[Aaron Can Hoff]

MODULE 4 LESSON 1

Aaron’s Character Structure

MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this assignment is the power that each main character brings to the story from their backgrounds and current life’s motivations.

PROTAGONIST

Beginning: Pro’s last day in prison, he’s respectful to guards, takes orders, has no questions about anything, does as he’s told. He’s pulled over on the way home from jail, expired license, he‘s arrested and goes right back to jail – he keeps calm, calms his family down, doesn’t want to rock the boat.

Inciting incident: His uncle gives him a beat-up tow truck and signs over his LLC to him. He’s now a small business owner. His biggest contract is the Sheriff’s department.

Turning Point 1: He discovers evidence that the deputies are breaking the law.

Act 2: Pro freaks out and goes to uncle. He ends up putting the evidence back where it would logically be found by the deputies.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Pro is pulled over by Highway Patrol while towing an abandoned car that turns out is full of the Sheriff’s dope. Deputies show up and claim pro’s their source – now he’s part of the Sheriff’s drug ring.

Act 3: Pro starts changing to new ways – breaking laws, etc. He’s pissed – gets smart and seeks help from others to start new/improved plan. Starts recon on enemies, figures them out.

Turning Point 3: When the deputies think pro’s working with the FBI, pro’s nephew disappears – kidnapped by the deputies.

4th Act Climax: On the voting day for Mayor, all the dominos that Pro set up start to fall: the State Police arrest a couple deputies, Pro blows up the Sheriff’s secret stash of millions, he kidnaps Antag’s wife and then swaps her for him. He begins to torture Antag until he gives up where his nephew is. And when he finds him, he finds every other person that crossed the Sheriff or his deputies in the past 25 years, all buried in town the entire time.

Resolution: The one clean deputy, a Mexican Marine, is now the Sheriff. He’s an ally to Pro, understands full well what Pro had to do, and isn’t too bothered by it at all. Pro is the new King of the town! An inspiration to all the black townspeople, who begin to take on the Pro’s new ways – they’re more sovereign, confident, bold and stand up for themselves.

ANTAGONIST

Beginning: His dad abused him as a child, beat him until he beat everyone in everything… to the town, he has always been their golden boy – HS QB/Pitcher, played in college, all the women chased him and everyone loved him. He dominated and nobody that knew better dared challenge him.

Inciting incident: The Mayor called him out during a press conference, claiming that his department botched an investigation and let a killer lose.

Turning Point 1: The Sheriff files to run for Mayor.

Act 2: Domination. Drug running to fund campaign, blackmail, illegal searches and arrests.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: A body shows up of a missing teen – Sheriff treats it like a blessing, when he’s the one who put him there – suspicion that someone is exposing them (Pro).

Act 3: More hidden crimes come to light and Sheriff has no doubt someone is exposing him – he sends his men on an all-out blitz to find the person.

Turning Point 3: It becomes public that the Sheriff is under a cloud of suspicion regarding misdeeds.

4th Act Climax: They find out it’s Pro and the battle ensues – mayhem as the town turns into a warzone (so much for keeping the peace). Pro is lying to the Feds about his involvement, but leading them closer to the Sheriff as the orchestrator of all local crime.

Resolution: FBI arrest Sheriff. He’s now a caged animal – never been so pissed in his life.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Supporting Characters

VISION: I will work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this assignment is that these support characters are fascinating and dynamic in their own right as they help the story and concept progress.

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS:

– Pro’s uncle – junkyard owner

– Undersheriff

– Pro’s undercover sister

BACKGROUND CHARACTERS:

– Deputies in the department

– Victims

– Mayor & wife

– Drug runners

SUPPORTING CHARACTER PROFILES

SUPPORT 1

Name: Pro’s uncle

Role: Business partner

Main purpose: Give pro his business that gives him access to the cops. Later, he unwittingly exposes the cop’s operations.

Value: Pro trusts him and he guides pro throughout the story, but he has a hidden agenda.

SUPPORT 2

Name: Pro’s sister

Role: Co-conspirator

Main purpose: To covertly and illegally work with pro to infiltrate and expose the Sheriff’s department.

Value: She gets him access to the department and enables him to get the pieces he needs to put the puzzle together so to speak.

SUPPORT 3

Name: The Undersheriff

Role: Sheriff’s loyal right-hand-man partner-in-crime.

Main purpose: To execute the Sheriff’s orders, run the other dirty deputies and get rich doing it.

Value: He is the heavy hand that lets the Sheriff not get his dirty. He is also the most feared man on the streets because he’s like the platoon sergeant that calls the shots in the wild. He helps the Sheriff run his illegal dealings and he is good at hiding it, making it hard for our pro to uncover their drug running.

WIM M3 L8

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Character Profiles Part 2

VISION: I will work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this assignment is that there are some really interesting, human flaws in my two leads that will be fascinating to watch come to life in this story.

CONCEPT: A black tow truck driver gets out on probation after being setup by a dirty Sheriff and begins to expose years of corruption and racist murders committed by the lawman, things he would kill to keep hidden.

PROTAGONIST

1. The Character’s High Concept (their role in the H.C.): Pro will be the catalyst for the undoing of the life and career of the corrupt Sheriff. The man with no power, no resources, and only his determination, subverts the most powerful and influential man’s lifework, and destroys him.

2. This Character’s Journey: He goes from being powerless – a prisoner with an extremely restricted life – to being a man that outwits and out maneuvers the largest authority in the town and ends his decades of tyranny.

