Lesson 8

[RAMSEY ANDERSON]

Ramsey Writes Great Hope/Fear!

Learned: Must type in the post and not copy/paste to avoid HTML posting disaster.

Additionally, sometimes it helped to fill in the segments out of order.. just write what I know to get the ideas down, then go through and alternate fate: Good/bad.

HIGH CONCEPT: When you love fighting but refuse to kill, what happens when you’re kidnapped and forced to fight for your survival.

REASON FOR CONTAINMENT: Kidnapped and secluded to a shipping container or semi-trailer.

CHARACTERS:

DREW: Loves to fight but refuses to break Rule #1 only to find himself forced to do just that.

FELIX: Drew’s brother who hates fighting and wants to prove he’s smarter that Drew by appealing to Seth and getting free.

SETH: A trucking company owner and past MMA champion that kidnaps fighters to fight against each other to-the-death as a game of sport for elite gamblers to watch.

Act 1

HOPE: Drew walks to his car feeling good because he didn’t physically fight his brother and he did win the fight with the guy that he did fight.

FEAR: Drew realizes Felix has his keys to his car because Felix has his jacket.

HOPE: Drew sees a restaurant where he can call Felix.

FEAR: Seth drives up to Drew and solicits him to fight. Drew turns down the offer.

HOPE: Drew walks to the restaurant where he can try to call Felix.

FEAR: In the restaurant, Drew spies Seth looking for him. Drew ducts to hide. Jules surprises him.

HOPE: Jules says Felix needs help and she can take Drew to him.

FEAR: Drew rushes out of the restaurant back door and sees Seth waiting for him. Jules hits Drew with a tranquilizer.

HOPE: Drew wakes up to see Felix is in the room with him.

ACT 1 TP: Seth tells Drew and Felix they will have to fight others to the death to survive.

Act 2

NEW PLAN: Break out of the shipping container. Drew tells Felix he’s sorry for earlier; in regards to not meeting at the restaurant like they planned. Felix pushes back and blames him for being kidnapped.

HOPE: Drew ‘knows’ he can get them out.

WOUND: Drew says he loves to fight but can’t take a life. He had a ‘friendly-fire’ incident in the Army and it’s derailed his ability to focus or want anything other than to not have done it.

HOPE: Banging comes from inside the container. A guard opens the door. Another stands outside the door.

FEAR: Drew plays dead. The guard stands over him. Drew overtakes the guard but the other guard closes the door.

HOPE: Drew and Felix have a gun and a hostage.

FEAR: Seth enters asks for the gun. Drew says No. Seth shoots the guard and points the gun at Felix. Seth asks for the gun. Drew throws it at him. Seth tells Drew to come with them.

HOPE: Drew, handcuffed in a moving semi-trailer, sizes up his combatant, Bo.

FEAR: There is a wall full of hand weapons that will drop at any point.

HOPE: Drew jumps up and gets some solid punches into Bo.

FEAR: Bo was tiring him out and kicks Drew’s ass all over the trailer.

HOPE: Drew catches Bo in a choke hold.

FEAR: The weapon drops and Bo’s able to break the choke.

…

HOPE: Drew kills Bo.

FEAR: Drew looks up at the weapons and can’t emotionally continue to kill to survive.

…

FEAR: Felix is taken to fight.

HOPE: Jules enters the container and says she will help them escape under one condition.

FEAR: The condition is to help her husband also escape. Drew says No. Jules closes door.

HOPE: Felix returns from the fight…

ACT 2 TP: But Felix is carried in by two guards and he’s mortally wounded; stabbed in the leg.

Act 3

DANGER: Felix is bleeding out from his leg wound. Barely conscious.

HOPE: Drew ties a tourniquet on the leg, which stops the bleeding.

Jules busts into the container and _______ .

Drew has a dilemma: Escape or Fight?

HOPE: Drew and Jules to outside the warehouse.

FEAR: They are caught as Seth shows off trailer to Frank and Lyoto of the criminal ring.

HOPE: ? Cops get closer to helping ?

FEAR: Drew is thrown in the trailer with Lyoto to fight.

…

HOPE: Drew wins the fight

ACT 3 TP: Drew has a nasty stab wound to his abdomen.

Act 4

HOPE: Drew rips off gun from the wall. It has several bullets.

FEAR: Guards open the trailer door and fight Drew.

HOPE: Drew shoots a guard and is ‘free’

FEAR: Seth and Tristan see Drew is free and Cops are swarming at the front entrance.

HOPE: Drew shoots his way to Jules’s container.

FEAR: Jules isn’t there. Seth takes off with her in the cab of a semi w/ trailer.

HOPE: Drew jumps into a pick up truck and chases after them.

…

HOPE: Seth’s semi hits a small bridge and lands sideways in the water.

FEAR: Only Seth climbs out of the cab.

HOPE: Drew jumps into the water and pulls Jules out of the cab

FEAR: Jules is unconscious.

HOPE: Drew gives her CPR.

FEAR: Seth kicks Drew into the water; they have to fight first.

HOPE: Drew kicks Seth’s ass with a sweep and choke hold.

FEAR: Seth punches Drew’s ab wound.

