Lesson 4

[Deb Johnson]

Discover
Your Characters and Profile Them – Deborah Johnson

Title: Plastic Bag

What I learned doing this assignment is that characters are malleable. By changing one characteristic, you can make them more interesting and/or add pieces to beats that weren’t there before.

Logline: A plastic bag gets passed from one owner to another and affects each life in a significant way.

1. Character Name: Delia (lead)

Role in the story: High School student, daughter, granddaughter

Core Character Traits:

capricious

Addicted

Sarcastic

Stubborn

Character Subtext Logline: Delia is a stubborn teen, addicted to her phone, who just wants to be left alone.

Flaw: thinks she’s the only one who suffers

Want: To continue in her isolation Need: To have Faith in Goodness despite life’s trials

Character Arc: from isolation to re-connection with family

CHANGES FOR DELIA:

Character Subtext Logline: Delia is a stubborn teen, addicted to her phone, who is convinced that she’s better off isolated and alone.

(It’s an important distinction – because she really doesn’t WANT to be the way she is – but this is how she’s learned to deal with her life)

Secret: She has a soft spot for animals, especially cats/kittens (but her mom is allergic, so she can’t have one)

This gives her a little more in common with Victor, who has a cat. This gives another dimension to the scenes when they are together. I also want to give Delia something that makes her more relatable and likable – I don’t want her to come off as this stereotypical “teenager.”

Identity: Everybody calls her “suicide girl” because of her scars – and she kind of likes that this puts people off of her.

I don’t know if this fact will actually come out in the script – but I think there is a pride associated with the scars – she’s not ashamed of them.

2. Character Name: Abby (lead)

Role in the story: Delia’s Grandma, Friend to Victoria

Core Character Traits:

Tough Love

Sarcastic

Loud

Flexible

Character Subtext Logline: Abby is a loud and lovable grandmother who wants to help her troubled granddaughter.

Flaw – not “healthy” – she smokes, drinks, and struggles with her weight

Want: her family to be happy Need: to reconcile her own hurts from the past

Mission: to help her granddaughter

What makes this character unique: She’s got a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh

CHANGES FOR ABBY:

Delia is sarcastic, so I want to give Abby something different as one of her Core Character Traits. So I’m changing her “sarcastic” to “blunt”

In the script, she is very blunt in her actions and her words.

I don’t know that her sense of humor or her laugh makes her totally unique because a lot of people are like that. I would like to add that another thing that makes her unique – stand out from the rest – is that she is bold and brazen and truly doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her.

I think these two additions make her stand out a little more. And while they may not be “new” – I guess I never really noticed this about her before.

3. Character Name: Victoria Hartmann (lead)

Role in the story: famous artist, friend to Abby

Core Character Traits:

Mindful (in the moment)

Generous

Picturesque

Grounded

Character Subtext Logline: Victoria is a famous artist who puts her family and friends first and hopes her art will transform lives.

Flaw: She uses the stories of real people in her art, even when they don’t want to be represented.

Life Metaphor/Identity: “My art is theological, not biographical, or chronological”

What makes this character unique? Though she is uber-famous, she is extremely grounded and sensitive to the needs of those around her.

CHANGES FOR VICTORIA

Flaw: She uses her own family and friends in her art, even though some do not want her to.

Character Subtext Logline: Victoria is famous yet grounded. She struggles to tell the truth in her artwork.

I think it’s important for Victoria to realize that she can hurt the people she loves by portraying them in general and/or portraying them in a dishonest way.

She will have an argument with an art critic – where this will be discussed.

And, in the end, when she reveals the truth about the stories in the paintings – it’s cathartic for the people involved. She thinks she is sparing people by giving them ‘happy endings’ – but in the end – it’s the truth that transforms.

4. Character Name: Paisley (supporting)

Role in the story: Victoria’s daughter and art curator

Core Character Traits:

In the background

Precise

Focused

All business

Character Subtext Logline: Paisley juggles her personal life and her professional life with aplomb and feels superior to those who don’t.

Flaw: She loves her family dearly and is too busy to care about anyone else.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves: Though she’s got it all together, she wishes her life was easier and she didn’t have so many responsibilities.

PAISLEY CHANGES:

“Precise” and “Focused” seem a little bit too similar. I’m going to change “Focused” to “Scatterbrained” – because it gives her more depth and makes her a little more interesting.

Character Subtext Logline: Paisley, though scatterbrained, manages to pull everything off with a modicum of success.

Flaw: She doesn’t see herself as scatterbrained – she thinks she’s got it all together

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves: She’s juggling too much, but she doesn’t want to let anyone down.

