Module 2 -Lesson 2: Intentional Lead Characters

[Carole Avila]

Carole Avila – Intentional Lead Characters

After consideration, I changed the characters who make up the dramatic triangle. Originally, they were the “bad guys” in the story. Now, they’re those with larger parts and love interests in the main character. I’m not certain if I did the logline and unique descriptions correctly. Suggestions are welcome.

My vision: My writing skills are in demand by the writing industry, because I provide exceptionally crafted, well-loved and inspirational stories enjoyed by all ages and genders that compel professionals to produce my work onscreen and in print.

What I learned from doing this assignment is how important it is to have clear, concise, and brief descriptions of my characters’ personas as they relate to my story concept.

Logline and what makes my characters unique:
• Character: Mandy Ruhe/Carmena Luebber
• Logline: An irresponsible and immature woman who time travels to the past and must assume the responsibilities of a working ranch and its employees.
• Unique: She is forced to grow up and make crucial decisions that will war with her innate desire to be emotionally satisfied.

• Character: Carlos Solis
• Logline: He is the ranch manager who loves Carmena but knows she’s not acting like herself and will do what he can to find out her secret.
• Unique: Highly loyal to the ranch, employees, and especially to the real Carmena.

• Character: Captain Charles Sanders
• Logline: The army officer in love with Carmena and must decide the fate of her and the ranch when he discovers she’s stealing guns from the army.
• Unique: Strong sense of obligation and of right and wrong.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  Carole Avila.

[Susan]

Hi Carole,

You wrote:

"• Character: Mandy Ruhe/Carmena Luebber
• Logline: An irresponsible and immature woman who time travels to the past and must assume the responsibilities of a working ranch and its employees.”

In the Logline, what does Mandy want to accomplish?

You wrote:

"• Unique: She is forced to grow up and make crucial decisions that will war with her innate desire to be emotionally satisfied.”

This could be anybody, what makes her different besides the fact that she time travelled backwards? Most people wouldn’t know what they were doing. How is she unusual? What is different about her that winds up making the 2 men suspicious?

You wrote:

"• Character: Carlos Solis

• Logline: He is the ranch manager who loves Carmena but knows she’s not acting like herself and will do what he can to find out her secret.

• Unique: Highly loyal to the ranch, employees, and especially to the real Carmena.”

Can you think of anything he does to test her? He’s an employee, but what makes him different than other employees and what is his motivation? Is he in love with Carmena? Does he have a secret that would make her love him back? Does he believe his family is entitled to part of the farm? What makes his character important to the story? Brainstorm.

You wrote:

"• Character: Captain Charles Sanders

• Logline: The army officer in love with Carmena and must decide the fate of her and the ranch when he discovers she’s stealing guns from the army.

• Unique: Strong sense of obligation and of right and wrong.”

What does Captain Sanders want to happen by the end of the story? How is he different than other officers in the army at that time? Is it life and death? What would happen to Carmena will she be hung? If he doesn’t turn her in will he be hung?

• This reply was modified 12 months ago by  Susan McClaryu.

[Michael Fitzer]

Michael Fitzer – Intentional Lead Characters

My Vision:
I am a great writer who is respected by my peers, writes scripts that sell and teaches future filmmakers how to succeed.

What I learned from this assignment is: that while developing characters, thinking through even some of the basics and putting that down on paper (rather than just letting it float around in my head) is a concrete way to stay on target and develop deeper characters, even if their unique traits change over time.

Module 2 -Lesson 2: Intentional Lead Characters

• My protagonist is:
– Character: Katie Mendoza
– Logline: A female prison sergeant who fights to keep her prisoners safe from a vampire.
– Unique: Former Afghanistan MP whose father was a convict. She has a sense of justice and sees her wards as people, not prey.

• My Antagonist is:
– Character: Gabriel Damon Aliester
– Logline: A Vampire who wants to use the prison as his personal buffet.
– Unique: He is a soulless, devious, egotistical, and blood-thirsty vampire who enjoys playing with his victims before he feeds.

• My Triangle Characters are the prisoners and prison staff who band together to save their own lives and ultimately protect each other. The main ones are:
– Character 1: Dante Pareja
– Logline: Head of the Guerreros Santos Prison Gang
– Unique: Calm, calculated but brutal when he needs to be. He respects Mendoza because she respects him. Highly religious.

