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Lesson 5
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Subject: Katherine _ Character Story Beats
Take your top five characters through this Character Beats process by following these steps.
Mary Colston – Protagonist
Beginning, Middle, End
Beginning – Mary must find out who killed her boss.
Middle – Mary is blackmailing two of five suspects, Percy Montgomery and Plant Manager.
End – Mary figures out Percy is the killer and confronts him.
Beats of her story-
Mary learns she did not kill the mayor. Someone else did.
Mary takes possession of the Mayor’s blackmailing material.
After her home is burglarized, Mary blackmails two of the suspects.
Mary interviews Joe who is one of Mayor’s lovers and a third suspect.
Mary sleeps with Elijah Walker, Chief of Police.
Mary arranges the Mayor’s funeral.
Mary figures out Percy is the killer. They fight, Mary wins.
Mary turns Percy over to Eli.
Mary goes to work for Bennett
One part of their story that could be improved. Mary sleeps with the Chief of Police.
Mary should be more suspicious of Eli. He gathered all the blackmail information for the Mayor. He technically could be a suspect. Just like her previous lover, Richard. She should not trust him completely.
Possible change – Mary suspects Eli and Eli suspects Mary.
Tell us the improvement you are making to that character’s story.
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Percy Montgomery – Antagonist
Beginning, Middle, End
Beginning – Percy kills the mayor; he runs for Mayor pro tem. He’s defeated.
Middle – Percy attends the mayors’ funeral. He is seen by Mary talking to a mother and her underaged daughter. He’s warned by Mary to get away from the girl.
End – Gets call from Mary – she knows he killed the mayor and knows why..
Beats of her story-
Percy pressures the mayor to put the hospital development vote on the agenda. She refuses.
Percy waits for the mayor on the Silver Comet Trail and kills her.
Percy nominates himself for Mayor pro tem, loses to Richard.
At Mayor’s funeral repast, he is seen next to an underaged girl.
Mary calls him to meet at the mayor’s house.
Mary tells him she knows he killed the mayor to prevent his being arrested for killing the Chief’s daughter.
He fights with Mary – loses.
He’s arrested for both murders.
One part of their story that could be improved.
Possible change – Percy defeats Mary and escapes. Before leaving town, he wants to kill Mary so no one will find out about his killing the Chief’s daughter.
Tell us the improvement you are making to that character’s story.
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Mayor Lucas J. Bennett, III – Supporting Character
Beginning, Middle, End
Beginning – Lucas finds out Liz has been murdered. He tells Eli to keep him informed.
Middle – Lucas goes to the funeral, but does not speak at the funeral.
End – He’s informed the killer has been identified and jailed. He hires Mary and Eli to his staff.
Beats of his story-
Lucas learns from the radio that Liz has been murdered.
Lucas recalls his years-long relationship with Liz.
Lucas visits Eli to get details and offer support.
Lucas and Eli meet with the press
Lucas attends the funeral
Lucas meets with Eli and Mary to get an update and offer both positions in his administration.
Lucas announces to the press that Eli had joined his team in Atlanta.
One part of their story that could be improved.
Possible change –
Tell us the improvement you are making to that character’s story.
<hr>
Elizah ‘Eli’ Walker, Chief of Police – Supporting Character
Beginning, Middle, End
Beginning – Eli investigates the Mayor’s murder.
Middle – He teams with Mary to find the murderer.
End – He arrests Percy for the murder.
Beats of his story-
Eli gets a phone call from Mary. He does not have a conversation with her.
Eli get another call from Mary regarding the home burglaries
Eli questions Mary about the mayor’s activities before her death.
Eli visits Mary and they end up sleeping together.
Eli attends the Mayor’s funeral.
Eli meets with Mary and Lucas to get an update on progress.
Eli meets Mary at Liz house where she’s holding Percy.
Eli tells press Percy has been arrested for Liz’s murder.
Eli attends press conference where Lucas announces his position with his administration.
One part of their story that could be improved.
