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Post Day 6 Assignment Here
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Vic Valleau Transformational Events Lesson 6.
“What I learned doing this assignment is…to push thru boredom, etc. to the magic. Start with the Character Arc and the list of Old Ways and New Ways.
Nancy/ Protagonist/ Character Arc from Lesson’s 2-3
Old Ways/ New Ways Steps below use Old and New Ways for each character.
Make a list of 6 – 8 changes or steps, beginning (Old Ways) to who they are in the ending (New Ways).
HER CONCEPT: Doesn’t trust men.
CHARACTER
1. Tries to dominate men.
2. Meets JT, too attracted to him.
3. Act 2
4. HAS ABORTION.
5. Doesn’t tell JT.
6. Act 3
7. Doesn’t know who the father is.
8. Watching and condemning JT breakdown over abortion, doesn’t really know it’s his.
9. Act 4
10. She flip flops, reverts back to insensitive to men’s efforts.
11. Gets committed to another man.
HIM
CHARACTER: Looking for marriage
1. Act 1
2. Women set him up dates a lot.
3. He slides with easy dating.
4. Act 2
5. Gets her pregnant
6. Claims she tricked him.
7. Act 3
8. Claims its not his, leaves.
9. She wakes up, begs to get him back.
10. Act 4 He hardens.
11. Blames her for pregnancy
12. He challenges her to show positive change in attitude toward others.
13. She finds a better man, becomes loving and emotional master.
ACT 1 SETS UP AND SEES OLD WAYS.
ACT 2 CHALLENGE OLD WAYS
ACT 3 WITH MIDPOINT CHANGE, OLD WAYS DROP OFF, PROFOUND MOMENTS LEAD TO NEW WAYS
ACT 4 TEST CHANGE IN CHARACTER, PROVE THE NEW WAYS
ADD these transformational events to your four act structure.
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Robert Wood’s Transformational Events (Lesson 6)
What I learned doing this assignment is that I’m still learning a lot about my lead character and my story! More layers are revealing themselves as I do the work, and it’s very satisfying. I found this assignment more challenging, but absolutely worth it!
Character Arc: Matt starts out on a quick trip to clear out his dad’s house and ends up deciding to stay and reboot his life.
Old Ways:
– Matt is intending a quick trip
– Impatient & edgy / stressed
– At odds with his dad’s memory and their history
– In a rut of routine / work
– In control of his world, but unsatisfied / empty
– Non-believer in Ogopogo (has lost the innocence & openness of youth)
New Ways:
– At peace with his dad’s memory & their relationship
– Calmer, happy
– Decides to stay in family home and maybe have a family
– Ready to reboot his life and follow his dreams in the wine industry (uncertainty but satisfaction)
– Sees something he can’t explain and is re-opened to believing (regained innocence)
Revised Four-Act Structure (with Transformational Events worked in):
Act 1:
Opening: Matt drives to his dad’s house / talks on phone to sister about what he must do. He’s edgy & agitated. He doesn’t want to do this or be responsible for it.
Inciting Incident: Matt enters house / looks around / Dad (Bert) shows up – they chat & argue as always. Matt is quick to judge / Bert’s critiques – although unintended – cut deep. Matt realizes his relationship with his dad hasn’t changed.
Turning Point: Drinks & talking/bickering about old times leads to decision (Bert urging / Matt relenting) to go out on one last exploration trip on the lake tomorrow.
Act 2:
New Plan: Matt & Bert getting supplies & boat rental. Matt’s doing this trip is to appease his dad, but really it’s to avoid the task he’s there to do. They embark on their final adventure together…
Plan in Action: Searching on lake for sea creature. It’s futile / Matt’s not as enthusiastic but keeps going for Bert’s sake. Decide to go toward where he’s said to live – Rattlesnake Island / Squally Point. At island for lunch, Matt drops cellphone in water.
Midpoint Turning Point: Boat motor won’t start again. Matt struggles with it while Bert offers advice & criticism, but no luck… hope someone will come by, but no… They spend night on the island.
Act 3:
Rethink Everything: They wake to storm squall blowing through – quick rain, thunder & lightning – dangerous here in the summer! Engine still won’t start… more criticism from Bert. Matt is starting to be put to the challenge by events he can’t control.
New Plan: They’re gonna have to hoof it! Long walk ahead full of challenges / danger because the lightning started a fire on the mountain above. Bert knows how much danger they could soon be in. They head north as fire gets closer.
Turning Point / Huge Failure / Major Shift: Matt falls / slides down ravine and twists ankle. Bert encourages him. Matt manages to climb back up and out. Has to use a stick to walk. Matt struggles, perseveres, and realizes he has become much closer to his dad through the adversity they’ve faced. They come to the worst challenge yet: their path is blocked by fire… there’s nowhere else to go!
Act 4:
Climax / Ultimate Expression of the Conflict: Matt and Bert swim around the section of land on fire then get back to shore, hopefully past the worst of it. In the water Matt sees something he can’t explain. Ashore, Matt and Bert talk about what they saw and Matt is re-opened to believing and now finally understands his dad. Matt decides to change his life and stay in the family house.
Resolution: They finally struggle to a road, at peace with each other / their bond fully healed, and encounter an emergency vehicle / park Ranger helping ensure everyone’s evacuated from the fire. Ranger helps Matt into the passenger seat and they head off… There was no one else with him – Matt was alone the whole time, and now is going to follow his dreams.
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Peter Birdsong’s Transformational Events
What I learned: I see a story shaping here! I really love this process. It makes a lot of sense. This really helped me think more about the transformation my character needs and how this process will bring it more to the front.
I’m doing better than I thought I would with the “don’t worry about it being perfect” ideal. I’m a perfectionist, and I share that realizing what a handicap it is.
Old Ways:
– Obsessed with social media — selfies
– Blames her mother.
– Driven by pride.
– Naive
New Ways:
– Cuts herself off from social media.
– Forgives her mother.
– Chooses a life of humility.
– Gains Experience
Changes Needed:
Believe that her value is not centered on her looks.
Choose to accept that there is always more to learn.
Learn to operate a sailboat.
Realize there is a larger world out there that she doesn’t control
Pursue a new life that isn’t centered on self.
Decide to forgive her mother.
Become a sailor and embrace the open water.
Dramatic Scenes:
– Pulled from school on the news Father was in an accident.
– Later, Mom takes Carly to Europe where her Father’s boat was being built.
– On the open water, Carly encounters her first moment digitally cut off and unable to upload a selfie.
– Her first moment at the helm she has no idea what to do. She’s forced to have her mother instruct.
– She finds a book in her mother’s things on sailing and begins to flip through it.
– Taking a night watch, she becomes transfixed at the beauty of a distant storm on the ocean.
– She uses her phone to start taking pictures of the journey… not selfies.
– Closing in on their destination, she realizes the journey is coming to an end and she doesn’t want it to.
– Carly asks for a loan from her mother to buy the sailboat.
—— ACT 1 ——
Opening: Introduction to Carly, the popular girl —the star of the school, but not of the educators. She’s pulled from class suddenly by her mother — whom she calls by name — on the news their father was killed in an accident.
Inciting Incident: Her mother takes her to Europe to see the new boat that is near completion. Mom informs her of the plan to sail it back to the states to sell.
EVENT: Carly discovers there is no internet on the open water.
Turning Point: After some professional introductions to the boat, they set sail to cross the Atlantic.
—— ACT 2 ——
New Plan: Carly commits to locking herself away the entire trip. Mom tries keeping her penthouse-like decorations from crashing to the deck as the boat rocks.
Plan In Action: The confines of a yacht cabin wear on Carly. She grits her teeth, but her boycott doesn’t last long.
EVENT: Carly’s first moment at the helm she has no idea what to do. She’s forced to have her mother instruct.
EVENT: Carly finds a book in her mother’s things on sailing and begins to flip through it.
Midpoint Turning Point: Mom’s decorations are all over the place — the interior is a wreck. They blow up at each other.
—— ACT 3 ——
EVENT: Taking a night watch, Carly becomes transfixed at the beauty of a distant storm on the ocean.
Rethink Everything: Carly begins to learn about the boat. Mom cleans “house” throwing her high end arts pieces into an empty cabin.
EVENT: She uses her phone to start taking pictures of the journey… not selfies.
New Plan: Carly and Mom take on some of the sailing duties together.
