Lesson 4

[Rice Rice]

Frances’ Character Depth!

What I learned doing this assignment is an excellent brainstorming process for uncovering the wound and dilemma of my main character that will give my story incredible emotional depth.

[Micki Hess]

Micki’s Character Depth!

What I learned doing this assignment is a little bit complex to figure out the story behind each character. While doing this, taking each character’s profile becomes stronger and more vivid. Understanding their backstory and why they are they way they are going to be. Using their names in this and the future assignments.

Internal Character Depth for Each Character in The Hotel of Endless Christmas Eve:

Mark Anderson (The Control Freak)

Motivation: To ensure the perfect Christmas Eve for his family, believing that he can make everyone happy through control.

Secret: He’s terrified of losing control, which stems from an early failure (perhaps a past Christmas disaster) where everything went wrong, and he was blamed.

Wound: Mark’s father was distant and absent during the holidays, and Mark swore he’d never let his own family feel that same disappointment.

Subtext: His need for control is masking a deep fear of inadequacy and failure as a father and husband.

Layers: He is outwardly organized and authoritative, but underneath, he’s desperate for affirmation and connection. He believes achieving perfection will prove his worth.

Character to Character:

Conflict: Clashes with Grace Walker’s cynical attitude about Christmas; his insistence on perfection irritates his wife and causes tension with his children.

Hidden Agenda: Mark wants validation from his family and hopes that pulling off the perfect holiday will make him feel like he’s succeeded as a father.

Conspiracy: He suspects that the Walkers are intentionally sabotaging his Christmas Eve plans to humiliate him.

Intrigue: He’s quietly investigating possible reasons for the time loop, trying to figure out how to escape it by controlling the situation.

Character Situation:

Dilemma: Does Mark loosen his grip and let the holiday chaos unfold naturally, or does he continue trying to maintain control at the cost of further strain on his family relationships?

Secret Identity: He’s seen as the family’s stable rock, but deep down, he’s haunted by the fear that he’s not enough.

Chloe Anderson (The Social Media Queen)

Motivation: To present the perfect image of her life and family online, using Christmas Eve as a backdrop for her social media posts.

Secret: Chloe feels deeply insecure and worries that if people knew who she truly was, they wouldn’t accept her.

Wound: As a child, she was often overlooked by her parents and classmates, which drives her need for validation from an online audience.

Subtext: Her obsession with curating a perfect image hides a profound loneliness and fear of genuine connection.

Layers: On the surface, she’s bubbly and attention-seeking, but beneath, she’s emotionally fragile, using her online persona to mask her feelings of isolation.

Character to Character:

Conflict: Frequently clashes with her father, Mark, who wants her to be more present and stop focusing on her phone. She also competes with Dylan’s pranks for attention.

Hidden Agenda: She craves genuine approval but is terrified of being vulnerable. She uses her posts to seek external validation, hiding her true self behind filters and edits.

Conspiracy: Chloe believes her popularity is at risk due to the pranks and family chaos and starts suspecting that others are sabotaging her content.

Intrigue: She’s subtly trying to manipulate events to ensure she captures the “perfect moment” for her audience, not realizing how artificial it all is.

Character Situation:

Dilemma: Should she continue pretending and chasing online approval, or should she risk being her true self with her family and followers?

Secret Identity: Though she presents herself as confident and flawless online, Chloe is deeply insecure and unsure of who she really is outside of social media.

Dylan Anderson (The Mischievous Prankster)

Motivation: To amuse himself and liven up the endless Christmas Eve by pulling pranks, avoiding the boredom of repetition.

Secret: His pranks are a way to get attention and avoid feelings of abandonment from his family’s growing distance.

Wound: He feels invisible within the family, especially with Chloe and Mark dominating attention. His pranks are his only way to stand out.

Subtext: Dylan’s playful exterior hides a deeper longing to be noticed and valued by his family.

Layers: While he seems carefree and fun-loving, his pranks are rooted in a desperate need to connect and express his frustration.

Character to Character:

Conflict: His escalating pranks irritate both families and often provoke unintended consequences. He feels neglected by Chloe’s social media obsession and Mark’s controlling behavior.

Hidden Agenda: Dylan wants his family to pay attention to him, even if it’s negative attention. His pranks serve as a cry for recognition.

Conspiracy: He starts to suspect that the rival family is setting him up to take the blame for certain pranks he didn’t pull.

Intrigue: Dylan begins to play both families against each other, stirring up more chaos while secretly hoping it forces everyone to deal with their issues.

Character Situation:

Dilemma: Does he continue escalating the pranks to keep himself entertained and noticed, or does he open up to his family about feeling overlooked?

Secret Identity: He plays the role of the carefree troublemaker, but deep down, he’s lonely and just wants to be seen and appreciated.

Grace Walker (The Cynical Realist)

Motivation: To expose the shallowness of Christmas and prove that it’s all about commercialism and meaningless tradition.

Secret: Despite her cynicism, Grace secretly longs for a magical Christmas experience, but she’s afraid of being let down.

Wound: She had a painful childhood where Christmas always felt like a forced obligation, leading her to reject it as an adult.

Subtext: Her tough exterior hides a deep fear of disappointment and vulnerability, which is why she pushes people away.

Layers: While she’s outwardly dismissive and sarcastic, Grace is also secretly yearning for the magic of Christmas but can’t bring herself to admit it.

Character to Character:

Conflict: She butts heads with Mark’s attempts at a perfect Christmas and is constantly undermining him with her snide remarks and pranks.

Hidden Agenda: Grace wants to protect herself from being hurt by disappointment, so she sabotages the holiday before it can let her down.

Conspiracy: She suspects the hotel staff might be manipulating events to keep the families in a constant loop, reinforcing her belief that Christmas is a sham.

Intrigue: Grace begins uncovering strange clues around the hotel, leading her to wonder if there’s a deeper reason for the time loop beyond her control.

Character Situation:

Dilemma: Will she continue to protect herself by rejecting Christmas, or will she open her heart to the possibility of holiday magic and emotional connection?

Secret Identity: Grace pretends to be a hardened realist, but deep down, she’s a dreamer who’s afraid of being hurt.

Alex Walker (The Intellectual Skeptic)

Motivation: To find a logical explanation for the endless Christmas Eve, convinced that it’s a scientific anomaly or psychological experiment.

Secret: He struggles with accepting emotional or mystical solutions, fearing they’re irrational and weak.

Wound: Alex grew up feeling pressured to be the “rational one” in the family, suppressing his emotional side to meet expectations.

Subtext: His skepticism masks a fear of vulnerability and an aversion to emotional intimacy.