Possible change –
Tell us the improvement you are making to that character’s story.
<hr>
Mayor Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Stone – Supporting Character/Deceased
Beginning, Middle, End
Beginning – She’s been attacked and murdered.
Middle – Funeral.
End – Murderer identified and arrested.
Beats of her story- Liz only appears in the story when one of the other characters are remembering her.
One part of their story that could be improved.
Possible change –
Tell us the improvement you are making to that character’s story.
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Character Story Lines: 6/10/23
What I learned from this assignment- I have done a pretty good job of intertwining two stories together.
1. Start with a main character. Michael Dolanski
Beginning: Confidant and sexy idol to his fans, he struts onstage to perform
Turning Point: While singing, he suffers a massive nosebleed and passes out
Midpoint: In his hometown, Marysville, California, he is hospitalized and finds out he has testicular cancer that has spread to his lungs. He meets Father Joe and nurse Anni Cavatini. He asks her to come to his home on Maui as a private duty nurse.
Turning Point 2: He has surprise visit with his high school sweetheart, a Native American girl named Seraphine and they both realize there is still a spark between them.
Major Conflict: His ex-wife Gloria and mother to their daughter Rose, wants him back and blackmails him, stating she will spill his secret about his diagnosis and surgery, ruining his career. He must decide between his heart, his obligation to his daughter and his own fear of being exposed to the world.
Ending: He chooses Seraphine, but knows he doesn’t have much time before his death.
3. Anywhere you find a missing structure point, brainstorm possible ways you might fill that blank in.
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Antagonist: Gloria.
Beginning: Playing with her daughter, Rose, until Michael shows up at her door in Malibu, without notifying her. They have an angry confrontation, upsetting Rose.
Turning Point: Michael discloses his cancer diagnosis and she asks him to spend the night with her. But when they attempt sex, his secret comes to light, and she blackmails him.
Midpoint: Her fury mounts when he files for temporary custody and takes Rose away from her. She follows through with her threat on the night of an award ceremony when she knows he has to go onstage for the first time since the original incident.
Turning Point #2: When he relapses, she shows up at the hospital and tells him she is taking Rose with her, since he can’t care for her. Michael informs her he married Seraphine.
Major Conflict: She realizes Michael is not going to live and brings Rose to visit her daddy one last time. Upon viewing Michael, she realizes she could have never coped with his illness and impending death and makes amends with Seraphine.
Ending: She brings Rose to Maui on Christmas morning to spend time with her father, only to find out, she is too late, and Michael has died.
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Protagonist #2:
Seraphine Rosewood.
Beginning: She is at the concert when Michael blows blood all over the stage.
Turning Point: She visits him in the hospital and realizes she still loves him. However, she is living with Russell, who proposes marriage to her. She writes her phone number on a napkin and asks Michael to call her. However, the napkin gets tossed by housekeeping.
Midpoint: She leaves Russell, in order to think about her dilemma and what to do. She goes to Father Joe, who has befriended Michael and asks for his help in reaching Michael.
Turning Point #2: She is at the Indian Mound, where they first pledged their love to each other as teenagers. Michael finds her there and she decides to return to Maui with him.
Major Conflict: On their wedding day, she has second thoughts, uncertain she can fit into his world of fame and fortune. Michael assures her she is worthy of love.
Ending: On his deathbed, she tells him a story and he dies in her arms. As she spreads his ashes over the ocean on a starry night, she pledges her love, until they meet again.
NOTE: She could pledge to carry out his legacy and devote her life to his honor.
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Father Joe di Blasio:
Beginning: Talks with Anni, who is nurse supervisor for the surgical floor and must meet with Michael. He and Anni are friends.
Turning Point: When she can’t locate Michael’s doctor, she asks Joe to inform Michael that he has cancer. Joe nervously agrees and has an encounter with the moody rock star.
Midpoint: Later, he returns to apologize and in conversation with Michael, tells him he became a priest because of guilt.