Turning Point: Huge Failure/Major Shift: Carly discovers that her Mom is taking over the company. Carly breaks down in private.
—— Act 4 ——
EVENT: Closing in on their destination, she realizes the journey is coming to an end and she doesn’t want it to.
Climax/Ultimate Expression of the Conflict: Carly forgives and asks for forgiveness.
Resolution: They reach the shore. Carly asks for a loan to buy the boat.
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Don Thompson Transformational Events
What I learned from this assignment: Character evolution and transformation displays itself in the concrete actions of the characters.
These are the transitional elements:
• Billy lets go of ‘The Rights of Man’ (must be willing to embrace change)
• Billy fights and overcomes Jenkins (overcomes his fear of the new group)
• Billy proves himself to be a skilled sailor (overcomes not wanting to stand out)
• Billy is promoted by the Captain to lead maintopman (he shows his natural talent)
• Billy confides in Claggart and gets Claggart to confide in him (Billy reveals that he feels love for all people, even those cruel to him)
• Billy says ‘God Bless’ Captain Vere prior to his execution (he forgives his accusers)
Don Thompson – 4 Act Transformational Structure
Concept: The human need for freedom is always framed within the need for rulers and governments to maintain order.
Main Conflict: The good-hearted Billy Budd, the ‘peacemaker’, finds himself at odds with the cynical and self-serving Master of Arms Claggart, who must maintain order at all costs.
Old Ways: Rule by force maintains order and keeps the status quo social structure stable and functioning.
New Way: The sacrifice of the innocent in order to make the Old Ways happen reveals the weaknesses of rule by force and opens the imagination up to new ways of encouraging human freedom.
Act 1:
• Opening – Billy Budd is taken from ‘The Rights of Man’ as an impressment (forced recruit)
Event: Billy lets go of ‘The Rights of Man’ (must be willing to embrace change)
• Inciting Incident – Jenkins challenges Billy Budd to a fight
Event: Billy fights and overcomes Jenkins (overcomes his fear of the new group)
• Turning Point – Billy Budd saves Jenkins when he falls ill
Act 2:
• New plan – Billy Budd will try to impress Claggart and the Captain
Event: Billy proves himself to be a skilled sailor (overcomes not wanting to stand out)
• Plan in action – Billy gets promoted to chief maintopman
Event: Billy is promoted by the Captain to lead maintopman (he shows his natural talent)
• Midpoint Turning Point – Claggart decides he must defeat Billy Budd via deception
Act 3:
• Rethink everything – The status quo continues on the HMS ‘Avenger’
• New plan – Billy tries to befriend Claggart
Event: Billy confides in Claggart and gets Claggart to confide in him (he reveals that he feels love for all people)
• Turning Point – Unable to befriend Claggart, Billy retreats
Act 4:
• Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – Claggart falsely accuses Billy of mutiny
• Resolution – Billy kills Claggart and is hanged by the Captain who decides he needs to abide by ‘the rule of law’ and not ‘what is correct under the circumstances’ (to acquit Billy)
Event: Billy says ‘God Bless’ Captain Vere prior to his execution (he forgives his accusers)
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Subject line: Daisy Ridgway’ Khalifa’s Transformational Events (Lesson 6)
What I learned doing this assignment: I learned that I am having a little trouble figuring out the sequence of dramatic events and need to work on it–but must forge ahead!
Character ARC: Mia Pauley
Beginning: Mia is moderately happy in life and haunted by a cosmic encounter with Charles; she judges herself and her family; she has never been in love.
Ending: Mia is a bold decision maker; and she has good intentions even if she has to sacrifice certain things she wants, she does it for a better place in life, the universe
In Between: Mia, as a child and then as an adult, has a series of experiences that inform and transform her life and the lives of those around her and change her view of her present world, from the dissolution of her family, the loss of Tina and the chance encounter with Charles to being able to endure and navigate an alternate reality.
Steps [6-8] of changes that need to happen for character to go from who they are in the beginning to the ending. Steps should be sequenced from easiest to most difficult:
-Mia needs to be certain she met Charles Laughton in the garden of her home when she was a little girl.
-Mia accepts this seemingly-impossible reality and is drawn to finding out why it happened. She also decides to confide in her friend Ian Gardner about her “supernatural” moments as a child.
-Mia learns/finds evidence through her study of Charles that he talked about “the little girl in the garden”. Mia learns she is not crazy and imagining things, but that she actually has a strange, cosmic gift (as does Charles)
-Mia decides to return to the house, now abandoned since the earthquake, even though she has a lot of fear about what could happen.
-Mia, an adult, encounters Charles again and has to explain who she is and reveals that there are no earthquakes until the mid-1990s that threaten their beloved house, Pinecliff.
-Charles decides he won’t move, even though Mia tells him about some of the great things he achieved, and that he risks losing that.
-Because of Charles decision, Mia is in a new reality, alone, without Ian, and her new world is a better reality for her family. While some things are appealing, and her family is more functional, she is completely spooked and needs to reverse what happened, especially after learning that Charles did not achieve some of the great things he was supposed to accomplish- i.e. direct Night of the Hunter and act in Advise and Consent.
-Mia becomes confident, noble and fair; and she is no longer ashamed.
-Mia knows she loves Ian and needs to find him and tell him. She knows they belong together.
Act 1
Opening The Northridge Earthquake of 1994 strikes Los Angeles and we see a family flee an oceanfront house, known as PINECLIFF, that is rupturing from the ground up as they escape. At the same house 20 years earlier, we meet MIA PAULEY, 8, who is saying a sad farewell to a friend/her caretaker.
Inciting Incident Little girl Mia Pauley meets Charles Laughton, who also lived in the house but 25 years earlier, in 1947, in the garden of the house. They are from different points in time. This memory stays with Mia her entire life. 25 years later, Mia, who lives as an adult in Washington DC, is woken up by a ringing phone, and told by her sister of the damage to her house (key scene 3 – reaction) and she plans a visit to the house. She relies on a close friend and work colleague, Ian Gardner, to help her navigate this odyssey, and he is just quirky enough to believe her.
Turning Point When Mia visits the abandoned house, she meets Charles again as an adult. She is scared and flees, but knows there is a reason for these cosmic encounters.
Dramatic Events:
1. Major earthquake in 1994 (Northridge Quake) causes Mia’s childhood home, Pinecliff, to get severely damaged
2. Mia, 8, and Charles, 47, meet in the garden of the oceanfront home, where they both live, but at different points in time; Mia talks as if it is her house, which catches the non-believing Charles by surprise
3. Both Mia and Charles are distraught because they are being forced to leave their beloved home, but for different reasons: Mia’s family life is shattering around her, her parents are divorcing; and, Charles’ insurers will not cover his valuable art and sculpture collection as long as he lives in the house on the cliff (Pinecliff)
Act 2
New Plan Mia prepares for seeing Charles again. She sees old friends in LA; she goes to library; she talks to her mother; she encounters a former neighbor.
Plan in Action Charles and Mia meet again days later. Mia tells him things. She convinces Charles she is from the future.
Midpoint /Turning Point Charles is convinced and he decides not to move from Pinecliff, based on Mia’s information about earthquakes. Mia is woken up by a ringing phone and a call from her sister, but when she wakes up, she is in a whole different reality. She is in DC, but she has to cobble together how she got there, and why. What did she do?
Dramatic Events:
1. Mia meets Charles as an adult and their encounter changes fate
2. Mia is seeing a whole new existence for herself but is aware of her previous life; she must manage it with composure
Act 3
Rethink Everything Mia sorts our her new reality, and while she actually likes her own new outcome and her family seems to be in a better place, she has different job, and different people and friends in her life. But, she also comes to discover horrifying things.
New Plan Mia is living in a new reality, but something is amiss, and it only gets worse. She has to find Charles, but has no idea how, until she goes back to Pinecliff.
Turning Point: When Mia finally figures out how to reach Charles, they spar over what to do. Charles won’t move and Mia appears to be shut off from Charles
Dramatic Events:
1. Mia learns things that are good and bad about the new life; about Ian’s life; about Charles’ life
2. Mia never lived in the oceanfront house in the new reality; how will she correct things and ever find Charles?
3. Mia really likes her new world. Certain historic people are actually alive and well. Should Mia just stay in her new world, or try to reverse what happened?
