Module 3 – Lesson 1: Characters That Sell Scripts

[Carole Avila]

Carole Avila – Actor attractors for Back to the Future III

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 that compel professionals to produce my work onscreen and in print.

What I learned from doing this assignment is knowing the importance of having strong roles to attract top actors to my work.

Criteria:
Genre: Time-travel Western.
Major actors: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenbergen, Lea Thompson, Elizabeth Shue

ACTOR ATTRACTORS
Movie Title: Back to the Future III
Lead Character Name: Marty McFly

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Amiable character who finds himself in comedic sticky situations and has to rely on his innate intelligence to outmaneuver the bad guys.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Although he’s small in size, he’s big in heart and is a clever thinker.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Marty has to go back in time to save his friend Doc who has fallen in love with a school teacher. The DeLorean breaks down and Marty has to find a way to repair it, and is being chased by a group of outlaws.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Marty finds a letter from Doc that tells he went back in time and Marty has to help him fix the DeLorean. Mary finds a tombstone showing that the Doc was killed by Biff’s great-grandfather six days after the letter was written. Marty has to go back in time to prevent Doc from being killed.

5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Marty is concerned for his friend, but then is fully invested, both physically and emotionally, in saving Doc.

6. What subtext can the actor play?
Marty has to rely on his quick thinking to get out of messes in a hurry, but is often doubtful about his own abilities. Still, he keeps moving forward, taking action to help others and himself.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
He is a fiercely devoted friend to Doc. They end up in a lot of tight scrapes together that are mostly comedic and entertaining.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Marty generally has a bit of apprehension in his voice, but manages to sound convincing when confronting bad guys.

9. What makes this character special and unique?
Marty’s character is loveable and genuine. Although he doesn’t sound intelligent, he displays his ingenuity with every scrape he gets out of.

10. During a festival, the bad guy, Buford, shoots at Doc but Marty throughs a pie-tin frisbee at him and deflects the bullet. Buford challenges Marty to a duel, calling Marty “yellow,” which is one of his pet peeves. Marty accepts the duel because he thinks Doc would be gone by that time. Doc tells Marty not to let Buford get to him, but accidentally reveals something to Marty about the future. Marty fights the bad guy, but of course, it works out for the good.

[Susan]

My Assignment Mod 3 Lesson 1 Characters That Sell

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: The James Bond films have several important characters and even more supporting characters some of whom show up again later in the series. Besides, Bond, Vesper, “M”, and Le Chiffre, Mr White (Jesper Christensen) shows up, and Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), and Rene Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) show up as well. They become more important in later films in the series and are introduced in this film. Also watching this film I really noticed how each thing that happened was related to the larger thing and the things to come in future films. Since I am also writing a script with a hidden antagonist I think each section should be more than BRENDI and CHAZ chasing the lowerlings down, but that each one of those has some sort of smaller terror to inflict related to the larger terror to come.

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

State I have so much fun…
Activity: …discovering what will cause actors to sign onto my movies!
Done!

Movie Title: Casino Royale (new one)

Lead Character Name: James Bond (played by Daniel Craig)

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?

The role is exciting. He gets to show off his body, his physical stunts and his emotional range. It is an iconic role.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?

Bond is unpredictable and reckless, but at the same time totally loyal to the UK and “M.”. He is a true patriot and will go to any lengths to save his country. He is OK with killing bad guys. He has amazing physical abilities, mental sharpness, an ability to think ahead, plan and come out victorious. He sees things and patterns others do not see (except maybe M). He pretends not to want a real relationship with a woman and so “dates” married women, but he really does want one. He wants to be loved (related to his subtext of his parents dying while he was young and feeling alone). He has a wide knowledge of international affairs. He gets badly beaten up continuously, but snaps back like a superhero.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?

He keeps going when ordered not to. He finds out M’s name, breaks into her apartment and uses her login and password to get into her system. He has foot chases through dangerous constructions sites, he has to kill multiple bad guys, He tries to save Vesper and still loves her even though she betrayed him. He has to get himself over being poisoned. He is in car chases. He is also in mixed chases: on foot, to top of vehicles to inside vehicles to stopping vehicles. He pins the bomb onto the bad guy. He wins at cards against Le Chiffre. He makes a deal with the CIA guy (Felix). He won’t give up the password no matter what they are doing to him.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?

Bond is introduced getting his 2nd kill in order to become a 007 (it looks like a flashback as it is in B&W). Then there is the scene in Madagascar. Bond and another agent are looking for some one while a cobra fights a mongoose. Bond chases the bad guy, gets in a mess at the embassy, the bomb goes off too. Bond chases the bad guy through the jungle, building construction sties, scaffolding, something falls and there is a fiery blast. More and more dangerous part of the construction.

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

Huge range for the Bond character: from anger and rage, to heartbreak, loftiness, compassion, love, to disdain. Fearless – or his mission, his subtext is so strong his fear doesn’t matter.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

Bond can play the subtext of the abandoned child. He is looking for approval from “M.” He hides his love and disappointment in people with revulsion and anger. Reasons for interrogations. His relationship with “M” is like a mother/son one.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?

The most interesting relationship Bond has is with “M.” They have a love-disappointment-appreciation relationship and Bond craves “M”’s approval. “M” wants Bond to become the best agent he can be. She nurtures him while at the same time giving him lists of all the things he does wrong. But she’s not there when he has to kill people – it’s either them or him.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?

Bond is presented as a person who is totally patriotic and will do anything to preserve his country and win. He is really compassionate and passionate, but hides it behind a veneer of coolness and aloofness. He is exceptional in every way as an agent. There is really nothing he can’t do. He springs back after fights including after being poisoned and having his heart stop. He’s reckless but to a purpose. He is always spying/scheming ways to get deeper into the mystery and solve it like ONLY he can. He sees things & connections no one else appears to be making.

9. What makes this character special and unique?

He is exceptionally smart. He can see through people. He can anticipate most issues. He is fast on his feet and a quick thinker and analyzer. He is a real detective. He denies it, but would rather be in love than just fool around. He is completely loyal to “M” & Britain.

10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)

Bond goes through the entire embassy thing and then breaks into “M”’s apartment and uses her log in to get information to keep going and investigating. The banter between “M” and Bond in that part of the sequence is amazing. She is constantly testing him, and he mostly knows it.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  Susan McClaryu. Reason: formatting