Lesson 4: The 10 Most Interesting Things

[Brian Bull]

BRIAN BULL – 10 Most Interesting Things

VISION!!!
My ultimate goal is to get my scripts from my hands to the SILVER SCREEN!!

“What I learned from doing this assignment is…
I have an interesting and fascinating story that I can’t wait to tell a producer about!!!

The ONE THAT GOT AWAY – A Fisherman’s Tale
A fisherman is determined to catch the fish he blames for his younger brother’s death, however, in the end, it turns out the fisherman is the one who had gotten away.

ASSIGNMENT

3. Organize both and select the 10 most interesting things. Post those to the forums.
A fisherman places a fishing hat on the front seat of the skiff, “Miss you Jim.”

The villain lurks below the surface of the water of the Louisiana Bayou and isn’t seen until the very end.
The hero is determined to meet the villain face-to-face.

A Dad presenting a knife that’s been in the family for 3 generations to his son and then taking back the knife when the boy accidentally cuts himself.

The unexplained disappearance of the fisherman’s Dad.

The fisherman is pulled into the murky water by the villain, when he resurfaces his younger brother is gone from the boat.

The loss of the fisherman’s younger brother.

For 25 years the fisherman has been doing everything the same until he tries the new bait he acquired at the Trading Post, this “new” bait catches the fish he has been seeking.

The Indian old-timer at the Trading Post tells the Legend of Mukatolou to the fisherman.
The younger brother appears as an apparition and they have a conversation regarding the fisherman’s quest.
The ending is a shock and ironic!

[Lloyd Shellenberger]

Lloyd’s ten most interesting things about Left behind, Letters from Baghdad

Vision Working hard every day to become the best writer I can and as a result I do become the best writer in Hollywood.

What I learned from this assignment…how to continually fine tune my pitch.

A. What is most unique about your villain and hero. My hero, SFC Clark goes through a character arc that makes this an interesting role for a lead actor. Abu Rami was a real terrorist. I and other soldiers feared him and Al-Zarqawi. He was capable and ruthless.

B. Major hook of your opening scene. The opening scene shows our interpreter hard at work. It highlights the fear and threats they faced on a daily basis working for the US. It also hints at the Sheik playing both sides.

<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>C. Any turning points? The first turning point is the Amil bombing. The true nature of terrorism rears </font>its<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> deadly head. The second TP is the killing of Hammad. This sets Clark on a path of which there is no return. </font>

D. Emotional dilemma. Clark must decide between duty and doing the right thing. His loyalties change from doing his military duty to doing the right thing at all costs.

E. Major twists? Clark proves there is a mole, and the Sheik is dirty. By doing this he has given himself some chips to bargain for the Widows freedom.

<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>F Reversals? Clark forces a </font>steadfast<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> State Department and US Military to reexamine its policies and decisions.</font><font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> </font>

G. Character betrayals? When Clark discovers a mole, he must find a way to use this to force Abi-Rami’s hand. The mole does his job and betrays the Army.

H. Any big surprises? The revelation that the Sheik is dirty, and Ahmad is knee deep in the terrorist attacks.

The big idea here is the moral and emotional struggle of a military unit trying to save an Iraqi interpreter’s family from terrorist retribution, which is a unique angle on the war drama genre that combines action with a strong emotional core.

Suspense and Anticipation: The script creates suspense through the constant threat to the widow and her children and the unpredictability of Abu Rami’s actions.

The strength of my script lies in its compelling main conflict and the moral complexities it explores. The action sequences are intense and well-crafted, and the character of SFC Clark is a powerful protagonist.

The inciting incident, the midpoint revelation, the “all is lost” moment, the climax, and the resolution are all strong and effectively drive the story forward.

The ten best things about my script. 1. The initial convoy attack that sets the stakes at the Amil Power Plant. 2. The ambush on Haifa Street that showcases the unit’s combat skills. 3. The revelation of the mole, which adds a layer of internal conflict. 4. The confrontation with the Sheik which shows the dangerous and deceptive nature of war. This is also the point where Clark realizes using the same tactics won’t work so he switches gears. 5. The final showdown with Abu Rami, which is emotionally charged and action-packed. 6. The departure of Fazziz and her children, which provides emotional closure. 7. The scene on the Convention Center roof where Clark releases the ashes. It is also a physical release of the past and a healing moment. 8. Scene where terrorist threaten Fazziz, leaving us to wonder who he will kill. 9. SFC Clark speaking to his parents for the first time in years. The world is right again, and Clark can finally breathe 10. The scene where Fazziz boards the plane but before she does, she makes the sign of the rainbow to Clark. This is a powerful and emotional connection to one another. 11. The graveyard scene highlights the struggles of the Iraqi people when we see all the graves marred by red spray paint and labeled traitors. “The Hurt Locker” (2008), “American Sniper” (2014), and “Lone Survivor” (2013) are successful movies that share similarities with this script in terms of genre, themes, and audience appeal.

[Margaret]

Margaret’s 10 most interesting things

What I learned: I do have interesting components of the script that would interest the producer.

10 most interesting things:

1. Haven’t
   seen a story where (St.) Patrick faces the goddess Morrigan.
2. A runaway
   teen who wants to be a fisherman finds himself caught in a net, kidnapped
   and brought to Ireland as a slave.
3. Patrick
   escapes slavery in Ireland, only to return to the land of his slavery to
   share his God with the Irish.
4. Patrick
   must decide between serving a druid or sacrificing the life of a convert.
5. Patrick’s
   first convert betrays him and hands him over to death.
6. When it
   looks like the Otherworld creatures are winning the war, heaven’s angels intervene.
7. Patrick
   thinks he is speaking with his sister Alita, only to find out it is
   Morrigan, shape-shifted.
8. The King
   has his foot speared through accidentally by Patrick but instead of
   killing him, he relates it to the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.
9. Patrick
   is given the go-ahead to kill his enemy, Bacrah, but instead forgives him.
10. The rock
    that was thrown from the mountain in the goddess Morrigan’s anger, becomes
    the seat of the Christian church in Ireland.