HOPE: Jules coughs / regains consciousness.

WORST: Seth stands up with a knife. Seth steps towards her.

HOPE: Drew stabs Seth with his knife.

[Tom Wilson]

Tom Writes Great Hope/Fear!

Doing this assignment, I learned it’s fun to bounce from Hope to Fear and back again. A thrill for the audience.

Tom’s 4 Act Structure

Doing this assignment, I learned I need a deadline like this to do my work faster.

Concept: 3 people wake up in a life raft at sea. No knowledge how they got here.

Main Conflict: The 3 argue, fight about the best way to save themselves in the last few hours they have left.
Act 1:
OPENING: 3 wake up in a life raft crossing the middle of the vast Atlantic Ocean.

DANGER: Alfredo fears they’ll die of exposure before they can be rescued.

HOPE: Elaine assures them a passing ship will save them.

TURNING POINT – DANGER: A submersible pulls their boat! Where is it taking them?

Act 2:
NEW PLAN: Investigate the submersible.

HOPE: Gus dives down and checks it out.

NOT ACCESSIBLE: He finds the steering rudder is locked down.

NO CONTROL: Gus surfaces. Says he cannot gain control of the submersible.

NEW PLAN – They decide to attract a passing merchant ship that will save them.

HOPE: Here comes a passing merchant ship. Alfredo swims to it.

FEAR: No one on the ship sees them.

HOPE: Another ship appears. Gus swims out. Begs ship’s captain to rescue them.

TICKING CLOCK: Captain: No can do. Lack time and fuel to turn around.

HOPE: Gus returns to the life raft with a life preserver and fishing gear.

STARVATION: Gus and Alfredo fish all night. Nada.

HOPE: Elaine casts a fishing line in the water. Gets a bite. Reels in her fish.

DANGER: A shark leaps from the water. Snatches the fish away.

TP/MIDPOINT: FEAR/DESPERATION – Elaine spots another fish. Jumps in. Catches it.

HOPE: The trio gobbles up the whole fish raw in seconds.

ALL IS LOST: Each fears the fish was their last meal.

Act 3:
RETHINK EVERYTHING – HOPE: A ship sails past in the distance.

DESPAIR: Gus fires their last two flares. The ship doesn’t change course.

HOPE: Alfredo swims down to the submersible. Wants to steer it at the ship.

DESPAIR: Fails to unlock the rudder. Submersible stays on course pulling their life boat. The ship speeds into the sunset.

NEW PLAN – HOPE: They fish in shifts. Always keep a fishing line in the water.

ACT 3 TURNING POINT – DANGER: Gus fishes. Shark attacks him. Alfredo panics. Elaine beats off the shark. She cuts off Gus’ foot. Binds bleeding stump.

Act 4:
FINAL PLAN: – HOPE: Fire flare gun (Gus stole from the 1st ship) at next ship they see.

Climax/Ultimate expression of conflict:
FEAR: Alfredo won’t let Gus attract a passing ship. Gus and Alfredo fight.

HOPE: Elaine yells that the submersible has stopped over a ship wreck on the ocean floor. They see thousands of gold coins that spilled out of the ship.

Resolution:
HOPE: At the last second, the ship returns to save them.

FEAR: They fight the ship’s captain, who doesn’t know about the gold. Wants to rescue them.

HOPE: They beg the captain for supplies. They want to remain with the gold.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Tom Wilson.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Tom Wilson.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Tom Wilson.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Tom Wilson.

[H. Vince]

Subject: H. Vince Writes Great Hope/Fear!

Contained – 2023

Lesson 8: Infinite Possibilities

What I learned from doing this assignment is…a little more detail and insight as to what will happen..

Concept: What if while accepting an invitation
to go on an opposite views podcast in a remote desert location, the grid
shuts down? <div>

Main Conflict: Grid Shutdown

Using the list of Infinite Possibilities above, brainstorm 5 or more Hope/Fear moments that can occur in each Act. Sequence those Hope/Fear moments to fit the emotional journey you want your audience to have.

Act 1:

Opening: Podcast guest arrives to a rented out remote desert location </div><div>

HOPE: Unity among different thinkers

FEAR: Jenn
just goes along with Tru, letting Tru think all her points are valid

THREAT: Triggering questions/topics/statements

Inciting Incident: Conflict between all podcasters

HOPE: Jenn
stands up for herself, is her own woman. Jenn tells Tru she has been
working on a side project.

FEAR: Tru
is stubborn, doesn’t want to listen to reason

Turning Point: Grid Shutdown

HOPE: Temporary power outage

HOPE: Drive away for help

THREAT: System shut down on cars

FEAR: Unknown. What is going on? Is it just the house
they’re in?