Layers: Although he outwardly rejects anything that isn’t logical, Alex is slowly forced to confront the emotional side of life as the time loop continues.

Character to Character:

Conflict: Clashes with both families over his cold, clinical approach to solving the time loop, especially with Chloe, who he sees as shallow.

Hidden Agenda: Alex wants to maintain his rational superiority, but part of him is terrified that he might have to embrace something emotional or spiritual to solve the problem.

Conspiracy: He believes the endless Christmas Eve is some kind of grand experiment, possibly orchestrated by the hotel.

Intrigue: As he uncovers strange events, Alex’s skepticism is challenged, leading him down a path of reluctant emotional awakening.

Character Situation:

Dilemma: Will Alex continue pursuing a rational solution, or will he allow himself to explore emotional or even magical answers?

Secret Identity: He presents himself as purely logical, but Alex hides a yearning for deeper emotional connection that he’s been too afraid to explore.

Emma Walker (The Christmas Enthusiast)

Motivation: To celebrate the perfect Christmas Eve and enjoy the magic of the holiday with her family.

Secret: She’s beginning to feel disillusioned as the perfect Christmas Eve never arrives, realizing that anticipation without resolution is frustrating.

Wound: She’s young and hopeful but beginning to understand the world’s imperfections, which threatens her innocent view of Christmas.

Subtext: Emma’s initial enthusiasm hides a growing impatience and desire for more than just endless anticipation.

Layers: Outwardly, she’s cheerful and excited about Christmas, but as the loop continues, she becomes more introspective, realizing that the perfect Christmas isn’t about the event but the people.

Character to Character:

Conflict: Her endless optimism becomes grating for the more cynical characters, especially Grace, who views Emma’s enthusiasm as naïve. She also clashes with her brother, Alex, who dismisses her belief in Christmas magic.

Hidden Agenda: Emma secretly hopes that by maintaining her cheerfulness, she can bring her family back together and restore the magic of Christmas, even though she’s struggling with doubt herself.

Conspiracy: She begins to suspect that the time loop is happening for a reason, possibly a magical one, and that the families must find the true spirit of Christmas to break it.

Intrigue: Emma slowly starts putting together clues that the endless Christmas Eve is a test of sorts, designed to teach everyone a lesson about the holiday’s true meaning.

Character Situation:

Dilemma: Will she hold onto her idealized view of Christmas, or will she accept that the holiday (and life) is about more than just magic—it’s about the imperfections and connections?

Secret Identity: While she’s seen as the embodiment of holiday cheer, Emma is beginning to question whether the magic she’s always believed in is real, or if it’s something she has to create herself.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 4 weeks ago by  Micki Hess.

[Bob Rowen]

Subject line: Bob Rowen’s Character Depth!

What I learned doing this assignment is a really cool way to identify and more fully develop my main characters.

Character: WADE MEADOWS (protagonist) is a former Marine with a proud service record and now a high school social science teacher who is deeply committed to presenting his instruction through an unfiltered lens, pushing students to think critically. This commitment to open inquiry makes him a threat to the conspiracy-driven school board president, who seeks to stifle dissent and control the curriculum’s narrative.

Internal Character Depth
• Motivation: Wade’s dedication to truth makes him a natural target for those who fear open dialogue.
• Secret: While serving in the Marines, Wade witnessed a fatality that should never have happened that was covered up and he remained silent.
• Wound: Wade has a heavy burden of guilt.
• Subtext: He has an unrelenting commitment to truth.
• Layers: Wade’s declaration in every circumstance and at any cost to “never, ever again”!

Character to Character
• Conflict: A clash of values between Wade and those with agendas contrary to Wade’s worldview.
• Hidden Agenda: Wade designs his curriculum to circumvent the directives advanced by the school board president.
• Conspiracy: Wade discovers a pact exists within the school system between the president of the school board and the vice principal to get rid of him.
• Intrigue: The vice principal engages in unscrupulous conduct designed to setup Wade.

Character Situation
• Dilemma: Wade must kowtow to the wishes of the school board president in order to maintain his teaching position or have his reputation and career destroyed.
• Secret Identity: Wade truly believes truth ultimately prevails.

Character: KEN FRANKS (antagonist) is the influential and powerful school board president with an agenda of his own.

Internal Character Depth
• Motivation: Franks has a personal goal of controlling the school’s curriculum to reflect his ultraconservative worldview.
• Secret: Franks was placed on the board of trustees by powerful, influential people who expect him to do their bidding.
• Wound: Franks’ intense focus on control and rigid beliefs have caused estrangement from some family members who disagree with his ideology, creating a private emotional burden.
• Subtext: His attempts to “protect” students from certain ideologies serve as a cover for his larger goal of imposing his personal beliefs and “agenda” onto the curriculum.
• Layers: Franks uses his political skill to manipulate others, yet he’s painfully aware that he is also being manipulated, creating an internal cycle of control and dependence.

Character to Character
• Conflict: Ken Franks is an ultraconservative leader who believes in controlling the school curriculum to reflect his values. Wade Meadows, in contrast, teaches through an unfiltered lens, pushing students to think critically and explore diverse perspectives. This clash becomes personal as Franks sees Wade’s methods as a direct threat to the agenda he is pushing. Franks wants to mold students’ minds in his image, while Wade fights for intellectual freedom, sparking escalating tensions between the two.
• Hidden Agenda: Franks doesn’t just want to oust Wade; he wants to make an example of him to ensure that no other teacher dares to challenge his ultraconservative control over the school. By removing Wade, Franks can solidify his influence over the curriculum, turning it into a tool for indoctrination under the guise of “traditional education.”
• Conspiracy: Ken Franks has quietly formed an alliance with Vice Principal Peter Swayze, who is willing to do whatever it takes for personal gain. Together, they are fabricating evidence and orchestrating complaints from parents and students to paint Wade as a dangerous radical who is unfit to teach. Their goal is to force a public hearing that will inevitably end in Wade’s dismissal.
• Intrigue: The intrigue deepens with Vice Principal Swayze’s unscrupulous involvement. Behind the scenes, Swayze is planting information, manipulating documents, and steering board meetings to ensure Franks’ plan succeeds. He plays the role of a loyal ally to Franks but is ultimately in it for his own gain, knowing that Wade’s removal could open doors for his own advancement.

