Lesson 7

[Dean Burkey]

Dean's Monster Reveal Track
What I learned from this assignment is how to orchestrate revealing the monster to the audience. A.k.a. How to put the suspense technique of Fragmented Information to good use regarding our dear, sweet monster. ;oP
I watched The Thing starring Kurt Russell, but I didn't sleep well the night before, so I nodded off a few times. Starts off with a flying saucer coming to Earth and then we have the mystery of why are the Norwegians trying to shoot a dog. That dogs turns out to be “The Thing”, space alien. The thing takes over people. They figure out a blood test to determine who's still human; and who's not. After the thing takes out the generator, they know they're not going to survive, so they decide they can't let the thing survive either, so they set fire and blow up each room. Spoiler Alert: Kurt Russell throws a lit stick of dynamite into the thing; and the thing explodes. – But that doesn't mean it's gone for good. – If box office sales are high enough, nothing is ever gone for good! ;oP Kurt Russell and Keith David sit together, not fully sure the other's still human, but agreeing to just sit for a while.
The Myst: The Monster of the Story
Their Terror:
The Myst embodies a creeping terror that isolates and consumes. Its presence creates an overwhelming sense of helplessness, disconnection, and despair. It terrorizes by exploiting each person’s vulnerabilities—whispering their regrets, manifesting their fears, and ultimately consuming those who fall prey to isolation.
Powers:
Fog Manipulation: The Myst can move and change its density, encroaching on the village and forming twisted shapes, shadowy silhouettes, and figures that press against windows and doors.
Whispered Manipulation: The Myst whispers in the voices of lost loved ones, exploiting the emotional weaknesses of individuals to lure them into its depths.
Emotion Feeding: It feeds on loneliness, despair, and isolation, drawing strength from the negative emotions of the villagers.
Invisibility in the Mist: It consumes its victims, leaving no trace behind, making it appear as if they simply vanish.
Limitations:
Relies on Emotional Vulnerability: The Myst needs individuals to be emotionally disconnected and vulnerable. It targets those who are isolated or overwhelmed with despair.
Slower Movement During Connection: When people form strong emotional bonds or genuine connections, the Myst seems to lose some of its power, becoming less aggressive.
Weaknesses:
Connection and Unity: The Myst struggles to overpower those who stay connected, emotionally open, and supportive of each other. Emotional bonds provide some measure of resistance against its influence.
Light/Fire: The Myst appears to be slowed by direct light or fire, though not entirely repelled by it. George and Tom's leaf blower attempts suggest that forcing the mist away is possible, but the villagers' crude tools ultimately fail.
Plan/Purpose/Appetite:
The Myst’s purpose appears to be to consume and feed on human despair. It is drawn to places where disconnection festers—isolated towns where emotional distance and missed opportunities are prevalent. It feeds not just on physical bodies but on the spirit, amplifying individuals' fears, regrets, and sense of loneliness. The Myst wants to drain away hope and leave only emptiness behind.
It acts as both a literal and metaphorical representation of isolation and missed connections in modern society—targeting those who do not form meaningful bonds or who harbor deep, unresolved regrets. Its "appetite" is for those missed opportunities—the love not shared, the words left unspoken, the community bonds neglected. The Myst's ultimate goal is to reduce entire towns into empty shells, feeding on the despair of their residents until there is nothing left.
MYST
ACT 1: The Arrival of the Myst
Atmosphere of Evil established: A previous town with red antennas all around has its population plummet to zero thanks to the Myst!
Monster Reveal: Somehow that Myst did something to everyone in that town.
Horror Situation: That town gets enveloped by the Myst.
Reaction: Everyone screams and then disappears. (Horrific screams, not just-won-the-lottery screams.)
When informed, the governor orders that that tragedy be kept out of the news. Wealthy elite Hargrove agrees to keep everything quiet.
Welcome to the seaside town of Eldergrove, which seems like an ideal town, with lots of community events and everyone getting along.
Just the sort of out of the way town to get selected by Hargrove Communications to become beta testers for a new Internet / TV service to “connect” them with the real world.
Red antennas pop up all over town.
Less and less people attend the community events.
Six weeks after become beta-testers, that same mysterious Myst visits.
Horror Situation: Some citizens disappear.
Reaction: The others assume they left town for personal reasons. A.k.a. denial!
Monster Reveal: People disappear in the Myst. – Disappear permanently!
Horror Situation: A citizen runs from the Myst, but gets cornered and can't run anymore.
Reaction: Attempt to escape.
Monster Reveal: People become more aware of the Myst making people disappear.
ACT 2: Fear and Paranoia
Horror Situation: A citizen uses an electric leaf-blower to stave off the Myst. But then the power goes out; and he gets engulfed.
Reaction: Try to solve it.
Monster Reveal: The Myst isn't as easily stopped.
Horror Situation: Another citizen uses a gas-powered leaf-blower, but it bursts into flames.
Reaction: Hide. The others stay locked inside.
Monster Reveal: The Myst defends itself in order to accomplish its goal: The annihilation of everyone in town.
As night falls, the Myst takes on shadowy forms and appears to be alive, stalking the villagers, creating fear and paranoia.
Survivors, including Anna, Marcus, Claire, Daniel, and Dr. Evelyn Hart, stay in the village hall, trying to find safety in numbers.
Horror Situation: The Myst uses the villagers' fears against them, making them suspicious of one another. Marcus hears the voice of his late wife and steps into the mist.
Reaction: Claire becomes more withdrawn.
Monster Reveal: The Myst knows things about each person, so it's more than just some Abracadabra fog making people disappear; its a MYSTerious entity instigating and thriving upon people's fears.
ACT 3: Resolution?
Dr. Evelyn Hart deduces that the Myst feeds on despair and isolation. She tries to keep the group together emotionally, but her warnings are ignored as paranoia grows stronger.
Monster Reveal: She figures out that the Myst has something to do with the beta-test program for Hargrove Communications. The individualized programming separated people, making them more vulnerable and more “attractive” to the Myst.
Survivors start blaming each other for attracting the Myst.
Horror Situation: This division causes Marcus to step into the mist, leading to his disappearance, and
Reaction: Claire isolates herself further.
Monster Reveal: The Myst drives people apart.
Anna tries to connect with Daniel, urging him to stay strong to fight the Myst. Daniel, burdened by guilt and despair, begins to break down.
They manage to find a glimmer of hope by holding hands and sharing their fears, seemingly weakening the Myst temporarily.
Daniel ultimately lets go of Anna, believing the Myst wants her instead of him.
Horror Situation: He opens the door, allowing the Myst to engulf him.
Reaction: Anna runs home.
Monster Reveal: Dr. Evelyn Hart pleads for everyone to stay together and to work together to destroy the signal from the red antennas.
Horror Situation: With her son gone, Anna, realizing there's no escape, hears his voice. She steps into the mist, disappearing like the others.
Reaction: The Myst recedes, leaving Dr. Hart and Claire all alone. Eldergrove Population: Two.
Seeing that the Myst receded, Dr. Hart and Claire run outside, sad everyone else died, but happy that they survived. They smile and hug and jump for joy.
Kablam! Kablam! Bullets fired from a sniper hit each of them in their forehead. Eldergrove Population: Zero.
The sniper is a scientist who calls Hargrove to inform him that the town has been “evacuated”. The scientist quickly remove Dr. Hart and Claire's bodies.
A government team arrives to investigate the disappearance of everyone, along with Mr. Hargrove, who quickly buys the village under the guise of helping, hinting at further sinister plans. Hargrove agrees to keep everything quiet, so he won't ruin the governor's chances of re-election. He also agrees to have his top scientists figure what could be causing such a MYSTerious phenomena.
The Myst rolls into a new, isolated town, now teeming with red antennas. Two scientists oversee the operation from a distance, hinting that Mr. Hargrove has a bigger plan; and the cycle is far from over. So the Myst isn't so MYSTerious after all, for as long as there is greed and despair, the Myst will be there.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by  Dean Burkey.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by  Dean Burkey.

