Lesson 9

[Deb Johnson]

Deb’s Favorite Twists!

What I learned from doing this assignment… this challenged me to look at my story map in a specific way and ask myself “How can I twist this?”. Many of my scenes already have twists (because of the nature of the story) but there was VAST room for improvement. Here are a few new discoveries…

1. Titan is a real secret agent pretending to be action movie star, Jimmy Blazer. Titan is a family man, loyal to his wife. TWIST: He must do a romantic scene with his co-star on the movie set. Meanwhile (TWIST) Jimmy Blazer tries to seduce Titan’s wife.

2. When Titan defects, Titan’s friend, Marshal, has been sent to track down Titan and bring him back to the agency. It appears to be a betrayal of friendship. When Titan makes a move to sabotage an attack, Marshal (Surprise) catches him. (Twist) Instead of stopping him he pledges his allegiance to Titan and helps him.

3. Titan must do a movie scene where he’s taken up in a helicopter. The pilot hates Jimmy Blazer. Everything is going great – but IT JUST GOT WORSE – a technical malfunction – puts everyone in jeopardy. Titan (as Jimmy) saves the life of the helicopter pilot. (the pilot will later help him when Titan needs it most.)

4. Titan coordinates/executes the 2nd Part of the Sabotage. This will be something where he gains an important tool/code to thwart the mission. It is this code/key that Cal (the villain) MUST HAVE to carry out the attack. TWIST: We think Titan is going to get caught – a guard or someone in charge – stops him. Turns out – he’s a big fan of Jimmy Blazer and he thinks that’s who Titan is. Titan goes along and says he’s doing “research” and gives him an autograph. Titan walks away with the desired object.

5. The real Jimmy Blazer has been apprehended by Titan’s foreign agency and is believed to be Titan. During their torture/interrogation (IT GET’S WORSE) Jimmy is hit in the face several times. His face is his “moneymaker” and it’s being destroyed!

[CJ Lyons]

CJ’s Favorite Twists:

What I learned from this assignment is to be aware of repetitive twists and brainstorm alternatives that will keep the audience guessing and surprised.

My favorites I added to my Climactic Sequence: my hero is unarmed, surrounded by the enemy including a missile aimed at the heart of the city and yet she emerges victorious via a series of twists:

Lucy appears to be TRAPPED but it’s a TRICK to allow her daughter ESCAPE

LOST RESOURCES (unarmed, alone) => NEW RESOURCES (uses Bratva’s missile against them, also UNEXPECTED WEAPON/SURPRISING RESPONSE)

The Bratva appear to have won (REVERSAL) but Lucy uses their weapons against them and also outwits the leader, REVERSING THE REVERSAL

But THINGS GET WORSE as the barge is scuttled by Lucy’s actions and the Bratva leader escapes leaving Lucy to drown, until THINGS GET BETTER as Lucy is able to sink his escape vehicle, dooming him

[ray Moore]

Ray’s Favorite Twists

1. What I learned doing this assignment is how to put great twists in the story to keep the audience guessing and interested.

2. What if the alien inhabits the hero or a family member?

3. What if the aliens have been there all along hiding from their enemies and there enemies came through the portal?

4. What if hero is killed and the enemies defeat the aliens and still take over the planet (kill the humans)?

5. What if the secret laboratory holds proof that this was originally the alien’s planet and we took the planet from them?

6. What if the aliens come up with something to kill the humans?

7. What if the government has an alternate agenda for the super humans?

8. What if the lackies switch sides and join the hero to save Earth?

9. What if the super humans join forces with the aliens to take over Earth?

[karl gromelski]

(Your Name’s) Favorite Twists!

“What I learned doing this assignment is…” there’s always a way to subvert expectations.

Opening

Hero exposes scammers on his YouTube channel.

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

Twist: Firewall more sophisticated than normal. Why?

Twist squared: Hero gets help from anonymous subscriber. (who used to be part of Anonymous)

YT channel goes viral.

Twist: Anon person hacked media channels to give YT channel attention.

Scam center closes down.

Re-Twist: Media attention causes Hero to get raided by FBI.

Hero’s Patreon account blossoms.

Twist: A chunk of “donation” came from scam center, implicating Hero. Why?

Reverse Twist: This donation is how Hero later traces scam money to a bank.