Lesson 5

[Rice Rice]

Frances’ Character Journeys!
What I learned doing this assignment is the incredible value of using the 3-Act Structure for Each Character Journey to help me create layers for my characters, making them more engaging to the audience in my contained environment.

[Micki Hess]

Micki’s Character Journeys
What I learned doing this assignment is by doing the 3 Acts with points for each character to see the deepness of each act and the essence. Making important decisions for each character to be developed. Each layers are being revealed.
Mark Anderson (The Control Freak)
Beginning: Mark is determined to have the perfect Christmas, meticulously planning every detail of the family’s stay at the hotel. He clashes with his kids over their lack of enthusiasm and the other family, especially Grace, over control of the holiday environment.
Turning Point: The first prank war between the two families spirals out of control, ruining his carefully curated plans and sparking frustration. The endless Christmas Eve begins, but Mark refuses to see it as anything other than an inconvenience.
Midpoint: Mark realizes he can’t control everything, especially time itself. As the prank war escalates, he struggles with the realization that his attempts to fix things keep making the situation worse.
Turning Point 2: When Emma begins to lose faith in the Christmas magic she’s always believed in, Mark is forced to reflect on his own relationship with the holiday and his family. His controlling nature isolates him from the others, making him question his role as the head of the family.
Dilemma: Mark must decide between continuing to force his idea of the perfect Christmas on everyone or letting go of control and allowing the holiday—and his family—to be what it needs to be, even if it’s messy.
3rd Act Climax: Mark has a confrontation with Grace, where they both realize that their obsessive need for control (in different ways) is what’s trapping everyone in the endless loop. He finally lets go of his need for perfection.
Ending: Mark reconciles with his family, choosing to enjoy the chaos of Christmas as it is, rather than trying to control it. He embraces imperfection, and the spell of endless Christmas Eve begins to break.
Chloe Anderson (The Social Media Queen)
Beginning: Chloe is more focused on getting the perfect Instagram post than engaging with her family. She’s caught up in superficiality and image, annoyed by the lack of internet at the hotel, but determined to make the holiday look picture-perfect.
Turning Point: When the prank war intensifies, Chloe initially sees it as a chance to create viral content, but her focus on appearances leads to embarrassment and missteps, making her realize she can’t control how others see her.
Midpoint: As the endless Christmas Eve drags on, Chloe’s curated image starts to crumble. She grows increasingly frustrated with her inability to share her life online and begins questioning why she places so much importance on what others think.
Turning Point 2: A bonding moment with Emma shows Chloe the innocence of Christmas that she’s been missing. She realizes that her obsession with social media has kept her from truly connecting with people, especially her family.
Dilemma: Chloe must choose between staying wrapped up in her online persona or embracing authenticity, even if it means being vulnerable and imperfect.
3rd Act Climax: Chloe makes a bold decision to shut off her phone and fully engage in the real-life Christmas around her. This personal growth helps the families begin to break the cycle.
Ending: Chloe learns to balance her social media presence with authenticity, realizing that the real memories and connections made during Christmas are more valuable than a perfect post.
Dylan Anderson (The Mischievous Prankster)
Beginning: Dylan is excited about the prank war and sees the endless Christmas Eve as the ultimate opportunity to create chaos. He’s rebellious and only cares about having fun, not considering the consequences.
Turning Point: After one of his pranks goes too far, causing real damage or emotional fallout, Dylan starts to see that his actions aren’t just fun and games—they’re affecting people in ways he didn’t intend.
Midpoint: Trapped in the time loop, Dylan becomes increasingly frustrated as his pranks lose their charm. He starts to feel the emptiness of his antics and the isolation they cause.
Turning Point 2: A confrontation with Alex makes Dylan realize that his pranks have been a way to avoid dealing with deeper issues, such as feeling overlooked or misunderstood by his family.
Dilemma: Dylan must decide whether to continue hiding behind jokes and pranks or take responsibility for his actions and find more meaningful ways to connect with his family.
3rd Act Climax: Dylan makes a genuine effort to help Emma rediscover her faith in Christmas, showing his softer side and proving that he can contribute more than just chaos.
Ending: Dylan reconciles with his family and grows from the experience, understanding that there’s a time for fun and a time to be serious. He helps break the time loop by taking responsibility for his actions.
Grace Walker (The Cynical Realist)
Beginning: Grace is cynical about the holiday season, only attending the family trip because of tradition. She believes Christmas has become over-commercialized and has lost its meaning, constantly clashing with Mark’s controlling nature.
Turning Point: The time loop exacerbates Grace’s frustrations, and she becomes the most vocal critic of the situation, believing that nothing will change until everyone accepts how ridiculous and meaningless Christmas has become.
Midpoint: After multiple failed attempts to break the loop, Grace is forced to confront her own relationship with the holiday. She realizes that her cynicism is a defense mechanism to avoid disappointment, rooted in past hurts and failed holiday expectations.
Turning Point 2: A candid conversation with Emma makes Grace reflect on what Christmas was like when she still believed in its magic. This forces her to reconsider her attitude and whether her outlook is contributing to the endless cycle.
Dilemma: Grace must choose between holding onto her cynicism or taking a risk by opening herself up to the possibility of magic and redemption in the holiday season.
3rd Act Climax: Grace makes a heartfelt apology to her family and embraces the imperfections of the holiday, allowing herself to feel the magic of Christmas once again.
Ending: Grace softens her cynical exterior, learning to balance realism with hope. Her willingness to believe in the magic of Christmas helps to break the time loop.
Alex Walker (The Intellectual Skeptic)
Beginning: Alex dismisses the magic of Christmas entirely, preferring logic and reason. He finds the holiday to be pointless and only tolerates it for his family’s sake, often clashing with Dylan over the pranks.
Turning Point: When the endless Christmas Eve begins, Alex is initially excited to find a logical solution to the time loop. He approaches it like a puzzle, but every rational explanation fails.
Midpoint: After countless failed attempts to break the loop using logic and reason, Alex becomes frustrated and starts questioning his beliefs. His intellectual approach isn’t enough to solve this problem.
Turning Point 2: An emotional encounter with Emma leads Alex to realize that some things can’t be explained by logic alone—like the power of faith, hope, and family.
Dilemma: Alex must decide whether to continue clinging to logic or open himself up to the possibility that some things—like Christmas magic—might defy explanation.
3rd Act Climax: Alex finally lets go of his intellectual skepticism and participates in a Christmas tradition with the families, choosing to embrace the holiday for what it is, not what it should logically be.
Ending: Alex grows from the experience, finding a balance between his rational mind and an openness to the magic of Christmas. This helps the families break the loop and find closure.
Emma Walker (The Christmas Enthusiast)
Beginning: Emma is the embodiment of Christmas spirit, excited about every aspect of the holiday and determined to spread joy. She becomes the glue that holds the two feuding families together.
Turning Point: As the endless Christmas Eve drags on, Emma begins to lose her belief in the magic of the holiday. The families’ pranks and bickering start to wear her down, making her question everything she’s always loved about Christmas.
Midpoint: Emma’s loss of faith in Christmas becomes a turning point for everyone, as they realize they’ve drained the holiday of its meaning. Her disappointment forces them to confront their behavior.
Turning Point 2: A quiet moment of reflection with Chloe and Mark reminds Emma of why she loved Christmas in the first place, not because of the magic but because of the connections it fosters between people.
Dilemma: Emma must decide whether to continue hoping for magic to save the day or take action to bring the families together through forgiveness and kindness.
3rd Act Climax: Emma steps up as a leader, orchestrating a final act of unity that forces the families to come together and reconcile their differences. She reignites the Christmas spirit in everyone.
Ending: Emma’s faith in Christmas is restored, but in a more mature and grounded way. She understands that the magic of the holiday comes from love, forgiveness, and unity, helping to break the endless loop.

