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JAYE’S HORROR PLOT
What I learned is that establishing plot points helps eliminate holes and rewrites. It ensures that the most important elements of the horror experience are covered.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil established
Probably start with a prologue. Circa 1950. Father and son landscapers will go to a house to remove a tree in the back yard, by a creek. A “freak accident” will kill the father and maim the son.
Connect with the characters
Present Day. We meet the teenagers who want to experience new things and have fun! There’s a new place to party, and who could resist? We can see ourselves in some of them, our friends in others, and people we want to strangle in others.
The characters are warned not to do it.
Remember the maimed son from the prologue? Well, now he’s the hometown 80-year old, one-armed, crazy guy. He’s homeless, and he overhears the kids’ conversation and warns them not to go to the house. But he’s just a homeless, drunk, one-armed crazy guy… so who cares!
But some of the girls are also unsure.
Denial of Horror
Despite the kids being afraid, THE LEADER convinces them all the stories are just urban legends and tells them not to be babies. Besides the guys will be there to keep the girls safe (wink, wink).
Safety taken away
The OBNOXIOUS TEEN will tag the house (spray paint). But after much time, he hasn’t returned… the kids will investigate…
Monster: The nature of the beast.
While looking for the OBNOXIOUS TEEN they find weird creepy shit inside the house. Odors. Bugs. Sounds. Shadows. Whispers. Reflections. Bad things have happened here…ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted
Now that everyone is inside, the house has the kids where it wants them.
One of us killed
OBNOXIOUS TEEN is missing (but he’s dead) – he hasn’t been found yet. When everyone goes into the house to look for him, The INTROVERT will stay behind at the creek, because the house looks too scary. But then she gets more scared alone in the dark by the creek and changes her mind. But it’s too late. She’s killed by the monster (and later comes to the house to terrorize).
TWO DOWN – SIX LEFT
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Full pursuit by the killer
The monster reveals itself to some horny teens who have stolen themselves away to another room
TWO MORE WILL DIE HERE. FOUR LEFT
Terrorized
No one can hide and no one can escapeACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the death
THE COMPLAINER offers up THE SACRIFICAL LAMB and thinks she’s escaped, but the monster gets her at the last moment. TWO DOWN. TWO LEFT.
Hysteria
Hysteria reigns supreme!
The thrilling escape from death
The LEADER makes it outside, leaving THE MORAL ONE BEHIND. The house lets him go. He thinks it’s because he figured out some puzzle. He runs for it…
Death returns to take one or more.
… and the monster that killed the introvert now claims his life.
Resolution
The Moral One is alive, in the house, kept by the house. Held prisoner by the monster in THE INTROVERT’S shell. It wants her baby… alive. -
FRANK’S PLOT TRACK
What I learned doing this assignment is… Building the plot in this workshop is moves fast. Something I’m not totally comfortable with. But it’s best to KISS. So, I am learning to trust the 4 major Tracks, starting with the Plot Track, and just moving forward. I’m sure to return and expand on all of the racks while building my outline.
“CODZILLA”
ACT ONE — SET UP FOR HORROR:
– Atmosphere of Evil established: A man in his powerboat, CODZILLA, curses unrevealed assailants in an old, Portuguese curse, before they murder him and send his boat to the bottom of Cape Cod Bay.
– Connect with the Characters: Ghost of the dead man comes to his estranged daughter in a dream luring her home to avenge his murder.
– The Characters are warned not to do it: Dead man’s family of fishermen on Cape Cod believe his death and shipwreck was an accident. They mourn his loss and debate a wake & funeral. The estranged daughter keeps her dream a secret believing her Dad was murdered and demands his personal belongings buried at sea as requested in her dream. Their old, hapless Portuguese deckhand warns them off any funeral at sea as it is a bad omen.
– Denial of Horror: The dead man’s wife and lover brother-in-law dismiss any warnings.
– Safety taken away: When the dead man’s personal belongings sink into the bay over his charred powerboat, the boat appears to move.
– Monster: the nature of the beast: The town sheriff/harbormaster is suspiciously murdered at sea while begging for forgiveness. Slight reveal of the monster boat.
ACT TWO – THE POINT OF NO RETURN
– Isolated/Trapped/Abducted: Family go on a boat trip after funeral.
– One of Us killed: Luckless deckhand killed at night when operating the family boat alone. He is mysteriously disappeared when family wake the next morning. Another small reveal of the monster boat.
MIDPOINT – THE MONSTER IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT
– Full pursuit by the Killer: With the arrival of a mysterious summer fog, the monster boat covertly rams the family boat. All jolted! Sacrificial Lamb Daughter falls overboard but saved. She tells her estranged cousin that the family killed her Dad.
– Terrorized: Another covert ram. And another. Swift revealing glimpses of the monster boat to the family. Clues. Until CODZILLA shows its ugly, powerful 3000 hp, 70-foot hull. They find it impossible but recall the curse.
ACT THREE – FULL OUT HORROR
– Fight to the Death: Family boat rides away as fast as it is able. Pushing the engine. Family argues over responsibility for murdering the man. They don’t know what to do with the estranged daughter now that she knows the truth. Kill her too?
– Hysteria: Insane older son tosses his Sacrificial lamb sister overboard in atonement to CODZILLA and punishment for telling her cousin the truth.
– The thrilling escape from Death: Younger moral brother kills his older insane brother causing a raging fire aboard the family boat. CODZILLA rams the family boat again. Younger brother falls overboard and is run over by CODZILLA. The wife of the dead man and her lover fall into the flames. CODZILLA strikes again. The boat explodes.
