Lesson 4

[Jeanne Sanner]

Character Interviews – Lesson 4

What I learned from doing this lesson: I have developed a much more intimate relationship with my key characters. I have compassion for both. This information is causing me to re-think how much backstory I need to incorporate into the script so the audience will have compassion for both as well. Moving from exposition to demonstration!

PROTAGONIST

1. Tell me about yourself? 27 years old, attractive in other’s opinions, well educated, working on Masters in nursing. I am deeply in love with my fiance. I love my job of being a nurse on a cruise ship (that is where I met my fiancé). I have a good life by normal standards, but deeply, I am upset because I cannot get over the scars my dad created. I need to do get beyond that to live a truly happy life. I like to fight against injustice since I feel I am a victim.

2. Why do you think you were called to this journey? Why you? Because my inner conflict goes deep; because I am in a loving relationship with someone who really cares about me, himself, and us; if he didn’t, he would not have placed me in the position I’m in.

3. You are up against…What is it about them that makes this journey even more difficult for you? Losing the love of my life. Having to forgive my father when it goes against my ego. Needing to forgive my father to “save my soul”/peace/joy/spiritual truth.

4. In order to survive or accomplish this, you are going to have to step way outside of your box. What changes do you expect to make and which of them will be the most difficult. One big change: forgive my father. I don’t know how, and I don’t want to.

5. What habits or ways of thinking do you think will be the most difficult to let go of? I have to stop condemning my father; I have to come to love him; I have to be grateful for his being my dad all of which require a major change in my perceptions and beliefs.

6. What fears, insecurities and wounds have held you back? All the fears, insecurities and wounds my dad created. Not thinking I am good or good enough. Thinking I am a sex object and not safe around my father, wanting to commit suicide.

7. What skills, backgrounds or expertise makes you well suited to face this conflict or antagonist? My spiritual foundation. I am strong in many ways. I am capable of facing the truth though I don’t live it the way I could.

8. What are you hiding from the other characters? What don’t you want them to know? My attempted suicide; the depth of my hatred; my resentment for the one I love for putting me in the position he did.

9. What do you think of…?

10. Tell me your side of this whole conflict/story. I have been going along convincing myself that I am happy, when in truth I am not. I resent my fiancé, and yet recognize that he is right. I wish I had a different father, but it is what it is.

11. What does it do for your life if you succeed here? I will find true peace, which will make my relationship with everyone much better, more loving, and experience real emotional freedom!

12. Ask any other questions about their character profile that will help you.

ANTAGONIST/CHANGE AGENT

1. Tell me about yourself. I am healed from a tragic choice I made. I am 30. Most people find me good looking. I have a masters degree in philosophy, and I work as a private tutor for college students, which I find very rewarding. I create my own schedule, and I get to tutor many different subjects from math to religious studies to science to creative writing. My students are very appreciative of my academic skills and my style of teaching, and I also get to guide young people with life issues and problems.

2. Having to do with this journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses? Strengths, see above. Weaknesses: afraid to love again – keep my distance from romance. My loneliness hinders me from getting out bed some days. I still have short bouts of guilt, but than can also drive me.

3. Why are you committed to making the protagonist fail? Or for a relationship movie, why are you committed to making them change? I know from personal experience how much condemnation and lack of forgiveness can contaminate a person’s life. I don’t want anyone to go through that.

4. What do you get out of winning this fight/succeeding in your plan/taking down your competition? It is a form of vindication – a way to continually forgive myself. A way to give what I have to give – there is tremendous joy and peace in giving.

5. What drives you toward your mission/agenda, even in the face of danger, ruin, or death? Peace

6. What secrets must you keep to succeed? What other secrets do you keep out of fear/insecurity? I need to protect myself from condemnation for the mistake I made. I need to teach without revealing who I once was. I do not like to have others see how my selfishness had a lasting effect on another person.

7. Compared to other people like you, what makes you special? My desire to be a better person by teaching others to avoid the kind of mistake I made. I do not shove what I did under the rug and go on with life like it didn’t happen.

8. What do you think of…?

9. Tell me your side of this conflict/story. I was in love with a woman, and I felt like I was ready for the next step. We both had something to share with each other. I told her how I felt. She then said it was time to be completely honest with me. She was transsexual. I did not deal with that. I attacked her, verbally, for being deceitful, for thinking any man would be okay with that, and much more. She committed suicide within days of our conversation. I had to face the guilt; I had to face my prejudice; I had to face how I defined love. I had to find a way to forgive myself, and I have never been through something so difficult in my life.

