Lesson 7

[Deb Johnson]

Deb’s Story Map

What I learned doing this assignment… this was a simple yet profound way to bring it all together. It’s an easy way to fill in the blanks… the gaps and incongruities became obvious right away… and some new plot points emerged. Again – I’m allowing myself to work quickly and not worry about it being great. I realize we have a ways to go in the class and each assignment gives me more confidence to trust the process.

Opening – An action scene, starring Jimmy Blazer, an American action movie star, is filmed on location in a foreign country. Jimmy is injured. Production stops.

A1 A dynamic action sequence??? Results in the injury ??? of Major Action Star, Jimmy Blazer

Inciting Incident – Titan, a foreign secret agent, receives an assignment but refuses to accept the mission. He goes dark and tries to move his secret family whose location is dead center of the attack.

M1 Titan receives a mission to assemble a team and carry out a terrorist attack.

M2 Titan refuses the assignment.

A2 Titan goes dark and through a complicated process?? sheds his identity and remains undetected while accessing the secret location of his family. He moves them to a different location near a movie set.

V1 Cal learns of Titan’s defection and sends Titan’s friend, Marshal, (like Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive) to find him. (Cal lies and tells Marshal that Titan is in danger)

V2 Cal assembles a different team, with himself as leader, to facilitate the attack.

First Turning Point at end of Act 1 – Titan is a doppelganger of action movie star Jimmy Blazer. He convinces Jimmy to lay low while he takes over his action movie star persona.

M3 As a doppelganger of Jimmy Blazer, Titan decides to hide in plain sight on the film set and takes over for Jimmy.

A3 Titan and Jimmy have some sort of fight??? Titan wins. They both agree that Titan will take over for Jimmy – but Jimmy’s pride is hurt and he’s resentful.

M4 Titan hides Jimmy with Titan’s wife and child. (Jimmy travels blindfolded)

A4 Now on set, posing as Jimmy, Titan must engage in a choreographed fight. He hurts his trainer and co-star (a woman). Titan laments that the woman could never overpower him in real life… but shows how she could defeat him if she needed to. They learn from Titan and utilize his tactics to make the fight scene better.

A5 Titan has planted a false narrative in his file about a mother and sister. Marshal goes on this RED HERRING chase to track down the non-existent Mother and sister. Goes in with a tactical team / guns ready. He discovers the ruse. Cal has no leverage on Titan. Marshal changes tactics

V3 Cal is unhinged that Titan is completely off the grid and nowhere to be found.

Mid-Point – Titan learns that his boss, Cal, has ulterior motives – that the attack is not for his country, but for his own personal gain. Titan decides to actively sabotage the mission and goes after the codes necessary to carry out the attack.

V4 Somehow??? Titan learns Cal is not working at the behest of his government but working for a foreign company that wants to use this strategic location to build a factory and use the waterway and air space to their advantage. Cal will receive a huge sum of money and stake in the company once it’s up and running. It’s his retirement.

M5 Titan decides that the attack cannot happen and retrieves the codes to sabotage the terror attack.

A6 Titan scales some sort of impossible fortress (???) to break in and steal codes/keys necessary to deploy the drones. The attack cannot happen without this.

A7 Cal’s new team (it takes 3 people to replace Titan) “scale the fortress”??? and break in to get the key – but realize it’s already been stolen. … Cal realizes Titan is sabotaging his plans for the train wreck.

V5 Cal informs his team/Marshal that Titan is a traitor and needs to be eliminated. He says he will reward anyone who will find and bring Titan to Cal.

A8 Someone on the set (Hair/Makeup?) figures out the Titan is not Jimmy. But they keep this information secret until it can be advantageous to them at some point.

Second Turning Point at end of Act 2 – Jimmy returns to the set on the same day that Titan’s agency has ascertained Titan’s location. Jimmy is apprehended by the agency.

A9 The Hair/Makeup?? traitor threatens to go public with the deception – tries to blackmail Titan. Titan diffuses the situation (???) But doesn’t realize a tabloid reporter??? Has overheard and publishes a story. Marshall picks up on this – goes to the set to investigate.

M6 Jimmy, an early recovery, returns to the set – and demands Titan step aside.

V6 Cal, suspicious of Marshal, has him tailed and discovers Titan’s location on the movie set. Cal sends his henchman to apprehend Titan.

A10 There is a massive CHASE, FIGHT, SHOOTOUT AND ESCAPE. Real bullets and blanks are used throughout. Running through different sets, fighting with Titan and Jimmy – till it is Jimmy that Marshal captures and it is Titan who escapes.

M7 Titan goes to the train depot and there is some sort of exchange??? with the person in charge of the cargo cars. (not sure what’s going on now – but later, will be revealed that the toxic cargo does not make it onto the train that will be attacked)

A11 Jimmy is taken to Cal’s Lair where he is INTERROGATED/TORCHURED.