– Death returns to take one more: The estranged daughter, alone, the only survivor, attempts to remain afloat to a buoy when CODZILLA finds her and quietly waits nearby. She attempts to resolve her sins with the spirit of her Dad.
– Resolution: Finally losing consciousness, CODZILLA drags her away under the sea. Both disappear leaving behind a tranquil Bay.
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“What I learned doing this assignment is…?”
Tethering the plot to each character was great fun! How much or how little a character engages with a plot is vitally important. Using the beats of the plot to explore the characters motivations was exciting. As a first timer crafting a screenplay, I’m enlightened by the process and curious to see how the following lessons will help improve this foundation.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil established – Sybil is
running along a hillside draped with willows, a church bell rings in the
distance. She makes her way to the rural church sanctuary. She passes out
as the Care Center surrounds her, their eyes disappearing, and their large
muscular hands pull at her arms. <div>Connect with the characters–
Ten years later. Principal Ogilvy ask
for volunteers to man the elementary school as a hub for hurricane
evacuees in this Louisiana town. The main core cast of teachers (Ogilvy,
Sybil, Clara, Carmel, Marie, Marcus, and Principal LaPierre) agree to do
it and along with locals, Jacob and Jill Thibodaux.The characters are warned not to do it. –
Many teachers don’t want to stay and would rather get home to their own
families and warn that if this is like another Hurricane Katrina, building
may not withstand this one.Denial of Horror – they all been through
hurricanes and agree that this is as safe a place as any to be.Safety taken away – Principal LaPierre
decides to chain the doors shut so that looters will not get in. Also
means there is no escape when things get wild.Monster: The nature of the beast. – Storm
is raging outside, electricity is going in and out, and a number of people
are starting to experience very specific and personal reliving of traumas
in their past. It is starting to make some jumpy and agitated in a way
that unsettles the rest of the crew.ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted – without the
key to open the chains (the boards used industrial strength nails that
secure into brick and concrete) they must think of another way out. </div><div>One of us killed – Marie is found facing
a boarded window with bloody scratch marks in the wooden boards, her face
contorted, eyes gone (laying at her knees) with an open mouth midscream.
It isn’t safe to go outside but it isn’t safe to stay in the building. Turns
out Marie was asked to put the key to the chains in the safe and she was
the only one who knew the combination.MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Full pursuit by the killer – Finger
pointing and paranoia set in with the remaining people. Sybil recognizes
the missing eyes as one of the characteristic methods of the Care Center. The
heightened fear causes factions to break away for the rest of the group
making it easier for the Care Center to target them but more difficult for
anyone to know who a danger is and who is going to be helpful. </div>Terrorized – Jacob and Jill become the
next victims as they try to take advantage of the chaos to pilfer
electronics from the 2<sup>nd</sup> grade classroom. They are found in the
cleaning closet, eyes gone, with herbs, amulets, and sac cloth stitched
doll held between them. Principal LaPierre is found in the swimming pool
filled with blood instead of water.ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the death – Coach Ogilvy
suspects Marcus is the killer so they lock him in a closet. Carmel begins
acting strangely and Sybil remembers the priest who saved her said the word
– Ouanga. When Carmel recovers she tells the group about the Care
Center and then asks Sybil why she didn’t warn them.Hysteria – The remaining group is
divided about Sybil’s loyalty. Coach Ogilvy remembers an old family hex to
ward off bad omens and suggests finding the botany lab to secure some
flowers and herbs.The thrilling escape from death – After the
team creates amulets to do the hex, they find Marcus in the closet and use
it on him, but nothing happens. Then Terrance starts yelling and his eyes disappear,
and his hands become big, and he reveals himself as a member of the Care
Center. After an escape to the roof, Terrance finds them, Marie steps in
front and sacrifices herself for the children and Sybil and Carmel defeat
the Care Center but not before Potter is thrown off the roof.Death returns to take one or more. – The Care Center monster skewers Ogilvy with a large hand and rips out his intestines. Ogilvy transforms into Carras. The Care Center was there for Carras all along because he broke the rules.
Resolution – as the sun comes up and
military aquatic vehicles come to take the survivors to safety, Sybil believes
it is over. Carmel has a look in her eyes as her eyes disappear. -
ROB’S HORROR PLOT
What I learned:
I learned that the horror plot track is only the first step in building your outline. If you follow the tracking steps it can help eliminate plot holes before they happen.ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil established:
A Hospice Nurse attends to Mr. Scheckla, who is dying of a terminal illness at his beach front house. The Nurse has a paranormal experience that shakes the very foundations of her beliefs.Connect with the characters:
We meet Abby and the Paranormal Team as they investigate a single mother’s home for paranormal activity. The activity is debunked using their scientific method.Al Scheckla arrives to his childhood home, with his wife and teenage daughter. They are greeted by the Hospice Nurse who immediately quits. The family explores the house. Al and Barbara argue. Al talks to his father and notices bruises.
The characters are warned not to do it:
Al is informed that all the hospice nurses are refusing to work in the house. Al decides he will take care of his dying father personally against Barbara’s wishes. He’s warned against it and advised to check the old man into a hospice care facility. The old man refuses to leave.After receiving notification that the University Parapsychology Lab is losing its funding and must close, Professor Tillman decides that it’s time to retire. The Professor tells Abby that it’s time to stop chasing ghosts, or she’ll end up like him, “Unpublished and a laughing stock in the scientific community.”