[Margaret]

Margaret’s Character Interviews

What I learned from doing this lesson: Characters will talk if you listen. I was unaware of Imara’s background until I “spoke” with her.

Protagonist: Jabe

1. Tell me about yourself? I don’t know. I’m me. Get along with everybody. Or try to. Hard to get along with mom, guess I don’t meet her expectations. But yeah, all’s good.

2. Why do you think you were called to this journey? Why you? Yeah, well, I’m not sure I was “called”. I’m no hero, never wanted to be a hero. To be honest, they picked the wrong guy.

3. You are up against Armann. What is it about them that makes this journey even more difficult for you? The guy won’t give up. He doesn’t listen to anyone but himself. He is intent on destroying the Dorek. I don’t get it. Can’t we all just get along? He is one scary dude.

4. In order to survive or accomplish this, you are going to have to step way outside of your box. What changes do you expect to make and which of them will be the most difficult? Funny, my mom asks me to go forth and achieve and that’s not me. But that’s what I will have to do, I guess. I’m not a planner, either. How can I keep everyone safe? If I can’t even change their minds from suicide, how am I supposed to help Imara escape? I’m not even in my world and I don’t know the rules here. I’m flexible, but this is stretching it big time.

5. What habits or ways of thinking do you think will be the most difficult to let go of? I’m going to have to fight the Hedeon. I’m not a fighter. So I guess running away won’t be an option any more.

6. What fears, insecurities and wounds have held you back? Fears? Getting killed! Hey, I just want to live in peace. Insecurities? Um, well, I’m not the hero type. I already said that, but it’s true. I don’t look like a hero, I’m fat, slow… In this world its worse. Everyone is petite and trim. I look and feel like an out of place giant, kind of like Shrek.

7. What skills, backgrounds or expertise makes you well suited to face this conflict or antagonist? I did take some pre-med classes – maybe I can help help those who get hurt? LOL. Seriously, I don’t have any skills. I guess I can be stubborn, though. When I need to be. Maybe that will get me through.

8. What are you hiding from the other characters? What don’t you want them to know? Hiding? Well, I can’t take it when people get angry. Especially at me. I just freeze. Can’t think of what to say or do. Makes me look like a dufus.

9. What do you think of Imara? Cute. Very cute. Yeah, I definitely don’t want to see her die. She’s got balls. Bigger than mine for sure. LOL I turn goofy when she’s around. What’s a guy to do?

10. Tell me your side of this whole conflict/story. To say I’m clueless sums it up. I end up in this strange place, different than everybody, stuck in a fight that’s not mine and I don’t want. I just want to get back to my life, my job – the animals, cleaning cages. Even back to my mom. LOL.

11. What does it do for your life if you succeed here? If I could succeed here? That will take a miracle! I guess I would look more at the spiritual side of my life, which I really have neglected. I mean, I go to church and all, but if Taaba gets me out of this one? Yeah, it would take a miracle. If he can do that miracle, I would want to stay on his good side for sure.

12. Ask any other question about their character profile that will help you. How do you plan to help Imara escape? Pray? LOL. I guess find a secret way off the mountain and then hold off the Hedeon until she makes it.

Antagonist/Change Agent: Armann

1. Tell me about yourself. I am the commander of the Hedeon. Respected. I make the decisions they are afraid to make,for all for them.

2. Having to do with this journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses? Strength? I can get them to follow any plan I come up with. Weaknesses? None that matter here.

3. Why are you committed to making the protagonist fail? Or why are you committed to making them change? They have to change or die! Why do they believe they can force their ideas on our children? Changing them forever? They are narrow-minded, wanting everyone to keep their mad up rules, they follow a being that doesn’t exist. This Taaba is a made-up line used by their leaders to control everyone. If they would stay in their lane, it would be ok, but they push their ideas on our weak-minded children and we lose them forever!

4. What do you get out of winning this fight/succeeding in your plan/taking down your competition? We can live the way we want, without the high-minded looking their noses down at us. Without the fear of losing our children.

5. What drives you toward your mission/agenda, even in the face of danger, ruin, or death? The children, of course. My own children. My own grandchildren. They should have the freedom to live the way they want.