[victor Valleau]

WHAT I LEARNED:

Each of my main characters, has a 3-Act Structure of their journey. It fleshes out the character, adds to story, etc. Characters tell their story when you go deep on them so holes in story are obvious.

Beginning: Niece
She unwillingly finances Uncles trip in honor of her dead fathers wishes.
Turning Point: her motives/gayness is discovered

Midpoint: she’s locked into going with uncle

Turning Point 2: she brings professor as security, cover for publicity.

Dilemma:
does she get famous for this or a villain?

3rd Act Climax: She saves the day but gives professor credit.
Ending:

PROFESSOR
Beginning: INVITES HERSELF

Turning Point: UNINVITES HERSELF
Midpoint: BEGS TO GO

Turning Point 2: ESCAPES ARRESTED FOR POACHING ANIMALS
Dilemma: INNOCENT OR GUILTY IN PRESS/LOSES JOB IF TTRUE, MUST PROVE HERSELF INNOCENT.

3rd Act Climax: ABANDONED FOR LOST IN JUNGLE

Ending: GIRL COMES BACK ALONE TO QUESTIONS, DID SHE KILL THEM?

PROTOGRAPHER/ BEN
Beginning: RETURNING HERO, CREATIVE GENIUS INTERVIEWS, READING ARTICLES ON PONTOON BOAT, he kidnaps niece for security guarantee trip happens.
Turning Point: PROF QUESTIONS HIS STORY/ MONKEYS JUMPING AND HE PHOTO’S?
Midpoint: FALSE STORY SINCE CLOSENESS SCARES MONKEYS, SO WHO TOOK PHOTOS?
Turning Point 2: GIRL BELIEVES PROF, SEES SCAM

Dilemma: CANCEL TRIP? TOO LATE

3rd Act Climax: JUMPING MONKEYS
Ben attacks Prof who escapes, lost in jungle.

Ending: FIRE KILLS BEN, PROF LOST, GIRL RESCUED

Victor Valleau

[Bob Rowen]

Bob Rowen’s Character Journeys

What I learned doing this assignment is, once again, a really cool process for developing my main characters with 3-Act structure journeys which, as it turns out, is leading to a draft of my developing story with beats that will obviously need editing.

3-Act structure journeys for the following three key main characters:

WADE MEADOWS (protagonist) – A passionate high school social science teacher, Wade Meadows is under fire for allegedly indoctrinating his students with a radical left-wing agenda. Unapologetically committed to critical thinking and open dialogue, Wade pushes his students to question assumptions and explore diverse perspectives, making him a target for those who fear independent thought. As accusations mount, Wade finds himself at the center of a fierce battle for intellectual freedom, facing off against a powerful school board determined to silence him. With his career and reputation on the line, Wade must fight not only for his job but for the very principles he teaches.
Beginning (Act 1): Wade meets his students and two guest speakers in the parking lot who have come to support him. Their loyalty gives Wade a glimmer of hope but also underscores the pressure to succeed.
Turning Point (End of Act 1): Wade discovers definitive proof of the conspiracy against him. An anonymous message reveals that Franks and Swayze are fabricating evidence to frame Wade as a radical who is unfit to teach.
Midpoint (Act 2): During a heated exchange, Wade’s guilt from his time in the Marines surfaces. He admits to remaining silent about a fatal incident, shocking the audience. This vulnerability shifts the narrative—Wade’s moral integrity is now questioned by some.
Turning Point (End of Act 2): As the pressure builds, Wade’s internal guilt over his past resurfaces stronger. He grapples with his vow to never remain silent again, but feels the weight of past mistakes holding him back.
Dilemma (Climax of Act 2): Wade grapples with whether to confess his guilt from the Marines, using it as a teaching moment for redemption, or keep it hidden to avoid further damaging his reputation.
3rd Act Climax (Act 3): In an emotional testimony, Wade admits to his Marine secret, connecting his past silence to his current fight for truth. He declares that, “Never, ever again” will he be silent, even if it costs him everything. Wade’s honesty and unwavering commitment to truth win over the crowd, but the cost is high. His career still hangs in the balance, but his integrity is intact.
Ending: (Resolution): After hearing the testimony of two supporters of Wade, Franks has heard enough. The school board meets in executive session and quickly decides to terminate Wade’s employment by a 3-2 vote. When the decision is announced, a member from the audience demands an opportunity to speak. She announces the COE has named Wade as this year’s County’s Teacher of the Year. A school board member demands another vote and the decision is reversed by a 3-2 vote. In the final scene, Wade is handed a letter signed by his students, thanking him for teaching them to think critically. Wade smiles, knowing his commitment to truth has made a difference.