Denial of Horror:
After the family experiences paranormal activity, Al assures his wife and daughter that the house is safe. He grew up there.Safety taken away:
The family witnesses the old man beaten by an invisible presence and thrown around the room. The teenage daughter records it on her cell phone. They are powerless to stop it.Monster: The nature of the beast:
Abby receives some astonishing footage from the Scheckla house and tries to convince her grandfather to investigate. The Professor declines. Abby and The Paranormal Team “borrows” the Mobile Lab (RV) from the University and heads to the Coast, without the Professor’s approval. One last chance to prove ghosts are real.ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted:
On the first night of the investigation, the house loses power and communication to the outside world, due to a storm. (Thunder, lightning, fog.) Investigators witness balls of light, cold spots and record threatening electronic voice phenomena. Polaroid evidence leads them to a locked office door. Abby senses the presence of female victims and also a male presence that they’re afraid of.The next day, Investigators gain access to Old Man Scheckla’s locked office and discover that the walls are covered in missing person fliers and newspaper articles. Old Man Scheckla reveals he’s been searching for his missing wife and thinks the missing women are related. A map of search locations is revealed.
One of us killed:
While investigating the attic, Noelle (Monster Bait) is viciously attacked and hung by the neck by an unseen presence. It’s a distraction. Barbara Scheckla disappears, along with her luggage and car.The Professor arrives unannounced, sensing his team in danger. (He’s psychic.)
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Full pursuit by the killer:
While interviewing Old Man Scheckla about his missing wife, the investigators witness the worst attack yet. The old man reveals his theory about Poltergeists and Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis. He’s seen it before. Abby’s childhood trauma is revealed. Abby: I did not kill my parents with telekinesis!Terrorized:
That night, the poltergeist isolates and terrorizes the family and investigators, preying on their fears. Al and Ellie are at odds because they think Barbara has abandoned them. Abby and the Professor are at odds because they disagree on theory. The attacks on the old man are determined to happen at low tide.Old Man Scheckla reveals his story about his missing wife and the man she was having an affair with. Old Man Scheckla suspected the Lover was a serial killer. He also reveals there’s only one spot he hasn’t searched yet.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the death:
The Investigators and Al set out to find the body of the missing wife. Ellie and the Professor agree to stay with her grandfather. The Professor is lured into an attack and is rendered unconscious. He’s finally seen a ghost. Ellie is left alone to defend her helpless grandfather.Al and the investigators discover the burial site. It’s a trap. They are attacked by a variety of ghostly murder victims that emerge from unmarked graves. The evil male entity is protecting its secrets. They find the last unmarked grave, except it’s not the wife. It belongs to her Lover. Evidence on his body reveals that Old Man Scheckla may have murdered him. The investigators salt and burn the body. The evil male entity and the victims disappear. They think it’s over.
Hysteria:
Old Man Scheckla tells Ellie that he can show her a secret place they can hide. Ellie struggles to drag her grandfather to the stair lift. There’s a tense moment as the stair lift slowly descends as the female ghost of the old man’s wife approaches. A secret door in the office is revealed. Abby peers down the stairs. Behind her, Old Man Scheckla stands and shoves her down the stairs.The thrilling escape from death:
Abby discovers the Professor unconscious and helps him recover. Ellie and Old Man are nowhere to be found. Al is dragged to the secret door and down the stairs. The door locks behind him and will not open. Al discovers his father’s secret kill room and all of his murder trophies. Barbara’s dead body is discovered. Old Man Scheckla is found, holding a knife to his granddaughter’s throat. He confesses to Al. He murdered his wife and her lover. He developed a taste for murder, but he’s remorseful. He wants to be stopped. Al talks him into letting Ellie go. The door opens and Abby helps Ellie to safety.Death returns to take one or more:
Old Man Scheckla has been returned to his bed. He’s in bad shape and no longer has the energy to manifest paranormal energy. The Investigators pack their equipment. Finally dying, Old Man Scheckla watches the sun set on Haystack Rock one last time. Al reminisces about the time he helped his dad hide a Time Capsule inside a cave on Hay Stack Rock. Al and his father both see the ghost of Al’s mother. Al realizes it wasn’t a time capsule. It was his mother’s body. In a fit of rage, Al mercy kills his father. The last thing Old Man Scheckla see’s is his dead wife holding the pillow. Once he’s dead. The mom vanishes.Resolution:
The Professor and Abby reconcile and agree that they were both right. The male entity was a psychic manifestation of Old Man Scheckla’s rage. But the female entities, they could have been legitimate incarnate spirits. The Scheckla’s hold three funerals. Due to the publicity, the Investigators receive a call for a new case. -
ASSIGNMENT 4 – THE HORROR PLOT TRACK
(Title: “GRAHAMSTOWN”)
What I learned from this assignment: That there is a ‘recipe’ to follow to construct a horror story and that it’s essential to put all the right ingredients in the right order for the horror to rise. I also realized that creating an outline is essential as it can reveal the weaknesses in the story.
ACT 1—SET UP THE HORROR:
· Atmosphere of evil established: Press articles with graphic photos on a computer screen showing gruesome young people murdered or vanished; the number 21 comes back again and again on the screen, at the end, a town’s name appears – GRAHAMSTOWN. The computer screen reflects the strained face of a young woman and, in the background, we see the reflection of candles burning on a birthday cake on a table then we see the terror in her wide bulging eyes followed by her shrilling scream as someone keeps knocking, harder and harder, at the door in the background while humming in faint frail and soft voice “happy birthday to you”!