5. Character: Victor (supporting)

Role in the story: Son of Paisley, Grandson of Victoria, Friend to Delia

Core Character Traits:

Quadriplegic

Life of the Party

Artistic

Troublemaker

Character Subtext Logline: though confined to a wheelchair, he has unbridled mirth and invites others to join in the fun.

World View: How can we make this fun?

CHANGES FOR VICTOR

I know I should probably change his name – so that in a fast read, he doesn’t get confused with Victoria. But I like the fact that Paisley loves her mother so much that she names her son after her. I also like that it reflects the fact that in life, he truly is “a conqueror”.

I’m not sure if I will make the change – but I’m thinking about it.

I’m going to add “observant” to his core traits – because this will cause trouble for Delia later in the story.

[Lisa Paris Long]

Hi Deb,

I can read the depth being added to your characters as you think more about their traits. I agree with the changes you are making for each character. I was going to mention possible confusion between the names Victoria and Victor, but I figured he was named after his grandma. Not an unusual thing in the real world. 😄

I look forward to reading the script too.

Lisa

(I realize I forgot to do the original and changes in mine. Oops!)

[Deb Johnson]

Thanks very much!

Looking forward to the next assignment.

Appreciate the feedback,

Deb

[Henry Fox FOX]

Emma Served Me the Finger – Henry Fox

Logline: Emma Served Me the Finger is an erotic thriller comedy about a naively optimistic boyfriend who sneaks into his girlfriends home to set up a surprise until he he discovers a skeleton in her closet which not only threatens their evening but also their relationship entirely.

What I learned doing this assignment is that sometimes your characters can actually have even more depth than initially realized.

1. Character Name: Joe (lead)

Role in the story: Lead, Boyfriend of Emma’s

Core Character Traits: Nurturing, Restrained, Unguarded, Avoidant

Character Subtext Logline: Joe sets up this romantic dinner so he can have intimacy with Emma

His mission: To knock Emma’s guard down so they can be intimate

Want: To make Emma happy Need: To feel like he is wanted for who he is (aka Happy)

2. Character Name: Emma (lead)

Role in the story: Lead, Girlfriend of Joe’s

Core Character Traits: Manipulation, Sadistic, Liability for others, Indebted

Character Subtext Logline: Emma teases Joe to see if she needs to “take care” of Joe

Her mission: To knock Joe’s guard down so she can enjoy him cracking from her advances

Want: To break Joe Need: To see if Joe is truly reliable for her

3. Character Name: Jennifer

Role in the story:non-lead, friend of Emma’s, helps Joe set up his plan

Core Character Traits: Friendly, Teasing with others, Indecisive, Reserved

Character Subtext Logline: Jennifer helps Joe so that Emma can have a nice night

Her mission: To distract Emma

Want: To help Joe Need: To help Joe make a good impression on Emma

[David Wickenden]

David Wickenden Character Profiles Assignment

What I learned: I enjoy building and tearing apart characters. If only it was that easy with teenagers!

Adam

Role: Reluctant Hero

Traits: born leader, lacks confidence, need for approval, loyal

Subtext: Born leader who lacks confidence.

Flaw: Plays tough guy to hide the fact that he is grieving for his grandfather.

Mission: Bring peace to the heavens

Character Arc: Lack confidence at the beginning, but trials and experience teach him he is capable of great things.

Change: more confident making decisions.

Ian

Role: Friend/sidekick

Traits: loyal, shy, risk taker, courageous

Subtext: Small with a heart of a lion.

Flaw: Follows others without question.

Mission: Support his friends.

Character Arc: Builds skills and confidence to stand on his own.

Change: Ian will be the comic relief for the group. He will be the practical, smart mouth friend.

Feddy

Role: friend/sidekick

Traits: loyal, aggressive, quick temper, vengeful, reactive

Subtext: Loyal to a fault. Will attack without thought.

Flaw: temper

Mission: to protect those he cares for

Character Arc:

Change: I will have to build a setup so that his temper causes him grief and he learns from it. Almost scared to act.

Rob

Role: friend. sidekick

Traits: loyal, passive/aggressive, quiet, peace maker

Subtext: He is the peacemaker of the group.

Flaw: scared of his own strength

Mission: To support his friends.

Character Arc: Rob is scared of his strength. In training, he learns to control it.

Change: He needs a boiling point so that others are nervous if they cross him.

Guang

Role: Guide

Traits: supportive, encouraging, advisor

Subtext: Guang is an angel whose role is to guide and support the heroes.

Flaw: naive of human nature

Mission: To support Adam and his friends, messenger

Character Arc: N/A

Change: less consolidator and more authoritative.