Character Situation
• Dilemma: Franks must decide whether to continue doing the bidding of the powerful individuals who placed him on the school board or risk losing their support by asserting his independence. Ken Franks faces a dilemma as he struggles to balance his personal ambitions with the growing pressure from certain family members. On one hand, he’s driven by his desire for power and control over the school’s curriculum, but on the other, he knows he can’t ignore the concerns and expectations of his family, whose values and priorities may not always align with his own goals. Franks is torn between pursuing his political agenda and maintaining harmony with those closest to him.
• Secret Identity: Though Franks portrays himself as content with his role on the school board, he secretly harbors unfulfilled dreams of higher political office. His ambition to move beyond his current position is something he doesn’t reveal to others, as it would expose his dissatisfaction.

Character: PETER SWAYZER, also a former marine, is the vice principal who is willing to do whatever it takes for personal gain. He has formed an alliance with Ken Franks to fabricate evidence to paint Wade as a dangerous radical who is unfit to teach. Together their goal is to force a public hearing that will inevitably end in Wade’s dismissal.

Internal Character Depth
• Motivation: Swayze craves power and influence within the school system. He sees aligning with Ken Franks as a stepping stone toward becoming principal or securing a higher-level position in education.
• Secret: Swayze is more dependent on Ken Franks than he lets on, knowing that without Franks’ backing, his career prospects could collapse.
• Wound: Swayze feels like a failure for never achieving the rank or recognition he desired in the Marines, leading to his ruthless pursuit of success in civilian life.
• Subtext: Though he acts as if it’s a professional decision, Swayze’s actions are fueled by a personal resentment toward Wade’s integrity and popularity.
• Layers: Swayze may talk about rules and order, but his willingness to fabricate evidence and lie about Wade shows a hypocritical disregard for the very principles he claims to uphold.

Character to Character
• Conflict: Swayze’s clash with Wade stems from a deep ideological difference—while Wade believes in open dialogue and critical thinking, Swayze is focused on rigid control and loyalty to power. Their approaches to education and life are diametrically opposed, driving their conflict.
• Hidden Agenda: Swayze’s hidden agenda is to curry favor with Ken Franks and the larger conservative movement in the community by taking down Wade, framing it as a moral stand when it’s really about personal advancement.
• Conspiracy: Swayze is conspiring with Franks to fabricate evidence that portrays Wade as a dangerous radical. This conspiracy is designed to force Wade into a public hearing that will lead to his dismissal, clearing the path for Swayze to advance.
• Intrigue: Swayze is actively working behind the scenes to manipulate documents, witnesses, and possibly even students to build a case against Wade. His intricate and underhanded tactics provide a web of intrigue as he seeks to discredit his colleague.

Character Situation
• Dilemma: As a former Marine, Swayze faces a moral dilemma between betraying Wade, a fellow Marine, for personal gain, and remaining loyal to the brotherhood they share as former Marines, even if it means sacrificing his ambitions.
• Secret Identity: Outwardly a dedicated vice principal, Swayze is secretly someone who will stop at nothing to climb the ladder of success, including betraying colleagues.

[Karyn Laitis]

Karyn Laitis—Assignment 4– Character Depth!

What I learned doing this assignment is…? The questions help to develop the characters, superficial and deeper motivations and how their attributes might play out with the other characters. This is only a first attempt and I’m sure will have opportunities for revision and improvement.

With each of your characters, go through all of these questions to see which might fit for your story.

Protagonist
1. Internal Character Depth
a. Motivation: To prove her worth in male dominated & highly competitive scientific community
b. Secret: Twin sister went missing & died in an exploration cave-in & knowledge of alien tech
c. Wound: Guilt that her sister took what was to be her exploration assignment where she died
d. Subtext: She was never “Good enough”; always striving, hiding her failures
e. Layers: Genius, takes risks, self-doubts, depth of knowledge
2. Character to character
a. Conflict: Vying for team leadership, alien attacks
b. Hidden Agenda: Find body of twin sister
c. Conspiracy: Antagonist sabotage seeking to exploit alien technology
d. Intrigue: Secret knowledge of alien technology

3. Character Situation
a. Dilemma: Death of aliens or death of team
b. Secret Identity: Is she really her twin?

Protagonist Profile:
• Secret: Twin sister missing presumed dead in cave-in
• Wound: Guilt that her sister took her assignment, only to die in the cave-in
• Motivation: To prove her worth in competitive scientific community
• Hidden Agenda: Find body of twin sister
• Dilemma: Death of aliens or her team
• Conspiracy: Antagonist sabotage to exploit alien technology

Antagonist
1. Internal Character Depth
a. Motivation: To steal alien technology for power & financial gain
b. Secret: Working for a Dark Money corporation with plans to achieve global dominance
c. Wound: Betrayed by a trusted close colleague
d. Subtext: Mother abandoned him as a child, never valued.
e. Layers: Charismatic, manipulates, engaging, sabotages, desperately needs acceptance, ruthless

2. Character to character
a. Conflict: Competes with protagonist for leadership.
b. Hidden Agenda: Undermine protagonist’s agenda with his plan to steal the alien tech & escape.
c. Conspiracy: Aligns with aliens against team members
d. Intrigue: Using expedition to annihilate the team and aliens.

3. Character Situation
a. Dilemma: Fulfill his agenda-his life vs team members
b. Secret Identity: He was in love with Protagonist’s dead twin sister that betrayed him.
Antagonist Profile:
• Secret: Working for a Dark Money corporation with plans to achieve global dominance
• Wound: Betrayed by a trusted close colleague
• Motivation: To steal alien technology for power & financial gain
• Hidden Agenda: Undermine protagonist’s agenda with his plan to steal the alien tech & escape.
• Dilemma: Fulfill his agenda-his life vs team members
• Conspiracy: Aligns with aliens against team members
Character 1
1. Internal Character Depth
a. Motivation: Obsessed with alien communications; animal communicator; brings his pet (cat?)
b. Secret: Possesses clues to alien language and twin sister’s death
c. Wound: Professionally bullied, timid and cautious
d. Subtext: “He never amount to anything”
e. Layers: Resistance, courage, deliberate, holds the key to understanding aliens
2. Character to character
a. Conflict: Withdraws with conflict-Antagonist manipulates
b. Hidden Agenda: Communicate with aliens to help discovery of ancient alien/human history
c. Conspiracy: Antagonist undermines to take control of team, steal tech & kill aliens
d. Intrigue: Conceals encrypted journal of historical significance to creation

3. Character Situation
a. Dilemma: Aliens vs team safety
b. Secret Identity: Only he can decode the alien story of creation-their Bible

Supporting Character 1 Profile:
• Secret: Possess clues to alien language and twin sister’s death
• Wound: Professionally bullied, timid, cautious
• Motivation: Obsessed with alien communications
• Hidden Agenda: Communicate with aliens to help discovery of ancient history
• Dilemma: Aliens vs team safety
• Conspiracy: Antagonist undermines to take control of team, steal tech & kill aliens