· Connect with the characters: A group of new students; we discover each character, their personalities, their struggle, their attempts to fit in, in a college where other students behave strangely and in a town with a secret.
· The characters are warned not to do it: The new students to the college are told to never go out alone after dark and if they must then to stay in pack and never to mix with the friendly old people.
· Denial of horror: The new students will brush off the advice as plain silly and paranoid and mean; they are young and strong, why should they be afraid of some old folks even if they are the only ones walking in the dark streets of the small town!
· Safety taken away: When young people are stranded as cars strangely break down, buses don’t show and taxis don’t stop, being back home before dark becomes an impossible mission.
· Monster- the nature of the beast: With old people infiltrated in all areas of the small town’s life, knowing who the monster is and whom to trust is a matter of life and death.
ACT 2—THE POINT OF NO RETURN:
· Isolated/trapped/abducted: Young people are no longer even safe in doors as the monsters try to break in or to lure them outside in desperation to get what they need.
· One of us killed: Naomi and James – the lovers – will be the first to go. Lust and romance will led them outside after dark and cause their death.
MIDPOINT—THE MONSTER IS WORSE THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT:
· Full pursuit by the killer: They must now do whatever they can to protect themselves at night from the monsters who try to break in and become increasingly aggressive and cunning.
· Terrorized: The characters find themselves increasingly isolated, unable to leave town, and terrified as night falls.
ACT 3—FULL OUT HORROR:
· Fight to the death: Some of the characters won’t make it and will be massacred; some will scarify themselves to save others. The monsters are now seen for who they are and no longer underestimated: there’s nothing vulnerable, friendly or innocent about them anymore, they are wolves in lambs’ clothing!
· Hysteria: It’s now a war between the young terrified desperate to survive characters against the old determined to get what they need (blood & flesh) to regain their youth.
· The thrilling escape from death: Some will manage to escape, to find momentary safety in one of the many churches… only to realize they have stepped in the belly of the beast!
· Death returns to take one or more: More will need to die before they can unify and overcome the monsters.
· Resolution: When Anna’s faith and innocence (despite being an old soul) breaks through some of the elderly and that the monsters within the group them find themselves isolated, the killing is reversed and the elderly monsters are in turn massacred.
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ASSIGNMENT
Create your plot.
Knowing your concept, fill in one or two sentences for each of the plot points.<div>
What I learned going this assignment is how relatively quickly a plot can be constructed using the model.
Cold Open with old witch as only attendee to a funeral in a creepy “potters field” cemetery. Cheap tombstone marker dates the burial as 1860.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil established: Current time. Zoning board meeting where approval is given to a developer to build upon the site of the cemetery with some restrictions. Developer takes shortcuts including the bulldozing of six gravesites that were scheduled to be relocated. The operator of the bulldozer shuts off the vehicle and urinates on what was a gravesite. He is pulled down into the marshy ground as the first victim and portent of things to come.
Connect with the characters: Open house at the new condo. Developer gives his pitch to the assembled buyers.
The characters are warned not to do it: The same witch who is now sitting in the back of the room warns the buyers that “nothing good will come of this.” The developer dismisses her to the buying prospects as a crazy old fool.
Denial of Horror: Six of the new buyers on the same floor have a housewarming party where they toast to the ridiculousness of the witch’s warning.
Safety taken away: Scary, unexplained phenomena happen throughout the building. The building inspector, who got paid off by the developer comes in response to some of the physical building complaints.
Monster: The nature of the beast. He examines the faulty foundations and is killed. But we don’t see the actual killing yet, just the evidence.ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: The inspector does not return from his inspection in the basement. Two of the men go down to investigate his disappearance. They see the head of the bulldozer operator’s head on a pike, and a trail of blood leading down a tunnel.
One of us killed: One of the men foolishly investigates and is killed by the witch.MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought! Through witchcraft and powerful evil forces, she basically encapsulates the building making it impenetrable from the outside and sealed on the inside.
Terrorized – takes 2 more lives, leaving only first couple with cat left. But she needs one more victim to make up for the six desecrated graves.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the death: Couple have plan of escape but the cat runs down to the basement and wife won’t leave without the cat, so she and hubby go down into the bowels of the building. Cats directs them to the portal to the killing fields under the building and its yards.
Hysteria: Husband goes into tunnel to retrieve the cat. While he is gone, the wife is petrified, is grabbed from behind. It turns out to be a homeless squatter who lives, unknowingly to the witch, in her domain, and knows the way out. The husband returns with the cat with the witch in pursuit.
The thrilling escape from death: The homeless man guides them to an escape hatch.
Death returns to take one or more. The homeless man lets the couple go first and pays the price with his life.
Resolution: Now out of the grounds, the couple with their cats stand on a hill with the townspeople looking at an emergency response team leading others from the building before it spectacularly goes up in flames and collapses into the ground.
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ROBERT R SMITH HORROR PLOT
What I learned doing this assignment is an excellent structure as a vehicle to write my script.
ASSIGNMENT
Create your plot.
