home, and are greeted by a burst of cold air when they open the front door.
• Connect with the characters: Adley and her mother explore the house and Adley hears strange noises above the kitchen. Her father enters with their bags, optimistic about their stay.
• Denial of Horror: Once Adley thinks she sees a strange skeletal hand crawling under her bed, her parents convince her it’s only mice.
• Safety taken away: Adley picks a room upstairs, not knowing the cold handle keeps something contained in her room. She realizes the room is directly above the kitchen, where she heard the strange noises.
• The characters are warned not to do it: Adley meets Victor in the town library. He warns her of an ancient demonic curse that haunts the home, a thing that kills the first born child in every generation on their 16th birthday, and she’s about to turn 16. She admits she hears and sees things, but doesn’t want to believe it’s more than mice.
• Monster – Adley is attacked by the clawed hand, and it tries to drag her under the bed into a dark portal. Her parents are convinced she’s having nightmares.

ACT 2
• Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: Adley refuses to sleep in the room, but has to go in to get clothes. One time she falls asleep and her mother turns off the light and closes the door, and the hand tries to drag her under the bed. Another night, she fights the creature after discovering a broken cap on the headboard. She lifts it up and finds the gypsy manuscript with the counter-curse tucked inside. She fights the skeletal hand for the book.
• One of us killed: Adley learns that her grandmother was attacked by the creature, and although it didn’t kill her, her health declined from her injuries. Victor’s father was killed when the creature grabbed his horse’s hoof and caused it to rear, throwing Victor’s father, who hit his head and died from blood loss.

MIDPOINT – The monster is worse than we thought:
Adley learns the truth about the curse, how it started and how it has manifested into something physical with all its power gained from killing its victims over the years. She learns from Great-uncle Pablo that a counter curse must be said by her, the descendant of the gypsy who said the curse, and Victor must touch it to destroy the monster, as he’s the descendant to the man who was cursed.

ACT 3
• Adley’s parents surprise her and remove the handle from the bedroom door so she’ll stop complaining how cold it is, but they unknowingly released the demon from the confines of the room. It chases them out and Adley, who just returned from Victor’s house on a trail behind the grandmother’s home, meets them on the trail and takes them to Victor’s house.
• Fight to the death: Her father still has the handle and Victor’s great-uncle explains how it was used to contain the demon. Adley, her father, Victor, and his great-uncle confront the demon in the grandmother’s house, where Adley will say the counter curse and Victor will touch one of its bones to destroy it.
• After it attacks and knocks out the two men, Adley and Victor run upstairs, blocked in the hallway with only one place to go—into her room.
• Hysteria: Victor has an idea and leaves Adley on her bed and crawls beneath to confront the monster. She begs him not to leave and hugs the headboard made of bones from past victims.
• The two men regain consciousness and hear screaming from the bedroom. They run upstairs and drag Victor out from under the bed. He had the hematite handle that now contains the demon.
• Death returns to take one or more: Great-uncle Pablo is going to perform a ceremony to end the creature once and for all. While the family is inside the grandmother’s house, celebrating the end of the curse, a demon animal removes the box with the hematite handle inside from Pablo’s truck and jogs into the woods with it.
• Resolution: Years later, a young family finds the box while digging a pool for their new home. They see it as a good omen and have the handle installed on the front door.

[Susannah Farrow]

2. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.
What I learned doing this assignment is that this template is such an easy way to get down the plot without getting lost or distracted. The prompts to fill out have really helped to straighten out the story in broad strokes.

1. Knowing your concept, fill in one or two sentences for each of the plot points.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
• Atmosphere of Evil established:
The film opens with a silhouetted scene of carnage – there is a fire, there are screams, there are gunshots. The image is only brief before we cut to our main character, staring off into the swamp. She is obviously upset.
• Connect with the characters:
The main social group of characters are gathered with other members of the community to search for a missing person – a town drunk who they think fell into the swamp during a drunken stupor.
• The characters are warned not to do it:
One of the townspeople suggests they should all leave the town and abandon it – it has nothing but woe to offer and is a remnant of the past. The main characters argue against this, saying it is their home.
• Denial of Horror:
The local cop/sheriff suggests the drunk could be dead and search efforts could become retrieval efforts after finding his one of his belongings covered in blood and shredded.
• Safety taken away:
The drunk is found – murdered. The kill is deliberate and violent. One of the townspeople did it.
• Monster: The nature of the beast:
The killer murders the local cop, destroying the town’s beacon of authority and safety.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
• Isolated / Trapped / Abducted:
The road out of the town and all of the town’s boats are blown up, trapping the townspeople.
• One of us killed:
One of the main characters, along with several townspeople, are killed in a surprise attack.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
• Full pursuit by the killer:
The killer attacks any and all, breaking into people’s homes or killing them outside. No one knows how to handle it and even a group of gun-toting vigilantes can’t stop him.
• Terrorized:
The main characters attempt to hide and find another way out of town – but it seems like everyone is dying. Throughout their efforts, they are killed one by one.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
• Fight to the death:
The remaining main characters, namely a young man who is one of the main social group, decides to take the fight to the killer.
• Hysteria:
They lose the fight, the young man is killed, and all hope is lost.
• The thrilling escape from death:
The remaining heroes escape the killer a couple of times as they struggle to get distance from him.
• Death returns to take one or more.
The young man makes a surprise return, teaming up with the last two survivors to battle the killer one last time. They are about to be successful when the main character reveals herself to be in league with the killer.
• Resolution:
The young man dies his final death, the main character and the killer leave. However, one of the main characters survives and crawls out of the swamp – alive but traumatised.