3. This Character’s Actor Attractors:

– They would be known as the great vigilante, a powerful and disadvantaged under dog who fights the system and the “man” and wins.

– His persistence and will power, he literally comes back from the dead to finish the deal. He is both the savior and the martyr at the same time.

PROFILE –1st 6 parts

1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – He is a felon who Is just got out from serving 5 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and is hellbent to take down the evil and corrupt Sheriff that sent him there.

2. Age range and Description: Barely 30, reserved and always acts and talks with a purpose. He is constantly observant and notices everything – a survival skill he learned in prison. He looks like every other black male to the whites and is just an average brother on all other accounts – this characteristic of being unassuming enables his ability to affect his plan.

3. Core Traits:

– Iron Will.

– Serious.

– Deliberate.

– JUST – fights for the right, attacks the wrong.

– Sly.

– Sneaky.

–

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To destroy the most wicked, tyrant, oppressor – the Sheriff.

Need: To bring the peace of equality and justice to his world/town.

5. Wound: What they can’t face: A young Sheriff killed his parents and covered it up – Pro discovers this & it is the inciting incident that starts his journey of looking into it.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likeability (outside affection):

– His family, community, and other inmates love him.

– He rescues a dog that really loves him.

– He is respectful.

– He stops to help others, and they appreciate it.

– He brings a homeless guy food and sits and eats with him.

– He rescues a pit bull from a dog fighting ring & nurtures back to health.

– The pit bull is extremely loyal to our pro, appreciative.

Relatability (something we experience):

– He’s broke and just trying to find a job.

– He gets pulled over.

– He is broke fighting people with major money and power.

– He’s a nobody, people dismiss him.

Empathy (experiences hardship):

– He’s arrested, right out of jail.

– He is literally beat to death… then he comes back to life.

– They shoot his son & ruin his promising football career.

– Even though the Sheriff’s Department is flush with cash, they have excuses or take forever to pay our pro, leaving him literally destitute.

– People discriminate against him because he’s a felon

7. CHARACTER SUBTEXT (LESSON 3)

Character Name: Protagonist

Subtext Identity: Victim getting revenge, spy.

Subtext Trait: Sneaky, undercover, scheming.

Subtext Logline: A tow truck driver and felon who is seeking revenge on the Sheriff who wrongly put him away.

Possible Areas of Subtext:

– Snooping around the Sheriff’s station, hunting cabins, houses, impound lot, places the bad guys will be, the Sheriff’s bank by talking to the teller, talking to the dispatcher, using a radio scanner, drive by / lifestyle surveillance.

– Undercover – trackers on cars, getting snuck into the Sheriff’s departments evidence room, sends malware to bad guys, gets ahold of reports of missing blacks. Surviellance – photos, associates, people doing their dirty work – they are softer targets for pro to go after. Pro acts like some other law enforcement agency and calls Sheriff’s dept. and gets info on a ‘related’ case. In plain sight as a tow truck driver gives him placement and access.

– – Scheming – with anybody black at the Sheriff’s department, including the janitor, with anyone who comes across the deputies during everyday routines – coffee shop, oil change, etc. He gets dirt on one deputy and gets him in the pinch.

8. CHARACTER INTRIGUE (LESSON 4)

– Character Name: Tow truck driver

– Role: Protagonist

– Hidden Agenda: To get the Sheriff and get his deputies. He has to find the evidence, destroy the Sheriff, build up his physical defenses, steals from idiot drivers to get cash, sells dope a bit for money, hustle – steals car, takes to chop shop for money.

– Competition: Over power. Power struggle with cops = who has most ability to “F” with the other more?

– Conspiracies: with every look-through nobody in town, he builds his network – black, white, brown – cops been aggressive and they are salty with them all.

– Secrets: He’s an alcoholic, dry in prison, very tempted now. Could sink him. Killed his brother, his bball nephew is HIS kid. He has the HIV – prison rape. Learned to hack in prison.

– Deception: nephew / dad. He’s a dumb nobody / cops. Does his own undercover operation / cameos to get stuff. Fake love interest to get access to Sheriff.

– Unspoken Wound: Killed his brother drunk driving. His mom OD’d. Young Sheriff killed his dad or mom – they covered it up. Couldn’t protect brother in prison.

– Secret Identity: He’s the secret Unabomber, terrorist attacking town. He’s a source for the Sheriff’s department. The Black Messiah, the one getting justice for blacks – the 1^st time ever.

9. FLAW (HOW THEY SABOTAGE THEMSELVES)

– PRO

– – Subservient

– – Fearful

– – Overthinker

– – Under estimates abilities

10. VALUES

– PRO

– – Family

– – Community

– – Justice

11. INTERNAL DILEMMA

– PRO

– – Obeying the rules/laws versus getting justice.

ANTAGONIST

1. The Character’s High Concept (their role in the H.C.): This Antag is the ultimate epitome of white, male power. The institution he runs is the ultimate authority in that town’s area. He is the suppressor and the dictator. He controls everything in his jurisdiction. The ultimate authority.

2. This Character’s Journey: In his gluttony and the assumption that he would always be in power and that the possibility of anyone to challenge him didn’t exist, since he has dirt on or power over everyone else, he doesn’t realize that the ‘minor disruptions’ that the Pro creates in his world, will be his ultimate and explosive downfall.

3. This Character’s Actor Attractors:

– Would get to play the ultimate embodiment of all that’s wrong with corrupt white men.

– Because he’s an all powerful, all knowing F.