1. Knowing your concept, fill in one or two sentences for each of the plot points.
PLOT: An archaeological expedition to the Tel Esh-Shaytaneen, or Hill of the Two Devils discovers a mummified severed skull possessed by the ancient desert demon Azazel.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere
of Evil establishedWhile on an unrelated archaeological expedition, Dr. Colin Kendrick, head of the Archaeology Dept at Buckridge University in the USA, is approached by two Arab goat-herding brothers, Hassan and Hussein, who, while searching for a lost goat, had discovered, in the sand, an ancient gold nameplate engraved with the demonic name Azazel – a desert demon of Jewish (Biblical) and Arabic lore. Kendrick insists they take him to the place where they found it but they are reluctant. The place is called the Hill of the Two Devils and they had found their lost goat dead and mangled near the site which is just below a cave entrance that was sealed by the last expedition to explore it – a French expedition that even left a warning sign in French, English, Arabic and Hebrew: “WARNING, CAVE IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE. Already excavated – nothing within.” When Kendrick removes one brick from the cave entrance, Hussein falls over dead of an apparent heart attack. Hassan, fearing more evil to come, begs him to do nothing further. Kendrick vows he will return with an expedition from Buckridge U. the following year to open the cave which he believes is a tomb with Neolithic skulls similar to what Kenyon discovered in the 1950’s a short distance away – a major archaeological discovery.
Connect
with the charactersWe have connected with Dr Colin Kendrick already. We are now introduced to three aspiring archaeologists: Ned Garner, Bob Barton, and Kaitlyn Randolph. Ned is a chess enthusiast that Bob says shows his killer instinct as Ned defeats Bob at Chess with a Royal Fork move. Ned is still shy about joining Kendrick’s dig but Kaitlyn, Ned’s love interest coaxes him, as she is going.
The
characters are warned not to do it.Ned visits Kendrick in his office and is welcomed by him to the expedition with enthusiasm as Ned is a gifted linguist in ancient Near Eastern languages. Kendrick tells Ned everything that happened at Tel Ash-Shaytaneen, the previous year. Kendrick even shows him the Azazel gold nameplate, which on the table, ominously vibrates like a cell phone – warning that there is a malevolent supernatural presence connected with the Azazel nameplate and the cave on Hill of the Two Devils. Kendrick wants to share these details only with Ned, but Ned wants to tell the others as they should be told just as new owners she be told ahead of time if something violent happened in a house.
Denial
of HorrorAccordingly, Kendrick calls a meeting of the team (Ned, Bob, and Kaitlyn and tells them also the whole story of Tel Esh-Shaytaneen. Bob, the comic relief of the show betrays some superstitiousness, but in the end science prevails especially after Kendrick tells them that the site is not far from ancient Jericho where Kenyon in the 50’s discovered cultic skulls from the Neolithic era. Kendrick is sure they will make a similar discovery, perhaps of Teraphim (skulls used as household gods for necromancy and divination in Biblical times and quotes the Bible as evidence, as well as that the Azazel nameplate was inserted in the mouths of the skulls so that they ould speak to the necromancer. Bottom line: All the team wants to proceed with the expedition which they believe will yield a major discovery in Near Eastern Archaeology. Bottom line: The horror is denied.
Safety
taken awayIn the cave at Tel Esh-Shaytaneen the team again is joined by Hassan. When the bricks left by the French expedition are removed and they enter the cave tomb, they discover a clay Egyptian style anthropoid sarcophagus marked King Cushan. They realize they have found the tomb of the Biblical villain, Cushan Rishathaim, Cushan the Doubly-Evil. His mummy is headless and a sword is beside him in the sarcophagus. In another chamber they find a mummified skull, a Toreph (singular of Terraphim) – obviously the skull of Cushan the Doubly-Evil. Kendrick inserts the Azazel nameplate into the skull’s mouth. At that instant an invisible barrier descends over the entrance to the cave. They are trapped inside with the Toreph that now begins to speak. .
Monster:
The nature of the beast.The Toreph speaks and knows each person by name.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated
/ Trapped / AbductedThe Archaeology team is trapped in the cave/tomb.
One
of us killedThe Toreph tells Hassan that his brother is calling him to go join him.
Hassan: In Jinnah?
Toreph: No, not from the Garden of Paradise. From the fire of Hell.
Ned: Don’t listen. He is Azazel, a liar.
The Toreph conjures an apparition of Hussein who beckons Hassan to join him.
Hassan dies on the spot.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Full
pursuit by the killer AND terrorizedBob pulls out a gun and fires, but the bullet ricochets off an immediate invisible barrier that protects the Toreph. The ricocheting bullet mortally wounds Kendrick.
Toreph: I am Azazel, I taught humanity the use of weapons. Of course I would protect myself from weapons first. Serves you right that the evil you intended for me would come to you.
Before Kendrick dies, he tells Ned, weapons are useless. Extract the Azazel nameplate from his mouth.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight
to the deathWith no weapon, Ned can pass unobstructed through the protective barrier around the Toreph,
Toreph: Trying to play Chess with me? This is no Chess game.
Ned: We’ll see about that.
Ned grabs the Toreph and pulls the Azazel nameplate out of his mouth. All the invisible barriers are eliminated. Azazel no longer possesses the skull. Ned, Bob, and Kaitlyn return the skull and the nameplate to the clay sarcophagus with the headless mummy of King Cushan.
Hysteria
As they walk away from the sarcophagus, the mummy of Cushan explodes out of the sarcophagus assailing them with his sword. The mummy of Cushan is possessed by Azazel, who speaks: “You should not have put the plate with my name next to Cushan. Now, I have found his entire body in which to dwell.”