KEN FRANKS (antagonist) – An ultraconservative school board president with a rigid agenda, Franks is determined to reshape the school curriculum to reflect his narrow worldview. Fiercely controlling and unyielding, he sees Wade Meadows as a threat to his authority and the ideological stronghold he seeks to maintain. Franks will stop at nothing to see Wade terminated, using his influence and political cunning to manipulate the system in his favor. His obsession with control reveals a man driven not just by ideology, but by the desire to crush dissent and mold the future to his will.
Beginning (Act 1): Ken Franks arrives at the community hall parking lot, outwardly calm and in control. He’s confident that the hearing will result in Wade’s dismissal and solidify his control over the school’s curriculum. Franks meets with two ultraconservative powerbrokers who remind him that they expect results from their investment in him. Franks meets with Vice Principal Peter Swayze and his Board to strategize.
Turning Point (End of Act 1): As Wade pushes back, Franks starts to feel the weight of his decisions. His estrangement from family members and the realization that he’s being manipulated by higher powers begin to surface.
Midpoint (Act 2): Franks finds himself losing the upper hand as Wade’s approach to expose the conspiracy gains credibility. Franks public support begins to shift, and he begins his struggle to keep the narrative intact.
Turning Point (End of Act 2): Franks uses increasingly drastic measures to sway the hearing back in his favor, even threatening one member of the board who is the swing vote. His desperation highlights his fear of losing not just the hearing, but his position of power.
Dilemma (Climax of Act 2): Franks is torn between his ambition to control the school’s curriculum and the growing tension with family members who oppose his ultraconservative agenda. His desire for power clashes with his need for personal reconciliation.
3rd Act Climax (Act 3): Franks makes one final attempt to manipulate the narrative. He presents falsified evidence and doubles down on his attacks against Wade, pushing to ensure Wade’s dismissal.
Ending: (Resolution): There is a brief, subtle moment where Franks looks at his reflection, perhaps for the first time realizing the full extent of the damage he’s caused—not just to others, but to himself.

PETER SWAYZE (co-antagonist) – A calculating vice principal with ambitions far beyond his current role, Swayze is willing to carry out any scheme that school board president Ken Franks demands. His loyalty isn’t driven by ideology, but by a ruthless desire for personal advancement, making him a dangerous enforcer in Franks’ plan to eliminate anyone who stands in their way. Swayze’s hunger for power blinds him to the moral cost of his actions, as he navigates the treacherous path between ambition and betrayal.
Beginning (Act 1): In the parking lot, Swayze meets Franks, and their conversation hints at the conspiracy to dismiss Wade, establishing Swayze’s initial role as a co-conspirator.
Peter Swayze enters the Community Hall with quiet confidence. He believes his alliance with Ken Franks is his ticket to advancement. The opening scenes introduce his ruthlessness and his desire to finally achieve the recognition that eluded him in the Marines. Swayze and Franks discuss their plan in the annex conference room. Swayze is eager to discredit Wade, seeing Wade’s dismissal as a stepping stone to becoming principal.
Turning Point (End of Act 1): A scene in the annex conference room shows him fabricating evidence against Wade, illustrating his willingness to cross moral lines.
Midpoint (Act 2): Swayze’s fabricated evidence is presented in the public hearing, leading to Wade’s character being severely questioned. Swayze feels triumphant but uneasy.
Turning Point (End of Act 2): Wade’s defense begins gaining traction, and Swayze feels the walls closing in, sensing that the truth may emerge.
Dilemma (Climax of Act 2): He struggles between loyalty to Franks, who holds the key to his future, and a resurfacing sense of guilt tied to his Marine past.
3rd Act Climax (Act 3): Wade’s defense dramatically exposes inconsistencies in Swayze’s fabricated evidence during a climactic moment in the hearing.
Ending: (Resolution): As Wade triumphs, Swayze is left broken, staring at his shattered ambitions, a man undone by his hunger for power and his betrayal of the values he once held as a Marine.

[Leona Heraty]

Leona Heraty’s Character Journeys!

What I learned doing this assignment is…adding a 3-Act Structure for each character adds a lot of depth and intrigue to the plot!

1. For each of your main characters, create a 3-Act Structure of their journey.

3 Act Journey For LOUISA
Beginning: She rushes into the greenhouse to seek shelter from the rain. She’s there to meet the realtor to buy the house, or so it seems. Was it an accident that she’s caught in the rain or did she deliberately arrive late to get into the greenhouse? What’s she looking for?
Turning Point: The Green Lady ghosts tells her they can’t leave because there could be toxic fumes, enhanced by the rain!
Midpoint: They try to escape from the greenhouse but lightning strikes a tree, it falls and blocks their way out! The fumes are starting to seep into the greenhouse. Louisa find a secret door/tunnel points to a way out…a secret tunnel that leads to the mansion. A ghost blocks their exit back to the greenhouse…they have to run through the tunnel to the mansion.
Turning Point 2: The Green Lady ghosts convinces Louisa it’s not safe to climb out the windows because of the toxic fumes, but Jamison doesn’t believe her. Louisa runs into the tunnel to escape the fumes.
Dilemma: Should Louisa believe Jamison when he says the green lady ghost admitted to poisoning her husband and their maid! She wasn’t poisoned, she was the killer!
3rd Act Climax: They find the hidden formula in the cellar and the skeletons of the green lady’s dead husband and maid. The skeletons become ghosts and accuse the green lady! The fumes invade the cellar. The husband and maid ghosts open a window for all of them to escape.

