-
Lesson 8
Reply to post your assignment.
-
17 Replies
-
Sunil Pappu’s Character Journey Track
“What I learned doing this assignment is…to create a profile and journey for each of the main characters”
Character Profile: Phil Donner
1. Role: Father / Leader
2. Traits: Stubborn, Tinkerer, Complaining, Unkind
3. Fears: Fear of dark, unknown, something terrible will happen, Unseen
4. Wants/Needs: to get revenge for his twin son / to protect his family.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: Always complaining and is unkind to the blind son and blames him for losing his twin brother.
6. How they react under stress: tries to take out his issues by building something useful
7. Relationship with other characters: over-protective and bossy
Character Journey: Phil Donner
1. Character Intro: He saves his twin son and drags him to safety. He scolds him for not following the rules.
2. Denial: Blindfolds his son even though he is unsure of what the Detectors can or cannot do because those are their family rules
3. Reaction at first horror: Goes into shock at losing his favourite twin son and confines himself to the parking lot tinkering with car batteries and fixing the generators and makes the blind twin feel guilty.
4. Relation to the group after the first horror: reclusive. Obsessive with revenge
5. How they fight back: rebuilding the mobile tower and powering it using car batteries to reach out to the outside world
6. End Point: He shoots the Detectors into bits. Survives for now.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? You need to learn more about the Detectors and target their weakness to beat them.
Character Profile: Sarah Donner
1. Role: Mother / Rescuer
2. Traits: Patient. Caring. Badass. Swift.
3. Fears: Fear of losing her loved ones, something terrible will happen, predators, being alone.
4. Wants/Needs: to see her son again / to take charge to protect her kids
5. Likability / Rooting factors: She is badass. She will risk her life to protect her kids.
6. How they react under stress: She is calm and can handle a gun with ease
7. Relationship with other characters: She takes charge and mediates between father and kids and is kind and caring.
Character Journey: Sarah Donner
1. Character Intro: Rings a cycle bell to summon the family to dinner in the home furnishing store that is now neatly decorated like their home.
2. Denial: Wears eyeshades to take her bath in the tub and drapes the tub with a black tarpaulin sheet to go underwater to open her eyes and clean them.
3. Reaction at first horror: Hugs her remaining kids and cries. Tries to be strong for them.
4. Relation to the group after the first horror: She leads and wants her remaining kids to survive
5. How they fight back: She is a badass with the gun and has karate chops she learnt from her self-defence lessons
6. End Point: She shoots the Detector and stabs it in the protruding belly with a rod but she succumbs in the end to save her kids.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The Detectors have an inner protective eyelid that is bulletproof. Her eyes are scanned and the brain is sucked out and the tentacles grab her body and absorb it into the Detector’s belly.
Character Profile: Jason Donner
1. Role: Athletic twin son / Sacrificial Lamb
2. Traits: Belligerent. Defiant. Athletic. Selfish.
3. Fears: Fear of dark, unknown, being alone, going insane.
4. Wants/Needs: to be liked by all / to save his girlfriend.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: He is charming and handsome and stupidly in love.
6. How they react under stress: He is in denial and tries to beat the Detectors with a baseball bat
7. Relationship with other characters: doesn’t listen to anyone and is too full of himself as the most popular player on his football team.
Character Journey: Jason Donner
1. Character Intro: he plays hide and seek with his little sister and twin brother and thinks it’s a stupid game to play
2. Denial: he thinks he’ll go insane if he has to stay blindfolded much longer and wants to take it off and just hit a few balls with his baseball bat
3. Reaction at first horror: He wants to attack the Detector with his baseball bat
4. Relation to the group after first horror: He is selfish and thinks about himself first.
5. How they fight back: He just wants to swing his bat at the Detectors and being it down with violence
6. End Point: He falls prey to the Detectors when he switches on the smartphone in the toilet cubicle.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The detector is attracted to the blue LED light of the mobile screen and kills him brutally. Leaving only blood-soaked clothes cut up by the sharp blade-like claws.
Character Profile: Mike Donner
1. Role: Blind twin son / Introvert/Loner
2. Traits: Smart, introverted, Low self-esteem, feels guilty
3. Fears: Fear of something terrible will happen, pain and torture, death
4. Wants/Needs: to be loved / to be forgiven by his father.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: protective of his younger sister and works hard to please his father and be forgiven for losing his brother
6. How they react under stress: goes into his shell and listens to his audiobooks
7. Relationship with other characters: always covers up for his twin brother, doesn’t get along with his father but is loving and caring towards his mom and younger sister.
Character Journey: Mike Donner
1. Character Intro: he senses the Detectors in the TV showroom and drags his younger sister out to safety.
2. Denial: He wears a blindfold even though he is blind because those are the family rules
3. Reaction at first horror: He quickly grabs the rope to retrace their way out of the store and back to their home.
4. Relation to the group after first horror: He leads and uses his senses to get everyone out to safety
5. How they fight back: He accidentally discovers the infrared sensor from his walker and uses it to cause the Detectors distress and scare them away
6. End Point: He blows up the giant eyes of the Detector by beaming an infrared laser through a magnifying lens. Survives for now.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The Detectors are weakened by the Infrared light.
Character Profile: Daisy Donner
1. Role: Younger Sister / Innocent
2. Traits: Naïve, Naughty, Loving and Daring.
3. Fears: Fear of the dark, predators, being alone.
4. Wants/Needs: to play with her brothers / to obey the rules and stay alive
5. Likability / Rooting factors: She is a naughty sweet little girl who is loved by everyone.
6. How they react under stress: She numbs out and clings to her older brother, following his lead
7. Relationship with other characters: Loving and bossy.
Character Journey: Daisy Donner
1. Character Intro: Daisy loves to play hide and seek with her older brothers and stumbles into a TV showroom that can attract the Detectors
2. Denial: She is too young to comprehend and peeps out the blindfold that gets her into trouble and sacrifices her mother
3. Reaction at first horror: numbs out and clings to blind brother
4. Relation to the group after first horror: she becomes upset and angry
5. How they fight back: she works with her blind brother to outsmart the Detectors and helps in creating a darkroom
6. End Point: She points her brother’s walking stick prepared to attack the Detectors with the infrared sensor. Survives for now.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The Detectors are attracted to the reflected light from the exposed eyes and scan it to access the memories in our brains. You have to be smart to beat these Detectors.
-
<div>
</div>Joyce’s Character Journies
WIL: I need to stay with the lessons.
Role: Whitney, survivor,plans escape and calms the group
Traits: intelligent valedictorian, cautious, naive and trusts others close to her
Fears: losing everything she has worked for because of a scandal in high school the group were part of.
Wants/Needs : To help her husband build his company, needs to feel wanted and loved.
Likability / Rooting factors: she is smart, but vulnerable
How she reacts under stress: calm, careful, encouraging others
Relationship with other characters: She knows one is to blame, but she protects them all until she knows the truth.
B. What is her Character Journey for this story? She struggles to keep the group on the right track, but fails and barely survives.
Character Intro: She has a weird invitation to the reunion, but her husband tells her to go.
Denial: She thinks nothing of the yearbook sent to her until her friend shows her a similar one.
Her reaction at first horror: sorrow and self-blame
Relation to group after first horror: keep them toghere or never go alone.
How she fights back: tries to get out. Burn the yearbooks in furnace room.
End Point: Saves the editor and goes home to unfaithful husband, but returns and burns down his building.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? She breaks her own rules of honesty and integrity by burning down the building.
— Role: Former Basketball player Blaine, has something to hide but dies first before he can reveal it.
Traits: athletic, secretive, brooding, loner
Fears: the future and the past
Wants/Needs : reconciliation and revenge
Likability / Rooting factors: He is a good athlete with one big mistake in his past.
How he reacts under stress: plays basketball
Relationship with other characters: tolerates them, but goes his own way. They feel sorry for him and for what he might have been.
B. What is his Character Journey for this story? He wants to find the vulgar yearbooks on his own and dies.
Character Intro: At the reunion the group insists that he must join them.
Denial: He never feels like part of the group.
His reaction at first horror: He is the victim.
Relation to group after first horror: none.
How they fight back: can’t
End Point: his body is dragged away.
What insight does his death bring to the others/audience? One believes the janitor is to blame. The others have new respect for danger.
— Role: Angel, the majorette and former writer for the bands and choruses, has deep jealousy for Whitney and shows it.
Traits: aging more than the others, smart mouth, believes she deserves more than she gets and will never bget over what she thinks are slights.
Fears: afraid to get old and afraid to be without a man.
Wants/Needs : more recognition than she gets and needs applause.
Likability / Rooting factors: Some former classmates still admire her as a class beauty of their day. Whitney tries to be friendly, but Angel will never like her.
How she reacts under stress: Freaks out.
Relationship with other characters: Some would protect herven after she puts them down.
B. What is her Character Journey for this story? She searches for the vulgar books with a partner, but they are separated and she is killed by the monster.
Character Intro: Maybe a flashback shows her temperament but she joins the group at the reunion.
Denial: She is not the woman Whitney is, isn’t that smart and is losing her looks.
Their reaction at first horror: Almost collapses.
Relation to group after first horror: It shuts her down for a short while.
How she fights back: She agrees to look for the bookds and a way out from the onster, but she wants Chad to go with her.
End Point: Dies.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? They see their is no obvious reason for the deaths, but someone or somethink is trapping them in this old building.
— Role:Chad, former football player and sports editor is the muscle man of the group.
Traits: Big, still arrogant and pushy with women.
Fears:not being a stud and not going anywhere.
Wants/Needs : attention and needs to find the monster before they are rescued to keep the vulgar yearbooks out of other people’s hands.
Likability / Rooting factors: He had a following in high shool. The group depends on his strength.
How he reacts under stress: Anger. Physical desplays.
Relationship with other characters: they accept him for what he is and has become. They remember his wins and forgive his losses.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story? He kills the janitor. He believes the man is the monster, but he isn’t.
Character Intro: Reunion. Women pass him and give him an insult because of his former actions.
Denial: He wants to quit looking when he thinks he killed the monster.
His reaction at first horror: Recovers quickly.
Relation to group after first horror: Actually tries to organize the group.
How he fights back: He opens lockers, but he leaves angel alone in the band room where she is killed.
End Point: He teams up with the school mascot. Separated he finds him dead and a second mascot. Which is the monster?
What insight does his death or survival bring to the others/audience?
Now they have no one of strength. It will have to take a miracle or a plan to survive.
— Role:Greg, photographer. Wears mascot suit.
Traits: quiet, funny, scared, insecure, hides behind a mask always.
Fears: being alone, left out and of monsters.
Wants/Needs : to help, to figure out what the monster wants and needs to get a picture of him/it.
Likability / Rooting factors:Everyone likes Greg.
How they react under stress:
Relationship with other characters:
B. What is their Character Journey for this story? Finds themonster. Is killed in the mascot costume.
Character Intro: Last one to join the group,
Denial: At first he is skeptical.He follows Chad and Angel, but he loses them until her death. He takes a picture.
His reaction at first horror: takes a picture.
Relation to group after first horror: willing to help but not to lead.
How he fights back: He is determined to document the horror.
End Point: Dies.
What insight does his death or survival bring to the others/audience? Frantic, hysteria.
— Role: Latoya was editor of the yearbook and took most of the blame for the scandal, but she is not to blame.
Traits: quiet, bookish, loyal, rather timid
Fears: the scandal will rise again to hurt her chances of a better life, if the monster does not kill her first.
Wants/Needs : Blaine to notice her and renew friendship or more.
Likability / Rooting factors: Others see her as a quiet leader they trust.
How she reacts under stress: silence.
Relationship with other characters: She is sisterly influence.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story? Attacked, but Whitney saves her.
Character Intro: In the car with Whitney on the way to the reunion.
Denial: Nobody could be that desperate to desperate to destroy them.
Her reaction at first horror: She is numb, stricken, won’t move.
Relation to group after first horror: caring.
How she fights back: takes responsibility for the scandal although she didn’t do anything wrong, but as editor, she blames herself.
End Point: Lives to be rescued, but she dies in the hosp-ital.
What insight does her death or survival bring to the others/audience? Because of her death Whitney goes home and leaves the investigation early, but when she finds her husband with another woman, she drives back and burns down the building.
— Role: Scott, former class president and student council president of old school, a plastic surgeon, and was part of a triangle with Chad for Whitney’s dates.
Traits: Moral, steady, not bold around women, carrying a torch for Whitney.
Fears: not much. He has faith that everything turns out all right.
Wants/Needs: anther chance at love.
Likability / Rooting factors: Others trust him, but Chad makes fun of him.
How he reacts under stress: great strength of character.
Relationship with other characters: He is reliable.
B. What is his Character Journey for this story? Hde takes Whitney home after the monster is routed and brings her back after the fiasco with her husband.
Character Intro: Flashback, He spares Whitney embarrassment when Chad gets fresh at prom years before.
Denial: He will never hava a chance with her and he alone should defeat the monster.
His reaction at first horror: Astonishment. Get everyone out and try to call authorities.
Relation to group after first horror: Could lead, but bows to Chad and then Whitney.
How does he fight back: He stops a mutiny.
End Point: He lives after fighting the monster.
What insight does his survival bring to the others/audience? They had to understand why this was happening to them and how to be ahead of the monster.
— Role: Janitor, Hank, has yearbooks, but he’s killed.
Traits: incorrigible, unrepentant criminalviscious, former prisoner, could easily be a pedophile for his advances toward females staudents. Was he still stalking them?
Fears: someone will report him t0 police and going back to prison.
Wants/Needs :to make money off the scandal.
Likability / Rooting factors: Women avoid him and men laugh at him. hated and feared
How he reacts under stress: does he hide the first body?
Relationship with other characters: ostracized.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story? They meet him furnace room.
Character Intro: Group goes to furnace room.
His reaction at first horror: shrugs his shoulders. Goes to clean up blood. He won’t be caught for anything.
Relation to group after first horror: Get out yourselves.
How he fights back: Shows them box of old yearboooks.
End Point: Dies by Chad and body is burned in the furnace by monster.
What insight does his deaths bring to the others/audience? At first they consider that the monster is dead.
–Role:Traits: Principal Edna Hardcourt. She is mother of Harlon, the killer.
Fears: Her son will be taken away.
Wants/Needs :to save son.
Likability / Rooting factors: strict and temperamental, students don’t like her.
How he reacts under stress:
Relationship with other characters: she was their dean of students yyears ago.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story? She has been principal since her husband retired ande knows her son is guilty of crimes, but she protects him.