[David Wetzel]

Dave Wetzel’s Monster Reveal Track

What I learned doing this assignment is that you must make sure it’s imperative to solve the mystery of the monster and give the audience hope that it can happen. Let the monster live so it can come back for a sequel.

Who or what the monster is?

• What are its powers? Incredible strength, long sharp fangs and claws, impervious to fire or man-made bullets, seven feet tall, can take the shape of any living person on the school property, (mostly in the form of David Dastmalchian when in human form).

• What are its limitations? The demon cannot leave the school property, it cannot maintain human form inside the chapel (it’s forced to reveal its true image in the presence of God).

• What are its weaknesses? The sword of Saint Michael can pierce its skin; any blessed object can harm it. It must obey its current master, Deacon Malum. Its true form is visible in the reflection of any holy object.

• What is its Plan/Purpose/Appetite? It must kill twelve students / faculty with the same first name as one of the twelve apostles.
During the story the demon kills ten victims.

After it kills all twelve victims, its free to leave the school property to roam the earth and kill anyone it chooses.

It plans to use its human form to seek out and free more demons from other Catholic schools that also have a dark history (and also have portals to hell) to create an army of bloodthirsty demons to ravage the earth.

Jennifer (now armed with the sword of Saint Michael) must now hunt down the demon at the next school where terror strikes.

Jennifer needs to make sure it is indeed the demon Yog – Formido at work and to make sure it cannot recruit more demons and hopefully kill Yog – Formido once and for all.

Jennifer uses her newly manifested synesthesia ability to see an aura of evil around any demon in human form which helps her in her noble quest.

ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR

• Atmosphere of Evil established – One of the students at the school is killed in a horror manner.
The school is buzzing with the news, the dean of the school and Jennifer Weatherly try to calm the uneasy students. It seems to happen in multiple instances at the school every twenty years.

• Demand – Terror

• Monster reveal – The unseen monster is a ferocious killer and appears from the dark. The name of the first victim is identified.

• Connect with the characters – The gang discreetly discusses the grisly murder during study hall, the janitor, “Nearest,” overhears them.

• Demand – Curiosity

• Monster reveal – The monster kills another victim; a student thinks they saw a glimpse of a small part of the monster’s claws in the refection of a holy object.

• Demand – apprehension

• The characters are warned not to do it. – Jennifer and Nearest warns the gang not to try to get involved in the murder investigation.

• Denial of Horror – The dean of the school and Deacon Malum informs the students that the unfortunate death of the student was simply a terrible accident and not a murder.

• Demand – curiosity

• Monster reveal – Once alone, Deacon Malum descends a secret passage under the school, the portal to hell is not revealed yet.

• Safety taken away – A terrible storm washes away the bridge to the school, the students and faculty are trapped at the school.

• Demand – Discovery

• Monster reveal – The nature of the beast. Jennifer and Nearest begin to explore the legend of the school and uncover accounts to the monster from previous attacks twenty years ago.

ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN

• Isolated / Trapped / Abducted – The current weather conditions are too rough for other to come or for any aerial landings.

• One of us killed – another student is killed and Tom Roberts in the gang is almost killed too. Jennifer manifests her synesthesia abilities to observe a red “aura” around Deacon Malum.

• Demand – Trying to figure out the mystery.

• Monster reveal – Jennifer and the gang deduce that the demon is killing students / faculty with the same first name of the apostles and that it cannot leave the school property.

MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!

• Full pursuit by the killer – Jennifer, and the gang follow Deacon Malum into the bowels of the school.

• Demand – Discovery

• Monster reveal – Jennifer and the gang observe Deacon Malum summoning the demon “Yog-Formido,” from a portal to hell.

• Terrorized – Deacon Malum orders the demon to hunt down and kill the gang.

• Demand – Terror / Discovery

• Monster reveal – Jennifer and the gang learn that the demon is a servant of Deacon Malum.

ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR

• Fight to the death – The demon kills another student while searching for Jennifer and the gang.

• Demand – Putting the pieces together

• Monster reveal – Jennifer, the gang and Nearest research the identity of the demon and find a book hidden in the school library that identifies the demon as Yog-Formido and its ancient history.

• Hysteria – Jennifer, Nearest and the gang try to kill the demon but fail and barely escape annihilation by seeking refuge in the school chapel.

• Demand – Discovery / Putting the pieces together.

• Monster reveal – Jennifer, the gang and Nearest decode a part of the old text that tells them the demon can be killed by the sword of Saint Michael.

• Demand – Terror / Discovery

• Monster reveal – Nearest shoots the demon with one of his old guns from the Army but it does not harm the monster.

• Nearest regains his faith in God and a statue in the image Saint Michael the Archangel warrior angel gifts Nearest with the sword that he’s holding in the statue.

Theres also a painting behind the statue of Saint Michael with his army of Archangels battling demons from hell. One of the demons looks like Yog-Formido.

• Demand – Trying to figure out the mystery

• Monster reveal – Jennifer and Nearest find an ancient scroll in hidden library in the chapel that reveals the intent of its mission to kill twelve students / faculty and be free to roam the earth and recruit more demons from other Catholic schools.

• The thrilling escape from death – Jennifer, Nearest and the gang fight the demon, and he’s badly wounded by the newly gifted sword of Saint Michael.

Deacon Malum is apparently killed by Nearest in a battle in the bowels of the school by falling into the pits of hellfire.

• Death returns to take one or more. – Nearest is killed by the demon as Nearest sacrifices himself to allow the gang and Jennifer to escape death.

• Resolution – Jennifer and the gang recover from the battle as the weather clears and the bridge is restored and police and once again able to gain access to the school.

Jennifer is alone in the chapel and observes to her astonishment the Nearest now appears to be in the painting of Saint Michael battling Yog-Formido.

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

[Timothy Barley]

Tim's Monster Reveal Track

What I learned from this assignment is that I think I have a really good monster!