Act 4
Climax/Ultimate Expression of the Conflict Mia figures out how to get to Charles and walks him through his life that won’t be, and what she saw versus the great legacy he is supposed to leave; and, when he asks, she tells him about how he died.
Resolution Charles has moved from the house but, with Mia’s input, has made a few alterations to the universe, among them Mia has to sacrifice ever knowing Ian. Still, he seeks Ian out; he is a museum director, same wonderful guy, but a single father, a more mature man. She gives him autograph; he chases after her as she leaves. They walk off across the National Mall together.
Dramatic Events:
1. Mia must find out what Charles new life was like; and she must figure out how to encounter him.
2. Mia convinces Charles to move and to, therefore, return events to their original state—all but a few.
3. Though Mia does not know Ian in the “adjusted” new life—she seeks him out. They will get to know each other and fall in love, because it was meant to be.
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Charles Ferrell’s Transformational Events
What I learned doing this assignment is ARC, ARC, ARC.
Concept: Duncan Smalls a university teaching student and phd candidate in history, is being haunted by the ghost of a Japanese girl. She drives him to discover a long hidden secret internment camp, under a local lake. His life and his future begin to unravel. Duncan is torn between losing his mind or losing the life and future he has built.
Main Conflict: The ghost of the little girl is slowly driving him insane and into a direct collision course with the Agent and assured destruction.
· Old Ways:
· Duncan is an introvert and painfully shy unless he is talking about history.
· Only believes in facts and what he can put his hands or eyes on.
· Has no interest in conspiracy theories
· New Ways:
· Believes in the supernatural
· Open to possibility beyond known facts.
· Willing to take a public stand for injustice.
Transformational Events
1. He needs to realize that there is more than this present life
2. He needs to see his fixation with history as a purpose and not just an obsession or career
3. Decide to search for the hidden truth that is being revealed
4. Recognize the enemy is still alive and out to destroy anyone, to keep the secret
5. Believe and take a stand
6. Claim what he has earned for his new life
7. Come into the full realization and integration of his past life and the current
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Andrea Cabañas, Transformational Events Lesson 6
I learned from this lesson that I think I overwrote my previous assignment, and when I added my transformational events, most of them were already on my 4 Acts… Still, it’s an excellent way to understand my characters much more and what will make them change ‘for real’.
2. Start with the Character Arc and the list of Old Ways and New Ways.
Character Arc: From submissive and naive, Zoe finds the strength to defeat her prejudiced and dominant mother, becoming a fearless woman after facing a life-threatening event.
Old Ways – Naive, submissive, doesn’t see her true potential as a woman. She can’t save enough money to be financially independent. She’s shamed for admitting she’s bisexual for stupid old prejudices. She doesn’t know what she wants for her life (relationship X career) <div>New Ways – Confident, forgives her mother, learns that there’s nothing wrong with being bisexual, not afraid of taking risks. She believes in herself, in her ability to do things (career). She learns she likes her freedom regardless of being in a relationship.
3. Make a list of 6 – 8 changes or steps that need to happen for that character to go from who they are in the beginning (Old Ways) to who they are in the ending (New Ways)/<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>4. Sequence the steps from easiest to most difficult. This will imply the journey the character takes.
3.1. Forget about James, who doesn’t love her back and stop suffering because of him <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>
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3.2 Accept it’s okay being bisexual and admit it to her mother
3.3. Believe in her professional potential and learn how to stand out in the job market
3.4. Understand that bad thing sometimes happen for good
3.5. Stop falling into her mother’s emotional blackmails
3.6. Overcome the trauma of being sexually abused
3.7. Stand up for herself and become independent
3.8. Understand and forgive her mother
5. Brainstorm dramatic events or tests that could cause those changes for the character.
– Katrina yells at Zoe between arguments showing her dominant power over the daughter
– Nightmares of having sex with women while a priest (or grandfather) watches her
– James usual disappearance over the course
– Zoe stands up to protect Georgia when someone verbally abuses her for being a trans
– Paula helps Zoe financially to start her own business
– Zoe finds out Paula is a drug dealer through police investigations
– Matias (aka Pedro) pretends he’s a client looking for a project for his house
– Matias seduces Zoe
– Matias/Pedro hits Katrina and Zoe, bringing up memories of her violent childhood
– Zoe receives one million dollars in cash with a note from Paula
ACT 1:
Opening
Zoe battles with her feelings toward Paula. A new job proposal is cancelled. Paula encourages Zoe to start her own business and helps her financially.
Events
James usual disappearance over the course. Zoe has nightmares of having sex with women while a priest (or grandfather) watches her.
Inciting Incident (I changed a bit as I realized I misunderstood/overwrote previous assignment)
Zoe finds out Paula is a drug dealer through police investigations
Event
Two police investigators go to Zoe’s house to track down a drug dealer from the Sinaloa Cartel who has connections with Paula. Katrina rages and informs the police detectives Zoe’s steps as she believes the daughter’s still seeing Paula.
Turning Point
The Mexican drug dealer introduces himself to Zoe as Matias, a new client. Paula needs to protect Zoe. Pedro wants revenge after leaving the jail, and Paula owns him money.
ACT 2
New plan – with this new house project, Zoe tells her mother she’ll leave home soon. Katrina starts to emotionally blackmail Zoe whenever she can. Pedro pressures Paula.
Plan in action – Zoe feels confident and even ends up sleeping with Pedro. James appears out of nowhere (as always), and she goes on a weekend trip with him. An accident happens on the trip provoked by Pedro. Weakened, Zoe can’t leave the house much. Katrina takes the opportunity to persuade her daughter to put her ‘freedom project’ aside.
Midpoint Turning Point – Pedro pressures Paula and threatens to use Zoe as bait. Pedro gives another chance to Paula: either pay one million dollars in cash or facilitate an entry for a cocaine shipment at the airport using her connections.
ACT 3
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Rethink everything – Katrina changes; she suddenly becomes a loving mother and persuades Zoe to forget about the plan to leave her. Zoe is touched. Matias (aka Pedro) puts aside his project.
A New plan – Zoe’s convinced that staying with her mom is the best. Georgia tries to convince Zoe to keep ahead with her project, but Zoe’s convinced by her mother to stay.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – Zoe and Katrina are kidnapped in their own house; when Georgia is there, the guys knock Georgia down, left between life and death for Zoe’s despair. In captivity, Zoe’s shocked, knowing that Matias is Pedro.
ACT 4:
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – Pedro tells Zoe that Paula will be killed as soon as he receives the cargo he’s waiting for. In the meantime, Paula manages to release the cocaine from the airport but sets a trap for Pedro. The federal police surround his house. Pedro is loaded in cocaine; there’s tension in there. Katrina argues with Zoe, Pedro intervenes and hits Katrina. Zoe reacts—bad memories from her violent father. She hits him with a chair, almost killing him. The police seize the house. Paula vanishes.
Resolution – two months later, Katrina becomes the mother that Zoe has always missed. She helps Zoe pack her stuff, and with Georgia’s help, Zoe goes to her new apartment. Later on, Zoe receives a box from a man who looks more like private security: a sealed package containing a million dollars in cash and a letter from Paula, with a piece of information she secretly enjoys.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by Rebecca Jordan.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by Rebecca Jordan. Reason: Two separate replies
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This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by
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Rebecca Jordan’s Transformational Events – Lesson 6
What I learned from this assignment is that knowing the beginning and end makes it easier to stack everything you need to justify the journey. This formula is excellent. Also, that these steps are crucial and take a lot of the guess work out.
Start with the Character Arc and the list of Old Ways and New Ways.
Beginning: Rachel has no intention of ever seeing her Mom again. She figures writing a memoir will be enough but struggles to write as she is haunted with memories of the past.
End: Rachel finds her Mom and thought she may not get the connection she hopes for, she is proud for having initiated the connection and is able to learn from it. Her mom takes her hand squeezes it. That is enough.
Old Ways:
– People pleasing, lacks self esteem, self loathing.
– Reckless, righteous, and emotional.
– Resents her Mother for her lack of care and interest.
– Has written her Mother off for good.
– Angry. Destructive. Uses alcohol and drugs to escape.
New ways:
– Bold and self assured.
– Evolved.
– Courageous.
– Healthy in mind and body.
– Learns self care
– Makes the trip to see her Mom.