[Lisa Paris Long]

DAY 4 – Discover Your Characters

Lisa Long’s Character Profiles

What I learned doing this assignment is that creating character profiles helps informs how the characters will develop and arc.

1. List your logline.

A 12-year-old aspiring dancer is abandoned by her mother to live with a father she’s never known above his restaurant on the Chesapeake Bay, giving up her dream to dance in NYC.

2. Create a Character Profile for each of your top five characters.
Include two required items and at least two optional items.

REQUIRED:

Role: MOLLY

Core Character Traits:

· Afraid – fear that she will not be taken care of or fit in or make a friend.

· Angry – angry at her mother for abandoning her. Angry at her father for never being in her life before.

· Secretive – she keeps secrets from everyone in her life.

· Sneaky – because Edgar has forbidden her to dance, she sneaks around to do it.

Character Subtext Logline: Hiding something, Lying. Molly is scared in her new surroundings but tries to hide it.

OPTIONAL:

Flaw – Overdoing things, Poor decision making

Want/Need – Wants to stay with her mother and be a dancer in The Nutcracker at the New York City Ballet.

Mission/Agenda – Must dance at the NYC Ballet.

Character Arc (if any) – Scared and abandoned to unafraid and free of the burden of her past.

World View

Life Metaphor/Identity – Dancing is life!

Secret – She lies to Mars about permission and to Edgar about dancing.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves.

What makes this character unique?

REQUIRED:

Role: EDGAR

Core Character Traits:

· Panicked – he has to figure out what to do with this little girl he doesn’t know or how to treat her.

· Shy – Edgar is innately shy and struggles to find words and open up to people.

· Angry – he is angry that April left him because she wanted fame and he wanted to stay put and run the restaurant. He takes it out on others sometimes.

· Covering Up – Ed is covering up that he is still in love with April. He cries at night alone in his room because she was the love of his life.

Character Subtext Logline: Afraid to say, withholding; Edgar hides his anger at April and takes it out on Molly. Edgar puts on the strong, silent type act, but inside he is mushy and scared.

OPTIONAL:

Flaw – Says the wrong thing, Undervalues themselves.

Want/Need – Ed wants April, Molly’s mother back but fears it’s too late for him. He will use Molly to try to get April to return.

Mission/Agenda

Character Arc (if any) – Edgar is a broken man who must find a way to open up. He has a powerful character arc.

World View

Life Metaphor/Identity

Secret – He is Molly’s father.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves – Edgar has eventually admits that he is wrong about Molly’s obsession.

What makes this character unique?

REQUIRED:

Role: JANE

Core Character Traits:

· Caring: She loves Edgar and learns to love Molly too. She wants them to love each other, so she can die peacefully without worrying about them.

· Covering Up: Doesn’t tell anyone that she knows her health is fading.

Character Subtext Logline: Withholding. Jane is tired but pushes through so no one suspects she’s ill.

OPTIONAL:

Flaw – Reflects other feelings but masks hers.

Want/Need – Wants Edgar and Molly to support each other for when she’s gone.

Mission/Agenda – Jane speaks the truth when others are afraid to do so. She gives support to those hurting. She softens Edgar’s anger.

Character Arc (if any)

World View

Life Metaphor/Identity

Secret – She knows she’s on her way out but doesn’t acknowledge it.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves

What makes this character unique?

REQUIRED:

Role: APRIL

Core Character Traits:

a. Dreamer – has always believed that her dreams can come true, even though they never have.

b. Transient – doesn’t like to stay in one place because she gets bored…with the place and the people.

c. Foolish – she doesn’t make wise choices for herself.

d. Caring – she does love her daughter but isn’t sure she can take care of her.

Character Subtext Logline: Plotting

OPTIONAL:

Flaw – Poor decision making

Want/Need – Wants Molly to have a permanent residence and go to school. April thinks she’s doing what is best for Molly.

Mission/Agenda

Character Arc (if any) – April has to learn to deal with the fact that she has to give of the career that she loves so much.

World View

Life Metaphor/Identity

Secret – April doesn’t tell anyone she’s getting surgery on her back and can never dance again.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves

What makes this character unique?

REQUIRED:

Role: MARS

Core Character Traits:

a. Fragile – he recognizes his fragile state and that is why he is hiding out from people at the Bay.

b. Sarcastic – how he deals with people.

c. Kind – he tries to be kind to everyone.

d. Empathetic – he feels for Molly and her situation.