– Stone cold / dead eye, alpha commander, predator, charming, a fury unmatched (his “switch” blows you away).

– He is both the over the top gentleman and the most vicious savage ever, at the same time.

PROFILE – 1st 6 Parts

1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – This Sheriff, in a campaign to widen his power, has bribed and extorted his way to be on the ballot for the next governor race when our protagonist starts uncovering skeletons from his past that would put him in prison.

2. Age range and Description: 50, he’s the most charming guy and the most vicious guy, so Machiavellian in his ways that that any crime or violation of rights justifies the means to get him more power.

3. Core Traits:

– Luringly charming.

– Ruthless.

– Tyrant.

– All powerful.

– All knowing.

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To be the next governor.

Need: To prove he is the alpha male and dominate everybody.

5. Wound: What they can’t face: He was rejected by the homecoming queen, the regional beauty queen, lead cheerleader, and THAT is what set him on the trajectory he is on now to PROVE HIMSELF and never being enough.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likeability (outside affection):

– His deputies really love him – he shares his power with them & they rule the town together.

– He can charm any stranger into a new friend.

– He is well respected and esteemed by others in positions of authority.

– He donates to charities and is very giving in the eyes of the public.

– When he talks, it sounds like he is going to do everything he can to help you and get you out of a situation (but he is straight lying and just using you or setting you up).

Relatability (something we experience):

– Sometimes when his people don’t do things right, he has to step in and get it done correctly.

– We all have to answer to somebody – he has to defer and answer to the State Police.

– He still has to wait on his food like the rest of us.

– He has to pump his own gas.

Empathy (experiences hardship):

– When his world starts to crumble as the murders he’s committed over the years begin to come to light.

– His prized possession (dog, horse, illegitimate son) is killed as revenge.

– A sex tape comes out and he is shamed in public – first time his reputation is tarnished.

7. CHARACTER SUBTEXT (LESSON 3)

Character Name: Antagonist

Subtext Identity: The Boss

Subtext Trait: Manipulative, evil, concealing, evasive, corrupt, shifty

Subtext Logline: Kingpin of a drug corridor operation that uses young black men as if they were disposable, he manipulates every relationship to impose his will and everyone’s reality in the reality HE creates.

Possible Areas of Subtext:

– Manipulative: with current mayor and his wife, directs minute details of situations and cases to cover tracks, he has each deputy under tight reigns, reporters to give HIS narrative, disposable low-level dealers / runners.

– Evil: emasculating mayor, teaches one young runner “how to shoot” not like a gangsta – behind him, whips gun to kids and BLAM, in front of other runner, to correct mistake and keep 2^nd guy in line. He sets up a deputy to take the fall for him, saving himself, sleeps with his guys wives, a girl runner ends up dead in car – body in back – he kills the girls baby, gives instructions for clean up.

– Concealing: From the public – drug running, drug money, murder, back room meetings. From his deputies – he takes more money than he tells them even though they do the dangerous / illegal work, steals their wives, conceals a meth or coke habit. From himself – the truth of how many bodies he’s buried over the years.

– Evasive: uses his position and power to distract State Police tracking the drugs, never lets anyone control the narrative but him, avoids people, will ghost someone, answers questions with questions. He tells lies and stories when people start asking about the wrong things.

– Corrupt: will take a bribe, extorts people, flat out steals from people because who are they going to call? Runs drugs.

– Shifty: see above.

8. CHARACTER INTRIGUE (LESSON 4)

Character Name: Sheriff

Role: Antagonist

Hidden Agenda: Get all the money he can from drug running. Destroy his political opponents and enemies. Screw everything he can (Heide).

Competition: Wherever there is power to get, he is going after it. See above, it is motivated by his drive for competition. He is really, ultimately, in competition with himself – more is never enough.

Conspiracies: definitely with his deputies in the drug running. With the coroner to cover up suspicious deaths and to plant john doe bodies or incinerate bodies that he needs gone. With wife of mayor to destroy her husband.

Secrets: That he is stealing more than his share and stashing it away as a reserve. That he has wires up on all his deputies incase they decide they want to flip on him – he’s got them dead to rights. He tapes all the women he is with… for later enjoyment, but leverage as well.

Deception: Telling his dirty deputies that he is beholden to the Mexican Mafia and has to follow what they say, when in reality he is the kingpin calling the shots. That he’s a righteous, God fearing, church attending, ideal modern-day Saint, and savior of sorts as he protects and shields the town from the evils out there – mostly the evils he creates.

Unspoken Wound: He was rejected by the homecoming queen, the regional beauty queen, lead cheerleader, and THAT is what set him on the trajectory he is on now to PROVE HIMSELF and never being enough.

Secret Identity: He is a major drug dealer. He is a murderer. He is an adulterer. He fancies himself to be the savior of others – of the town, of the women, of his deputies – they are blessed to have him in their lives – he is deity in his own mind.

9. FLAW (HOW THEY SABOTAGE THEMSELVES)

SHERIFF

– Predator

– Dominant

– Overconfident

– Malicious

10. VALUES

SHERIFF

– Dominating

– Winning

– Power

11. INTERNAL DILEMMA

SHERIFF

– Being powerful versus being admired.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

MODULE 3 LESSON 6

Aaron’s Character Profiles Part 1.

MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this lesson is that the worlds of my main characters are critically intertwined and since their worlds are so far apart, the story that brings them together will delivery on high drama and will nail my concept.