Ending: After they find the jewelry box in the greenhouse, Louisa reveals she’s the secret buyer of the house! She gives half the jewels to Jamison and they kiss!

3 Act Journey For JAMISON
Beginning: He’s searching for something in the greenhouse when Louisa arrives seeking shelter from the storm. He tells her his friend, the other realtor, is sick and he’s filling in. What’s he searching for? He claims he’s looking for a backup key to the house, because he dropped his on the lawn.
Turning Point: When Louisa arrives seeking shelter from the storm, he tells her his friend, the other realtor, is sick and he’s filling in. This is a lie. He paid the friend to meet with Louisa because he thinks she might know where the formula is hidden? What’s he searching for? He claims he’s looking for a backup key to the house, because he dropped his on the lawn.
Midpoint: Jamison twists his ankle and tells Louisa to leave him there in the tunnel and try to make it to the house where there’s a HAM radio left behind by the previous owners.
Turning Point 2: Jamison drags himself back into the greenhouse where he finds a diary that he thinks may be written by the Green Lady where she admits to poisoning her husband and the maid. He knows Louisa is in danger and he drags himself through the tunnel to the house but the diary falls out of his jacket.
Dilemma: Should Jamison believe the green lady ghost when she says the fumes are invading the house or should he work with Louisa to find the formula or escape before the fumes invade the cellar?
3rd Act Climax: They find the hidden formula in the cellar and the skeletons of the green lady’s dead husband and maid. The skeletons become ghosts and accuse the green lady! The fumes invade the cellar. The husband and maid ghosts open a window for all of them to escape.
Ending: The Green Lady Ghost dissolves when she breathes the toxic gases and a red mist envelopes her and pulls her down into a hole in the grown, meaning she’s gone to hell. Jamison and Louisa escape from the cellar and run across the law as they see the two ghosts float up into the clouds and Heaven. Jamison says there’s one thing he was looking for in the greenhouse. They go inside and find a secret panel, where there’s a jewelry box that was the maid’s. It’s filled with diamonds and rubies!

3 Act Journey For MRS GRIMES, THE GREEN LADY GHOST
Beginning: She is the elderly next door neighbor who claims to be there to water the plants left behind by the previous tenants, but she’s really the green lady ghost of legend.
Turning Point: Mrs Grimes gets stuck in the greenhouse with Louisa and Jamison when she seeks shelter from the rain. She needs to get home to check on her bread baking in the oven.
Midpoint: Mrs. Grimes grows angry because Louisa has found the secret tunnel. She tries to force them out of the greenhouse but it’s surrounded by toxic gasses so they run into the tunnel and she chases them!
Turning Point 2: Louisa discovers that Mrs Grimes is not really the neighbor…she sees her face in an old magazine from 1920! Mrs Grimes grows angry and turns into the green lady ghost in a green flapper dress.
Dilemma: Mrs Grimes is bent on revenge on the ancestor of her husband’s love child with the maid. She reveals that it’s Jamison, but she only has ten minutes to remain a ghostly form before she fades into the mist for “her crimes of the past?” Should she try to redeem herself and give them the formula or keep looking for the formula in the house?
3rd Act Climax: Louisa and Jamison find the hidden formula in the cellar and the skeletons of the green lady’s dead husband and maid. The skeletons become ghosts and accuse the green lady! The fumes invade the cellar. The husband and maid ghosts open a window for all of them to escape.
Ending: The Green Lady Ghost dissolves when she breathes the toxic gases and a red mist envelopes her and pulls her down into a hole in the grown, meaning she’s gone to hell.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 2 weeks ago by  Leona Heraty.

[Karyn Laitis]

Karyn Laitis—Character Journeys!
LESSON 5 ASSIGNMENT
“What I learned doing this assignment is…?”
This is a great way to weave the dynamics of the characters. I started on the Protagonist and Antagonist journey and still working on the supporting characters.

1. For each of your main characters, create a 3-Act Structure of their journey.
A. PROTAGONIST
Beginning: Protagonist (Lead Explorer) Awakens in a cold sweat and runs out of the tent swearing at the gear she tripped over. Two others drinking coffee around fire stare at her and ask if she’s ok. She is indignant, flashing a dirty look but ignores them and returns to her tent, hiding tears—anger & guilt.
Turning Point: After discovering alien remains realizes she’s in over her head, yet pushes forward.
Midpoint: Group questions her leadership after encountering anomalies in the cave and alien technology and alien presence. Shape shifting alien appears to Protagonist as her twin sister who died in cave explosion.
Turning Point 2: Discovers the underlying truth behind the alien remnants and withheld secrets which reveal the history of alien/human co-existence or war.
Dilemma: Haunted by her sister, does she preserve the alien treasures or destroy the aliens/knowledge?
3rd Act Climax: Reveal truth and risk annihilation. Does she risk failure again? What is right?
Ending: Large cave explosion. The protagonist walks out through the smoke and debris—is it her or her twin?

B. ANTAGONIST
Beginning: He shows up after everyone else is ready to start. He’s affable and engaging to control the narrative. He offers to be helpful to carry heavier tools/equipment but by doing so he has the edge over who gets what.
Turning Point: Once the alien remains are discovered, his demeanor changes to overtly controlling and challenging the mission and motivation as an absurd waste of time. He starts to manipulate and align with the weaker team members.
Midpoint: He reveals his purpose for profit/power opposing the Protagonist. He ignores the threat of the aliens and cave energy.
Turning Point 2: Sabotages the team’s effort, plans to steal the alien technology challenging the aliens and abandoning the team.
Dilemma: Must choose between profit/power and escaping with team.
3rd Act Climax: He chooses profit/power, risking his life and the lives of the team for his greed.
Ending: Antagonist is killed by the aliens after attempting to steal the alien technology and knowledge of alien/humanity links.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 2 weeks ago by  Karyn Laitis.