Turning Point#2; He acknowledges he has feelings for Anni. He goes to Maui, at Michael’s bequest and makes love to Anni in Michael’s pool.
Major Conflict: Whether to leave the priesthood to be with Anni. Helping Michael deal with his illness.
Ending: He leaves the priesthood and marries Anni.
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Anni Cavatini
Beginning: Her job is to try and be supportive to Michael. Friend to Father Joe.
Turning Point: Going to Maui with Michael as his PD nurse.
Midpoint: After having sex with Joe, she tells him she won’t be a mistress to a priest.
Turning Point#2: Starts to fall in love w Joe, but not sure what to do. While shopping, she views a woman with a baby and becomes emotional.
Major Conflict: Joe announces he left the priesthood and asks her to marry; she informs him she is pregnant; she also tells him she was once married and lost a baby at 8 months and is afraid because she went thru depression and that’s why her husband left her.
Ending: She gives birth to a baby boy and they name him Michael Joseph di Blasio.
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What I learned from this assignment:
I learned that main characters need a story and an emotional arc in order for the audience to care about them.
Molly
Beginning: Molly is a loving
mother but disappointed and unsatisfied with the relationship she and her
husband have and is insecure around other moms in her kids’ school, feeling
inadequate, afraid to do something wrong.Turning Point: She runs into a former lover and pursues
him. He makes her feel like she’s
okay and doing a good job as a mother.Midpoint: She and the former
lover become involved and she leaves her husband because of the guilt she
feels and secretly believing she and the former lover, Jake, are meant to
be together.Turning Point 2: Once she has left her husband, the
former lover leaves her without warning, as he did several years prior,
which caused her to then break up with her now husband.
Major Conflict: Alone, she has to decide what she is
going to do with her life – stay sad and disappointed, or find the
meaningful life she desires.Ending: She changes, finds a meaningful career, realizes she can be herself which is not perfect, gives her husband
another chance by spending time with him, confronts the other school moms
with confidence, realizing they didn’t expect anything from her, then
ultimately decides she wants to give her husband and her marriage more
effort, having put Jake behind her.Dan
Beginning: Dan is an over-stressed
lawyer, who loves his family, but he puts all his energy into his career,
which is not as successful as he’d like it to be. He’s comfortable and happy around other
people, but when it comes to Molly and supporting her in her insecurities,
he is not there for her. We see
that cooking is a release for Dan.Turning Point: Dan runs into Jake at Seany’s – where Molly
and Jake first met years before causing Molly to break up with.Midpoint: Molly misses an important school
appointment, and Dan suspects she is seeing Jake and suggests to Molly
that they move to Idaho. They have
a fight, he confronts Molly about seeing Jake, and Molly tells him she
doesn’t like who she has become while being married to him.Turning Point 2: to Seany
suggests Dan should help him expand the pub to include fine dining and an
outdoor patio, and be his head chef.
Major Conflict: When Molly is sick, he comes to cook for
her and tells her he wants her to come home, but Molly says she can’t go
back to what they were. He was
secretly hoping that with Jake out of the picture, she would come back to
him like she did in the past.Ending: Seany and Jake revitalize the pub, Seany
gives Dan sage advice about trying hard for the things he loves, and Dan invites
Molly on outings they used to love, showing her he has changed, and then
finally takes Molly to the restaurant where he says he’ll never give up
on anything important to him again, especially when it comes to her.Jake
Beginning: Jake has moved back
to Seattle after leaving it ten years prior, while dating Molly, and not
telling her he left.Turning Point: Back in town for a new career opportunity,
he runs into her at the pub where they met, and they hit it off as if no
time has passed.Midpoint: While happy to see her, he didn’t expect
anything from their encounter, he is intrigued/flattered when he she
pursues him, but then he realizes he does still have feelings for her.Turning Point 2: Molly leaves
her husband, and Jake spends time with her and the kids.