– Character 2: Zac Morgan
– Logline: Head of the Aryan Kings Prison Gang
– Unique: Intelligent, vicious, fearless.

– Character 3: Sheldon Smith
– Logline: New Prison Guard who has just started at KUFP
– Unique: Eager and easily influenced but determined to make a name for himself.

– Character 4: Ornell Cherry
– Logline: Head of the Black 502 Prison Gang
– Unique: Angry and mistrustful of everyone that isn’t in his circle. He shows everyone but his gang the minimum requirement of respect.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  Michael Fitzer.

[Susan]

Hi Michael,

I love this, “blood-thirsty vampire who enjoys playing with his victims before he feeds” that is unusual – cat like. See if you can brainstorm to find someone more unusual for each of the heads of the gangs. It’s great that they are all different from each other and if they are going to have major roles in the screenplay, i’d like to see something that makes each one stand out – something that separates each one from usual gang members. e.g. – Is one missing an eye? Would you know why? How does that effect his behavior within his gang and to other gang bosses, etc.?

[Susan]

My Vision: I am an amazing writer who has fun every day, is recognized by the industry for my ability to take audiences who love me through surprising experiences, and who has multiple successful movies produced while being highly paid.

What I learned from doing this assignment is:

Understanding the relationships between the characters helps to form character needs for uniqueness and traits.

Start this assignment by empowering yourself using our State-To-Activity empowerment process.

State: I am completely committed to…

Activity: …having my lead characters deliver powerfully on my concept.

Done.

Give us a logline (one sentence answer) for your protagonist, antagonist, and triangle character (if you have one) to the question, “What makes this character fit my concept and title powerfully?” And tell us what makes each of these characters unique.

Character 1 Brendi Rostovanova/Protagonist

Logline: Trapeze aerialist turned spy who is working to save innocent Russian lives even if she must disobey orders from her superiors.

Unique: Trapeze aerialist in the Russian Circus who is also an undercover agent, She has a deep love for her people and her country. Saving millions of innocent Russian people is more important to her than obeying her superiors. She is stunningly beautiful almost all men fall madly in love with her.

Character 2 Hadeon (Hay-dee-in) Borysenko (Also known as the monstr) / Antagonist

Logline: Ukraine terrorist Boss who is known only to two other sleeper agents, and is the only one who knows his entire plan – to murder millions of Russian innocents and destroy Russia.

Unique: A Genius Ukrainian Terrorist who keeps his plans to himself, Considers himself the be the next shoe-in President of the Ukraine, Vicious, Uncompromising, Sarcastic but humorless. Gets pissed off when others find him amusing.

Character 3: Chaz Kofman / Lev Kotov Triangle Character

Logline: Dissatisfied American undercover Agent working in Russia under orders to stop Russia from dismantling the Ukraine terrorist plan.

Unique: Pissed at his superiors for making him play a Clown in the Russian Circus, American Sleeper Agent, Has both good and bad feelings / ties to Russia (his great great Grandmother an escapee Russian Jew), thinks for himself, deep sense of what is right and wrong, Lonely, Compassionate, Amazing Spy.

Additional Character 4: Filipp Kazak is Brendi’s Trapeze partner and Ukrainian sleeper agent/terrorist bent on revenge.

Unique: Mole Ukrainian Terrorist Spy, Trapeze Artist, Bent on Revenge for the death of his brother and other family members.

• This reply was modified 12 months ago by  Susan McClaryu. Reason: Formatting
• This reply was modified 12 months ago by  Susan McClaryu.

[Michael Fitzer]

Anyone able to access the forums for module 3? I’m completing the assignments but have no way of posting them.

[Susan]

Did you contact support? Sometimes they’re so busy they don’t get them up until someone asks for them.

[Michael Fitzer]

I did for mod 2, which seems to be working just fine. No forum for mod 3 yet but I have access to the lessons and I’m getting email prompts to complete the lessons.

[Susan]

Module 3 may not get put up until someone asks for it. I had to keep doing that for a different class.

[Michael Fitzer]

I suppose I’ll just wait until everyone is on the same page so we can all do it together. I’m getting ready to start the next semester in my MFA so it’s likely I’ll start lagging behind on these anyway.
TRight now I’m on Mod 3 Lesson 4.

[Susan]

Hey Michael,

I wouldn’t mind getting feedback for my posts, as I am behind you 2. Thanks in advance.
Susan