[Marni Sullivan]

Marni’s Character Journeys

WHAT I LEARNED:
Every character needs their own act structure to ensure they are a necessary part of the story.

LYSHA
Beginning: Lysha gets the Tomb Shift for Christmas Eve.
Turning Point: Lysha notices anomalies in the security system.
Midpoint: Wallace and Lysha realize someone has broken into the facility.
Turning Point 2: Lysha discovers Wallace is in on the heist and has to subdue him.
Dilemma: Lysha takes out one of the Trio and returns to her office to find Wallace dead.
3rd Act Climax: Lysha must square off with a professional killer with no special training.
Ending: Lysha traces the payment for the theft back to a Board member of her company, accomplishing a secret agenda she had to help her heal from her childhood trauma.

WALLACE
Beginning: Wallace joins Lysha on the Tomb Shift with his normal merry nature.
Turning Point: Wallace does his rounds and sets things up for the break-in.
Midpoint: Wallace realizes Lysha knows someone has got into their system.
Turning Point 2: Lysha insists on going with Wallace to check out the grounds, finds open door.
Dilemma: Wallace has to figure out how to distract Lysha from the break-in and keep her safe.
3rd Act Climax: Lysha realizes he is in on it and she gets the drop on him before he can subdue her.
Ending: The Trio kills Wallace for failing on his part and steal his hand for biometric access.

TRIO
Beginning: The Trio chase after a man who has a flash drive in hand. He hides behind a loading dock and drops the flash drive inside a box heading to a records management facility.
Turning Point: The Trio search other locations in the area for the drive and find the box they want is at Lysha’s location.
Midpoint: They use Wallace to gain direct access into the facility, but Lysha becomes suspicious.
Turning Point 2: Wallace fails to keep Lysha out of it, so they kill him and cut off his hand.
Dilemma: They need to get into the high-security vault before Lysha locks them down.
3rd Act Climax: Lysha takes out two of the Trio and disrupts the leader’s vault access, leading to a show down between him and her.
Ending: The trio leader tries to kill Lysha by pushing her off a manlift, but she manages to get him off the platform and he gets crushed when she closes the supports on him.

[Arthur Anderson]

Arthur’s Character Journeys – 3 Act Structures

I learned that these three-act structures for the character’s journeys provide individual arcs and interconnect to enhance the overall narrative, driving the tension and emotional stakes throughout the film.

Riley Stone
Role in Concept: The resilient final girl driving the emotional core of the story.
Beginning: Riley is hesitant and reluctant to engage in risky activities, showcasing her fear and trauma
Turning Point 1: The group is attacked by a mutated creature, forcing Riley to confront her fears.
Midpoint: Riley realizes her survival depends on taking risks, leading to a pivotal moment where she must act decisively.
Turning Point 2: Another character’s reckless choice leads to a major setback, intensifying the stakes and forcing Riley to take charge.
Dilemma: Riley must choose between staying hidden to avoid danger or leading the group to safety, risking exposure.
3rd Act Climax: In a final confrontation with the apex predator, Riley confronts both the creature and her past, ultimately overcoming her guilt.
Ending: Riley emerges as a strong survivor, having proven her worth and overcome her inner demons.

Alex Kimble
Role in Concept: The optimistic friend who provides hope and camaraderie, highlighting themes of friendship and redemption.
Beginning: Alex is portrayed as the group’s morale booster, eager to help but struggling with his own insecurities.
Turning Point 1: The initial attack shatters his hope, revealing the seriousness of their situation.
Midpoint: Alex’s attempts to maintain optimism fail, leading him to doubt his ability to protect his friends.
Turning Point 2: After witnessing Mason’s recklessness lead to a dangerous situation, Alex feels compelled to take a stand.
Dilemma: Alex must choose between taking a risk to help others or staying safe, fearing his own inadequacy.
3rd Act Climax: In a critical moment, Alex sacrifices himself for the group, showing his growth and willingness to face danger for his friends.
Ending: His sacrifice becomes a catalyst for Riley’s final stand, demonstrating his ultimate redemption.

Mason Turner
Role in Concept: The thrill-seeker whose reckless bravery raises stakes and highlights different responses to fear.
Beginning: Mason is energetic and daring, showcasing his desire to impress his peers.
Turning Point 1: The first encounter with a creature forces Mason to confront real danger, shaking his confidence.
Midpoint: After a failed attempt to confront a predator, Mason’s bravado is challenged, leading to inner conflict.
Turning Point 2: Mason’s reckless decision results in a major setback for the group, heightening tension.
Dilemma: He must choose between risking everything to redeem himself or retreating to safety, which he fears would label him a coward.
3rd Act Climax: In a desperate attempt to save a friend, Mason faces the creature head-on, resulting in his tragic demise.
Ending: His death serves as a wake-up call for the remaining characters, emphasizing the real dangers they face.

Samira “Sam” Patel
Role in Concept: The logical skeptic whose scientific mindset offers insight but can blind her to primal dangers
Beginning: Sam is rational and focused on the mysteries of the island, often seen as the voice of reason.
Turning Point 1: The danger becomes real, challenging her scientific perspective and forcing her to question her approach.
Midpoint: Sam’s attempts to understand the creatures lead her into a dangerous situation, showcasing the limits of her logic.
Turning Point 2: After witnessing the consequences of Mason’s recklessness, Sam realizes that not everything can be explained or controlled.
Dilemma: She must choose between exploring further for knowledge or prioritizing the group’s immediate safety.
3rd Act Climax: In an attempt to study a creature up close, she becomes its prey, illustrating the dangers of her analytical approach.
Ending: Her demise highlights the tragic consequences of ignoring primal instincts, impacting the remaining characters.