Supporting Character 2
1. Internal Character Depth
a. Motivation: Escape past life quasi-criminal ties; needs to use her skills for positive
b. Secret: Framed for crime-protect family at all costs
c. Wound: Past decisions; betrayal of her brother
d. Subtext: Can she be trusted?
e. Layers: Withhold vital intel; bad ass; vulnerable; spiritual connection to aliens

2. Character to character
a. Conflict: Prove herself as smart and brave; make indigenous family proud
b. Hidden Agenda: Covertly searching for alien tools to take back to family
c. Conspiracy: Aligns with aliens putting team at risk
d. Intrigue: She has a connection to the alien story

3. Character Situation
a. Dilemma: Honor her heritage and skills or buy into Antagonist story
b. Secret Identity: She is indigenous; understands the energy of the cave and aliens

Supporting Character 2 Profile:
• Secret: Framed for crime-protect family at all costs
• Wound: Past decisions; betrayal of her brother
• Motivation: Escape her past quasi-criminal ties; needs to use her skills for positive
• Hidden Agenda: Covertly searching for alien tools to take back to family
• Dilemma: Honor her heritage and skills or buy into Antagonist story
• Conspiracy: Aligns with aliens putting team at risk

[Gina Coviello]

Gina's Character Depth!

What I learned doing this assignment is… This assignment has me rethinking the original “right characters” that I came up with. Which is not a bad thing. Looking for ways to bring conflict between the characters gave me new ideas and made me rethink what each of their roles / wounds / secrets are. I’d much rather think of this stuff now, rather than on page 60 of a third draft. I definitely want to delve deeper into the possibilities, and I’m sure they will continue to evolve and change over the next few lessons. (I didn’t officially name anyone yet, I just Googled last names as placeholders, hence all of the question marks…)

Character: Dr. Cole (?)

Dr. Cole is the lead scientist, an expert in microbiology, particularly in viral mutations, and is essential in unlocking the origin and potential cure of viruses.

Secret: Her child is infected with an untreatable virus, but she hides this from the others to maintain her objectivity.

Wound: Lost her spouse to a preventable disease, which drives her obsessive need to find cures and not let others experience the same pain.

Motivation: To discover a cure for her sick child.

Intrigue: She is conducting unethical experiments with the viruses, splicing and mutating them with the DNA of the most venomous creatures in the ocean, believing that the venom from these creatures can kill the virus without harming the host.

Dilemma: When the base gets damaged, does she save herself, or risk her life and those of her team in order to keep working on the cure?

Character: Dr. Grayson (?)

Dr. Grayson doubles as a scientist and the group's psychologist and emotional anchor. He’s vital in keeping the team mentally functional, but struggles with his own mental state.

Secret: He’s hiding an addiction to sedatives, which he uses to control his own anxiety and insomnia, threatening his ability to help the team.

Wound: At a previous facility, his experiments unintentionally caused a chain reaction that resulted in the death of two co-workers and a college lab assistant.

Conflict: He tends to avoid confrontation, even when action is necessary, which often undermines the team’s success, and is far more conservative in relation to taking risks in finding cures, as he is afraid of another lab mishap.

Character: Dr. Wexler (?)

Dr. Wexler is a brilliant virologist and just as capable as Dr. Cole, and her knowledge of the virus makes her a valuable but dangerous adversary.

Secret: She was hired by a clandestine agency to steal one of the volatile viruses housed in the classified section of the lab and continuously undermines the group’s success in finding a cure for that particular virus.

Wound: She grew up in poverty, and her sibling is in the final stages of a fatal illness with an experimental treatment that is not covered by insurance and is astronomical in cost. She believes selling the virus will fund the treatment, no matter the consequences.

Character: Dr. Brennan (?)

Dr. Brennan is a medical researcher, an expert in epidemiology and virology, and is responsible for the health of the team and developing a cure for the virus that now threatens their survival.

Secret: Has been secretly running experimental treatments on himself to test the virus cure, fearing he’s already infected.

Character: Marcus (?)

Marcus is the security specialist and former military tasked with keeping the team safe in the lab’s potentially dangerous environment and is the first to spot threats, whether environmental or human.

Motivation: Want – to protect the team and ensure no one else dies on his watch. Need – to find redemption for the lives lost under his command.

Secrets: He is secretly on the payroll of the same clandestine organization the saboteur works for but was misled about their true intentions.

Wound: His entire platoon was killed in a botched mission that he believes he should have prevented, leading to survivor’s guilt.

Character: Keller (?)

Keller is the tech guru and in charge of keeping the communications, life support, and other systems in the facility running smoothly. A highly skilled IT expert and hacker, Keller’s knowledge of the base’s infrastructure and technological systems makes him essential for keeping the group connected and retrieving critical information.

Secret: Keller has been quietly communicating with hackers on the surface, trying to orchestrate a way to sell valuable base data for personal gain. He also knows more about Dr. Wexler’s background than he’s letting on.

Wound: Betrayed by a former mentor in a hacking scandal that nearly destroyed his life, leaving him with deep trust issues, especially with people in positions of power.

Conflict: Whenever someone in a position of authority makes a decision that endangers the group, Keller’s mistrust boils over, pushing him into rash actions.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by  Gina Coviello.

[Leona Heraty]

Leona Heraty’s Character Depth!

What I learned doing this assignment is…The more layers I add to the character’s, the more the story comes alive and it becomes intriguing!

1. With each of your characters, go through all of these questions to see which might fit for your story.

Internal Character Depth: Louisa, the real estate buyer
• Motivation: Money! She must find the treasure! She’s out of money!
• Secret: She never graduated from high school and didn’t get her college degree. She’s really a “professional wifey.” She poses as a buyer to examine the old plants in the greenhouse, but she’s really looking for the valuable formula. She acts like an airhead but she’s really smart and has a green thumb.
• Wound: Her parents didn’t love her and favored her older sister who had talent.
• Subtext: She has a horrible addiction, she eats rocks when she’s stressed. She substituted her alcohol addiction for another unhealthy addiction, eating rocks.
• Layers: She’s living in her car, and broke into the greenhouse several weeks ago and has been living there. She’s a scaredy cat by nature and runs from danger but longs to stand up for herself and make it on her own.
Character to character
• Conflict: She argues with Jamison and thinks he’s a jerk, they can’t agree on if the fumes around the greenhouse are toxic or not. He’s condescending and rude. He makes fun of her being a coward and she makes fun of his limp. She tries to hide from the ghost and not help her.
• Hidden Agenda: She’s really there to look for the hidden valuable formula.
• Conspiracy: She charmed the caretaker to get the keys to the greenhouse.
• Intrigue: She tries to drug Jamison to put him to sleep while she searches for the formula. She needs the keys to get into the mansion.