THREAT: Phones don’t work

DANGER: A/C turned off, extreme heat outside

Act 2:

New plan: Wait it out for someone to arrive </div><div>

HOPE: Cleaning lady or homeowner will try to get in
touch

FEAR: No one is coming to their rescue

CONSEQUENCE: Forced to deal with each other

Plan in action: Inventory of supplies

HOPE: Found a swamp cooler

HOPE: They have supplies to last until the power comes
on or someone arrives

HOPE: Paul has some camping skills

FEAR: They may run out of supplies

FEAR: Tru fears running out of meds

Midpoint Turning Point: No one arrives, producer and podcaster leave
for help

HOPE: Help and/or supplies will be found

THREAT: Tru and Paul are left alone and do not like
each other

FEAR: Paul will fall off the wagon

THREAT: Tru tries to Metoo Paul, Paul says he is gay
so she will leave him alone

Act 3:

Rethink everything: Producer comes back hurt </div><div>

FEAR: Producer needs medical attention

§ Maybe Snake bite

§ Maybe Scorpion bite

FEAR: They can’t leave and no one is coming to save
them </div><div>

HOPE: Home has old books with a survival manual with
basic medical information

New plan: Pirate Podcast without internet

HOPE: Producer has skills to create a radio signal so
they can call for help

Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift: Someone undesirable comes
to the rescue by foot

THREAT: Didn’t take into account giving too much information
could put them in danger

Act 4:

Final plan: Survival Team Effort </div>

HOPE: They are able to contain the threatening newcomer

FEAR: They think of a way to get a coded message to
someone that could help

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Low supplies, extreme
heat

FEAR: Fear that not the right people are listening in
on their pirate podcast

FEAR: Running out of time and supplies

Resolution: Help arrives maybe Months later??

[Gustavo Cosenza]

Gustavo Writes Great Hope/Fear!

What I learned doing this assignment is to re-learn how to flow with the story. This exercise helped me find a lot of answers and structure.

A top-tier microbiologist that is escaping her lawless country, gets caught and put into a prisoner transport vehicle, she soon discovers she is the missing piece to an operation that could free their homeland.

Act 1:

WARNING: Victoria packs clothes, food, water, tent as if they were going to war. She puts together a pack of medical blisters (dropper, syringes, Shot syringe Gun) colored orange and violet. While also playing with Sarah her 4-year-old daughter, she’s helping pack things.

HOPE: Victoria’s eyes water and feels cold inside when she sees Sarah but tries not to show it. Sara stops for a moment, noticing her tears, the grandmother enters and picks her up with a smile. Victoria gives her an envelope (money for them) and tells her not to go out and keep alert, they’ll go out of the city to their aunt in the country. She’ll make contact once she gets to their new place about a month from now. Sarah smiles and waves goodbye to her.

FEAR: Sunset, She gets in a banana delivery truck. There are 20 people already in the tight space.

WARNING: During night, the truck stops at the border, the driver is nervous and tries to keep the border police in place but fails.

DEATH: The driver opens the hatch, gets shot and everyone starts running. Bullets fly, and Victoria escapes with a group of people into the forest.

HOPE: While running Rich appears out of nowhere and gives Victoria her backpack. The remaining 10 survivors travel through different environments, they maintain high hopes and everyone helps each other. Rich is leading the way and helping everyone in need.

THREAT: During the night they get ambushed by people with guns and face masks and trapped in a prison vehicle.

Act 2:

WOUND: Rich is strangely calm and shares his immigration story with the other prisoners. The group shares.

THREAT: Victoria plans the escape with the others, Rich is not participating but observing.

HOPE: Victoria asks to go the bathroom, the car stops, and she gets out followed by a soldier.

THREAT: The group is waiting for something, they hear Victoria’s scream and everyone pushes the door hitting the soldier while opening the door Victoria dozes him while on the floor.

HOPE: Rich reaches Victoria, she has two lifeless bodies around her as she is helping the group out of the car. Victoria ensures they are ok, Rich checks, don’t worry, and start running with the rest of the group.

HOPE to THREAT: In the government building David is in a meeting with the president, we find out how the government uses violence and oppression to fight a revolutionary uprising. Any traitor found is captured and killed without trial, they disappear without a trace. They see the border video of people escaping the border police and bullets flying. David gives a lead to a revolutionary house and recognizes Victoria’s house but remains poker face. President orders the raid.

HOPE: Victoria and the rest of the group run through the forest, but strangely Rich is not with them.

DANGER: Soldiers start following them, Victoria notices this and catches one off guard and dozes him.

THREAT: She does this with another soldier and as she turns around Rich is behind her accompanied by a group of armed soldiers. She is alone and surrounded.

DANGER: Rich asks Victoria what happened to his soldiers, She diverges. Rich reveals he is under control of the operation and is part of the revolution. He wants to use it as a weapon something only she knows about. He wants to kill a narco leader friend of the president. Victoria plays dumb, she just wants to continue their trip, and doesn’t trust Rich.

HOPE: Rich asks everyone to lower their guns, Rich reveals he has been taking care of her and he protected her when the truck driver was killed and along the way.

THREAT: Rich offers a truce, they’ll protect Sarah whatever she decides and leave the option of continuing her travels or she can join and help kill a narco leader. Victoria not convinced is about to go away.

HOPE: Rich shows a video of Victoria’s house being raided, revolutionary soldiers already saved their daughter and grandmother from the raid. He calls with a satellite phone, Sarah answers, they are ok, Victoria takes some distance and tells the grandmother to go to the safe space. The grandmother sees the men leaving. Victoria asks him to leave them out of the ecuation and she will collaborate. Rich accepts.