6. What secrets must you keep to succeed? What other secrets do you keep out of fear/insecurity? My mother is Dorek. Not sure if she is still alive. I don’t want to have to kill her, if it comes to that. I also have seen their Orb, more than once. I think my mother is sending it to me. I keep pushing it away. I don’t want to ever get weak and accept it just so it will stop bothering me.

7. Compared to other people like you, what makes you special? I have a gift. I can speak to a group and convince them of anything.

8. What do you think of those who follow Taaba? They are deceived! Stupid followers!

9. Tell me your side of this conflict/story. I tried to convince the Dorek to leave us alone. Words didn’t work. I tried to convince them by burning their temple. Didn’t work. I gave them chance after chance. Nothing will work except annihilation of the Dorek. I don’t feel guilty about it. I can make the hard decisions for the good of the people. For the children.

Change Agent: Alo

1. Tell me about yourself. I am the spiritual guide for the Dorek. Guiding them to accept the Orb.

2. Having to do with this journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses? I’m not a warrior, but I can teach others to trust and rely on Taaba for strength. Weakness? I am easily offended. I know that and try to forgive others, but they are so insensitive. I tend to overlook details, too.

3. Why are you committed to making the protagonist fail? Or why are you committed to making them change? They need Taaba. They need the energy from the Orb to change them. Their own ways will only lead to their own destruction.

4. What do you get out of winning this fight/succeeding in your plan/taking down your competition? Peace. Life for the Dorek.

5. What drives you toward your mission/agenda, even in the face of danger, ruin, or death? I have given my life to follow the Taaba, I have been touched by the Orb. I have no other choice.

6. What secrets must you keep to succeed? What other secrets do you keep out of fear/insecurity?

I can’t accept compromise. People say they want to talk, but I really don’t listen. There is only one way, after all. Does it matter what they say? I will direct them to the right way. My fear is that they won’t listen and will join the Hedeon.

7. Compared to other people like you, what makes you special? I am Taaba’s voice for the people.

8. What do you think of Jabe? Giant of a man. Tender-hearted but indecisive. He needs to be pushed into the right way.

9. Tell me your side of this conflict/story. The Hedeon want us to change to be like them, but they are not pleasing Taaba. We can’t live with them, accept their culture.

Change Agent: Imara

1. Tell me about yourself. I am Hedeon. Or was until accepting the Orb. The Hedeon are self-centered and hurt others. I don’t want to live that way.

2. Having to do with this journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses? I’m a risk taker. Not afraid to move. Also, many can’t see what the Hedeon are doing. I can. I know them. My weaknesses – sometimes I do things without thinking them through.

3. Why are you committed to making the protagonist fail? Or why are you committed to making them change? Jabe is a great guy, he just needs to be Dorek. He also needs to be on one side or the other. He tries to straddle the street.

4. What do you get out of winning this fight/succeeding in your plan/taking down your competition? Live in peace! Not be subjected to the abuse of the Hedeon.

5. What drives you toward your mission/agenda, even in the face of danger, ruin, or death? My own child is with the Hedeon. I need to tell them about the Orb.

6. What secrets must you keep to succeed? What other secrets do you keep out of fear/insecurity? My secret? I have a child, by Armann when I was very young. He said I was too young to care for a child so he took him from me. I ran away to join the Dorek. I’m afraid my own child wouldn’t recognize me as his mother or listen to what I have to say.

7. Compared to other people like you, what makes you special? I know the Hedeon. I can find original ways to solve problems.

8. What do you think of Armann? He is a narcissistic leader. He talks big, but behind closed doors he criticizes everyone. Whatever he does, it is for his own good, not anyone else’s.

9. Tell me your side of this conflict/story. I don’t want to go back to Armann or to the Hedeon. I have accepted the Orb and they won’t accept me know that I am no longer “purple”. I’m afraid they would kill me.

[Timothy Barley]

TIM BARLEY’S CHARACTER INTERVIEWS

What I learned from doing this assignment is that you can really expound on traits and motivations when you have to sound out what your characters’ thoughts are. And that if you treat it like a real interview, you can really get down to the nitty gritty.

While the majority of my characters’ traits did NOT change, the reasoning behind why they have these traits comes more into focus, which will help guide their motivations better down the line. A three dimensional trait makes for a better nuanced character than does a one word trait used as reasoning why a character does what he/she does. I’m still collating the answers in the interviews, but will edit this as necessary.