Character Subtext Logline: Withholding and being polite

OPTIONAL:

Flaw – Overdoing things

Want/Need – Wants to be left alone to grieve. He decides Molly can help him as he helps her.

Mission/Agenda

Character Arc (if any) – By helping someone else, he helps himself and is able to return to his city life.

World View

Life Metaphor/Identity

Secret – Mars is hiding out from his friends and dance family.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves

What makes this character unique? Only a couple of renown black man choreographers.

[Deb Johnson]

Hi Lisa,

You have a great ensemble of contrasting characters that all need to arc in a unique way. This is a strong foundation to build from.

Having read your one page and beats, it feels like something is missing from both Molly’s and Mars core character traits. There is a real discipline and toughness that they both have – otherwise, Mars would not be a successful choreographer and Molly would not be an amazing dancer. I can see these characteristics in your story, but it’s not mentioned in your character profiles. Not sure if this is important – just something I noticed.

Also – there is a distinction in the way Jane is “Caring” and April is “Caring”. Jane is physically there for Ed and Molly – she truly takes “care” of them… however, April is distant. So maybe a different word to describe April? I don’t know, I mean, I know she loves her daughter – but she displays this love in a different way.

Keep up the good work – I can truly see these people as you describe them. Hope this is encouraging and helpful to you.

Deb

[Lisa Paris Long]

Hi Deb,

Thank you for your comments. I agree with your notes. A couple of the characters have changed over the course of the drafts, and I missed updating the profiles.

Much appreciated!

Lisa

[Patricia Brown]

Hi, Lisa:

Three things I hadn’t realized before:

Jane knew she was dying?

Ed uses Molly to get back at April?

And, Mars is sarcastic?

These are three things that you might bring out more in your heartfelt script.

Patricia Brown

[Lisa Paris Long]

Hi Pat,

I’ve gone back and forth on whether Jane knows or not. It was originally a surprise to all involved and to the audience. I may keep it a surprise because I think it has more impact. But there is a bit of foreshadowing when Jane goes upstairs to talk to Molly, but instead goes to her room to lie down.

I definitely need to add Ed using Molly as subtext in a couple of the beginning scenes. Before he gets in deep with Molly.

Another point that I’ve toyed with is Mars’ sarcastic trait. I don’t want him to come off as flippant. It’s a fine line that I need to work on.

Thank you for your feedback!

Lisa

[Trish Carothers]

Lesson 4

Trish’s Character Profiles

What I learned from doing this assignment is:
small changes can make a big difference and make a more interesting, deeper character.

CHARACTER PROFILE – 1

CHARACTER NAME: HARALD – NORWAY
ROLE: King in the making
CORE CHARACTER TRAITS: Loyal, fierce, focused, determined

CHARACTER SUBTEXT: Harald leaves childhood behind and becomes a man, a warrior.

LOGLINE: Harald has lost all his family and his friends become his new family

Flaw: naive
Determined to brutal

CHARACTER PROFILE – 2

CHARACTER NAME: RONGVALD – VIKING
ROLE: Best friend to Harald – Norway
CORE CHARACTER TRAITS: Faithful, honest, brave, righteous

CHARACTER SUBTEXT: Rongvald embraces the Viking qualities of warrior and love for family

LOGLINE: Rongvald takes action first and thinks after.

Righteous to narrow minded.
Makes the character hard hearted and judgemental.

Goal: Rongvald has a character arc now. He’s more faceted.

CHARACTER PROFILE – 3

CHARACTER NAME: WILLIAM – NORMANDY
ROLE: Duke of Normandy
CORE CHARACTER TRAITS: fierce, bold, wise, wary, honest

CHARACTER SUBTEXT:
Willian is the illigitimate son of a Duke.

Want: to force his enemies into submission
Need: to be accepted as legitimate

Wary to impulsive. Makes him unpredictable, which could be interesting

LOGLINE: Fights and works hard to be a success as a man and leader of his people.

CHARACTER PROFILE – 4

CHARACTER NAME: HAROLD – ENGLAND
ROLE: Heir of the Earl of Wessex, Kent etc.
CORE CHARACTER TRAITS: diplomatic, charming, intelligent, valiant, honest

CHARACTER SUBTEXT: possible heir to English throne

World view: revolves around me-my family.
Want: to be the best
Need: his father’s approval

LOGLINE: Harold works with his father to remain near King Edward to manipulate him into making Harold king.

Mission/Agenda: To become King no matter what it takes.
Leader to bully = a distastful character

CHARACTER PROFILE – 5

CHARACTER NAME: THORENSSON – VIKING
ROLE: best friend with Harald, Rongvald – of Norway
CORE CHARACTER TRAITS: genial, fun loving, loyal

Flaw: sly
Want: to have a family.