HOPE: Victoria informs she has control of the organism, they don’t need to go anywhere to get it, she knows how to cultivate it and has also developed an antidote so the effect is just paralyzing not deadly. She gives carelessly Rich a list of equipment, as she already had it ready.

Act 3:

HOPE: David carries out the plan to save the imprisoned people while showing their bodies to the press.

THREAT: He uses off-screen killing, just one cameraman (it’s an ally) they fake the killing shooting to the floor and asking the prisoners to scream.

CAUTION: These pictures and videos reach Rich and that’s when he goes bonkers. As he gets closer to the border and sees the border police. They want to check up on the prisoners. Rich gets out and kills the border police officers. Victoria witness this.

HOPE: Rich takes her to the lab and she starts working. She gets to know Rich’s assistant, Diego, and his team. He sends indirect messages of how he despises Rich’s actions sometimes.

HOPE: David helps release the imprisoned people.

HOPE: Victoria develops the weapon, and each dose is timed to do its effect in a certain amount of time so they don’t get a heart attack at the same time but at different moments. Diego is there with his team.

THREAT: Rich is very secretive about the operation, he briefs the mission to Victoria but she notices the lies. Diego and Victoria exchange looks.

DANGER: Reveals it’s not the narco leader they are after but the high-up political power of the government, it needs to end with this one single blow. They want to kill them and promote democratic elections. Victoria asks who’ll be the next president. Rich shrugs.

WOUND: Victoria reveals her trauma, she has lost everyone to this oppressive government, her parents who were marked as traitors and disappeared when she was a kid, and David who died when he escaped his country 4 years ago. She only wants a better future for her daughter.

THREAT: A soldier sees David helping release the “traitors” and is about to snitch, David chokes him out. David is hiding the body of the guard he killed, they’ll have to make the operation sooner, people suspect.

ACT 4 :

DANGER: Rich gets informed on Davids’s problem. he gets mad and accelerates the operation, Victoria recognizes her lost husband as the infiltrated person. She stays quiet.

HOPE: Victoria wants to be part of the operation. Rich doesn’t like this but accepts.

THREAT: While preparing the reunion where all big shots will be administering the dose. He sees Victoria in the cameras at the border killing. Rich, Victoria, and all the militia are wanted and identified now.

TICKING CLOCK: The president is fuming and orders tens of raids without any leads and with the help of the narco militia.

THREAT: David informs they have their pictures and are looking for them. Do not get close to the government building. (Communication via morse code on an old radio that can only transmit knocks and reaches the operation HQ.)

HOPE: Victoria gets inside the government building via a cleaning truck with a mask and fake ID’. Diego helps her get inside, he dresses up as a cleaning man.

FEAR: she almost gets caught at the entrance, they don’t recognize her. (They have an old radio made out of plastic not recognizable in the metal detector. they communicate via morse knocking.)

HOPE: Victoria and David meet, they can’t hug or fight (Victoria’s desire) because they are surrounded by cameras, they talk with their eyes and exchange the package. She touches her hands and asks him to scratch his nose. Trust me please, she starts the timer, it has 10 other timers ready to go.

TICKING CLOCK: David will have a heart attack in 2 hours, he has to die, so Victoria has to be with him to give him the antidote so he survives.

THREAT: Victoria recognizes several people holding cameras as being part of the revolution. Rich is disguised as a photographer.

DANGER: David prepares everything each dose is administered via dust, he and all the other infiltrated put a small dosage near each person until they all touch their nose, eyes or mouth, they report the confirmation when each person ingests it, infiltrated cameramen and photographers take pictures and video as a confirmation. Victoria, outside of the room as a cleaning lady gets feedback and start the timers.

The announcement will be of the president, all the big shots will be there to be in the same room and show support of the operation “kill terrorist”, with the help of civil people (narco militia). The media will be there too.

HOPE: The public message end and they go to a press room to attend questions individually.

THREAT: The president and the secretary of state haven’t ingested the dose.

HOPE: David puts everything on the line and shakes hands with the secretary of state, and yawns to share the yawn with his boss, it works he yaws and touches his eyes.

THREAT: The president is walking in the corridor followed by media taking pictures. Victoria as a cleaning lady, drops a broom. The president, on his only show of empathy (so the media takes pictures of his good actions), reaches out and helps get the broom up, the broom has the dose. He looks at her and smiles, getting contaminated. Victoria starts the last timer.

HOPE: Victoria and David hide, they talk briefly, and everyone is happy. Victoria is close to David hiding, with the antidote ready.

THREAT: David is called by the secretary of state. Victoria times the first death. The secretary of state reacts furiously and when he is going to look for the president he faints in the corridor, and the press takes pictures.

THREAT: the president calls the media into the room and takes out the importance of the situation with a joke. He gets informed something privately, he continues with his press and takes questions, this is being transmitted live. He gets interrupted again, he is noticeably nervous and sweats a lot. He gets interrupted again and he loses it. Starts screaming to everyone and suddenly faints. Pictures are taken and video finds his face as he is trembling on the floor.

CHAOS: A couple of ministers enter the room and fall. There is chaos, all the press runs all over the place.