Character Intro: at reunion, speech
Denial: they won’t uncover anything and son will not be there, but he is.
Her reaction at first horror: She doesn’t know.
Relation to group after first horror: she is at reunion.
How she fights back: At end she sends husband into the smoke to save Harlon, but husband doesn’t survive.
End Point: She loses son when he runs off.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? She got what was coming to her.
-
-
Bill Curley Character Journey Track What I Learned: Just we earlier saw the various tracks to a horror script, the character component helps us construct the overall story. When the tracks are overlaid a great movie is the likely result. Main Character Tracks Thus Far. Jack Banister Role: Construction Co. owner and CEO Traits: 53, Alpha male. No nonsense. Prejudiced. Jim Sobieski 31. Construction site foreman. Traits: Straight shooter. Fears. Issues at workplace. Wants: . Adulation from boss. Likable Yes. Other characters on early development; Three Lakes,WI. Chairman Ed Ledbetter. Conspires with Jack Banister to ignore dire warnings from the bog. Al Verbel. Town police chief. Skeptical of warnings from.witnesses re bog oddities. Gets eaten alive by bog snake. Tim Workman: Laborer. Sees horrors first hand. Called a ” lunatic” after reporting sightings of giant sized forest creatures. Lisa Rawlins. 27. Police officer. Begins to believe horrors of the bog before others. Bill Sommers. Boyfriend of office Rawlins. Jealous of other male suites to girlfriend Rawlins. Becomes to believe of bog horrors. Debbie Conners: A Supervisor with the town gov. Begins to suspect Ledbetter,s role in bog deaths. Nagawicka: Native Anerican squaw that mysteriously appears in Act 3. She reverses deaths from Indian lore. Additional traits and roles all characters on going through class.
-
This reply was modified 1 year, 12 months ago by William Curley. Reason: Additional text
-
This reply was modified 1 year, 12 months ago by
-
Frances Williams Character Journey Track
What I Learned doing this Assignment is How to decide which role of each character and their journey ina Horror Script.
Role – McMurphy – Survivor
Traits – unapologetic
Fears
Wants/Needs – Needs to get drunk
Likability/ Rooting Factor
Cold, doesn’t follow rules.
How do they react under stress
Gets Angry
Relationship with other characters
Distant, too stubborn to work with others, a Loner.
What is the Characters Journey for the story
Character Intro McMurphy hears strange noises coming from his computer.
Denial
Their Reaction at first to Horror
Attack the Monster
Relation to the group after first Horror
Arm themselves.
How they fight
With fire and explosives
End Point
They Blow up the site.
With each of your Victims and Survivors, answer the question.
What is the Character profile Jules – Victim
Traits – Vulnerable
Fears – Danger
Wants/ Needs – Needs to be protected
Likeability/Rooting Factor
How they react under stress
Gives up
Relationship with other characters
Friendly
What is their character s Journey for this story.
Character Intro – Jules
Denial
First Reaction to Horror
They Run and Scream
Relationship to the group after first Horror
They bind together and arm themselves.
How they fight back
With Fire and Explosives
End Point
She gets clawed to death
What insight to their deaths or survival/bring to the others/audience.
Tread lightly before getting eaten up.
-
Hi
I don’t have lesson 8. Can you resend it?
-
Tony J Scott
Character Journey Track
I learned how to go into more depth with the characters and I think this will help with some of the needed dialogue for the script drafts. It’s helping me organize my characters.
A. Character Profile: Derrick
1. Derrick- Jerk, anti hero, survivor, CEO of corporation, hero, fit body type
2. Jerk, obnoxious, selfish, downer, hopes everyone is killed before he is.
3. Hates, secretly fears vampires, fatherhood
4. To escape, to be left alone
5. No one is rooting for his survival,
6. Every man for himself.
7. Not liked by anyone in the group, Michelle is hopeful for him.
B. Character Journey: Derrick
1. Colon cancer survivor and receiving after care at Cancer Center
2. Skeptical but is convinced by the Human rep, marketing and other referrals.
3. Failed escape attempt after the initial elevator capture in the parking garage.
4. Doesn’t want to be bothered or get to know anyone else. No attachments.
5. Runs for his life, to hell with the others, returns to kill the monster.
6. Decides to run and not look back. Thinks of how nice Michelle was to him. Note: show police care so we think it’s the police who kill’s the monster. Surprise it’s derrick.
7. The most unlikely person can have the heart of a hero.
A. Character profile: Malcolm
1. Loser, overweight, Banquet room waiter,
2. Thoughtful, unlikely hero because of his weight, complainer, unconfident, wants to help
3. Dying, becoming a vampire, concerns for his mother’s well being, how much his parking fee will be after this.
4. Getting fired from his job, caring for his mother, needs to lose weight, colon cancer returning.
5. Well liked, willing to help with the plan. Trusting type.
6. Doesn’t want to leave anyone behind, Wants to let everyone in on what he and Derrick discover.
7. Gets along with everyone in the group, will go along but doesn’t think the plan will work.
B. Character Journey: Malcolm
1. Colon Cancer survivor and receiving care.
2. All for the Cancer Center, especially is it helps him lose the wait he put back on after the cancer treatment.
3. Captured during the original elevator event but tried to find some stairs before crossing the bridge.
4. We’re all gonna die, why even try we’ll just lose or make it worse.
5. He wants to tell the group what he and Derrick discovered. Helps Derrick through the basement window to escape.
6. Rock paper scissors at window. Makes Derrick swear he will return with help.
7. He’s so helpful, it’s sad when he dies.
A. Character Profile: Michelle
1. Innocent one, Grunge guitar player, hopeful.
2. Thoughtful, dark, heavy black make-up, black nails but plays folk music, don’t judge a book by its cover.
3. Dying, not showing up for her gig, cancer relapse, not finding her guitar, once played by her hero Kurt Cobain
4. Hopes someone will come and save them all. The only one who tries to motivate Derrick.
5. Positive vibes.
6. Well liked, Derrick thinks she’s naïve to the situation.
7. Wants Needs: for her band to win a recording contract,
B. Character Journey: Michelle
1. Colon cancer survivor
2. Wasn’t sure until she met the nice Representatives and watched the video references of past center patients.
3. Clueless, not at all skeptical about the detour, dropped her guitar and case near the elevator.
4. Tries to get everyone to think more positive about surviving.
5. She discovers the clock is significant to the LSD phases and that there are two phases, after the second phase the group is smaller.
6. Third death victim but helps the group a lot.
7. The moral compass trying to get everyone to work together, even Derrick, in the end is affected by her death, when she dies the groups hope dies also.
A. Character Profile: Wanda
1. Hardcore, former Marine, thinks strategically and tactfully, actually comes up with an idea.
2. Stern, non commissioned officer, never quit, security guard. her duty to country
3. Failing the others, dying a meaningless death.
4. Honor, wants to be a hero, to clear her name for a dishonorable discharge.
5. Well liked, hard charging, no real fear of death.
6. Struggles to free herself from the chairs. Insists Derrick fess up.
7. Wants them to stop chatting so much about themselves and more about their situation.
B. Character Journey: Wanda
1. Colon cancer survivor.
2. Was skeptical until another former Marine referred her and watching the videos.
3. She fought hard with the monster but lost, woke up with no memory.
4. Treated them like they were under her command, issuing orders.
5. Heart of a champion but is helpless physically to fight back, other than struggle against the straps on her first phase..
6. Derrick and Malcolm watch in silence and secret as the monster rips her throat out with his teeth.
7. They lose their sense of organization and leadership.
A. Character Profile: Det. Riley
1. Group outsider, Det. For the APD, straight shooter by the book.
2. Stern Detective, wrong place wrong time but inadvertently helps kill the monster.
B. Character Journey: Det. Riley
1. Visits Det. Davenport, Monster, by orders of the precinct captain to inquire about his absence from work.
2. Acts like he doesn’t notice the horror sounds coming from the basement. Tries to casually walk away and later call for help. He knows that Det. Davenport is a vampire who works for the APD but is now suspicious.
3. No relation to the group.
4. Tries to leave.
5. Gets his head crushed by the continuous slamming of the front door, by the monster, onto his head.
6. Instead of being a hero he becomes a victim.
A. Character Profile: Niki
1. Sexy love interest, top retail sales, leads with her heart.
2. Flirty, gets ahead because she’s smart and uses her fem charms. Has a boyfriend
3. Not being taken seriously in spite of her looks. She’s no dumb blond.
4. To be accepted for her brains not just her looks but be able to use both when she wants to.
5. Well liked.
6. They figure out that the monster assistant is crushing on her. It’s their only weapon.
7. Well liked. Agrees to flirt with the hideous creature but ends up having feelings for him.
B. Character Journey: Niki
1. Colon Cancer survivor.
2. Was skeptical even after the presentation but her boyfriend talked her into it.
3. Followed the elevator detour without a second thought. Caught by monster in the garage. Forgot the whole ordeal just like the others.
4. Just like the rest of the group, Niki wants to know what’s going on, where is she and how did she get there.
5. She agrees to flirt with the monster assistant to help the plan of escape.
6. She’s killed just as Derrick returns to save her and kills the monster.
7. Derrick is heart broken over it. If he had only returned sooner.
A. Character Profile: Kimwakazzi
1. Monster Assistant
2. Horridly scarred. Hard to look at, scary, ancient vampire familiar forced into slave labor.
3. Killed by the monster while trying to save Niki’s life.
-
Lesson 8: Character Journey Track
Subject Line:(Huey J. Williams) Character Death Track
What I Learned:
Its fun and not so difficult to create Horror Stories.
The Atmosphere of Evil-
A forest near a lake illuminated by a full moon, the sounds of desperate
HISSING, an INJURED WOLF GROWL, QUICK THUMPING HITTING THE GROUND, slithers
threw the bush in hot pursuit of a eight POINT BUCK.
The Buck shrieks in pain when he is captured, bones CRUNCHING SOUNDS.
CLOSE ON – The Thingamajig’s mouth stuff with dear meat.
Then forest goes silent, an SCREECH OWL SHRIEKS, as he watches from a tree.
Dust, Alden drives Motorhome, Cory riding shotgun, Gram, Ashley, Cate and Zoey
sit together at the table, all close friends throughout High School.
Alden stops at sign that reads “Black Forest keep out”
ALDEN
Keep out, my Dad and I have spent many hunting
seasons here, we’ve captured some of the bigest
bucks in the region, perfect dear hunting.
ASHLEY
Ok, lets go home, I don’t feel like getting shot
with rock salt. Do you remember what happend when
we raided that cherry orchard last sumer.
CORY
It’s probably a prank, pay it no mind, we’re here
lets go camping.
CATE
Well, lets go home. Cory, you think everythings a
prank.
GRAM
Lets go for it, what do we have to loose, all they
can do is kick us out, if they find us.
ZOEY
Cate, I agree, I don’t like going to stange places
uninvited, especially in the woods. Its no telling
what we may find, or run into, there could be GHOSTS,
MONSTERS, maybe even a MAD KILLER.
Everyone in the motorhome starts laughing.
ALDEN
Cate chill out, I think you watch to much TV. Then
it’s settled!
They continue to the camp sight by the lake.
ACT 2 – THE POINT OF NO RETURN
The Group set up their tents near the lake and prepare for bed(Isolated)
In the bushes hiding the Thingamajig watches, not making a sound.
Gram decides to go for a jog, his nightly routine.
Gram retuns to camp and notices the motorhome is smoking.
GRAM
Hay guys the motorhome is smoking!
The Group jumps into action putting out the electrical fire.(Trapped)
ASHLEY
Now we’re trapped out in the middle of nowhere,
what’s next, someone gets lost, or maybe killed.
ALDEN
Ashley, don’t be such a baby. Nothing like that
will happen, Shad and I will protect you.
They put the electrical fire out, return to their tents, all is
quiet.
CORY
I’ll fix the electrical problem in the morning.
Suddenly, there is a loud HISSIN followed by a SICK WOLF HOWL!
Everybody jumps out of bed.
EVERYBODY
What was that! What the hell was that!
Shad begins barking and groweling, then he runs out the tent in hot pursuit
into the woods after the Thingamajig.
Alden grabs his rifle and follows shad and tries to catch up into the woods…
Everyone in the camp, Ashley, Cory, Cate, Zoey, except for Gram are gathered
together in terror huging each other.
Alden returns with only Shad’s Tags and some of his fur.
Alden hugs Ashley almost in tears.
ALDEN
Shad is gone, he die protecting us, all I found was his
tages, and fur, his fur was scattered all over the ground.
GRAM
Shad was an excellent hunter, I bet he went out fighting.
ALDEN
There’s more, while I gathered Shads things, I fealt like
I was being watched by something hiding in the
bushes. I couldn’t see it but it was there
watching me. I kept my rifle ready as I left.
The Group hugs each other tighter as Alden told the story of what he saw.
GRAM
Alden, how many extra guns did you bring?
ALDEN
The hand gun on me, my rifle, there is a hand
gun and rifle in the motorhome.
GRAM
I think we should leave the tents set up, but
everyone sleep in the motorhome tonight.
ALDEN
I agree.
The Group make their way into the motorhome and bed down for the night.
Zoey tries to make a call home on her cell phone, no signal.
ZOEY
There’s no signal out here, I can’t make a call,
now we’re really screwed. Gram, if anything happens
to me, I’ll, I’ll, you better protect me.
GRAM
As long as you’re with me love, I’m your
Superman, you know that.
Gram, and Alden armed decides to share watch duty for the night.
The Thingamajig is watching the motorhome in the bushes.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
The Thingamajig enters the camp, ransacking the tents, then he goes to
the motorhome and peeps threw the bathroom window.
Zoey is in the bathroom bushing he teeth, when she spot the Thingamajig
big eyees enlarged face staring at her, she SCREAMS and runs out of
the bathroom.
ZOEY
There’s a monster out there, he’s peeping in
the bathroom window!
Zoey, Ashley, Cate begin SCREAMING as LOAD as they can!
The Thingamajig jumps on the motorhome HISSING, HOWLING LIKE AN INJURED WOLF,
shaking things up and it sounds like it’s saying FEED ME, FEED ME over and
over.
Alden, Gram, Cory, go into action each armed, they make their way out of the
motorhome they get their first look at the Thingamajig, and begin SHOOTING.
They make multiple hits, but it doesn’t kill it, as it runs away into the
darkness.
Alden, Gram, Cory are sweating, knees kocking, wide eyeed and they can’t believe
what they just saw.
GRAM
Lets not tell the Girls about this, not
just yet.
