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Lesson 4
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Subject Line: Jim Thompson BI Stacking Suspense
1. Make a list of everything you learn in the process that can help you write stronger thrillers:
My thanks to Hal Croasmun for the excellent example for Basic Instinct. I do not believe I could have pulled the information (M.I.S., action or stakes) without the example. I went through the movie once on my computer with the pdf open. The smoothness and flow of the scenes as each builds M.I.S. upon the last humbled me. Particularly when I read “we are only working with action, stakes, character MIS, and the MIS of each scene. We’ll add other skills later.”
I watched the movie a second time without the pdf open and tried to identify each scene, the M.I.S within the scene and the characters. This second viewing, hopefully helped for the second assignment. When I went back to the pdf, I was not surprised to find that I’s missed scenes and not found the same M.I.S. for either the scene or characters.
The thing I found interesting were the turning points or twists. From scene 37, where Cathrine finishes her book and breaks it off with Nick, the finish could have been the focus on Beth as the killer with Cathrine waling away, leaving the viewer to wonder whether Beth had been framed or was the killer. By bringing Cathrine and Nick back together then showing the ice pick under the bed, we are left knowing Cathrine is the killer but will she kill Nick or perhaps when will she kill Nick.
The pacing of this movie due to the stacking of suspense made it one of the most intense I remember. The interrelationships between the characters which are brought out as part of the scene or character’s intrigue builds additional tension throughout the film.
2. Give us a list of the things you learned about Thrillers as you did this assignment.
I learned how MIS builds upon each scene and beat to make an amazing thriller.
After walking through each scene with a focus on the obvious MIS, watching the movie gave me a different perspective on the building of suspense and intrigue in a more visceral way. We (my wife and I) found when we discussed the movie afterwards that we both ‘felt’ the tension as the scenes stacked the suspense.
I found the chase scenes exciting but my wife did not. They are probably one of the more obvious areas of stacking the suspense and tension. We both knew something bad was going to happen to Gus as he went up to the fourth floor. Again, obvious but the suspense and tension of the scene were exceptional.
I went back to my Plottr outline to look at where I had missed the mark on adding MIS or stacking the suspense and tension. I learned a lot that I could apply and realize there is so much more that I don’t know.
I hope I can learn how to apply the current MIS, stacking suspense, increasing tension and the more advanced skills being taught but from what I have already learned (in this first week), it looks like a very long road.
This only barely touches the surface of what I have learned or started learning.
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Leslie Aguillard’s SOTL Stacking Suspense Thriller
What I learned from doing this assignment: Trying to think like Hal. How he can label an action or an element briefly that takes me sentences to describe. I’m not there yet.
Frankly it took me 4 hours going through Basic Instinct trying to grasp his notes to the scenes. Often I was off track, though I got the idea of how I was supposed to think, I still struggled getting there. I would watch the scene. Think about what was going on then look at the notes and try to reconcile the two, mine and Hal’s. I want to be able to think like Hal or understand how that thinking works in order to use the short-hand to generate ideas, not the other way around.
Then Silence of the Lambs, which I had watched a few days prior to this assignment for the first time. It was not as I feared. I remember, when I was a kid in Chicago, the story of this killer who skinned people. My own notes on the movie were one full page of tiny writing. The notes I took on Basic Instinct however, WITH the filled in chart, was 8 pages! Clearly, I am trying to wrap my head around this approach, but not there yet. I know I need to ‘get it’ yet I only grasp the short-hand of Action/Myster/Intrigue/Suspense/Character and Stakes because I know the details rather than the short-hand having meanings on their own. I have a long way to go to translate the short-hand labels into producing the story details to fulfill them. I have to think differently than I do now. Others have done it, so I have to tell myself I also can.
Silence of the Lambs – details.
Action: Training scene while the titles roll. Woman running. Mystery: who is she? Why is she training? Intrigue: She’s alone on the course, why? Suspense: is she about to be attacked? Character: She is strong, working hard, determined. Stakes: Ah, relief, she is on an obstacle course. She is not currently in danger.
Her name is Clarice Starling, she is interrupted on the obstacle course by a superior who tells her Crawford wants to see her, who is Crawford, must be the boss. Ah! Starling is in the FBI. Contrasting her tiny self in the elevator filled with large men a head and shoulders taller made me laugh. I was relieved at that. Maybe this movie won’t be as horrifying as I thought since I have avoided watching it all these years. So, what does Clarice, this tiny woman, have that the big guys don’t? They don’t snicker at her, so she’s accepted and possibly respected… good. So, what is her role at the FBI?