My monsters is Vivian, and subsequently, each of the doppelgängers that take the place of the original influencers.

– The monster is Vivian’s doppelgänger, a supernatural entity that has existed for generations, preying on influencers and style-makers throughout different eras. It uses mirrors as gateways to the real world, replacing those it deems flawed with more "perfect" versions of themselves.

Powers:

The doppelgängers can:

– Manifest through any reflective surface (mirrors, screens, windows, water).

– Mimic the behavior, speech, and memories of the person it replaces.

– Manipulate reflections to lure victims into traps.

– Physically interact with and pull people into the mirror world.

– Gain strength from those who spend time interacting with their reflections.

– Create distorted visions and voices within reflective surfaces to manipulate and terrorize victims.

Limitations:

The doppelgängers can:

– Can only fully manifest in the real world if a person directly interacts with their reflection for long enough (e.g., touching, speaking to the reflection).

– Needs the mirrors intact or accessible to use as a passage between worlds.

– Cannot move through non-reflective or covered surfaces, meaning rooms without mirrors or covered windows can offer temporary safety.

Weaknesses:

The doppelgängers are:

– Is vulnerable when its reflection is disrupted (e.g., smashing the mirror from which it emerged can temporarily weaken it).

– Cannot stand direct, natural sunlight—reflections in such light weaken its control.

– Must maintain the illusion of the replaced person; any deviation in behavior can alert others and risk its cover.

Plan/Purpose/Appetite:

The doppelgängers' purpose is to harvest and replace influential figures in each generation, using their influences to shape cultural trends and spread its influence through new media forms. It desires to create a world where reflections hold more power than reality, with it as the controlling force behind the most influential faces in the world. This time, it aims to replace the new wave of social media influencers who shape the cultural narrative. For what ultimate purpose, no one really knows, but it's at the direction of something else.

Updated outline with reveals/demand to come.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  Timothy Barley.

[Allie Theiss]

Alison’s Monster Reveal Track

What I learned from this lesson is that I can finally see how this may come together.

ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR

Atmosphere of Evil established:

We open in a different museum, where a person from a previous group is shown being drawn into a painting. We don’t see the painting clearly, only a side view as the victim vanishes. The reaction from the group is paralyzing shock and fear. As the scene ends, the painting is packed into a shipping box, preparing to be moved to the new museum.
Horror Situation: A person disappears into the unseen painting.
Reaction: Shock and fear from the group witnessing the disappearance.

Connect with the characters:

We meet the six college students, including Claire, Derek, Emily (the blind girl), along with their art history professor. They arrive at the new museum excited about spending the night, thinking it’s a harmless opportunity for extra credit. The mood is light, with the students joking about the haunted museum stories they’ve heard.
Horror Situation: Trapped in the museum as all exits close after 8 PM.
Reaction: Denial, thinking they can find another way out.

The characters are warned not to do it:

The night guard (the old guard) casually warns the students not to turn around if they hear footsteps. He says it with a smirk, turning it into a joke, but there’s something unnerving about him. The museum’s empty halls echo with their laughter and occasional footsteps—sometimes louder than they should be.
Horror Situation: The guard’s odd behavior, combined with the mysterious footsteps, begins to unsettle the group.
Reaction: Denial/Confusion, some students think the guard is just messing with them.

Denial of Horror:

The students joke about the cursed painting and how it could make for a great thesis topic. They don’t take the night guard’s warning seriously and continue exploring the museum. The atmosphere feels eerie but still harmless—until strange things start happening. Shadows shift when no one is near, and one student swears they heard whispering from one of the paintings.
Horror Situation: Shadows moving across exhibits, distant whispers from the paintings.
Reaction: The students laugh it off, attributing it to their imaginations.

Safety taken away:

When the museum doors lock at 8 PM, they realize they are trapped until morning. The professor’s keycard fails, and the power begins to flicker ominously. The lights start dimming, plunging them into partial darkness. Flashlights become their primary source of light, heightening the claustrophobia.
Horror Situation: Flickering lights, shadows growing longer, footsteps echoing.
Reaction: Nervous laughter turns to genuine concern as the students start to realize something isn’t right.

Monster: The nature of the beast:

The old guard makes subtle appearances, always lingering in the shadows or reflecting in mirrors. He never seems fully there but is always close enough to be unsettling. Strange sounds echo through the museum—footsteps, laughter, whispers—but no one can pinpoint their source.
Horror Situation: The guard’s reflection appears in glass cases or mirrors, but not in reality.
Reaction: The students grow uneasy but convince themselves it’s just their nerves.

ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN

Isolated/Trapped:

The students split up to explore the museum and investigate strange noises. The power flickers, leaving them lost in dark hallways. As they wander through the exhibits, they start to feel disoriented—hallways seem to loop back on themselves, and they keep ending up in front of the cursed painting, no matter their direction.
Horror Situation: Trapped in an endless loop, constantly drawn toward the painting.
Reaction: The students try to backtrack and regroup, but it only makes them more confused.

One of us killed (Max):

Max, the mysterious student, investigates the cursed painting too closely. He’s mesmerized by the dots and swears he can hear whispers coming from within. The others watch in horror as Max gets too close and is suddenly absorbed into the painting, becoming a dot himself. His screams echo, but his body is gone.
Monster Reveal: The painting consumes its victims, trapping their souls as dots in the artwork.
Horror Situation: The group witnesses Max’s disappearance, his face frozen in terror within the painting.
Reaction: Panic and confusion as the group realizes they’re in real danger.

MIDPOINT — THE MONSTER IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT

Full pursuit by the killer (Old Guard):

The old guard begins stalking them more aggressively, appearing in the shadows, reflected in mirrors, and occasionally standing in the distance, silently watching. The group hears footsteps behind them but is too scared to turn around. Whenever they think they’re getting away, they find themselves drawn back toward the cursed painting.
Monster Reveal: The old guard manipulates the environment, forcing the group closer to the painting.
Horror Situation: The sound of footsteps growing closer, but no one dares turn around to see the source.
Reaction: The students grow increasingly paranoid, debating whether to trust each other.

Terrorized:

The group is now fully in survival mode, trying to escape the guard’s relentless pursuit. The footsteps grow louder, and the lights flicker more erratically. One student (Jake) becomes hysterical, blaming the others for not heeding the warnings. His panic escalates, leading him to make a rash decision to flee alone.
Monster Reveal: The guard’s influence isn’t just physical—he’s mentally manipulating the group, amplifying their fear.
Horror Situation: Jake’s attempt to escape ends in failure as he backs into the cursed painting and is absorbed.
Reaction: The group watches helplessly as Jake is consumed, increasing their sense of doom.

ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR

Fight to the death:

Derek, determined to protect Claire, tries to fight off the old guard. Armed with nothing but raw courage, he charges at the guard, hoping to distract him long enough for Claire to escape. The guard barely acknowledges Derek’s attack before pulling him into the painting. Claire is left alone, screaming in terror.
Monster Reveal: The old guard is merely an extension of the painting’s power, and physical attacks are useless against him.
Horror Situation: Derek’s brave but futile attempt to stop the guard.
Reaction: Claire is emotionally broken, paralyzed with fear.

Hysteria:

Claire, now alone and heartbroken after Derek’s death, begins to unravel. She tries to destroy the painting in a last-ditch effort to end the horror, but the painting’s influence is too strong. The closer she gets, the more she feels herself being pulled in.
Monster Reveal: The painting has an irresistible pull, especially for those who are emotionally vulnerable.
Horror Situation: Claire’s desperate attempt to destroy the painting backfires as she’s consumed by it.
Reaction: The painting absorbs her, leaving behind another dot.

The thrilling escape from death:

Emily, the blind student, has been immune to the painting’s allure the entire time. Using her heightened senses, she realizes that the only way to escape is to navigate the museum without relying on sight. She carefully feels her way through the darkened halls, avoiding the traps set by the guard.
Monster Reveal: Emily’s blindness makes her the only one who can resist the painting’s power.
Horror Situation: Emily’s tense, silent escape as the guard’s footsteps echo behind her.
Reaction: Emily slips past the guard, trusting her instincts and senses.

Death returns to take one or more:

Just as Emily thinks she’s safe, she hears the old guard’s footsteps behind her one last time. Instead of turning around, she stays focused on the exit and keeps moving forward, refusing to acknowledge the guard’s presence. The footsteps stop, and she escapes.
Monster Reveal: The guard’s power only affects those who turn to face him. By refusing to acknowledge his presence, Emily survives.
Horror Situation: The tension of hearing the footsteps but not turning around.
Reaction: Emily narrowly escapes, leaving the painting and the museum behind.

Resolution

Monster Reveal:

As Emily steps outside, the camera pans back to the museum’s entrance, where the cursed painting now hangs on the wall as part of a new exhibit. A subtle change in the painting shows that two new dots have appeared—one for Derek and one for Claire. The old guard’s footsteps echo faintly in the background, hinting that the curse may not be over.
Horror Situation: The painting continues to claim victims, leaving the door open for a sequel.
Reaction: Emily may have escaped, but the horror is far from over.

[Ryan Benson]

Ryan’s Monster Reveal Track
What I learned from this assignment is that it is so important to make sure the viewer is interested in the monster. This also has to be a mystery the viewer is desperate to solve so they keep watching the movie, wanting more and more.
Powers: Seemingly invulnerable. Super strength/speed. They seem to disappear at drop of a hat.
Limitations: Can’t attack or even see Cas. Geographically stuck in the neighborhood/housing development.
Weaknesses: Iron. Cas?
Plan/Purpose/Appetite: Unknown at first but it is to sow chaos in the neighborhood. Perhaps to get everyone to leave.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
• Atmosphere of Evil established: A random neighbor is being chased about their house. The monsters/spirits are shown in silhouette. Cas (protagonist) returns home after losing his job and sees cop car and ambulance at the neighbor’s house but doesn’t think much of it.
Monster Reveal: This shows the violence they are capable of and their silhouettes.
• Connect with the characters: Cas talks to coworker before he leaves job for final time. Then dejected Cas talks to neighbor/friend, Alfonso, as he parks car. Talk about the cop car and comment to Alfonso that good to have some excitement. Cas talking to wife. Cas also tries to bond with other men in the neighborhood but is too different though we find some neighborhood gossip and how the murder is viewed.
We see Aisha first appearance by driving by and parking at parents’ house. She is on the back of a motorcycle with a douchey guy who she kisses before going into house.
• The characters are warned not to do it.: Cas’s wife tells him to focus on finding new job or house project because he gets weird when bored or unfulfilled.
Police warn Cas after he starts noticing monsters involved with trouble in neighborhood. He is sad as his water heater busts causing mundane trouble. Cas seems a bit obsessed and even calls police about them.
Monster Reveal: Cas sees them in neighbors’ yards and sees them down a tree and some more destructive things to the yards.
Aisha warns him people will think he’s crazy. Then becomes worried about Cas’s life as she sees he might not be crazy. She also brings him to an old lady on the street for information (I need to think on this more, as well as mythology/origin of the monsters).
Monster Reveal: Old woman talks about something like this happening once before. Decades ago when there was a disturbance in people moving in. The attacks happened to new and old residents but played down then so as to not mess with property value. But old woman says that the monsters never came around her house. Turns out her house is full of old tiffany silver objects like photo frames, jewelry, candle stick holders, knives, etc and the silver will later be revealed as a weakness of the monsters. Cas questions if they were ghosts of slaves, then guesses native Americans, before the old woman says it was the ghosts of themselves…
Cas also goes to church with his family and talks to the pastor after.
• Denial of Horror: Aisha and everyone else at first think Cas is weird or bored. Cas is in denial that the monsters or his behavior can actually hurt him (he is right they can’t hurt him physically but can hurt him indirectly by hurting those he loves). He wants excitement. Cas goes on job interviews but fails as he is too eager.
• Safety taken away: Cas falls from roof when spying (almost is impaled like the first death). Another neighbor is murdered on walk, but coyotes are blamed.
Monster Reveal: This shows firsthand how murderous they can be. The little one slashes dog (though it lives) and the middle bandaged one rips the man to pieces.
• Monster: The nature of the beast.: Yet another neighbor dies, and Cas gives chase (slower because of injury) after the spirits through the neighborhood after witnessing it through window. Cas breaks in but is incapable of stopping them. (Maybe Aisha comes too and hits them with the silver object in the home).
Monster Reveal: This reveals the weakness is silver. Maybe Cas go back to old woman and ask for some items but she refuses with a gun. Aisha could go back off screen and secure some silver after Cas buys some up.
It is a young yuppie couple whose bodies are not found. Police and others think they might be traveling. The guy is part of group Cas talks to at the beginning where Cas isn’t fitting in. Maybe this guy is new but already more accepted. People think Cas is jealous.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
• Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: Cas is arrested and though he is freed, he can no longer count on police. His wife is angry as well, and Cas fails at another interview but this time it is through lack of interest. Aisha, though not that religious anymore, takes Cas to a Hindu temple in hopes of finding answers.
• One of us killed: Alfonso is killed and found by Cas. Alfonso’s wife yells at Cass and blames him, because she knows he had to have some involvement.
Monster Reveal: This drawn out and more graphic death shows their true power.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
• Full pursuit by the killer: Wife is angry at Cas because he spends a bunch of money on silver items, “No smelting into bullets! No time for it!” Monsters target Aisha, and Cas is unable to stop it as the spirits ignore him and seem to not even register him physically. Aisha is able to attack monsters with the silver items.
• Terrorized: How will they keep Aisha safe if they come back? Cas called away for a job interview.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
• Fight to the death: Cas and Aisha run about the neighborhood wearing people of the spirits and stopping their murders (like dropping a tree or other ‘accidents’). Spirits seem to get frustrated. Spirits turn and charge at Aisha again, chasing her to her house. She goes in and gets her family out. House explodes!!! Luckily Aisha got out.
• Hysteria: Cas is tired, quiet, and scared. He is starting to realize it’s not all fun and games. Aisha is loud and goes to her shed.
• The thrilling escape from death: Now the spirits go to Cas’s house. They can’t hurt him, but they sure can attack his family! Cas must tell family how to kill spirits and bestows all his knowledge onto his kids so they can do the job.
• Death returns to take one or more.: They kill or exorcise the large spirit(s).
Monster Reveal: They attack the monsters with the silver items and finally get them down all through the advice Cas has learned throughout the movie. They hurt the monster bad but did they kill them? Nope! The monsters just keep coming. No hope. Until Cas realizes the large blacked out monster has never made a move to hurt anyone.
The kids remove the mask or eye covering of the large blacked out monster and he attacks the bandaged medium one and allows the small one to be killed. Then realize they didn’t see the small, most evil, spirit! It goes to kill Cas’s wife, but Aisha returns to kill it!
• Resolution: Aisha and family are rebuilding home, but she is going to move out, though not with the jerk guy she was dating. Cas appreciates his family and his life, taking on the role of homemaker and trying to do online work. I wanted to also do some sort of teaser with the spirits returning, like maybe a new group of neighbors moves into the homes of those that were killed?