HOPE: In the middle of the chaos Victoria is administering the antidote to people that were not targeted, others leave their cameras and start helping people. David is dying, in the corridor, they take pictures of him. He is revived and tells Victoria he recognized their house, Victoria understands Rich ordered the raid on her house putting Sara in danger.

Victoria and David find Rich sitting in the president’s chair and is fainting. Rich is happy and asks Victoria for the antidote, but she denies it, she found out the real plan for him being president and thinks he is the same as the one already dead in the other room. Rich dies. Victoria has hidden she talked to Rich’s assistant a well-prepared man, who is not like Rich, she didn’t administer the antidote to anyone close to Rich but kept alive anyone close to Diego.

David and Victoria escape through the chaos and they talk. David explains why he had to disappear 4 years ago. Victoria is mad at him but then she understands. Victoria explains why he let Rich die. They go out of the city to meet with Sara.

HOPE Her face illuminates when she sees them. David is happy.

[Thomas Doran]

Tom’s Writes Great Hope/Fear!

What I learned doing this assignment is that I still need to brainstorm ideas of some form of hope and fear, especially in the Second Act. This might require some research. Nonetheless, through brainstorming, I was able to create more back and forth hope and fear, creating more emotional engagement with the audience.

ACT 1:

HOPE: There is still visibility when Alex picks up Kris from her apartment. He’s also driving a new all wheel drive vehicle.

WARNING: Radio (NPR) advises that the storm is most concentrated in the city, which is where they’re headed since that’s where the hospital is located.

HOPE: Even though the streets are unplowed, the SUV is able to glide through them like a knife through butter.

WARNING: Radio reports an unprecedented amount of stranded vehicles in the city, as well as a mounting missing persons and death count .

HOPE: Alex demonstrates his confidence over Kris’ concern; plus he argues that they cannot turn around because people are counting on them at the hospital.

DANGER: The snowfall intensifies causing moments of white-outs; Kris demands that Alex turn around and take her back home, but he refuses. He explains again that the hospital is short staffed and that have to get there ASAP.

HOPE: Alex decides to turn around and go back home, after noticing that his vehicle is low on its charge.

FEAR: Alex loses his sense of direction in the blinding snow. He swerves and spins into a snowbank, becoming stuck.

ACT 2:

NEW PLAN: Alex climbs into the back of the SUV and retrieves a flare.

LOST RESOURCE: Alex fumbles the matches and they drop in the snow. He’s unable to get the flare lit.

REVELATION: Alex, after trying to persuade Kris to leave with him to find help, learns that she’s six weeks pregnant with his child.

INCOMPATIBILITY: Alex is angry and attempts to open his passenger door. An argument ensues with respect to Kris’ pregnancy and her decision not to previously tell him.

HOPE: Alex swears that he sees a light in the distance, which he believes could be some type of business where he can get help for the both of them.

FEAR: Kris doesn’t see it and refuses to leave the vehicle.

HOPE: Alex, still angry at Kris for not previously informing him of the pregnancy, has to force the door open as it’s stuck in ice. It finally, partially opens and he’s able to roll out of the SUV; He uses his feet, on his back to shut the driver’s side door.

ACT 2 TP/MIDPOINT: ISOLATION: Alex, now out of the vehicle, disappears into the blinding snow and fierce wind that nearly blows him over. Both Alex and Kris are now all alone without a working cell phone, heat or food.

ACT 3:

HOPE: Alex follows what appears to a light in the distance.

ISOLATION: Kris is alone as the SUV is getting socked in with a hard snow fall and a brutal wind that’s creating a large drift around the SUV, basically encompassing all of it.

BEGINNING EXHAUSTION: Alex labors with his breathing as he continues toward the light, with every fiber of his being.

HOPE: Alex sees what appears to be a building in the distance, with a street light.

TRAPPED: Kris discovers that she can only partially open either the passenger side door or the driver’s side door. She feels trapped, in darkness and isolated with no ability to communicate with anyone.

HOPE: Alex comes upon the building. He finds a rock and breaks a window; he then enters. He is alone; he finds a pad and pen and writes a note, apologizing for the break-in.

ACT 3 Turning Point: Alex finds a phone and attempts to dial 9-1-1, but he can’t get a signal. He decides to venture back into the storm, despite the wind and intensity of the downfall.

ACT 4

HOPE: Alex finds an abandoned SUV entombed in snow.

PANICK: Alex exerts energy to dig out enough of the ice and snow to determine that it’s not his SUV. He comes across another SUV and does the same, to discover once again the it’s not his.

HOPE: Although Kris is shivering in the SUV, she discovers an energy bar hidden in the glove compartment and eats it.

FEAR: Alex has difficulty seeing as his eyes are partially encrusted in snow and ice. Determined, Alex continues to move forward.

HOPE: Kris can hear the sound of voices from outside. She bangs on her window.

HOPE: Alex finds an SUV, which he believes could be his. He scrapes off snow and ice from the mirror.

FEAR: Alex finds a woman, who looks similar to Kris. He exerts every fiber of energy that he has to scrape off the snow and ice.

HOPE: Kris can hear a male’s voice and the scraping of ice and glass from her window.

FEAR: Alex tugs on the door with every ounce of strength that he has to open the passenger side door. Once he has the door ajar, he discover a woman who has froze to death.

HOPE: First responders and EMT shatter Kris’ window and drag her out. Kris is still alive and breathing.

FEAR: Alex collapses into a snowbank, because of sheer exhaustion.

HOPE: Kris lies in an ICU bed at the hospital. She looks up and sees Alex at the side of her bed, but then we see her asleep. When she opens her eyes, Alex is gone.

HEARTBREAK: A nurse informs Kris that Alex’s body was recovered from a snowbank.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora Writes Great Hope/Fear

I learned that this was an easier assignment that what I first imagined it to be. Funny has fear of difficulties causes me to procrastinate. This exercise helped me to focus on the audience reaction to the story and helped me nuance it better.

· Series Concept: A Praetorian Centurion, naïvely loyal to Emperor Tiberius, is sidelined by Sejanus, his newly promoted boss, and sent on a bootless errand to find a mythical Jewish rebel. In Palestine, he is placed under house arrest in a remote luxury hostelry, full of spies, and intrigue, and while he struggles with his out of control subordinates, he discovers he himself is an insurrectionist.

· Main Conflict in Episode One: Centurion Theophilus Cato struggles to maintain his loyalties to the Roman Empire while protecting his beloved Jewish household slaves from a new wave of anti- Semitism in Rome.

Cold Open: 50 AD. An Older Lucas (a character the Older Theophilus has met in the past in Palestine) writes, letting Theo know that the fanatic Saul has ceased his persecutions but their old nemesis Agrippa has succeeded in his power play and is in a position of enforcing Emperor worship.

HOPE/FEAR

Hope that Lucas can finish his books , but fear these two will be martyred.

Act 1:

26 AD Opening: Younger Theo to rewards a Jewish
soldier in his cohort for loyalty and bravery and announces he’s being
reassigned.
Inciting
Incident: At his slave, Philip’s race, Theo discovers from Atticus there
is a new wave of anti Semitism coming. Theo sees it carried out against
Philip by the race official. During the race Theo follows the official and
retaliates against him.
Turning
Point- He learns from Atticus that the race official was murdered, stabbed
with a military issued Iberian dagger left at the scene and Sejanus thinks
its convenient to blame the Jews.

HOPE/FEAR

Hope that Theo can protect his Jewish slaves. Fear of a new wave of persecution of Jews in Rome.

Act 2:

New
plan- Theo notices his own Iberian dagger is missing. He confronts Hanna, Philip’s mother and
is reassured of his slaves’ loyalty but finds out Philip was lying about his
whereabouts. Theo is going to investigate.
Plan
in action- He follows Philip and learns he had taken Theo’s dagger to the
rebels but is unable to get it back. When confronted, Philip recites a poem
about a a prophesied Jewish warrior overthrowing with an iron rod. Philip
also quotes Virgil.
Midpoint
Turning Point- Theo finds his Jewish soldier killed and his reward stolen.

HOPE/FEAR

Hope that Theo’s slaves are loyal and do trust him and serve him out of love, but fearful that Philip is rebelliously taking matters into his own hands.

Act 3:

Rethink
everything-He rejects Atticus’ suggestion that he spy on Tiberius.
New
plan: He tells Atticus his new
plan, he will retire, and to go to Jerusalem to find the insurrectionist.
Turning
Point: Huge failure / Major shift He is dragged before Sejanus.

HOPE/FEAR

Hope Theo he can outsmart his superiors, but fear that his divided loyalties will be uncovered.

Act 4:

Final
plan- Sejanus will send him as an emissary of the Emperor to Palestine to
conduct the investigation, but he must succeed in finding the rebel leader
within two years or die.
Climax/Ultimate
expression of the conflict- attack at his home during a Seder on the day
his home guard is off duty.
Resolution-
Theo decides all of them are going to Palestine

HOPE/FEAR

Hope Theo can escape Rome and start a new life with his slaves in Palestine. Since unbeknownst to Theo, he has been set up to fail his mission, fear he and his slaves will be killed.

TAG

Hannah is blackmailed to secret report on Theo’s investigation, with threats to expose her son Philip.

HOPE/FEAR

Hope Hannah is clever enough not to report anything
that would betray her master, fear she will.

[Robert Barhite]

Bob Writes Great Hope/Fear!

What I learned doing this assignment is…it needed reworking before outlining. Way too many characters for a confined story. The Hope/Fear exercise is a great tool to use prior to outlining. Great tool to locate plot holes.

ACT 1:

In Plain Sight

HOPE: Years ago, The Bartender worked for the mob until The Bartender was set up and spent ten years in the slammer. And his “reward” for staying silent – a bar on a tiny costal island. A decade later, the bar is used as an out-of-the-way location where contraband safely changes hands. But the time has come to determine who set him up, and he has a person on the inside, The Bagperson (his ex-girlfriend), who is willing to help.

FEAR: Can The Bagperson truly be trusted.

Ticking Clock

HOPE: The Bartender and The Bagperson concoct a plan to steal $50 million in cash when diamonds are fenced to a buyer from Antwerp. The plan was to blow up the bar, making it look like an accident and they were killed, allowing them to escape with the money.

FEAR: Their plan doesn’t buy them enough time and they’re discovered.

Threat

HOPE: Nothing can go wrong even if the con job is discovered.

FEAR: The Bagperson arrives, accompanied by The Lieutenant.

Fear

HOPE: A tropical storm turns toward the island.

FEAR: The tropical storm hits before they can put their plan into motion.

Helpless

HOPE: The Bartender knows the Lieutenant. They used to work together. The Lieutenant is a blunt force of nature, but not terribly swift minded.

FEAR: The Lieutenant recognizes The Bartender.

ACT 2:

Out of control situation

HOPE: They can use the storm as cover to escape.

FEAR: The Diamond Cutter is late, delaying their plan.

Trapped

HOPE: They can act before The Diamond Cutter arrives.

FEAR: The Lieutenant will stall and uncover their plan.

Adrenaline

HOPE: The Diamond Cutter with the cash arrives

FEAR: The Lieutenant will act on his plan before their plan can go into motion

Could attack at any moment

HOPE: The storm, now a hurricane, will force the Lieutenant to leave the island before putting his plan into motion.

FEAR: The meeting the Lieutenant sets up is a trap.

Teamwork

HOPE: They approach the Diamond Cutter and broach whether he will join them

FEAR: He turns them in to The Lieutenant.

ACT 3:

Person on the edge

HOPE: The Lieutenant gives up on his plan and leaves due to the impending hurricane

FEAR: He just kills everyone and takes the money and diamonds.

Ticking clock

HOPE: They can use the threat of the hurricane to begin their fleece of the Lieutenant.

FEAR: The hurricane threatens to wipe out their only means to leave the island, stranding them with The Lieutenant, a known killer.

Impending doom

HOPE: The hurricane is just off shore. The Bartender explains what will happen next – when the storm subsides first FEMA then the Nation Guard will arrive. They convince the Lieutenant to make the exchange.

FEAR: The Lieutenant doesn’t listen, risking everyone.

Helpless

HOPE: Power is cut, which provides just enough cover for the Lieutenant not to notice he has a bag of glass.

FEAR: Their plan unravels, the Diamond Cutter double crosses them!

Not sure who or what the real threat is!

HOPE: The Diamond Cutter really is in on the con.

FEAR: The Diamond Cutter is working with the Lieutenant.

ACT 4:

Dangerous

HOPE: The Diamond Cutter announces they’re being double crossed and “kills” the Bagperson.

FEAR: The Lieutenant really kills the Bagperson.

Controlled chaos

HOPE: In the chaos, The Bartender switches out the diamonds and the money. In the confusion The Diamond Cutter leaves and informs his side the Lieutenant double crossed them and stole everything.

FEAR: They’re caught. Or worse, the Diamond Cutter kills them all.

Destruction

HOPE: The Bartender uses the hurricane as a means to destroy the bar and fake their deaths.

FEAR: The bar isn’t destroyed, allowing the Mob to find the con artists.

Escape

HOPE: The Lieutenant makes it to the mainland. The bar is destroyed.

FEAR: The Lieutenant is arrested. The bar doesn’t explode.

We Win

HOPE: The bar burns. The Bartender and The Bagperson are presumed dead, their bodies washed out to sea as the storm surge recedes. The Mob catches up with the Lieutenant and discovers he has the bag of glass and a suitcase of paper. They believe he’s hiding everything. It doesn’t end well. Mob happy to get rid of him – dumb, ambitious, short temper = bad news.

Six months later, on a tropical beach, The Bartender and The Bagperson hear “Excuse me, do you need ice in your drinks” and two perfectly cut diamonds are dropped into their drinks by The Diamond Cutter, who joins them.

FEAR: The Lieutenant convinces the Mob that he’s a patsy and they’re able to track down The Bartender, The Bagperson, and The Diamond Man.

FADE TO BLACK

[Bent Hanlen]

Bent writes great hope fear !!

what I learned doing this assignment is this …… by going to different presentations of emotion, I keep this story interesting. The ball is bouncing around the court so to speak. I’m keeping the story active.

ACT ONE

HOPE – Michael scratches lottery tickets hoping to win the big prize

FEAR – Ron tells him his chances of winning a lottery tix are slim. Mike is unhappy to hear that.

PRISONER – Michael thinks he will die at the hotel because he can’t afford to retire.

MIND GAMES – Resident Manager drops off envelopes for everyone. Bellmen open theirs and it is just a card. No gift.

ACT TWO

CLAUSTROPHOBIC – Ron always stares out the front door. He wants to be in the world of dancing but he’s stuck at the hotel.

MIND GAMES – Ron is attracted to the new front desk woman. Her manager Chris aims his cell phone at Ron like he’s recording him so Ron has to back away.

WHat is the worst that could happen – Mike is assigned a luggage delivery. The guest walks off to the bar without tipping Mike.

Injury – Mike takes the bags to the room. They are way too heavy and he hurts his back.

Helpless – He calls for help on his radio, no one is available. The housekeeper comes in. She refuses to lift anything.

Person on the edge- Guest comes in and now Mike can lift bags. Guest decides he doesn’t like room. Lorena says she made the room just for him so he tips her but not Mike then leaves. Mike is about to have a heart attack.

ACT THREE

Left Alone – Mike has to move the bags to another room and he’s stressed over it. He wants to quit.

Could attack at any moment. – he pulls out his two week notice that he keeps in his wallet. He’s ready to present that paper and walk out. Jerry talks him down.

Triggering each other – Ron sees he has a rivalry for the attention of the front desk woman with another bellman.

[Martha Manuel]

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>SUBJECT LINE: Martha Writes Great Hope/Fear!

What I learned doing this assignment is: each assignment I take makes me feel more empowered as a writer. I am always learning something new.

ASSIGNMENT

1. Pull out the 4-Act structure of your story.

2. Using the list of Infinite Possibilities above, brainstorm 5 or more Hope/Fear moments that can occur in each Act.

ACT 1:

HOPE: Tye (21) and Mark (18), two bungling escaped convicts, hungry from missing

meals to escape, cover their faces with the only thing they can think of – their

underwear – and dart into a small country store armed with one gun and a

baseball bat to rob it.

FEAR: They fear they may have made a mistake when the young 18-year-old girl at the

cash register begins to laugh hysterically and does not take them seriously.

HOPE: With only one girl at the cash register their hopes soar as they see food and

drinks and a small cash register ready to be opened.

WARNING: Her cell phone rings but she is not allowed to answer it. A message left is

from her grandfather telling her she needs to close the store and get home as

soon as possible. A major hurricane is heading towards the store.

THREAT: Before anything can be done a loud crash is heard and the ground shakes.

Her 16-year-old brother comes rushing out from the back of the store visibly

shaken.

DANGER: A huge tree has fallen directly in front of the store’s entrance smashing

everything in sight, including a truck outside they were hoping to use for a quick

get-a-way.

ACT 1 TP: SAFETY DESTROYED: The storm has also caused the loss of electricity

and downed cell phone towers, meaning no store landline and no cell phones.

With exits blocked, and no other way to get out, they are all trapped inside

together while outside the storm rages on.

ACT 2:

NEW PLAN: Still somewhat optimistic, Tye and Mark start looking for another way out.

Tye will keep tabs on Susie and Mark will watch over Bobby. Tye hopes the

storm will slow down the authorities looking for them, but worries that Susie’s

grandfather will call authorities and ask for their help in rescuing his

grandchildren.

HOPE: Tye and Susie are getting attached to each other. She tells him that there used

to be an exit in the back of the store but she doesn’t think it’s a viable option

anymore. They decide to try it anyway.

INCREASING TENSION: The back exit of the store has been blocked with heavy metal

cabinets and old machinery never disposed of when store was originally an old

feed mill. Appears there are no other escape routes. Susie learns Lance suffers

from claustrophobia.

HOPE: Tye and Susie see Bobby and Mark coming out of a back room. They seem in

extremely good spirits. Tye hopes they may have found another exit.

LOSS OF CONTROL: Susie learns Bobby and his grandfather have been selling

marijuana out of the back of the store for some time now. She feels betrayed by

both of them and cannot justify their actions. Bobby and Mark are as high as a

kite. Another large tree falls.

ACT 2 TP/MIDPOINT: ENVIRONMENT: Bobby and Mark argue about who left the lit

marijuana joint in the back room. It doesn’t matter – the whole room is now on fire

and spreading like wildfire!

ACT 3:

RETHINK EVERYTHING: A simple robbery has now converted from stealing to surviving.

NEW PLAN: Try to put out fire; look for fire extinguishers, pull out bottled water from

shelves or coolers; use anything available; search for way to escape; check

attic; find transistor radio and install new batteries in hopes of monitoring

hurricane.

DANGER: Fire is spreading rapidly.

HOPE: Bobby says there is a small window in the attic but he doesn’t know if it’s big

enough for them to get out of.

FEAR: As a group they must decide what they will do. If they all go upstairs they may

get caught with no way back. If they don’t, they may be trapped in the fire.

DANGEROUS: Whatever they decide will be dangerous, but they look for a way to the

attic.

ACT 3 TURNING POINT: ALL IS LOST: Arriving in the attic, the small outlet is not

really a window, but more a large vent. The fire has spread below them and now

they are trapped.

ACT 4:

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>FINAL PLAN/MIND GAMES: Tye is becoming unable to react because of his

claustrophobia; Bobby and Mark are coming off their high and Susie is trying to

keep it all together.

HELPLESS: All are becoming aware of their impending doom.

CLIMAX / ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF THE CONFLICT / INCREASING TENSION: Susie tries to break the stifling tension in the room by asking “What’s the worst that could happen?” Tye smiles and says “We could die with our underwear around our head.” Mark says “All the joints downstairs could be going up in flames and I will never have another one.” Bobby says “grandpa will find out I’ve been selling joints out of his store without him ever knowing.”

RESOLUTION: Before Susie can say anything more, sirens are heard in the distance. Bobby looks out and sees a fire truck racing down the road. An ambulance is behind it, and in the far distance an unmarked car. They all vow to take care of each other from this point on – no matter what the cost.