Tyler “Ty” Grant
Role in Concept: The comic relief whose bravado masks deeper insecurities, providing tension and levity.
Beginning: Ty is charismatic and humorous, bringing lightness to the group but hiding his anxiety about the future.
Turning Point 1: The first attack reveals the seriousness of their situation, making his humor feel misplaced.
Midpoint: Ty realizes that jokes won’t save them, leading to moments of self-doubt about his role in the group.
Turning Point 2: His desire to prove himself leads him to make a reckless choice that puts others in danger.
Dilemma: He must decide between acting heroically to impress others or recognizing the real danger they face.
3rd Act Climax: In a moment of desperation, he distracts a creature to help others escape, resulting in his own death.
Ending: His sacrifice serves as a poignant reminder of the fine line between bravery and recklessness.

Jordan Lee
Role in Concept: The artistic outsider whose fascination with darkness adds depth and introspection to the group.
Beginning: Jordan is depicted as an outsider, withdrawn but keenly observant, using art to cope with bullying.
Turning Point 1: The threat becomes real, challenging his perception of the island as merely a source of inspiration.
Midpoint: His desire to document the creatures leads him to take unnecessary risks, creating tension within the group.
Turning Point 2: After witnessing the group’s losses, he struggles between capturing the horror and ensuring his own safety.
Dilemma: He must choose between risking his life to film a once-in-a-lifetime event or stepping back to protect himself and others.
3rd Act Climax: In a moment of obsession, he gets too close to a creature, leading to his tragic end.
Ending: His death serves as a haunting reminder of the dangers of being consumed by one’s own fears and artistic pursuits.

[Anna Maganini]

Anna Maganini’s Character Journeys!

What I learned doing this assignment – I have a long way to go in building the story and journey…but it’s a start. I know it will eventually grow many more layers and intrigues.

Also – I did more a a four-act journey for each the characters, since I like to write with the idea of the 4 acts, and didn’t want to get confused. It probably doesn’t matter.

FOR EACH CHARACTER CREATE –

RAINEY –

Beginning: A lonely, crippled woman moves into a quaint neighborhood and her attraction to a cute neighbor draws her into sharing neighborly messages, that ask and guess harmless questions about each other – at first. A note she thinks is from the cute guy gets ominous, demands she ‘commit’ to a higher level game – and asks how long does she take in the shower? She commits to the game – and answers – half an hour.

Turning Point 1: After more notes, she is taking a shower, thinking she’s preparing for a date with the cute neighbor, when strangers invade her house and start robbing it!

Midpoint TP 2: She finds out another neighbor – THE SNIFFER – is behind the game. No one knows who it is, but both she and the robbers are pawns in his game – she must take a shower in a half hour while they rob her in a half hour – no clocks. Finish last and you die – but finish before the half hour and the opponent gets to kill you before they die.

Turning Point 3: She tries to get the robbers to cooperate to foil the game, but they refuse. She’s on her own and does something ——- ???

Dilemma: Kill someone else in order to stay alive

4th Act Climax: As both sides try to gauge how long they’ve got before the other side finishes and kills them, Rainey figures out who the SNIFFER is and goes after him, crippled and all. He’s a harmless-looking old man who needs an oxygen tank.

Ending: She must stop the game before the half hour is up. Not knowing how to shoot, she manages to misfire right on target through a wall and kill the old guy, and blow up his oxygen tank, causing a big explosion. ( I know explosions are big budget – this is what I’ve got now, until I figure the story out more).

THE SNIFFER –

Beginning: He pretends helplessness as Rainey helps him water his garden and wonders if it’s a good idea to play the neighborly game.

Turning Point 1: He gets her to join the game by saying he’ll join too. They join together.

Midpoint – TP 2: The old man becomes the victim of one of the messages. How—-??? He has to be hospitalized for a while – or so, neighbors think. Instead he’s at home, planning the half hour game – secretly drawing in Rainey, and threatening the neighbor couple or rob or die in debt.

Turning Point 3: When he finds out they are trying to cooperate, he launches a worse punishment – they will blow up at the end, no matter who wins. There’a one way out, but it’s not in cooperation and he won’t tell them what that one way is.

Dilemma: Play a safer game so they don’t rebel – or play to kill and keep his power

4th Act Climax: Rainey figures out who he is and finds him before the game blows up.

Ending: She kills him and he dies in his own explosion.

KAYLA –

Beginning: She and her husband Josh refuse to join in the neighborly games as they try to figure out lowlife ways to get out of debt.

Turning Point 1: She talks Josh into robbing someone’s ——-??? And they sell it. But the mysterious SNIFFER finds out it was them who stole his —-??? – he forces them into the game where they will rob the cripple to pay off their debt.

Midpoint – TP 2: They break into Rainey’s house but Josh is having second thoughts about robbing a cripple. Kayla threatens to out his kiddie porn to the police unless he does it, so he agrees.

Turning Point 3: Another crisis when they’re robbing the house and Josh wants to cooperate with Rainey to foil the game instead of trying to outsmart and kill each other, but Kayla does ——????

Dilemma: Kill her husband so he doesn’t endanger the game – or sweet talk him into beating the cripple, killing her, and winning the game.

4th Act Climax: Kayla and Josh finish right on time- they think, but she loses control of him and he takes the gun, refuses to kill anyone.

Ending: As they fight for the gun, it goes off, helping set off the chain reaction that causes THE SNIFFER explosion===????

JOSH –

Beginning: Josh agrees with his wife and refuses to join in the neighborly games, while she browbeats him into figuring out surefire lowlife criminal ways to beat their debt.

Turning Point 1: He robs someone’s ——??? because Kayla forces him to. And they sell it. But the mysterious SNIFFER finds out it was they who stole his —-? – he forces them into the neighborly game, and orders them to rob the cripple to pay off their debt.

Midpoint – TP 2: Josh wants out of the robbery right in the middle of it, but Kayla threatens she will go to the police about his kiddie porn and he has no choice but to go through with it.