ALDEN
I know they will for sure are hysterical,
but they must know. We have to come up with a
way to kill this Thingamajig, what ever it is.
CORY
It looked hungry, its either us or it, the
Thingamajig, that’s a good name for it.
That’s what it looks like a Thingamajig.
We’ve learned something about it tonight,
bullets won’t kill it, mybe fire will.
Alden, Gram, Cory head back into the motorhome, they have some explaining to do.
ALDEN
I wish I had a better way to tell you this,
but we are being hunted, by something we have
named the Thingamajig. We promise you, we will
protect you, we have a plan.
Later that evening the Thingamajig strikes again this time Cate, Zoey, and Ashley all
get a look at it, as it raids the tents looking again for food or one of them.
Ashley, Cate, Zoey become hysterical, crying, sweating, Zoey soil herselves.
ACT 3 – FULL OUT HORROR
Alden, Gram, Cory fights the Thingamajig off with fire, (molotov cocktails), but not
before it grabs Gram.
Gram get to close to the Thingamajig, it grabs him and takes him away into the forest.
Alden and Cory follow Gram and the Thingamajig to it’s hideout.
The Thingamajig is half way done making a meal of Gram.
Alden and Cory bomb the Thingamajig with molotov cocktails setting refuge a blase.
The Thingamjig falls to the ground as it burns.
The Thingamajig rise and runs towards Alden, and Cory, they fire several shots, hitting it
then it falls and dies…
Alden and Cory take a close look of what’s left of Gram’s burned and half eaten body, they
bury Gram’s body before makeing their way back to the motorhome.
Ashley, Cate, Zoey stand at the motorhome happy to see Alden, and Cory, but Zoey begins
crying.
ZOEY
Where is Gram! Where is Gram!
CORY
He didn’t make it. The Thingamajig killed him,
we were fighting and the Thingamajig grabed and
ran off, we tried to save him, he died trying
to help kill the monster, we buried what was left
of him. He was a very brave young man.
Zoey burst into more tears, Ashley and Cate comfort her.
ALDEN
Grab your things, we’re leaving, we’ll hike
to the nearest main road, hitch-hike back to
town for help.
ZOEY
Poor Gram, I miss him already.
ASHLEY
We all miss him, he and Shad gave their lives so
that we could excape being killed by that Thingamajig.
CATE
I hope there are no more of those monsters around.
CORY
You never know the way the world is changing, global
warming could be causing these things.
CATE
Cory, can we talk about something else, or maybe not
at all.
Together with Ashley, Cate, Zoey Alden and Cory hike their way out to the main road,
where they catch a ride back to town for help…
What appears as a falling star lights the sky, then lands near the lake…
CLOSE ON – The Thingamajig sureys the forest, grimaceing look on his face, looks at
the moon, HISSES and INJURED WOLF HOWLS into the night…
-
Brian King’s Character Journey Track
What I learned… a badass, hard-as-hell assignment provided me with gold, no platinum. By fleshing out/filling out the characters I focus on in the script I came up with plot details and much richer characters.
APOLOGIES: for making this so damn long.
PS. I understand why we had 72 hours to complete this… and I needed every minute.
Character Profile: The Daughter (name TBD)
Role: Mortician in training /hero /protagonist
Traits: Intelligent/sharp mind, analytical, determined, empathetic, curious, ultimately a survivor
>A once fun-loving young woman reduced to a shroud of grief after mom’s death.
Fears: Abandonment, agoraphobia, Succumb to the darkness, betrayal (loss of trust)
Wants/Needs: Reunite with w/mom (deceased), which masks what she wants: closure, truth, safety, survival
Likability / Rooting factors: Brave, growth, resilience/ identify w/her grief even if handle it differently
How they react under stress: Resourceful, problem solver, determined, adaptable.
Relationship with other characters: Strained w/Father, initial respect grows into suspicion/mistrust/Boyfriend-mistrust to allies (emotionally supportive), Therapist-desperate to believe in, Max-wary; sheriff- provisional trust.
Character Journey: The Daughter
Character Intro: Grieving over mom’s death, isolated, withdrawn, can’t cope, memory haunted
Denial: Refuses to accept mom’s death, clings to memories, unwilling to accept dark reality.
Their reaction at first horror: (Seeing mom’s vision) Shock, disbelief, joy at seeing mom.
Relation to the group after the first horror: Clings to conspiracy theories, wants to die
How they fight back: With the therapist’s aid she fights dark thoughts and collaborates with the
Traveler to uncover the truth.End Point: She confronts her fears (agoraphobia), a showdown with Father, Max, and protects herself and her baby
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Hope and resilience to all of us, her transformation from a puddle of grief to an inspiration to Never Give Up.
**
Character profile: Max
Traits: Unique (human/zombie hybrid), human intelligence, zombie’s physical capabilities, Strength, speed, durable, fast healer, can “take a punch”, adaptable, survival instincts, jealousy
Fears: Extinction, a human target, fear of discovery, isolation (how he relates to the Daughter)
Wants/Needs: Acceptance, understanding, partner, value in his hated world
Likability / Rooting factors: Struggle for acceptance could evoke sympathy/empathy
> Complex moral dilemma: identity, humanity, rights of a hybrid
How they react under stress: Resourceful, adaptable, aggression leads to self-preservation at all costs
Relationship with other characters: Conflict, tension – defies tradition and norms
Character Journey: Max:
Character intro: Unique, complex identity extraordinary abilities/moves coffin singlehandedly
Denial: Desperate to reject zombie nature and become what he once was, fully human.
Their reaction at first is horror: Fear, aggression, resourceful, defending father against an attacker
Relation to the group after the first horror: Complicated, rejected by the group, outside, especially at the funeral
How they fight back: Super feats of strength that result in fellow zombie destruction at the mortuary.
End Point: Accept identity, understanding, or more likely, death at Daughters hands/Survival=hope 4 outsider
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Bringing to light the prejudice, used by the father for experiments, Survival would mean an inclusive world… especially if Max protects the Daughter and child from the father. What does it mean to be human?
*
Character profile: Therapist
Traits: Patient, empathetic, observant while treating the difficult daughter, a calm presence under great stress
Fears: Self-doubt on the progress in the sessions, the danger presented by the violent father (who threatens her)
Wants/Needs: Heal daughter’s agoraphobia, develop trust with w/daughter-reveals dark secret, create safe space
Likability / Rooting factors: Dedicated to her profession, supportive, odds are stacked against her
How they react under stress: Calmly gathers belongs tossed around by the daughter and violence by Father.
Relationship with other characters: Seeks trust and strong bond with daughter, having lost her daughter, works closely with boyfriend >She began her recovery after her son’s death by going to therapy school.
Character Intro: Therapist (Skilled professional/grief counselor, untested, though
Denial: Underestimates situation, “ just another case”, pragmatic, “horror is all in her head”
Their reaction at first is horror: Shock, disbelief seeing the Mother’s apparition (the second time daughter sees it), and self-doubt creeps into her psyche.
Relation to the group after the first horror: Viewed as an outsider, troublemaker, car is keyed.
How they fight back: Proves her value of grief-comforting, human or pet
End Point: Gains daughter’s confidence and gets the daughter to leave the house/mortuary.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Never give up, admit it when “I need professional help,” we all do!!!, her death represents a lack of courage, but the daughter finds the courage.
**
Character Profile: Sheriff-
Role: On the brink of retirement, unexpectedly confronted with true evil rises to the occasion, only to become complicit in the plan of Father, the monster.
Traits: Authoritative, a presence, leadership, years of service, cop smarts/practical experience, pragmatic, loyal
Fears: Failure, compromise of principle for personal gain eats at him, and loss of innocent lives
Wants/Needs: Justice, exposing the mortuary’s dark secrets, redemption- making it right (at the end), saving the community
Likability / Rooting factors: Dedication to duty, confronting evil while risking personal safety, deceived by Father
How they react under stress: Resilience, resourceful, calm, composed, take charge, coordinator
Relationship with other characters: Protective of Daughter//community-overall respect, community organizer
**
Character Journey: Sheriff
Character Intro: When the town won’t offer the Mother a proper burial (suicide) he protects the unprotected
Denial: Too pragmatic, oblivious to the horror show, turns a blind eye to the obvious “he makes no sense”
Their reaction at first is horror: Shock and disbelief to dug up casket/ world blown up/ keeps it hidden from the town
Relation to the group after the first horror: Bonds w/ daughter, protects over gruesome rumors she’s subjected to.
How they fight back: Initially bonds with town against Father, then it flips… he sides with Father against the town
End Point: Forced to choose between wealth and evil or go after Father will all he’s got, admitting complicity.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? His death-a reminded me of having principles
**
Character Profile for Skater Punk:
Role: Rebel, discovers casket dug up in the graveyard, helps Daughter find Father’s lab, killed by father
>a stark contrast between him and Daughter, rebel v. model daughter… until…
Traits: Street smart, adventurous, tags cemetery, thrills seeking by skating on graves, fearless
Fears: Claustrophobia-trapped in a mausoleum in an early scene, terrified of unknown
Wants/Needs: excitement after dark in a graveyard, independence, sense of purpose, uncovering Father’s lab.
Likability / Rooting factors: Charismatic, put flowers on brother’s grave, validation, camaraderie w/Daughter
How they react under stress: At his best, he is resourceful, wants to help, copes w/it all-puts fear into action
Relationship with other characters: Bonds with Daughter, Town wants him jailed, the sheriff wants him gone,
**
Character Journey for Skater Punk:
Character Intro: “fucking around in a cemetery” mischief maker, steals flowers for his dead parent.
Denial: Fearless translates into “F’ that”, this is no urban legend, busted by the sheriff- explains, then escapes,
Their reaction at first horror: Carefree demeanor, dissolves into horror
Relation to the group after the first horror: Sheriff calls him “a punk who cried wolf for attention.”
How they fight back: Explains it all to daughter, to get back a skeptical sheriff/ confirms rumors about “lab”/takes her in through a side door (Think my body SPK)
End Point: His early death at the hands of Father galvanizes Daughter to get to the bottom of the truth.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Don’t Judge a Kid by their floppy hair/ reminds the audience of the high stakes involved in this story/ including theme of sacrifice. Prompts resolve in the Daughter.
*
Character Profile for Goth Girl?
Role: Daughter’s bestie, they drifted apart but now wants to help Daughter-doesn’t know how killed by Father,
Traits: Introspective, stands alone at the funeral, perceptive,
Fears: Abandonment, rejection, fear of losing the only friend she has, suspicion of adults.
Wants/Needs: Genuine connection, craves eternal bond, believes it’s her purpose to help Daughter
Likability / Rooting factors: Compassion, offers daughter a new place to call home,
How they react under stress: Withdrawn, determined to protect her bestie, courageous under stress
Relationship with other characters: Confrontational “fuck you, without the pleasure.”
**
Character Journey for Goth Girl:
Character Intro: Gives the finger to the sheriff, the father at the funeral, where she reconnects with Daughter
Denial: Excited by the dark side until she witnesses it firsthand, “zombies are cool,” until Max kills her
Their reaction at first is horror: Curiosity, to see the body in the graveyard, but it’s gone
Relation to the group after the first horror: They blame her and her friends for a practical joke
>Daughter says to her, “How could you?”
How they fight back: Sneaks into the mortuary to talk with daughter/ offers to hold séance.
End Point: Second time she sneaks into the mortuary, father/Max kills her
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? A catalyst for Daughter’s deep real feelings. “If she can do all she did for me, I must help others” Life is precious and fragile.
*
Character Profile for Daughter’s Nurse:
Role: spy and mistress,
Traits: Two-faced, deceptive, loyal to the wrong dude, Manipulative, death of mother opens an opportunity, calculating her future for her as a single mom, careful planner
Fears: Discovery by daughter and fear of double-crossing Father, her meal ticket.
Wants/Needs: Security for her child at all costs, control, and power over a powerless situation.
Likability / Rooting factors: Unlikable, but we may understand her motherly motives,
How they react under stress: Focused and composed, driven
Relationship with other characters: They suspect her of being Father’s mistress.
**
Character Journey for Daughter’s Nurse:
Character Intro: A compassionate caring soul at Mother’s funeral,
Denial: That Father will take her out when he doesn’t need her.
Their reaction at first horror: This is an opportunity to, she may even initiate/ come up w/Father’s suicide plan.
Relation to the group after the first horror: Ingratiates to the sheriff, even if everyone else hates her.
How they fight back: Meticulous planner to come up with a plan to drive daughter to suicide.
End Point: Dark!! Once the father sees the Daughter ready to commit suicide, Nurse is dead!
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The depths of Father’s evil… and what a character will go through to protect their family, even at their own expense, ties in nicely w/Daughter at the end.
**
Character Profile for the Traveler (needs a name)
Role: He witnessed Father’s evil at the last town they were both in and spent years tracking Father to this town, both of his parents were Father’s failed experiments wants to help Daughter and eliminate Father. (think Van Helsing pursuing Dracula).
Traits: Revenge seeker, tracker, meticulous, determined, knows Father better than he knows himself
Fears: He will become another of Father’s victims, will succumb to revenge craving, and miss the mark
Wants/Needs: Justice and closure,
Likability / Rooting factors: Right wrongs, and underdog, doggedly determined,
How they react under stress: Survival skills, fearless, willing to take risks
Relationship with other characters: An outsider who’s viewed with suspicion that He is a zombie, they think he might be there to sell out the town to a developer, protective of the daughter
**
Character Journey for the Traveler:
Character Intro for the Traveler: Mysterious, introduce himself as a land developer
Denial: that he could be carrying a dormant Zombie gene, reveals it to who… Nurse… daughter… Max… or?”
Their reaction at first horror: “It’s starting again.” Horrified and takes action… what???
Relation to the group after the first horror: Bonds with the shrink to help Daughter… his presence provides safety and suspicion, depending on who you talk to…
How they fight back: Bonds with sheriff until Sheriff jails him… for…?
End Point: Sacrifice himself by revealing his identity to Max, a fellow hybrid, but he is still unsure
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Insight into how to live: confront your fears. His resilience was reflected in the daughter’s choices.
**
Build Character Journeys into my outline.
Prologue: Wake up shock up.
A woman deliberately walks into the path of a speeding vehicle, screaming, “Take me, I won’t live like this.” Her body appears to have been partially eaten.
Mini-movie #1: Mother’s Funeral in a normal town, status quo
Goth Girl comforts Daughter, and they reunite.
Skater Punk spots an open casket and a partially eaten body.
The town demands answers from the sheriff, who visit the mortuary but finds the body gone.