Major Conflict: He does love Molly, but he also doesn’t
want to lose his chance at the career opportunity he came back for, and
doesn’t want to take on her, her kids, and his new career, so he does
what he did before and leaves her without warning or reason.Ending: We see him on the streets in the morning
in a suit, talking on the phone, looking successful. He eyes Molly across the street and
stops and watches her walk into her new office, then gives a nod of
satisfaction and waits patiently for his walk sign to turn green. -
I learned the path of every character and how to wire them together.
Beginning:
Sarah:
Sarah suffers chronical depression. Although she is professional, she is a cold doctor. In a raining night, Sarah was given the red umbrella. She brings home a ghost, Jade.
Jade:
Jade is waiting for Sarah for a farewell. She urges Cassie to contact her sister. But Sarah never came, she passed away as she collapsed on the red umbrella.
Cassie
Cassie complains about Sarah and assures Jade that she is capable to take care of her, but Jade is not convinced.
Mme Kwan:
A lonely Chinese old lady, Mme Kwan, enjoys community life and tries to connect with Sarah.
Inciting incident:
Sarah:
After Jade’s death, Sarah found out that her blood type is not match with the rest of the family. She always suspects that Jade is not her biological mother. She is overjoyed.
Jade:
Jade discovers that her images were marked off on all photos in Sarah’s photo album.
Cassie
She found out that she is pregnant, and her boyfriend Robert runs away.
Mme Kwan:
Mme Kwan meets Sarah at the elevator door and sees Jade, a ghost behind Sarah.
Turning point 1:
Sarah:
Aunt Lynn confirmed that Sarah is Jade’s biological child. Sarah is heartbroken that her beloved father is not biologically related to her. Her bubble is burst. Her mental disease gets worse.
Jade:
Jade finds the broken doll and suddenly understands Sarah and how much she hurt her feeling. She repairs the doll.
Cassie
She is stressed about raising a child and wants the house or a bigger share of the inheritance.
Mme Kwan
After Jade gave her some advice, Mme Kwan becomes curious about Jade.
Midpoint:
Sarah:
Sarah’s doll is repaired. She starts to like her ghost friend and they are getting along. Meanwhile, she discovers Jade’s painting and wants to know more about it.
Jade:
Instead of being angry at her, Jade is worried about Sarah’s wellbeing. The painting reminds her the painful past. She is anxious about her children unearth this unspeakable past.
Cassie
Cassie is surprised by the fact that Jade was a good painter. She is wondering if being a mother would destroy her dream.
Mme Kwan
Mme Kwan and Jade become friends. Two Chinese mothers have so many fun topics to chat.
Turning point 2:
Sarah:
Sarah caught Mme Kwan stealing Jade’s diaries.
Jade:
Jade’s plan of destroying the diaries goes south. She is desperate.
Cassie
Cassie makes up her mind to keep the baby.
Mme Kwan
Mme Kwan is touched by Jade’s care for Sarah.
Dilemma:
Sarah:
Her ghost friend tries everything to stop her from reading the diary. It’s a sour point between her and her ghost friend. Sarah locks herself in the bedroom.
Jade:
Jade tries everything to destroy the diaries. She back to an angry ghost again.
Cassie
Cassie desperately needs money to pay her credit card debt and a new start for her baby, but she doesn’t want Sarah looks at her as incompetent.
Mme Kwan
Jade asks Mme Kwan to play thief. She never did a crime before.
Major Conflict:
Sarah:
After reading Jade’s diaries, she is torn between hating Jade and empathizing her. She feels that she is worthless and not deserve to live in this world. She commit suicide.
Jade:
Jade scarifies herself to save Sarah. Finally, they can have a heart-to-heart conversation.
Cassie
After Sarah pointing out Cassie’s sense of entitlement and being irresponsible by having a load of credit card debt, Cassie breaks her relationship with Sarah.
Mme Kwan
Under Jade’s instruction, Mme Kwan sneaks into Jade’s old house to take the diaries. The adventure sounds so exciting to her until she is caught by Sarah.
Ending:
Sarah:
Sarah was saved and realizes that she was cared and loved. She changes her perspectives.