[John Amato]

What I learned: The assignment clarifies monsters, horror situations, and how and why they kill. I will know more as I finish the assignment.

John’s Monster model.

A: Harry and Charlie

Powers: Psychopaths who will murder, lie, and deceive.

Limitations: Human beings. Ego driven.

Weaknesses: Arrogance and unpreparedness

Plan/Purpose/Appetite: They want to create a supernatural spectacle to become famous and will stop at nothing.

B: Nerd Jerry:

Power: Turned into an evil spirit. Possessions. Electrokinesis, Biokinesis, passes through innate and living objects. Very strong.

Limitations: The ghost is bound to the area where it was created. It can be harmed by particular objects—salt and salt water, holy water, and iron. Rituals. Spells

Plan/Purpose/Appetite: To enact vengeance on those who killed him, turning him into an angry entity. To escape its location into society.

Act 1

Ghost is not revealed yet.

Foreshadowing as clues

After their botched ghost fraud fails, Harry and Charlie are furious with the crew. They decide to create their own ghost through rituals, and the team becomes wary. They produce an old book that Charlie procured off the dark web.

1st Act turning point:

Harry and Charlie repeatedly stab Nerd Jerry, the video tech, to death in the haunted school.

Demand: Terror

1st half of 2nd Act: The monster is present

Harry and Charlie are revealed as human monsters. After they perform a blood ritual, an apparition appears over the dead body. It is confused and harmless.

Demand: DIscovery and curiosity

Midpoint: Monster is worse than we thought

Through interactions with Harry and Charlie and a weirded-out team, the ghost begins to change. Its face slowly deteriorates into a monstrous visage. It yells and rips into Charlie’s body. Then, it rips out, spraying blood and guts everywhere.

Demand: Terror

A central character has been killed.

2nd half of 2nd act:

Monster pursuing/attacking characters

As the team runs out of the office and into the corridor after Charlie has been savagely murdered, the Ghost comes up through the floor and eviscerates Belch from his feet upward through the floor while the team is running away.

Demand: terror and confusion.

Delivering clues with each attack:

Harry, Sheila, Jessica, and Jackson hide in another room. Harry explains that he has a few things to slow down the entity. He takes holy water from his backpack. He explains that he and Charlie came prepared in case something actually happened.

The ghost enters the office, and Harry douses it with holy water. It screams as smoke rises from his burning face. It disappears.

Monster pursuing: As the group heads towards a possible escape, Sheila taps Jessica on the shoulder, and when Jess turns to her, her eyes roll back in her head, and she starts strangling her. Jackson hits her with the camera, and she falls to the floor. Sheila starts writhing in a fit. She stops, and the ghost materializes out of her body and rips her tongue out.

3rd Act:

Characters solve the puzzle and fight back,

The remaining members head for Nerd Jerry’s dead body to salt and burn it. As they head into the room where the body lies, the ghost transports in front of Jackson and laughs. Jackson has an iron cross that Harry gave him and starts whipping it into the ghost. It forces the ghost to back up, “What the fuck is this?" Jackson swings it again, but the ghost catches his arm and rips it out of the socket. Blood spews out like a fire hydrant. He screams as the ghost smiles.

Demand terror and hysteria.

Harry pours a ring of salt around the dead body. Jessica steps into the circle with him. The ghost cannot pass the salt. Jessica is yelling at him to hurry up. The ghost curses and tries to break the salt barrier. Harry pours lighter fluid over the body and sets it on fire. The ghost laughs at his former body, which is burning. Suddenly, the ghost started to shake, looking confused. “What the fuck?” As the flames engulf the dead body, Nerd Jerry's ghost face contorts, screams, and then disappears. Jessica hugs Harry. They leave the circle of salt as the dead body smolders.

Demand: Relief.

Jessica retrieves the backpack with the camera that still has the film of the rise of Nerd Jerry. Sheila hobbles into the room. Blood is dripping from her mouth, but she’s alive.
“Oh, my God.” They both rush to her. Sheila leans on Harry. "We’ve got to get her to a doctor. Get the camera, and let’s get the fuck out of here. I got her. You get the camera."

Jessica turns around, grabs the camera, and spins toward Harry and Sheila. "Got it," she says. . She stops. Sheila is strangling and lifting Harry off the ground. “That was a nice parlor trick.” Harry’s eyes are bulging from fear. “You shouldn’t believe everything you read.”

Jessica runs towards possessed Sheila and hits her with the camera. With her other hand Sheila slaps Jessica across the face knocking her to the ground.
Sheila smiles and breaks Harry’s neck.

Resolution.

Jessica is petrified and motionless on the floor. Sheila gently places Harry’s body on the ground. “But some things were true in the book.”

Sheila’s body shakes, and blood drips from her eyes, mouth, nose, and armpits. She collapses.

Ghost Jerry enters Harry’s body and carefully reanimates it, unbreaking his neck and taking possession. It rises. Jessica is wide-eyed. Nerd ghost JerryHarry slowly gets up, pale. It walks to the end of the room, eyes Jessica the whole way, and picks up the camera, making sure the hard drive is intact.

It smiles at Sheila. “I was always jealous of Harry’s good looks and how he was able to land someone as beautiful as you. So now I have him. Feels great, don’t you agree?” She remains silent. “I said don’t you agree?”

.Jessica nods her head. "It is true. I was bound here in my spiritual phase. Not anymore.” Nerd ghost Jerry Harry throws her a key to the door. Jessica grabs them looking dumbfounded. “Let’s get out here; we’re gonna be famous.”