CHARACTER SUBTEXT:

LOGLINE: Thorensson is a careful advisor to Harald who couches his advice in humor.

Changed genial to cranky
In ” sarcastic” humor

Made him seem more real and interesting.
Gives him a goal outside of warring.

[Trish Carothers]

Anyone up for feedback?

[Douglas E. Hughes]

Sure thing. 🙂

[Douglas E. Hughes]

Jack of Diamonds – Douglas E. Hughes

Logline: A group of savvy seniors in a retirement home is forced to team up with the very conman who has swindled them out of their life savings in order to save themselves from eviction.

What I learned from this exercise is that can be a challenge to differentiate between core character traits and mere biographical details. (Sorry for not including the changes–I got so caught up in making them that I forgot to list them, and couldn’t remember them all afterward.)

1. Character Name: Jack (lead)

Role: Retired jewelry salesman

Core Character Traits: Feisty, Likeable, Self-reliant, Wise-ass

Character Subtext Logline: Jack is a successful retiree who resents his kids for having forced him to move into this old folks’ home.

Life Metaphor/Identity: The archetypal self-made man

Mission: To recover his life savings, and those of his friends

Character Arc: Goes from being an avowed individualist to a team player.

2. Character Name: Blanche Hamblett (support)

Role: Jack’s soon-to-be love interest

Core Character Traits: Emotionally intelligent, empathetic, concerned for others, suffers from narcolepsy

Character Subtext Logline: An attractive widow who seems a bit young for this place, Blanche has a serious thing for Jack.

Life Metaphor/Identity: If there were a Nobel Relationship Prize, Blanche would win it.

Mission: To win Jack’s heart

Secret: She’s a closet UFC fan.

Character Arc: Blanche overcomes her fear of confrontation to help Jack resolve his issues.

3. Character Name: Gertie Thomas (support)

Role: One of Jack’s friends, married to Flora

Core Character Traits: Razor-sharp, outspoken, talks like a millennial, not to be messed with.

Character Subtext Logline: Gertie’s a wise-cracking computer whiz who, despite the walker, still thinks she’s eighteen.

Life Metaphor/Identity: Peter Pan with a whole lot of attitude

Want: To make Connor pay for what he’s done

Character Arc: Blanche in reverse–when things are at their worst, instead of confrontation, she chooses kindness.

4. Character Name: Flora Forbes (support)

Role: Another of Jack’s friends, married to Gertie

Core Character Traits: Mild-mannered, artistically gifted, grandmotherly type, has serious memory issues

Character Subtext Logline: Flora’s your typical sweet old lady, but she has an unfortunate habit of speaking with her inside voice.

Life Metaphor/Identity: She’s one of the old ladies from “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

Mission: To keep her home

Flaw: Not her fault, but her memory issues make life difficult for her and those around her.

Secret: Not really a secret, but nobody believes it: she carries a .38 in her purse.

Character Arc: Seemingly the most helpless of the group, she’s the one who ultimately saves the day.

5. Character Name: Robin Connor (support)

Role: The thief who stole their money

Core Character Traits: Smart, impatient, narcissistic, sociopath

Character Subtext Logline: Robin Connor is the smooth-talking conman who has swindled these four–and many others–out of their life savings.

Life Metaphor/Identity: Think Donald Trump with brains

Secret: He’s a sucker for a pretty face.

Mission: To escape with his nest egg intact

Flaw: Like most crooks, he assumes that everyone’s as crooked as he is.

Character Arc: Also like most crooks, Connor’s impervious to change–which brings about his downfall.

[Karen Brandin]

Douglas, LOVE your premise. I can see Michael Caine in this, and Blythe Danner as Blanche. Karen

[Robert Kerr]

Bob Kerr – Discover Your Characters and Profile Them,

What I learned in this lesson: That by digging deep and discovering my characters, I can create more tension, conflict and entertainment value.

“With All Their Might”

Logline: Fran King must overcome all her fears and doubts to build a future for her daughter despite being emotionally held hostage by her father. Ultimately she joins a fledgling women’s rowing crew to find her voice and the courage to lead them in creating a lasting legacy of championships.

FRAN:

Role: main Character

Core Traits: determined, Daddy’s girl, protective mother, Risk adverse, relunctant fighter.

Flaw: She distrusts all men except her Poppa.

Wants: Independence and approval of her father

Subtext logline: Wounded by an ambushed divorce, she surrenders to her overbearing father as a last resort.

POPPA:

Role: Antagonist to Fran

‘Core Traits: overbearing, thrifty, controlling, demands perfection withholds physical love.