Skater Punk is accused of making it all up.
A rejected therapist offers to help the Daughter.
Father’s mistress spies on Daughter, playing nurse and driving her towards suicide.
Nurse and therapist battle for control of Daughter.
Father promises to help raise Nurse’s child if she does his bidding, and she agrees.
The Sheriff discovers the owner’s secret lab/morgue.
Traveler introduces himself as a Developer.
Skater Punk shares details with the Daughter about what he saw.
The Daughter freaks out and wonders if her mother could be alive.
The mortician explains to the sheriff that a flesh-eating zombie attacked the woman’s body.
The mortician demands that the sheriff find and destroy the zombies before it becomes an epidemic.
Mini-movie #2: Daughter’s Grief and Isolation and Denial that her mom is Dead.
Rumors about zombies fly all over town.
Traveler offers to hunt down the zombies.
The mortician hires a tela-therapist for the Daughter’s well-being.
Goth Girl conducts a séance, which freaks out the Daughter.
Skater Punk shows Daughter Father’s secret lab.
Max, the mortician’s assistant, robs graves for more experiments.
Paranoia spreads among the townspeople, demanding cameras everywhere.
The Daughter remains unaffected by zombiism, raising suspicions.
The therapist is rejected by Daughter but insists she’s fine.
Skater Punk tells the sheriff about the lab but isn’t believed.
The Sheriff confronts Father about the lab, and Father blames the Sheriff for inaction, threatening to get him fired before retirement if he doesn’t work with him.
The Daughter sees an apparition outside a window resembling her mom; convinced that her mom is alive.
Mini-movie #3: Discovering the Monster’s Secret / Hero tries to find out what’s going on
The Sheriff pressures the mortician/father, who shows him proof of experiments to cure zombies.
The mortician reveals the limitations and risks of his zombie experiments.
An autopsy reveals that the dead woman was a victim of rare cannibalism, not a zombie.
The town wonders how the monster has been able to kill and eat people.
The mortician’s assistant, Max, is discovered by Father in the lab, and Max takes out a kid.
Traveler is jailed by the Sheriff for trespassing on the mortuary.
The therapist works with Daughter to accept her mother’s death, but Daughter wants to join her in death.
They both see the apparition of the Mother.
Mini-movie #4: Sheriff’s Desperation and Head-Spinning Twist, Daughter has a big plan:
The Sheriff is caught by the Traveler hiding zombie evidence, revealing his cover-up for Father.
The mortician demands the Sheriff bring him dead bodies, threatening to expose the zombie cover-up.
The Sheriff brings bodies to the mortician in exchange for money.
The daughter gives money to Goth Girl to free the Traveler from jail.
The daughter discovers Father’s lab and the truth, but the therapist doesn’t believe her.
The corpses start changing and no longer die after consuming flesh.
The nurse convinces the Daughter that the only answer to her grief is suicide.
Mini-movie #5: The villain/Father is scarier than anyone realized.
The therapist rescues the Daughter and stops her at the 11th hour.
The zombie problem becomes overwhelming for the Sheriff, who begs the mortician for help.
Father calls Nurse a failure for not driving his Daughter to suicide and kills her.
The mortician rewards the Sheriff with death, turning him into a zombie under his control.
The town is horrified when the Sheriff is seen wandering around dead, attacking, and eating people.
The mortician is seen eating dead flesh, confirming his connection to the zombies.
The daughter discovers Father’s new plan to inseminate her with zombie sperm and create a human/zombie hybrid.
The daughter shows Goth Girl the lab, and Father kills Goth Girl in front of the Daughter.
Mini-movie #6: Daughter’s Awakening, her bigger bolder plan
The daughter realizes her Father’s true nature and the danger she’s in.
The therapist won’t let the Daughter out of her sight.
The Traveler reveals his true identity to the therapist and offers to protect the Daughter at all costs.
The te-le-psychiatrist helps the Daughter overcome her fear triggered by her mother’s death.
Max knocks the Traveler out cold and drags him to the lab.
The daughter musters the courage to leave the mortuary and stumbles upon Max eating the Sheriff.
Mini-movie #7: Final Showdown:
The daughter wakes up / tied in Father’s lab, where he’s about to inseminate her with zombie sperm.
The Traveler regains consciousness and fights with Max.
The daughter tries to kill Father, but he escapes.
The Traveler gets bitten by Max and reveals he’s already infected.
The Traveler defeats Max.
The mortician captures the Daughter and artificially impregnates her.
The Traveler and therapist search for the Daughter.
Father kills the therapist and escapes with the Daughter.
Mini-movie #8: The Birth of Horror and the New Normal:
Nine months later, the Traveler searches for the Daughter.
The daughter kills her Father, leaves town pregnant, and is ready to give birth
-
What I learned doing this assignment is : it’s tough to come up with profiles for many characters!
Character Profile – Laura
1. Role: Carrier/Survivor/Fighter
2. Traits: Caring. Feisty.
3. Fears:
4. Wants/Needs: To have a caring partner/Not to be suffocated.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: Cares for people in her life/Unfairly targeted.
6. How they react under stress: Finds a way out. Challenges herself to be bold.
7. Relationship with other characters: Friendly, involved.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: Wins a tough divorce negotiation.
2. Denial: Tries to explain away the creepy events in the cabin after she starts staying there.
3. Their reaction at first horror: Vows to bring the killer to justice.
4. Relation to group after first horror: Leads the effort to escape.
5. How they fight back: Strategy /trapping the killer.
6. End Point: Escapes the killer…for now.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? You have to be mentally strong to outwit the killer.
Character Profile – Scott
1. Role: Rescuer/Fighter
2. Traits: Bold. Resourceful.
3. Fears:
4. Wants/Needs: To get to know Laura better/To keep her safe.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: Caring/Brave, willing to sacrifice himself for the woman he loves.
6. How they react under stress: Resourceful.
7. Relationship with other characters: Friendly, meeting most of them for the first time.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: Laura walks into his workshop in the little town near the cabin.
2. Denial: Disbelieves the stories about the neighboring estate and takes Laura’s experiences in the cabin lightly.
3. Their reaction at first horror: Tries to find a way to escape.
4. Relation to group after first horror: Co-leads the effort to escape.
5. How they fight back: Strategy /trapping the killer.
6. End Point: Sacrifices himself to kill the villain.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? You can’t kill this villain easily.
Character Profile – Emma
1. Role: Innocent/Fighter
2. Traits: Deeply caring. Funny. Easy-going. Fun-loving.
3. Fears: Snakes, bugs, being alone in the dark.
4. Wants/Needs: To not be anywhere near the woods/To help Laura overcome her bad marriage.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: Caring, fun / good friend.
6. How they react under stress: Overwhelmed.
7. Relationship with other characters: Friendly.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: Celebrates Laura’s divorce with her.
2. Denial: thinks Laura is pulling her leg.
3. Their reaction at first horror: screaming wreck.
4. Relation to group after first horror: works with the group to escape.
5. How they fight back: Tries to escape.
6. End Point: Dies trying to escape.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The villain is ruthless.
Character Profile – Paul
1. Role: Sacrificial lamb/Love interest.
2. Traits: Funny. Laid-back. Doting husband.
3. Fears:
4. Wants/Needs: To be on his couch watching sports/To support his wife.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: Caring, fun / good husband.
6. How they react under stress: Defiant.
7. Relationship with other characters: Friendly.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: Accompanies Emma to the cabin to keep Laura company.
2. Denial: thinks the isolation is playing tricks on Laura and Emma.
3. Their reaction at first horror: defiant.
4. Relation to group after first horror: first to die.
5. How they fight back: urges Emma and the others to ‘kill the bastard’.
6. End Point: Dies as a punishment to Emma.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The villain is ruthless.
Character Profile – Sandy
1. Role: Introvert/Loner/weak.
2. Traits: nerdy, dislikes stressful situations.
3. Fears:
4. Wants/Needs: To be adventurous/To not be part of large groups.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: Always a little lost / innocent.
6. How they react under stress: crumbles.
7. Relationship with other characters: Friendly/slightly introverted because everyone else is a couple and she’s single.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: Accompanies Emma to the cabin to keep Laura company.
2. Denial: thinks this is a prank.
3. Their reaction at first horror: screams.
4. Relation to group after first horror: loses it.
5. How they fight back:
6. End Point: brutally killed. Cut in half.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Tread carefully as there are traps.
Character Profile – Regan
1. Role: Complainer/agitator.
2. Traits: aggressive, confrontational, argumentative.
3. Fears:
4. Wants/Needs: Everything to be perfect/everything to be about her (she’s the most important).
5. Likability / Rooting factors: None.
6. How they react under stress: complains.
7. Relationship with other characters: Friendly, but edgy and slightly confrontational at times.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: Accompanies Emma to the cabin to keep Laura company.
2. Denial: thinks this is a prank.
3. Their reaction at first horror: screams.
4. Relation to group after first horror: turn on each other.
5. How they fight back: tries to escape.
6. End Point: brutally killed. Falls into a bear trap and gets beheaded.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Tread carefully as there are traps.
Character Profile – Jessica
1. Role: Rebel, rule-breaker.
2. Traits: disciplinarian, skeptical, bossy.
3. Fears:
4. Wants/Needs: no rules/discipline.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: loyal to friends.
6. How they react under stress: fight back.
7. Relationship with other characters: Friendly, but slightly confrontational at times.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: Accompanies Emma to the cabin to keep Laura company.
2. Denial: thinks this is a prank.
3. Their reaction at first horror: run.
4. Relation to group after first horror: argues.
5. How they fight back: tries to escape.
6. End Point: brutally killed.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Tread carefully as there are traps.
Character Profile – David (Regan’s bf)
1. Role: Out of control, obnoxious.
2. Traits: complaining, bossy.
3. Fears:
4. Wants/Needs: attention/kick in the pants.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: None.
6. How they react under stress: accuse.
7. Relationship with other characters: poor.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: Accompanies Regan to the cabin for a photoshoot in the woods.
2. Denial: thinks this is a prank.
3. Their reaction at first horror: run.
4. Relation to group after first horror: accuse.
5. How they fight back: tries to escape.
6. End Point: brutally killed.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Tread carefully as there are traps.
Character Profile – Vince (Jessica’s bf)
1. Role: lover
2. Traits: funny, businesslike, can be aloof at times.
3. Fears:
4. Wants/Needs: to be in charge/discipline.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: brave / funny
6. How they react under stress: fight back.
7. Relationship with other characters: Friendly, but slightly aloof at times.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: Accompanies Jessica to the cabin for a weekend of sex.
2. Denial: thinks this is a prank.
3. Their reaction at first horror: escape.
4. Relation to group after first horror: lead.
5. How they fight back: tries to escape.
6. End Point: brutally killed.
7. What
insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Tread carefully
as there are traps. -
Chuck Czech’s Character Journey Track
What I learned: mapping out a character’s journey keeps them consistent throughout the story as they face ever-increasing challenges. This exercise is also good for fleshing out weak or stereotypical characters.
CHARACTER PROFILE: BECCA WEAKS
Role: Victim/Spirit Guide
Traits: Timid, introverted, easily cowed
Fears: Her mother and people like her — those who are loud, brash, abusive; she also fears confronting the pain of childhood abuse
Wants/Needs: Wants to prevent violence against women; needs to heal from a bad childhood experience that left her sister dead
Likability/Rooting factors: Becca’s desire to help overrides her fear of confrontation; she’s kind; wants to harm no one
How they react under stress: Hides
Relationship with other characters: She’s a fly on the wall, unlikely to mix it up with others; consequently, she has no solid relationships. She’s inspired by Kay to climb out of her shell and take part in the investigation.
CHARACTER JOURNEY: BECCA WEAKS
Character Intro: We first see Becca participating in a university archeological dig. When her classmates push Becca to talk to a guy she admires, she opts to disappear into a pocket universe, the World Between.
Denial: When Kay wants information on how Becca found a piece of evidence, Becca hides from her to avoid calling attention to herself.
Reaction at first horror: When Becca discovers the first corpse, she freezes and starts balling her eyes out; later, we learn that this reminded her of the loss of her sister as a child.
Relation to group after first horror: She joins Kay’s investigation as an intern.
How they fight back: Despite her fears, Becca undertakes more explorations of the World Between and uncovers more evidence; she discovers the Demon at work and even tries to stop him from harming someone; after the internship is dissolved by Kay’s superior, Becca chooses to work with Kay during off hours.
End Point: Becca chooses to confront the Demon to protect Kay’s daughter. This confrontation chases the Demon away but kills Becca.
Insight to their death: In order to make a positive difference in this corrupt world, you have to confront your inner demons and take a stand for what’s right.
CHARACTER PROFILE: KAY LUND
Role: Survivor/Investigator/Crusader
Traits: Take-charge attitude; confronts challenges head-on
Fears: Being irrelevant; not making a difference in protecting the innocent; failing in the eyes of her abusive ex-husband
Wants/Needs: Wants to break the cycle of violence against women; wants to prove herself as an outstanding investigator; needs to resolve the pattern of disappearances plaguing the surrounding region.
Likability/Rooting factors: Kay is an achiever, someone you can believe in. She’s a former patrol cop, former social worker, former women’s shelter volunteer, former battered wife.
How they react under stress: Tries to not let challenges slow her down; she confronts them head-on and keeps moving forward.
Relationship with other characters: At work, Kay is competitive and serious. At home, she tries to be nurturing to her kids but occasionally reverts to an authoritarian role. Kay becomes Becca’s boss, coach, mother figure, and friend.
CHARACTER JOURNEY: KAY LUND
Character Intro: We first see Kay driving her kids to school, straddling the roles of parent and cop. She uses her emergency police lights to cut in front of other moms waiting in their cars to drop off their children.
Denial: After Becca explains her ability to disappear into another dimension, Kay refuses to believe her and goads the young woman to demonstrate.
Reaction at first horror: After witnessing Becca miraculously locate a hidden corpse, Kay is initially thunderstruck. But seeing that this could render real results in hopeless cold cases, she quickly incorporates Becca into the investigation.
Relation to group after first horror: Kay keeps her methods hidden from her boss and colleagues, not wanting them to question her unorthodox investigation. With Becca, she becomes increasingly nurturing.
How they fight back: Kay uses Becca to uncover more evidence surrounding the generational murders. She tries to detain the possessed killer in a crowded roadhouse. Kay discovers the body of the first victim’s boyfriend. When Kay’s boss shuts down the internship, Kay convinces Becca to continue investigating.
