Lesson 5

[Karen Angermayer]

Hi, is anybody out there? Am I the only one posting? 😉

As I am in 2 other classes of ScreenwritingU as well, I will take care of some other lessons over the weekend and be back next week. Great days to you all, Karen Christine

Karen Christine´s Character Journeys

What I learned doing this assignment is how grateful I am that ideas are coming if you keep sitting at your computer and don´t run away, because you think you have no idea 🙂

Oliver:

Beginning: He is looking forward to this long awaited vacation with his family. At the gas station he gets a call that his pitch for a big project was not successful, and that faked surveys of his partner will have their legal consequences.

Turning Point: Something much more dangerous than a lost pitch is going on which at first he cannot understand.

Midpoint: He finds out why this crazy guy in the bunker does what he does. But he doesn´t know, yet, how to escape from him and save the life of his family.

Turning Point 2: He and Lori found a way to communicate with the outer world. One of them has to walk out and get the antidote.

Dilemma: If he leaves the forest, his family is in danger. If he lets his daughter go, she will be in danger.

3rd Act Climax: He must kill the crazy guy in order to save himself and his family.

Ending: He showed his family how important they are to him, he has let go of his company, and has to find a new way. He is insecure, does not know where this is all going to, but he´s relaxed.

Betty:

Beginning: She loves the idea of being together with her whole family, though she takes with her her insecurity about the feelings she has for her life coach, and her anxiety about the coming death of her son. Furthermore she doesn´t know how to communicate with Lori, every word seems the wrong one. She is more with the others (and concerns about them) than with herself.

Turning Point: She realizes that this journey is not about relaxation.

Midpoint: She “wakes” up from the thoughts and the world she has been in. She recognizes that her family needs a strong mum, but she does not how to manage this.

Turning Point 2: She knows that this is the time where she has to be honest – with herself and towards Oliver. She tells him her feelings for her coach.

Dilemma: She knows that she cannot go on like that, she has the feeling to die, if she stays in her old life. But stepping into something new also feels unbearable and frightens her.

3rd Act Climax: She helps Oliver to kill the crazy guy. Together again!

Ending: She rediscovered her love to her husband, and won´t see the life coach again. She honors what he gave her. She is happy about the new relationship between Oliver and Lori. She is happy about a new creative gift she found in the forest. She knows deep inside that she will be able to live on after her son will have died, though a tough time lies ahead of her. She senses that she will be guided by her intuition and something bigger which she never felt before. She has found her inner voice.

Lori:

Beginning: She hates going on this trip with her family. She knows exactly whats going on between her mum and her dad, more than they do. She is unhappy because her boyfriend posted something that stirs her up.

Turning Point: She feels that this vacation is going to be “interesting”. She has the idea that they won´t tell her brother about this. She suggests that they pretend it´s only a story that takes place in the woods, and that the crazy guy does not exist in reality.

Midpoint: She discovers how strong her dying brother is, when he says: “I am glad he exists. Because then we can defeat him.”

Turning Point 2: After an argument she runs away to get the antidote, thus taking the decision from her father of who should go.

Dilemma: If she shows her feelings, she can be hurt. If she doesn´t show her feelings, she is being misunderstood.

3rd Act Climax:

Ending: She drives home not knowing if the relationship with her boyfriend and girlfriend will go on. But she knows that she will survive it – no matter what. She developed a newfound bond to her family. She feels accepted and seen.

Max:

Beginning: He looks forward to this trip. It might be the last one with his family. He soaks it all in.

Turning Point: He notices something bad is going on, but his family won´t tell him.

Midpoint: He shouts at his parents that they don´t have to hide their problems from him – and he means the crazy guy as well as their personal problems.

Turning Point 2: He saves his sister by throwing himself in the way of the crazy guy.

Dilemma: He is sad, because his presence causes grief: If he dies, he makes people unhappy. If he lives on, his progressing illness causes grief.

3rd Act Climax: He is about to die, because the crazy guy has taken him hostage.

Ending: He has realized how important it is to face ones biggest fears to really live a life. Though he will die soon, this experience fulfills him and gives him peace and trust that he can leave his family behind in this way. Knowing they will be safe and happy.

[Rae Rodgers]

Karen, Thank you for your input and tenacity! It seems it’s only us two and I am sadly lagging behind – having not received lesson #4 or a response to the request to resend.

I’m also unable to pull up my prior posts. Still, I am about to tackle Lesson #5.

Rae R

[Karen Angermayer]

Thank you, Rae. And, sorry, I just saw your message.

Would you like to send me an email? Then I can foward you all the previous emails of this class.

My email is: kcangermayer@gmail.com

I hope you can see it.

Let me know how I can help you so that we both can go side by side through this class together 🙂

All best,

Karen Christine

[Rae Rodgers]

Top of Form

Lesson 5 – Rae’s Character’s Journeys

What I learned during this assignment is that this lesson has provided me a better hook and outline with which to do the rewrite.

1. Jesi

Beginning: Jesi is jilted at the altar affirming her lifelong mistrust of marriage and the family cohesiveness it provides.

Turning Point:

Abandoned at a young age by her mother Sheila Harden, rescued by her father Jackson Johnson, Jesi embraces his legacy – his love of Sinatra, also his many construction skills – until a fatal accident pillages Jackson away from her.

Mid-point:

Forced to pay off her father’s enormous amount of medical and IRS debt, Jesi jumps into the male dominated commercial real estate arena. To seal the job at Coast Capital investment, she agrees to remain single, knowing this is illegal. CEO, Sheila Harden, tells broker Jason Schindler that he has no choice but to enforce this rule. He disagrees – but there’s a secret she wields over him.

Mid-point 2:

Commercial real estate becomes a twenty-four seven grind for Jesi, but after two months of rejection broker Jason throws her a lead. She then leans on a property rich family friend Harold, who introduces her to a band of old men, all rich and restless property owners. One by one she sells their apartment buildings, until company top producer Henry Wu, exposes her as a rookie who’s been hijacking his longtime clients.

Turning Point 2:

Jesi meets the love of her life, Gerrard, her deceased father’s doctor, and they’re married on the first date – but still need a wedding license to make it legal. Jesi’s been tagged as a possible “Rookie of the Year,” and mentions the possibility of marriage to broker Jason, states his “get married and get fired” rule is illegal. He disagrees, threatens her job, and Jesi keeps her marriage quiet. But Gerard is demanding they go to City Hall for the license.

Dilemma:

Jason learns Jesi is married – he also knows Gerard. He meets with Sheila, pleads Jesi’s worth, says she’s his best producing agent. Sheila has been monitoring Jesi and is close to revealing herself to her daughter. She agrees to bend the rule temporarily.

3^rd. Act Climax:

IRS agent Whipple hounds Jesi for payment of her father’s gambling debt. She agrees to pay when her big sale closes – but an IRS lien shows up. She asks Whipple to help remove the lien or her big sale will cancel.

Ending:

Gerard forgives Jesi’s father’s surgery debt, insists they must get the license, that she also meet his boy. She forgives him, says she’s ready to go.

The IRS agent saves Jessi’s sale – which results in a friendship. She then meets Julian, Gerard’s boy, and together all three attack City Hall. As they leave the venue she gets a call from her mother – Sheila Harden.