Action: Clarice goes to see Crawford. Mystery: What does he want. What is Clarice’s role in the FBI? Suspense: what does Crawford want from her? Character: though she is opposite in size and demeanor from the men she is smart and important and accepting of the challenge. Stakes: Can she get Hannibal to cooperate and not let him get into her head? (I’m not confident I am labeling these element correctly so will stop….)
Crawford, the boss, likes(?) Clarice and is giving her this assignment – since nothing else has worked. She’s okay with that. Crawford warns Clarice not to let Hannibal get into her head. What does that even mean? Is this the stakes?
Introduced to Buf. Bill’s grisly serial crimes of skinning victims via pictures on the wall. Since Starling is an in- training profiler, her assignment is to interview another serial killer to get insights on who Buf. Bill is and how to catch him. Her first big assignment? Is she up to it? She thinks so. Who is this Hannibal Lecter? A brilliant but quite insane psychiatrist who has not cooperated with anyone thus far, but the FBI believes he can lead them to Buf.Bill, so Clarice is the new approach. She is warned not to let Hannibal get into her head.
So, there is this psychological danger – maybe right up her alley. What happens when Hannibal gets in your head? Will Clarice be able to prevent that? Will she be able to get Hannibal to cooperate and find Buf Bill? The point is to stop Buf.Bill and find out if Clarice can do it. I’m just not sure how to do the short hand yet.
I liked the introduction of Clarice, it unfolded, showing contrasts- she was capable though small in stature, and it seemed the only female in a sea of men, in a dangerous profession. She is shown as serious about her job. She has a southern twang to her voice – it tugs at an irrational prejudice of mine that southern drawls are off-putting, but her training and title means she is smart and the goal to which she is being set is huge, catching a ghastly serial killer the FBI can’t seem to stop.
Introducing a character I know is important, not only to the story, but for getting an actor to want to play the role. I liked the “opposites” of Clarice’s tiny size to the big physical size of the men around her. I liked that she is supposed to be smart. She also is trained to get inside of other people’s heads. Will it be a contest between her and this Hannibal Lecter?
Now introducing the other characters. (pardon if I spell names wrong)
Dr. Chilton, head of the asylum-prison that houses Hannibal. Chilton is creepy, cloying, likes being in charge, warns Clarice about Hannibal which is why he should accompany her, showing her a photo of a nurse who has her face bit off by Hannibal. Chilton wants to show how smart and important he is but Clarice shuts him down – politely but definitely saying it is better if she sees Hannibal alone. Clarice acts confident and in charge. Chilton doesn’t like that but he will watch on a monitor. Clarice now needs to prove she is up for it.
Introduction to Hannibal. Series of locked gates emphasize this maximum security crazy bin. A dark hall, stay to the right (out of reach) while walking past violent, gross, scary and loud monster men. One yells “I can smell your cunt” while Clarice keeps walking despite flinching from those inmates. She has a job to do. They can’t reach her, not physically.
And then, in stark contrast, is Hannibal. A clean cell at the very end. It is brightly lit contrasted to the dark and dingy other cells. Thick plexiglass with small holes in it instead of bars. He can’t physically touch her. Things are passed through the wall in stages. He stands erect, focused, composed, dignified, like he is totally in charge despite being incarcerated. He doesn’t need to posture or thrash around; His eyes are piercing and direct and he speaks distinctly and softly. He is intrigued by Clarice and deigns to talk with her because she is “honest” with him. ( a ploy? Of course.) He tells how he ate the liver with fava beans and a nice chianti. He tells her to ignore the other men and says he cannot smell her cunt but he smells her soap or perfume. He observes her closely. He seems willing to comply or is he just toying with her? He suggests she look into Moffit’s storage – whatever that is.
To further see into Clarice’s story there is a flashback. Her father was a cop. She cries.
Deeper into the story now. Crawford tells Clarice that the inmate who was so rude to her is dead…Hannibal got into his head and he kills himself swallowing his own tongue in his cell. Revolting, but we see how manipulative and effective Hannibal is.
Answer what is in Moffit’s storage: hearse, grisly head in a bottle. Hannibal is again questioned. He wants Buf.Bill’s case file to help catch him; says Buf.Bill is looking for his next victim. Sets up meeting Buf.Bill.
Introduction of Buf. Bill: we watch a woman being stalked and tricked into a van! Terrifying how easily it was done to a woman trying to be helpful; how easily he got away with the abduction. We don’t see Buf Bill much.