Character Situation
• Dilemma: Should she save Jamison when he cuts his leg or should she ignore him and follow the ghost to the mansion?
• Secret Identity: She has been squatting in the greenhouse for a month. She’s the “loser squatter” she’s been making fun of!

Internal Character Depth: Jamison, the real estate agent
• Motivation: He’s also looking for the fabled hidden formula
• Secret: He learned about the story of the hidden formula as a child, but he doesn’t let on to Louisa that he knows about it.
• Wound: He was injured in Navy Seal Training by an idiot trainer and had to drop out. He still walks with a limp but refuses surgery, although it could help him. It’s his badge of honor.
• Subtext: He doesn’t care about selling the house, he hopes it doesn’t sell right away, so he can keep looking for the hidden formula.
• Layers: His great uncle owned the house in the 1920s. He’s the great nephew of the ghost!
Character to character
• Conflict: Jamison pokes fun of Louisa’s airheaded ways and he pretends to have no knowledge of the house and is vague about its history with Louisa. He taunts the ghost and makes the situation worse.
• Hidden Agenda: He’s not even the listed agent for the house, his friend it, but they switched because he wants the keys to look for the formula. He doesn’t even want to sell it until he can find the formula.
• Conspiracy: He switched with another agent to show the house to Louisa so he could get the keys.
• Intrigue: He’s really the ghost’s great nephew, that’s why the ghost especially hates him!

Character Situation
• Dilemma: Should he share the formula with Louisa or leave her there to fight the ghost on her own
• Secret Identity: He’s the great-great nephew of the ghostly lady of Lilac Manor

Internal Character Depth: The Ghostly Lady in Green
• Motivation: Wants someone to find the formula and give it to scientists at the institute for botany research in their city.
• Secret: She was murdered (poisoned) by her husband and maid. She didn’t die of natural causes at age 50!
• Wound: Her husband had an affair with her maid and they had a baby together. She could never have children!
• Subtext: She wants to kill Jamison, because he’s the last living ancestor of her husband’s bastard son!
• Layers: She was a young bride but became bitter because she couldn’t have children and her husband ran around on her, so she devised a poison to kill them but they found it out first and poisoned her!
Character to character
• Conflict: She wants to kill Jamison! She wants to kill Louisa, but needs her to find the formula first because she can’t look for it herself because she’s not allowed back in the mansion…because of a curse?
• Hidden Agenda: She lured Jamison there to kill him!
• Conspiracy: ?
• Intrigue: She has the keys to the secret room within the greenhouse but doesn’t want to share them?
Character Situation
• Dilemma: She doesn’t want to burn down the toxic greenhouse, it was her sanctuary.
• Secret Identity: She’s the Ghostly Lady of Greenwood Hall.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by  Leona Heraty.

[Anna Maganini]

Lesson 4 – Discovering Character Depth –

Anna Maganini’s Character Depth!!

What I learned doing this assignment was – how you can find new conflicts between characters that heighten the story – based on their profiles and interactions caused by those profiles.

Character: Rainey moves into a quaint neighborhood and gets caught up in ‘neighborly’ games that turn ominous and even deadly

Internal Character Depth

Motivation: Her loneliness drives her to join in games, make friends and connect

Secret: She’s a former Afghanistan soldier and was crippled by polio while there

Wound: Her fiance broke up with her when she came back crippled

Subtext: She is not as helpless as she seems

Layers: She can take care of herself in difficult situations. Having been in intel gathering, ironically she can’t shoot a gun

Need/Want: – She needs love, friends, & companionship. She wants to do whatever it takes to not die, to kill if need be.

Character to character

Conflict: She becomes a victim of neighborly games in her effort to join in; THE SNIFFER uses her crush on a neighbor to draw her in, she must beat the robbers who invade her home and THE SNIFFER who runs the game – AND try to keep herself from dying

Hidden Agenda:She must secretly find ways to beat the robbers and THE SNIFFER

Conspiracy: Tries to find a way to cooperate with the robbers so neither side dies

Intrigue: The game that pits her against the robbers, if either one is early or late, they die; they must do this without clocks. But she intends to end the game on her terms…

Character Situation

Dilemma: Either she dies, or someone else dies.

Secret Identity: She is an Afghanistan soldier with many hidden skills – she’s got a mind like a steel trap

=======

Character: Kayla wears the pants in her domestic partnership with Josh and is all gung-ho about robbing the cripple’s house. She is a total psychopath.

Internal Character Depth

Motivation: Taken advantage of all her life, she now takes advantage of those who are weaker, doesn’t care what happens to others

Secret: She would like to be a better person

Wound: Alcoholic, abusive father, former abusive husband, current husband Josh is only a hair better

Subtext: She must be mean and heartless in order to save herself

Layers: Part of her feels sorry for the crippled lady but she stuffs it down, gets meaner

Need/Want: Need-to be loved and treated well/ her want is to get even and smash people

Character to character

Conflict: She will rip the cripple and her house apart if it gets her out of debt, so it’s easy for her to fall in THE SNIFFER’S clutches

Hidden Agenda: She wants to kill THE SNIFFER for forcing her into debt

Conspiracy: She is out to win the game with Josh at all costs

Intrigue: Kayla is an equal opportunity crusher. She will crush the cripple, THE SNIFFER, and anyone who gets in her way, even her husband.

Character Situation

Dilemma: Kill to win / or / Cooperate and risk losing

Secret Identity: She likes to crochet and be homey

==========

Character: Josh, desperate to end his debt, gives in to his wife and agrees to the robbery. He operates as the timer person to make sure they stay on time.

Internal Character Depth

Motivation: His gambling helped get them in debt and he needs to placate his wife. His low self esteem also makes him want to please.

Secret: He would like to be an artist-painter

Wound: Molested by his dad and mom, he trusts no one except Kayla

Subtext: He tries to act tough to make up for his shortcomings

Layers: He is a softie deep down, but can’t show it around Kayla. He needs to prove his toughness to his wife – which could make him dangerous to Rainey.

Need/Want: He needs Kayla to love and approve of him/ He wants to wear the pants once in a while

Character to character

Conflict: Hounded by debt, his wife, and THE SNIFFER, he has no choice but to give in to the game. He is constantly trying to soften Kayla’s harsh solutions, but she and THE SNIFFER force him to prove his toughness. He wants to give in to Rainey’s pleas for cooperation but Kayla says NO. He needs to prove his toughness to his wife – which could make him dangerous to Rainey.