Flaw: He doesn’t see the limitations of a career path in music for Fran.

Wants: To bask in the glory of Fran’s music success

Subtext Logline: He wants a return on the investment he made in Fran’s music career.

VESPOLI:

Role: Mentor in rowing and life for Fran

Core Traits: Perfectionist, World Champion athlete, people person, relentless and demanding

Flaw: Never coached a women’s crew before this time

Wants: To win every race in every regatta

Subtext Logline: He is out to prove his methods and systems can make any crew a winner.

TIM WIGGINS

Role: He is the visionary leader who hires Vespoli and oversees the programs financial health and growth

Core Traits: Privileged, visionary, persuasive, patient and advocate for Title IX

Flaw: He roles the dice in bringing Vespoli to build a championship crew.

Wants: To prove his vision is right.

Subtext Logline: He is conservative by nature and his out of character by taking this risk with Vespoli.

MOMMA:

Role: Balances Poppa’s personality and provides loving support of Fran.

Core Traits: Emotionally available, caring, doting Grandmother, strong and supports Fran regardless.

Flaw: She allows Poppa to bully Fran

Wants: An intact and loving nuclear family.

Subtext Logline: She does not agree with her husbands treatment of Fran but has no means to intervene in a meaningful way.

Improve On One Item for each character and see how it improves the character and story.

FRAN:

Vain. Always worried about her appearance and her weight. Provides more tension and conflict moments.

POPPA:

Worldly. Sees music and ultimately rowing as the gateway to the wide world for Fran and himself.

VESPOLI: Flirty. Creates sexual tension with Fran and increases the tension and conflict.

TIM WIGGINS:

Loving. Creates more interaction with the actual crew members and establishes a point of conflict with him and Vespoli.

MOMMA:

Empowered. More conflict with Poppa when he bullies Fran.

[Patricia Brown]

Bob,

Appreciate your succinctness and streamlining your characters. They are really coming alive. Can see the tension between Fran and Poppa in this latest version.

Anticipating reading your script down the line.

Patricia Brown

[Robert Kerr]

My original complaint with access to Lessons has been resolved.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by  Robert Kerr.

[Patricia Brown]

[REWRITE] Patricia Brown Character Profiles

What I learned from this assignment is that I have lived with my characters so long, that I assumed others could feel their pain or I wasn’t ready to find them a new arc.

SEA CHANGE IN SEATTLE

LOGLINE: A Seattle attorney and a therapist barter their services to get the divorces they’ve resisted, but when they start to have feelings for each other their professional rules say they must wait 5 years to date!

1.Character Name: Trish Borrelli

Role: Divorce Attorney/ wife/mother/lead

Core Character traits:

Impatient

Stickler for Rules

Pining for Love

Proud to a Fault

Character Subtext Logline: Trish is fiery Italian-American divorce lawyer who never could bring herself to divorce.

Her Mission: To accept it’s okay to outgrow her husband.

Want: Companionship and intimacy.

Need: To find someone who knows how to love her.

Flaw: Won’t take her own advice.

World View: Save Democracy, save yourself by following the rules.

Life Metaphor: “May you never need me!”

Secret: She loves Hallmark “mindless fluff.”

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves: she’s obsessively in love with Nate (transference).

Two changes:

Secret: Favorite Christmas movie is “Miracle on 34^th Street.”

How it changes Trish and her story: This classic Christmas movie has an attorney and a therapist in court fighting over what appears a delusional mental patient who may or may not be the real Santa Claus. Nate has never seen it because he hates being a witness in court and hates attorneys. This movie within a movie flips Nate’s bias against lawyers, and flips Trish’s mistrust of men even while portraying therapists as corporate lackeys willing to lie. At the end of the movie, the lawyer grants the mother her child’s wish by buying a home, creating a blended family, and reinforcing the belief that Santa really exists. This mirrors the arc/subtext that Trish and Nate and their two kids are going through. It echoes the idea that my audience of Sea Change in Seattle can also believe in happiness and love in the end. But, most importantly for Trish, it shows the importance of not giving a grand gesture for a grand gesture’s sake, but giving each other exactly the kind of love we (she) wants and needs. For Nate, he no longer is reticent about loving Trish and Bella and about going to court if need be to fight for Luke and them.

Something they don’t want you to admit about themselves: She is profoundly lonely.

How this changes Trish and her story arc: Trish becomes a regular waterworks, willing to cry rivers in front of Nate. She feels safe, and it is cathartic. The pretense of always holding it together was exhausting.