Clarice is called to another scene, body in the water a week, a victim of Buf.Bill; Everyone recoils but Clarice stays ‘professionally detached,’ but she notices what others don’t, an insect casing in the body’s mouth. Clarice takes this to bug experts at a museum. It is a death’s head moth, from another country, has to be grown here, it has meaning. So, Buf Bill is meticulous and ritualistic.
Glimpse at Buf. Bill’s lair: the miserable pleading woman at the bottom of a well in a dungeon. Horrifying. As if BB wasn’t scary enough. Will she be saved?
Contrast to the senator on TV asking for Katherine to be returned; Clarice insight says it is good the senator keeps using Katherine’s name, trying to make BB see Katherine as a person rather than a thing.
Back to the famous lines from the movie with BB telling Katherine to rub the lotion, put the lotion in the basket. BB has a little dog. Why show the dog? Another Contrast? Maybe that’s a vulnerability.
The senator agrees to have Hannibal moved to Memphis per his wishes. (What? Are they nuts?? What can go wrong??) Chilton, seems a tad sadistic himself, doesn’t like losing control of Hannibal. There is a point made about Chilton’s pencil on a table which disappears while talking to Hannibal about being transferred… the deal so Hannibal will cooperate. What about that pencil???
Hannibal is masked, straight-jacketed, strapped to a gurney, surrounded by guards who do not appreciate the danger they all are in. The senator meets them at the airport. Hannibal gives up more info on BB…his name is Lewis, this tall, blonde hair. While Chilton is whoreing to the press about his own importance, Clarice is making anagrams of the name Lewis – clearly games are being played and she is trying to discover the games and the meaning while others are distracted. Hannibal gives Clarice another hint – “Lewis covets.”
Hannibal gets Clarice to tell a story from her childhood running away from a ranch, and we get the title of the movie: lambs screaming about to be slaughtered– she is unable to save even one. Does this also foreshadow Clarice/FBI failure?? Clarice returns to Washington, while Hannibal is working his own plan, toying with his guards.
Another escalation– Hannibal’s escape! Hannibal uses a pencil part to unlock his handcuffs while two cops bring him dinner then ruthlessly kills them. Takes a knife. MISLEAD: other cops sound the alarm and try to hunt for Hannibal and think they are taking one of the fallen cops to the hospital. Turns out Hannibal took the cop’s face off and wears it like a mask, dressed up as the cop and kills everyone in the ambulance and gets away. Shockingly clever.
Clarice feels sure Hannibal will not come after her. (Really? Why? – I guess there will be a sequel)
Escalation again: So, we learned how ghastly ruthless Hannibal is, now lets get more into Buff. Bill. We see him sewing (assume it is human skin). Clarice makes a connection: We covet what we see everyday. (I never thought about that but just accepted this analysis) so Clarice investigates BB’s first victim. Things are moving fast now. The lead sends FBI to Calumet City outside Chicago, where the first victim was from.
Escaltion: BB makes himself up and dances for video. If we didn’t think he could be more insane…this…demonstrates it.
Crawford’s team seems to be doing one thing contrasting to Clarice doing another, connecting her own dots, tracking down her own lead and we get shocked to find they are not in the same place – Clarice is on her own at the real BB location. The stakes zoom sky high here. How is Clarice going to get the drop on BB or otherwise survive?
Katherine down in the well has been trying her own manner of escape by luring BB’s little dog into being trapped down the well with her. How desperate and determined she is in this horrible situation. BB hates that his dog is in the well and gets a gun, but then someone is as his door!!! It is Clarice.
Clarice weedles her way into BB’s house, she knows she is right, BB is suspicious and escapes down in his cavernous basement, luring Clarice into deeper danger (how is that even possible?) Clarice discovers Katherine and tells her the FBI is on the way. (Really, are they? Will they arrive in time?)
The creepiest sequence is when BB turns the lights out. In the pitch black Clarice is panicking, trying to feel around in the dark while BB has night vision glasses, creeping closer and closer and closer. Clarice luckily hears BB’s gun cock and she begins firing in that direction and empties her gun into BB. (Yikes, wow and whew)
Ahhh – Katherine is saved, wrapped in a blanket, Clarice is okay. Back in Washington Clarice is given an award for having caught and killed BB etc. then the phone rings for her, What Now? Out in the hall she hears…..
(Oh the black humor of it all) Hannibal is disguised, on some tropical island, and tells Clarice he can’t talk long enough for the call to be traced, besides, he has to go… he’s having a friend for dinner.