It gives her a menacing stare, and she quickly gets off the ground. "Jessica, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Don’t you agree?":

She’s terrified but nods in agreement. They head for the exit.

(I have a few questions. How do I get in touch with you?)

• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  John Amato.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  John Amato.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  John Amato.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  John Amato.

[Diane Keranen]

Diane’s Monster Reveal Track

Monster clues and reveals are indicated with ••• and italics

What I learned doing this assignment is that I’m bundling too much context for each step leaving me with repeating writing that will require clean up later. I learned I need to pay attention to each step as a separate part of developing the script.

ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR

• ATMOSPHERE OF EVIL ESTABLISHED — PROLOGUE (1963): In an underground cavern, Alcatraz prison escapees Clarence Anglin, John Anglin, Frank Morris, and Allen West are heard, running, yelling, and screaming. They enter a large underground chamber with a rocky shore and deep, dark, pool of water. Trapped in a dead end, they turn to see a blast water come from the passage they ran from. The water hits them with a force of a hurricane and throws them across the chamber into the rocks over the dark water. The chamber quiets down leaving the bodies of the dead men.
TODAY: A group of tourists listen to stories told by the tour guide of spooky tales of people going missing on the island feared murdered by the ghosts of a long-ago pirate shipwreck.

• THE CHARACTERS ARE WARNED NOT TO DO IT —The tour guide catches one of them wander off-trail and warns everyone to keep to the marked trail because it’s easy to get lost in the “catacombs.”

• CONNECT WITH THE CHARACTERS — The members of the group are excited to be on the island and exploring a notorious site of their hobby. They have their phones and on advice of the brochure they brought flashlights knowing they would be going below the prison and sometimes the power goes out. The debate among themselves (we’re introduced to each of them). They secretly agree to go off-trail to explore. One of the group resists, “maybe we shouldn’t,” but then gives in. The group sneaks off-trail to a crumbling stone door and it opens.

•••MONSTER REVEAL: The initial presence of the water-monster is noticed but seems pretty normal. The underground passages are expected to be damp. They don’t notice it, but the water hides a sign warning against entering the hallway.

HORROR SITUATION — MENACING LOCATION – The group pulls open the door and hear, from deep in the discovered hallway, what sounds like screams. A few are unnerved by the sounds.
REACTION: — DENIAL – The eager ones laugh it off, “Ha ha! Spooky wind,” and one by one enter the secret hallway. They believe nothing bad will happen in the prison that has been closed since 1963 and is now a State Park for goodness’ sake and the stories of people getting lost were for entertainment.

•••MONSTER REVEAL: The surge of water quietly closes the door to the mystery hallway.

HORROR SITUATION — TRAPPED – No one knows they are here. They explore the hallway of rusted prison cells but find the hallway is a dead end. They turn around and are disappointed that this is all there is. However, they can’t find the way out even though the hallway is straight.
REACTION — DENIAL – This can’t be. It makes no sense. It’s got to be here.
REACTION — SOLVE IT – They calm down and methodically look for the way out.

• SAFETY TAKEN AWAY — They are stuck here.

HORROR SITUATION — They are lost and no one knows they are here.
REACTION — SOLVE IT – They can’t find the way they came in so they must find a way out.

•••MONSTER REVEAL/CLUE: The hallway starts to fill with water.

••Character Death 1: Blake (Obnoxious-know-it-all)
••WHY: Mr. Know-It-All believes he can figure out where the water is coming from because he’s a “caver” and knows about this kind of stuff (he’s pretending).
••How: Blake loses his footing and falls beneath the water that rises in the hallway with no way out and is simply gone when the water recedes.

HORROR SITUATION — FORCE OF NATURE – Water starts filling the hallway and just as quickly goes away.
RESPONSE — DENIAL/CONFUSION – What just happened? They check if everyone is there, but no one really knows for sure how many they started with. The group is not sure someone is missing because they didn’t take a head-count at the start. Some are sure someone is missing. Others are not certain. They buddy up.

ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN

• ISOLATED / TRAPPED / ABDUCTED — Without an alternative, they must continue looking for a way out. After all, the “Great Escape” guys found a way out. We can too.

•••MONSTER REVEAL: A sudden surge of water rushes into and through the hallway, above the knee deep, and weirdly flows out at the end of the hallway and disappears. A second person goes missing from a weird situation, and now they are all sure someone is gone.

HORROR SITUATION — WATER THAT KIDNAPS/KILLS – They investigate where the water and cruel prankster(s) went.
REACTION — CONFUSED AND ANGRY – They start to suspect they are being pranked and suspect the missing person, the planner of the group trip, of playing tricks on the rest of the group to scare them. He must be a psychopath and is responsible for this. He told a super-scary story, he found the crumbling doorway, he talked us into coming in here. He must have closed the door and is playing tricks on us to scare us.

••Character Death 2: Frankie (Leader)
••WHY: Frankie goes missing (dies) to create more confusion for the remainder of the group.
••HOW: Water rushing through the hallway. They don’t know if this is a natural phenomenon because it’s so weird or if it’s a well-planned set of pranks.

MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!

• MONSTER: THE NATURE OF THE BEAST — They continue down a passage they found after the last surge of water and must walk through deep puddles.

•••MONSTER REVEAL: The water kills someone in front of them. Now they know something is up with the water.

HORROR SITUATION — The water begins to swirl and the powerful water grabs and pulls one of them down into the dark water. The others hold on for dear life. This is not a prank! We could die here! The fallen guy comes up for air, screams, and the water shapes into a hand and covers his mouth. With eyes wide, scream muffled, the rest of the group watches as he’s pulled into the water and disappears.
REACTION — REALIZATION/ESCAPE – This is more than just a psychopath. There’s something else going on here! We have to get out!

••Character Death 3: Vincent (Love interest)
••WHY: Vincent wants to be a protector of his love interest (Bonnie).
••HOW: Steps into a deep puddle in a passage. The water begins to swirl and drags him away. He comes up for air, screams, and the water shapes into a hand and covers his mouth. With eyes wide, scream muffled, the rest of the group watches as he’s pulled into the water and disappears. The rest of the group watches in stunned horror.

• ONE OF US KILLED — They continue down narrow passageways, now less finished and more cave-like, searching for a way out.

HORROR SITUATION — They find someone peering into a crevasse. How did they get ahead? They find it’s the dead body of Blake, the first one dragged away by the water.
REACTION — REALIZATION – They don’t know how, whether prank or natural phenomenon, or why, but they are in grave danger.
REACTION — ESCAPE – Go back or keep going forward? Forward.

• FULL PURSUIT BY THE KILLER — Remaining group members select a hallway and move quickly as they look for a way out.

•••MONSTER REVEAL: They encounter the monster, it has more human shapes of arms and legs and when it grabs one of them, they fight back but are all pulled over a waterfall.