V7 Jimmy Blazer is believably freaked out by his abduction and denies everything when confronted by Cal. Cal, thinks he is dealing with a very clever Titan, but is unable to get the information he needs to proceed with his attack on the train. He decides to poison Jimmy with an allergen that Titan is allergic to. When Jimmy is not affected, Cal finally realizes he’s got the wrong guy.

Crisis – Cal goes to the movie set and poisons Titan. Cal captures Titan’s family and kills Titan’s friend.

V8 Cal, himself, goes in disguise, to the movie set to apprehend Titan. He poses as ??? and poisons Titan’s food with an allergen. He gets the codes/keys he needs to commence the attack.

M8 Titan goes into anaphylactic shock. Cal gets the codes/keys from Titan and leaves him to die. Titan is saved by Marshall and asks him to help keep his family hidden.

V9 Jimmy reveals enough details about Titan’s family location that Cal can ascertain their location.

V10 Cal apprehends Marshall before he can move Titan’s family.

V11 Cal kills Titan’s friend, Marshall, in front of Jimmy – a warning to keep his mouth shut.

Climax – The attack is set in motion. Titan thwarts the attack, saves his family, and kills Cal.

V12 Somehow??? Cal gets Titan’s family on the train that is about to be derailed.

V13 Cal (with key) releases the Drone – as planned – that will attack the bridge and send the toxic cargo cars into the river below.

A12 Titan gets on the train that is going to crash (a pilot he befriended on the set gets him on). The gun he has is loaded with blanks and he’s unable to shoot down the drone.

M9 Somehow??? Titan saves his family. The drones take out the bridge, the train derails, and plummets to the river below.

M10/V14/A13/M11 Titan goes after Cal. They fight in hand-to-hand combat(???). It’s like the action sequence in the open – at a dangerous precipice. Cal realizes (??) the train cars were not full of toxins – his plan has been thwarted. Cal is killed. It appears that Titan doesn’t survive (He falls??? the same way Jimmy Blazer did in the open).

Resolution – Titan rescues Jimmy. Jimmy offers Titan the opportunity to take over as Jimmy Blazer, which he accepts.

A14 While everyone thinks Titan is dead, Titan goes to save Jimmy. This is a real ‘going into the Lion’s Den’ type of rescue. Titan rescues Jimmy.

M12 Titan brings Jimmy back to the movie set. The actor admits he’s not even the real Jimmy Blazer and asks if Titan wants to take his place. He does. Titan returns home to his family with a new career.

[Ron Berti]

Ron’s Story Map

What I learned writing this assignment: Up to now I have felt like I was “building the pieces” of a jigsaw puzzle. Now I am seeing how to put them together. Sorta kinda. Boy, there’s a LOT to this process.

Opening:

Action 1: attack in dark

Mission 1: attack unsuccessful

Inciting Incident:

Mission 2: hero complains about torpedoes in briefing

Villain 1: CO makes excuses

First Turning Point:

A2: second night-time attack

M3: again, unsuccessful.

A3: wait, maybe not? Was that our torpedo that sunk that destroyer?

Midpoint:

A4: nighttime approach to island, light signals, rubber boats, attempt to rescue coast watcher

M4: partly successful mission: got the coastwatcher out alive, but lost his radio; and one crewman KIA and one wounded in event

Second Turning Point:

A5: 129 helps knock out a Zero but Avenger lost anyway.

M5: In picking up survivors from Avenger, meet Garcia, rear seat gunner from LA

A6: need to decide what to do with pilot

V1: pilot scowls at 129 crew.

A7: decision made how to treat pilot.

Crisis:

V2: tonight, two destroyers in close proximity

M6: to even odds, skippers have a technique for communicating in the dark

A8: furball ensues

Climax:

V3: enemy has utterly changed tactics

M7: 129 crew will need to adapt real-time to changed circumstances

A9: even bigger furball, 5 barges sunk, one PT has to be towed back to Rendova.

Resolution:

V4: now we’re entering enemy strongholds

M8: simultaneous attacks on 4 barge bases

A10: all four bases destroyed

[Pamela Rice]

PAM’S STORY MAP

1. OPENING

M1: Soon-to-be-retired Hitman RAY CASSIDY fails to complete his last hit.
His new mission: To save the life of his intended target, CHARLIZE, beautiful wife of Plastic Surgeon for the Boston mob, DEVON DELBIANCO (who arranged the hit).
A1: Ray attempts to rescue Charlize.
M2: Charlize doesn’t want to go with him. Doesn’t believe and/or trust him. Ray gets Charlize to pack a bag.
A2: Drags her to his car, kicking and screaming.