The
thrilling escape from deathWith the invisible barriers gone, Ned, Bob, and Kaitlyn escape. Ned and Kaitlyn exit the cave/tomb. Ned directs Bob and Kaitlyn to join him as they climb up above the cave entrance and push a bolder down on the mummy of Cushan, crushing him.
Ned: You see, itt is a chess game. Royal Fork on you Azazel.
Bob and Kaitlyn climb down from above the cave entrance leaving Ned on top.
Azazel, speaking through Cushan’s mummy points to Ned and says, “Fork you!”
Death
returns to take one or more.
Azazel through Cushan’s mummy says to Ned: “Fork you!” As Azazel/Cushan point sto Ned, a
seismic event happens, the cave/tomb collapses, taking Ned with it. Supposedly, it kills him. Azazel/Cushan crushed as he is beneath a
bolder, dies.
ResolutionKaitlyn mourns Ned, comforted by Bob. When Ned suddenly pulls himself out of the rubble. He is now possessed by Azazel.
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<b align=”center”>Patrick Malone Horror Plot Track
What I learned was how to create a basic plot structure for a horror film. I’m not great at outlining and I have a lot to figure out in my story. But I have followed the plot tracks with what I know at this time.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil established: 1862:
The aftermath of the Union ambush of the Confederates: wounded Confederate
Sergeant Johnson struggles to haul wagon filled with gold away from
battle scene. He glimpses a terrifying creature devouring the dead and
wounded. <div>Connect with the characters: Clark
and Bill try to convince friend and outdoorsman Ollie to lead them on
their trek into the wilderness in search of the lost gold. Ollie is not
interested.The characters are warned not to
do it. Tammy, Clark’s girlfriend, is
concerned for their safety due to legends of missing people and an evil presence
at the Dead Lakes.Denial of Horror: Clark
& Bill laugh at the legends. Tammy convinces Ollie to join the
expedition.Safety taken away: After
boating up river, the group enters the forest to follow clues to the lost
gold.Monster: The nature of the beast.
They encounter a strange middle age woman living in the forest, when they
talk to her about the gold, she misdirects them. She looks to the sky, the
Amaruga appears, translucent in a cloud, and floats in the direction of the men.ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: Nature
turns against the men. Bill is injured. Grant Fairfield’s group has
followed Clark’s. There is a confrontation. Max Sedgwick steals Clark’s
map. Grant’s group treks forward.</div><div>One of us killed: Clark’s
group comes across the mutilated body of Victor Lennox, a member of Grant’s
party.MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Full pursuit by the killer: Strange,
unnatural things happen as Clark’s group treks through the forest and reach
the Dead Lakes. One of the men just disappears. </div>Terrorized: While
camping at night in the swamps, a violent wind destroys the camp. The men
glimpse the Amaruga as if materializes out of mist.<div>
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the death: Ollie
and Clark fight while being pursued by the Amauga.
Hysteria: Grant
beats unconscious Ollie. The Amaruga is about to pounce on Ollie, but suddenly
goes after Grant. Grant reaches the hidden gold. The Amaruga finds and tears
him apart. </div><b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>The thrilling escape from death: The
Amaruga now stalks Ollie as he struggles through the Dead Lakes. Ollie
encounters Max who shoots at him.Death returns to take one or more.
The Amaruga kills Max. As it turns on Ollie, Tammy arrives and attacks it with
fire and repels or kills the Amaruga.Resolution:
Ollie, Clark, Tammy and Bill are back safely in town. They have some gold
pieces, proof there is a gold treasure. Will they risk another venture to
retrieve the gold? -
JAKE’S HORROR PLOT
What I learned from this is the structure of a horror film. What needs to happen in order for a horror film to work.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere
of Evil established:
Jack wakes up to find his parents home early from a trip. He is concerned
and his mom and dad sit him down to let them know they have brought home
the body of a man they have killed and need him to help them bury it.Connect
with the characters:
The family of three sit amongst one another, holding each other, trying to
make sense of this situation. We can see fear in the eyes of the parents
over what they have just done.The
characters are warned not to do it: After burying the body, the father (Jim) says
that “what happens here stay here.” And warns his son Jack and his wife
Beth to keep this secret and to move on.Denial
of Horror:
The three of them head to the movies for a Sunday matinee. Pretending that
everything is fine. Jack continues going onto being a bullied kid in school.Safety
taken away: At
school one day, Jack notices a figure standing off in the distance looking
straight at him. It is suspicious.Monster
– the nature of the beast:
When Jack goes to the shallow grave in the backyard that is now covered
with rose bushes, the ghost of this man begins to crawl out of the ground
trying to drag Jack under with him. He escapes but realizes it wasn’t real.
He can’t distinguish it from reality.ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated
/ Trapped / Abducted:
Jack can see this ghost wherever he goes. Nobody else can. He thinks he’s
still seeing things and hopes it will all go away.
One
of us killed:
His dog is killed by the ghostMIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought! He can kill people even though he can’t be seen. It’s real.
Full
pursuit by the killer:
Jack while at the mall is chased by the monster. He runs hysterically but
comes off as a crazy person, embarrassing his mother.
Terrorized: Jack, wanting to uncover the
grave of the murdered man, is subdued by his parents, and chained to his
bed.ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight
to the death:
Jack kills his mother as she tries to molest him while she is drunk one
night. He stabs her repeatedly with the monster watching from the backyard
below.Hysteria: Jim comes home and discovers
Beth’s corpse in a blood-spattered room. He goes to his tool shed to grab
a rifle to hunt down Jack.The
thrilling escape from death: Jack
locks himself in a bathroom as Jim blows through the door with a shotgun.