2. Character Name: Nate Noah

Role: Licensed Family & Marriage Therapist/ husband/father/lead

Character Traits:

Ethical

Shy

Witty

Safe

Damaged

Character Subtext Logline: Nate believes that the boundaries between therapist and patient are ironclad.

Character arc: From shutdown recluse to exuberant romantic.

Flaw: He is not as self-aware as he thinks he is.

Life Metaphor: Life comes down to “How Do You Mend a Broken Heart?” by the Bee Gees.

World View: Rescue yourself, we all die alone.

Secret: He is madly in love with Trish (counter-transference)

Something he doesn’t want to admit to himself: he mythologized Perdita.

Two changes:

World View: The truth will set you free—right after it pisses you off.

How this changes Nate and his story:

Nate can no longer deny that Perdita left him for a sexier man and that she is never coming back.

Something he doesn’t want to admit to himself: That he lied to his son Luke to protect himself, not Luke.

How this changes Nate and his story:

Realizing his hypocrisy when he tells Trish, Luke and his patients that honesty is the foundation of any healthy relationship, he realizes that it has been Trish that has triggered his “sea change,” and opened his heart again to love.

3. Character Name: Bella Borrelli

Role: College-bound daughter of lead Trish/girlfriend

Core Character Traits:

Headstrong

Emotional

Impulsive

Intense

Character Subtext Logline: Bella is a sixteen-year-old who can’t stand the thought of her parents divorcing.

Character arc: Goes from angry daughter to trusting soul.

World view: She is the center of the universe.

Mission: To make sure her folks don’t divorce.

Flaw: She kisses a lot of toads to make up for feeling abandoned by her dad.

Life Metaphor: This, or something better. There’s always a next this.

Want: A safe space. Need: Her dad’s love.

Secret: That she feels safe with Nate and especially Luke.

Something she doesn’t want to admit to herself: She’s in love with Luke.

Two changes:

Flaw: She never learns her lesson in love.

How it improves Bella and her story:

Every time she kisses another toad, this pattern demonstrates her self-unworthiness until she finds her handsome prince in Luke.

Trait:

Resignation instead of impulsive.

How this improves Bella’s character and story: Instead of kissing toads, Bella swears off all men as being assholes, claims she’ll never get married, get a dog or be an aunt instead. It frightens Trish who thinks Bella is much too young to be so cynical. Increases Trish’s self-blame for exposing Bella all her life to the “language of the pain of divorce.”

4. Character name: Luke Noah

Role: College-bound son of Nate lead/boyfriend

Core Character Traits:

Bookworm

Brainiac

Seafarer

Timid

Empathetic

Character arc: From loner to lover.

Mission: To find his mother, to spring his father.

Want: His mother. Need: To know the truth.

Flaw: Lives through his lit.

Life Metaphor: “Love is a sea change,” from “The Tempest.”

World view: Every voyage worth taking is in books.

Secret: that he feels loved by Trish and especially by Bella.

Something he doesn’t want to admit about himself: That he sings sea shanties to hide his feelings.

One change:

Secret: that he is a virgin and wants to lose it to Bella.

How this improves Luke’s character and story: As he lives in close proximity to Bella, he sees how it’s the little acts of kindness from her that makes him relax, laugh, and want to sing his shanties. He likens it to the bowels of the sailing shifts. This demonstrates that boys’ feelings are not just sexual, but as complex and intense as teenage girls’. Not all girls have cooties. As a going away present to each other, Luke and Bella have sex. When Bella goes to university in Italy, he sends her bolder and bolder love passages from the sea-themed stories of Melville, Hemingway and the Bard. When she returns for graduation, he presents her with his first novel dedicated to her. After five years, he has the confidence, certainty and clarity to propose.

5. Character name: Finnian Jung

Role: Korean-American best friend to Nate the lead/ Tai Chi instructor

Core Character Traits:

Wise sage

Funny

Perceptive

Razor honest

Teacher

Character Subtext Logline: Finnian Jung is a Tai Chi instructor who loses patience with his best friend’s bullshit.

His mission: Get Nate to let go.

Want: To help Nate out of his head and into his heart.

Need: A stiff drink.

Character arc: Change agent for both Nate and Trish.

World view: Now that I have absolved you of all your sins, go out and sin some more.

Life Metaphor: The Yin and the Yang, the female and male, are one with two parts.

One change:

From Teacher to Prankster.