Hidden Agenda: He secretly wants to work with Rainey to beat THE SNIFFER

Conspiracy: He might be in cahoots with Rainey if he can get away from Kayla

Intrigue: He secretly wants this to end without anyone dying

Character Situation

Dilemma: Get deeper in debt / Or rob a helpless person to end his problems

Secret Identity: A gentle soul and do-gooder

=========

Character:THE SNIFFER is an evil cynic who runs games on his neighbors for kicks and knows what everyone is doing by smell and hearing. His identity is a mystery.

Internal Character Depth

Motivation: He is bitter at ((the Gen-X’ers taking over his neighborhood, wants to drive them out and have some evil fun doing it. Just cause. I want to think of something better than this motivation – It's just a place holder for now)))

Secret: He is a vulnerable old man on oxygen.

Wound: He is dying and wants to take it out on the world

Subtext: He somehow seems to know what all his neighbors are doing

Layers: He seems like an all powerful being, bu is deep down afraid of getting found out

Need/Want: He needs to feel important and worthwhile in the world / He wants to batter the world before he goes

Character to character

Conflict: He orders his neighbors to do things and has such uncanny knowledge of them, they’re intimidated into doing what he says. He finds their vulnerabilities.

Hidden Agenda: He has an uncanny sense of smell and hearing that helps him to know what his neighbors are doing. He can sense their vulnerabilities and how to get them to play his games.

Conspiracy: He is in it alone, but makes neighbors feel everyone else is in on the game, and they must follow along
Intrigue-He knows what neighbors are doing but they don’t know WHO HE IS, so he is all powerful to them. In the end, who he really is (an old man on oxygen) makes his fall so much bigger.

Character Situation

Dilemma: Chase power and die alone / Or Make Amends and die in peace

Secret Identity: A dying old man who can’t breathe without oxygen.

================

3. Compare the character profiles to each other to see what conflicts can emerge from them. These are some of the newer conflicts I am seeing –

With Rainey, I saw that her need to be loved and her crush on a neighbor are what draw her into the game.

With Kayla, her desperation and wish to get out of debt helps her fall into the clutches of THE SNIFFER, so she becomes an unlikely victim, but his victim nonetheless.

That makes Kayla also want to kill him, which could provide new avenues for conflict with THE SNIFFER and for (maybe?) for cooperating with Rainey to save themselves?

Kayla may also have it in with her husband if he gets in her way, so that’s more conflict that could give Rainey a way into them.

For Josh, he tries to soften Kayla’s harsh solutions, which could mean Rainey might have an opening with him for cooperation.

At the same time, he needs to prove his toughness to his wife – which could make him dangerous to Rainey.

For THE SNIFFER, he has all the power as he seems to know what all his neighbors do all the time, while they don’t even know who he is.

But in the end, who he really is (an old man on oxygen) makes his fall so much bigger.

I don’t think I have a very good motivation for THE SNIFFER yet that I am satisfied with. But when I find it, that will provide so many new possibilities for conflict.

++++++++++++++

• This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by  Anna Maganini.

[Marni Sullivan]

Marni’s Character Depth

WHAT I LEARNED: You can keep your audience riveted if you plan the right twists that keep them guessing to the last minute.

Lysha
• Motivation: Wants to dodge her family for the night; needs to be seen for her worth
• Secret: MC has been fighting a battle against progressive OCD her whole life
• Wound: A gang of bullies critically injured her in childhood because she was “weird”
• Subtext: Agreed to do the Tomb Shift to be alone with her supervisor
• Layers: Has a crush on her supervisor

Wallace
• Motivation: Need to be at the building on Christmas Eve to control situation
• Secret: Wallace is deep in debt and his wife is threatening to take away their child
• Wound: Wallace grew up poor and got hooked on gambling when he won big once
• Subtext: Likes MC, but more importantly, thinks he can “manager” her
• Layers: He knows the facility is going to be robbed that night

The Trio
• Motivation: Paid to find a thumb drive with top secret information stashed in one of the records boxes that were shipped to the facility
• Secret: A Boardmember of the company hired them to get the information and knows the layout of the regional facilities to help them locate it.
• Wound: All three grew up in an Eastern Europe warzone where being ruthless meant survival
• Subtext: There is tension among the trio – the leader embraces killing, the other two don’t
• Layers: One of the trio members sees this as his last score and he wants out. The second feels strange loyalty to their lead man, though he does not like his approach.

Character to character
• Conflict: Wallace needs MC not to realize what is happening; MC wants to know every detail at all times.
• Hidden Agenda: MC wants to do recon with minimal interference; Wallace wants to control MC
• Conspiracy: Wallace is accepting money from the Trio to allow the break-in to happen
• Intrigue: One of the Boardmembers of the company set up the theft

Character Situation
• Dilemma: The leader of the trio committing the break-in is a psychopath who likes to kill
• Secret Identity: MC is an anti-hacking expert who took the job at company to find information on the Boardmember because he was the leader of group who assaulted her.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by  Marni Sullivan.

[Arthur Anderson]

Arthur’s Character Depth

I learned that this technique helps provide a clear view of each character’s depth, motivation, and conflicts, helping advance the story’s overall dynamics.

CHARACTER DEPTH

Riley Stone
Motivation: Want: To survive and protect her friends. Need: To confront her guilt over her sister’s death and prove her resilience.
Wound: Traumatized by her sister’s death at the hands of a bear, leading to feelings of guilt and fear.
Layers: Initially seen as fragile, Riley’s journey reveals her inner strength and resourcefulness as she faces both external threats and her personal demons.

Alex Kimble
Motivation: Want: To keep the group hopeful and ensure their survival. Need: To reclaim his sense of purpose after his injury sidelined his sports career.
Secret: He harbors fears about his worth and whether he can truly protect his friends.
Conflict: Alex’s optimism often clashes with Riley’s caution, creating tension that heightens the stakes.

Mason Turner
Motivation: Want: To prove his bravery and toughness. Need: To overcome feelings of inadequacy instilled by his father.
Wound: Emotional scars from being belittled by his military father, pushing him to take reckless risks.
Dilemma: He must choose between proving his bravery and protecting his friends, leading to dire consequences.

Samira “Sam” Patel
Motivation: Want: To explore the island and its mysteries. Need: To break free from her overprotective upbringing and prove her independence.
Layers: Her curiosity masks a deep-seated fear of not being taken seriously, leading her to take risks.
Conflict: Her rational approach to danger can lead to clashes with more instinctual characters, especially Riley.