2. INCITING INCIDENT
M3: Ray falls for Charlize while doing reconnaissance for his hit.
M4: For her safety, Ray kidnaps her.
V1: Dr. DelBianco discovers Ray did not carry out the hit on his wife (Charlize), as planned.
V2: He hires a team of thugs to kill both Ray and Charlize.
A2: They track down Ray and Charlize, who are on the run.
M5: They encounter THREE THUGS when they stop at a restaurant on the road.
A3: Ray wounds two and escapes from the other thug, SONNY.
A4: Ray and Charlize flee the restaurant, with thugs in hot pursuit — on foot and then in cars. Gunshots are fired.

3. FIRST TURNING POINT / END OF ACT 1

A5: After successfully evading the Thugs, they continue on the run, their heads still on a swivel.
M6: They reach their hideaway on the Maine coast,
– – – – ACT 2
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>M7: Once they’re safe in their secret location, Ray gets Charlize to trust him.

4. MIDPOINT

M8: Knowing that they can’t stay hidden forever, Ray plots how to take down Dr. DelBianco by exposing his shady surgical practice. But this means going back into the city.
M9: Ray sneaks in to Dr. DelBianco’s office; makes copies of the files.
V3: Dr. DelBianco learns that Ray is back in town.
V4: He creates a scheme to frame Ray for a crime.
V5: He surgically alters the face of SONNY, to match Ray’s. Sonny kills a cop, and his face is caught on camera.
V6: Dr. DelBianco alerts law enforcement, and Ray is erroneously identified as the suspect in the cop killing.

5. SECOND TURNING POINT / END OF ACT 2

M10: Ray sees his face on news: he’s a wanted man. He disguises himself, but is still recognized.
A6: Ray is chased by the law. Evades and escapes several times. Gunshots fired on both sides.
M11: Ray puts up a good fight, but is ultimately apprehended by a SWAT team.
V7: Dr. DelBianco learns of Charlize’s hideout: Acadia National Park in Maine.
– – – – ACT 3

A7: With Ray behind bars, Dr. DelBianco heads to the Maine coast, bringing Sonny (Ray’s lookalike) for back-up. They find Charlize at her cottage.
V8: She initially thinks Sonny is Ray, and she lets her guard down. They gain access to the cabin.
V9: The doctor instructs Sonny to dispose of Charlize, in a way that will make it look like an accident occurred on the cliffs.
A8: Charlize is kidnapped.
M12 & A: But Ray breaks out of jail by outwitting and outfighting guards.
M13: Ray catches up to Charlize, her husband and Sonny at the Maine cabin.

6. CRISIS/DILEMMA

M14: Ray decides how to plead in court. He has an alibi, but won’t implicate or endanger Charlize. He and his lawyer go for an Insanity defense, and Ray gets sent to a Psych Ward.

7. CLIMAX
M15: Ray breaks out of the Psych Ward.
M16: Ray makes it back to Maine just in time to encounter Sonny and Dr. DelBianco. Ray and Sonny engage in a strange battle that looks like they are fighting themselves. Ultimately, Ray shoots and kills Sonny.
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>M17 & A9: Ray battles with Dr. DelBianco. Pushes him off of a cliff, but he doesn’t die.
He gets taken to a hospital and undergoes both life-saving and plastic surgery, where he is horribly disfigured. He gets sent to jail, for “aiding and abetting” criminals.

8. RESOLUTION
Ray and Charlize can be together now. Ray officially retires as a Hitman.

[ray Moore]

Ray’s Story Map

What I learned doing this assignment is how to combine the missions and objectives of the characters to map out how my story will reveal itself.

1. Opening: The hero is in pursuit of a mark running in the sewer tunnels searching for evidence in his father’s murder case and runs into the middle of a skin trade.

Mission 1: The hero is in pursuit of a mark running in the sewer tunnels.

Action 1: The aliens are in the tunnels and begin inhabiting the bodies of the rival gang members. They begin shooting at each other with laser assault rifles.

Action 2: During the gunfight, a preservation capsule where the enhanced humans were stored was loosened.

Action 3: Some of the gunmen escape the gunfight and report back to the villain that they had been interrupted.

2. Inciting Incident: The hero learns that his mentor has been murdered.

Villain 1: The villain sends the Hit Squad to kill the hero’s mentor.

Mission 2: The hero recovers the portal device.

Villain 2: The villain sends some of the Hit Squad to recover the preservation capsules.

3. First Turning Point at end of Act 1: Several more bounty hunters are killed. The hero makes a conscious decision to find out who is killing the bounty hunters. The hero gains an ally in an enhanced human.

Mission 3: The hero must protect the portal device.

Villain 3: The villain captures the hero in exchange for the portal device.

4. Mid-Point: The alien inhabits the villain. Not only are bounty hunters being hunted but the whole planet is in jeopardy.

Action 4: The villain is inhabited by the alien.