HORROR SITUATION — Splashing sounds approach them. They prepare to fight the psycho planner. But, it’s not him, it’s water, a wall of water with water arms reaching from the wall of water and legs stepping out of the water toward the group.
REACTION – ESCAPE – Surprised it’s not a person, they flee deeper into the catacombs. Chased into a dead end, they dig at the walls to find a loose area that might be able to break away.

• TERRORIZED — The water reaches and grabs them and drags them down another passage screaming and trying to stay together (reminiscent of the prologue) they fight against the pull of the water. The group is dragged over a waterfall and they all land in the large chamber with a dark pool of water.

ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR

• FIGHT TO THE DEATH — Here in the chamber they find the bodies of all of their missing group members. Their dead friends are lined up with skeletal remains. Four wear the prison uniforms of the Great Escape escapees. The others are older with rotting pirate-looking boots and scraps of clothing and hats. And, corroded swords and other weapons.

••Character Death 4: Chester (Complainer)
••WHY: Chester dies to elevate the fear of the group by showing more of what the water is capable of forming itself into.
••HOW: The water-arms and water-legs grab Chester, the group tug-of-wars with the water, but are pulled into the pool. Everyone but Chester climbs back onto the rocks. The water holds a screaming Chester tightly and slowly takes him below the water as he struggles against the water binding him until he drowns. The water releases the dead Chester to float in the dark pool.

HORROR SITUATION — There’s no other place to go. They can’t go deeper. They’re at the bottom. They can’t make it back up the slippery waterfall. All remaining members of the group survived the attack that brought them here. They’re doomed!
REACTION — TRY TO SOLVE IT – They put their heads together to see what they might be able to use to fight this thing. Maybe throw rocks or use the pirate weapons. One of them foolishly tosses a small rock into the water. It swirls oddly, then stops. One is flashing his light into the water beyond where Chester floats and sees a tunnel. They get excited that maybe that’s a way out and start talking excitedly.

HORROR SITUATION — The water begins to swirl.
REACTION — HIDE – All of the survivors climb onto rocks and away from the water. Everyone stays still and quiet. The water sends columns of water to seek out a victim. Finding no one, it settles back into the pool.

• HYSTERIA — Everyone is stunned. There’s no way out! It’s just a matter of time until all are taken by the water.

HORROR SITUATION — Should someone at least try to swim for it and send help?
REACTION — PREPARE TO FIGHT – “We can’t just sit here forever!” Everyone arms themselves with rocks and old swords. In the rush, no one notices that Tag-Along selects two femur bones and a skull.

• THE THRILLING ESCAPE FROM DEATH — They toss rocks in to the pool of water. It begins to swirl. Tag-Along is talking, chanting really, quietly.

HORROR SITUATION — The water swirls up and screams!
REACTION — HIDE – Everyone holds their high ground. The water searches. Tentacles of water reach up.
REACTION — FIGHT – All at once they throw stones at the water, slice it with swords, smash it with backpacks, anything they have.
REACTION — FLEE – “Keep it up, I’ll swim for it!” and one of them dives into the water and disappears below.

• DEATH RETURNS TO TAKE ONE OR MORE — A daring escape!

•••MONSTER REVEAL: Ghoulie jumps in to swim to escape through the tunnel. The water, bashed and slashed by the fighting group notices that someone is in the water. It retreats and chases after Ghoulie.

••Character Death 5: Ghoulie (Gamer)
••WHY: Ghoulie tries to swim through a tunnel to find a way out of the “end-game” chamber while the others fight the water. He wants to win the “game.”
••HOW: The water riles up and throws him back up out of the pool and against the rocks and kills him.

•••MONSTER REVEAL: The water screams and throws Ghoulie up out of the pool to smash against the rock ceiling. He falls dead. There is no way out. They learn they can hide, but eventually, they will die here.

HORROR SITUATION —The water roils and splashes but stops pursuing the survivors. It blasts down through the pool. This shows everyone there is no way out.
REACTION — DESPAIR – They are out of ideas and scream for help.

•••MONSTER REVEAL: The water comes again, but they hide. It pushes Ghoulie next to the other dead bodies. With a short burst of water spray, it retreats.

HORROR SITUATION — The water swirls up again and begins a hurricane-like spin in the chamber. Faster and faster. It’s screams drown out any possible voices but a few human screams.

REACTION — PREPARE TO DIE – There’s nothing anyone can do. They can’t fight. All they can do is hold on to whatever perch they can.
REACTION — FIGHT – Tag-Along has positioned the skull and femur bones in a Jolly Roger arrangement on a flat rock. Tag-Alone appears to be chanting. The water is not touching the bones. Tag-Along kneels over the skull and crossed bones and lays hand on the bones leaning in as if chanting/yelling to the skull.

•••MONSTER REVEAL: It spins up with a vengeance and brings hurricane winds and rain to attack all of the chamber and anyone in it.

• RESOLUTION — Everyone is clinging to rocks and trying to keep from being dragged into the pool. They are being slashed and cut by the force of the water. Suddenly, there is a tortured scream let loose by the water. They expect to die any second now. But, the water stops and all is quiet except for the voice of Tag-Along who is loudly chanting a remedy of a pirate curse. The remaining members turn, cuts on their faces and clothing torn by the raging hurricane water.

•••MONSTER REVEAL: One of the group has utilized their knowledge of myths, pirates, and curses and found they can fight that way. They chant during the hurricane event and the water calms down. Tag-along keeps chanting, but not as loudly. Then stops at the end of the chant.

All is now quiet. They look at each other and at the water. “Is it over?”

[Brian Bull]

BRIAN BULL – Monster Revel Track

My Vision: I’m a writer that producers want to work with and can’t wait for my next script!!!

“What I learned from doing this assignment is…?” I need to work on my MONSTER REVEAL DEMANDS a bit more. I will definitely keep that in mind as I move forward.

ASSIGNMENT
1. Create each part of this model:
A. Who is your monster and what is their terror? Henry / Werewolf
Powers? Sharp hearing / Acute smell / Claws that shred / Teeth that tear / Strong / Fast
Limitations?
Weaknesses? Poor eye sight
Plan/Purpose/Appetite? To kill everyone / Uncontrollable animalistic behavior / Fresh blood / meat

B. Sequence the reveals
Opening/prologue: Start the mystery of the monster by showing us the result of their violence.

MONSTER REVEAL – INTRODUCTION OF THE MONSTER
The shadow of a wolf-monster, kills a doctor, blood splattering on the wall, and lets the body drop.

During 1st Act: Foreshadowing as clues

MONSTER REVEAL – SOMETHING IS OFF
A few cats roam the premises, when the group walks by, the cats all hiss at them. Charlie chases one away.

1st Act turning point: Characters are locked into horror

MONSTER REVEAL – THE PRESENCE OF THE MONSTER IS KNOWN
When the moon is on the horizon an eerie howl is heard in the hills.

1st half of 2nd Act: The monster is present, but hidden

MONSTER REVEAL – WHAT THE MONSTER CAN DO IS SHOWN
Sammy’s body is found and he is shredded.