Tyler “Ty” Grant
Motivation: Want: To have one last epic adventure before graduation. Need: To confront his fear of the future and his declining high school status.
Secret: He hides his anxiety about what comes after high school, using humor to deflect his fears.
Intrigue: His over-the-top antics can create situations that inadvertently place the group in danger, revealing a darker side to his personality.

Jordan Lee
Motivation: Want: To find inspiration for his art. Need: To confront his insecurities stemming from bullying and find his voice.
Wound: His history of being bullied creates a cynical outlook on life and deep fear of rejection.
Secret Identity: He presents himself as a brooding artist, but his fascination with darkness stems from a need to escape his pain and loneliness.

CHARACTER PROFILES

Riley Stone
Character: The resilient and resourceful final girl is determined to survive.
Secret: Fears she is too fragile to protect her friends.
Wound: Guilt from her sister’s death during a bear attack.
Motivation: To survive and prove her strength by protecting her friends.
Hidden Agenda: Wants to confront her past trauma head-on.
Dilemma: Must choose between her instinct to avoid danger and the need to protect others.

Alex Kimble
Character: Optimistic and athletic, he tries to keep the group hopeful.
Secret: Doubts his ability to truly protect his friends after his football injury.
Wound: Loss of identity after being sidelined from sports due to a knee injury.
Motivation: To maintain group morale and ensure everyone’s survival.
Hidden Agenda: Seeks redemption for his perceived failure to protect his friends.
Dilemma: Torn between being a source of hope and facing his own insecurities.

Mason Turner
Character: Impulsive and adventurous, he seeks to prove his bravery.
Secret: Deeply fears being seen as weak or cowardly.
Wound: Emotional scars from his father belittling him for being “soft.”
Motivation: To prove his toughness to himself and others.
Hidden Agenda: Wants to gain the respect of his peers through risky actions.
Dilemma: Must choose between reckless bravery and the safety of the group.

Samira “Sam” Patel
Character: Rational and curious, the science-minded skeptic of the group.
Secret: Hides her fear of not being taken seriously.
Wound: Feels trapped and undervalued due to her overprotective upbringing.
Motivation: To explore the island’s mysteries and prove her independence.
Hidden Agenda: Seeks validation for her intellect and decision-making skills.
Dilemma: Torn between her logical approach and the primal dangers they face.

Tyler “Ty” Grant
Character: The jock and comic relief, uses humor to mask insecurities.
Secret: Anxious about his future after high school.
Wound: Struggles with feeling like he peaked in high school.
Motivation: To have one last epic adventure and live life to the fullest.
Hidden Agenda: Hides his anxiety by trying to keep the mood light.
Dilemma: Must confront his fear of the future while maintaining his bravado.

Jordan Lee
Character Description: The quiet, brooding artist with a fascination for the macabre.
Secret: Hides his insecurity and fear of rejection stemming from bullying.
Wound: Bullied for being different, leading to a cynical outlook.
Motivation: To find inspiration for his art and confront his fears.
Hidden Agenda: Seeks to escape his pain through artistic expression.
Dilemma: Torn between capturing the island’s dangers and protecting himself from harm.

CHARACTER CONFLICTS

Riley Stone vs. Alex Kimble
Riley’s cautious nature often clashes with Alex’s optimism. While Riley prioritizes survival and safety, Alex may push for hope and action, leading to disagreements about how to handle immediate threats.

Riley Stone vs. Mason Turner
Riley’s instinct to avoid danger contrasts sharply with Mason’s impulsive bravery. This difference can create tension, especially when Mason’s reckless actions endanger the group, forcing Riley to confront her fears to protect others.

Riley Stone vs. Samira “Sam” Patel
Riley’s emotional responses may clash with Sam’s rational approach. When Sam insists on studying the island or its creatures logically, it can frustrate Riley, who feels that immediate action is necessary for survival.

Riley Stone vs. Tyler “Ty” Grant
Riley’s seriousness in the face of danger can be undermined by Ty’s humor and need to keep spirits high. This dynamic can create friction when Ty’s attempts at levity come across as inappropriate, particularly in dire situations.

Riley Stone vs. Jordan Lee
Riley’s focus on survival may conflict with Jordan’s artistic obsession with capturing the horrors of the island. This can lead to tension as Riley worries about Jordan’s safety while he pursues his creative vision.

Alex Kimble vs. Mason Turner
While Alex tries to maintain morale, Mason’s reckless need to prove himself can create rifts in the group. Alex’s concern for the group’s safety may clash with Mason’s desire to take risks, leading to arguments over what actions to take.

Alex Kimble vs. Samira “Sam” Patel
Alex’s desire for hope may be challenged by Sam’s skepticism and focus on logic. When faced with dangerous situations, Alex might feel frustrated with Sam’s analytical mindset, while Sam may feel that Alex’s optimism is naive.

Alex Kimble vs. Tyler “Ty” Grant
Alex’s earnestness in maintaining group morale can be tested by Ty’s more carefree approach. If Ty’s humor undermines serious moments, Alex may become frustrated, leading to conflict over priorities and group dynamics.

Mason Turner vs. Samira “Sam” Patel
Both characters are impulsive, but in different ways. Mason seeks to prove himself through bravery, while Ty seeks to distract with humor. Their approaches can clash, especially if Mason’s risks put the group in danger and Ty’s humor distracts from the urgency of their situation.

Samira “Sam” Patel vs. Tyler “Ty” Grant
Sam’s logical perspective can clash with Ty’s impulsive nature and humor. If Ty’s antics jeopardize the group’s safety, Sam may confront him about his recklessness, leading to heated debates about survival strategies.

Samira “Sam” Patel vs. Jordan Lee
Sam’s rationality may come into conflict with Jordan’s artistic, brooding nature. Sam’s logical approach to danger may frustrate Jordan, who is more focused on the aesthetics of their situation, creating tension around their priorities.

Tyler “Ty” Grant vs. Jordan Lee
Ty’s need to be the center of attention may clash with Jordan’s quiet, introspective nature. Ty might dismiss Jordan’s artistic pursuits as unnecessary, leading to conflict about the value of their experiences on the island.

[David Kandel]

David Kandel’s Character Depth!

What I learned: This process led to new conflicts among the characters and opportunities for new plot twists.