Jade:
Sees that Sarah and Cassie are coming together. Jade farewells the world and moves on.
Cassie
Sarah shares the family secrets with Cassie. The two sisters are getting closer. Sarah decides to help Cassie out of her trouble. Cassie decides not to take a bigger share from their inheritance. She wants to be strong and independent for her baby.
Mme Kwan
She misses Jade. She teaches Sarah how to make Chinese soup.
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SUBJECT: Birgit_Character Story Beats
What I learned : As a sitcom there are fewer beats than in a feature. That there is no “final” end to the characters.
CHARACTER PROFILE : Margot Janssen
An uptight, follow the rules workaholic.BEGINNING: Margot leaves office to sort things out with her parents
MIDDLE: Margot takes control and tries to arrange adult-caregiving
END: Margot realizes she must stay with her parents longer than expected.
BEATS OF HER STORY
Margot is on top of her game with her career.
After her sister shows up at the office, Margot realizes she must go “home” to see what’s going on.
Margot meets neighbor and disagrees with her “healing” remedies.
Margot meets the cop who makes himself at home and is too familiar.
Margot meets the mail man and feels a spark.
Margot is frustrated that she is the only one that sees the levity of the situation.
After interviewing caregivers she is frustrated to find that there are no capable candidates.
Margot returns to the office to find her position being threatened by Lewis.
Margot must temporarily return home.
IMPROVEMENT: That compressing the timeline would make it more realistic for having her father missing.
CHARACTER PROFILE : Gretl Janssen
With and uber-imagination, she creates situations that must be reacted to.BEGINNING: Gretl doesn’t see what the big deal is about that her husband has been missing 3 days.
MIDDLE: Gretl relies on her network of her daughter, neighbor Poppy and officer Boz.
END: Gretl begins to realize that perhaps her husband has been missing for too long.
BEATS OF HER STORY
Gretl goes about her business as usual.
Is getting confused as to why there is tension.
Gretl “shuts down” when realizing her husband is indeed missing.
IMPROVEMENT:
CHARACTER PROFILE : Lewis Sullilvan
Ambitious, underhanded conniver wanting Margot’s position.BEGINNING: Underhandedly eavesdrops on Margot telling the boss that she has family problems.
MIDDLE: He moves into her office and is schmoozing with the boss.
END: Lewis is gaining the client’s trust and cutting Margot out of the loop.
BEATS OF HIS STORY:
Lewis quietly observes what is going on with Margot’s station.
He gradually moves into her territory.
Lewis blatantly is courting her client.
IMPROVEMENT: Give him a bigger role?
CHARACTER PROFILE : Poppy Hill
Despite her outward “free-spirit” persona, Poppy is opinionated and controlling.BEGINNING: Shows up as a caring neighbor.
MIDDLE: Starts to show her true colors in wanting to be in charge.
END: Lets Margot know that she’s not going anywhere.
BEATS OF HER STORY:
Margot in the Janssen home caring for Gretl.
Pushing Margot out of the way
Confrontation with Margot
IMPROVEMENT:
CHARACTER PROFILE : Dieter Janssen.
A happy go lucky father with dementia turns the household upside-down.
BEGINNING: He went missing when going to the hardware store.
MIDDLE: Is being tracked via credit card purchases.
END: he is still missing.
BEATS OF HIS STORY:
Margot finds out he has memory issues.
Margot finds out that he is worse off than expected.
He is still missing.
IMPROVEMENT: Does he return at the end of the episode?
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Tita’s Character Story Lines – Assignment 5
What I learned:
· This assignment was difficult, exasperating, sometimes tedious – but brilliant
· As I forced myself to work through the storyline details of each key char, I realized I had a lot of mental answers to Hal dramaturgical questions but the script needed at least some hints in words or action
· I see so many little points where the various characters’ storylines need to align with the overall storyline and with each other’s relevant actions. Also happily surprised to see many of the needed alignments already in the script
· Sometimes the changes really matter for the story’s dramatic power… sometimes they are needed to strengthen flow and interactions but don’t really matter so don’t mull and give up, just effing make ‘em up
CODE BELOW: Bold = notes to myself about what’s new or needs strengthening in current script
NOTE – This is a STAGE play.