We see that creep Chilton likely trying to hide from Hannibal since everyone knows he escaped, but clearly he did not succeed. Hannibal casually follows Chilton. The End. (I did not feel the least bit sorry for Chilton…ugh…what does that say about me?) (Also, am not sure I can see the prequel or the sequel)
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PETER FELIZ BI Stacking Suspense
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</div><div>THRILLER CONVENTION: Crime Thriller, Sexual Thriller, Psychological Thriller.</div><div>CHARACTERS WITH MIS: Detective Nick Curran, Catherine Trammel, Dr Beth Garner</div><div>MIS OF EVERY SCENE: Sorry time constraints. I will note later.</div><div>
</div><div>MIS is often thought of as Character backstory. But that’s not enough to propel a story. Intrigue: character acts pro or counter to his/her back story. Suspense: character’s actions or inaction will gravely affect the fate of others. </div><div>The use of clues to peel away the characters ‘ base natures.</div><div>The more we learn about each character the dangerous they become</div><div>Sorry for the brevity. In the middle of a minor life crisis good/not so good. But instructive</div> -
PETER FELIZ THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
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</div><div>Logline: A young F.B.I. cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims.
</div><div>Writers: Thomas Harris (novel), Ted Tally (screenplay)
</div><div>Lead Characters: Clarice Starling, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Jack Crawford
</div><div>ASSIGNMENT 2:
</div><div>1. Watch THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and fill in the Stacking Suspense Chart.
</div><div>2. Pause the recording at the conclusion of EVERY SCENE and fill in this information:
</div><div> – Action of the scene at the bottom of the chart.
</div><div> – Stakes, if any.
</div><div> – Anything that shows MIS of the character.
</div><div> – Any Mystery, Intrigue, or Suspense hat showed up in that scene.
</div><div>Enjoy the movie and what you learn from it!
</div><div>Hal Croasmun
</div><div>Action 1.Clarice Starling training in the woods
</div><div> 2. Starling is called into Jack Crawford’s office
</div><div> 3. Dr Chilton briefs starling on Hannibal lecter 4. Starling enters the hell that is the Asylum pit 5. Clarice meets lecter 6. Clarice recalls a pleasant memory of her father in the Asylum parking lot 7. Starling fails a field training test
</div><div>Mystery Initially she looks like she is in danger. Why is she alone?
</div><div> Why is Crawford’s office plastered with clippings of Buffalo Bill’s serial killer case?
</div><div>Why does Crawford want to see her? Why is Chilton hostile to Crawford’s errand girl? How much danger is Clarice in while in the pit? Why does lector want to know what Miggs said to Clarice? Why does the lector attack clarice’s dignity? Why does this pleasant memory distress her?
</div><div>Intrigue Starling is training alone because she does not fit in with the rest of her class
</div><div> Starling is an oddball rookie, but Crawford thinks she has special insights and talents ideal for the errand he wants her to undertake Chilton is sexually lecherous, jealous of lecter, and politically insidious This place houses the worst of humanity, yet Clarice demands she goes in alone to see Lecter Lector ponders
</div><div>Why Crawford sent a rube rookie to interview him Clarice has a haunted childhood Starling is capable of serious & dangerous rookie mistakes
</div><div>Suspense
</div><div>Is she fit to be an fbi agent
</div><div> Is this a test of starlings skills to become an agent?
</div><div>Is the errand dangerous? Will Chilton prevent Clarice from performing her errand? Will she survive the unrealized horror of the pit. .Miggs yells to her, “I can smell your cunt!” Will lector dismiss Clarice outright? Will she fail her assignment? Will Miggs hurt her? Does lector give her valuable information?
</div><div> Will her past affect her investigative abilities? Does this foreshadow her peril
</div><div>Character
</div><div>MIS
</div><div>Although Starling is a rookie, she has special insights and skills.
</div><div> Though Starling is inexperienced she seems to be socially savvy Clarice skillfully maneuvers her way through Chilton Clarice senses she may have an ally here. He is one of the attendance named Barney Clarice and lecter tests each other’s wits and stamina Despite apparent failure with LecterClarice is undeterred
</div><div>Stakes Starlings ability to become an FBI agent
</div><div> Starling could easily put herself in occupational Jeopardy Clarice may be unable to do the assignment Clarice’s personal and professional safety Lector dismisses Clarice.Miggs throws semen in clarice’s face. Does lecter give valuable information about Miss Mofet She may have revealed too much of herself to lecter Her safety, her professional future
</div><div>Action 8. Clarice studies lectors past
</div><div> 9. Clarice searches the Mofet storage unit 10. Clarice confronts lector about the head in the storage unit 11.Buffalo Bill kidnaps a senator’s daughter 12.As Starling & Crawford go to WVA to examine one of Buffalo Bill’s victims, she developes BB’s profile 13.Clarice & Crawford meet with WVA State Police 14. Clarice flashbacks to her father’s funeral as she waits to examine Buffalo bills victim West Virginia
</div><div>Mystery Why would lecter give Clarice a clue after Miggs attached her?