CONCEPT: A black tow truck driver gets out on probation after being setup by a dirty Sheriff and begins to expose years of corruption and racist murders committed by the lawman, things he would kill to keep hidden.

PROTAGONIST

1. The Character’s High Concept (their role in the H.C.): Pro will be the catalyst for the undoing of the life and career of the corrupt Sheriff. The man with no power, no resources, and only his determination, subverts the most powerful and influential man’s lifework, and destroys him.

2. This Character’s Journey: He goes from being powerless – a prisoner with an extremely restricted life – to being a man that outwits and out maneuvers the largest authority in the town and ends his decades of tyranny.

3. This Character’s Actor Attractors:

– They would be known as the great vigilante, a powerful and disadvantaged under dog who fights the system and the “man” and wins.

– His persistence and will power, he literally comes back from the dead to finish the deal. He is both the savior and the martyr at the same time.

PROFILE – 1^ST 6 PARTS

1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – He is a felon who Is just got out from serving 5 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and is hellbent to take down the evil and corrupt Sheriff that sent him there.

2. Age range and Description: Barely 30, reserved and always acts and talks with a purpose. He is constantly observant and notices everything – a survival skill he learned in prison. He looks like every other black male to the whites and is just an average brother on all other accounts – this characteristic of being unassuming enables his ability to affect his plan.

3. Core Traits:

– Iron Will.

– Serious.

– Deliberate.

– JUST – fights for the right, attacks the wrong.

– Sly.

– Sneaky.

–

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To destroy the most wicked, tyrant, oppressor – the Sheriff.

Need: To bring the peace of equality and justice to his world/town.

5. Wound: What they can’t face: A young Sheriff killed his parents and covered it up – Pro discovers this & it is the inciting incident that starts his journey of looking into it.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likeability (outside affection):

– His family, community, and other inmates love him.

– He rescues a dog that really loves him.

– He is respectful.

– He stops to help others, and they appreciate it.

– He brings a homeless guy food and sits and eats with him.

– He rescues a pit bull from a dog fighting ring & nurtures back to health.

– The pit bull is extremely loyal to our pro, appreciative.

Relatability (something we experience):

– He’s broke and just trying to find a job.

– He gets pulled over.

– He is broke fighting people with major money and power.

– He’s a nobody, people dismiss him.

Empathy (experiences hardship):

– He’s arrested, right out of jail.

– He is literally beat to death… then he comes back to life.

– They shoot his son & ruin his promising football career.

– Even though the Sheriff’s Department is flush with cash, they have excuses or take forever to pay our pro, leaving him literally destitute.

– People discriminate against him because he’s a felon

ANTAGONIST

1. The Character’s High Concept (their role in the H.C.): This Antag is the ultimate epitome of white, male power. The institution he runs is the ultimate authority in that town’s area. He is the suppressor and the dictator. He controls everything in his jurisdiction. The ultimate authority.

2. This Character’s Journey: In his gluttony and the assumption that he would always be in power and that the possibility of anyone to challenge him didn’t exist, since he has dirt on or power over everyone else, he doesn’t realize that the ‘minor disruptions’ that the Pro creates in his world, will be his ultimate and explosive downfall.

3. This Character’s Actor Attractors:

– Would get to play the ultimate embodiment of all that’s wrong with corrupt white men.

– Because he’s an all powerful, all knowing F.

– Stone cold / dead eye, alpha commander, predator, charming, a fury unmatched (his “switch” blows you away).

– He is both the over the top gentleman and the most vicious savage ever, at the same time.

PROFILE – 1^ST 6 PARTS

1. Role in the Story: Protagonist – This Sheriff, in a campaign to widen his power, has bribed and extorted his way to be on the ballot for the next governor race when our protagonist starts uncovering skeletons from his past that would put him in prison.

2. Age range and Description: 50, he’s the most charming guy and the most vicious guy, so Machiavellian in his ways that that any crime or violation of rights justifies the means to get him more power.

3. Core Traits:

– Luringly charming.

– Ruthless.

– Tyrant.

– All powerful.

– All knowing.

4. Motivation; Want/Need:

Want: To be the next governor.

Need: To prove he is the alpha male and dominate everybody.

5. Wound: What they can’t face: He was rejected by the homecoming queen, the regional beauty queen, lead cheerleader, and THAT is what set him on the trajectory he is on now to PROVE HIMSELF and never being enough.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

Likeability (outside affection):

– His deputies really love him – he shares his power with them & they rule the town together.

– He can charm any stranger into a new friend.

– He is well respected and esteemed by others in positions of authority.

– He donates to charities and is very giving in the eyes of the public.

– When he talks, it sounds like he is going to do everything he can to help you and get you out of a situation (but he is straight lying and just using you or setting you up).

Relatability (something we experience):

– Sometimes when his people don’t do things right, he has to step in and get it done correctly.

– We all have to answer to somebody – he has to defer and answer to the State Police.

– He still has to wait on his food like the rest of us.

– He has to pump his own gas.

Empathy (experiences hardship):

– When his world starts to crumble as the murders he’s committed over the years begin to come to light.

– His prized possession (dog, horse, illegitimate son) is killed as revenge.

– A sex tape comes out and he is shamed in public – first time his reputation is tarnished.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Actor Attractors for BLACKLIGHT.

MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this lesson is that there are some subtle character traits that are easy to take for granted as a viewer, but are very important to and significant to actors as they evaluate roles to accept.