OVERALL STORY LINE with general focus on Protag (Sam) and Antag (Dan):
Curtain Raiser/Prologue – sets focus/tone: Sam as actor stops Dan also as actor from claiming the play is biased and since 1776 we’ve had the right to take up arms against a government that is hurting our rights… Sam shows the t-shirt praising Timothy McVeigh wore on the day he bombed innocents in Oklahoma.
Beginning: Where does the character start? Sam Adams wants to join the people returning victorious from war, ignores warning he must look like a leader, not ride home with former gangs of Boston, even if they are his friends. Shays is celebrating their right to govern themselves and treat each person, rich or poor, with equal justice.
Inciting Incident: What propels them onto the journey? Sam rebels against the need to leave his friends, the poor, the working people in order to be a leader. Dan just wants to stay home with family.
Turning Point: What twist locks them into a conflict? Two scenes: (ADD) Sam sees Ruth manipulating Hancock into wanting royalty – and Dan, celebrating, finds out the government is treating his indebted neighbors unfairly.
Midpoint: What twist changes the meaning of the conflict? Sam meets with people to get them to protest through the vote not violence – but they attack him (add violent attempt)… for Shays: hearing about Job Shattuck beating.
Turning Point 2: What twist takes them to the biggest conflict? Sam – Should he give amnesty and use democracy’s tools – negotiate solutions with the wealthy and risk losing time before the other 12 nations invade to crush the uprising so it doesn’t spread, not resort to force…clarify… or save his democracy by sending out his own army and using violence
Dilemma: What are the two equally unacceptable choices and how are they forced to make the decision? Can Sam give amnesty because he understands why his friends rebelled or most he punish them to make sure it never happens again? Sam throws his friends out when they sneak into his home to ask for amnesty for all rebels and threatens to hang them with his own hands. Shays runs to help Job escape
Major Conflict: What is the ultimate experience of their conflict? Shays taunts Sam … Will Sam kill? Can’t hang him. Must wait for vote, law. Shays realizes he was too impatient.
Ending: How has their world changed? Last two scenes. Sam has won leadership, but lost his friends. Strengthen his awareness that he was not just saving Mass from others when he sent out the army – he wanted to kill. Dan realizes violence was wrong way, accepts that he was too impatient… not just leading rebels to try to protect friends from violence Add more awareness that he wanted the violence, wasn’t leading rebels to protect them from it
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PROTAG STORY LINE – Sam
Beginning: Where does the character start? Sam celebrates victory, proud and relieved that the poorest of the poor and the rich joined together for independence… Strengthen – now wants to make sure people keep equal rights, not hierarchy of the richest or most educated.<div>
Inciting Incident: What propels them onto the journey? Sam, told to act like a leader, refuses, bolt to join common people
Turning Point 1: What twist locks them into a conflict? Sam sees Hancock courted by Ruth to feel above others. Must get closer to people, both H and the poor.
Midpoint: What twist changes the meaning of the conflict? Shock when the people he loves and who have followed him, jeer and boo him
Turning Point 2: What twist takes them to the biggest conflict? After being shamed for creating a mob-o-cracy by Tory Ruth and uprisings are breaking out
Dilemma: What are the two equally unacceptable choices and how are they forced to make the decision? When Shays and other rebels who are his friends sneak into his home to ask for amnesty, should he give them amnesty because he understand why they rebelled, or punish to make sure no one ever takes up arms against an elected govt instead of using the vote…
Major Conflict: What is the ultimate experience of their conflict? Sam throws them out, saying he would kill his own son if he took up arms against an elected govt, threatening kill them with his own hands.