Internal Character Depth (Jack De Angelis)
• Motivation: Despite being no longer employable, he wants to be appreciated as a comic actor
• Secret: He has emotional scars that drive him over the top to be a funny man.
• Wound: He lost his daughter to leukemia when she was 8 and lost his wife a year later because of a drunk driver
• Subtext: Aging has been traumatic for him and her is afraid of dying
• Layers: His personal losses and his fears are revealed in layers

Character to character
• Conflict: He reads atheist literature and has lost his faith in God which puts him in direct conflict with Shayla.
• Hidden Agenda: He wants to remain the ultimate entertainer, but subconsciously, he wants his roommates to understand and support his atheism
• Conspiracy: He breaks the rules of the house and pushes the limits of Shayla’s patience
• Intrigue: He has a mystery guest visit him in a dream that changes him dramatically

Character Situation
• Dilemma: Deep in his heart, he knows his time on earth is short. He doesn’t believe in an afterlife. His peers do, which gives them some level of comfort, but not for him.
• Secret Identity: He tries to stifle his atheism

Internal Character Depth (Stan Donaldson)
• Motivation: He believes he’s the smartest guy in the room and he needs to prove it every chance he gets.
• Secret: He’s estranged from his daughter who believes he was responsible for the divorce.
• Wound: His wife left him for their minister, which has left him very bitter
• Subtext: He was once a high-profile prosecutor. He’s been “put out to pasture” which infuriates him.
• Layers: He prides himself as a problem solver but there are no ways to solve the problems of aging and declining health. This frustration is revealed in layers throughout the story.

Character to character
• Conflict: It’s always one-up-man ship among his peers.
• Hidden Agenda: He yearns to have his daughter believe him about the affair her mother had with the minister
• Conspiracy: Stan often conspires with Ed to put Frank down.
• Intrigue: Stan often plots to make Frank look bad

Character Situation
• Dilemma: Stan needs to own up to his own demons before he can reconcile with his daughter and with Frank
• Secret Identity: Stan has always been perceptive, shrewd and intuitive. It served him well in his profession, but he was totally unaware and deceived in his personal life. As a result he is very insecure.

Internal Character Depth (Frank Ringle)
• Motivation: Frank is a retired small trucking company owner. He has a desire to show people that he’s smart.
• Secret: He’s a high school dropout that achieved success despite his lack of formal education.
• Wound: He’s felt disrespected his entire life
• Subtext: He overcompensates for his lack of knowledge and tries too hard to impress
• Layers: Frank was arrested in his youth

Character to character
• Conflict: He and Stan make everything a competition.
• Hidden Agenda: He wants respect and admiration.
• Conspiracy: He tries to team up with Shayla to put Stan down.
• Intrigue: Frank is the last person who would be able to solve the housing emergency faced by all who live in the group home.

Character Situation
• Dilemma: To tell Stan about their mutual past?
• Secret Identity: Frank was arrested in his youth. Stan was the prosecutor in the case. Stan was going for aggravated assault charges (felony) but Frank got off on a simple assault charge (misdemeanor). Stan doesn’t remember the case.

Internal Character Depth (Ed Klein)
• Motivation: Ed wants desperately to hold on to his physical and mental faculties, which are slipping away.
• Secret: He’s a very gullible man who has lost serious money to scammers.
• Wound: He feels inadequate and stupid for being taken for a fool.
• Subtext: Ed tries so hard to convince others he’s of sound mind and body even though he’s failing.
• Layers: Ed is losing it

Character to character
• Conflict: Frank downplays/overlooks Ed’s decline. Stan secretly despises Ed’s decline
• Hidden Agenda: Ed wants to appear on top of things even though he’s confused and unaware.
• Conspiracy: Ed has fake conversations over the phone with a daughter who doesn’t exist.
• Intrigue: Will Ed’s peers realize he has no daughter?

Character Situation
• Dilemma: Will Ed need to be sent to a memory care facility?
• Secret Identity: Ed is very wealthy, but he doesn’t know it. He can’t remember.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by  David Kandel.

[Joy Geldard-Smith]

Joy Smith’s Character Depth!

What I learned doing this assignment is… that these are extremely useful prompts for building characters. I definitely don’t have all the answers yet, but the characters are starting to become clearer now. I’m going to move on in order to move forward and see what happens once I’ve “asked the pillow” and slept on it.

The idea overall for the movie is being refined, so the same thing will happen for the characters.

Sandra Claus:
Internal Character Depth
• Motivation: Wants to be her own person. Needs to step up and take over the family business.
• Secret: She used to date a woman.
• Wound: She thinks her Dad would rather have had a son.
• Subtext:
• Layers: Doesn’t think she is good enough to take over.

Character to character
• Conflict: With her Dad over who she should marry, with the candidates who want to marry her
• Hidden Agenda:
• Conspiracy:
• Intrigue: Who does she really love?

Character Situation
• Dilemma: Continue to rebel or risk disappointing the family?
• Secret Identity:

Santa Claus:
Internal Character Depth
• Motivation: Find a successor so he can retire after 2000 years on the job
• Secret: He knows his daughter is capable of running the show.
• Wound: He and Mrs Claus wanted more than one child – ?
• Subtext:
• Layers:

Character to character
• Conflict: With his daughter over getting married and taking over.
• Hidden Agenda: Wants her to marry so he can retire – he’s tired and the number of children he needs to deliver to keeps growing!
• Conspiracy: Plots to get Sandra in a room with Jasper (which backfires!)
• Intrigue:

Character Situation
• Dilemma: Does he push his daughter into a marriage so he can retire?
• Secret Identity: He loves golf (a slow sport for the fastest man on the planet!)

Jasper Merryweather (Santa’s choice for Sandra):
Internal Character Depth
• Motivation: Wants to win over his love, Sandra. Needs to prove that he’s worthy of being the next “face of Santa”
• Secret: He’s loved Sandra for a long time
• Wound: Everyone dismisses him because he is fussy and pays attention to detail.
• Subtext: His own kind of rebel – he’s learnt not to care what people say about him.
• Layers:

Character to character
• Conflict: Clashes with Sandra but loves the challenge
• Hidden Agenda:
• Conspiracy:
• Intrigue:

Character Situation
• Dilemma: Can he win Sandra over?
• Secret Identity: Keeper of Sandra’s secret about her previous love.

Magnus Frost (Sandra’s love interest):
Internal Character Depth
• Motivation: Wants to be the new ‘handsome’ Santa. Needs to be loved.
• Secret: Doesn’t care about Sandra as much as he cares about the job and the adoration of pure children.
• Wound: Worries about getting older and losing his looks (and therefore the love)
• Subtext: He’s very shallow.
• Layers:

Character to character
• Conflict: Can he really marry someone just for the job?
• Hidden Agenda: Putting the job above Sandra’s happiness.
• Conspiracy: Working with an Elf to ensure he wins Sandra’s hand and getting locked in the room with Sandra.
• Intrigue:

Character Situation
• Dilemma: Jeopardise his and Sandra’s happiness for fame
• Secret Identity: