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Lesson 8
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R Whitney Lesson 8
What I learned:
A. What is their Character Profile?
Role: Leader
Traits: Brilliant, resourceful
Fears: The eventual spread of these monster’s, annihilation
Wants/Needs : to be listened to and believed,
Likability / Rooting factors: loves her pets, loves her research
How they react under stress: action using cool intelligence and intellect
Relationship with other characters: distant
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: loner, works alone on research
Denial: the monster couldn’t survive freezing
Their reaction at first horror: numb, this can’t be happening
Relation to group after first horror: learns to work closer with others
How they fight back: knowledge of the monster and it’s weaknesses
End Point: Monsters killed but unnoticed eggs are not destroyed
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? How the dangers of our own world environment can be altered into a dreadful apocalypse.
2. Build those Character Journeys into your outline.
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Kevin Lobo’s Character Journey Track
What I learned doing this assignment is that a meticulous pre planning of each character against a character profile and journey helps give each character a well defined voice, something that may not develop fully if the characters are created organically as the plot/story progresses.
1. With each of your Survivors and Victims, answer the following questions:
Julia Edwards. FBI agent sent to Davisville to investigate the case.
A. What is their Character Profile?
1. Role: Lead and only investigator in the case.
2. Traits: Will not accept defeat
3. Fears: Psychological – hates the small town setting – afraid will fall back into depression; detests the two men she is supposed to work with as each represents a pain point from her past she tries to forget.
4. Wants/Needs: Justice when a crime is committed. Needs closure from a painful past.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: A team player and an amiable person who reaches out to all but through the course of the movie is rejected and hurt by everyone.
6. How they react under stress: There is no giving up, no defeat in her dictionary and will always rise/fight back from the worst defeat.
7. Relationship with other characters: Has to work hard to build each relationship with the folks in Davisville to be able to solve the killings and stop them.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: Julia is
introduced on a high winning note as she returns from another successful
raid by her all male FBI team busting a drug gang. <div>Denial: Outright
rejection of the new mission she is being sent on, alone. She has to
remind her boss to look in her file or relook as he knows it well, of the
psychological and mental health issues she faces and this lone mission
represents it all.Their reaction at first horror: Dismisses
the villagers theory of an evil spirit at work even though she reads all
the details in Bradley’s file. She believes and sets out to catch an evil
human being.Relation to group after first
horror:
Begins to empathize with the evil spirit theories when she sees Sarah’s
crucified body and no blood on the scene of the crime.How they fight back: Julia is
determined to fight back the analytical way, using her detective skills
and a detailed dive into all persons and events that can throw a clue.End Point: Comes out a
winner when she successfully restores the ghosts head to his grave, solves
the killings, finds peace in the rural setting, finds reconciliation
through Fr. Augustine with the horrible memories she carries of a priest;
and finds closure in Giovanni’s victory thus setting herself at peace with
her own father’s suicide.What insight do their deaths or
survival bring to the others/audience? Julia’s survival and victory is an inspiration of never
giving up and in her journey, the audience finds their own victory against
a seemingly undefeatable evil spirit.Fr. Augustus McConaughey. The old parish priest of Davisville
A. What is their Character Profile?
1. Role: The village pastor who as a young priest saw the evil killings first hand.
2. Traits: Fatherly, protective and highly secretive.
3. Fears: Fears that he may not be able to protect his flock from the evil spirit or from wrongful condemnation of Tom when under suspicion.
4. Wants/Needs: Wants to help Julia find peace with a priest. Wants to protect Tom at all costs. Wants to protect his laity by trying to take on an evil spirit when he is ill-equipped to do an exorcism.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: Very fatherly and perceptive. Immediately senses Julia’s hesitation in his presence and wants to help her. Very protective of Tom and breaks the ultimate law by divulging his confessional knowledge to protect him.
6. How they react under stress: Closes up, casts others aside in a bid to protect them and goes solo in fighting back.
7. Relationship with other characters: Loved and respected by his flock.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: Shares a
joint introduction with Giovanni Pegulia, the reclusive, retired former village
sheriff. These are the two men who Julia has to work with primarily but we
see them at odds right at the start and know what Julia will be up
against. </div><div>Denial: Outright
denial that Tom is the guilty one.Their reaction at first horror: Makes it a
personal mission to secretly fight the evil spirit at the earliest and
prevent further killings.Relation to group after first
horror:
Protective and active in trying to run his own investigation and stop the
killings in a religious way.How they fight back: Secretly
tries exorcism even though he knows he needs permission or is not trained
to do it.End Point: Dies at the
Tom’s hand – the man he protected all his life. Even in his dying moments
he helps Julia in her own personal struggle.What insight do their deaths or
survival bring to the others/audience? Helps others reinforce the
very substantive and deep role of a priest as a shepherd and protector.Giovanni Pegulia. The reclusive, retired former village Sheriff of Davisville
A. What is their Character Profile?
1. Role: Meant to help Julia solve the case but is dead set in his own beliefs of what the case is.
2. Traits: Bitter, unforgiving, self-centered and hateful due to his failed past.
3. Fears: What if he wrong after all these years and that he has wasted his entire life living with a grudge.
4. Wants/Needs: Wants to be proven right that his theory on the killings then, and now, that Tom is the killer.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: Despite everything still wants to protect the folks around him, especially the teens.
6. How they react under stress: Knee jerk reaction – whether instantly accusing Tom again or grabbing Julia’s gun and shooting Tom at the end to protect the priest.
7. Relationship with other characters: Tense and argumentative.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: Shares a
joint introduction with Fr. Augustus, the old village parish priest. These
are the two men who Julia has to work with primarily but we see them at
odds right at the start and know what Julia will be up against. </div><div>Denial: That this is
a horror killing. That anyone or a spirit other than Tom is behind the
killings.Their reaction at first horror: I told you
so – thus instantly accuses and confronts Fr. Augustus and accuses him of
being responsible in unleashing the same terror on the village again.Relation to group after first
horror:
I told you so attitude, expects others to suck up to him – disgruntled
when Julia sets out on her own course of investigation rather than pick up
from where he left off.How they fight back: Jump to
action, whether it is in warning the village or shoot Tom.End Point: Finds
closure in Tom’s death, in a way feeling justified that Tom did have
something to do with the deaths in the first phase.What insight do their deaths or
survival bring to the others/audience? Will inspire a feeling of
pity and a bit of respect in his devotion to his cause for justice.Tom Monaghan. A wealthy, elder of Davisville
A. What is their Character Profile?
1. Role: The original suspect behind the Black Mass led killings and under suspicion again.
2. Traits: Shadowy figure who acts every bit suspect.
3. Fears: Fears the wrath of the village. Also fears the Sheriff. The townfolk suspect it is because of his suspicious past however the fear is due to the Sheriff being the secret head of the evil gang.
4. Wants/Needs: Wants to be rid of the suspicion and the association with the evil and reaches out to Fr. Augustus for help.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: There is no likability to Tom. His inherited wealth keeps him safe.
6. How they react under stress: Flees from the pub/crowd when the details of the killings emerge. Reaches out to Fr. Augustus in secret for help.
7. Relationship with other characters: Generally ostracized by the village, he has very little contact with the village folk.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: We see him
as a sort of outcast away from the main crowd in the pub when the details
of Bradley’s killing emerge. He flees suspiciously and hurriedly fearing
the crowd.
Denial: He refuses
to believe that this is Jason Hughs at work again. </div><div>Their reaction at first horror: Even though
he denies the possibility of the killing being related, he still rushes to
Fr. Augustus secretly.Relation to group after first
horror:
Tom goes into total seclusion in fear until Julia arrests him.How they fight back: He becomes a
victim of JH’s final possession and tries to kill Fr. Augustus who tries
to exorcise him.End Point: Giovanni
shoots the possessed Tom to save Fr. Augustus from being killed by him.
What insight do their deaths or
survival bring to the others/audience? A character in whose death
the audience will find solace and some retribution for the deaths of the
village teens.Bradley Bush. A rich 19-year-old of Davisville and the first teen to be killed by JH’s evil spirit.
A. What is their Character Profile?
1. Role: The first 19-year-old to be killed in the opening scene.
2. Traits: Loud, boisterous, leader of the teen group (as a result of his good looks and his wealth).
3. Fears: Very little fear in the little we see of him. Even when the spell works and the graveyard becomes the scene of something deadly and evil erupting, he still fools around desecrating JH’s grave.
4. Wants/Needs: Adulation and following from the teens.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: A fun loving teen and we lose him early in the movie.
6. How they react under stress: Defiant and carefree to a point that he does not see the real danger.
7. Relationship with other characters: A sort of leader and a close friend to the other 5 teens in his group.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: The movie
begins with Bradley’s secret but loud birthday party in one of his rich
hideouts. He provides the booze, the car and all other goodies for the
teens. </div><div>Denial: Disregards
the groups warning that something evil is happening and to flee.Their reaction at first horror: Has very
little time to react to the horror as JH’s evil spirit possesses and kills
him immediately in the opening scene.Relation to group after first
horror:
The teens miss him dearly, especially Sarah who had a secret crush on him.How they fight back: Bradley does
not get a chance to fight back.End Point: Bradly dies
in the opening sequence.What insight do their deaths or
survival bring to the others/audience? Bradley’s death introduces
the teen gang and the audience to JH’s evil spirit at work.Sarah Gillespie. The second teen to be killed by JH’s evil spirit
A. What is their Character Profile?
1. Role: The second 19-year-old to be killed by JH’s evil spirit.
2. Traits: Quiet, bashful, die hard supporter of Bradley and has a big crush on him.
3. Fears: She fears the deadly spirit have seen what it did to Bradley and how he was killed.
4. Wants/Needs: Wants to be loved by Bradley and thus follows him blindly.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: She is true to her crush and despite her fears insists that the gang meet up on her birthday at the same hideout where they celebrated Bradley’s birthday.
6. How they react under stress: Fearful, cries easily and is terrified to the point of being frozen with fear.
7. Relationship with other characters: Loves her gang of teens and wants to celebrate her 19<sup>th</sup> birthday with them despite the suspicious lurking danger.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: We meet the
gang of 6 teens that includes Sarah, in the opening scene as they celebrate
Bradley’s birthday. </div><div>Denial: Suspects and
senses that JH’s evil spirit is in her but is not willing to accept it.Their reaction at first horror: Frozen and
numb with fear.Relation to group after first
horror:
Gets even more attached to her group after Bradley’s death.How they fight back: Defiantly
goes out and celebrates her birthday in the place that she associates with
Bradley.End Point: Sarah is
killed by JH’s spirit in their secret hideout.What insight do their deaths or
survival bring to the others/audience? Sarah’s death instantly
surfaces and reinforces the theory in those that know about JH that it is
his spirit is the one killing the teens. For those that don’t know the 19<sup>th</sup>
birthday becomes a big red flag.Ruth Mizrachi. The third teen to be killed by JH’s evil spirit.
A. What is their Character Profile?
1. Role: Ruth is fully aware of JH’s spirit in her. The spirit uses her to taunt Julia and to kill her entire family when they try to escape.
2. Traits: Defiant, wild, carefree and always out to have fun.
3. Fears: Fears her impending death and tries to have as much fun as she can before her birthday.
4. Wants/Needs: Wants to live her life happy, loud and partying.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: Ruth is the life of the gang with her wild ways.
6. How they react under stress: In her typical defiant spirit, Ruth secretly draws the remaining 3 under curfew to come out and party with her.
7. Relationship with other characters: The gang is her life as she loves to party and have fun and in that little village, they are all that can provide her that outlet.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: We meet the
gang of 6 teens that includes Ruth, in the opening scene as they celebrate
Bradley’s birthday. </div><div>Denial: She begins
to realize that she has killed her family in her possessed state and refuses
to accept that huge guilt even though it is killing her.Their reaction at first horror: Screams,
shouts, expletives and very vociferous shock expression.Relation to group after first
horror:
Gets even more attached to her group after Bradley and Sarah’s death.How they fight back: Defiantly draws
out the other teens and celebrates in her usual party way.End Point: Ruth is publicly
killed by JH’s spirit in full sight of the villagers.What insight do their deaths or
survival bring to the others/audience? Ruth’s death fully exposes the
killings as the work of an evil spirit. It reinforces the theory in everyone
that the spirit is after the 19-year-olds. It gets Julia to go after Ruth’s
grandfather and draw out the information from his registrar days that JH
was killed on his 19<sup>th</sup> birthday.Jason and Glen Waugh. The twin brothers killed by JH’s evil spirit together on their birthday.
A. What is their Character Profile?
1. Role: The twins start silently, in the background as diehard fans of Bradley.
2. Traits: Fearful, yet brave. Their bravery comes out on full display as they decide to take the fight to the spirit on their birthday in a bid to end its terror reign.
3. Fears: Fear their separation from each other, fear for Kimberly being left alone to die last.
4. Wants/Needs: Wanted to be like Bradley. Want to go out as defiant winners and not helpless victims of the evil spirit.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: Devoted to each other and to their friends.
6. How they react under stress: They respond with bravery. In the initial scene they try to help Bradley. When they realize the futility, the twins get the rest of the gang in the car and help them flee the graveyard.
7. Relationship with other characters: Generally loved and liked by all the others.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: We meet the
gang of 6 teens that includes the twins, in the opening scene as they
celebrate Bradley’s birthday. </div><div>Denial: They refuse
to accept Bradley’s death and help Sarah plan her birthday party in
Bradley’s absence.Their reaction at first horror: Rational and
quick thinking. They try to help Bradley, and then help the rest escape.Relation to group after first
horror:
With Bradley gone, they take on a protective role over the girls and help
console them in their grief.How they fight back: The twins
secretly come up with a deadly plan to fight back. The believe that if
they can get back to the cemetery and die within the grave, they may succeed
in locking back the spirit. They bring along their own religious objects
and in a naïve way take on the spirit bravely.End Point: Jason and
Glen are killed ruthlessly by the angry evil spirit.What insight do their deaths or
survival bring to the others/audience? The entire village and Julia go
all out to protect the teens and to prevent their deaths. With Jason and
Glen’s death the village descends into a deep defeat and depression. It
gives Julia the resolve and strength to break her own rules, and rally
against the biggest evil hurdle by going into Tom’s evil house alone in
what she knows will be a night of pure, evil terror from which she may not
emerge.Kimberly Gatting. The only teen who survives.
A. What is their Character Profile?
1. Role: The one who cleverly gets the gang to play a game of dare to enter the graveyard, to try out her spell and cause the carnage. She is the last to be possessed but survives as JH’s spirit driven by rage storms into Tom.
2. Traits: Quiet, manipulative and fully aware of the evil she has rendered on the village.
3. Fears: Fears for her friends and reaches out to Julia giving her the first real break in her investigation.
4. Wants/Needs: Wants to undo the harm she has brought on her friends.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: Grieves and torments herself over her stupidity but is helpless in the face of great evil.
6. How they react under stress: Plans and thinks out her strategy, whether it is getting the teens to the graveyard in the first place or as she tries throughout to dissuade the gang from meeting up.
7. Relationship with other characters: Integral part of the gang. Is surprised when the village rallies around her knowing that she got the gang to try the spell that wrecked so much death on the village.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: We meet the
gang of 6 teens that includes Kimberly, in the opening scene as they
celebrate Bradley’s birthday. </div><div>Denial: Initially
refuses to accept responsibility for Bradley’s death.Their reaction at first horror: That it is
some kind of a joke that will blow over.Relation to group after first
horror:
With Sarah’s death, Kimberly takes on an over protective role and tries to
get the teens to stay separated.How they fight back: Lays waster
to Ruth’s plans to meet up. Despite her family’s curfew, she finds a way
to get the spell to Julia to aid her investigation.End Point: The evil spirit
uses Kimberly to attack Julia viciously as she goes into Tom’s house. However,
she survives as it before the midnight hour when she would turn 19 that
the spirit storms into Tom for revenge.What insight do their deaths or
survival bring to the others/audience? In Kimberly’s survival the
village finds hope and a small victory that the spirit did not have the
last victim and they came away with something.Sheriff Duncan Fletcher.
A. What is their Character Profile?
1. Role: Sheriff Duncan is the secret leader that controls Tom and the evil spirit protected by his title and thus above suspicion.
2. Traits: Evil, controlling and driven by a maniacal thirst for the black arts and satanism.
3. Fears: Fears his identity being revealed and will do anything to protect it.
4. Wants/Needs: Wants control over others whether as a sheriff or through his evil ways.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: The unsuspecting folks around him look to him for strength and he acts out his false goodness expertly.
6. How they react under stress: A calm and cool thinker without remorse.
7. Relationship with other characters: Is privy to everyone’s plans thanks to his position and offers false help while manipulating them.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: We meet Sheriff
Duncan as he investigates Bradley’s death. </div><div>Denial: Tries to
defuse the situation and get the villagers to let down their guard by
rational explanations of the deaths.Their reaction at first horror: A false put
on show and false assurances to bring the killer to justice.Relation to group after first
horror:
Tries to show detailed investigation while fully aware of the true nature
of the evil.How they fight back: Manipulates
Julia on to the wrong track as much as he can. Burns up Tom’s police file.
Sets the dogs on Julia as she enters Tom’s house and uses the evil spirit
in Kimberly to attack Julia and prevent her from reaching the crypt.End Point: Disappears
at the end of the movie when he knows he has been exposed – a seed for a
future sequel.What insight do their deaths or
survival bring to the others/audience? The Sheriff’s survival and
disappearance leaves the audience and the villagers with a sense of
incompleteness that the real culprit survived.The town elders.
A. What is their Character Profile?
1. Role: Create a sense of mystery when they immediately suspect what may be reoccurring. They generally warn the teen families but still refuse to divulge the details from the past.
2. Traits: Secretive, fearful and pessimistic.
3. Fears: They fear the deaths will go on endlessly. They fear the wrath of evil spirits.
4. Wants/Needs: Want to protect the children and grandchildren but go about it rather half heartedly.
5. Likability / Rooting factors: We feel their pain as they relive the horror and we root for them hoping they will help bring an end to the carnage.
6. How they react under stress: Shock and a retreat into their shells. They turn to God for protection.
7. Relationship with other characters: Loved and respected by the younger generations.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: We meet
various elders in various roles throughout the story. </div>Denial: That Julia
can stop the killings. They mock her and instead turn to Fr. Augustus to
perform an exorcism.Their reaction at first horror: Instant
doubt and suspicion. Instant withdrawal into their homes protected by
religious objects.Relation to group after first
horror:
Try to reach out to the younger ones to stay isolated and a firm belief it
is JH’s back as a spirit.How they fight back: With
religious objects around the village. With warnings and a push to the
priest to take charge.End Point: They lose
loved ones but live to see another day.What insight do their deaths or
survival bring to the others/audience? A sense of pity that they had
to relive the horror and a sense of frustration in the audience that they
could have done more to help the investigation by sharing details of the
past rather than staying secretive about them. -
Mike’s Character Journey Track
What I learned doing this assignment is…?
I have way to many characters to get through this lesson and add them to my outline so I listed a couple below and they represent much of what I’ve already placed into the script. These details are a great skill but are too time consuming and cluttering of the outline. May have taken a wrong turn, somewhere, but I learned the skill for this part, initially.
SAM RADCLIFFE
A. Character Profile
Role: Leader/Friend.<div>
<i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Traits: Caring. Adventurous.
<i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Fears: Losing touch with the people he loves.
<i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Wants/Needs: Wants to create one lasting memory with his friends. Needs to keep his friends rational when the pressure hits; needs to regain control
<i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Likability/Rooting factors: He’s caring and wants to protect his friends. He do courageous things, putting himself at risk to keep his friends safe.
<i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>How they react under stress: Blend of fear and composure. Not always at his best.
<i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Relationship with other characters: The core of the group, everyone friends with him and that’s why they’re together, but since graduating, they drift in different directions.
B. Character Journey
Character Intro: Sets-up of the spook factor by telling his friends of Darian Brown while leading them on a hike up a path in the mountain. </div><div>
Denial: The story made them suggestive and prone to interpret things with a rational explanation.
First Reaction to Horror: Fear followed by trying to make the most of their time together. “This can be a Scooby-Doo thing.” Playful, imaginative.
Response after First Horror: Tries to calm everyone down with reason and a positive attitude.
Relation to Group after First Horror: Defensive, distant, as they blame him when all he was trying to do was bring them together before each went on with their lives. “Little good, that plan of yours, if we don’t get to go on with the rest of it.”
Reaction as Horror Increases: Disbelief, despair.
How They Fight Back: Weapons and threats as they join forces with a research team. Discover the truth of who the Phantom is and the obsession with protecting the Sasquatch.
End Point: He successfully gave them a time to remember, but it wasn’t an adventure, it was a horror! Loses the one friend he cared for most.
Insight from Death/Survival: Bad things happen, despite our intentions, and we have to live with the consequences. He tries to solidify the friendship. Instead, it was torn apart.
MEGAN FORD
A. Character Profile
Role: Skeptic. University Student, completed Freshman year and finding her stride in science. </div><div>
Traits: Critical. Confident. Bit of a know-it-all.
Fears: Unscientific viewpoints; threats to survival.
Wants/Needs: She wants to not only study natural things but inform people about them. Needs to expand her thinking and accept what she sees and experiences. Also, needs to stop being so resistant.
Likability/Rooting factors: Intelligent but kind and likes to have fun.
How they react under stress: Not well when her experiences show her things that shouldn’t exist.Relationship with other characters: Courteous but knows they don’t have much place in her future apart from reunions. Grew up with them.
B. Character Journey
Character Intro: Identifies trees and tells her friend Danny not to eat the ‘huckleberries’ since they are a poisonous look-a-like. Likes using the word, ‘science.’ </div><div>
Denial: Skeptic about monsters, ghosts, phantoms, Bigfoot. Looks at ‘real’ things it could be and thinks fanciful imagination plays tricks on the mind in uncertain environments.
Their reaction at first horror: Fear, not because of a monster, but she thinks some human creep or murderer.
Response after first horror: Sides with Sam but still blames him for getting them into this. She didn’t want to come.
Relation to the group after first horror: Tends to argue with the views that threaten her own worldview and becomes frustrated with their fanciful beliefs and ideas.
Reaction as horror increases: Gives in to ideas science can’t always explain, and respect for friends with differing worldviews.
How they fight back: Rational, protective of her friends, utilizes knowledge of natural world.
End Point: Not dismissive of other views, but allows for growth in her understanding, being a person herself who has a story, many will ridicule and refuse to believe.
Insight from death/survival: The world is full of things we can’t always explain, and need to consider why she cares so much about life if it has no actual meaning.
NATE SULLIVAN
A. Character Profile
Role: Introvert. Fearful. </div><div>
Traits: Introvert. Prefers being alone and reading and playing games.
Fears: Personal Harm, Pain. A lot of flight, very little fight.
Wants/Needs: Wants to be safe and comfortable. Needs to adapt to present situation.
Likability/Rooting factors: Acts to fears in relatable ways, but want him to have some courage.
How they react under stress: Poorly. Hysterical. Melodramatic.
Relationship with other characters: Generally agreeable but under pressure a ‘glass half empty were going to die of thirst’ kind of bloke.
B. Character Journey
Character intro: With friends on the hike but startles easy at birds or squirrels or harmless snakes. </div>
Denial: Can’t believe it’s happening and reminds how right he was to not want to do this.
Their reaction at first horror: Runs but always keeps behind the one in front. Wants to enter cottage but won’t be the first. First concern is personal safety.
Response after first horror: Refuses to take any risks.
Relation to group after first horror: A burden as his pessimism and anxiety elevate the already stressful situation.
Reaction as horror increases: Tries keeping close the one he thinks he’ll be safest with.
How they fight back: Tries to shoot the threat.
End Point: Shoots himself after accidentally shooting his friend.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Sometimes, the greatest horror is not being able to come back from a failed decision and give up, altogether.
etc.
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TOM’S CHARACTER JOURNEY TRACK
What I learned: It’s starting to come together. I’ll add to my outline tomorrow.
1. With each of your Survivors and Victims, answer the following questions:
A. What is their Character Profile?
Leader: Captain TAYLOR “TV” VANDERPOOL Captain Vanderpool is an overachiever. He suffers guilt over the death of his teenage son. His ex-wife blames his singular focus on career for the death of his son. In return, he pushes himself and the ship beyond the normal bounds, yet dreads casualties. VICTIM.Role: LeaderTraits: Overachiever, guilt-ridden grievingFears: Losing those he lovesWants/Needs : Wants: power, Needs: to retireLikability / Rooting factors: He has a huge resonsibilityHow they react under stress: gets angry. Relationship with other characters: The Boss
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: In denialDenial: Doesn’t believe there’s a monster aboardTheir reaction at first horror: DenialRelation to group after first horror: Tells everyone to keep calm and carry onHow they fight back: Organizes a searchEnd Point: Killed via the periscopeWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Death reveals the power of creature<div>
Rescuer: Chief Warrant Officer and Navy Seal ANGEL HILDAGO Only sister with five brothers. The only female to graduate Basic Underwater Buds and become a Navy Seal, she is strong and brave, and unusually resourceful. She and Ray Ray have a secret on again off again fling. SURVIVORRole: Highest ranked enlistee on shipTraits: Strong, brave, resourcefulFears: nothing . Abhors failureWants/Needs : Wants: to win. Needs to relax.Likability / Rooting factors: She is the only female Navy sealRelationship with other characters: Likeable. Authority figure.
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: Tries to understand and master challenge from the startDenial: Nothing she can’t doTheir reaction at first horror: Fascination, healthy respectRelation to group after first horror: Problem solver, calmerHow they fight back: find it, learn all about it, kill itEnd Point Survives and escapesWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Fear will kill you. It is possible to win, but you need help. </div><div>
Chief Petty Officer RAYMOND “RAY RAY” DELACOURT. Fellow Navy Seal. Strong and manly, Taciturn but smart, he sacrifices his life for his secret love Angel. VICTIMRole: Male leadTraits: Strong, Fearless, ObservantFears: NothingWants/Needs : Wants to lead Angel, Needs to let her leadLikability / Rooting factors: Ironic sense of humor, resourceful, observantHow they react under stress: Like a SealRelationship with other characters: Everyone likes Ray Ray. Especially Angel
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
Character Intro: Breaks up a fightDenial: Nothing he can’t doTheir reaction at first horror: AcceptanceRelation to group after first horror: They trust himHow they fight back: Creates weapons and toolsEnd Point: he sacrifices himself fto save his love AngelWhat insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? No weapon is stronger than love
</div> -
Eve Williams’ Character Journey Track
“What I learned doing this assignment was that each character experiences and responds to paranormal activity in very different ways. What’s obviously terrifying to adults may not be to children, who tend to be more approachable.”
Character Profile: Maria
1. Role – Survivor/Mama Bear
2. Traits – Somewhat meek when the story opens. Loves her son, her soon to be born baby, in love with Alberto, and wants to make the best home possible for them.
3. Fears – Uncomfortable outside the city; afraid of losing her baby, scared of desert critters and the harsh climate.
4. Wants/Needs – Wants a safe new home. Needs to evict/kill the Monster.
5. Likability/Rooting factors: She’s a mom and is pregnant. She also reacts to the paranormal factors like most of us would.
6. How she reacts under stress: Initially, she denies the paranormal activity. She gets sick to her stomach, she runs away, and then faces the Monster to save her family.
7. Relationship with other characters: She’s Mom. She’s there to love them, comfort them, and protect them.
Character Profile: Jesus
1. Role – Survivor/Little kid.
2. Traits – He’s introverted, and is very nearsighted.
3. Fears – Things that go bump in the night. Things that go bump in the day. And since his eyesight is so back, he fears losing his glasses.
4. Wants/Needs – He’s his Mom’s only chid. But that is soon to change. Jesus fears that the new baby will usurp his place.
5. Likability/Rooting factors: He’s just a quiet little boy who senses the evil in his new house. We want him to have a safe place to grow up.
6. How he reacts under stress: At first, Jesus is curious about the paranormal activity. While he’s not quite sure how to deal with it, he interacts with the poltergeist activity because he’s a kid.
7. Relationship with other characters: He loves his Mom. Jesus isn’t comfortable with Alberto, who is the father of the soon to be born baby.
Character Profile: Bonita
1. Role – Victim/Someone has to die.
2. Traits – Annoying old fat incontinent dog. She barks at anything, everything, and nothing.
3. Fears – Things that go bump in the night. Things that go bump in the day.
4. Wants/Needs – She wants food. Lots of food. She doesn’t need that much food but she figures out a way to get it anyway.
5. Likability/Rooting factors: She’s a dog.
6. How she reacts under stress: She pees on the floor. And barks. A lot.
7. Relationship with other characters: Bonita isn’t a warm and loving dog. She likes food more than people.
Character Profile: Lolita-Bird.
1. Role – Survivor: She senses the Monster before the humans and also gets threatened by the Monster.
2. Traits – She’s a half wild parrot who has a glass breaking jungle yell. She has a limited vocabulary but understands “La Migra” are bad.
3. Fears – Things that go bump in the night. Things that go bump in the day.
4. Wants/Needs – She’s a parrot. She likes fruit and nuts and an occasional finger.
5. Likability/Rooting factors: She’s a pretty green small parrot. She’s loud and smart. For a bird, at least.
6. How she reacts under stress: She jungle yells. And screams “La Migra”. And she tries to bite.
7. Relationship with other characters: Lolita-Bird likes it when she’s noticed. Except by the Monster.
Character Journey: Maria
1. Character Intro – Lost in the truck driving in the middle of the desert.
2. Denial – Sees how Jesus, Bonita, and Lolita-Bird won’t get near the new house.
3. First Reaction to Horror – Dismissive. She decides the Black Eyed Little Boy is a figment of Jesus’ imagination.
4. Response after First Horror – Uneasiness. When she discovers they are alone, she thinks it is Jesus’ coping mechanism to the new home.
5. Relation to Group after First Horror – Mama Bear. She’ll make this out in the middle of no-where a home for all
6. Reaction as Horror Increases – Increasing terror.
7. How They Fight Back – She eventually fights against the Bats, Birds, and the Monster.
8. End Point – Maria and Jesus lure the Monster into the last frame stage home, where the Monster is incinerated by lighting.
9. Insight from death/Survival – She’s conquered the Monster. And now will live in her new home in peace.
Character Journey: Jesus
1. Character Intro – Lost in the truck driving in the middle of the desert.
2. Denial – Along with Bonita ,and Lolita-Bird, Jesus won’t get near the new house. But he doesn’t pick up on the danger of the Black Eyed Little Boy.
3. First Reaction to Horror – Jesus is curious when his toy walks off the shelf.
4. Response after First Horror – Uneasiness but still curious.
5. Relation to Group after First Horror – Not that much different than before. Jesus isn’t being tormented like Maria by the poltergeist activity
6. Reaction as Horror Increases – Jesus understands that something is going on in the house, and while a bit unnerved, is willing to interact with the activity.
7. How They Fight Back – He eventually fights against the Bats, Birds, and the Monster.
8. End Point – Maria and Jesus lure the Monster into the last frame stage home, where the Monster is incinerated by lighting.
9. Insight from death/Survival – They have conquered the Monster. And now will live in their new home in peace.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil Established –
Moonless night in the Mojave Desert. Far away from civilization, an older pick-up towing a loaded trailer heads down a deserted road.
Horror Situation: They are lost, and have been for a while.
Reaction: Tired and confused, they consult the map again. Eventually…
The truck’s headlights illuminate a worn sign: El Mirage Heights. Dimly lit homes line the short street.
Connect With the Characters –
Character Intro (Maria and Jesus) –
Inside the truck is Alberto, a worn Hispanic man in his early 30s, Maria, tired and 26, 5 months pregnant; Jesus, coke bottle glasses wearing 5 year old; Bonita a fat old Chihuahua, and Lolita Bird, a vocal green Conure parrot
Horror Situation: Jesus, Bonita, and Lolita Bird sense evil in the house..
Reaction: Jesus won’t come near the house, and Bonita barks and Lolita Bird jungle yells.
Denial (Maria) –
Horror Situation: Jesus, Bonita, and Lolita Bird sense evil in the house. Maria is relieved to find her new house and doesn’t sense the danger.
DEMAND: Apprehension – They should be overjoyed when they reach their new home but why won’t Jesus and the pets go near?
MONSTER REVEAL – Jesus and the pets know there is danger.
Typical tract home; it was the model home for the El Mirage Heights subdivision.
Horror Situation: Alberto proposes to Maria, shoving a key ring with the house keys on her ring finger. In doing so, he scratches her finger, which drops blood.
Reaction: Maria is pleased, but considers the dripping blood a bad sign.
Sheet draped furniture is inside. The group works to grab suitcases and settle in.
Denial of Horror –
Maria says that the house is so far out. Alberto says that she saw the neighbors’ homes and they won’t be alone.
Horror Situation: Alberto attempts to get a cell signal.
Reaction: He locates one while standing in the middle of the street.
Safety Taken Away –
Before dawn, Alberto is picked up by a co-worker. They’re off to Northern Nevada to work construction for a week.
Horror Situation: Jesus hears a knocking at his window. He looks out but sees no one. Then knocking at the front door, where a black eyed little boy stands.
Reaction: Jesus asks Maria if he can let him in. Maria believes it is Alberto, who has forgotten something and tells Jesus to let him in. So he does.
DEMAND: Curiosity – Who knocks at the door so early?
MONSTER REVEAL – The Black Eyed Children are an American contemporary paranormal legend that the Monster can emulate. The Black Eyed boy is only seen outside the house, but Jesus admits he invites him inside.
Horror Situation: Maria quickly dresses and goes to the living room. Confused when she doesn’t see Alberto, Maria asks Jesus where he is.
Reaction: Jesus tells Maria that a little boy was at the door but he left.
Denial (Jesus) –
Jesus doesn’t sense the danger in the Little Black Eyed Boy.
Horror Situation: Maria and Jesus go outside to find the boy’s home. They look down the street and see that the “homes” are actually weathered frame stage homes with false fronts.
Reaction: No one else lives in El Mirage Heights. They are completely alone.
First Reaction/Response after Horror (Maria) –
Given that there are no neighbors, Maria decides that the Black Eyed Boy is a figment of Jesus’ imagination. Or a new imaginary friend.
Relation to Group after First Horror –
This is her new home. Even though it is out in the middle of the Mojave Desert with no known neighbors within miles and miles, she will make it their home.
Monster – The nature of the beast. Most of the monster’s initial actions involve scary nature things, like wild winds and mirages.
Horror Situation: Going from bedroom to bedroom, Maria pounds nails into the wall and hangs crucifixes above the beds. The next time she returns to each room, the crucifixes are turned 90%
Reaction: Unnerved, she carefully straightens each crucifix.
DEMAND: Disconcerting – Moving crucifixes.
MONSTER REVEAL – Poltergeist activity from the Monster.
Horror Situation: Maria takes Bonita out to pee in the backyard. The whipping wind startles the dog, who whimpers and runs back to the door. It also uncovers a stack of bones.
Reaction: Maria examines the bones, attempting to figure out if they are animal or human.
DEMAND: Creepy – Bones buried in the backyard.
MONSTER REVEAL – Something kills things at your new house. Probably the Monster. Or maybe the harsh climate. Or maybe a little of both.
Horror Situation: Maria is unpacking, and hears water from inside the bathroom. Calling for Jesus, she knocks on the closed door. Jesus looks into the hall from his room. When Maria opens the bathroom door, the water runs for a second, then stops.
Reaction: Maria is afraid, but doesn’t want to upset Jesus. She fiddles with the faucet handles, and tells Jesus to make sure the faucet is completely off.
DEMAND: Apprehension – Why and how is the water turning on and off?
MONSTER REVEAL – More unnerving poltergeist activity from the Monster.
Reaction as Horror Increases (Maria) –
Maria is terrorized, but doesn’t want to upset Jesus.
Horror Situation: Jesus carefully places his toys on a shelf, stepping back to admit the display. One slowly moves to the edge of the shelf, teeters, and falls to the floor.
First Reaction to Horror (Jesus) –
More curious than frightened, Jesus doesn’t sense danger.
Reaction: Jesus removes his glasses, wipes the lenses, and puts them on. He picks up the toy and examines it. He places it back on the shelf.
Response after First Horror (Jesus) –
Jesus is a bit on edge, but not really afraid.
Reaction to Group after First Horror (Jesus) –
While Jesus is uneasy, he’s not being tormented by the poltergeist activity.
DEMAND: Unnerving – Did Jesus place the toy too close to the edge of the shelf? Or did it just move and commit toy suicide?
MONSTER REVEAL – More unnerving poltergeist activity from the Monster.
Horror Situation: Maria fitfully dozes on the coach, where she has a nightmare about losing her baby. She wakes up with a start, clutching her stomach. She races to the bathroom and throws up.
Swaying a bit as the stands, she wipes a wet wash cloth on her face. She stares at her reflection in the mirror. And notices a man standing behind her.
Reaction: Maria turns around. No one is there.
DEMAND: Fright – Lots of pregnant women have strange dreams. And many pregnant women throw up. But was there a man in the mirror? Or was this a figment of Maria’s imagination?
MONSTER REVEAL – Maybe Maria just had a nightmare that caused her to vomit. But no, that was caused by the Monster, who has materialized for the first time.
Horror Situation: From her cage in the living room, Lolita Bird watches Bonita who is having a violent nightmare as she sleeps on the kitchen floor. Bonita yips, rolls, and kicks her legs.
A cabinet door slowly opens. Then another. And another. Until all are open. Then all but one shut with a bang. Lolita Bird jungle yells and Bonita wakes up and barks frantically.
Bonita slides across the kitchen floor into the living room. Lolita Bird’s cage shakes violently and the bird yells; “La Migra”!
Reaction: Jesus runs into the living room, and attempts to calm Bonita and Lolita Bird. A creak from the remaining open cabinet door gets Jesus’ attention. He watches as it slams shut.
DEMAND: Fear – WTF is going on? Not even the animals are safe in this place.
MONSTER REVEAL – The Monster’s poltergeist activity now has affected every living being in the house.
Reaction as Horror Increases (Jesus) –
Jesus knows that something is going on in the house, but is not truly afraid.
Maria hangs the house key ring on a hook in the kitchen.
Horror Situation: A short time later, she walks by the hook and the keys are gone.
Reaction: She frantically searches the room for the keys. No luck.
Maria and Jesus both go to bed in their respective rooms.
Jesus sleeps in his bed.
Horror Situation: Tapping above his head wakes him. Motionless, he stares up at the wall.
Reaction: Curious, he taps back on the wall.
Horror Situation: Another tap from the wall. Then a battery toy car comes to life, and drives across the floor.
Reaction: Jesus watches the car, then burrows under the sheets.
DEMAND: Unnerving – Maybe Jesus’ response rapping wasn’t such a good idea.
MONSTER REVEAL – I’m here. Let’s play.
Horror Situation: Maria dreams that a monster is chasing her. She flails about in the bed, only waking when she feels something hard and pointed in the bed sheets.
Reaction: Maria stares at her missing keys. Using a cord on the nightstand, she ties the key ring to her wrist.
DEMAND: Unnerving – Maybe Maria had them in her pocket the entire time.
MONSTER DEMAND – Or maybe the Monster just wants to drive her crazy.
ACT 2 – THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated/Trapped
Horror Situation: Maria awakens to the sound of a baby crying.
Reaction: She checks on Jesus, who is soundly sleeping. Then walks into the nursery and gazes into the crib. It is empty.
DEMAND: Tense – Is Maria imaging the crying baby? Is she dreaming?
MONSTER DEMAND – Or is the Monster continuing to torture Maria?
Horror Situation: A music box plays in the nursery.
Reaction: Jesus hears the music, and goes into the nursery. He picks up the music box and turns it off.
Horror Situation: A voice says: Jesus…
Reaction: A confused Jesus answers: Mama?
DEMAND: Curiosity – What is causing this? Clearly, it is not just Maria who is experiencing the phenomena.
MONSTER REVEAL – More poltergeist activity.
Horror Situation: Maria plugs in her cell phone and sets it on the bathroom vanity. When she returns, the charging cord is missing. After a brief search, she finds it in the toilet.
Reaction: Fishing out the cord, she yells for Jesus. When he doesn’t come, she goes to his room. The door is shut. Annoyed, she pauses briefly.
Horror Situation: Muffled voices from inside the room. One is Jesus. But the other?
Reaction: Maria freezes, then places her ear to the door. Brow furrowed, the lilt of the children’s voices confuse her. She knocks, then tries to open the door. It is locked.
Horror Situation: Yelling, Maria pounds on the door. She tries the knob again and walks in to see Jesus sitting on the floor, playing with his toys. Maria asks he who he was talking to. Jesus said “my friend”.
Reaction: Visibly mad, Maria tells Jesus not to lie to her about having a friend. And accuses him of dropping her charging cord in the toilet. Jesus denies knowing anything about the charging cord and says he does too have a friend.
Horror Situation: The crucifix above Jesus’ bed knocks against the wall, beginning a clockwise turn. The crucifix rotates 180 degrees as Jesus and Maria watch.
Reaction: Maria crosses herself, and runs to right the crucifix. It burns her hand and it falls to the floor. Maria clutches her hand and leaves.
Horror Situation: Jesus hears a low whistle. Then another. Jesus calls for his friend. He looks under the bed and sees the black eyed boy staring back at him.
Reaction: Jesus tells the boy he must leave. The boy tells him “you ask me in”.
Horror Situation: Maria’s in the bathroom, washing her reddened hand. The temperature of the water changes from cold to hot and she yanks her hand out of the flow.
Words slowly appear in the steamed mirror. P-E-E-K-A-B-O-O… A dark reflection in the mirror forms behind Maria
Reaction: Maria spins around to see…Nothing. She quickly wipes the mirror. As she leaves the bathroom, a man’s low chuckle…
DEMAND: Dread – Maria’s afraid, but now realizes that she will eventually have to confront whatever is in her house.
MONSTER REVEAL – The Monster wants them out and is willing to hurt people to make them GO.
The next day, Maria is in the garage, which is finished out with office space. She discovers El Mirage Heights brochures, with glossy pictures of her house and the partially built others on the cul-de-sac.
A large photo of a grinning man is prominent above the phase “Let Me Take You Home”.
Horror Situation: Maria hears a hiss behind her. A large snake is coiled in the corner of the garage.
Reaction: She grabs a broom and beats the snake. Then notices it is only a rope. Rubbing her eyes, she uses the broom to pull the rope out to see if the snake is under it. At the end of the rope is a hangman’s noose.
Horror Situation: A man’s low chuckle…
Reaction: Maria yells: “This is MY HOUSE”. Stop It!”
DEMAND: Curiosity – So was Maria imagining the snake?
MONSTER REVEAL – The Monster is able to shape shift into dangerous things.
The next day, crucifix and Rosary in hand, Maria attempts to cleanse the house.
Horror Situation: Unseen by Maria, a ghostly hand reaches out and brushes Maria’s hair as she passes through the hall.
Reaction: Maria touches her hair, and turns to see no one.
Lolita Bird sleeps in her cage.
Horror Situation: An dark form approaches the cage, which shakes wildly.
Reaction: Lolita Bird jungle yells, attempts to bite the form. Then yells ‘La Migra! La Migra”
DEMAND: Fear – Why won’t these people take a hint and GO? There’s a truck outside, for heaven’s sake.
MONSTER REVEAL – The Monster is on the warpath. And is powerful enough to conjure mirages, touch people, torment the bird, and ignore cleansing efforts.
MIDPOINT: The Monster Is Worse Than We Thought!
Horror Situation: Maria is in the backyard, searching for Bonita. She follows footprints leading to a metal shed. It is locked. Trying the smallest key on the key ring secured to her wrist, Maria unlocks the door.
Horror Situation: She opens the door, and suspended cow skull swings past her head. On the concrete floor is a painted pentagram, spent candles, and bones. In the middle of the pentagram is a dead Bonita.
Reaction: Maria screams and runs back to the house.
DEMAND: Terror – Satanic activity in your backyard not a selling point. Who/what killed Bonita?
MONSTER REVEAL – The Monster is powerful enough to kill. And won’t stop at your dog.
Horror Situation: That afternoon, inside the house Maria tries to call Alberto. No signal. She wanders through the house, looking for a signal. She goes outside, and tries in various places in the yard.
Reaction: She finally finds two bars, and places the call. No answer but she leaves a frantic voice mail.
Horror Situation: Outside, the desert winds howl and rocks hit the house. And then it is quiet. Maria looks outside and sees her Doppelganger. Who is not pregnant.
Reaction: Maria subconsciously touches her stomach. She looks outside and nothing is there.
In an attempt to keep out the horror, Maria tapes old newspapers she’s found in the house over the windows.
In one newspaper, Maria reads about a developer who committed suicide in the model home of his failed subdivision El Mirage Heights.
Horror Situation: Maria recognizes the man as the one on the brochure and the apparition she’s seen.
DEMAND: Discovery – So the Monster is the developer who killed himself in the house. Which he still considers HIS HOUSE.
MONSTER REVEAL – And the Monster wants them out NOW.
Terrorized –
Horror Situation: Carrying bags, Maria runs to the truck. Jesus follows with Lolita Bird’s cage. Maria fumbles but manages to shove the key in ignition. The truck’s engine catches and the radio blares. Then it sputters and stops.
Maria frantically tries again, starter motor whirs. And again. Then just click, click. Dead battery.
Reaction: Maria steels herself, and gathers up a few bags and Lolita-Bird in her cage. She and Jesus slowly leave the truck.
ACT 3 – FULL OUT HORROR
Horror Situation: A monstrous wind batters the pair as fight their way back to the home. Lighting stabs, and thunder shakes the earth. A pelting rain begins as they run back to the house. Lighting flashes, illuminating the hanged man in the house’s dormer window.
Reaction: Maria is terrified, and Jesus runs faster to the front door.
Full Pursuit By The Killer –
Once inside the house, Maria and Jesus barricade the doors.
Hysteria –
Horror Situation: Outside, black birds pound the windows; several break their way inside and fly wildly around the room. They are joined by swarms of bats. The power goes out.
Reaction: Maria grabs a broom and swings wildly at the flying creatures. Jesus’ glasses are knocked off and he drops to the floor, reaching out to find them.
DEMAND: Terror – The black birds were bad enough. But BATS TOO?
MONSTER REVEAL – The Monster can conjure and/or control animals. And use them to drive all occupants from the house.
How They Fight Back (Maria and Jesus) –
Using all of their strength, Maria and Jesus fight back against the Bats, Birds, and the Monster.
Fight to the Death –
Horror Situation: Banging inside and outside the house. The Monster shows itself as the hanged man, who grabs Maria by the throat.
Reaction: Jesus tries to grabs the Monster, and is thrown against the wall. Maria wrenches free, and races to open the front door.
Horror Situation: Fierce winds suck Maria and Jesus out of the house, where the storm rages.
Reaction: Maria and Jesus run to the shelter of the frame stage home.
Horror Situation: Lighting strikes the structure, which flares up immediately.
Reaction: The two run to the next property, and the next, and the next.
Horror Situation: Each time, the structure is incinerated by a lighting strike. But the ferocity wanes with each strike.
Reaction: Maria and Jesus crouch behind some construction debris in the last remaining structure.
DEMAND: Conflict – Start fighting or everyone will die.
MONSTER REVEAL – The lighting is controlled by the Monster, but his strength is waning…
Resolution –
Horror Situation: The Monster in the form of a huge apparition appears in the center of the street.
It enters the only remaining structure, and searches for Maria and Jesus.
Reaction: Maria and Jesus loudly scream the Prayer to St. Michael. They throw rocks and bricks at the apparition.
DEMAND: Fight – Or die.
MONSTER REVEAL – The Monster is coming for them.
Horror Situation: The Monster grows to enormous proportions, and claws at Maria and Jesus.
Reaction: Maria throws the crucifix at the Monster, and grabs Jesus’ hand as they run from the structure.
End Point (Maria and Jesus) –
After Maria and Jesus lure the Monster into the last frame stage house, the Monster is incinerated by lighting.
Horror Situation: A massive blot of lighting hits the structure, and a huge fireball forms.
Reaction: Both Maria and Jesus are knocked off their feet.
Horror Situation: Unearthly screaming of a thousand demons. Then silence.
Reaction: Maria crawls to her feet. A short distance away is a motionless Jesus. She goes to him, imploring him to wake up. He opens his eyes, and smiles.
Maria helps him up, and they slowly walk away from the smoldering ruins. The rain stops as they walk to their home.
Insight from death/Survival (Maria and Jesus) –
With the Monster dead, Maria and Jesus are safe to live happy lives in their new home..
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Karen Crider’s Character Journey Track Assignment
What I learned: That this assignment took a lot of time. It wore me out trying to distinquish one character from another–trying to assess them each for their basic similarities and differences. I guess that’s what makes a good screen play, but it wearies one trying to make sense of it. trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks…
***Character Profile: Mabel Chronsky
Role: wife to Chron Chronsky
Traits: drab, religious, impatient,
Fears: evil, bankruptcy, strangers
Wants: security, both material and spiritual
Needs: reassurance, love, understanding
Likeability:/Rooting factors: frankness, courageous/ protective of family.
How they react under stress: freaks out.
Relationship with others: can be overbearing without realizing it.
What is their character Journey?
Character Intro: Mabel Chromsky, wife to Chron, a religious woman, who likes to quote scripture, warns her husband, something’s evil about the clock.
Denial: Chron doesn’t listen when Millie says the clock is evil.
Reaction at first horror: She slings clock in the lake. Almost drowns.
Relation to group after first horror: She goes to drown cursed symbol. (clock)
How they fight back: Vampire almost drowns her. When she returns home, the wet, shiny clock is waiting for her to polish its veneer. She fights the urge, and ends up pouring bleach on it. Hawk kills her.
End Point: She turns into a vampire.
What insight to their deaths/ survival bring to others/audience: She died fighting evil. She faced life head on. Few heroes exist, except dead ones.
***Character Profile: Hawk
Role: Vampire, (Hawk) ancient
Traits: A cursed, gaudy, grunting spirit.
Fears: Fire, a wooden stake, bad luck, or a crafty human.
Wants: to overcome humans and turn the planet into a planet of vampires.
Needs: to succeed. Needs to kill humans, Needs to survive.
Likeability:/Rooting factors: A patriot for vampires; dedicated, fearless,
How they react under stress: No stress. Cold.They are the object of the stress.
Relationship with others: No real relationships, except the devouring kind.
What is their character Journey?
Character intro: The Time Keeper: An ancient old man staggers through the underbrush beneath the burden of time. His long beard and a piercing stare paralyze whoever meets his gaze. He totes an ancient clock that’s taken over and has become his internal clock connected to his servant’s heart ready to yank it out if he neglects his master.
How did this begin? The ancient vampire was placed in a civil war grave. When Benny displaced the stake in the vampire’s heart, the clock started ticking, demanding total allegiance/service.
Character Profile: Benny Eaten, 17
Role: Chron Chronson’s nephew
Traits: Retarded, inept, honest, loving.
Fears: rejection, being made fun of, never finding someone who nurtures him.
Needs: Acceptance, patience, appreciation
Likeability: Rooting factors; A people pleaser, honest, respectful
How they react under stress: he howls and cries, but will fight back if attacked.
Relationship with others: Only friend is Allen, his user brother.
Character Journey—Benny Eaten
Character Intro: Benny and Allen excavate a site with a metal detector where a skeleton’s upper torso is embedded with a wood stake. Benny’s shovel disturbs it. This activates the curse. Hawk returns to life. He takes the form of a bat and flies off.
Denial: Allen’s refusal to let Benny quit digging once they realized it was a coffin.
Reaction at first horror: Nothing horrifies a vampire. They are the horror.
Relation to group after first horror: Benny is a loner. He runs, usually when threatened.
How they fight back: Benny escapes.
End Point: Allen dies.
What insights to their death. Survival: Survival of the fittest isn’t always of the fittest.
***Character Profile: Chron Cronsky
Character intro: Protag, chief clock-smith and owner of Chron’s Clocks, a man struggling to keep his business open.
Role: Clocksmith: Leader, protag; businessman, Uncle to his nephews. husband to Mabel; leader.
Traits: clever, in denial, patient, superstitious. An ancient, arthritic gnome, with spectacles, a piercing stare and a long beard.
Fears: That when he dies no one will care. Bankruptcy.
Wants: his shop and wife back..
Needs: money, a better credit rating, more dependable help, a better market.
Likeability:/Rooting factors: Smart, clever, down to earth,
How they react under stress: Lost his business and his wife; in despair.
Relationship with others: conflicts with his wife when living. Well liked by others.
What is their character Journey?
Character Intro: Chron Chronsky
Denial: Chron keeps clock when convinced it’s worth money.
Reaction at first horror: His wife, Mabel dies. Chron’s devastated, lost, and bereaved.
Relation to group after first horror: Chron grieves, but having to close up shop, doubles the grief. His nephew helps, but he’s lost.
How they fight back: Chron goes to Father Amos, a covert vampire, who feigns a cleansing of evil from his shop. Chron soon realizes the priest is not right.
End Point: He escapes.
What insight to their deaths/ survival: Vampires seem rampant. Chron must with others eradicate them.
Bring to others/audience: The essence of battle. The constant awareness death is all around them.
What is their character journey: (TJ) Starts out as businessman, ends up being an assassin.
Character Profile:
Character Profile: Ed Dusk
Character intro: Ed Dusk, 29, /policemen/ brother to Amos.
Traits: articulate, clandestine, secretive.
Fears: Both trying to pay their bills on a cop’s pay. Fears of getting shot.
Wants: a wife/ family/ decent pay.
Needs: more time off/ better hours/ a life
Likeability:/Rooting factors: sense of humor, fun guy.
How they react under stress: challenges the offender; draws their guns.
Relationship with others: Relates well, humorous, witty
What is their character Journey? (TJ) Starts out as a cop, dies as a cop.
Character Intro: Ed Dusk is sent with his brother, to gather forensic evidence at the clock shop after a homicide. Hawk (vampire) encounters them when they accidentally knock over the clock. It lands with a loud gong. Ed is the first attacked. Hawk knocks him against the wall. He comes at him with full force, sinking his fangs deep within his jugular.
Denial: As grisly as the victim’s death was, they should have thought twice of going in there without a larger force.
Reaction at first horror: Ed draws his gun and shoots. Bullets scar the shop.
Denial: That there’s nothing they can’t handle…
Traits: Confident, capable, and confident
Relation to group after first horror: He dies and becomes a vampire.
How they fight back: Before they die, Ed shoots at the threat.
End Point: He dies with his brother, Amos.
What insight to their deaths: another investigation. Shop is cursed.
Bring to others/audience: The constant awareness death is all around them. Something otherworldly is afoot.
Character journey: starts out as cop, dies as cop.
What is the character profile: Amos Dusk
Role: Cop
Traits: articulate, clandestine and secretive
Fears: death, getting shot, being alone
Wants: decent pay. Better hours, better life. A girlfriend.
Likeability:/Rooting factors: caring, humorous, intelligent
How they react under stress: Draws his gun, yells, steps back.
Relationship with others: Has a hard time trusting others.
What is their character journey:
Character Intro: Amos Dusk 29, Same as Ed
Denial: Same as Ed’s. Ego lets them think there’s nothing
they cannot handle.
Reaction at first horror: yelling, panic. firing his gun
Traits: undercover, honest, confident
Relation to group after first horror: He dies.
How to fight back: With guns.
Likeability:/Rooting factors: honesty, loving, forgiving
How they react under stress: He gives warning and shoots.
Relationship with others: limited
What is their character journey: Starts out as a cop, dies a cop.
Character’s journey: Starts out as a cop, dies as a cop.
Character Profile:
Character Intro: Allen Eaten, 29, (The guy with the metal detector:) A dishonest, whiskery- ball- of- greed who has retrieved the clock initially from the vampire’s coffin using Benny’s as labor.
Traits: Overbearing, intelligent, manipulative
Fears: That if their Uncle Chron loses the business they will be homeless.
Needs/ Wants: A better life, money.
Likeability:/Rooting factors: intelligent, good looking,
How they react under stress: they mostly stand their ground, or run.
Relationship with other characters: Benny is lonely, but Allen dies.
How they react under stress: Use whatever they have in their hands or runs.
Relationship with others
A. What is their Character Journey? Allen Eaten
Character Intro: In a dark, deep woods, Allen’s metal detector pings. He’s determined to find treasure. His simple brother, Benny, breaks ground with a shovel for hours,exhuming a skeleton, and dismantling a stake from its sternum.
Role:
Nephew to Chron Chronsky. Assists in Chron’s Clocks. Hunts for treasure.
Denial:
Allen dies because he invades evil. Benny carries the shovel, but Allen
carries the influence that controls Benny.
Fears:
That if Chron loses his business they will be homeless, a better life,
money
Likability Rooting factors: intelligent, good looking,
How they react under stress: they mostly stand their ground, or they run.Relationship with other characters: Benny is lonely, but Allen runs with his friend when he can.
Character Profile: Benny Eaten, 17
Role: Chron Chronson’s nephew
Traits: Retarded, inept, honest, loving.
Fears: rejection, being made fun of, never finding someone who wants him.
Needs: Acceptance, patience, appreciation
Likeability: Rooting factors; A people pleaser, honest, respectful
How they react under stress: he howls and cries, will fight back if attacked.
Relationship with others: Only friend is Allen.
Character Journey—Benny Eaten
Character Intro: Benny and Allen excavate a site with a metal detector where a skeleton’s upper torso is embedded with a wood stake. Benny’s shovel disturbs it. This activates the curse. Hawk returns to life. He takes the form of a bat and flies off.
Denial: Allen’s refusal to let Benny quit digging once they realized it was a coffin.
Reaction at first horror: Nothing horrifies a vampire. They are the horror.
Relation to group after first horror: Benny is a loner.
How they fight back: Benny escapes.
End Point: Allen dies.
What insights to their death. Survival: Survival of the fittest isn’t always of the fittest.
Character Profile: Hawk
Role: antagonist/vampire,
Traits: evil cloaking, clandestine, has a broken fang.
Fears: fire, a stake in the heart, having to eat rats and that Barnaby maybe on his trail since he stole the clock from him.
Wants: The world to only contain vampires.
Needs: better blood. More victims.
Likeability:/Rooting factors: good appetite, a vampire leader, fearless
How they react under stress: They kill as a norm.
Relationship with others: Evil looks up to him. He fits his falsehoods well.
What is their character’s journey:
Character Intro: Hawk is a vampire. He awakens after Benny and Alan go treasure hunting and Benny’s shovel disturbs the wooden stake that dismantles Hawk’s skeletal chest animating him…
Denial: None. He knows he believes he’s in control.
Relation at first horror: Nothing much bothers Hawk. His killing of victims, traumatizes the survivors.
Relation to group at first horror: Hawk is the horror.
How they fight back: Escape
End point: Hawk is still alive and well. He has yet to meet Barnaby, the master vampire from whom he stole the clock.
What insight to their death survival bring to others: Hawk is evil and can live on evil alone but Barnaby has thousands of years of more evil experience and Hawk hasn’t a clue, also that no matter how bad you are, there is always someone worse.
Character Profile: Father John
Role: antagonist/vampire/ Father John
Traits: evil cloaking, clandestine
Fears: fire, a stake in the heart, going hungry
Wants: A world where they can stay and survive.
Needs: better blood. Not so many rats. More human victims.
Likeability:/Rooting factors: has good taste, a vampire leader, fearless
How they react under stress: They kill as a norm.
Relationship with others: Evil looks up to him. He fits his falsehoods well.
What is their character Journey?
Character Intro: Father John, vampire, unknown age
Denial: Humans aren’t smart enough to figure out he’s a vampire. He is wrong.
Reaction at first horror: Chron has figured it out. He escapes.
Relation to group after first horror: There is no group. Nothing horrifies him.
How they fight back: He is a skilled killer, few survive, unless they escape.
End Point: Father John dies in a fire brought on by Chron and the mortician.
What insight to their deaths/ survival bring to others/ audience: Evil doesn’t always win. Chron survives.
Character Profile: Barnaby
Role: Antag: Barnaby, vampire
Traits: ruthless, treacherous, devious
Fears: That he is going to have a hard time re-gaining the clock, which can put all vampires at risk. He worries they might be running out of time without access to it
Wants: As the oldest vampire of the vampire world, he is vampire royalty. He plans on also being a vampire Pied Piper to take them to the nether world.
Needs: For others to help him save their kind.
Likeability:/Rooting factors: Fearless, incorrigible, evil.
How they react under stress: He is death personified. The question remains: Will they listen to him, and follow the Pied Piper of the vampire world?
Relationship with others: He is superior, underhanded and wicked.
What is their character Journey?
Character Intro: Barnaby, Antag. the original owner of the clock continues to search for Hawk and his clock. Time is the ruler of all– Barnaby, it’s servant. As a form of worship, he’s the alms giver of human blood to rejuvenate the clock.
Denial: He is in charge. They will listen to him.
Reaction at first horror: Barnaby is horrified that his clock (god) is gone–that Hawk has taken it.
Relation to group after first horror: He searches for the clock everywhere he goes.
How they fight back: Barnaby over the ages hears its ticking, and follows the sound.
End Point: He finds where the clock is, and is ready to take on Hawk.
What insight do their deaths bring to others/audience: Time rules, all must serve it.
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Brett Born’s Character Journey Track
What I learned doing this assignment is the more each character has their own distinctive voice, the better they work together to make the story more engaging.
Christine – Role: Leader
Traits: Loyal and self-assured.
Fears: Failure/Being trapped
Wants/Needs: She wants to be famous. She need to save her friends and family.
Likability/Rooting Factors: Her parents’ marriage is on the rocks. She has a romantic fantasy of being a movie star. She’s kind and protective to people close to her.
Reaction under stress: Deal with the problem and find a solution
Relationship with other characters: If you’re part of her inner circle, she keeps you close. Puts on a face for strangers… she likes to be liked.
Erik – Role: Target
Traits: Self-Reliant/Disciplined
Fears: Ending up alone
Wants/Needs: Wants to forget the past. Needs to see that the past is coming for him before it’s too late.
Likability/Rooting Factors: He’s a standup guy. Tries to do the right thing.
Reaction under stress: Takes charge
Relationship with other characters: Having a rough time with his wife. He treasures Christine above all others but doesn’t express himself well.
Lauren – Role: Rescuer
Traits: Protective/Selfless
Fears: That her baby will end up without a mother.
Wants/Needs: She wants to provide a good life for her child. She needs to get away from the drive-in.
Likability/Rooting Factors: Cares about others. Her baby is her priority.
Reaction to stress: Toughens up. Claws come out.
Relationship with other characters: She’s kind to everyone, but she’s close to no one. Everything’s about her child.
Alyxx – Role: Loner
Traits: Honorable/Loyal
Fears: Alone in the dark
Wants/Needs: Wants to be more outgoing. She needs to worry more about herself than her friend.
Likability/Rooting Factors: She doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Calls it like she sees it, even when it’s not popular to say.
Reaction under stress: Hyper vigilance about staying safe/Anger
Relationship with other characters: Christine is her ride or die. Respects Lauren. She suffers no fools.
Zoe – Role: Moral One
Traits: Ambitious
Fears: Being controlled or feeling caged
Wants/Needs: Wants to be a filmmaker. She needs to get off this current project.
Likability/Rooting factors: Empathetic. Relatable.
Reaction under stress: Get heroic. Impatient with others.
Relationship with other characters: Guys are intimidated. Girls love her tenacity.
Marcos – Role: Love Interest
Traits: Resilient
Fears: Clowns
Wants/Needs: Wants to be with Christine. Needs to pay attention to his fears.
Likability/Rooting Factors: He’s self-aware.
Reaction under stress: He becomes defiant.
Relationship with other characters: He’s madly in love with Christine.
Hannah – Role: Rebel
Traits: Arrogant
Fears: Total Isolation
Wants/Needs: Wants to be a famous social media influencer. Needs to be more concerned about her real world.
Likability/Rooting Factors: Unintentionally funny
Reaction under stress: Impatient/Disrespectful to others
Relationship with other characters: Wrapped up in her social media world so she’s stand-offish from the others.
Javier – Role: Complainer
Traits: Creative
Fears: Pain
Wants/Needs: Wants a girlfriend. He needs to escape the drive-in.
Likability/Rooting Factors: Want him to be the better version of himself that he’d like to be
Reaction under stress: Anxiety/Freaks out/Accident prone
Relationship with other characters: Doesn’t like large groups. Better in one on one situations. He likes Zoe.
Shin – Role: Obnoxious Owner of the Drive-In
Traits: Know-it-all narcissist
Fears: Being exposed as a coward
Wants/Needs: Wants to be respected and feared. Needs to learn to work with others.
Likability/Rooting Factors: He hides his enormous amount of self doubt instilled in him by his own family.
Reaction under stress: Falls apart. He panics.
Relationship with other characters: Adversarial. They all threaten his delicate ego. Only has use for people who will help him achieve his goals.
Jade – Role: The Carrier
Traits: Idealistic
Fears: Afraid of being fully alive.
Wants/Needs: She wants a life without her self-imposed boundaries. She needs to escape the past which haunts her.
Likability/Rooting Factors: She’s trying to do the honorable thing for everyone, including the dead. She’s trying to take back her life.
Reaction under stress: Survivor Guilt/ Sadness / Depression
Relationship with other characters: They all disgust her, but it’s because she’s disgusted with herself for going along with Shin’s plan in the first place.
Jim – Role: Sacrificial Lamb
Traits: Persistent
Fears: The quiet
Wants/Needs: Wants a date with Jade. Needs to do what Jade tells him.
Likability/Rooting Factors: He likes to have fun. Good sense of humor.
Reaction under stress: Denial
Relationship with other characters: Has a crush on Jade. Thinks Erik is a pompous pain in the ass.
Barbra – Role: Red Herring
Traits: Patient
Fears: Separation
Wants/Needs: Wants to feel appreciated and loved. Needs to close the drive-in forever.
Likability/Rooting Factors: She’s a frightened mom-to-be trying to make a plan for her future.
Reaction under stress: Gallows humor/Crying/Headaches
Relationship with other characters: Has a close bond with Christine. She doesn’t get along well with the others.
ACT 1 – SET UP FOR HORROR
-Atmosphere of Evil established: Flashback thirty years to the night of the first murder at the drive-in.
Character Intro: Erik plays his guitar. String snaps. He pulls out a pair of nail clippers, quickly fixes the string, tunes the guitar, continues playing.
Demand: Erik sits alone in the ticket booth. Car approaches with no headlights. Why is this person approaching in this manner? There is no one else around… why are they arriving at such an odd time?
Monster Reveal: Introduce Buck. He has a girl in his trunk. Trying to sneak her in, but something’s not right about the situation. His “outside food or drink” turns out to be the ashes of his father.
Denial: Erik knows the encounter with Buck was unsettling, but he’s not willing to make the jump to the idea that Buck’s a killer.
Character Intro: Jade is put in charge of managing the drive-in when the boss leaves. Jim flirts with Jade and convinces her to go out with him.
Demand: Jim encounters the girl laid out on the ground. She’s incapacitated. What has happened to her? Is she okay?
Monster Reveal: Buck has red paint on his face. He’s angry with Jim for interrupting him in the middle of some kind of ceremony.
Horror Situation: Jim comes face to face with Buck.
Reaction – Escape: Horrified moviegoers panic when they realize what’s happening.
Character Death 1: Buck stabs Jim to death in middle of the drive-in theatre.
Why: Jim interrupts Buck’s ceremony for his deceased father.
How: Jim is caught off guard. Had no idea Buck was a dangerous psychopath.
Denial: Jim’s in shock. Can’t believe he’s being stabbed to death by this stranger.
-Connect with the characters: Present day… reconnect with several of the characters including one who is a detective hunting a serial killer and one working to reopen the drive-in. Meet new characters planning a podcast/reality series that will document experiences at the alleged haunted drive-in.
Character Intro: Christine and Alyxx are harassed by Caleb. Alyxx wants to ignore him. Christine embarrasses him.
Character Intro: Lauren is holding her baby as she waits for her job interview.
Demand: Rideshare driver has mysterious passenger in the back. Can’t see his face in the shadows. Who is this person?
Monster Reveal: Buck is going to visit someone he’s not seen in a long time.
Horror Situation: Buck mentally torments the driver.
Reaction – First there’s denial that turns into fight back mode. Driver thinks Buck is playing then takes him seriously. Screams for him to get out of the car.
Demand: Buck arrives at his destination. A woman answers the door. They know each other and she is terrified. Who is she? What does Buck want?
Monster Reveal: Buck has been waiting a long time for this reunion.
Horror Situation: Buck takes a family hostage.
Reaction – Try to solve it: Detective called to crime scene to investigate the attack. The detective is Erik, the person who first encountered Buck at the drive-in thirty years ago.
Character Deaths 2&3&4: Three of the family members are killed. Father has throat cut. Mother is strangled. Daughter is stabbed. One survives.
Why: Buck feels betrayed by the mystery woman at the door.
How: Surprised by Buck’s reappearance. They had no idea he had been released from custody.
Horror Situation: Erik visits crime scene. Meets with Terra, the officer on scene. Walk through the living room where the victims are posed for display.
Reaction – Try to solve it: This looks personal. The killer knew the family.
Demand: Erik and Terra investigate the dark attic. Is there anything up here?
Monster Reveal: Buck is still inside the house. He was in the middle of something but was interrupted. Because it’s dark, Erik can’t see the attacker.
Character Death 5: Terra has her throat cut by Buck
Why: She and Erik corner Buck.
How: Surprised. Buck was hiding.
Denial: Erik can’t see Buck because it’s too dark. No reason to believe that this triple homicide is related to a murder from 30 years ago.
-The Characters are warned not to do it: Jen orders Christine to stay away from the theatre. Jade argues with Shin that reopening the theatre is a terrible idea.
Character Intro: Shin tries to lay down the law with Jade. He’s in charge and no one’s going to tell him how to do anything.
Demand: Someone stalks Christine’s house. Who is this? What do they want?
Monster Reveal: Only catch glimpses of Muse. Christine is Muse’s target.
Horror Situation: Muse stalks Christine at her house.
Reaction – Denial: Christine thinks it’s someone involved with the show. Decides that putting on the brave face is better than playing the victim.
Denial: Christine believes what she sees is somehow connected to the drive-in reality series.
Character Intro: Barbra shows up at Christine’s house to rehire her.
-Denial of Horror: Buck Kilgore has been locked away for thirty years. Muse is only a legend.
Horror Situation: Detective visits survivor of home invasion, and she says something only Buck’s first drive-in victim would know.
Reaction – Try to solve it. How could the victim have known this?
Reaction to first horror: Erik now believes that maybe the past has come back to haunt him. But how?
Character Intro: Marcos finds out that Christine was unfaithful and now she’s dumping him as he drops her off at the employee meet&greet.
Character Intro: Javier is dropped off by his mom. He’s reminded of all his responsibilities, his other job, and where to pick up the bus to get home later.
Character Intro: Zoe is overly enthusiastic about the drive-in… fired up about size of expected crowds and potential of notoriety from reality show. Wants to know where everything is and how it works.
Hannah is doing the job for a check and to help promote her brand as a social media influencer.
-Safety Taken Away: Cell phones have been blocked by an app downloaded from the management team. Even Shin’s phone is blocked. Can’t initiate any outgoing communication and only receive incoming messages from Muse. Jade is nowhere to be found.
Demand: No one can use their phones. But they all receive messages from someone unknown. The messages are various intermission ads from the drive-in movies of yesteryear. What does this mean?
Monster Reveal: Don’t see Muse, but Muse is sending the group a message. Can they decipher it before it’s too late?
Horror Situation: Muse sends Intermission ads to the group via their phones.
Reaction: Confusion – Who is doing this? Why is this happening?
Denial: Jade is playing a trick on them. Or Shin is the one doing it and lying about it to get their reaction to the bizarre messages.
-Monster: The nature of the beast – Buck attacks double dating teens after he finds them trespassing at the theatre.
Demand: A double date hanging out on the roof of the theatre lobby. Who watches them?
Monster Reveal: Buck confronts them. He needs one of the girls.
Horror Situation: Buck traps four teens on a rooftop.
Reaction: One escapes by jumping off the roof. Severely injured, she’s taken hostage.
Character Deaths 6&7&8: Three are killed. One is stabbed in throat. One stabbed in eye. One stabbed in chest.
Why: Buck needs a widow.
How: They are all taken by surprise.
Horror Situation: Some of the core group find blood evidence from the attack on the double date.
Reaction: Denial – Must be part of the podcast/reality show.
Denial: There is some doubt as to how staged this appoint murder scene is. The blood looks real. If this is part of the reality show, where’s the film crew? Is Shin using hidden cameras to get more organic reactions?
ACT 2 – THE POINT OF NO RETURN
-Isolated/Trapped/Abducted: Cars have been tampered with. Pyro guys have disappeared. Film crew hasn’t arrived as scheduled.
Horror Situation: The pyro guys are missing. The film crew is nowhere to be found. No one is able to make an outgoing call. No one knows where Jade is. Shin insists that he has no idea what’s going on.
Reaction: Denial – Shin believes Jade is sabotaging the opening of the drive-in because she has turned on the idea.
-One of us is killed: Muse murders Carlos outside the ticket booth.
Demand: Apprehension. Marcos leaves the ticket booth after saying good-bye to Christine. Someone is tracking him.
Monster Reveal: Muse kills Christine’s boyfriend.
Horror Situation: Marcos is confronted by Muse outside the ticket booth. Muse performs a bizarre danse macabre. Marcos has no idea what he’s facing.
Character Death 9: Muse guts Marcos.
Why: To hurt Christine
How: Marcos is blindsided by the danger
Horror Situation: Buck corners Christine in the ticket booth.
Reaction: Christine doesn’t realize this is actually Buck, but she now believes there is a real threat at the drive-in.
Their reaction at first horror: Christine knows from her father that psychopaths like to frighten and elicit reactions from their victims. Maybe if she appears un-phased, she can get out of this situation alive.
Response after first horror: She knows something is wrong and trusts her instincts. She goes to warn the others. Wants to check in with Shin to see if he’s behind this or if the danger is as real as she fears that it is.
Horror Situation: Erik pays a visit to Buck’s doctor. Finds the doctor tied to a chair.
Reaction: Try to solve it – It has to be Buck. He’s attacked the family and the doctor. Who is his next target?
Character Death 10: Doctor has had arms and legs cut off and left with tourniquets tied to his limbs so he’ll bleed to death slowly.
Why: Buck was angry with his diagnosis
How: Doctor would have been wary of Buck, but Buck blindsided him.
MIDPOINT – The Monster is worse than we thought: Muse stalks Shin and kills him. First time the group sees the Intermission ads play on the big screen starring the dead.
Demand: Shin’s had enough. He’s leaving to get some answers.
Monster Reveal: Muse kills Christine’s business partner.
Horror Situation: Shin is chased by Muse.
Character Death 11: Shin is beheaded.
Why: He is the money behind the reopening of the drive-in
How: Betrayed/Surprised
-Terrorized: Buck attacks the girls in the bathroom. He takes Hannah.
Demand: Three of the girls are trapped in the outdoor bathroom with only one way out. Buck stands in the way.
Monster Reveal: Buck is looking for that special girl to play the widow for his father.
Horror Situation: Girls are trapped in the bathroom by Buck.
Reaction: Escape – Hannah is dragged into the darkness. Christine, Lauren and Zoe make it out of the bathroom and back to the lobby.
Reaction to first horror: Hannah goes into self-preservation mode. Lauren focuses on getting back to her daughter. Christine formulates a way out of their trop.
Response after first horror: They agree on one thing… they need to stick together.
Horror Situation: Muse throws Shin’s corpse through the lobby ceiling.
Reaction: They need to find a way out!
Reaction to group after first horror. Christine takes the lead. They need to get help, but that will involve risks. Alyxx thinks Christine sounds reckless and she’s going to get them killed with her plans… Lauren knows that if they need to work as a team if they’re going to get out of this alive… hides her fear with sarcasm. Zoe knows they need to keep moving to survive… staying put and sharing feelings isn’t going to help anything.
Reaction as Horror Increases: Christine digs in and is willing to put Alyxx in her place if that’s what it takes to save her. Lauren takes on role of mediator. When the interpersonal relationships start to deteriorate, Zoe keeps the focus on what’s most important right now… everyone getting out alive.
Horror Situation: Zoe and Javier discover the body of Jerry, the pyro guy.
Character Death 12: Jerry’s body is found
Why: Muse has no plans to leave any witnesses behind
How: Betrayed
Zoe knows they must be proactive to get out. Positive vibes to get out alive. Javier melts down… he’s fast… he can run out of here. Get to the bus stop. He can go for help. Zoe finds the keys to the van in the visor. Javier gets behind the wheel. In a panic, he steers them right into Buck and Hannah. Backs over Hannah trying to escape. The survivors in the lobby watch this scene play out through the windows.
Character Death 13: Hannah is killed.
Why: In the middle of a chaotic situation and is killed accidentally by someone in panic mode.
How: Javier was trying to escape and drives over Hannah.
Monster Reveal: Another widow gone too soon. Buck is going to need another girl.
Horror Situation: Javier is yanked out of the van and killed by Buck.
Character Death 14: Javier is killed.
Why: Javier killed Buck’s widow.
How: Javier’s attempted escape plan fails.
ACT 3 – FULL OUT HORROR
-Fight to the death: Group tries to retrieve the only working cell phone from Hannah’s corpse. They fail, and Barbra is killed in the process. Javier tries to escape in his car, and he’s killed. The remaining survivors make a run for the pyro van in hopes of finding a weapon.
Horror Situation: Someone has to go back into the girl’s bathroom to retrieve Hannah’s phone.
Reaction: The remaining survivors need a new plan for escape.
Character Death 15: Barbra is killed.
Why: They are trying to get the only phone that isn’t blocked so they can call for help.
How: Attempted to put a plan into action that fails
Horror Situation: Survivors remain trapped in the lobby and the monster knows where they are. Zoe was inside the van and saw all the pyro. Christine thinks they need to get to the van and see if they can find something that they can use to help them.
Demand: The girls are trying to find a weapon to fight back against the monsters.
Monster Reveal: Buck won’t stop until he gets his widow.
Horror Situation: Last survivors trapped inside the pyro van as Buck pounds the outside.
Reaction: Fight back.
-Hysteria: Buck has the remaining survivors trapped in the pyro van. They formulate a plan to fight him.
How they fight back: They use items from the pyro van to fight Buck. They hurt him, but he has the upper hand.
Demand: The survivors must face Buck. But Muse has also reappeared. What will happen when the two monsters battle one another?
Monster Reveal: Muse wants Buck dead as much as anyone.
Horror Situation: Girls leave the van and confront Buck. Muse attacks Buck.
Reaction: Girls must now escape Muse.
Character Death 16: Buck is killed by Muse.
Why: Revenge for killing Jim
How: Surprised — Buck had no idea Muse existed.
Horror Situation: Face to face with Muse. Alyxx is wounded.
Reaction: They catch a break and are able to run.
-The thrilling escape from death: The girls escape with the road flares and race for the movie screen.
How they fight back: They need to climb to the top of the movie screen and light the road flares so that someone from the highway will see.
Horror Situation: Alyxx can’t make the climb up the ladder.
Reaction: The girls have to find a place to hide Alyxx and leave her behind.
Character Death 17: The survivors find the remains of Jade
Why: She was trying to reopen the drive-in
How: Betrayed and blindsided
Demand: Alyxx is cornered with nowhere to go. Will Muse go after her or stay on target for Christine?
Monster Reveal: Muse kills Christine’s best friend.
Horror Situation: Alyxx is trapped, and Muse is coming.
Character Death 18: Muse finds Alyxx and butchers her.
Why: To hurt Christine and terrorize the other survivors
How: Injury hobbled Alyxx so her best option was to hide, but she was found by Muse.
-Death returns to take one or more: Christine is tricked into coming down from the top of the movie screen. She’s taken hostage, along with her mom.
Horror Situation: Christine’s mom drives into the theatre lot.
Reaction: Christine must leave the safety of her position high above to go warn her mother.
Horror Situation: Lauren and Zoe chase after Christine to help her.
Reaction: They don’t find Christine, but they find an operational vehicle. They leave to go get help.
Horror Situation: Double Date survivor watches the girls drive away. She screams for help. The girls don’t see her. Buck finds her instead.
Reaction: Surrender. She doesn’t have the will to fight.
Demand: Buck has his widow. Will he finally have his ceremony?
Monster Reveal: Buck is stopped by Erik. But Buck will never stop until he succeeds in sending his father’s spirit to where he belongs… straight to hell.
End Point: Erik survives and captures Buck.
Insight from Survival: Buck’s immense rage toward his father drives him to survive.
-Resolution: Erik meets Muse, but he is too late to save Christine and her mother. Christine and the other unlucky victims become part of the haunting intermission ads which play on the giant screens.
Demand: Muse reveals their identity to Erik. But why does Muse want to hurt Erik?
Monster Reveal: Muse blames Erik for sending Jim to his death 30 years ago.
Horror Situation: Erik fails to stop the pyro van from exploding.
Reaction: Denial – He watches the intermission ad play on the big screen starring a cast of deceased victims, including Christine and her mother.
Character Deaths 19&20: Christine and her mother are inside the van
Why: To destroy Erik and see him live on with the misery Muse created.
How: Jen was blindsided, and Christine was betrayed and fell for a trap while trying to save her mother.
End Point: Christine dies. Erik lives. Muse survives and disappears.
Insight from Death/Survival: Muse didn’t kill Christine and her friends because she hated Christine. Muse wanted to destroy Erik as a person.
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Tasha’s Character Journey Track
What I learned doing this assignment is that I need to get better at not letting my decision drag. It took way to long to complete this one.
ASSIGNMENT
1. With each of your Survivors and Victims, answer the following questions:
A. What is their Character Profile?
B. What is their Character Journey for this story?
<b style=”background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Qade’s Profile:
Role: The leader
Traits: Ruthless, selfish, Quick to Anger, Mean, Has a soft spot for Vivi
Fears: None
Wants/Needs: Money/Goods/to live the high life, needs control
Likability / Rooting factors: Only redeeming factor is that he cares for Vivi
How they react under stress: Denial, getting tougher/meaner
Relationship with other characters: An authority, what he says goes. Leader of his group, his “boys”. Faye’s boyfriend.
Character Journey
Character Intro: Makes the final call about not helping Sheena
Denial: Isn’t worried about Sheena’s threat to haunt them
Their reaction at first horror:
Reaction to Sheena: he’s a bit scared at first but then she calls her bluff.
Reaction to Mirror Mirror: he guards Vivi
Relation to group after first horror:
Tells the others that Sheena’s scare tactics aren’t shit and they need to ignore her
How they fight back: Ignores Sheena, Physically fights Mirror Mirror, car pursuit of Mirror Mirror and enters the house of horrors
End Point:
He may be the sole survivor
Or he is stabbed through the heart by Mirror Mirror
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?
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Mirror Mirror is tougher than he is
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Mirror Mirror will make simple, off brand kills when pushed
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If he dies, then Sheena succeeds in getting her revenge
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If he doesn’t die, then he’s still unfinished business for Sheena (and maybe she can be strong enough to affect him in numbers–with added help from Vivi)
Ike’s Profile:
Role:
The moral one
Traits:
A bit of a follower, slight mob mentality, guilt-ridden, wants to seem tough and unaffected
Fears:
Sheena’s threat
Wants/Needs:
Wants to be tough/Needs Qade’s approval
Likability / Rooting factors:
Starts to feel bad about what happened to Sheena even before she haunts him. Wants to keep Vivi safe.
How they react under stress:
Shows fear but tries to solve it or stays to fight.
Relationship with other characters:
Qade’s second in command. Respected by the group. One of Qade’s boys.
Character Journey
Character Intro:
A little objection to not helping Sheena but gives in to save face in front of Qade
Denial:
Believes Qade when he says Sheena is nothing to worry about as a ghost
Their reaction at first horror:
Reaction to Sheena: He’s scared and goes to Qade for help.
Reaction to Mirror Mirror: Terror but wants to help protect Vivi and Faye.
Relation to group after first horror:
Runs from Sheena like the rest but defers to Qade and starts withstanding her scares.
Is hopeful that they can stop Mirror Mirror
How they fight back:
Researching how to banish Sheena. Follows Qade to Mirror Mirror’s shack of terrors.
End Point:
He may or may not be the one the one survives or is stabbed in the chest by Mirror Mirror. Need to figure out if it’s Qade or him. If he survives, he’s the moral one who sacrifices Vivi to save himself.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?
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Mirror Mirror is tougher than he is
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Mirror Mirror will make simple, off brand kills when pushed
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If he dies, then Sheena succeeds in getting her revenge
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If he doesn’t die, then he’s still unfinished business for Sheena (and maybe she can be strong enough to affect him in numbers–with added help from Vivi)
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Ike is a coward, not a noble hero
Jean Tyrone’s Profile
Role:
The complainer
Traits:
Pretty Boy, ladies man of the group, vain, selfish, materialistic, charming
Fears: nothing
Wants/Needs:
Money/Needs reassurance
Likability / Rooting factors:
Treats Viv, Faye and Liv well.
If he fights to rescue Liv as well as himself, then his love for his family and his sacrifice for his family makes you root for him.
How they react under stress:
Curiosity and wanting to solve the problem
Relationship with other characters:
Brother of Faye and Vivi, Son of Liv, One of Qade’s boys
Character Journey
Character Intro:
Taunts Sheena along with the others, doesn’t object to leaving her, thinks her curse it funny
Denial:
Agrees with Qade that there’s nothing to worry about when Sheena’s murder is reported in the news
Their reaction at first horror:
Curiosity
Relation to group after first horror:
Catalyst for Qade to declare the Sheena has failed and for Sheena to use Mirror Mirror (He’s hurt, so Qade feels protective towards him but also further angered that everyone is letting Sheena get under their skin)
How they fight back: Follows Qades advice to ignore Sheena. Probably tries to fight Mirror Mirror but is killed. Maybe we see a scene where he tries to figure out how to escape from captivity. Maybe Liv left him a clue or he finds Liv slowly dying from her body mods and he tries to get them out of there. Maybe Mirror Mirror lets them almost escape and he has a chance to leave his mom behind and save himself in a situation that will foreshadow Qade/Ike’s decision with Vivi. Staying to help Liv is tragic because Liv passes away anyway and Mirror Mirror gets Jean Tyrone.
End Point:
He’s captured by Mirror Mirror posing as Faye broken down by the side of the road. (Faye texts him, he almost blows her off, telling her to ask Qade). If there is an escape scene at the end, then Mirror Mirror could tranquilize him or just have one awful booby trap stun him/fatally wound him or just kill him.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?
That Jean Tyrone is actually a more decent guy than he’s initially portrayed. He cares deeply for his family members and would sacrifice himself for it selflessly even though he can come off as selfish.
Targ’s Profile
Role:
Out of Control/ Obnoxious
Traits:
Loud mouth, clown, hot head
Fears:
J horror
Wants/Needs:
Wants attention, needs approval
Likability / Rooting factors:
His almost childlike fear of Sheena that turns into humbling desperation
How they react under stress:
He freaks out, loses rational thought, makes impulsive decisions in order to get away from the horror
He runs.
Relationship with other characters:
He’s the clown that tries to show off and make everyone laugh. Causes fights that his group has to put out. They have his back but they tolerate him. Also can cause fights within the group.
Character Journey
Character Intro:
He helps seal Sheena’s fate by aiding the group’s decision.
Denial:
He listens to Qade.
Their reaction at first horror:
Scared, runs, believes he’s in danger.
Relation to group after first horror:
Clings to them for help.
How they fight back:
Tries to escape.
End Point:
After Sheena ups the visceral scares, Targ runs into the street and is hit by a car (maybe an homage to Halloween 2 when the two cars hit that poor guy dressed like Mike Myers)
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?
Maybe the meanness of Sheena and how mean her relentlessness is.
Liv’s Profile
Role:
The Carrier: The one who brings the horror to the group
Traits:
Warm, motherly, tough, single mom, hard worker
Fears:
Not providing for her children, fears for her children safety, worries about Jean Tyrone’s path
Wants/Needs:
She wants a thriving family/She needs a helping hand (is that how Mirror Mirror gets her? He offers her help with something?)
Likability / Rooting factors:
She’s moral. She’s kind. She’s a fighter, even when threatened with her own mortality, she worries about her kids.
How they react under stress:
She keeps calm and tries to solve the issues causing the stress.
Relationship with other characters:
Motherly matriarch. Generally respected, even by Qade.
Character Journey
Character Intro:
After the death, when the guys agree to give Vivi a ride. She interacts with all of them, warning them to be alert because there’s a serial killer on the loose – she especially warns Vivi, her baby. She says that the guy seems to only kill women, but the guys should be just as careful because who knows. Of course Ike, the smart ass moral one, asks how she knows it’s a man and not a woman. Liv brings the horror to them by telling them about the news story around Sheena. This causes Ike’s wheels to start turning about Sheena and what they did to her.
Denial:
Maybe the thought that Mirror Mirror isn’t a threat to the group of guys?
Their reaction at first horror:
Escape. She figures out what happened to her and she tries to get out of Mirror Mirror’s house of horrors.
Relation to group after first horror:
She can only pray she can get out alive to warn everyone and help the authorities capture Mirror Mirror. (Wouldn’t it be crazy if she was allowed to call them but Mirror Mirror was about to spoof the signal to a tower in another state so the authorities can’t track it. – cell tower spoofing or IMSI catching)
How they fight back:
By being clever. She figures out how to escape her prison. She finds the cell phone. She gives as much description as she can about where she is (she doesn’t know that it’s Mirror Mirror until after the call and he takes off his mask – maybe it’s someone she works with every day at the hospital. She is a nurse or she’s a medical tech. It has to be someone unsuspecting that she’s unassumingly around. That new guy at work she didn’t even know was there until they have a meet-cute).
End Point:
She is outsmarted and overpowered because Mirror Mirror has the home team advantage. She is killed by the body modification he does.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?
That Mirror Mirror not only kills his victims, but he toys with them slowly and really tortures them. This gives the audience insight into what Sheena experienced at the hands of Mirror Mirror and why she is so vengeful.
Faye’s Profile
Role:
Monster Bait
Traits:
Tough, kind of like a female Qade, a bit of a dick
Fears:
Nothing
Wants/Needs:
Wants Qade, needs a strong partner
Likability / Rooting factors:
Not sure yet, maybe her way with Vivi or her mother
How they react under stress:
Solve it, not afraid, doesn’t run
Relationship with other characters:
Respected by the group as Qade’s girl
Character Journey
Character Intro:
She could be in the van or she could be with Qade when they pick up the group in the beginning
Denial:
Agrees with Qade and thinks it’s ridiculous because it doesn’t happen to her.
Their reaction at first horror:
She is either curious about the old lady and wants to help her or she’s mad at the old lady and tells her to get out or she’s going to kick her out. But since the Old lady is Mirror Mirror, he gets the upper hand (maybe with Sheena’s influence over Faye to not resist or be helpful suddenly).
Relation to group after first horror:
She is used as bait to get the other person Mirror Mirror is after.
How they fight back:
We don’t get to see Faye fight back or we could see her end with the lipstick.
End Point:
Mirror Mirror kills her through body modification. It could be depicted because the smothering with lipstick is interesting. Perhaps Faye has actually survived all of the horrendous torture and should have died, but because she’s a survivor, Mirror Mirror will give her one last beauty treatment, a technique he’s perfected on others – akin to tar and feathering but with the use of lipstick to smother you.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?
You realize that no one has ever gotten away from Mirror Mirror. Does that mean that Sheena was fated to be his victim? Did others get a chance to escape like a ride out of danger, just to be hunted down again. Is there a girl that survived Mirror Mirror that Ike could track down and talk to?
Vivi’s Profile
Role:
Sacrificial Lamb or Innocent (if she’s the sacrificial lamb then it’s her image that Sheena uses to lure Mirror Mirror, but she uses the whole family – Liv, Faye and Jean Tyrone – so then they would technically all be the sacrificial lamb. Either it’s just Vivi that lures him or the emphasis is placed on Vivi in Mirror Mirror’s mind. Also, Mirror Mirror should stalk her before he even goes after Liv to show that she the sacrifice that will bring him – Sheena wants the group killed, so she gives Mirror Mirror Vivi)
Traits:
Kind, good, gets along with everyone and anyone (maybe a scene where Qade gets uppity with a rival and Vivi gets him to act decently/help because she’s working with him somehow), excellent student working hard for a scholarship, works and goes to school, helps her family
Fears:
Not getting into a good college
Wants/Needs:
She wants to financially help her family/ She needs to get into a good college.
Likability / Rooting factors:
Kind, considerate, a friend to everyone, give what little pocket money she has to the homeless (Jean Tyrone: Now how is giving your money away going to help you get into college. Don’t look at me for help. You’re cute, but you’re not that cute. Jean Tyrone laughs and playfully jabs her in the ribs.)
How they react under stress:
She’s scared, she tries to run.
Relationship with other characters:
Everyone loves and protects Vivi.
Character Journey
Character Intro:
Gets a ride to a party from Qade and the boys.
Denial:
Stays optimistic that Qade could save her from Mirror Mirror. If she finds out about the Sheena theory, she could doubt that Sheena could be so vengeful.
Their reaction at first horror:
Devastation at the loss of Liv. Desperate concern for Faye and Jean Tyrone. (Does Mirror Mirror make it seem like either person has gone away?)
Relation to group after first horror:
Clings to them for help and protection.
Could possibly try to send Sheena to the light via the Ouija Board.
Relation to group after first horror:
Clings to them for help and protection.
Could possibly try to send Sheena to the light via the Ouija Board.
How they fight back:
Runs from Mirror Mirror.
End Point:
Is pulled back into the inferno of the burning shack by Mirror Mirror and roof collapses on them.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience?
Ike selfishly chose not to save Vivi because he was scared it would cost him his life.
Sheena can carry out her unfinished business through Vivi.
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