ACTOR ATTRACTORS – HERO

Movie Title: BLACKLIGHT

Lead Character Name: Travis Block, FBI Extractor

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

– They have a very, one-of-a-kind position in the FBI, they are extremely skilled for the position as is demonstrated in the first extraction, and they have grown disenfranchised by the agency they have dedicated their life to.

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

– He is flawed, handicapped, sincere, caring father/grandfather who is trying, a super skilled worker at a very specific job who can challenge the Director of the FBI because they are old friends, and he’s brave enough to fight the corruption from within. And, he has impressive extraction skills to overcome what seems to be unsurmountable odds.

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

– Extracting the undercover agent in the trailer, defeating the mercenaries in the Director’s house, chasing the garbage truck through downtown.

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

– In a situation where there were a lot more bad guys guns than good guys, he comes up with a creative plan with the resources at hand and extracts an agent deep in trouble.

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

– Cold, calculated, warm & caring grandfather

6. What subtext can the actor play?

– The great tension that there is with his daughter, and he brings all of the subtext to the lengthy and complex relationship he has the Director.

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

– With the antagonist – Of all the people he knows that should have the most loyalty to him, this is the person, and he is using the protagonist as a tool and doesn’t care anything about him. And the fact that the hero has such a close relationship with someone so powerful in the worl.

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

It is sincere – when he speaks to his family, when he speaks to his coworkers, and when he speaks to the reporter, it comes across as genuine.

9. What makes this character special and unique?

= His skill set, he background and the circumstances he finds himself in, in this story.

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

– The scene were he extracts the undercover agent from a trailer surrounded by armed rednecks. He is creative and resourceful, compassionate to the agent, decisive and effective – covering many of the points above, but especially being what an actor would WANT to be known for this role.

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ACTOR
ATTRACTORS – VILLIAN

Movie Title: BLACKLIGHT

Lead Character Name: Gabriel Robinson, FBI Director

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

– It’s a good villain role where the head of the largest law enforcement agency in the world is corrupt with power and running a covert unit that conspiracy theories are made of. This character’s power is in subtext – his lines, the leverage he uses on people, and the fact that he is directing all of these covert mercenaries. He’s an extremely powerful man in a very surreptitious way.

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

– The power he has to control others. Professionally, albeit illegally and unconstitutionally, he is controlling the narrative of activists and whistleblowers, and in a personal level, he has a stash of files, dirt, that he has collected on everyone he has worked with, to use as blackmail if he needs it.

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

– The errands he sends his ‘Unity’ crew on – their actions are at his behest. To get them to go out, break the law by murdering innocent civilians, violate constitutional rights, and to keep them coming back for more orders – that’s some crazy power.

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

– Whitehouse calls for favors against a capitol riot. FBI Director gives his philosophy of controlling with fear – shows his overt power… then later…

– It was a very behind the scenes, frank and private conversation with the hero, discussing the hero’s unique job of bringing in rogue undercover agents. I felt like a classified conversation that we weren’t supposed to be hearing – a true look at the life of the FBI Director.

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

– From stoic and collected, measured to charming and endearing to a controlled anger.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

– He is domineering in character and by way of the power of his position. He doesn’t really come right out and make direct threats, but they are very implied and very serious.

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

– The one with the hero – they are old war buddies and he has dirt on the hero from way back then.

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

– With the power behind everything he said and did that would be commensurate with his rank and position. He is a powerful man, one you don’t cross.

9. What makes this character special and unique?

– He’s the FBI Director and he’s corrupt.

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

There is a scene when the hero shows up at the Director’s house and the Director is gardening – he goes from startled, to friendly, to serious, bossy, and commanding, to threatening.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Likeability / Relatability / Empathy

VISION: I will work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this assignment is that our characters can and should have experiences that we have and can understand and feel something about.

PROTAGONIST

Likeability (outside affection):

– His family, community, and other inmates love him.

– He rescues a dog that really loves him.

– He is respectful.

– He stops to help others, and they appreciate it.

– He brings a homeless guy food and sits and eats with him.

– He rescues a pit bull from a dog fighting ring & nurtures back to health.

– The pit bull is extremely loyal to our pro, appreciative.

Relatability (something we experience):

– He’s broke and just trying to find a job.

– He gets pulled over.

– He is broke fighting people with major money and power.

– He’s a nobody, people dismiss him.

Empathy (experiences hardship):

– He’s arrested, right out of jail.

– He is literally beat to death… then he comes back to life.

– They shoot his son & ruin his promising football career.

– Even though the Sheriff’s Department is flush with cash, they have excuses or take forever to pay our pro, leaving him literally destitute.

– People discriminate against him because he’s a felon

ANTAGONIST

Likeability (outside affection):

– His deputies really love him – he shares his power with them & they rule the town together.

– He can charm any stranger into a new friend.

– He is well respected and esteemed by others in positions of authority.

– He donates to charities and is very giving in the eyes of the public.

– When he talks, it sounds like he is going to do everything he can to help you and get you out of a situation (but he is straight lying and just using you or setting you up).

Relatability (something we experience):

– Sometimes when his people don’t do things right, he has to step in and get it done correctly.

– We all have to answer to somebody – he has to defer and answer to the State Police.

– He still has to wait on his food like the rest of us.

– He has to pump his own gas.

Empathy (experiences hardship):

– When his world starts to crumble as the murders he’s committed over the years begin to come to light.

– His prized possession (dog, horse, illegitimate son) is killed as revenge.