Midpoint: Monster is worse than we thought

MONSTER REVEAL – THE KILLINGS ARE MORE FREQUENT AND CLOSER
Zoey is shredded by the monster not far at all from the others.

2nd half of 2nd Act: Monster pursuing / attacking characters, delivering clues with each attack

MONSTER REVEAL – THE KILLING CONTINUES
Charlie is attacked and shredded to death. Clue….???

3rd Act: Characters solve the puzzle and fight back, apparently killing monster

MONSTER REVEAL – UNDER ESTIMATES HIS VICTIMS
James is killed but leaves the monster vulnerable for Mary to shoot.

Resolution: Survivors live…but somehow, the monster is still alive for the sequel

MONSTER REVEAL – THE MONSTER LIVES WITHIN SOMEONE ELSE
James sits up. James licks his wounds.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  Brian Bull.

[Zachary Hunchar]

What I learned doing with this assignment was… that I need clues. I’ll confess I found the explanation on the Demand side to be unclear.

**1.** Create each part of this model:
**A.** Who is your monster, and what is their terror? |
* Powers? Slash has a near-skin-tight battle suit and cyber technology implanted in him. He is strong, fast, and able to heal acceleratedly. His AI-controlled system gives him a lot of information. There are weapons systems built into the suit, including flame-throwers, missile launchers, and nano-blades.
* Limitations? Because of the effects of time travel, he cannot remove the suit. Any exposure to the time stream causes him massive trauma. The suit can heal but it can only heal so much. Also, AI only knows some things and provides less than reliable data. His two jumps have damaged a lot of the ways it can communicate. The damaged system causes him to move strangely and make strange noises.
* Weaknesses? With significant damage, he could be defeated. Mostly through exposure to the time stream. Also, an EMP could disrupt enough systems to be lethal.
* Plan/Purpose/Appetite? Find the parents of the future God Emperor and kill them before they can procreate. This weekend is the only reference to the parents.

⠀**B.** Sequence the reveals
1. See Slash looking at his hands in prayer.
2. He watches them move about town and interact.
3. Slash encounters an elderly lady still living in the area. He studies her for a bit before leaving her and her dog alone.
4. The caretaker talks about the slaughter that happened 35 years ago. How he saw Slash walk through a hole in the air. The cars looked very much like they did now. And he waited all this time.
5. The old lady warns them to behave and not fornicate.
6. He destroys the electricity grid.
7. He damages the car.
8. He watches them party. There is a precise moment where he could kill them all, but he doesn’t.
9. He hunts all of them except Trevor. However, he does defend himself against Trevor.
10. There is a strange movement by slash.
11. Strange noises happen as he hunts.
12. Flashback showing Slash standing still at a party 35 years ago. After some time, he suddenly begins killing. During the battle, he stops and continues to take damage. Then he opens the portal and steps through, killing one more.
* **C.** Create Demand for each clue/reveal.
* 1. Slash looking at his hands. Friends will think he is a religious fanatic. The reality is his AI interface; the only way to see information is through a hologram. Only he can see sensors in his hand project that.
2. Slash watching them interact with what’s left of the town. Reveal is that he’s trying to figure out who might be the possible parents of the ultimate evil. Looking for bad people and people who are sexually active.
3. Encounter with the old lady. Reveals that he thinks she’s familiar but can be dismissed as she’s too old to be the mother.
4. Caretaker story. The reveal is that he was right but dismissed as a crank.
5. Old Lady warning against fornication. Reveals that she was the last soldier sent to kill the parents but got sent back too far. Her equipment is more advanced/reliable.
6. Destroying power. The reveal is that Slash tried repowering his suit but overloaded the electric system. Everyone will assume it was to cut them off.
7. Damaging the cars. Reveal is he’s looking for parts to repair the suit. Friends assume it was to isolate them.
8. Watching the party. He’s trying to figure out who might be the parents based on behavior. He’d been warned by his AI that too many unnecessary deaths could mess up the timeline.
9. Trevor. He quickly figures that Trevor isn’t getting any action, and it seems unlikely.
10. Slash’s weird movement. His suit is malfunctioning, and he moves in and out of the time stream. It’s why he disappears and reappears suddenly.
11. Strange noises. The suit continues to malfunction, and the noises they hear are of him entering and leaving the timestream.
12. Late 80s party. His suit took him to the wrong time. It took a few moments to realize where he went.

[William Sokolic]

ASSIGNMENT 2
Take these steps to create your Monster Reveal Track.
1. Create each part of this model:
A. Who is your monster and what is their terror? The monster is a horrid Alien-like creature from an unknown planet. Her mission is to find a planet they can inhabit.
• Powers? The monster can inhabit or replicate any creature on any planet, including speech. It’s a way to not be discovered. Oh yeah, when it inhabits its own body, it’s a gruesome killing machine, but one who could talk and think.
• Limitations? It doesn’t really have one, Subject to fatl injuries.
• Weaknesses? Another sore spot. This thing has no weak spot but needs a rare Kryptonite like substance to surive. How do they find out.
• Plan/Purpose/Appetite? The creature crash landed in an Alabama swamp. Her co-pilot broke his neck, he may come back to life, but doubt it. Requires this rare chemical. She will rustShe discovered she was on earth, and this seems like a good time to analyze it for whatever benefit. But it may entail killing the five before she takes off.
B. Sequence the reveals. Five astrophyscists met at a weekend retreat in the woods. When they arrived, they found Velma, a caretaker they didn’t expect and for some reason were not told about her. She said she is working on a degree from UAB. Velma is the creature in sheep’s clothing.
C. Create Demand for each clue/reveal.
2. Lay that over your current outline and fill in each clue/reveal using the tag “Monster Reveal:.”
Initial killing did not reveal the monster, thought he drowned. But the scientist show up at the door, brutally disfigured.
Second killing snares a woman who went looking for her friend, friend saw monster evolve from Velma. She is killed.
When group realizes two dead, appeal to Velma. No luck. Decided to leave together hold tight. A third scientist trips and falls and is dreagged. They get glimpse of monster they think it’s from the swamp. A creature. Three left, go hunting for the monster, Velma found outside says she wants to 4help.
A fourth is killed, but not until warns Velma is monster. Remaining two do not believe it. Get through to police, who said they will try and arrive b boat. Two left, break into a she steel tools for weapons. None has a gun, but knoves. One has to poop.Gets attacked then. Last survivor cries out to Velma to stop. She understands even in this position. Last survivor share information, We mean no harm.
Velma circles the scientist. He tries his best and thinks he vanquishes the monster. Till he takes off from the swamp, with precious fuel found in swamp.

3. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work. Develop a plan to gradually introduce the monster.
4. Post your assignment in the forums at https://www.screenwritingclasses.com/forums/
Subject line: (Billy’s) Monster Reveal Track (place in first line)
Deadline: 48 hours