Villain 4: The hero’s mother is attacked but the attack is thwarted.

5. Second Turning Point at end of Act 2: The hero’s mother is attacked and his wife and child kidnapped.

Villain 5: The villain sends the Hit Squad to kidnap the hero’s wife and son.

6. Crisis: The Police Headquarters is blown up and the hero’s partner is killed. The villain gains an ally in an enhanced human.

Villain 6: The Police Headquarters is blown up. Several officers are killed including the hero’s partner.

7. Climax: The alien army comes through the portal to take over the planet.

Action 5: The alien army comes through the portal.

8. Resolution: The hero’s enhanced human defeats the villain’s enhanced human. The hero overpowers the villain. The hero drives the aliens back into the portal and the portal is closed. The villain and his Hit Squad are imprisoned.

Mission 4: The hero attempts to enter a secret laboratory where the enhanced humans were created but is met with biotech drones that lay dormant to guard the building.

Villain 7: The villain attacks the secret laboratory along with his enhanced human.

Mission 5: The hero defeats the villain and his Hit Squad, the alien army is conquered. The portal device is safe.

[karl gromelski]

(Your Name’s) Story Map

“What I learned doing this assignment is…?

Clear Mission: Hero must figure out who set him up and why.

Motivation: Hero gets revenge for uncle’s suicide by creating a scam revealing YT channel.

Opening

Hero exposes scammers on his YouTube channel.

M1 Hero exposes a scam center who more sophisticated than most.

They close down.

Inciting Incident

Hero’s home is raided by FBI task force.

A1 FBI raids Hero’s home

Hero’s personal life upended. Life endangered. Hero’s bank frozen. Social media channel blocked.

A2 Now on alert, Hero senses another raid – escapes.

V1 When CEO learns his scam center has been exposed, he shuts it down

V2 CEO forces Chief of Staff to take action to purge the YT sensation.

When CEO learns that his profitable scam center can’t provide “free” money for PAC, he has to decide on using his fortune to help re-elect the President or risk losing defense contracts during next 4-years.

First Turning Point at end of Act 1

Anon Girl helps Hero learn that he’s been designated a domestic terrorist.

Hero must run or risk getting captured.

A3 Hero chased by Gov’t agencies – barely gets away.

M2 Hero flees and avoids contact with “knowns” Hero goes to turn self in. AnonGirl prevents.

M3 FBI & DHS pursue. Media puts his photo everywhere. He’s a wanted man.

Camera/ “eyes” everywhere.

V3 Keep the PAC solvent.

Fund the PAC until culprit is caught. Then, go back to using scam center to making election money.

Mid-Point

Hero breaks into secure Fed facility

A4 Hero goes where Gov’t agencies least expect him.

M4 Hero & AG hack Fed data base to see what they’ve got on Hero.

They pretend they’re an outside cyberagency to get low-down on Hero – it reads like bogus.

A5 New “super posse” after Hero & friend. They barely escape.

M5 They find liason to Indian call center – dead.

Liason tied to large corp that’s heavy into politics.

M6 They break into company get records – but busted. Hero gets away.

V4 CEO exposed in social media/online boards for doing bad things.

V5 CEO has story easily dismissed/erased.

V6 CEO sends Black Ops team after hackers.

Second Turning Point at end of Act 2

Anon Girl arrested. Put into prison at QB.

A6 Hero & friend trapped. They call Police on themselves.

A7 Friend questioned. Locked in Guantanamo Bay cell.

M7 AG caught – sent to secret detainment.

V7 Black Ops have a bead on hackers who must call police on self to get out alive.

Crisis/Dilemma

Hero learns the true villain behind the chase & the villain’s ultimate plan.

Hero must decide whether to fight or flight.

V8 After AnonGirl is captured, scam center is put back into operation.

M8 Worm activated – old scam center is operational again – but at new location in India. And more sophisticated.

M9 Hero tags Crypto currency. follows the money.

M10 Hero discovers PAC behind the money scamming.

V9 Hero uses PAC’s tactics against its scam centers – causing CEO to bleed money again.

Climax

Hero exposes the villains and their activities.

A8 Hero caught in a crossfire. Hero escapes

M11 Hero implicates self with scam center to make them target of investigation.

M12 Hero uses PAC autobots to jam scam call center.

Forces PAC to stretch themselves – make mistakes – and CoS to show self (use power to reduce enforcement policing)

V10 CEO tied to “terrorist” call centers – making him a Most Wanted.

Resolution

Anon Girl released. Villain imprisoned at QB. Hero gets his life back.

A9 Friend released from QB

M13 Hero gets AG out, record expunged. Media report on crooked PAC money. CoS resigns and abuse of power revealed.

V11 CEO flies to private island in foreign country to avoid law enforcement.

V12 CEO locked up in Quantonimo Bay as “domestic terrorist.”