– A sex tape comes out and he is shamed in public – first time his reputation is tarnished.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Character Intrigue

VISION: I will work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this assignment is that there are a lot of layers to my characters, and we have a window to their outside world and the inside part of them that they would rather keep hidden from everyone.

INTRIGUE ITEMS

Character Name: Tow truck driver

Role: Protagonist

Hidden Agenda: To get the Sheriff and get his deputies. He has to find the evidence, destroy the Sheriff, build up his physical defenses, steals from idiot drivers to get cash, sells dope a bit for money, hustle – steals car, takes to chop shop for money.

Competition: Over power. Power struggle with cops = who has most ability to “F” with the other more?

Conspiracies: with every look-through nobody in town, he builds his network – black, white, brown – cops been aggressive and they are salty with them all.

Secrets: He’s an alcoholic, dry in prison, very tempted now. Could sink him. Killed his brother, his bball nephew is HIS kid. He has the HIV – prison rape. Learned to hack in prison.

Deception: nephew / dad. He’s a dumb nobody / cops. Does his own undercover operation / cameos to get stuff. Fake love interest to get access to Sheriff.

Unspoken Wound: Killed his brother drunk driving. His mom OD’d. Young Sheriff killed his dad or mom – they covered it up. Couldn’t protect brother in prison.

Secret Identity: He’s the secret Unabomber, terrorist attacking town. He’s a source for the Sheriff’s department. The Black Messiah, the one getting justice for blacks – the 1^st time ever.

Character Name: Sheriff

Role: Antagonist

Hidden Agenda: Get all the money he can from drug running. Destroy his political opponents and enemies. Screw everything he can (Heide).

Competition: Wherever there is power to get, he is going after it. See above, it is motivated by his drive for competition. He is really, ultimately, in competition with himself – more is never enough.

Conspiracies: definitely with his deputies in the drug running. With the coroner to cover up suspicious deaths and to plant john doe bodies or incinerate bodies that he needs gone. With wife of mayor to destroy her husband.

Secrets: That he is stealing more than his share and stashing it away as a reserve. That he has wires up on all his deputies incase they decide they want to flip on him – he’s got them dead to rights. He tapes all the women he is with… for later enjoyment, but leverage as well.

Deception: Telling his dirty deputies that he is beholden to the Mexican Mafia and has to follow what they say, when in reality he is the kingpin calling the shots. That he’s a righteous, God fearing, church attending, ideal modern-day Saint, and savior of sorts as he protects and shields the town from the evils out there – mostly the evils he creates.

Unspoken Wound: He was rejected by the homecoming queen, the regional beauty queen, lead cheerleader, and THAT is what set him on the trajectory he is on now to PROVE HIMSELF and never being enough.

Secret Identity: He is a major drug dealer. He is a murderer. He is an adulterer. He fancies himself to be the savior of others – of the town, of the women, of his deputies – they are blessed to have him in their lives – he is deity in his own mind.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Subtext Characters

VISION: I will work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this assignment is there are a ton of facets to my characters personalities that will add a bunch of interesting subtext.

Movie Title: BLACK JESUS

Character Name: Protagonist

Subtext Identity: Victim getting revenge, spy.

Subtext Trait: Sneaky, undercover, scheming.

Subtext Logline: A tow truck driver and felon who is seeking revenge on the Sheriff who wrongly put him away.

Possible Areas of Subtext:

– Snooping around the Sheriff’s station, hunting cabins, houses, impound lot, places the bad guys will be, the Sheriff’s bank by talking to the teller, talking to the dispatcher, using a radio scanner, drive by / lifestyle surveillance.

– Undercover – trackers on cars, getting snuck into the Sheriff’s departments evidence room, sends malware to bad guys, gets ahold of reports of missing blacks. Surviellance – photos, associates, people doing their dirty work – they are softer targets for pro to go after. Pro acts like some other law enforcement agency and calls Sheriff’s dept. and gets info on a ‘related’ case. In plain sight as a tow truck driver gives him placement and access.

– – Scheming – with anybody black at the Sheriff’s department, including the janitor, with anyone who comes across the deputies during everyday routines – coffee shop, oil change, etc. He gets dirt on one deputy and gets him in the pinch.

Character Name: Antagonist

Subtext Identity: The Boss

Subtext Trait: Manipulative, evil, concealing, evasive, corrupt, shifty

Subtext Logline: Kingpin of a drug corridor operation that uses young black men as if they were disposable, he manipulates every relationship to impose his will and everyone’s reality in the reality HE creates.

Possible Areas of Subtext:

– Manipulative: with current mayor and his wife, directs minute details of situations and cases to cover tracks, he has each deputy under tight reigns, reporters to give HIS narrative, disposable low-level dealers / runners.

– Evil: emasculating mayor, teaches one young runner “how to shoot” not like a gangsta – behind him, whips gun to kids and BLAM, in front of other runner, to correct mistake and keep 2^nd guy in line. He sets up a deputy to take the fall for him, saving himself, sleeps with his guys wives, a girl runner ends up dead in car – body in back – he kills the girls baby, gives instructions for clean up.

– Concealing: From the public – drug running, drug money, murder, back room meetings. From his deputies – he takes more money than he tells them even though they do the dangerous / illegal work, steals their wives, conceals a meth or coke habit. From himself – the truth of how many bodies he’s buried over the years.

– Evasive: uses his position and power to distract State Police tracking the drugs, never lets anyone control the narrative but him, avoids people, will ghost someone, answers questions with questions. He tells lies and stories when people start asking about the wrong things.