End Point: Kay is ready to sacrifice her life in defense of her children, but instead, her protégé Becca arrives and defeats the Demon.
Insight to their death: Know the difference between inspiring someone and exploiting someone; don’t lose the humanity in that relationship.
CHARACTER PROFILE: CAM DRURY
Role: Survivor/by-the-book investigator
Traits: pragmatic and confident; sometimes tries to be more charming and sophisticated than he really is
Fears: brags he has no fears, but deep down he fears that he’ll not live up to his conception of a real man
Wants/Needs: he wants to solve high profile crimes to make a name for himself; he also wants to have a romantic relationship with Kay; he needs to have a perfect service record so he can continue climbing the ranks
Likability/Rooting factors: Though flirty with Kay, he is respectful; in one scene, he handles Kay’s kids with surprising charm and respect
How they react under stress: He prides himself in not getting rattled, even though he may be in over his head; when challenged, he relies on his training — anything can be handled with no-nonsense police work
Relationship with other characters: Still low in the ranks, Cam tries hard to integrate himself as one of the team; he’s quick to obey his superiors.
CHARACTER JOURNEY: CAM DRURY
Character Intro: We meet Cam as he trails Kay on the way to the cold case room; he chides her for being stuck with a dead end assignment.
Denial: Kay tries to explain the patterns she’s seeing in decades of missing persons cases, but he doesn’t want to listen as this sounds eccentric, not real police work.
Reaction at first horror: Cam is unaware of the supernatural elements in the discovery; his reaction to finding the first corpse is excitement since this represents progress on a difficult case.
Relation to group after first horror: As Kay and Becca pair off to perform their unorthodox investigation, Cam becomes concerned that his colleague is getting into something sketchy.
How they fight back: Cam confronts Kay about how she’s handling the investigation; he still rejects any hint of supernatural activities; when Becca drops out of the investigation, Cam joins Kay in tracking the killer.
End Point: Cam and Kay try to stop the possessed killer from harming Kay’s daughter; he recognizes that something supernatural is going on. Cam is wounded; he can’t be the hero to save the day.
Insight to their death: Working strictly by the book blinds you to all the possibilities of how the world works.
-
Mr. Sapientia
1. Role: Leader
2. Traits: idealistic, good-natured, empathetic, assertive
3. Fears: Autophobic and Thanatophobic
4. Wants: to continue lesson without getting interrupted by kidnappings or murderers.
5: Likability: funny; and motivatates, encourages and supports the students.
6: Reaction under Stress: He believes there is something to be learned from it.
7: Relationship: Supportive of his pupils.
1(a) intro: He is walking around the class as they finish a test, saying small remarks.
2(a) denial: He reluctantly follows school protocol for a lockdown.
6 (a) They try to save the missing student, and die when their back is turned.
7(a) They learn there is a threat
Dee Baker
Role: Rebel/Rulebreaker
Traits: practical, chaotic, resourceful, deceitful
Fears: Decidophobia and autophobia
Wants:to live life to the fullest; needs: to live to live life to the fullest
Likability: Adventurous, has fun, enjoys themselves
Reaction from stress: A plan can be made in the moment
Relationship: Friendly to everyone, but especially so to Sami.
1(a): Trying to copy Sami during test.
Denial: Makes jokes about the rumor at the lunch table
Reaction: They Hide when the monster is chasing them finding the teacher’s corpse
4a Argue until Mr. Sapientia reaches compromise.
How they fight back: Trap/Outsmart it
6a They Live through their trust and teamwork
7a Point that friendship helps.
Sami Burhan
Role: Lover/Rescuer
Traits: Intelligent, Blunt, Cold,
Fears: Chronophobia, Athazagoraphobia and Technophobia.
Wants/Needs:To enjoy time with his boyfriend, help others work together
How they react under stress: Try to get others to collaborate
Likability: Team Player, Willing to Sacrifice themselves
Relationship: Friendly and Supportive, when not lost in his thoughts.
1(a): With Dee as it begins
2(a): they don’t take their friends warnings too seriously.
3(a): They scream when they see the weapon go off
4(a): Unintentionally cause more horror/fear
5(a): outsmart it
6(a): Sacrifice themselves to save the group
7(a): It allows them to defeat the monster.
Will Garcia
Role: Lover
Traits: Superstitious, Artistic, Religious, Accepts their Death
Fears: Nyctophobia, Algophobia, Hemophobia, Wiccaphobia,
Wants/Needs: To be a performer, To spend more time with Sami
Likability: They are a geek.
How they react under stress: They talk and move faster; their eyes dart around.
Relationship: Bullied by popular kids. Friends with Dee; Boyfriends with Sami
Intro: At lunch table, They are talking with Sami and Dee
Denial: none
Reaction: They scream when their teacher dies
Relations: Will work with friends, but worsens things by refusing to collaborate with the bullies
How Fight Back: Attacked in Chemical Lab
Endpoint: They die as their friends watch.
7: They can siphon through conductors of energy
Asher Bhargava
Role: Introvert/Science Guy
Traits: Intelligent, Benevolent, Teacherly, Studious
Fears: Weather-related including Chionophobia and Astraphobia, but also Athazagoraphobia
Wants/Needs: to devise a way to kill this.
Likability: he is a passionate nerd
Reaction under stress: Flee then make a plan
Relationship: Quiet but nice
Intro: School Lunchroom at same table as the others.
Denial:
Reaction: Run away
Relations after: Stays quiet
How Fight Back: With Science. Find weakness through trial and error.
Endpoint: cornered by monster with only one way out— into the blizzard.
7. The monster doesn’t attack just anywhere.
John Moroz
Role: Innocent
Traits: Idealistic, Passionate, Liberal, Scrawny, Weak, Clumsy, Feeble, Optimistic
Fears: Chremophobia and Autophobia
Wants/Needs: To bring socialist change to the community, and to repair a friendship
Likability: the underdog
Reaction: Hide
Relationship: Friendly, and too trusting
Intro: They are also taking the test, but in the background.
Denial: Tries to convince everyone this is a typical drill.
3. Wet pants then flee
4. Agree they need to work together, but they follow Nathan nonetheless.
6. They die after being betrayed.
7. They learn that the monster kills by siphoning energy.
Nathan Smith
Role: Complainer
Traits: Arrogant, Athletic, Selfish
Fears: Thanatophobia,
Wants/ needs: to be popular
Reaction under stress: blame others
Relationships: Former friends with Moroz. Now friends with the Jock and his friends.
Intro: He partacipates in teasing a student along with the jocks.
Denial:
Reaction: Wet their pants
Relations after reaction:Argue
Fight: They fight (and lose) with direct violece.
Endpoint: They are massacred by the doppelgänger
What they learn: Direct Confrontation Won’t work.
Agatha Eitel
1. Role: Complainer/Sceptic
Traits: Cold, Conceited, Glamorous
Fears:Catagelophobia, Mysophobia, Hemophobia
Wants: to remain popular
Reaction to stress: Blame/insult others
7. Believe others are inferior, and only needed to boost popularity
Intro: They are gossiping at lunch
Denial: They believe they are near invulnerable due to their popularity
Reaction: they push an unpopular kid out of their hiding place.
After reaction: They accuse others and help the students turn on each other
Endpoint: they die when they venture out alone
What we and they learn: 1) Don’t be a jerk and 2) Don’t go by yourself
-
Budinscak Character Journey Track
Character Journey Track
Day 8
What I learned doing this assignment is…
o How to build character telling each person’s journey in my story.
o The basic components needed for a character profile.
o How to give life to all characters, even the ones who die early.
CHARACTER PROFILES AND JOURNEYS:
Character Profile:
Character: Vicki
Role: Innocent. She survives
Traits: Young, unsure (bit clumsy), resourceful, compassionate, animal lover
Fears: Unknown
Wants/Needs: To escape from her captors and find out what is going on
Likeability/Rooting Factors: Top pick – she brings out the best in all others
How they react under stress: Vicki becomes focused, non-verbal leader
Relationship with other characters: Every other character likes/respects her
Character Journey:
Character Intro: We meet her running from an unknown terror. Earlier on, she’s doing her job as a Forest Ranger
Denial: She spots a UFO early on, yet she can’t believe aliens are real AND they’re here.
Their reaction at the first horror: Vicki believes there must be a logical answer to Curtis the farmer’s cows’ mutilation.
Relation to group after first horror: Assumes a leadership role
How they fight back: Vicki is shot and killed. She’s brought back to life by an alien.
Endpoint: Survivor
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to others/audience: They can’t believe Vicki got a second chance. Work together, don’t threaten/intimidate.
Character Profile:
Character: Commander – he’s been brought in to covertly remove this unidentified object
Role: Leader
Traits: No nonsense, high expectations all his orders will be carried out
Fears: None
Wants/Needs: He’s here to move this ‘weather balloon’ to a secure location by the end of the day then disappear
Likeability/Rooting Factors: High ‘hiss’ factor – he’s the bad guy
How they react under stress: Never wavers, never flummoxed. Cool as a cucumber
Relationship with other characters: They can follow or get the hell out of the way
Character Journey:
Character Intro: He arrives early on in a helicopter. He watches a UFO fly next to the copter before disappearing. He’s not ruffled at all.
Denial: He knows what’s real and what isn’t
Their reaction at the first horror: No concerned. There’s a job to do, let’s do it.
Relation to group after first horror: Always the leader
How they fight back: With specialized weapons. He watches his soldiers march to their deaths
Endpoint: He dies at the end of the mission. He’s brought/taken by the aliens as their source of food for the trip.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to others/audience: Even those different from us don’t tolerate those who place themselves above all others. Every life has value.
Character Profile:
Character: Ian
Role: Rescuer
Traits: Collaborator, straight forward, not aggressive
Fears: Afraid of glass/glass enclosures
Wants/Needs: He’s there to help a friend
Likeability/Rooting Factors: Strong. His sole focus is to help his friend and he’ll work with all others to achieve that goal
How they react under stress: He doesn’t appear stressed, he’s a planner
Relationship with other characters: interacts primarily with Vicki in a consultative role
Character Journey:
Character Intro: He’s with Curtis when Vicki arrives to answer Curtis’ questions
Denial: Calm, not surprised
Their reaction at the first horror: Calming voice to Vicki and Curtis, keeps them grounded
Relation to group after first horror:
How they fight back: Strategy, planning
Endpoint: All the way to the end – he’s the alien who came here to help his friend
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to others/audience: Hopefully, one big surprise ending
Character Profile:
Character: SOM – Site Ops Manager – Boss of the local site
Role: Paranoid
Traits: Nervous, willing to sacrifice someone/something to prove his point
Fears: The unknown. He believes there’s an alien in the facility
Wants/Needs: He wants to identify the alien, and get the hell out of this place
Likeability/Rooting Factors: Very low – he’s whiny, vindictive – someone the audience will like to see die horribly
How they react under stress: Bad. He lashes out at everyone
Relationship with other characters: He’s the boss at the facility. Everyone reports to him, no one likes him
Character Journey:
Character Intro: His initial meeting with the Commander – he’s paranoid telling the Commander about the alien/monster
Denial: He doesn’t deny something is here. One of his ‘employees’ was ripped apart
Their reaction at the first horror: Defensive. He imprisons people and animals, keeps them separate from his team
Relation to group after first horror: In charge by default being the head of the site
How they fight back: He figures out that glass somehow slows/stops the monster
Endpoint: He dies a gruesome death at the hands of the revived and enhanced Vicki
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to others/audience: This is what most people would like to do with a paranoid narcissist ‘boss’
Character Profile:
Character: Drone Pilot. Works directly for the Site Operations Manager
Role: Complainer. He pilots/drives all hi-tech equipment, drones, toys, etc
Traits: Independent, doesn’t like to be told what to do
Fears: He knows there ‘s something watching them, but he’s not sure what it is
Wants/Needs: He wants to be safely taken out of this facility
Likeability/Rooting Factors: Zero.
How they react under stress: Hide, grab someone and put them in front of him
Relationship with other characters: He’s the SOM’s right hand guy. He’s not liked
Character Journey:
Character Intro: He’s the cocky drone pilot
Denial: He’s not sure who/what did it, but no denying something ripped Jimmy apart
Their reaction at the first horror: He hasn’t recovered – won’t go anywhere alone
Relation to group after first horror:
How they fight back: He pilots his drone and robotic animals against the monster
Endpoint: Killed by the enhanced Vicki
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to others/audience:
Character Profile:
Character: Alpha, Bravo, Delta, Echo – Commander’s hand-picked team of soldiers
Role: Monster Bait
Traits: Soldiers and Mercenaries. They follow all commands
Fears: None – they think they’ve seen it all
Wants/Needs: To complete the mission and get paid. Then on to the next job
Likeability/Rooting Factors: Not much. They’re tough minded, cold hearted soldiers
How they react under stress: Cool as the other side of the pillow
Relationship with other characters: They feel like they’re in-charge, leaders from the new team
Character Journey:
Character Intro: They’re introduced in the helicopter with the Commander
Denial: No issues. They’re not worried
Their reaction at the first horror: No reaction. They do what they’re told
Relation to group after first horror: Everyone is the group believes these guys will protect them
How they fight back: With violence and specialized weapons.
Endpoint: They are all killed by the monster
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to others/audience: If the monster can easily kill these guys, how are we ever going to survive?
Character Profile:
Character: Curtis – a farmer who had two cows mutilated. He’s called Vicki for help
Role: Red Herring
Traits: A farmer, hard worker, simple man who looks out for his farm and family
Fears: He’s afraid of whatever killed his cows
Wants/Needs: He wants to be paid for his cows that were slaughtered
Likeability/Rooting Factors: High – nicest guy, endearing
How they react under stress: He hunkers down and thinks through things
Relationship with other characters: They like him
Character Journey:
Character Intro: We meet Curtis when he meets with Vicki about his cows
Denial: He doesn’t think anything natural killed his cows
Their reaction at the first horror: He gets his gun
Relation to group after first horror: He’s here to help in any way he can
How they fight back: He’s possessed by the monster
Endpoint: He’s killed by the Commander’s men
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to others/audience: The monster can inhabit a person’s body
Character Profile:
Character: Biff and Barbie
Role: Lovers – they’re Social Media influencers
Traits: Shallow, users. They will do anything for a click, like, star
Fears: Worried about being overlooked, considered normal
Wants/Needs: They want to live stream their escape from captivity
Likeability/Rooting Factors: Some. The more we know about Biff and Barbie, the less we like them
How they react under stress: Hide, run, confess and/or pray
Relationship with other characters: Not much since they’re too into themselves
Character Journey:
Character Intro: We meet them they’re already imprisoned
Denial: They’re clueless. They have to see it to believe it
Their reaction at the first horror: Hide and pray
Relation to group after first horror: They are simply followers, they want out
How they fight back: Escape
Endpoint: As they’re taking a selfie, they are killed by the monster and it’s captured on their feed.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to others/audience: They did get 5 stars for the scene (their murder).