Make a list of 6 – 8 changes or steps that need to happen for that character to go from who they are in the beginning (Old Ways) to who they are in the ending (New Ways).
Decide that it’s her duty to find and let her Mom know about her brother’s suicide. Recognize that she may regret never seeing her Mom again. Must come to terms with fact that she may not find her Mom. Must accept that her Mom may still have resentment toward her or may not want to see her. Must accept that her Mom may not have changed at all. Understand that she needs to be sober to see her mom. Must open her heart to all possibilities and do her best.
Brainstorm dramatic events or tests that could cause those changes for the character.
-Rachel can’t write memoir, haunted with memories of the past.
-Rachel smokes a joint and heads to a bar for company and drinks to avoid writing.
-Rachel gets the call about her Mom’s brother committing suicide.
-Rachel drives to the house where she thinks her mom lives only to find that a kind couple lives there.
-Rachel gives up and gets trashed then attempts to drive home. She’s gets in an accident and is taken to police station.
– The kind couple picks her up from the station and takes her to spend the night in their home.
– Rachel breaks down and the kind couple helps her and gives her a po box address where they send their rent check.
– Rachel drives far South and eventually finds her Mom who is unconscious in a convalescent home.
– Rachel returns to the home everyday to visit and and talk to her her unconscious Mom.
– After time, she develops a relationship with her Mom’s nurse. They share stories.
– Rachel discovers her mom is aware but not ready to face her.
– Rachel finishes her memoir
– On Rachel’s last day, her Mom squeezes her hand.
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Act 1: Set up and see Old Ways.
Opening: On Rachel, 50’s, at her desk writing. She frets, lights a joint, sips coffee, looks at photos. One of a young boy, in particular. Montage (1972) Rachel (9 yrs old) outside the fence of public elementary school waves at little boy (7) who runs to her. They walk hand in hand. Play in the park. Dad outside Rachel’s school. Rachel excited to see Dad. Rachel outside same school waiting. Empty school lot. No little boy. Little boy with Dad getting in car. A woman in the passenger seat. Rachel home alone after school playing with barbies. Rachel answers the phone. Rachel and Mom at home in high rise apartment very late with cops standing in a circle in their living room. Rachel crying. Mother yelling and crying. Dad, woman and little boy on a plane. Dad, woman and little boy leaving airport in Puerto Rico. Mom answers phone, hangs up. Mom enraged yells at Rachel. Cops settle Mom down. Rachel runs to her room. Rachel, (age 13, 1977) in front of her apartment building, finishes up a joint while removing makeup with a tissue. She takes a swig from the pint of JD in her purse and throws a sweatshirt over her sexy top. She enters her apartment where her mom and Japanese step father are having dinner. Rachel is late. Mom, 31, blonde caucasian, wears a kimono, comes after Rachel yelling. Rachel skulks into her bedroom closes the door. At the dinner table, Mom scolds her for putting ketchup on her rice which is unacceptable. Rachel retorts. Mom cues, Rachel’s step-dad, (28, Japanese, athletic), he back hands Rachel across the face. Rachel screams runs to her room. Later, Rachel checks to make sure they are sleeping. She throws her clothes out the window and sneaks out the back door with a partially empty empty duffle bag. Friend waits in car as she scoops up her clothes. They drive off.
Inciting Incident: Rachel (Present, 50’s), at her desk, struggles with writing her memoir. There are paintings on the walls of her work that reflect her struggle. The phone rings. She answers; it’s her Aunt calling to let her know that Rachel’s Uncle, her mom’s brother has shot him in the head. Rachel’s aunt has no idea where mom is living. None of the phone numbers she’s has tried work.
Turning Point: After hearing the news of her Uncle’s suicide, Rachel struggles to concentrate and contemplates trying to find her Mother. Montage, 1973-4. Rachel sits in passenger seat with mom at the wheel at a stop light. They laugh as mom pumps the breaks making the car rock to the beat of the music. “Ga-sha-gow-gow-gow”
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Act 2: 20 to 30 pages — Challenge the Old Ways.
Reaction: Rachel gets trashed and recounts the past thrashing about until she wears herself out, paralyzed with emotions taking over. She is belligerent, confused and destructive as she struggles with the responsibility of having to contact her Mother.
The Plan:
1) Rachel, a hung over mess, gets cleaned up and tries to work on her memoir in order to distract herself but is haunted with memories sending her into another bout of rage. She justifies all that happened as an excuse to say fuck it!
2) Getting nowhere with the numerous phone numbers and email addresses she has, Rachel finally calls the police department in the town where her aunt told her she had last lived. Rachel asks the Police officer to drive over to the house with a message to call her. But she never hears back. The police officer left a note on the door for her because nobody was home.
3) Rachel recalls her childhood and the kidnapping of her little brother her little brother and how her mom blamed her and never showed loved toward her again. She gets fucked up and decides she never wants to see her mom again anyway. What’s the point?
4) Now really angry, she sets out to confront her mom. She drives to the little town where she thinks she’ll find her mom but when she arrives and rings the door bell a stranger answers the door. A nice couple is renting the house. Seeing how distraught and messed up Rachel is, they invite her in for a cup of coffee. At a loss, she finally agrees. They talk and try to come up with some clues at which time Rachel breaks down. The couple, encourages her and invite her to spend the night so she can get some rest. But she’s embarrassed and humiliated and turns them down.
Turning Point 2: MIDPOINT:
Rachel drives around the town criticizing its podunk nowhere nothingness. She gets high and finds a pub. After a beer and a shot and having folks be too nice to her, she leaves. With nowhere to go, she ends up back at the house and humbly decides to accept the kind couple’s invitation to spend the night.
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Act 3 – With Midpoint change, Profound moments that give us new ways.
New Plan:
The next morning, over breakfast with the kind couple, the man shows Rachel a PO Box address where he sends the rent checks. Rachel’s, unexpectedly feels excited and curious. There’s no turning back. These people have made her see a new way. She graciously says her goodbyes and drives South determined to see her mom.
Turning Point 3:
Rachel finally finds her Mom in a convalescent home. She is unconscious and has been for quite sometime with no guarantee of waking up.
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Act 4
Climax: Rachel is committed to waking her mom out of her coma. She visits daily, to the dismay of the Nurse who is overly protective with no knowledge of Rachel’s existence. Rachel not only has to break through to her Mom, but she also has to win over the Nurse, who eventually engages with Rachel. They share stories and become friendly. Each day presents a new tactic to reach her Mom. Including bringing her guitar and singing songs, perhaps that she’s written for her and reading poetry, etc. The nurse can reach Rachel’s Mom in a way that is secret until Mom is ready to acknowledge Rachel.
Resolution: Perhaps Mom can’t open her eyes. But she’s changed from the visits and from the Nurse’s persistence.Rachel breaks down, desperate for a connection, ready to give up. Mom takes Rachel’s hand and squeezes it hard. This is enough.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by Rebecca Jordan.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by
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Daniela’s Transformational Events
I learned my characters and story are connected deeply.
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>Old Ways: </font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>Selfish, only cares about money and partying</font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>Lonely Cowboy</font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>New Ways: </font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>Caring, cares about a lot of people</font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>Commune man</font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>6 – 8 changes or steps</font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>1. Michael is an anxious, party monster, gambler. Only cares about money. He is sent to a vegan commune to recover his estate.</font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>2. Starts actually embracing the vegan lifestyle and commune life. </font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>3. He starts working and getting to know the people. Offers help to grow the place. </font>Teaches them ways to make more money and be more active on social media.
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>4. Falls in love with the commune leader.</font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>5. Becomes an active member of the commune. </font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>6. Tells the truth to Violet</font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>7. Chooses love over his estate. </font>Loses everything.
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>8. He is welcomed back as a part of the commune.</font>
<font face=”arial, sans-serif”>
</font><font face=”arial, sans-serif”>Structure</font>
Opening: Michael is at a cattle auction, his cows win the grand price, he drinks a LOT
Inciting Incident: While drunk, Michael gables his estate and loses.
Turning Point: The new owner of his estate comes to collect and offer him a deal. If he can infiltrate a vegan commune that keeps holding animal rights protests and figure out where they get their money, he will get his estate back. Michael agrees. He arrives the next day in vegan cosplay.
Reaction: He shows up at the vegan commune. Tries to get insight about the financing of the place. Nobody really looks at him. Gets shut down.