– Corrupt: will take a bribe, extorts people, flat out steals from people because who are they going to call? Runs drugs.

– Shifty: see above.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Actor Attractors!

VISION: I will work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this assignment is there is a lot of interesting depth to my main characters that will come through on the page / screen and will be exciting to watch.

ACTOR ATTRACTORS

Lead Character Name:

Role: protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to wan to be known for it?

– They would be known as the great vigilante, a powerful and disadvantaged under dog who fights the system and the “man” and wins.

2. What makes this character on of the most interesting characters in your story?

– HowL he’s still in prison of cast & culture even when he’s out of jail and he out smarts the corrupt Sheriff’s department by ‘going along in order to bring them down’… and in the end, he nails them!

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

– Setting up deputies, using their same tactics, kidnapping, torturing, coercing with violence and threat of exposure. Driving/pushing to find black victims.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

– Helping some brothers at a crash scene, he pries open the trunk and exposes tons of dope. He helps them hide it and a gun on one of the dudes, from white cop.

– Leaving jail, so calm, almost zen -biggest skinhead ever gets in his last digs/punches… Pro lights this guy up in a ferocious series of strikes, burns him, fries his arm in an oil vat, then knocks him out. He looks at other skinhead to see if any takers – they all look on in complete respect.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

– Zen to fast hustle, to care taker, to SAVAGE.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

– That he’s going along to get along, but is really, actively setting them up. Politeness with distain.

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

– The weakest man with the most power in the town.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

– He plays the underling, the subservient, submissive role flawlessly without any reservations or molestation – then viciously and violently destroys enemies.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

– His persistence and will power, he comes back from the dead to finish the deal. He is both the savior and the martyr at the same time.

Lead Character Name:

Role: Antagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to wan to be known for it?

– Would get to play the ultimate embodiment of all that’s wrong with corrupt white men.

2. What makes this character on of the most interesting characters in your story?

– Because he’s an all powerful, all knowing F.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

– Unspoken, implied leverage / blackmail / threats to get his way with whoever.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

– Dinner with important couple – he dominates / eviscerates guy with wife, in front of him… & she kind of digs it. This is a powerplay to get something else that he wants.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

– Stone cold / dead eye, alpha commander, predator, charming, a fury unmatched (his “switch” blows you away).

6. What subtext can the actor play?

– Everything is okay, golden, will slit your throat, collected when losing battle, lulls others into a false safety when in absolute danger!

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

– With the protagonist – the pro is ruining his life very effectively.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

– Keeping it light when he is imposing heavy / serious consequences – he’s elegant about it. He is were the buck stops.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

– He is both the over the top gentleman and the most vicious savage ever, at the same time.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Genre Conventions

MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that when you purposely focus on the genre conventions, it really amps up the quality of the story and draws you into that world.

TITLE: BLACK JESUS

CONCEPT: A black tow truck driver gets out on probation after being setup by a dirty Sheriff and begins to expose years of corruption and racist murders committed by the lawman, things he would kill to keep hidden.

GENRE: Thriller

THRILLER CONVENTIONS:

Purpose: To thrill your audience with high stakes, plot twists, and suspense that never lets up until the adrenaline packed climax.

Life and Death Situations:

Mystery/Intrigue/Suspense:

Hero:

Villian:

Main Emotions: Suspense, intrigue, mystery, tension, anticipation, uncertainty, and surprise.

MAIN CONFLICT: Protag desperately tries to expose the crimes of the corrupt Sheriff while the lawman keeps his iron fist around the town and his secrets hidden.

OLD WAYS: Prisoner mentality – go along to get along. Compliant with or backs down from authority. Does as he’s told. Accepts things as they are.

NEW WAYS: Fury, Defiance, Contempt, Accepts nothing, Won’t back down. Would rather die than see the Sheriff get away with these crimes.

ACT I:

Opening:

– Drug deal turned deadly – two black males executed. We see their car later at the junk yard.

– Pro’s last day in prison, he’s respectful to guards, takes orders, has no questions about anything, does as he’s told.

– He’s pulled over on the way home from jail, expired license, he‘s arrested and goes right back to jail – he keeps calm, calms his family down, doesn’t want to rock the boat.

– Deputies work shooting scene – no bodies on scene.

Inciting Incident:

– His uncle who owns a junk yard, gives pro a beat-up tow truck and signs over his LLC to him. He’s now a small business owner.

– His biggest contract is the Sheriff’s department.

Turning Point:

– At a tow scene, pro sees a deputy take cash out of a drug vehicle, deputy sees he’s caught, insists pro take some hush-cash and ‘all is good’.

ACT II:

Reaction:

– Pro freaks out and goes to uncle.

– Uncle coaches him to go along to get along and not speak of it with anybody els

New plan:

– The plan starts to form in his head that he will conduct his own investigation into the Sheriff and his deputies.

– It goes nowhere because he’s passive/submissive.

– He’s so bad at it that the deputies get suspicious of him.

– To warn pro, deputy implies a threat to his nephew if pro doesn’t behave.

– List of attempts doing the old way & each failure.

– The “Department” has to shut pro down & bring him closer into the fold.

Midpoint Turning Point:

– Pro has nephew who is an up-and-coming HS football receiver – TP is when the kid gets shot in the leg right before workouts with college scouts – exactly what the deputy warned.

ACT III:

Rethink everything:

– Pro starts changing to new ways – breaking laws, etc.

New plan:

– He’s pissed – gets smart and seeks help from others (waitress at local all-night diner / girl that works dispatch) to start new/improved plan.