Turning Point 3: Josh sees another out, when Rainey asks them to cooperate in foiling the robbing-showering game. He wants to cooperate, but Kayla does —-? to stop him.

Dilemma: Be good and die – or be bad and beat and kill the opponent.

4th Act Climax: He has a final Come to God moment as they finish first and on time, but he grabs the gun and refuses to shoot anyone.

Ending: As they fight for it, the gun goes off, helping to set off a chain reaction that helps cause THE SNIFFER explosion.

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• This reply was modified 7 months, 2 weeks ago by  Anna Maganini. Reason: I don't know why my posts always come out in one big writing bloc, no matter how I format it. So I always have to go back in and edit it, by using a lot more spaces

[Joy Smith]

Joy Smith’s Character Journeys!

What I learned doing this assignment is… It was harder than I thought, even though I know it will be helpful when it comes to writing the script. I like to add in character arcs, and actually having more obvious signposts to their internal journey will be easier to write, more emotional, and more satisfying and believable for the audience. People don’t change at a snap of their fingers!

1. For each of your main characters, create a 3-Act Structure of their journey.

Sandra Claus
Beginning: Being dragged along on the family firm’s Christmas Party, even though she wants nothing to do with the ‘family business’.
Turning Point: Her Dad wants her to marry…
Dilemma: Isn’t totally in love with either of her options.
Midpoint: …Because her Dad is retiring and it might mean the end of Christmas!
Turning Point 2: Santa is losing his magic because of the accidental spell he put on her decision.
3rd Act Climax: She accepts the proposal.
Ending: She is the new Santa Claus, along with her husband. They high five each other as they set off for opposite hemispheres

Santa Claus
Beginning: Ready for a great office party!
Turning Point: Argument with his daughter about her future (and his retirement) and the fact she’s not a boy to carry on the Santa Claus name.
Midpoint: Figures out he’s accidentally prevented Sandra from leaving using his magic.
Turning Point 2: Finds out one of the Elves wants the job and is plotting against Sandra.
Dilemma:
3rd Act Climax: Realises he is losing his magical powers and Sandra needs to make a decision.
Ending: He is revived once Sandra says ‘yes’ to the proposal.

Jasper Merryweather (Santa’s choice for Sandra):
Beginning: A fussy, nerdy character, only taken seriously by Santa.
Turning Point: Santa tells him about his plan.
Midpoint: Gets locked in with Sandra – and Magnus.
Turning Point 2: He figures out how to get them out of the room.
Dilemma: Can him and Sandra really be happy together?
3rd Act Climax: He proposes to Sandra.
Ending: Him and Sandra high five each other before setting off on Christmas eve.

Magnus Frost (Sandra’s love interest):
Beginning: Strutting, vain, certain he will be the next Mr Claus.
Turning Point: Doing something strange, he also gets trapped in the enchanted place with Sandra and Jasper.
Midpoint: Finds out about Sandra’s previous relationship.
Turning Point 2: Sandra finds out he’s in league with the Elf and they want to take over.
Dilemma:
3rd Act Climax: He proposes to Sandra out of desperation, not love, and is rejected.
Ending: He gets the worst job on the North Pole – mucking out the reindeer shed!

[Gina Coviello]

Gina’s Character Journeys!

What I learned doing this assignment is… This one was probably the hardest assignment for me (as evident by how long it took me to post this one…). For some reason, it was a lot easier for me to come up with a 3-Act character journey for someone who was going to be killed off, rather than the ones who make it to the end. In any case, I think having this as a starting point for my characters will help me plan out the full story, and still leave room for edits and changes before the actual writing takes place. I also discovered that my beginning for all of the scientists is them working in their labs, which is pretty boring. So I’m going to have to mix that up a bit. There’s still some stuff missing, but I think (hope) it will come to me as I work on the outline passes.

3-Act Journey for Lena

Beginning – Lena greets Marcus as he arrives for his 6-week shift at the station. She introduces him to the crew, and shows him to the surveillance area where he meets Keller, before heading back to her lab.

Turning Point – She opens the package from Marcus – a sample of a new virus that has been discovered, as well as a flash drive with reports and other information, expressing the urgency of their studies. She puts it aside and pulls up another file, medical charts of another person infected with a rare virus – her child.

Midpoint – Despite the current danger of their situation, after the death of Oliver, Lena makes the call that everyone must be tested for any contagions before they are unleashed on the surface. Keller balks at this, but the rest are in agreement, knowing they can’t risk bringing deadly pathogens to the surface.

Turning Point 2 – Everyone is cleared. Lena goes to her lab to gather her data for evacuation. Before she can get there, the lab begins to flood. The data to save her child is lost. She knows that the safety of her peers and getting them out is more important, and even though it kills her to do so, she abandons the research rather than jeopardize everyone’s lives by holding up the evacuation.

Dilemma – Does she risk them all dying in the failing lab in order to find a cure for her dying child, or save everyone else and risk losing her?

3rd Act Climax –

Ending – Lena and Marcus watch the base and Nadine slide off the shelf into the dark abyss of the ocean as they rise up to the surface, finally free. (Will give them one more trial on their way up to the surface, I just haven’t brainstormed that yet.)

3-Act Journey for Nadine

Beginning – Nadine and Lena butt heads over each other’s methods.

Turning Point – She catches Keller sending encrypted files. Now she knows he is working for the people who are blackmailing her by threatening her family.

Midpoint – She sneaks into Lena’s lab, the classified area, and searches the mainframe / hard drive for the files on the virus that the (terrorists) want. While looking, she stumbles across the files on Lena’s child. She downloads that as well.

Turning Point 2 –

Dilemma –

3rd Act Climax – Once inside the submersible, they see that there is too much damage and it can’t be controlled from the inside. While Marcus and Lena rush to find a solution, Nadine slips out, seals the hatch from the outside, and hits the eject button, sacrificing herself to save them.