</div><div> Who owned the unit? Is it a booby trap Why does Lecter convince Miggs to swallow his tongue?How does Lester know that Clarice had been bleeding?
</div><div>What does the head in the storage unit have to do with Buffalo Bill? How much of what lector is telling her is the truth? Will she fall into Bill’s trap?
</div><div>Why does Bill ask what her dress size is?
</div><div>Why does Buffalo Bill kidnap her instead of killing her outright? Is her assessment accurate?
</div><div>Will she continue on with the BB case? Why does Crawford demean Clarice to the patrolmen? Why did Clarice’s Father die when she was so young
</div><div>Intrigue Even though Lecter assaults clarice’s dignity he seems Miggs attack offensive and awards Clarice with a clue.
</div><div> Lector owns the storage unit. This is where store the head of Lawrence raspanel one of Buffalo bills victims. Lector proposes quid pro quo for aiding in the capture of Buffalo Bill. She must tell him about her worst childhood memories, and he provides her with Buffalo bills motive Buffalo Bill is obsessed his victims size and conditions of their skin Crawford is weighing the political and procedural liabilities of having Clarice continue with the case
</div><div> The state police do not want the FBI to interfere with the body discovery. Clarice ran away from her adoptive parents shortly afterwards
</div><div>Suspense
</div><div> Is this a booby trap? Is there any way to manipulate Hannibal Lecter Will Buffalo Bill kidnapped this girl? What does he intend to do with her? Is Clarice an asset or liability in BB case?
</div><div> Can Clarice possibly gain the respect of the West Virginia State Police men?
</div><div>Character
</div><div>MIS Lecter has developed an odd affinity for Clarice.
</div><div>Clarice is able to decipher Lecter’s riddles and anagrams
</div><div> Clarice demonstrates quick thinking ingenuity getting the storage unit open.
</div><div>Lector Gibbs Clarice something valuable Lecter is devising his way out of Chilton’s asylum Buffalo Bill is an experienced and methodical serial killer Crawford may not appear so, but he’s a shrewd political animal as well as a top FBI superior.
</div><div> Clarice has no respect with the West Virginia State Police
</div><div>Stakes
</div><div> Clarice’s life The kidnap victims life. Buffalo Bill might get caught
</div><div> Politics vs investigative process Clarice’s professional standing. The FBI standing with the state police. Clarice’s sanity
</div><div>Action 15. Clarice starling stands up to the West Virginia State patrolmen and Gain their utmost respect
</div><div> 16. Clarice and Crawford examined the body 17. Crawford tries to explain why he slighted Clarice to the West Virginia police 18. Clarice delivers the cocoon to the entomologists. 19. Buffalo Bill is sewing while his kidnapping victim languishes in a pit 20.Newsvreport Buffalo Bill kidnapped the daughter of a Tennessee senator 21. Clarice goes to the Asylum to offer lector a deal
</div><div>Mystery
</div><div>Why does Clarice speak to them a Southern school marm?
</div><div> How and why does Buffalo Bill choose victimsr? Why are her hands mutilated as if she’s been clawing?
</div><div>What’s in her throat?
</div><div> What is the cocoon and why is it significant? What is Buffalo bills sewing? Why is Catherine still alive? Why does senator keep repeating Catherine’s name in the news interview? Lector demands quid pro quo for his cooperation.
</div><div>She must reveal her worst childhood experiences.
</div><div>Is Buffalo Bill a transsexual?
</div><div>Intrigue Clarice knows intuitively brutish Southern men innately respect their grandmothers
</div><div> Starling discovers Bug cocoon in victim’s throat. Victim’s hands are mutilated as if she had been trying to call her way out of something. Victim skin is removed from her back and buttocks area
</div><div> Crawford no longer intimidates Clarice. She is fully self confident of her abilities now Buffalo Bill is stuffing people’s throats with death head moth cocoons Buffalo Bill plans to kill Catherine and make a costume of her skin
</div><div> The senator is remarkably savvy even in this desperate situation Clarice is offering a fake deal. Chilton is listening into their conversation
</div><div>Suspense She may fail
</div><div> Is Sterling proving herself as an FBI agent Time is ticking on new victim’s life Can Catherine escape before bill kills her
</div><div> Clarice May weaken herself in lector’s eyes can she trust lectors information
</div><div>Character
</div><div>MIS
</div><div>What Clarice lacks in field experience she makes up for in ingenuity and Southern intuition
</div><div> Starling is now sure of herself and her value to Jack Crawford Clarice makes crystal clear what Crawford says of her matters Clarice handles herself well with the amorous entomologists What is Buffalo bills psychosis
</div><div> Clarice is honesty about the slaughter of the lambs gives Lecter respect for her.