Turning Point 2: He tries to be helpful and connect with Violet, the leader. She doesn’t give him the light of day.
New Plan: He actually tries to connect with people. Offers help with social media. Actually tries to fit in. Gives them good ideas. Violet notices him and they start working together.
New Insights: Michael and Violet get intimate. Michael learns how they make money. Also, he learns the guy that has his farm is Violet’s dad.
Turning Point 3: The guy that has his estate comes to collect information. Threatens Michael. Violet sees the interchange. Michael confesses, gets kicked out of the commune.
Climax: Michael refuses to give information, loses his ranch.
Resolution: Violet hears what Michael did, runs to find him. Welcomes him back to the commune
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Katherine Bennett-Greer, Transformational Events
What I learned is that resolution of character flaws that create my Protagonist’s wound lead to the construction of the character arc. Employing this lesson 6 step shows me that I am on the right track, as I already have most of this in place from earlier brainstorming.
Starting Point: Emily is destructive, bored, and doesn’t believe in what she can’t see. She’s burdened by the fact that her dad left for work 2 Christmases before and disappeared. She builds contraptions for fun that backfire with Dennis the Menace impact.
Goes on vacation, gets a dog, dog almost gets stolen, takes dog to take your pet to school day, rejects others’ help in taking down bad guys, comes up with a plan without input from others that doesn’t go well, she asks others for help and gets good input, executes those ideas and is successful. Ultimately builds a contraption by herself that successfully takes down the bad guy.
These changes have to do with deciding to trust others and depend on them, caring about a mission that exceeds her own grief, and believing that outcomes can be good.
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Janeen’s Transformational Events
What I learned doing this lesson is that my hero’s old ways/new ways are too easily fixed or defied in the early scenes. I will need to work on that further because I can’t think of any more old ways/new ways for him right now. His character needs more “issues”.
Nick is a former Army Ranger with PTSD who is working as a mall Santa
Internal Journey: Plagued by nightmares and flashbacks, Nick doesn’t trust his own sense of reality any more. He relies on his PTSD dog to tell him what’s real and who to trust. He learns to trust himself in this screenplay.
External Journey: Nick sees the president’s parents kidnapped, rescues them using his Ranger skills, but then flees with them, going off grid to avoid all law enforcement since at least one government agent is involved in the kidnapping attempt and continues to pursue them using government resources. He must figure out who can be trusted and who will kill anyone in their way to hold the parents hostage to help a hostile foreign government.
Old Ways:
– Only trusts his PTSD teacup poodle
– Nightmares/Flashbacks/Hyper-vigilance
– Shuns being around others
– Can’t keep a job/believes he failed at the old one
New Ways:
– Trusts his own judgement of people (good/bad/dangerous/safe)
– Loves a woman
– Ready to take charge again
– Nightmares/Hyper-vigilance abating (not completely gone, but he knows what’s real or not when a flashback or nightmare is over.
6-8 Changes that Need to Happen
Nick craves a woman’s company
Nick learns that his old protective instincts are still there
Nick takes charge of the chase/parents/plan
Nick learns to deal with and actually enjoy the company of the parents
Nick falls in love with Ivy
Nick trusts his own judgment of people
Nick sleeps like a baby
Nick gets a job on the President’s parents detail.Events to cause the above:
1 After seeing Ivy in the mall, Nick realizes she’s the woman from his dreams — he’s probably seen her before and that’s why she’s in his dreams.
2. Nick automatically protects the PP with his old skills and abilities.
3. Nick takes charge of the chase, making plans to keep the parents safe.
4. When Nick goes for phones and food, he misses having the folks around.
5. Nick sees how kick-ass Ivy is when they fight at the cabin, how much she cares for the parents and that even Grizzly likes her and he allows himself to fall for her.
6. Nick is able to spot where the assassins are, what they are likely to do when entering, etc. and trusts his judgment about them — first, at the gas station, then at the Cabin.
7. In the lay-low cabin when Ivy is on duty, Nick sleeps like a baby.
8. Nick gets a job on the plane to DC.
Act 1:
Opening: Nick is dreaming, reliving the failed mission in a war zone. Some of his men are killed. He can do nothing. Self-loathing, guilt, fury, despair. Grizzly notices, licks his ear and the dream morphs to making out with a beautiful woman (Ivy). Grizzly barks and he wakes.
At the mall, the rogue FBI agent accompanies the SS agent on the daily walk. He is followed by his mercenaries who Grizzly immediately identifies as bad guys as Nick had the same idea. After seeing Ivy in the mall, Nick realizes she’s the woman from his dreams — he’s probably seen her before and that’s why she’s in his dreams.
Inciting Incident: Nick sees a mercenary draw a gun, goes into professional soldier mode, follows, sees Ivy get shot, parents being abducted, takes action and defeats the abductors, grabbing an FBI radio so he can try to figure out what’s going on. Nick automatically protects the PP with his old skills and abilities.
Turning Point:
Puts parents on scooter and goes for his go-bag. More bad guys. He defeats them too with improvised holiday weapons. Escapes in his car with the parents.
Act 2:
New Plan: Run! After defeating the guys that chase him, Nick decides to hide the parents in a dog sitting client’s apartment. Nick takes charge of the chase, making plans to keep the parents safe.
The FBI (at the rogue agent’s request), launches an all out search for the President’s parents and quickly learn that they should track the Santa to find the parents.
Plan in Action:
Since his old plates have been made and the parents’ clothes/shoes have trackers, he gets the clients new clothes (from the client’s closet), buys a new car, abandoning his old one, and comes back for the parents. His plan is to get out of town to a rural place — his great aunt’s lake cottage completely off the grid – no phone, no trackers, no GPS, etc.
The terrorists tell the president that they have his parents, thinking the trackers will make them easy to find. They make their demands for prisoner releases and money. The president says no deal until he sees them alive and well with the terrorists.
Midpoint Turning Point:
Somehow, the bad guys find and follow Nick and the parents.
The SS agent has been tracking the parents using her own methods — finding/following Nick, unsure if he’s a good or a bad guy. She deflates the tires and has the cars disabled of the FBI agent and his mercenaries.
Nick battles the agents at a rest stop. Again, Nick defeats those who followed them and escapes, finds a tracker on his car (put on by the SS agent) and escapes.
Act 3:
Rethink everything: After Nick takes a bio break at an old farmstead, Ivy visits the parents, tells them about the FBI radio’s tracker. They tell her Nick’s plan to take them to the cottage. Nick begins to think the parents can pull their weight in this.
New Plan: Trade cars again, change clothes again. When Nick goes for phones and food, he misses having the folks around. Grizzly pees on the FBI radio, but Nick stupidly keeps it. They go to the lake house, hide out, get word to the President on a private line the parents have. When they get to the cottage, the SS agent is already there and they fight, eventually the parents defuse the situation and they all join forces. Nick sees how kick-ass Ivy is when they fight at the cabin, how much she cares for the parents and that even Grizzly likes her and he allows himself to fall for her.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift: The terrorist organization, disgusted with the FBI agent’s ineptitude, has sent in assassins to clean up the mess by tracking the SS agent’s phone.
Act 4:
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Nick realizes they tracked the SS agent’s cell and they move to his aunt’s friend’s cottage to hide out. Nick makes a run to a convenience store for another cell phone, food and info, overhearing that an all-out manhunt with good descriptions of them is ongoing in the Lakes area. The SS agent and Nick go well-away from the hideout to call the WH who tells them to hole up until they’ve sorted out the bad guys. They hole up, creating McGyver-isms of holiday stuff to stop the assassins and cops. In the lay-low cabin when Ivy is on duty, Nick sleeps like a baby. The bad guys come and are defeated. Nick and the SS agent are in sync.
Resolution: The WH gives them the all-clear, they get new clothes and a private, luxurious jet ride back to DC. Nick gets a job on the President’s parents detail. The SS agent and Santa share a first kiss and the parents wink as though this was their plan all along.
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Benito Selim’s Transformational events
What I learned from this lesson is giving even the smallest details to your characters change will play into your story’s flow easier. The details of your script become more vivid to the reader.