-
Assignment 8
Marissa Lichwick’s Character – Journey Track
What I learned doing this assignment: my mind keeps changing and shifting as to how I am building this world. Some aspects deepen while others completely change.
1. With each of your Survivors and Victims, answer the following questions:
A. What is their Character Profile?
Role: Adair
Traits: strong, leader
Fears: children dying
Wants/Needs: kill the adversary at all cost
Likability / Rooting factors: badass
How they react under stress: takes action. Finds the answer
Relationship with other characters: protectorB. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: receives news about her mother’s death
Denial: no. accepts the news/truth
Their reaction at first horror: numb, anger, resentment, quiet sadness
Relation to the group after first horror: Reacts, takes control
How they fight back: finding clues, understanding the adversary
End Point: kills herself to kill the adversary
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Destroys the adversary in the present form. Willing to sacrifice herself for her family/son.________
A. What is their Character Profile?
<div>Role: Reuben (husband)
Traits: Skeptical, hesitant, timid.
Fears: the unknown, the truth
Wants/Needs: peace, stability
Likability / Rooting factors: friendly, nice
How they react under stress: hides
Relationship with other characters: joins in the fear
</div>B. What is their Character Journey for this story? He dies quickly
Character Intro: wakes next to his wife. Finding out about his mother-in-law
Denial: that there is an evil supernatural force
Their reaction at first horror: dumbstruck fear
Relation to the group after first horror: protect and hide the group
How they fight back: escape
End Point: dies by fire
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? One less adult to protect the young. This leaves the group more vulnerable._______
1. With each of your Survivors and Victims, answer the following questions:
A. What is their Character Profile? Benjamin
Role: introvert/loner
Traits: watches/observes
Fears: Conflict
Wants/Needs: peace, non-conflict, to be left alone
Likability / Rooting factors: sweet, wise beyond his easy
How they react under stress: retreats, or attacks when pushed
Relationship with other characters: lingers behind.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: follows his family once the news about his grandmother is heard. Doesn’t push back. He obeys easily.
Denial: He goes from denial -> suprise -> shock -> frightened-> fight back->
Their reaction at first was horror: frightened.
Relation to the group after the first horror: frighteningly curious.
How they fight back: through curiosity wants to find the answers. Help his mom.
End Point: the only one that survives.
What insight does their death bring? He holds onto a teraphim. He will recycle the story bringing conjuring the evil spirit.
——
1. With each of your Survivors and Victims, answer the following questions:
A. What is their Character Profile? Youngest child – Jo
Role: Innocent one. A 5-year-old little girl.
Traits: complaints, asks a lot of questions.
Fears: all that she doesn’t know which is a lot
Wants/Needs: he brother to answer everything
Likability / Rooting factors: innocent, cute, earnest
How they react under stress: scared, screams, puts the group at risk.
Relationship with other characters: loves them all.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story? currently first to die
Character Intro: with family as they journey to their grandmother’s funeral.
Denial: kept in the dark, feed little information at a time.
Their reaction at first horror: utter fear
Relation to the group after the first horror: scared, needs group, emotions.
How they fight back: hides
End Point: first to die
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Monster came to get the children.
-
DEB STENARD’S LESSON #8- MY CHARACTER’S JOURNEY TRACK
WHAT I LEARNED IN DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT:
This is really like having a point-by-point road map in how to write a horror script. I’m not saying it is easy. But this is showing me the tools on how to make it work and not have to finish a script and realize that I have no structure in it after all that work.
CHARACTERS:
CARRIER: The Billionaire, utter disregard for the locals, BRINGS THE HORROR TO THE GROUP by building a “spite fence” and angering the Prepper.
1. ROLE: CARRIER
2. TRAITS: Bully, Corrupt, Narcissist
3. FEARS: Rejection, getting called out on his fears. Conflict
4. WANTS/NEEDS: respect, to be admired, to control everyone else
5. LIKABILITY/ROOTING FACTORS: We really want hm to be the first to die. He’ll help others if it helps him in the process
6. HOW HE REACTS UNDER STRESS: Rage, Anger, screaming
7. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CHARACTERS: He is the absolute boss. In total control of everyone and everything. Ignores everyone else’s needs and fears.
OUT OF CONTROL/OBNOXIOUS: The Second-In-Command is a boot-licking sycophant, who pushes the Prepper beyond the limit of his control, in order to gain points with his boss.
1. ROLE: OUT OF CONTROL/OBNOXIOUS
2. TRAITS: follows orders, sycophant, hates anyone who is different than the norm, closet-racist.
3. FEARS: His place stolen by someone less worthy, being laughed at, fears that others not like him will take over.
4. WANTS/NEEDS: to have the important people love and respect him, to be close to power, to be feared
5. LIKABILITY/ROOTING FACTORS: he likes animals, which will lead to his downfall
6. HOW HE REACTS UNDER STRESS: falling apart, begging someone else to take over, fear
7. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CHARACTERS: He sticks to the Billionaire like glue, will do anything he asks, however revolting and heinous. Hates the others before they can hate him.
INNOCENT: Billionaire’s current sex plaything, Thinks she did a good thing by telling her boyfriend about the mountain community she grew up in, not realizing he will destroy it for money and greed.
1. ROLE: INNOCENT
2. TRAITS: believes in the good in everyone. Nice to a fault. Gullible. Makes excuses for bad behaviors.
3. FEARS: Being hurt. Being alone. Losing her belief in humanity
4. WANTS/NEEDS: to have someone to love unconditionally. To live in a fairy-tale world, where everyone is kind and happy and no one is mean or evil.
5. LIKABILITY/ROOTING FACTOR: genuinely nice and will help anyone. Gives people the benefit of the doubt.
6. HOW SHE REACTS UNDER STRESS: does whatever the person in control asks of her, no matter what.
7. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CHARACTERS; Friends with everyone.
MONSTER BAIT: The secretary/girlfriend of Second-in- Command, only going with the S-in-C until someone better comes along. Hates the Great Outdoors, hates anything not Instagram-able, continually takes stupid chances.
1. ROLE- MONSTER BAIT
2. TRAITS: looks out for herself, opportunist, streetwise
3. FEARS: being exposed as a poseur, being poor again, having to really work for a living
4. WANTS/NEEDS: security, confidence, to feel safe
5. LIKABILITY/ROOTING FACTOR- Funny, loudmouth, able to think on the quick, will help someone if it helps her.
6. HOW SHE REACTS UNDER STRESS: the veneer of sophistication falls away and she is back to being a hardened street fighter. She will cut a bitch.
7. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CHARACTERS: is able to figure everyone out immediately and will try to help someone is she can. Falls back into her GANG IS FAMILY mentality.
COMPLAINER: the local yokel who latches onto a good thing when he sees it. A real suck-up, is able to look like he is working hard when he is hardly working
1. ROLE: COMPLAINER
2. TRAITS: always wants something for nothing. A beggar with his hand out. A whiner.
3. FEARS: finally realizing that no one is going to help him. Not being able to get something for nothing.
4. WANTS/NEEEDS: money and a good time. To learn to take care of himself.
5. LIKABILITY/ROOTING FACTOR: doesn’t care if someone doesn’t like him, there is always someone else coming along he can beg from.
6. HOW HE REACTS UNDER STRESS: he lets everyone else take charge and will follow orders until something better comes along.
7. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CHARACTERS: knows that most people are hip to his faults but doesn’t care. Has no self-respect.
RESCUER: the mature woman who had a bad divorce and had to take a job that gives her a place to live and security.
1. ROLE- RESCUER
2. TRAITS: can take care of everything, can do a little bit of anything, will go forward through her fears, will protect the innocent if she can.
3. FEARS: being dependent on someone else, being old and sick. Having o ask for help.
4. WANTS/NEEDS: wants a good paying job. Needs to feel secure and to find a home
5. LIKABILITY/ROOTING FACTORS: no nonsense, practical. Does not suffer fools gladly. Can take care of herself and will help others.
6. HOW THEY REACT UNDER STRESS: like a good sergeant in a WW2 movie. Knows how to take care of her squad. Knows other people’s breaking point and will not push them past it.
7. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CHARACTERS; they have no idea what she is capable of. They underestimate her constantly.
1. CHARACTER INTRO:
THE BILLIONAIRE (I haven’t picked anyone’s names yet): Finds out his newest giant development will wipe out the cave habitat of a protected type of Bat in California. He bribes the government official in charge to give him the permits anyway. He celebrates by making his current girlfriend wear a Batgirl costume while they have sex.
2. DENIAL: When he is told that the illegal fence he has built around the development has angered the locals, he organizes a trip to the partially finished hotel to see what is going on for himself.
3. BILLIONAIRE REACTION TO FIRST HORROR: he is angry that his plans for a fun, sexy weekend are getting messed up. He screams at everyone involved, claiming someone is going to pay for this,
4. RESPONSE TO FIRST HORROR: Forces the newly hired security guard to investigate the problem and fix it or else lose his plushy job.
5. RELATION TO GROUP AFTER FIRST HORROR: He is angry they are concerned with their own survival and not fixated on protecting him
6. REACTION AS HORROR INCREASES: Loses his mind and forces he Second-in-Command to form a due to fight the monster man with weapons they can find in the kitchen. He eventually leaves the S-in-C to be killed by the Monster so that he can escape.
7. HOW HE FIGHTS BACK: refuses to let the women burn expensive valuables in order to signal the police. He wants to wait for police to come and DO THEIR JOB.
8. END POINT: While trying to save his material things, he is caught by the monster and thrown onto a bonfire and is burned to death
9. INSIGHT FROM DEATH: material things will not save your life in a fight to the death
OUT OF CONTROL/OBNOXIOUS: Second-in-Command is a boot-licking sycophant.
1.CHARACTER INTRO: Knows that the boss’s latest project is an environmental and PR disaster waiting to happen and doesn’t care. But easily goes Infront of the press to answer questions with the glibness of a White House Press Secretary.
2. DENIAL: when the boss asks him if there are any problems with the locals about the giant fence that is being erected around the property, he denies anything is wrong and only tells the Boss what he wants to hear..
3. HIS REACTION TO FIRST HORROR: after seeing the dead body of the contractor in the tiger pit, he gets weirdly excited and continually talks about it to his disgusted girlfriend.
4. RELATIONSHIP TO THE GROUP AFTER THE FIRST HORROR; Because they are disgusted, he pumps himself up to be a big man, not afraid of anything. But they can see through him like glass.
5. REACTION AS HORROR INCREASES: realized he is over his head and his macho posturing has not prepared him for this. He sticks close to the Billionaire, thinking that the boss will get him out of this nightmare.
6. HOW HE FIGHTS BACK: he will do anything to save himself but has no idea how to do it smartly. Doesn’t understand that watching movies is not the same as Special Ops training.
87 END POINT: because he is the least liked character, he gets two horrible deaths! Comes back from the first horrible death and is killed by mistake by the others.
8. WHAT INSIGHT DO THEIR DEATHS OR SURVIVAL BRING TO THE OTHERS/AUDIENCE: don’t be a dick. Every man for himself can be really lonely.
INNOCENT: is a goldfish in a pool of sharks. Thinks everyone really wants to be nice.
!. CHARACTER INTRO: Tells her Billionaire boyfriend about the idyllic mountain community she grew up in, never realizing that he will exploit and her and everyone who lives there, just to make a profit. And doesn’t believe it when her old friends shun her because what is.
2. DENIAL: She tries to make local protestors realize they are wrong, the man she loves could never be a brutal exploiter. Is astonished when someone pelts her with mud from the development.
3. HER REACTION TO FIRST HORROR: she begins to pray for the repose of the dead man’s soul. Tells the group they can’t leave him in the pit
4. RELATION TO GROUP AFTER THE FIRST HORROR:
Keeps asking people if they are OK, if they need to talk, get their feelings out. Offers hugs.
5. REACTION AS HORROR INCREASES: realizes that the men are selfish and useless and bonds with the other two women in the hopes of survival.
6.HOW THEY FIGHT BACK: is terrified but has a child-like faith in the older man and will do whatever he says to do.
7. END POINT: After beating the burned S-in-C to death, thinking he is monster, the real monster grabs her from behind and tears out the throat.
8. WHAT INSIGHT DO THEIR DEATHS OR SURVIVAL BRING TO THE OTHERS/AUDIENCE: innocence is not valued. After a while, you have to grow up and learn to take care of yourself.
MONSTER BAIT: Second-in-Command’s annoying secretary/girlfriend who hates the great outdoors and wanted to go to CANCUN, not a CABIN. Continually takes stupid chances.
1, CHARACTER INTRO: will always look out for Number 1. She is smart, strong, and sure of herself. She dumps her nice boyfriend to go on this weekend with the S-in-C, thinking it could lead to something big.
2. DENIAL: when the Doomsday Prepper startles everyone on the way up to the resort, she says she’s seen worse down in her apartment building laundry room and he doesn’t scare her.
3. HER REACTION TO FIRST HORROR: she throws up and tells the S-in-C she never signed up for this and wants to be taken home.
4. RELATION TO GROUP AFTER THE FIRST HORROR: She realizes that the men in the group are assholes, the other girl is an airhead and her best chance of survival it to align herself to the old women who seems to know how to survive.
5. REACTION AS HORROR INCREASES: she is more and more frightened and swears she will go back to her boring, ordinary guy and appreciate him, if she ever gets out of this alive.
6. HOW THEY FIGHT BACK: she goes back to her roots and turns into the kind of fighter the older woman can depend on. They fight back in ways the men never expected.
7. END POINT: she has survived the monster, but just like the last man standing in NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, the authorities confuse her with the killer and kill her.
8. WHAT INSIGHT DO THEIR DEATHS OR SURVIVAL BRING TO THE OTHERS/AUDIENCE: Never think you’re safe until the last credit roils. There is always a surprise up someone’s sleeve.
COMPLAINER: part-time gardener/local yokel who grew up with the innocent and wants his old friend to share the wealth.
Hearing from the Innocent’s family that she will be coming to town and tries to trade on some long- ago friendship. He knows what kind of a person the Innocent is and hopes he can guilt her into helping him.
2. DENIAL: he swears that the Doomsday Prepper is just the local weirdo and would never hurt a fly. Why, they’re actually good buddies!