</div><div>Stakes
</div><div>Cooperation with the West Virginia State Police
</div><div> They’re losing time saving Buffalo bills new kidnap victim The relationship between Crawford and Clarice Catherine’s life Catherine’s life The clock is ticking on Catherine’s life
</div><div>Action 22. Buffalo Bill makes Catherine put lotion on her skin
</div><div> 23. Dr Chilton taunts Lecter 24.Lector is transferred to Tennessee 25.Senator Martin confronts Lecter 26. Clarice sneaks in to meet with lector 27.Clarice makes a desperate attempt to get Lecter’s knowledge of Buffalo Bill. 28. Lector effects escape from the jail cell
</div><div>Mystery
</div><div>Why must she lubricate herself?
</div><div>Why are there bloody scratches & fingernails on the pit walls?
</div><div> How will Chilton manipulate laughter? What is lectors interest in Chilton’s pen Is security tight enough to neutralize Lector?
</div><div>What happened to Chilton’s pen? Does Lecter tell senator Martin the truth about Buffalo Bill?
</div><div>Why does Lecter inject lurid taunts at senator well giving her information? Will she be caught Why must continue the Quid Pro Quo with Lecter?
</div><div>What is Buffalo Bill’s nature?
</div><div> What is the object they removes from inside his mouth?
</div><div>Intrigue Buffalo Bill is a sexual sadist
</div><div> Chilton tells lector that clarice’s deal was a fake. But Chilton has made a real deal of his own. Lector is unfazed by Chilton’s taunts Lecter sizes up his chances of escaping Lectors speaking in half truths and codes he knows that Clarice will decipher Clarice deciphers “Louis Friend”
</div><div> Clarice confesses her childhood inability to stop the lamb slaughter. Lector is genuinely grateful on hearing her confession Let her knows the guards are careless and underestimate
</div><div>Him
</div><div>Suspense Bill is taunting Catherine. He’s getting ready to kill her
</div><div> Lecter is planning his escape Is Lecter truly neutralized?
</div><div> How much of what Lecter tells the senator will be helpful to save Catherine? She must evade people who know her as she sneaks into to see Lecter
</div><div> Clarice may not catch the information she needs to capture Buffalo Bill Will let her escape? Will he kill his guards? How will he escape the building?
</div><div>Character
</div><div>MIS
</div><div> Lecter is far more clever than Chilton Lecter though straight jacketed & muzzled is still a deadly threat Lector is not really speaking to the senator but to Clarice Clarice is far more clever than everyone securing and neutralizing Lecter
</div><div> Lector capitalizes on the police’s ineptitude
</div><div>Stakes Catherine’s life
</div><div> Chilton if Lecter escapes Chilton might figure his missing pen is Lecter’s doing Catherine has one day left to live Clarice may get caught trying to get to Lecter. Catherine’s life
</div><div>Clarice’s career The guards lives. Lectors life
</div><div>Action 29. Lecter escapes through the elevator
</div><div> 30.Lecter escapes ambulance 31.Clarice with clues from Lector discovers that Buffalo Bill knew his first victim 32.Buffalo Bill cosplays with skin remnants while Catherine tries to lure his poodle into the pit with her 33.FBI swarm in on Buffalo Bill’s Chicago house 34.Clarice confronts Buffalo Bill 35.Clarice graduates the FBI academy
</div><div>Mystery Police find one guard’s body mutilated.The other guard barely alive but where is Lecter? Blood coming from elevator roof, Lecter?
</div><div> The severely wounded guard is not as he seems What will Clarice find in first victim’s house Is Bill ritualizing prior to murdering Catherine? Is he grabbing a death head moth? Has Catherine lured poodle into pit Is this really where Bill is? Who is she getting a phone call from?
</div><div>Intrigue Lecter misdirects to escape
</div><div> Fredrick Bimmel (Bills first victim) was a seamstess as is Buffalo Bill. As Clarice informs Crawford, he says Bill is Jamie Gumm The Chicago house is a red herring.
</div><div> It’s Lecter. He warns her not to try to find him.
</div><div>Suspense
</div><div>Will police find Lector before he escapes custody.