Ending: How has their world changed? He has saved democracy by giving up many powers to a united govt… and he has lost the trust and friendship of the people he fought a war to make a society where each person has equal rights and the opportunity to use the vote, not violence to make life more fair
***
ANTAG STORY LINE – Shays
Beginning: Where does the character start? After a Prologue where we meet him at the end of his story, drunk, fed up with violence, in despair we see him confidant, sure a new world of fairness build</div><div>
Inciting Incident: What propels them onto the journey? When celebrating victory and hoping for future peace, Shays’ neighbors are thrown out of homes because in debt, but soldiers not paid/can’t redeem certificates, have sold them and govt has passed a tax build to raise funds to pay solders
Turning Point 1: What twist locks them into a conflict? Job asks him to join, he refuses, but add that he feels weak and cowardly despite his praises and loyalty to Sam
Midpoint: What twist changes the meaning of the conflict? When his own people jeer Sam and mock Shays for believing, trusting Sam and refusing to be a man, take up arms to save neighbors (build up)
Turning Point 2: What twist takes them to the biggest conflict? Should Shays join the armed rebellion or keep insisting on voting not violence even if more men are thrown in debtors prison and their women children into poorhouses or indenture?
Dilemma: What are the two equally unacceptable choices and how are they forced to make the decision? Should he keep fighting, give up or beg for amnesty?
Major Conflict: What is the ultimate experience of their conflict? Shays, proud, angry, but realizes Sam was not the enemy, democratic change takes time and waiting for elections, he was too impatient. And has lost his beloved wife.
Ending: How has their world changed? Shays has given up fighting for ideals, being a leader, just wants the killing to stop – and the despair in his brain to stop
***
SUPPORTING CHARACTER TO PROTAG – Elizabeth, Sam’s fiery, political wife
Beginning: Where does the character start? Mistrusts hope for future, ready to fight again
Inciting Incident: What propels them onto the journey? Sees gang leader vying to be richest, best. build
Turning Point: What twist locks them into a conflict? Seeing Job – and her husband Sam;s unable or unwilling to help.
Midpoint: What twist changes the meaning of the conflict? Sam decides to call out the army
Turning Point 2: What twist takes them to the biggest conflict? She comes into dawn kitchen with a rifle.
Dilemma: What are the two equally unacceptable choices and how are they forced to make the decision? Does she side with her husband or does she take the rebels’ side?
Major Conflict: What is the ultimate experience of their conflict? She helps the rebels escape.
Ending: How has their world changed? Her love and loyalty to her husband stays but has become more like pity because she has felt the coldness of their disagreement <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>build if not there
***
SUPPORTING CHARACTER TO ANTAG – Abigail Gilbert Shays, Shays’ gentle wife – but tough. She has run their farm by herself during the war and can take on any man… as, with her husband’s help, does at one point
Beginning: Where does the character start? Celebrates but mistrusts hope for future, just wants peaceful family life.
Inciting Incident: What propels them onto the journey? Resists Job’s demand they join the rebels – hog ties him with Shays’ help
Turning Point: What twist locks them into a conflict? Job’s wounding, torture even if she understands his ego took over and he went too far (build if not there)
Midpoint: What twist changes the meaning of the conflict? The decision to go to war… a danger she thought was over
Turning Point 2: What twist takes them to the biggest conflict? She has to run for safety
Dilemma: What are the two equally unacceptable choices and how are they forced to make the decision? She is ill, tired, should stay – but she wants to join her husband in exile, even if she has the cough that can be fatal
Major Conflict: What is the ultimate experience of their conflict? She finds gratitude.
Ending: How has their world changed? She goes into exile… we later find out, to die.