Jack takes a pistol he stole from his dad’s tool shed and shoots him.
Death
returns to take one or more:
Mortally wounded, Jim fights Jack as he tries to flee the house. He begins
to choke him to death, but the dead man comes and strangles Jim to death,
saving Jack.Resolution: Jack leaves the house as Mr.
Foster, his English teacher, is driving by seeing him bloody and looking
like hell. He begins to cry in his teacher’s arms.-
This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by Jake Iorio.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by
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Deborah’s Horror Plot Track
What I learned with this assignment is that when I have the characters delineated the way we did in the last lesson, filling in these points was easier than expected. I feel like I have a story here, I just need to dig for the treasures.
ACT ONE – SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil established:
A woman is running through a forest with something big chasing him. We don’t see what it is, but the man is terrorized. He hides in the hollow of a tree, pulling branches in front of the opening. She tries to quiet her breathing, listening as hard as she can for the monster. Suddenly the tree is sheared off and she screams as she looks up into the face of the monster we don’t see.
Connect with Characters
Our characters are on a space bus headed for a hollow asteroid, where a handful of scientists and military men are already stationed. We get to know each character and why they are headed to the asteroid.
Denial of Horror
The military men are concerned because there is no response from the asteroid. The pilot says communications have been funky and that it’s nothing to be worried about. The military isn’t convinced, but the pilot takes them closer in all confidence. Suddenly something hits them and they are sucked inside where the bus crashes in the forest inside the asteroid.
Safety Taken Away
The pilot makes a break for it in a shuttle and hits a force field that breaks up the ship.
Monster: The nature of the beast
The group finds the base. There is obvious evidence of horrors that took place here. Some blood. Barricaded room that has been broken into, etc. There are no bodies.
Act 2 – THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated/Trapped/Abducted:
The asteroid suddenly zips out of the solar system. No help from Earth.
One of us is killed.
The monster shows up. It is a hybrid alien beast with the head of the woman in the teaser. This is the doctor’s wife and he is so terrorized by this that he can’t run, can’t do anything, and he is killed. The others escape.
ACT THREE – FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the death
There are multiple fights with different hybrid beasts, including one with the pilot’s body parts. The people who die are the military man and the photojournalist
Hysteria
The rich man keeps his daughter from breaking down, but the scientist has a complete break. The photojournalist puts on a good front, pride not letting her break down. The military man has lost his two men and is feeling done.
The thrilling escape from death:
Sabrina gets separated from the group and uses her brain to bring help and to defeat the monsters.
Death returns to take one more
They find where the monsters were created. It is deserted. Then a reptilian creature kills the military man, and taking him, escapes in a small ship.
Resolution:
The Rich Man, Sabrina, and the Miner survive along with the Robot. They are hurtling through space on the way to who knows where. Sabrina and the robot will work on the computers to find a way home. Her father and the Miner will prepare for survival and the chance there are other creatures out there.
We go out on a snake/human hybrid hiding in the medical wing.
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Lesson 4: The Horror Plot Track
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Subject line: Tony McBride’s Horror Plot
What I learned doing this assignment is that you can create a great plot by providing various information.
ASSIGNMENT
Create your plot.
1. Knowing your concept, fill in one or two sentences for each of the plot points.
a. The college friends arrive at the manor.
b. The monster kills the first friend.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
· Atmosphere of Evil established: A haunted mansion is shown.
· Connect with the characters: College friends shown reuniting.
· Denial of Horror: The husband assures the family that this is going to be a fun adventure.
· Safety taken away: The friends experience accidents one-by-one.
· Monster: Annabella.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
· Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: The friends are faced with moments from their past then some are killed by accident. Some of the friends go into town to find help and answers.
· One of us killed: The husband is killed by being crushed.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
· Terrorized
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
· Full pursuit by the killer: Annabelle pursues the friends with various weapons but doesn’t manage to kill anyone.
· Fight to the death: The friends gather weapons of their own and fight to the death.
· Hysteria: The friends are running throughout the house trying to avoid all traps and turns.
· The thrilling escape from death: Annabelle corners one of the friends but the other splashes her with oil.
· Death returns to take one or more.: Annabelle takes the life of the hippie.
· Resolution: The friends unite instead of bickering to defeat Annabelle.
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MICHAEL’S HORROR PLOT [LESSON 4]
WILDTA is that the process of writing out the Plot creates a Forest-Level (ref. cliché ‘See the Forest in the Trees’] view, that more fluidly inspires ideas for setups and payoffs, through-lines and foreshadowing.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil established
CELESTE RUNNING THROUGH WOODS PANTING, trips on log on ground, stumbles, gets up keeps running. HIRAM Hotly Pursues, says “Young Child, WHERE ARE YOU GOING – STOP AND TALK TO ME.” CELESTE keeps going KEEPS GOING, CELESTE Stumbles and Trips again, falls to ground.
HIRAM’S Effort at Soothing Words sounds anything BUT Soothing. Really Just Old.
HIRAM mentions CELESTE’S relationship with DAUGHTER CORDELIA. HIRAM makes clear he wants to fuck CELESTE; he is really Creepy as he talks about it.
Connect with the characters
CORDELIA Trying To Text CELESTE – NO ANSWER. CELESTE had been working in TALLEY’S Office, so CORDELIA calls HIRAM. He has not been seen all day.