</div><div> Guard reveals himself as Lecter Will Clarice’s newfound info save Catherine Bill is preparing to kill Catherine. The police swarm in but the house is empty. Crawford realizes he’s leaving Clarice vulnerable if she confronts Bill on her own
</div><div> Bill uses night vision goggles to hunt Clarice who is blinded by the dark Lector is hunting Dr Chilton who’s on vacation
</div><div>Character
</div><div>MIS
</div><div> Crawford doesn’t want Starling to go to Chicago.Instead
</div><div>He orders her to further investigate Bimmels’ town Bill’ preps ritually. Catherine uses the poodle as leverage to save herself
</div><div> Lecter plans to “have a friend for dinner “ as he follows Chiliton
</div><div>Stakes
</div><div>Everyone in Tennessee if Lecter succeeds
</div><div> Lecter at large the world is unsafe Solving Catherine’s kidnapping or her murder Will Bill kill her anyway Catherine, Clarice and Bill are in mortal danger Clarice, Catherine, Bill & the poodle Chilton fricassee
</div><div>Your forum won’t accept my Android Word freeware format. Sorry I’ll deal with this later</div><div>
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ASSIGNMENT 2 – Subject Line: Jim Thompson SOTL Stacking Suspense
As I indicated from the first assignment in this lesson, this second part was probaby the most difficult to date. I started by watching “The Silence of the Lambs” in its entirety withoutpausing to fill out the word version of the Stacking Suspense Chart provided. I had never watched the movie or read the book before this.
I had a forced break due to a friend’s surgery. During this pause, I used the waiting time to read and listen to Thomas Hassis’s book. I used a copy of the stacking suspense chart to take notes on each chapter rather than scenes during my ‘waiting room’ time at the hospital. While the book and movie differ, the exercise of looking at each chapter with Action, MIS, Character MIS, and the stakes was enlightening to say the least.
The stacking of mystery starts from the very beginning with the introduction of Clarice Starling and Jack Crawford then continues without pause with Dr. (Ph.D) Chilton and Dr. (M.D.) Hannibal Lecter.
The same stacking is done with intrigue and suspense. Each time Clarince meets with Dr. Lecter, there is a tension on what might happen based on what Lecter has done in the past. I need to go back to study the dialog during these exchanges because they are used to rachet up the suspense, tension and intrigue in every case.
The mystery of the ‘valentine’ gift. Going to the storage site finding the head – the book and film diverge where the book goes into greater detail on the older vehicle which I thought made more sense than the movie. In each of these, the MIS builds over every scene (or chapter). I did not get the feeling of ‘stakes’ as much in the move as the book where Clarice Starling as an FBI Academy trainee may be recycled due to her involvement with Hannibal Lecter and the search for Buffalo Bill.
The introduction to Buffalo Bill and his abduction Cathrine sared and frightened. How easy to lure her into his grasp.
The death’s head moth is brilliant. By itself, it increased the mystery of why and how Buffalo Bill uses them. The intregue and suspense with the moth fore-shadows later in the movie. Clarice’s ability to keep herself detached from the horror while focusing on pulling every detail from the crime scene adds to her character, not sure about the MIS in this case. Perhaps, the scene has enough intregue by itself.
The Senator calling out to Buffalo Bill, then getting Dr. Hannibal Lecter to agree to give them information if they promise him a move with a window. I’m not sure about suspense or intregue, I think everyone knew this was not going to end well. So much so that even with the fore-shadowing from Barney, I felt bad about what was going to happen to the new guards. Hannibal’s escape is not as much mystery, intreque, or suspense but the tension builds even though we know what is going to happen and he proves that he is a master criminal mind who delights in gore and deception.
Clarice making the connection to Buffalo Bill and his sewing solves some of the earlier mystery on why the flailing of the women – to make a suit but the skill needed for this is not insignificant. The move does a better job than the book with the HRT and Clarice. I thought they were looking at the same location but when I realize Clarice is at a different location the suspense goes through the roof! With the lights out, the confrontation between Clarice and Buffalo Bill is a classic pistol duel when Bill holds the winning hand but Clarice surprises him with her skill, determination, and professionalism.
The book and film diverge again with the book having Dr. Lecter still in the states. Both leave us knowing that Chilton’s days are numbered before he is on the menu while setting us up for additional movies with Hannibal (and Clarice.)
— Give us a detailed list of the things you learned from doing this process that can help you write stronger thrillers.