3. HIS REACTION TO FIRST HORROR: he can’t believe that his good buddy could be capable of this. Thinks it has to have been someone else who killed the contractor, like drug dealers and out-of-towners.
4. RELATION TO GROUP AFTER THE FIRST HORROR: Tries to calm their fears
5. REACTION AS HORROR INCREASES: begins to think he is over his head and wants to survive. Tries to figure out a way to sneak off and leave these rich folk to their fate. They deserve it more than him.
6. HOW THEY FIGHT BACK: offers to climb the fence and head back to town and get help.
7. END POINT: is shot with a crossbow arrow in the arm, loses his grip and impales himself on the spite fence spikes.
8. WHAT INSIGHT DO THEIR DEATHS OR SURVIVAL BRING TO THE OTHERS/AUDIENCE: somebody’s gotta be the first victim!
RESCUER: Mature woman who manages the estate. Has lived in the area her whole life and knows the woods and the people like the back of her hand. Including the Monster.
1. CHARACTER INTRO: knows that the Billionaire expects to see some tuxedo-dressed Concierge at his front desk. Is determined to show him that she can handle the job better than anyone else, because she know this area, these people and this mountain like the back of her hand.
2. DENIAL: doesn’t want thee to be any problems, because then she will be out of a job, and she needs this job.
3. HER REACTION TO FIRST HORROR: Oh crap. This is not good. This is gonna fuck things up big time.
4. RELATION TO GROUP AFTER THE FIRST HORROR: these out-of-town idiots have no idea what they are dealing with. She has to keep them alive if she’s going to save her job, and her own life.
5. REACTION AS HORROR INCREASES: this is too big for her. She wants to save the women because they didn’t sign up for this crap. Her mothering instincts get the best of her.
6. HOW THEY FIGHT BACK: she uses all her knowledge and skills from 65 years of life to try and save lives and get them out of there. She doesn’t care how dirty she fights.
7. END POINT: she is the only one who survives. Usually, the old folks get slaughtered or they’re the killer. Today, age has beaten evil, beauty and stupidity.
8. WHAT INSIGHT DO THEIR DEATHS OR SURVIVAL BRING TO THE OTHERS/AUDIENCE: don’t underestimate the older generation. They might have a trick or two up their sleeves.
-
Lesson Eight Assignment
Brian G. Walsh’s Character Journey Track
What I learned doing this assignment is that deciding each character’s journey helps to improve the outline.
Character: Raleigh Douglass
Role (from Lesson 3): Survivor
Traits (main characteristics): Self-sacrificing, arrogant, angry
Fears (Primal fears):
Wants/Needs (main motivations): To be redeemed and pardoned from prison.
Likability / Rooting factors: Risking it all again to stop the demons.
How they react under stress (numb out, denial, avoid it, blame others, dramatize, angry, give up, shut down, deflect, etc.): Charges into action.
Relationship with other characters: Some want to arrest or kill him, some want to help and save him.
1. Character Intro: In prison and in handcuffs.
2. Denial: Can’t believe earthquake struck near mine he buried corpse in.
3. First Reaction to Horror: Plans to escape to make sure demons don’t get released.
Response after First Horror: Goes into action.
4. Relation to Group after First Horror: Person of knowledge about the demons and how to stop them.
Reaction as Horror Increases: More determined to fight them.
5. How They Fight Back: Search for cross.
6. End Point: Bury demons again.
7. Insight from Death / Survival: Eternal vigilance necessary.
Character: Deputy Christine Diamond
Role (from Lesson 3): Survivor/Helper
Traits (main characteristics): Loyal, dedicated, compassionate
Fears (Primal fears): Darkness
Wants/Needs (main motivations): To understand what made Raleigh murder someone and make peace with her feelings about him
Likability / Rooting factors: She is loyal, fair and compassionate but does her duty
How they react under stress (numb out, denial, avoid it, blame others, dramatize, angry, give up, shut down, deflect, etc.): Denial, anger, eventual acceptance
Relationship with other characters: Leader of search party
1. Character Intro: At the police station she tells the other deputies and volunteers how the search is going to work and gives them rules of engagement.
2. Denial: Doesn’t believe Raleigh’s story about demons but knows he does believe it.
3. First Reaction to Horror: Use her gun.
Response after First Horror: Listens to Raleigh. She knows if the gun didn’t work then he must be telling the truth.
4. Relation to Group after First Horror: Tells them to listen to Raleigh.
Reaction as Horror Increases: When other deputies turn on her, she becomes more forceful.
5. How They Fight Back: Helps Raleigh find and use the cross to neutralize the corpse and bury it.
6. End Point: Helps Raleigh ignite explosives to seal the coffin deep underground.
7. Insight from Death / Survival: Mine has to be completely sealed forever.
Character: Deputy Michael Johnson
Role (from Lesson 3): Survivor
Traits (main characteristics): Honest, naive, capable, unsure of himself, anxious to prove his worth
Fears (Primal fears): Failing a fellow officer during a crisis
Wants/Needs (main motivations): To be respected and admired
Likability / Rooting factors: He’s young and idealistic and wants to do the right thing
How they react under stress (numb out, denial, avoid it, blame others, dramatize, angry, give up, shut down, deflect, etc.): He freezes the first time but redeems himself by remaining calm the next time
Relationship with other characters: With Christine an exception, the other deputies look at him like a kid brother they don’t want tagging around after them
1. Character Intro: Tagging along behind Christine, the eager beaver you hope won’t get himself killed
2. Denial: He can’t accept that the corpse is animated by demons
3. First Reaction to Horror: He freezes. He can’t raise his hands. He keeps the pistol pointed at the ground. Christine has to pull him from harm’s way.
Response after First Horror: Goes into action. He is eager to redeem himself and takes risks.
4. Relation to Group after First Horror: Group thinks he’s a coward and can’t be relied upon.
Reaction as Horror Increases: Wants to learn more so he can deal with this and anything like it in the future.
5. How They Fight Back: By learning.
6. End Point: Stands watch while Raleigh and Christine set explosives.
7. Insight from Death / Survival: There are some things in this world that don’t belong. Things that have to be dealt with, not run from. Knowledge is the best weapon against them.
Character: Stephanie Cooper
Role (from Lesson 3): Survivor
Traits (main characteristics): Optimistic, curious, shy, emotionally immature
Fears (Primal fears): Evil will triumph unless good people stop it
Wants/Needs (main motivations): Love, career, children
Likability / Rooting factors: Eager to help and eager to support others and build them up
How they react under stress (numb out, denial, avoid it, blame others, dramatize, angry, give up, shut down, deflect, etc.): Flight until backed into a corner
Relationship with other characters: She is a weakness, someone they worry about because they feel she can’t defend herself
1. Character Intro: With her father, Lucas Cooper, she laments Raleigh being in prison and wants reassurance from Lucas that Raleigh had to kill that man.
2. Denial: The horror can’t be real because God wouldn’t allow something like that to exist
3. First Reaction to Horror: Disbelief. She walks towards the corpse, fascinated and transfixed, unwilling to believe it is real.
Response after First Horror: Runs away in terror.
4. Relation to Group after First Horror: Albatross. They want to get her away to safety so thy don’t have to worry about her.
Reaction as Horror Increases: Loses faith in God but gains faith in Raleigh through his actions.
5. How They Fight Back: She agrees to get help from the local priest
6. End Point: She is outside the mine, approaching it with a priest when it is all over.
7. Insight from Death / Survival: When the Devil operates on Earth it is up to good men and women to stop him.
Character: Retired Sheriff Franklin “St. Knick” Knickerbocker
Role (from Lesson 3): Survivor
Traits (main characteristics): Cantankerous, cynical, caring, honest
Fears (Primal fears): Being unable to stop evil from overpowering good
Wants/Needs (main motivations): Quiet walks, reading, fishing, drinking beer, watching sports on TV
Likability / Rooting factors: He believes the law is a guide, not a book of Commandments and that its application should depend on the people, circumstances and situation. He volunteered to help find Raleigh because he likes him and doesn’t want him killed.
How they react under stress (numb out, denial, avoid it, blame others, dramatize, angry, give up, shut down, deflect, etc.): He’s numb and can’t believe it, even though Raleigh told him about it over a year ago.
Relationship with other characters: Respected and liked
1. Character Intro: At the Sheriff’s Office, he mocks Deputy Harrris’ exaggerated machismo and aggressive, bullying behavior. He warns Harris not to kill Raleigh unless he has no choice but is overruled by Sheriff Reynolds.
2. Denial: How can a corpse walk and how can it not be stopped by bullets?
3. First Reaction to Horror: He retreats, believing that evil has come to kill them all and they are powerless to stop it.
Response after First Horror: He remembers that Raleigh stopped it once before and with his help he believes they can stop it again.
4. Relation to Group after First Horror: Dismissive. The old man will just get in the way.
Reaction as Horror Increases: Determined to stop the demons and to prove that Raleigh acted in self-defense in killing Arnold Fanning.
5. How They Fight Back: Search for the things that can neutralize the demons and use it against them.
6. End Point: Saves Raleigh after Deputy Moss shoots Lucas and Christine.
7. Insight from Death / Survival: Eternal vigilance against evil is necessary.
Character: Sheriff Titus Reynolds
Role (from Lesson 3): Victim
Traits (main characteristics): Committed to protecting his community. He knows his duty, cynical, believes people are guilty until proven innocent,
Fears (Primal fears): The law is being castrated by liberals.
Wants/Needs (main motivations): To make an example of how this town treats murderers who kill their own.
Likability / Rooting factors: He wants to do the right thing and wants to protect his community.
How they react under stress (numb out, denial, avoid it, blame others, dramatize, angry, give up, shut down, deflect, etc.): By-the-book. He is unable to believe that the Exorcist-Priest is a corpse invested by demons. He is hesitant to shoot a priest, so he tries to arrest him and it leads to his death.
Relationship with other characters:
1. Character Intro: At police station with Knickerbocker. He is “Lay-Down-the-Law” Reynolds, brash, arrogant and angry about Raleigh Douglass returning here after he committed murder during Reynolds’ first week as the new sheriff.
2. Denial: Doesn’t believe in demons.
3. First Reaction to Horror: Handle it the way he would handle any other situation.
Response after First Horror: Denial.
4. Relation to Group after First Horror: Bullying dictator who denies the facts.
Reaction as Horror Increases: Still doesn’t believe.
5. How They Fight Back: He tries to arrest the Exorcist-Priest.
6. End Point: He is dead.
7. Insight from Death / Survival: Having a closed mind can kill you.
Character: Deputy Hugh Taylor
Role (from Lesson 3): Victim
Traits (main characteristics): Bully with a badge, he is judgmental, arrogant, but he truly believes he is doing good.
Fears (Primal fears): That he will be found out that he is afraid without his gun.
Wants/Needs (main motivations): He wants to feel admired, respected and feared.
Likability / Rooting factors: None
How they react under stress (numb out, denial, avoid it, blame others, dramatize, angry, give up, shut down, deflect, etc.): He acts like a bully because he doesn’t believe in demons.
Relationship with other characters: They don’t like him or trust him
1. Character Intro: At the mine, he gets information from Denise Washington and swaggers into the mine, gun drawn.
2. Denial: The Exorcist-Priest is just a man. It is some kind of trick.
3. First Reaction to Horror: He tries to arrest the Exorcist-Priest/
Response after First Horror: Tries to kill the Exorcist-Priest.
4. Relation to Group after First Horror: He got what he deserved.
Reaction as Horror Increases: None.
5. How They Fight Back: He is too dead to do anything.
6. End Point: He is dead and gone.
7. Insight from Death / Survival: He was just another victim of his own inability to keep an open mind.
Character: Deputy Oak Harris
Role (from Lesson 3): Victim
Traits (main characteristics): Mean, angry, violent, likes to make animals suffer before he kills them, loves his mother and worships his KKK father.
Fears (Primal fears): Nothing.
Wants/Needs (main motivations): To return to the “good old days” when minorities had no rights and the police could harass and abuse without fear of punishment.
Likability / Rooting factors: None.
How they react under stress (numb out, denial, avoid it, blame others, dramatize, angry, give up, shut down, deflect, etc.): Angry, violent.
Relationship with other characters: Others fear him.
1. Character Intro: Bullying one of the volunteer firemen who is much smaller than him.
2. Denial: Monsters aren’t real.
3. First Reaction to Horror: Tries to beat up the Exorcist-Priest.
Response after First Horror: Shoots the Exorcist-Priest.
4. Relation to Group after First Horror: A prime example of an arrogant fool who thinks he’s tougher than anyone, even demons.
Reaction as Horror Increases: Denial.
5. How They Fight Back: Tries to use Lucas as a human shield.
6. End Point: He is dead.
7. Insight from Death / Survival: Don’t overestimate yourself.
Character: Kenny Marshall
Role (from Lesson 3): Victim.
Traits (main characteristics): Greedy, low self-esteem.
Fears (Primal fears): He will die a nobody.
Wants/Needs (main motivations): Power over others. He wants people to fear him.
Likability / Rooting factors: Sympathetic to his lousy life but that sympathy is lost when we realize what kind of person he is.
How they react under stress (numb out, denial, avoid it, blame others, dramatize, angry, give up, shut down, deflect, etc.): He isn’t afraid. He actively welcomes the demons and tries to extort them.
Relationship with other characters: He is the one who removes the cross from the Exorcist-Priest’s body to allow the demons to rise.
1. Character Intro: Digging up a grave.
2. Denial: Doesn’t care what others think or say. His authority comes from Hell and is greater than any authority on Earth.
3. First Reaction to Horror: Embraces it.
Response after First Horror: Obediently searches for the Exorcist-Priest’s body.
4. Relation to Group after First Horror: He brought the terror back.
Reaction as Horror Increases: He’s dead.
5. How They Fight Back: He doesn’t.
6. End Point: He’s dead.
7. Insight from Death / Survival: Making a pact with demons doesn’t end well.
Character: Denise Washington
Role (from Lesson 3): Survivor
Traits (main characteristics): Ambitious, vengeful, determined to seek truth and uncover lies
Fears (Primal fears):
Wants/Needs (main motivations): Wants to be a famous TV newscaster in a big market
Likability / Rooting factors: Strives for truth and to expose lies
How they react under stress (numb out, denial, avoid it, blame others, dramatize, angry, give up, shut down, deflect, etc.): Investigates it, seeks it out to expose it
Relationship with other characters: Aloof, distant
1. Character Intro: On TV reporting about earthquake
2. Denial: Thinks Raleigh’s story is a hoax, a big lie
3. First Reaction to Horror: She doesn’t believe what she sees
Response after First Horror: She is invested by the spirit of the Fallen Angel (Lix Tetrax)
4. Relation to Group after First Horror: Schemes to help the demons escape from the Exorcist-Priest’s body and to escape the mine.