***
TRIANGLE UNITING CHAR (NEW EQUALS) – Mrs. Havens, tavern owner’s widow who sees the story happen before her as people pass through her tavern on the border of Massachusetts and New York
Beginning: Where does the character start? Her story starts at the end of her story… war weary, has seen too much killing. Wants to tell the stories of the people coming through – off to fight wars, back to try to recover, if they come back, now off to take Indian Country…
Inciting Incident: What propels them onto the journey? She recognizes the drunk as Shays. Tries to save the Native American captive by goading, trying to seduce the drunk
Turning Point: What twist locks them into a conflict? Meeting Sam when he stops by her tavern to greet Shays and celebrate – she cannot celebrate the killing (build)
Midpoint: What twist changes the meaning of the conflict? When she meets Shays’ wife as rebels flee to exile
Turning Point 2: What twist takes them to the biggest conflict? When Shays comes back a despairing, empty man…
Dilemma: What are the two equally unacceptable choices and how are they forced to make the decision? When the settlers bring back their captive, dead
Major Conflict: What is the ultimate experience of their conflict? Does she scoff at him, berate him for leading so many young men to their death (strengthen) or decide to help herself to his company no matter what?
Ending: How has their world changed? She accepts her need for comfort, regardless of her opinions, and gives comfort (she sees he won’t be comforted but company)
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SECOND TRIANGLE CHAR (NEW ARISTOCRATS) – Ruth – widow of Sam’s best friend and mentor but she’s a Tory
Beginning: Where does the character start? Terrified that the returning soldiers will destroy civilized life so she tries to draw a leader of the war for independence into a new American aristocracy by commiserating with his resentments and insecurities.
Inciting Incident: What propels them onto the journey? Sees Sam, who she believes, ran the mobs, turned them against decent people, drove her husband insane is clearly coming into leadership (clarify her awareness) – and she must help one daughter get to Eng and marry redcoat
Turning Point: What twist locks them into a conflict? She mocks Sam’s failure of democracy
Midpoint: What twist changes the meaning of the conflict? She defends the formation of an aristocracy but realizes she will have to bring and include the disgusting lower sorts to win (add into a scene)
Turning Point 2: What twist takes them to the biggest conflict? Hearing of Philadelphia conference – hope they will come crush rebellion and bring order… build
Dilemma: What are the two equally unacceptable choices and how are they forced to make the decision? maybe her horror that other daughter is with son of general of revolution… but at least crushing rebels.
Major Conflict: What is the ultimate experience of their conflict? Despair and disgust of the people
Ending: How has their world changed? Hoping to win over the mob leader to lay groundwork for aristocracy based on wealth if not refinement even tho he disgusts her. Add her bribe, maybe in inauguration.
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PS – NOTE TO SU:
I wish your system allowed copy/past of a table or you handed out a writable worksheet to complete for ourselves and submit for accountability. I needed to see the outline of the overall story and Sam’s storyline to build storylines of others. E.g. a chart with the structure elements down left, the overall story and key people across top, then fill in each one’s story elements in relationship to the overall story and each other. Or lay out 3×5 cards in columns all over the table or, if it gets too big, floor
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This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by Tita Beal Anntares. Reason: took out some computer gobbledegook
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This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by
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What I learned: This is an efficient way to deepen characters character arc, and should be done in the outline, before finishing the script completely.
Joe – Protag. #1
Beginning: Joe is confidently dapper, light-hearted and retired, friendly to all.
Inciting Incident: Fire and death of favorite employee.
T. Point 1: Angela’s bday party where Tony and he argue.
Mid Point: Kidnapping and Joe becomes fearful and unsure.
T. Point 2: Joe recalls Margo’ imperfections and affair, now sadly, skeptical and lonely.
Dilemma: Hunting for Gina – courageous and fearless
Major Climax: Joe confronts Maksim, fights for his beliefs.
End: Joe and family transformed into loving each other with support
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Gina: Protag. 2
Beginning: Gina is arrogant, a perfectionist, bossy and domineering, confident and brilliant
Inciting Incident: Head boss-women is failing due to fire and lack of employees
T. Point 1: Angela’s birthday party – being upstaged & losing control
Mid Point: Kidnapping
T. Point 2: Out of control, drugs involved and helpless
Dilemma: May face death, never see her family again
Climax: Fighting men and the environment
End – Humbled, nicer person and appreciates her family
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