OLD WAYS
–Naïve and submissive to authority
-Suppressed to his schizophrenia
-Fascinated with the paranormal and unknown, but believes in a tangible reality
– Learned to embrace a normal life
NEW WAYS
-Trusts his instincts and goes outside the box
-Confronts and detaches from his original diagnosis
-Faces his fears instead of running
-Embraces his psychic abilities and loves he found who he really is
Transformational Events
-Questions his reality and is he really seeing a ghost
-Discovers that he is medium psychic and not schizophrenic
-Finds outs how these ghosts attach themselves to him
-Finds out he played a huge part in catching a serial killer when he was a child
-Gets the life outside the norm that he had always wanted
-No longer feels dependent on people in fear of being alone
-Let’s go of grudges against his family. No longer blames them for his disability
Benito Selim’s Revised 4 Act Transformational Structure
Act 1:
Opening: Karen Young has a romantic evening with her boyfriend Jeff at Starkoaks farm. An unknown assailant murders the two.
A month later, Darryl Case across town in his dorm begins experiencing unknown phenomena by hearing a faint voice and a scream, he takes his medication, and it stops.
Inciting Incident: Darryl throws trash out into his dorm dumpster and comes across an old projector-type camera. He brushes it off and takes it with him.
Turning Point: Darryl and his friends shoot a documentary about the abrupt closure of the farm using the old camera. Darryl finds a locket in an old barn and takes it with him, while editing their project the brutal death of Karen shows up on film.
Act 2:
New plan: After heavily editing the film, they present their project to the class. Karen reappears and her death is more gruesome than before. Unfortunately, the film and projector are destroyed, and Darryl is left with no project, but a lot of questions.
Plan in action: Darryl decides to investigate Starkoaks even more despite his girlfriend and close friends telling him not to. Darryl does this incognito.
Midpoint Turning Point: Darryl in his investigation is contacted by a woman Ellen Paisley who informs him that he possesses a psychic ability and he’s no schizophrenic. Darryl is confused and lost, he decides to look at the locket he found and opens it. Inside are the pictures of Karen and Jeff.
Act 3:
Rethink everything: Darryl questions his illness and does his own research on psychic abilities. He reflects on his childhood when he encountered a little girl who was murdered. Darryl’s friendship with this child led to her murder and several others to be solved.
Confronts his mother about the childhood incident and finds out his father was a victim.
New plan: Darryl now believing what Ellen told him seeks her help. Darryl also informs his friends of his plan. Visions of Karen then begin to increase with more details. Darryl then experiences her death with her and finds more clues pertaining to the other murders as well.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift: Darryl partners with a detective on Karen’s disappearance but is accused of being involved. His friends try to clear his name but begin to be killed off by Karen’s killer.
Act 4:
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Darryl finds Karen’s murder was due to her father solving an old case and Darryl was the next intended victim. The detective believes Darryl and the two along with Ellen return to the farm to end this killing spree.
While at the Farm Darryl and Ellen confront the killer and through touching, objects get the spirits of those murdered to help them end the killer’s reign.
Resolution: Karen’s murder is solved; she is at peace and the town can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Darryl is now content with his gift and embraces a new life ahead.
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Dana’s Transformational Events
What have I learned from this assignment?
My characters are not the only ones on a transformational journey. I’m on a transformational journey of my own. Transformational Events not only adds layers to character and plot, but these assignments also add layers to my skill set and writing.
By defining and redefining the characters in incremental stages, I can see the story unfolding (often in a direction I never intended), which will help me with the outline prior to writing the script. I’m learning to develop the story by better developing the characters and understanding their transformation. And as a result, my story has changed in the past 24 hours, adding deeper layers.
Jack Donovan/Frank Valentino
Old ways:
· Ex-cons/Convicted police officers
· Ignorant of the power against them
· Rely on former training to investigate murder
· Angry/fearful no-one will know the truth (Jack)
· Accepts his fate and wants to move on (Frank)
· Afraid his daughter will never know him (Jack)
New Ways:
· Expose governor as the victim’s father
· Reveal the conspiracy in the murder
· Confront/kill the real murderer
· Vindication for being wrongly convicted
· Relationship with daughter (Jack)
Transformational Events
· Jack and Frank meet to discuss investigating the murder. They argue and go their separate ways.
· Jack begins investigation/visits old lawyer to discuss case
· Dirty cops try to kill Frank/he escapes realizing he can’t just disappear
· Frank joins Jack to investigate/but have different objectives. Jack wants justice/Frank revenge
· Dilemma: Every new lead gets them closer but frustrates their investigation. Witnesses/ suspects turn up dead. Evidence is missing. They discover something wrong with the surveillance DVD of the police holding cell and track down the technician. But he’s been tortured/murdered.
· They discover the governor’s head of security in one of the cops who tried to kill Frank and the governor’s conspiracy, and the power their fighting.
· A Mafia boss connected to Frank leads them down the dark path of vengeance
· Jack’s daughter is taken, and by killing to get her back, they kill the dirty cops that connect the governor to his conspiracy, and Frank dies.
· Jack has learned the truth, found his justice, meets his daughter, but must move on to protect her, realizing the governor has escaped justice.
FOUR ACT STRUCTURE
GENRE: THRILLER/ACTION
Concept: After being released from prison, two ex-police officers, Jack Donovan and Frank Valentino, investigate the murder for which they were wrongly convicted.
Main Conflict: The governor and his wife, desperate protect their political ambitions, hire an assassin to kill Jack and Frank before they can find the truth behind the murder.
Old Ways: They try to investigate the murder like cops. Question witnesses. Dig for documents. Non-violence tactics.
New Ways: They adapt criminal methods learned in prison to find the truth. Use underworld contacts to find evidence. Hard interrogation of suspects. Kill their way to the top.
Act 1
Opening: Frank is released from prison during a prison riot spurred by his lease. We learn about his life and incarceration from a conversation with the warden. What he did to survive.
Jack sits across from a grammar school watching his daughter play. He’s confronted by his ex-wife who sees him. Because he’s an ex-con, she warns him to stay away from her and their daughter. Jack realizes he’s lost everything.
Inciting Incident: Jack and Frank meet after years apart. They try to reconnect. Jack wants to find the truth and the real killer to get his life back. Frank refuses. He wants to disappear. They argue and go their separate ways.
Jack meets with the lawyer who represented them. He encourages Jack to move on, that nobody cares. There is no new evidence to find. He gives Jack the old case files.
Turning Point: Cops try to kill Frank and fail. Frank realizes somebody wants him and Jack dead and that he won’t be able to disappear.
Act 2
New plan: Frank reaches out to Jack and agrees to investigate the murder from the beginning. But Frank wants vengeance, and Jack wants and justice to get his life back. Frank agrees to do things Jack’s way…for now.
Plan in action: They’re forced into hiding and conduct their investigation in secret. Every lead gets them closer but frustrates their investigation. Witnesses/suspects turn up dead. Evidence is missing.
They discover something wrong with the surveillance DVD of the police holding cell and track down the technician. But he’s been tortured/murdered.
Midpoint Turning Point: They discover the governor’s head of security in one of the cops who tried to kill Frank and the governor’s conspiracy, and the power their fighting.
Act 3
Rethink everything:
Jack and Frank turn to a Mafia boss Frank did favors for in prison to say alive. And the reason why Frank didn’t want to dig into the past.
He Mafia boss leads them toward the victim’s prostitute mother. They learn he was the governor’s illegitimate son. They now learn the motive.
New plan:
The search for the victim’s mother but find her long dead.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift
The assassin grabs Jack’s daughter and holds her hostage. They trade themselves for her life.
Act 4:
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict
They kill to get her back, but by killing the dirty cops, they eliminate the witnesses that could connect the governor to his conspiracy. And Frank dies.
Resolution
Jack has learned the truth, found partial
justice, and have met his daughter. But to protect her, he realizes he must move
on, that the governor has escaped justice. -
ASSIGNMENT – LESSON 6
BG’s Transformational Events
What I learned doing this assignment: Helped me to flesh out the story, come up with new events.
3. Make a list of 6 – 8 changes or steps that need to happen for that character to go from who they are in the beginning (Old Ways) to who they are in the ending (New Ways).
This is an initial list for A CLUB FOR PATRIOTS.
Recognize there is more to life than his broken heart.
Come out of his shell and recognize that there is a lot worse pain and misery in the world.
See the level of power a very few in the world enjoy and misuse.
Make the decision to give up his current funk and do what he can for others.
Discover that he has courage.