[Ed Preston]

Assignment 4, Character Interviews

What I learned doing this assignment is that maybe I am trying harder to answer the questions exactly right than I am at working fast, but yeah, this helps you get to know them better.

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR PROTAGONIST

Tell me about yourself.

My name is Dave Carlson, I’m 22 and I just earned a degree in Archaeology, Summa cum Laude, near the top of my class. I was gonna get married, had an awesome job lined up, then poof – it all collapsed on the same day. What a kick in the nuts. I got so mad I jumped on my motorcycle and drove like a maniac, made a huge mistake and almost killed myself. The bike got destroyed but a guy actually saved me. Didn’t get a scratch and I have no idea how he did it.

Why do you think you were called to this journey? Why you?

Journey, schmourney – I majored in Archaeology, not Philosophy. But why me? Good question. I suppose it was to take me down a peg or two, or maybe keep me from making a really big mistake, like doing the wrong thing with my life. You might make a bazillion dollars, have a supermodel wife, a fleet of cars and vacation in Hawaii and Aspen, but it doesn’t mean you’re doing things right.

You are up against Sam. What is it about him that makes this journey even more difficult for you?

I’m not really “up against” him. When he first told me he was an angel I thought he might be nuts, but no, he’s for real. Still, he can be a prick now and then, but I couldn’t have made it without him — you’ll see.

In order to survive or accomplish this, you are going to have to step way outside of your box. What changes do you expect to make and which of them will be the most difficult?

Funny thing, I thought I’d won the lottery when MegaFace offered me that job, with equity. You know what that means, right? Big bucks when they go public! THAT would be out of my box and I was SO ready for it! But no, I just landed in a bigger version of the box I left — grad student-slash-teaching assistant — but to get there maybe I did have to step outside the box of thinking big money was the shortcut to everything.

What habits or ways of thinking do you think will be the most difficult to let go of?

Ways of thinking? Maybe trying to plan everything ahead, control, that kind of stuff.

What fears, insecurities and wounds have held you back?

I grew up in a small town in the Midwest. Hated that everyone knew everyone else’s business and the only place to make a decent living was the tire factory.

What do you think of Sam?

Sam? He’s ok. Got off to a bit of a bumpy start with him, but he’s a good guy to have around.

Tell me your side of this whole conflict / story.

I’ve always been a good student – a really good student – did everything right, had a beautiful girlfriend, we were gonna get married, I had a fantastic job lined up, and blam, Lori dumps me, the job falls through, and it’s either go back home and work at the tire factory, or go back to school (I at least had a scholarship), so that’s what I did. I at least got to take the road trip of a lifetime to get there. Changed my outlook on life, that’s for sure.

What does it do for your life if you succeed here?

Changes it, gives it a purpose.

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR ANTAGONIST

Tell me about yourself.

My name is Sam, Samwell, actually. I’m an angel. My main job in Heaven is record-keeping, but we get vacation time, and occasionally we can volunteer for temporary assignments on Earth which are often very rewarding.

Having to do with this journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses?

Well, I’m an angel, so I have certain abilities humans don’t, but we’re definitely not omniscient, and despite training, we still find ourselves in situations we didn’t anticipate.

Why are you committed to making Dave change?

Getting him safely to his destination is what I’m committed to. Anything beyond that is icing on the cake. Humans are pliable and changeable. The journey itself will change him, I’ve seen it before.

What do you get out of this?

Maybe the satisfaction of a job well done, as the saying goes. Also of making a friend, making a difference in a life with real potential.

What drives you toward your mission / agenda, even in the face of danger, ruin, or death?

Huh? Next question please.

What secrets must you keep to succeed? What other secrets do you keep out of fear / insecurity?

What secrets must I keep to succeed? Just don’t try to answer detailed questions about Heaven. Most of that is classified anyway. Secrets kept out of fear / insecurity? Pssh, none.

Compared to other people like you, what makes you special?

I’m not particularly special.

What do you think of Dave?

Dave’s a good kid with a lot of potential. He took a big hit on his graduation day and overreacted, but someday he’ll thank God up and down that it happened, you wait.

Tell me your side of this whole conflict / story.

My side is that if Dave will cooperate and seek his actual destiny instead of shortcuts to — note the air quotes — “success”, and of course put up with my company for a while, he’ll do ok. More than ok.

• This reply was modified 2 years ago by  Ed Preston.