This process took a long time and I know that I missed more than I found in the scenes. For me going over the Book chapters then the movie and back again, while it took more time, I began to believe that I was comprehending more of the Mystery, Intrigue and Suspense of each scene and character. In the above, I hardly mention anything about Jack Crawford but he plays an essential role in several scene MIS and his how character’s. Barney the attendant who treated Dr. Lecter with as much respect as possible in the circumstances plays a pivitol role warning the new guards and the police about Dr. Lecter. It is not so much that he is ignored as their lack of experience with Lecter which leads to their demise and his escape.
These two assignments have highlighted to me how much I don’t know and a number of flaws within what I have been writing. I don’t know that I will be able to move as quickly from this course to the necessary level of writing but I do feel like I will have gained some skill and just as important tools to increase those skill with additional practice.
Last, I will not be looking at movies or even TV show the same. I’ll have to keep some of my comments to myself (of it will be like critiquing ‘war’ movies for the wrong weapons, tactics or uniforms :).
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Stacking Suspense:
What I learned from Watching Basic Instinct all these years later is that it is still a little confusing. I got a bit confused by the red herrings, and some of the motivations. The stacking of suspense is a good exercise to watch for, because it does keep you wanting your questions as a viewer to be answered. What I also learned that the first 30 minutes is just investigation work, but the intrigue and suspense makes it seem like a lot of action is happening when it really isn’t. I found that very interesting. I also like the information dump that happens at the police station when they are considering Catherine as a suspect. The cop reads stuff about her like it’s on a rap sheet, and tells you all about where she went to school, her grades, her interests, her degrees etc, so it’s a really fast way of giving the audience insight into her character. The way Michael Douglas goes back to smoking, drinking and begins to mirror Catherine is interesting too. I wasn’t clear if Michael was part of Catherine’s plan to kill people close to him, because she wanted it for her book or not. Even now after I have seen it 5 times, I still am not sure. But overall, I really think you have to keep the first act fairly simple so it doesn’t get unwieldy, so that was the biggest thing I learned doing this.I have not yet had time to watch Silence of the Lambs but I will over the next few days.
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Jen’s BI Stacking Suspense
What I learned doing this assignment is that there are so many little things that as an audience member you don’t even “see” on the surface level, but underneath these little add up to make the thriller more “thrilling.” I also realized that the “banter” in thrillers in very different in a thriller than it is in say a comedy or a romantic comedy. I also kept track of this – the banter has an edge – (I also used the script to do this assignment instead of the movie because I have done this with the movie before and wanted something different, so things might not be the same) – when the psychiatrist is making comments like “usually the don’t send someone so attractive” with its sexual harassment undertones that make Clarice uncomfortable, it is a precursor for what is to come, so that when Miggs is inappropriate (we’ll just say that) with her, we are twice as appalled and upset for her. I actually found some things in the script that are too bad didn’t make it into the movie. For instance, the opening scene is a raid where Clarice is in danger, but then it ends up just being a training. Her running trough the woods with the fog, etc. was scary, but the raid trumped that for sure!
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Mary Albanese’s BASIC INSTINCT Stacking Suspense
What I learned: Each of the 42 scenes, from start to finish, had at least 3 elements of mystery, suspense, intrigue, new reveal of a character’s MIS, or stakes. These were layered on like thick swaths of frosting on the most decadent ice cream cake. It is these layers that make a “delicious” thriller.
My SILENCE OF THE LAMBS Stacking Suspense
What I learned: Using the BASIC INSTINCT example given, I broke down SILENSE OF THE LAMB into its 27 scenes, and annotated each scene with its MIS elements. In each scene, as with the BASIC INSTINCT script, there were at least 3 elements of mystery, suspense, intrigue, new reveal of a character’s MIS, or stakes. Sometimes a scene contained all 5. NO SCENE had less than three MIS elements working together. Again, these various layers of elements were troweled on thick like a Van Gough painting with the colors swirled on with a palate knife, to create a rich and hearty thriller.
I noticed that even a minor action, when combined with scary music, elevates the scene and tips you off that a bit of intrigue is happening.
There were two flashback scenes, but flashback was used very sparingly. They were shown as barely a glimpse, so they were not distracting or overly expository.
So many scenes had character-defining MIS elements, notably for Clarise, and Hanibal, but also towards the third act, for the kidnapped Catherine. There were some minor MIS elements for the arrogant shrink and Clarise’s boss. SO much character MIS was introduced, and in fact, was the main way we learned about the details and motivation of main characters, through their episodes and examples of MIS.
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Hi Leslie,
I like how you added the escalations to your MIS breakdown of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and also, how you added THE CONTRASTS. I had not thought to do that in this exercise, but you are so right — these contrasts that you pointed out go a long way to keeping us on edge in the roller-coaster ups and downs of thriller story-telling.
Cheers! – Mary
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