Discover that he has the ability to sacrifice himself for others.
Become skilled at operating in the cloak-and-dagger world.
Stand up to billionaires, agents and assassins.
Defeat the conspiracy!5. Brainstorm dramatic events or tests that could cause those changes for the character.
TE: Reporter in his meeting with his Editor is in his usual non-committal, unsmiling self. Editor: No need to be so glum. You’ll have a great time in Europe. Just keep it cheap.
TE: Reporter discusses contents of the envelope with a Hacker friend in London via video call. Hacker friend: Gee, money being collected for a nasty purpose? Reporter: The world is full of nasty stuff. Let’s just stick to getting a scoop.
TE: During the initial encounter with the Billionaire, Reporter comes across as a polite, serious, smart waiter. Billionaire takes a shine to him — good help is so hard to find.
TE: Reporter takes a dangerous and semi-illegal step: He plants a listening device in main conference room.
TE: Reporter is out of his funk: Just who are these men who feel entitled to consign so many to destruction and death for their own purposes?
TE: Reporter decides to sacrifice his own safety to rescue his Hacker friend.
TE: The Reporter successfully conducts a covert rescue op.
TE: The Reporter successfully conducts a covert op to divert the conspiracy’s funds, and the conspiracy is terminated.
TE: The Billionaire gives an interview to the Reporter to justify his worldview, to see how much he knows, and blame it all on the energy mogul. During the interview, Reporter challenges Billionaire’s worldview. The balance of power between them has changed.
TE: Reporter is seen smiling and animated, having dinner with Hostess/German Agent.6. Add these transformational events to your four act structure.
ACT 1:
Opening: Reporter finds a fat envelope in his mailbox. Discusses contents with his Editor: dog-eared clippings, bad copies of what look like online bank statements, photo of a posh club in London and diplomatic cables…
Inciting Incident: It looks like a tip about a plot. Editor decides it’s worth checking out.
TE: Reporter is his usual non-committal, unsmiling self. Editor: No need to be so glum. You’ll have a great time in Europe. Just keep it cheap.
Reporter discusses contents with a Hacker friend in London via video call.
TE: Hacker friend: Gee, money being collected for a nasty purpose? Reporter: The world is full of nasty stuff. Let’s just stick to getting a scoop.
Cheap flight, cheap room.
Turning Point: Finds the building and walks around. Allows himself to be picked up by a Hostess working at the Club. Gets job as waiter.ACT 2
Reaction: Meets some of the staff. Has encounter with Billionaire (media mogul, head of the conspiracy).
TE: During the encounter, Reporter comes across as a polite, serious, smart waiter. Billionaire takes a shine to him — good help is so hard to find.
New Plan: Sneaks around and…
TE: Takes a dangerous and semi-illegal step: He plants a listening device in main conference room.
Billionaire has a status meeting with other members of the conspiracy, which includes an energy mogul. The 20 billion dollar kitty for their plan is ready.
New Insights: Reporter, listening in, is upset.
TE: He’s out of his funk: Just who are these men who feel entitled to consign so many to destruction and death for their own purposes?
Turning Point/Midpoint: Meanwhile, intelligence agencies start to suspect the Reporter and alert the Billionaire.ACT 3
The room is searched, but no bug is found.
New Insights: The Billionaire discusses the matter with the other members of the conspiracy. The Energy Mogul hires an Assassin.
Unbeknownst to the Reporter, the Hostess protects him by throwing suspicion on his innocent Hacker friend.
Hacker gets captured and interrogated in a CIA safe house.
Reporter is horrified.
Turning Point 3: Hostess is revealed to be a German agent, also trying to stop the plot.
TE: Reporter decides to sacrifice his own safety to rescue his Hacker friend.ACT 4
New Plan: They break the Hacker out with an elaborate plan and help from Hostess’s contacts. Reporter and Hacker make plans to divert the 20 billion dollars to stop the conspiracy.
TE: The divergence is successful, the conspiracy is terminated.
The Billionaire, disenchanted with the energy mogul for bringing unwelcome attention to the group, hires the Assassin for more money to kill him instead of the Reporter. The energy mogul is found dead in his bed — attributed to sudden cardiac arrest.
Climax: The Billionaire gives an interview to the Reporter to justify his worldview, to see how much he knows, and blame it all on the energy mogul.
TE: During the interview, Reporter challenges Billionaire’s worldview. The balance of power between them has changed.
Resolution: The floor of a hidden room behind the main conference room suffers a sudden structural failure and collapses. The resulting fire from broken gas pipes destroys documents and equipment.
TE: Reporter is seen smiling and animated, having dinner with Hostess/German Agent. -
Patrick Downey – Transformational Events
What I have learned from this assignment is that the transformational journey applies to me as much as my character. I’ve been sitting on this screenplay and idea for 6 years and every now and then I would pull it out and write a little more as I learned something new. However, as time went by it became less and less of a conflict to finish and more of a task to complete one day. Eventually, it was more of just something I talked about to friends and family. It’s time to complete my journey so I will write it just as I did this screenplay as a side exercise that will help me to have a finale and resolution.
Cayman Stingnelli
Old ways:
Ø Shy, demure
Ø Quiet, introvert
Ø Withdrawn, absent
Ø Unnoticeable
New Ways:
Ø Assertive, determined
Ø Thought provoking, clever
Ø Creative, Leader
Ø Daring, risk taker
Transformational Events
Ø Cayman is deaf and depends on his mother and grandfather for survival.
Ø Cayman’s mother is killed in traffic accident leaving without any parents.
Ø Cayman is uprooted to go live with his grandparents in Chicago, a totally new environment.
Ø Cayman is liked by all at his grandfather’s office accept Dardanos. He’s unsure why.
Ø Cayman learns that his grandfather and partners are fixing sporting events and making millions.
Ø Cayman uncovers a plot by Dardanos to kill his grandfather and takeover the company. Dardanos pulls it off without leaving a trace all before Cayman can warn his grandfather.
Step 1 – Cayman is forced into growing up faster than he thought now that his mother is gone.
Step 3 – Cayman grows leery of Dardanos and his business dealings
Step 4 – Cayman intuition is confirmed when he discovers a plot by Dardanos to kill his grandfather.
Step 5 – Cayman finds out he is too late to save his grandfather and even though he was very mad at him, this was family.
Step 6 – Sets the stage for Cayman to exit his plan clothed schoolboy outfit and dawn his mask and cape!
4 ACT STRUCTURE
GENRE: THRILLER/ACTION
—— ACT 1 ——
Opening: Scene sitting up the surveillance of the FBI on the HAVOC organization in downtown Chicago. Introduction of all the main players and their roles and the FBI’s case for bringing them down.
Inciting Incident: Cayman comes to work with his grandfather for the first time and the team gets to know him and finds out that he’s deaf. All welcome him except a young hot shot named Dardanos, who can’t be bothered with a deaf mute.
Turning Point: After a couple of summers visiting and working with his grandfather, Cayman comes to live in Chicago permanently after his mother is tragically killed in a traffic accident.
Cayman is forced into growing up faster than he thought now that his mother is gone.
—— ACT 2 ——
New Plan: Cayman’s whole world is turned upside down as he withdraws into his very new and different circumstances. Every day is like Groundhog Day for him, school, office, and home with his grandpa.
Plan In Action: One day Cayman decides to stop felling sorry for himself and makes up his mind to be the best he can be for his mother and grandfather. So, he starts really applying himself after school in the office. He is rewarded by receiving more responsibility and a new desk right across from the vault.
Midpoint Turning Point: One late afternoon Cayman is sitting at his desk with headphones on and looking into the vault as the men are meeting. He starts to read their lips and realizes they are not a charitable children’s organization at all but a bunch of crooks fixing sporting events to capitalize on the betting odds to line their pockets with millions if not billions.
Cayman’s whole world is destroyed when he finds out who his grandfather really is and what the H.A.V.O.C. organization truly represents.
—— ACT 3 ——
Rethink Everything: Cayman’s eyes are wide open to their operation, and he starts digging into past bets, performances, curses, unbelievable wins and anything else sports related that could so a pattern of this organization’s hands all over it.
New Plan: Furious at his grandfather for his criminal activity and even more so for pretending to do good for other people. With his newfound knowledge, he had to decide what to do and how to go about handling it. Does he question his grandfather directly, does he go to the police or just do nothing?