Ending – Nadine watches them rise up to safety as she and the base slide off the shelf and plummet into the dark abyss.

3-Act Journey for Marcus

Beginning – Marcus is brought down to the base in the two-person submarine, and is met by Lena, the lead medical researcher. He gives her a package from the station on the surface.

Turning Point –

Midpoint – Marcus doesn’t trust Keller, but his main concern is getting everyone out safely.

Turning Point 2 – Marcus gets them to the two-person submarines, but the doors are crushed from the pressure of the ocean and they can’t get to them to escape.

Dilemma –

3rd Act Climax –

Ending – Marcus and Lena watch the base and Nadine slide off the shelf into the dark abyss of the ocean as they rise up to the surface, finally free. (Will give them one more trial on their way up to the surface, I just haven’t brainstormed that yet.)

3-Act Journey for Keller

Beginning – Keller greets Marcus with

Turning Point – After the earthquake, Keller checks the systems and tells the others that everything is sound and that he can get everything up and running, but that is a lie. While no one is looking, he sends out an encrypted message. But Nadine catches him doing it and also copying files and taking a flash drive out of the computer.

Midpoint –

Turning Point 2 – Looking at the failing monitors, Keller sees Isaac trapped in the flooding room, but can’t override the system and save him. The damage he did to the system can’t be overturned now that the base is shutting down.

Dilemma – How is he going to get out of there with the files and without anyone stopping him?

3rd Act Climax – Keller heads to the submersible ahead of the others, fully intending to leave them behind. He comes to an area completely flooded, and has to swim through to get to the next air pocket. As he swims, the box jellyfish, now loose from its tank and swimming dangerously nearby, stings Keller.

Ending – Keller goes into cardiac arrest, sinks to the bottom of the corridor, and dies.

3-Act Journey for Oliver

Beginning – Oliver analyzes virus cells under a scope. He adds a drop of a potential cure, but it doesn’t work.

Turning Point – He draws a syringe-full of another virus culture. As he drips it on the slide, an earthquake rattles the lab and he accidentally sticks himself with the needle. He’s infected?? He scrubs the area vigorously and bandages it, pretending nothing happened.

Midpoint – Oliver needs to cure himself before he infects the crew or dies. The race is on. He withdraws from the group and works tirelessly in his lab.

Turning Point 2 – A second, more powerful quake hits. The refrigerated unit storing virus cultures disconnects from the wall and crashes to the ground. Oliver immediately collapses.

Dilemma – Does he risk infecting everyone to possibly save himself?

3rd Act Climax – Oliver sees Nadine running toward his lab to help him. He drags himself across the floor and slams the door lock button to seal himself inside.

Ending – The others watch helplessly as Oliver dies.

3-Act Journey for Isaac

Beginning – Isaac hears Lena coming with Marcus, and quickly pockets a prescription bottle of pills.

Turning Point –

Midpoint – Isaac draws blood from everyone and runs it through a battery of tests. No one is infected.

Turning Point 2 –

Dilemma –

3rd Act Climax – Isaac goes back for Lena, not knowing Marcus already evacuated her. He pushes through the debris and heads her way. The security system of the base senses the flooding section and locks it down.

Ending – Trapped in the flooding room, Isaac drowns.

• This reply was modified 7 months ago by  Gina Coviello.

[David Kandel]

David Kandel’s Character Journeys!

This process helped flesh out key plot points and character arcs.

JACK

Beginning: He’s the new guy. Dramatic question: how will he fit into the group?
Turning Point: He’s rejected because he’s not Dick – the man who died. And he’s weird.
Midpoint: Jack breaks out a bottle of bourbon. The men start to like him.
Turning Point 2: Jack reveals he’s an Atheist
Dilemma: Shayla wants Jack to accept Christ. Jack can’t and won’t.
3rd Act Climax: Jack’s dream where he meets his granddaughter.
Ending: Jack has died but provided money to purchase the house.

STAN

Beginning: He’s the Alpha male of the group
Turning Point: He feels threatened by Jack and Frank
Midpoint: Stan is irritated at Jack’s performances, Frank and Ed think they’re great
Turning Point 2: Stan reveals how his wife cheated on him and he is estranged from his daughter.
Dilemma: Stan is also a closeted Atheist, but he will not support Jack. They may lose the house.
3rd Act Climax: Stan is devastated by Jack’s death and his gift
Ending: Stan is reconciled with his daughter

FRANK

Beginning: He is in competition with Stan.
Turning Point: He sucks up with Jack which infuriates Stan.
Midpoint: Frank joins in on Jack’s act which upsets Stan even more
Turning Point 2: Frank is distraught at the thought of moving
Dilemma: Frank’s family can’t take care of him. He doesn’t want to go to a nursing home.
3rd Act Climax: Frank realizes that Jack has made provisions that they can stay in the house
Ending:

ED

Beginning: Ed is distraught at Dick’s death and doesn’t want a new guy.
Turning Point: Ed is conflicted about Jack
Midpoint: Ed is becoming more and more forgetful. He’s suffering from early dementia
Turning Point 2: Ed has a breakdown when he learns he may have to leave.
Dilemma: Ed is a Christian and takes Shayla’s side about converting Jack
3rd Act Climax: Ed prays for Jack’s soul. He’s afraid he’s doomed to hell.
Ending: Ed believes Jack accepted Christ before dying which comforts him.

SHAYLA

Beginning: She’s the lead caretaker, hardworking and committed
Turning Point: She has major conflicts with Bobbie about her terrible work ethic
Midpoint: She objects to Jack’s bringing liquor into the house
Turning Point 2: She loses it when Jack reveals he’s an Atheist. The conflict with Bobbie intensifies
Dilemma: She loses it when she realizes she will lose her job. She tries to convert Jack
3rd Act Climax: Shayla is devastated when Jack dies. She feels resurrected when she learns Jack has provided for their future.
Ending: Shayla and Bobbie start getting along. t

• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by  David Kandel.