Reaction as Horror Increases: Tries to push others to enter the mine.
5. How They Fight Back: She has been invested and suppressed.
6. End Point: Her wait to welcome the horde of demons is for naught
7. Insight from Death / Survival: A new plan will be required to free the demons.
Character: Demons inside Priest-Exorcist Bartholomew Keene
Role (from Lesson 3): The Monster
Traits (main characteristics): Vengeful, hateful, lust for power
Fears (Primal fears): Being trapped inside the Exorcist-Priest’s body until Judgment Day
Wants/Needs (main motivations): To escape from the prison of the corpse
Likability / Rooting factors: N/A
How they react under stress (numb out, denial, avoid it, blame others, dramatize, angry, give up, shut down, deflect, etc.): Rage.
Relationship with other characters: Terrorizes them.
1. Character Intro: Paralyzed in coffin. Released by Kenny Marshall, who he kills.
2. Denial: N/A
3. First Reaction to Horror: N/A
Response after First Horror: Seeks out ways to make others destroy his corpse so the demon spirits will be released.
4. Relation to Group after First Horror: Greedy for more kills.
Reaction as Horror Increases: Angry that they haven’t been able to escape yet.
5. How They Fight Back: More killing.
6. End Point: Neutralized and buried deep underground.
7. Insight from Death / Survival: N/A
-
Wade Jehowski’s Character Journey Track
What I learned in doing this assignment is that it’s important to give each character a role and to utilize that role throughout the movie to make people care.
Luke
(Originally I was going to have his body found, but I’ve decided to create a murder scene)
Role-He is the only body found at the beginning of the movie. His role is to trigger the panic at the camp.
Traits-He looks very innocent.
Fears-He is very conscientious. He fears disorder. He talks to the Patrol leader about cleaning up the ax yard and today’s schedule of events.
Wants/Needs-He asks three adults if the camp site looks nice. He needs adult approval. The adults leave and let him tidy up the camp on his own.
Likability-He is a very sweet kid and very likable. We see him tidy up the ax yard and make sure that all of the tent zippers are closed.
How they react under stress-He hears noises in the woods and it doesn’t bother him. He loves the idea that he is creating order and continues with his duties. Luke goes into his tent to get his canteen. He sees the “Monster” and smiles.
The following characters traits are shown in the Canoe Swamping Scene, it’s foreshadowing to their behaviors in stressful situations.
Canoe Swamping is:
If your canoe capsizes (tips in the water) and fills up, this is called swamping a canoe. You will find that emptying it and getting back into the canoe is much more challenging if you’re in a river, especially a fast-moving one.
Matthew
Role-During the canoe swamping scene. He doesn’t help his crew.
Traits-He is very timid and annoying.
Fears- He is very scared of the outside world. His parents forced him to go to Boy Scout Camp to become more confident.
Wants/Needs-He wants more self confidence and be noticed, but he is too scared to do so.
Likability-He is super annoying. Not likable at all.
How they react under stress-Does not react well to stress at all.
Relationship with other characters-Horrible, people find him really annoying.
Caleb
Role-During the canoe swamping scene, he is constantly looking at the female life guard. He kind of half asses his role during the scene.
Traits-He is very narcissistic.
Fears-He strives to be perfect.
Wants/Needs-He comes from a wealthy family who doesn’t pay attention to him. He is looking for acceptance. He is almost to perfect and doesn’t realize it.
Likability-He is likable like a wounded deer. The audience feels pity.
How they react under stress-He lacks displaying emotion and doesn’t get scared.
Relationship with other other characters-People like him, because he doesn’t show emotion and goes with the flow.
Peter
Role-He’s is Adam’s best friend.
Traits-He is very kind. He is jealous of Adam’s upbringing and his family support.
Fears-He is scared that his family will never be as perfect as Adam’s family.
Wants/Needs-He always follows Adam’s advice and is scared to speak for himself.
Likability-He is somewhat likable. We like him, but there is dark undertone.
How they react under stress-He looks to Adam on how to react to situations.
Relationship with other characters-He gets along well with other people.
Noah
Role-He is the older brother of Luke, whom was killed in the opening scene. He is very muscular, an Eagle Scout volunteer at the camp.
Traits-He is very macho and cocky.
Fears-He tries to act tougher than he is and doesn’t like to show emotion.
Wants/Needs-He wants people to respect him. He thinks of himself as not that smart.
Likability-He grows on you. At first, he is a jerk, but you begin to see the softer side of him.
How they react under stress-He goes all in to begin with and when he realizes that his brother was murdered by Samuel, he doesn’t think before his actions.
Relationship with characters-The crew slowly starts to care for Noah. They become friends.
Adam
Role-He is the “golden retriever” of the group, which we see in the Canoe Swamping scene. He makes sure that everyone is happy and tries to solve the problems.
Traits-He is very kind and empathetic.
Fears-He fears that with different personalities, chaos will ensue.
Wants/Needs-He doesn’t worry about his own needs or survival, he needs the crew to be safe. As each member goes missing, you can tell that it takes a toll on him.
Likability-He is extremely likable and the audience will be rooting for him throughout the whole movie.
Relationship with characters-Everyone likes him and respects his opinions.
Hannah (sole survivor)
Role-She is the sole female in the group. Adam and herself tend to be the most composed members of the group. She helps serve food and assists with the Camp Activities with Samuel.
Traits-She is very attractive and assertive. She is like the women In the movie “Death Proof”.
Fears-As of now, none.
Wants/Needs-She is bored with her summer camp job and wants excitement.
Likability-She is very likable, being one of the few good looking women amongst boys. Noah and Hannah have a mutual crush.
Relationship with characters-Everyone respects Hannah and are a bit scared of her. This turns on Noah.
David
Role-He is one of the interrogators brought in to ask the camp attendees about Luke’s death.
Traits-Very organized and irritated that he is being belittled to investigate. Very arrogant. Late Forties.
Fears-Being bored to death.
Wants/Needs-You’ll see David rub Sarah’s leg under the table during inquiries.
Likability-None
Relationship with characters-Very to the point and succinct.
Sarah
Role-She is one of the interrogators brought in to ask the camp attendees about Luke’s death.
Traits-Very organized and irritated that she is being belittled to investigate. Very arrogant. Late Forties.
Fears-Being bored to death.
Wants/Needs-You’ll see Sarah rub David’s groin under the table during inquiries.
Likability-None
Relationship with characters-Very to the point and succinct.
Luke
Character Intro-He is very kind, organized and trustworthy which we see as cleans up the campsite as his friends goof off.
Denial-He is the first to be murdered, so there is no chance of denial. Maybe surprised.
Their reaction at first horror-Luke is surprised because Samuel is very friendly and trustworthy.
Reaction to group after first horror-
How they fight back-Luke falls down in disbelief and bleeds out. He tries to reason with Samuel.
End Point-
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience-
It causes chaos in the camp ground and brings in interrogators to amp up the suspense.
Matthew
Character Intro-Walking with a group of strangers to complete his canoeing merit badge. They will be Swamping a Canoe together.
Denial-Is unaware of any murder.
Their reaction at first horror-He has a slow painful death by bow and arrow and is scared and crying. He keeps getting hit by arrows.
Relation to group at first horror-As Matthew is getting hit with arrows, he is yelling “help”.
How they fight back-Matthew tries to crawl to safety, but is unsuccessful.
End Story-Matthew eventually bleeds out and dies.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?-The crew now knows that something is wrong.
Caleb
Character Intro-Walking with a group of strangers to complete his canoeing merit badge. They will be Swamping a Canoe together.
Denial-Caleb is incredibly sensitive and shuts down emotionally. He is very stoic up to his demise.
Their reaction at first horror-He freezes and doesn’t try to save Matthew. He gets shit on for that.
How they fight back-He doesn’t fight back. He just looks at Samuel in confusion.
End Point-He dies from blunt force.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring the others/audience?-The crew doesn’t see this death, but we experience the pent up rage of Samuel.
Peter
Character Intro-Walking with a group of strangers to complete his canoeing merit badge. They will be Swamping a Canoe together.
Denial-Peter continuously asks everyone else what they should do. He becomes annoying to the crew.
Their reaction at first horror-Everyone is traumatized but Peter tries to rationalize what is going on. He could be on the spectrum.
Relation to group after first horror-He is very helpful and smart. He offers possible hypothesis.
How they fight back-After being scalded, he swings while blinded. He gives Samuel a fight.
End Point-He ends up a victim.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?-Again, his murder is not witnessed, but for the first time, we see the monster struggling to take out a victim. It makes him more human.
Noah
Character Intro-Walking with a group of strangers to complete his canoeing merit badge. They will be Swamping a Canoe together.
Denial-He is in full force trying to save Matthew and is very diligent until he gets grazed in the leg with an arrow. He is somewhat perplexed.
Their reaction at first horror-He sweeps right into action. You get the idea that he doesn’t care or think, he just reacts.
Relation to group after first horror-He becomes more big brotherly to his crew.
How they fight back-He takes charge and decides that they have to become the hunter and not the hunted.
End Point-He. Puts up a valiant fight, but eventually becomes a victim.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?-Noah, who seems like a jerk at the beginning, starts to grow on the audience. We really want him to succeed.
Adam
Character Intro-Walking with a group of strangers to complete his canoeing merit badge. They will be Swamping a Canoe together.
Denial-He is very calm throughout the whole experience. Noah and Adam are a good Yin and Yang.
Their reaction at first horror-He runs to help his friend.
Relation to group after first horror-He maps out the camp on the ground and tries to figure out where the monster goes to.
How they fight back-Strategy
End Point-Adam is a victim, but almost defeats Samuel with wit and reliving his childhood.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience-For a moment we see Samuel as a human, not wanting to kill Adam.
Hannah
Character Intro-We meet her at the Mess Hall when the crew runs in talking about losing Matthew. She is a college volunteer.
Denial-She bounces right back. Nothing seems to phase her. We learn of her past through various conversations.
Their reaction at first horror-We see her running after the monster.
Relation to group after first horror-They all become closer because of her.
How they fight back-Outsmarting
End Point-She is spared. She is not in Samuel’s plan.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?-sequel
David
Sarah
Character Intro.-They work for the government and are brought into the camp due to Luke’s death.
Denial-They don’t care, we see them interview various staff and campers. They seem bored.
Their reaction at first horror-They are aloof.
Relation to group after first horror-They go through the motions and just want to get out of camp. They ask softball questions and could care less.
How they fight back-They do not have a chance to fight back.
End Point-When they interview Samuel, he puts poison ivy in their coffee. They trust him because he works in the Mess Hall. They both go into shock and are paralyzed.
(I have to do more research on what happens when you drink poison ivy)
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?- The audience will be annoyed by them. I think of Ray Liotta in Hannibal.
-
Peter’s Character Journey’s
What learned is what I always learn: to keep moving forward!
A. What is their Character Profile?
Rachel
1. Role: Lead character/expectant mother
2. Traits: Quiet, intelligent and fierce
3. Fears: Being abandoned
4. Wants/Needs: To find home within herself.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: She’s a survivor.
6. How they react under stress: Freeze and fawn.
7. Relationship with other characters: She
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
1. Character Intro: Her fortune spells doom.
2. Denial: Gives her a bad feeling about her baby.
3. Their reaction at first horror: loses fetus and then has it cut out of her stomach.
4. Relation to group after first horror: deep shock, needs therapy, finds community.
5. How they fight back: finds the magic within herself.
6. End Point: becomes the mother of god.
7. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? There are many ways to find family.
Cian
8. Role: Rachel’s husband
9. Traits: Drunk, abusive and controlling
10. Fears: He won’t be able to control Rachel.
11. Wants/Needs: needs to be in control.
12. Likability / Rooting factors: He’s a git, but funny.
13. How they react under stress: he strikes out in anger.
14. Relationship with other characters: He thinks women are generally stupid.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
8. Character Intro: interrupts Rachel’s baby shower.
9. Denial: says Rachel is an idiot for believing the fortune teller.
10. Their reaction at first horror: more concerned about himself than Rachel.
11. Relation to group after first horror: pits himself against the sisters.
12. How they fight back: uses violence.
13. End Point: torn apart by witchcraft
14. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? While there is good in everyone, some characters are better off dead.
Em
15. Role: Best friend
16. Traits: Optimistic/loyal
17. Fears: Cian will hurt Rachel
18. Wants/Needs: Wants her to leave Cian
19. Likability / Rooting factors: She’s got Rachel’s back.
20. How they react under stress: Get mad
21. Relationship with other characters: wants what’s best for Rach
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
15. Character Intro: Throws Rachel a baby shower.
16. Denial: Can’t believe her bff was dead.
17. Their reaction at first horror: wants to protect Rachel
18. Relation to group after first horror: drives Rachel to therapy
19. How they fight back: pushes back on authority
20. End Point: swallows her tongue and chokes to death
21. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? She’s the first to die – no one is spared.
Mother Superior Celeste
22. Role: Head of the convent
23. Traits: Forceful, sure of herself protective of those in her care
24. Fears: Her coven is compromised
25. Wants/Needs: To successfully raise the dead.
26. Likability / Rooting factors: She’s charismatic.
27. How they react under stress: Fights.
28. Relationship with other characters: She is respected and feared.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
22. Character Intro: healing circle
23. Denial: that her power can be denied
24. Their reaction at first horror: sees it as a miracle/successful spell.
25. Relation to group after first horror: leads the community.
26. How they fight back: finds the magic within herself.
27. End Point: becomes the mother of god.
28. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? There are many ways to find family.
Father Brian Flynn
29. Role: Rachel’s parish priest
30. Traits: Cynical, cares for Rachel
31. Fears: Rachel is beyond his help
32. Wants/Needs: To see a true miracle.
33. Likability / Rooting factors: Tough old bastard.
34. How they react under stress: Enters the fray.
35. Relationship with other characters: Loved by his congregation.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
29. Character Intro: Intervenes after the attack.
30. Denial: Thinks Rachel’s attack is indiscriminate.
31. Their reaction at first horror: to get Rachel to the experts.
32. Relation to group after first horror: tries to help.
33. How they fight back: starts to have faith in God.
34. End Point: priest v witch.
35. What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The Coven always used Father Flynn.
Log in to reply.