CATHERINE THE MISTRESS calls CORDELIA looking for CELESTE AND HIRAM. Something is Connected With BOTH MISSING.
CATHERINE says it reminds her of Another Girl in town who disappeared 10 Years Ago, NORA WATT. She was vibrant, but sweet, too trusting. HIRAM claimed he was devastated by her disappearance, but would never talk to her FIANCE’ WILSON BERRIOT about it. Seemed resentful, even Jealous, of WILSON’S closeness to NORA, and of her Love for him.
WHITAKER THE ELDEST SON Alerted To HIRAM’S Disappearance, as well as CELESTE’S. WHITAKER calm, thinks through possible scenarios.
BRADEN, THE REBEL AND PROVOCATEUR, insists that all of HIRAM’S Secrets and a good share of his Skeletons are cached in the BOATHOUSE. Seconds could be ticking out on CELESTE’S LIFE while the BROTHERS and SISTERS Wring Their Hands Trying To Figure Out What To Do.
The characters are warned not to do
it.CORDELIA Resists Exploring The BOATHOUSE, says she’s always felt trouble there – Nothing Good can come of going into the BOATHOUSE.
Denial of Horror
BRADEN, ENDORA THE SECOND MISTRESS and PERSONAL VALET TARRYTON scoff at the idea of Avoiding the BOATHOUSE because of A Bad Feeling. PIT STEWART TO POLITICAL EEL agrees they should visit to find clues [He’s Looking For HIRAM’S Money].
Safety taken away
BRADEN shames NORMAN THE PROPERTY MANAGER into checking out the Boathouse, looking for CELESTE, HIRAM and “ANYTHING ELSE HE CAN FIND.” NORMAN is attacked by a force so ominous he nearly has a heart attack, sneaks away before he enters Boathouse.
Monster:
The nature of the beast.NORMAN runs away from Boathouse, sees HIRAM’S Boat – Looks around, figures it cannot be that dangerous, boards Boat. Stunned that another person is below deck, “HIRAM IS THAT YOU?” No satisfactory response – NORMAN steps onto Boat, hears a primal yell, turns to see that HIRAM looms above him, collapses into Boat, screams, massive heart attack as HIRAM’S shadow towers over him.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted
BRADEN entices NEIL to go with him into the Boathouse. They get ENDORA and PIT STEWART THE SLEAZY POLITICIAN to go along. BRADEN remains outside, claiming to serve as “LOOKOUT.” PIT is taken, ENDORA & NEIL manage to get away.
One of us killed
NORMAN’S AND PIT’S DEAD BODIES ARE FOUND ALONG THE RIVER BANK.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we
thought!Full pursuit by the killer
NEIL and BRADEN argue over whether to engage the townies. BRADEN prevails, insists they set a trap for Hiram, using Strother Wilhelm the fast-food franchisor as bait. HIRAM’s ghost figure catches on, turning her terror to taking down both STROTHER & BRADEN.
Terrorized –
STROTHER and BRADEN try to joust and puff and regain their composure – yet it is obvious they are seriously rattled. Celeste returns to town in a disheveled state, barely able to speak coherently, and unable to recount any of the events that she experienced during her disappearance. But she does regularly repeat murmurings to the effect of “No, Mister Talley, please Sir, No…”
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the death
NEIL and CORDELIA consult CATHERINE – CATHERINE enlists LIZETTE and some of the Men in town who were not in HIRAM’s stranglehold of influence. The police refuse to help. The group goes to the Boat-House with well-armed.
Hysteria
WHITAKER and VALERIA excoriate the police for not accompanying Neil and Cordelia to the Boat-House when asked – they insist that all will be killed. Angry recriminations salvo back and forth in the local government offices and among the business leaders dependent on Talley’s commerce and resources, as well as among the family and friends.
The thrilling escape from death
TALLEY appears bigger than ever, in a preternatural, monster-like form. He thrashes the people about until someone shoots him in the neck, knocking him to the floor of the dock.
Death returns to take one or more.
[REVISE THIS – CORDELIA MUST TRY TO ESCAPE BY GETTING ON THE BOAT, SEEING A FIGURE ON DECK UNMOORING IT, WEARING A DOCKWORKER WINDBREAKER. SHE CALLS TO HIM AS HE LAUNCHES BOAT, HE GIVES HER THUMBS-UP AS HE GOES DOWN BELOW. AS CORDELIA FOLLOWS HIM THE BOAT IS MOVING BUT BELOW DECK IS QUIET. SHE APPROACHES STAIRCASE, THEN RECOILS AS TALLEY is revealed, coming up at her having been revived. NEIL is waiting at Suicide Bridge, rappels down and jumps onto boat as CORDELIA passes under. NEIL faces TALLEY, using handle end of pitchfork to force TALLEY to bob weave and dance. NEIL flips the pitchfork around and drives it into TALLEY’s heart, striking the definitive blow. Until the sequel….
[orig. climax] CORDELIA, the last person who leaves the Boathouse after going through it looking for all the critical papers, valuables and collectibles, steps onto the dock. CORDELIA ducks and weaves to avoid his flailing at her, and she screams. NEIL hears her, rushes back to her, and drives a pitchfork into TALLEY‘s heart.
Resolution
The family makes allocations for CATHERINE and ENDORA, LIZETTE acknowledging that their philandering with TALLEY made her life easier. NEIL and CORDELIA create a charitable trust out of TALLEY’S inheritances to them. They also transfer TALLEY’S ongoing business empire to employee ownership.
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