How this changes Finnian and the story:

Despite Finnian Jung’s devotion to 3,000 years of Tai Chi traditions, he blows the lid off Nate’s stodginess and anal retentiveness by setting up a “Tai Chi-off” where–to the amazement of all the other Tai Chi students in the park–forces Nate to see that not everything has to be slow in Tai Chi and in love. Jeong” is the traditional spelling of the fifth popular sir name in Korean, but can be spelled “Jung” as in C.G. Jung, Nate’s psychoanalytical guru.

Copyright Patricia Brown @ All rights reserved.

[Karen Brandin]

SUBJECT: Karen Brandin Character Profiles (Lesson 4)

LOGLINE: A former Olympian makes a life pivot from coaching skiers to helping military veterans, requiring her to adjust to her Grandmother’s small town and partner with the town doctor who runs the free Veterans Clinic.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS LESSON: Changing even one trait of the character can change the flavor of the story, and deepen the interaction between characters.

Character 1 Name: Charlotte McClelland

Required:

Role: Main protagonist

Core Character Traits: Competitive; Compassionate;

Optional:

Flaw: Clumsy off the ski slope due to inattention and a natural clumsiness.

Want/Need: To help others be successful.

Character Arc: Goes from counselling people to win to providing survival skills to veterans..

What makes this character unique? Under her competitive streak is a compassionate team player who wants to elevate all of those around her.

Item improved: Want/Need: Help veterans through the damage they sustained in the military.

How did it improve the character? Gave her a deeper purpose and she learns resiliency from them. She realizes that life changes can bring fulfillment beyond what she imagined, and adds a richness to daily life

What might it do to your story? Provide a deeper story and core character development.

Character 2:

Required:

Role: Iris McClelland, Charlotte’s grandmother.

Core Characteristic: Love and a strong backbone.

Optional:

Flaw: Sometimes breaks boundaries and tries to “fix” her granddaughter’s love life and future career path.

Want/Need: To see Charlotte happy in her career and personal life.

Mission/Agenda: Bring Charlotte and the town doc, Finn, together.

Life Metaphor/Identity: When something awful happens give yourself 1 day to cry about it, and the next day move on or at least start to heal.

Something they do not want to admit about themselves: A steamroller.

Item improved: Want/Need: To decide what her needs are and focus more on herself than interfering with her granddaughter’s life.

How did it improve the character? Gave Iris her life back changing the focus to what her life needs to be full again.

What might it do to your story? Still gives Charlotte the support from her grandmother, but allows her more freedom to make up her own mind on her life choices.

Character 3: Finn , the new town doc

Required:

Role: Charlotte’s love interest

Core Characteristic: Altruistic, Compassionate

Optional:

Flaw: Takes things at face value, instead of asking questions.

Want/Need: Be in a relationship with Charlotte

Mission/Agenda: Ensure veterans are well both physically and mentally.

Character Arc

World View

Life Metaphor/Identity: Do no harm – to anyone.

Secret

Something they do not want to admit about themselves: He is a Christmas fanatic.

Item improved: Want/Need: Find someone to share his life with – he believes Charlotte may be that person.

How did it improve the character? He realizes he doesn’t just want to date her, that they could have a forever in their future.

What might it do to your story? Raises the stakes when they have a major disagreement.

Character 4: John, the former doc in town

Required:

Role: Iris’s love interest and Finn’s grandfather

Core Characteristic: Practical

Optional:

Flaw: Set in his old-fashioned ways.

Mission/Agenda: See his grandson happy in love since Finn is already settled nicely in his work.

Life Metaphor/Identity: life is short, live every day.

Item improved: Flaw: Although somewhat set in his old-fashioned ways, he allows his grandson to pull, if not drag, him into the current social world.

How did it improve the character? He sees a wider view of people in his world and is more accepting of those who don’t do what he thinks they should.

What might it do to your story? Create some drama between Finn and his grandfather – it’s not all sunshine and ski slopes.

Character 5: Tina

Required:

Role: Charlotte’s cousin and owner of the town bakery.

Core Characteristic: Food is love.

Character Logline: Family and food are her passion.

Optional:

Flaw: Always trying to stuff people with food, whether it’s good for them or not.

Mission/Agenda: Feed the world, or at least the town, and teach others to bake.

World View: There is no reason for anyone in the world to be hungry.

What makes this character unique? She sees no reason for diets and fitness. Eat and be happy is her view.

Item improved: Character logline: Family and food are Tina’s passion, it’s her expression of love for her family and her community.

How did it improve the character? Broadened and deepened her goal and character from someone who just wants to stuff everyone, to a person who sees the hunger in the world and wants to help all.

What might it do to your story? Brings a broader viewpoint for this character, and let’s the viewer know the town appreciates and respects her – in spite of the fact that her caring nature adds pounds that townspeople have to ski off.