[Timothy G Winters]

TIME WINTERS’ HORROR PLOT

“What I learned doing this assignment is outline is an interesting way to fill in a plot before knowing the specifics as yet unwritten. Reassuring, a bit, to trust that things can be altered and bettered down the line.

ACT 1 –SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil Established: Chas Hopper kicked from the back of a pick-up in the middle of the night and in no-where Texas and beaten badly by thugs. Chas crawls to Office of Surplus Vehicles lot and meets spectre Colonel Gray.

Connect with the Characters: Chas awakens handcuffed to the steering column of an antique war surplus truck. The rest of the crew is also waking with various understandings of how they got there.

Characters warned not to do it: They are being prepared for the mission across Afghanistan. Machanic thinks they are crazy to go.

Denial of Horror: No one admitting how they came there. All want to be be where they were before. Decision to go, with the hope that it will free them.

Safety taken away: The Afghan war is still happening and they are now driving straight into it.

Monster: Nature of the Beast: All have come into contact with Colonel Gray, who is responsible for this. Gray communicates with one of them.

ACT 2- THE POINT OF NO RETURN

Isolated/trapped/ Abducted: It is clear that this drive is no picnic. In fact, the natives are trying to kill them. They are on their own.

One is killed: One tries to accomplish the Colonel’s first order. They fail to finish the task and that commandee dies violently in front of the others.

MIDPOINT: The Monster is worse than we thought.

Full pursuit by the killer: Two others are separately ordered by the ghostly Colonel on impossible tasks that conflict with the other.

Terrorized: Who will act first? What if they don’t fulfil their mission?

ACT 3—FULL OUT HORROR

Fight to the Death: Avoiding Taliban ambush, and a possible IED, SENDS THE TRUCK INTO AN IED EXPLOSION.

Hysteria: Right the truck, get it repaired. Hit the road for Mosul.

Escape from Death: On the race to the completion of the delivery of the truck, each meets the colonel and their final come-uppance with not fulfilling his orders.

Resolution: Under US Surveillance, the WAR Surplus vehicle is placed in the center of a Taliban stronghold. The Colonel interacts with one of the fighters, just as Chaz was.
Chaz awakens from a night out in Texas, battered and bruised but…strangely, alive.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by  Timothy G Winters.

[Adam Wright]

What I learned doing this assignment is it’s really fun to go through the method here and it’s giving me lots of ideas for the script!

Concept: A filmmaker kills actors in a found footage film to make it more believable.

ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR

• Atmosphere of Evil established: Dylan is on a movie set and he is pushing the boundaries of an actress, telling her to do things that cross ethical lines and putting her in physical danger. When she pushes back he reminds her of the paycheck she has waiting for her.
• Connect with the characters: The actors are shown rehearsing dialogue, practicing their screams, putting makeup on etc.
• The characters are warned not to do it.: The actress from the first scene tells the other actors how difficult Dylan is being and says they should all walk out in protest. But these are young actors who want stardom and fame and know they are working with a legendary director so they decide to stay, even though there will be no car service for the remainder of the night.
• Denial of Horror: One of the actors who works with the director talks about how ultimately it was a good experience for Dylan to push him to his limits and that Dylan knows what the rules are.
• Safety taken away: Union workers leave due to regulations, the car service that takes actors to the woods leaves, and Dylan says he will take over camera and directing duties.
• Monster: The nature of the beast.: After one of the actresses goes to shoot a scene, she doesn’t come back. Dylan insists she just went somewhere to be alone but there is blood on Dylan’s clothes. He says it’s just makeup.

ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN

• Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: The actors are told the rest of the scenes will be filmed inside the house and so they all need to go in to get ready for their scenes. But once inside, the doors and windows automatically lock.
• One of us killed: While looking for ways out of the house, an actor stumbles upon the dead body of the actress from the first scene, her throat slit.

MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!

• Full pursuit by the killer: One of our actors sets off a trap in a room and instead of helping, Dylan just keeps encouraging him to act like someone in the situation would.
• Terrorized: Dylan takes glee in chasing actors around, setting off traps, and stabbing whoever he can corner.

ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR

• Fight to the death: The remaining male actors decide they can take Dylan down if they team up. Dylan cuts them down in the attempt.
• Hysteria: Dylan is telling the remaining characters what a wonderful film they are making as he cuts into them.
• The thrilling escape from death: The actors who are left try to flee only to find more trapped rooms. But, they maneuver around so Dylan himself falls into the trap.
• Death returns to take one or more.: The actors figure out how to open the doors to the house but when they press the button to release the doors, a fatal electric shock is delivered.
• Resolution: The last surviving member is in hysterics as she leaves the house to find the union workers and car service have returned and she is given treatment and asked to tell what happened.

[Anne]

Anne’s Arctic Animals Horror Plot
What I learned doing this assignment is: From the Purge example, the hunters and the hunted can change roles. “Good” characters can be revealed as “evil”.
ACT 1 – Set-up
– Atmosphere of Evil established: A 20’s female frantically runs from something or someone across an Arctic expanse. She reaches a cliff edge, stops, turns and faces her pursuer, then turns back and jumps off the cliff into the freezing water below.
– Connect with the Characters: Modern day. Protagonist college undergrad science student Molly goes to an intro planning meeting of the annual summer arctic study science team. Team members are introduced; Molly is the junior member and only woman.
– Warning: Woman science department admin tells Molly that the sole women members of the last two years’ teams died – one committed suicide and the other had an accident.
– Denial of Horror: Naïve and friendly with three of the male team members, Molly needs this summer work for the money and her resume for grad school.
– Safety Taken Away: On the boat to the isolated arctic island, entering zone of no cell coverage. Team leader has only satellite phone. Team leader and his minions make Molly uncomfortable.
– Monster: They land and set up camp. Molly overhears the slave role the team leader has planned for her. No other team members, even her friends, object.
ACT 2 – The Point of No Return
– Isolated/Trapped/Abducted: The evil acts of the team leader and his minions towards Molly increase to rape. She is threatened then punished when she doesn’t give in. She finds a note left by her predecessor last year detailing the cruelty the team inflicted.
– One Killed: Molly begs for help from her team member friends. One refuses. One tries to help her but when discovered is killed in an “accident.” The third says he will help in secret but has to appear to stay united with the team leader and his minions.
MIDPOINT – The Monster is worse than we thought
– Full Pursuit by the Killer: One month in, Molly is pregnant by one of the team. The team plans to kill her to protect themselves. Molly escapes the camp and hides in a remote area.
– Terrorized: The team hunts Molly.
ACT 3 – Full out Horror
– Fight to the Death: Molly lays traps for the hunters. She succeeds in killing several, including the team leader.
– Hysteria: Molly is injured, broken down. She doesn’t know if she can continue.
– Thrilling escape from Death: Last remaining friend appears willing to help Molly.
– Death returns to take one more: Team leader, thought to be dead, returns and tries to kill both. Last remaining friend turns on Molly. She pushes him off the same cliff as in the intro.
– Resolution: Pregnant Molly is lone survivor.

[Leslie Valdes]

ASSIGNMENT 4

“What I learned doing this assignment is…?” I learned that my premise might not have the legs for a feature film. I need to think through the premise more deeply; if that doesn’t pan out, then I’ll have to try a different premise.

Create your plot.

ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
* Atmosphere of Evil established: A post apocalyptic world, where AI robots run amok, killing the remnants of humanity
* Connect with the characters: Our group is comprised of scattered refugees who escape from a hiding place that gets invaded by AI robots.
* The characters are warned not to do it: After they neutralize the robot, the characters decide to leave for a safer hideout; a recently arrived refugees knows of a bunker with allegedly impregnable defenses — and he knows the passcode.
* Denial of Horror: The group thinks they can evade the marauding AI robots, reach the bunker safely and somehow get past its defenses to reach safety.
* Safety taken away: After fighting a slew of AI robots, they reach the bunker and gain entry with the passcode, only to discover that the passageway into the bunker is loaded with booby traps. [ALT: The group get surrounded by an AI robot squadron who corral them into a transport that takes them to a Concentration Camp (in lieu of the bunker).]
* Monster: The nature of the beast. After making it past the booby traps (with injuries and one or two fatalities), the group realize that the bunker is controlled by an AI, who announces that each one of them is going to be put through a purification test to see if they’re evolved enough to live in the new AI-run society.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
* Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: They AI encages the group individually and sequesters each member.
* One of us killed: The member of the group who presents as the strongest — the Male Gangbanger — gets pitted against his greatest flaw, his cocaine addiction, and dies after ingesting ever increasing amounts of cocaine. He’s given a chance after every dose of cocaine to quit, but each subsequent serving of cocaine is of an increasingly purer grade and proves impossible for him to quit until it’s too late.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
* Full pursuit by the killer: Despite pleading from the group, the AI subjects the PRE-TEEN DAUGHTER to her worst fear — claustrophobia. She’s subjected to a maze of ever-shrinking rooms, until she ends up in a tiny room whose walls close in and crush her.
* Terrorized: The other group members are forced to watch the Pre-Teen’s torture. They’re horrified, especially the NO-NONSENSE MOTHER.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
* Fight to the death: NO-NONSENSE MOTHER challenges the AI, calling it weak for picking on the weakest of the group. She dares the AI to take them on as a group.
* Hysteria: The AI brings them all together and starts putting them through one challenge after another — it’s like American Gladiator to the Death. We lose one or two participants, but the rest of the group prevail.
* The thrilling escape from death: The survivors manage to escape the bunker. They decide to return to their previous hiding place. But the No-Nonsense Mother insists on returning to the bunker to destroy the AI — it’s a personal vendetta.
* Death returns to take one or more: It’s a life-or death face-off. Mother uses everything she knows and everything she’s learned from the other captives to decisively beat and destroy the AI, using quirky human subterfuge to beat the AI’s cold logic.
* Resolution: Mother escapes the bunker one last time just before it explodes to smithereens. She returns to the former hiding place — a factory? a school? — only to find it destroyed. Mother is devastated. But then she hears a distinctive sound and discovers that the surviving captives are hiding in a newly discovered bunker. As Mother stands at the entrance to the bunker, debating whether to descend, we…CUT TO BLACK. THE END

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by  Leslie Valdes.

[j y]

Jessica Tremblay’s Horror Plot

What I learned doing this assignment is horror is very structured. You must hit certain points in the stories. I still have trouble with my midpoint and have to work on that.

ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
• Atmosphere of Evil established: a CREATURE attacks a MAN (60) in a storage locker (in the basement of an apartment building)
• Connect with the characters: Joanna, the man’s daughter, is a shoplifter who discovers her one-night stand is a cop. His police dog dies in her kitchen and he blaims her. When she hears her father died, she has one goal: rescue his dog and redeem herself to the cop.
• The characters are warned not to do it. She can’t find anyt race of the dog. Just dog medications. Her father’s neighbour warned her to get out as soon as she can, but Building manager wants her to empty storage locker or he’ll charger her a month’s rent.
• Denial of Horror: Safety taken away. Seeins an opportunity to make money, Joanna steals valuables (fur coat, etc.) from surrounding lockers. The pile of boxes and stolen goods collapse outside, blocking the exit. She’s stuck in a creepy dark basement ! When manager comes, he’ll know she stole stuff. Her life is over. She tries to get out, but there’s no other exit. She must wait. Something escapes from a locker.
• Monster: The nature of the beast. First signs of the beast: claw marks on the floor. A lapping sound, then scampering noises, grunting.

ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
• Isolated / Trapped / Abducted. She creates a barricade and takes refuge inside the neighbour’s locker, but beast breaches barricade. Finds her smell. Attacks!
• One of us killed: Creature eats and destroys Bunny, her favorite childhood toy.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought! Creature can inflate to twice its size.
• Full pursuit by the killer: the creature rams into the door of the locker to break in and get to her.
• Terrorized: she must flee from locker to locker, crawling over the shared wall between lockers in the small space between pipes and top of lockers, using a short ladder to cross to the other side of the hallway. Close encounter with the creature.

ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
• Fight to the death: She is being chased, trapped, attacked, and wounded.
• Hysteria: she straps a doll to herself and talks to it.
• The thrilling escape from death. Neighbour arrives, creating a diversion. The door is now open. She can leave, but she decides to stay to help the neighbour. She uses the broken A/C unit to knock out the beast.
• Death returns to take one or more. The creature is not dead and grabs her one more time. Final fight. When it unexpectedly gives birth, she locks it up. That’s when Manager arrives to check on her and tries to kill her to keep his secret (he steals pension cheques from deceased residents). Their final fight takes place in the creature’s lair. She uses the creature against him.
• Resolution: Neighbour is dead. Manager is vainquished. She exits storage with the doll, having accepted her pregnancy. She frees the beast and puppies outside. She calls the cop she slept with. Tells hims about pregnancy. She wants to make it work. She discovers a lost puppy on the back seat and decides to keep it. Drives to meet the cop. They can be a family.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  j y.