Turning Point: Major Shift: Cayman catches wind of a plan by Dardanos to kill his grandfather and takeover the organization. He hopes to warn his grandfather even though he’s pissed at him but doesn’t want any harm to come to him. However, he’s too late and his grandfather is killed.
Cayman grows leery of Dardanos and his business dealings. His intuition is confirmed when he discovers a plot by Dardanos to kill his grandfather. However, Cayman finds out he is too late to save his grandfather and even though he was very mad at him, this was family.
—— Act 4 ——
Climax/Ultimate Expression of the Conflict: Cayman focuses all his energy and resources on bringing them all down with an elaborate plan.
Resolution: Every player hits their mark, the greedy get greedier and Cayman enjoys his win!
The ultimate plan is born for a mastermind revenge plot that will land each of the partners in prison and bankrupt them at the same time. However, it will take calculated measures to gain access to information, recruit outside help from friends, and turn a couple of company employees to his side.
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TIM’S TRANSFORMATIONAL EVENTS – DAY 6
What I learned doing this assignment is to think in logical detail about how the entire story is driven by the protagonist’s journey and transformation. Like all journeys, it’s a series of smaller steps.
Duke (Protagonist)
Old Ways:
– Lazy & content to be alone
– Uncomfortable with change
– Takes being “man’s best friend’ for granted
– Avoids confrontation / timid
– Spoiled / Thinks of himself first
– Naive
New Ways:
– In charge of his own destiny & happiness
– Values friendship
– Accepts new possibilities
– Courageous
– Willing to sacrifice for a greater cause
– Trusting
Needed changes from Old Ways to New Ways:
– Can’t run away from problems
– Friendships take effort
– Learn to trust humans again
– Recognize that he wants to be good
– Risk his own comfort to help a friend (and keep a promise)
– Stand up to the Dog Pack bullies
– Earns his place as “man’s best friend”
Duke’s Transformational Events:
– Scapegoated for problems at home, he runs away to punish his human (Bob).
– Makes his first real friend in Squirrel.
– Breaks from the Pack when he realizes he doesn’t want to be bad like them.
– Plays with Emma to encourage her to get used to her prosthetic leg.
– Gets wise advice from Squirrel, but it’s actually from a fortune cookie.
– Dilemma: Does he risk all to fulfill promise to reunite Squirrel with family?
– Defends Dog Catcher from Dog Pack
– Forgives Bob and accepts his forgiveness too.
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What I learned doing this assignment is STRUCTURING my story via Transformational Events.
Make a list of 6 – 8 changes or steps that need to happen for that character to go from who they are in the beginning (Old Ways) to who they are in the ending (New Ways).
1. Olivia gets a call from Davis; he asks her to come to Washington.
2. Olivia is overwhelmed by the White House; Davis enlists her to treat the President.
3. Olivia emerges from her first sessions with Munson shaken, and resumes her affair with Davis.
4. After the Secret Service confront Olivia with video both of her failures with Munson and her affair with Davis, Olivia goes to Munson’s quarters to resign.
5. Olivia sleeps with President Munson. She hears the taped message.
6. As Olivia begins hypnotherapy on Munson, she begins to suspect that he is a serial killer.
7. Olivia enlists Davis’s aid in finding the bug; she confronts the Secret Service, blaming them. The SS disclaim all knowledge but tell her they can compare recordings to find the perp.
8. Olivia makes love to Davis to get a recording of him whispering. After determining that the voice on the tape is Davis’s, Olivia confronts Davis in Munson’s office.
9. After Munson murders Davis, Olivia kills Munson. In court, she confesses and declares she would do it again.
Act 1:
Opening: Olivia is a New York psychiatrist, reasonably successful, who has written a theoretical book about hypnotherapy. She determines in a court case that the defendant was hypnotically induced to commit a crime. In private, she hires a sex partner for her physical needs in order to avoid emotional attachment to anyone.
Inciting Incident: Someone viciously murders the First Lady. Right-wing terrorists take the credit, as do foreign terrorists; the FBI hires Olivia to analyze the claimants; she helps them determine that none of them did the killing.
Turning Point: Olivia gets a call from Will, her one-time lover and the President’s Chief-of-Staff; he asks her to come to the White House.Act 2:
New plan: Olivia is overwhelmed by the White House; Davis enlists her to treat the President. Olivia begins cautiously; using conventional therapy on Munson. Olivia emerges from her first sessions with Munson shaken, and falls back into her old love affair with Davis.
Plan in action: Olivia fails; the President becomes worse and worse, blaming himself for his wife’s murder. He was drunk and drugged, he suspected she was having an affair, he had the knife in his hand.
Midpoint Turning Point: After the Secret Service confront Olivia with video both of her failures with Munson and her affair with Davis. Olivia goes to Munson’s quarters to resign, but when he begs her to stay, she succumbs and sleeps with him. In the early hours, she hears whispering.Act 3:
Rethink everything: Olivia decides the Secret Service Chief is her enemy and gets Davis to shut down the surveillance.
New plan: Olivia begins hypnotherapy on Munson. She soon begins to feel that he has been a serial rapist and even a murderer.
Turning Point: One morning, in Munson’s chambers, Olivia awakens, hearing voices. She theorizes that someone is already hypnotizing the President to believe he murdered his wife.Act 4:
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Olivia enlists Davis’s aid in finding the bug; she confronts the Secret Service, blaming them. The SS disclaim all knowledge but tell her they can compare recordings to find the perp.
Olivia tells Will the Secret Service is hypnotizing Munson. She records him whispering in bed, takes it to the Secret Service, and finds out it is the same as the voice in the night. Confronting Davis in Munson’s presence, she learns that her suspicions were right: Munson has been a rapist and murderer, but he didn’t kill his wife; her lover Davis did, when he realized Munson was planning to push her for the next President instead of Davis. Munson tells them he has faith in Davis only as an administrator and campaign manager, not as a president. Davis goes berserk and Munson kills him, and asks Olivia to back him up, but when Olivia tells Munson she will have to tell the world about his crimes he attacks her, and she kills him with the same knife (scissors?) Munson used to murder Davis.
Resolution: Olivia is sentenced to prison for murdering Munson, although in self-defense, she has admitted guilt. In court, she confesses and declares she would do it again. Her life is in ruins, but Olivia accepts her sentence bravely. She knows she did the right thing.
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Lori’s Transformational Events
What I learned doing this assignment is to think of internal changes that need to occur and events that can cause that change to happen.
Character Arc that represents a transformation:
Internal Journey: from hopelessness to hopeful
External Journey: avoiding Christmas festivities since his wife is gone to taking part in community
Old ways:
anger
depression
crossing boundaries
fear
isolation
New ways:
acceptance
joy
respecting boundaries
fearlessness
community
List of 6 – 8 changes or steps that need to happen for that character to go from who they are in the beginning (Old Ways) to who they are in the ending (New Ways):
denial
becomes angry
overcompensates
depression
fear
acceptance
hope
Dramatic events or tests that could cause those changes for the character:
Thomas acts as if everything is fine.
Thomas’ misplaced anger hurts someone.
Thomas goes over the top and crosses boundaries to make Christmas special for impoverished families.
Thomas is told to stop.
He isolates himself and spirals down into depression.
Thomas pretends everything is okay to make others feel better.
Thomas pleads with God.
Thomas is honest about his feelings with his friends.
Thomas feels a glimmer of hope.
Thomas gives a sermon about the hope of Christmas.
Add these transformational events to your four act structure:
Act 1:
Opening – Introduce the main characters as a small town prepares for Christmas. Pastor Thomas seems distraught. Inciting Incident – A member of the church dies in an accident. Turning Point – Thomas decides to skip Christmas.
Act 2:
New plan – He will make sure one impoverished family has a perfect Christmas even though he won’t be. Plan in action – He crosses boundaries and is asked to stop helping. Thomas’ misplaced anger hurts his friends. Midpoint Turning Point – Thomas spirals downward into depression and isolates himself.
Act 3:
Rethink everything – He can’t go on this way. New plan – He will try to pretend that everything is okay. Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – Pretending nearly destroys him.
Act 4:
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – Thomas is brought to the end of himself and pleads with God. He is honest with his friends about his feelings. Resolution – Hope is restored by Christmas day when Thomas gives a sermon about the hope of Christmas.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by Lori Lance.
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