– Starts recon on enemies – puts trackers on their cars, follows them, photographs them.

– Figures them out.

– Takes what he has to a State Trooper.

– A State Trooper crony (Sheriff’s son/nephew/mistress), hears about the report and tips off the Sheriff.

Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift:

– The deputies kidnap his nephew.

– Pro finds out his uncle is a key member in the Sheriff’s crew and the HE HAS BEEN APART OF THEIR DRUG RING ALL ALONG.

ACT IV:

New Plan:

– Pro goes full press – he kidnaps, tortures, bombs and burns cops and their families – an eye for an eye for his nephew.

– Raids their houses, cabins,

– Sneaks into the Sheriff’s station.

– He is gathering intelligence on what has happened to all the other missing black folk of the town.

– He slowly gets answers, and they begin to point to the Sheriff.

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict:

– On the voting day for Mayor, all the dominos that Pro set up start to fall:

– The State Police arrest a couple deputies,

– Pro blows up the Sheriff’s secret stash of millions,

– Pro kidnaps Antag’s wife and then swaps her for him.

– He begins to torture Antag until he gives up where his nephew is.

– And when he finds him, he finds every other person that crossed the Sheriff or his deputies in the past 25 years, all buried in town the entire time.

Resolution:

– The one clean deputy, a Mexican Marine, is now the Sheriff.

– He’s an ally to Pro, understands full well what Pro had to do, and isn’t too bothered by it at all.

– Pro is the new King of the town! An inspiration to all the black townspeople,

– The townspeople begin to take on the Pro’s new ways – they’re more sovereign, confident, bold and stand up for themselves.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s 4-Act Transformational Structure

MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that by laying out this journey, I now have the bones of the structure for an outline.

CONCEPT: A black tow truck driver gets out on probation after being setup by a dirty Sheriff and begins to expose years of corruption and racist murders committed by the lawman, things he would kill to keep hidden.

MAIN CONFLICT: Protag desperately tries to expose the crimes of the corrupt Sheriff while the lawman keeps his iron fist around the town and his secrets hidden.

OLD WAYS: Prisoner mentality – go along to get along. Compliant with or backs down from authority. Does as he’s told. Accepts things as they are.

NEW WAYS: Fury, Defiance, Contempt, Accepts nothing, Won’t back down. Would rather die than see the Sheriff get away with these crimes.

ACT I:

Opening: Pro’s last day in prison, he’s respectful to guards, takes orders, has no questions about anything, does as he’s told. He’s pulled over on the way home from jail, expired license, he‘s arrested and goes right back to jail – he keeps calm, calms his family down, doesn’t want to rock the boat.

Inciting Incident: His uncle gives him a beat-up tow truck and signs over his LLC to him. He’s now a small business owner. His biggest contract is the Sheriff’s department.

Turning Point: He discovers evidence that the deputies are breaking the law.

ACT II:

Reaction: Pro freaks out and goes to uncle. He ends up putting the evidence back where it would logically be found by the deputies.

New plan: The plan starts to form in his head that he will conduct his own investigation into the Sheriff and his deputies. It goes nowhere because he’s passive/submissive. He’s so bad at it that the deputies get suspicious of him. List of attempts doing the old way & each failure.

Midpoint Turning Point: Pro has nephew who is an up-and-coming HS football receiver – TP is when a deputy shoots kid in the leg right before workouts with college scouts – tells him to send a message to his uncle.

ACT III:

Rethink everything: Pro starts changing to new ways – breaking laws, etc.

New plan: He’s pissed – gets smart and seeks help from others to start new/improved plan. Starts recon on enemies, figures them out.

Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift: The deputies kidnap his nephew.

ACT IV:

New Plan: Pro goes full press – he kidnaps, tortures, bombs and burns cops and their families – an eye for an eye for his nephew. Raids their houses, cabins, sneaks into the Sheriff’s station. He is gathering intelligence on what has happened to all the other missing black folk of the town. He slowly gets answers, and they all point to the Sheriff.

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: On the voting day for Mayor, all the dominos that Pro set up start to fall: the State Police arrest a couple deputies, Pro blows up the Sheriff’s secret stash of millions, he kidnaps Antag’s wife and then swaps her for him. He begins to torture Antag until he gives up where his nephew is. And when he finds him, he finds every other person that crossed the Sheriff or his deputies in the past 25 years, all buried in town the entire time.

Resolution: The one clean deputy, a Mexican Marine, is now the Sheriff. He’s an ally to Pro, understands full well what Pro had to do, and isn’t too bothered by it at all. Pro is the new King of the town! An inspiration to all the black townspeople, who begin to take on the Pro’s new ways – they’re more sovereign, confident, bold and stand up for themselves.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Subtext Plot

MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this assignment is that these two subtext plots will add a ton of intriguing layers that will draw the reader/viewer into the story.

CONCEPT: A black tow truck driver gets out on probation after being setup by a dirty Sheriff and begins to expose years of corruption and racist murders committed by the lawman, things he will kill to keep hidden.

SUBTEXT PLOTS:

Scheme and Investigation – this Sheriff’s department has an established and well proven system for covering their crimes and when the protag catches on and starts investigating, he is walking into the lions den.

A Major Cover Up – the Sheriff’s Department is operating a criminal enterprise and a major part of their cover up is possible because of their position and authority. It works because nobody can challenge them… until now.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Transformational Journey

MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this assignment is my protagonist’s journey will completely change the core of who they are by the end of the story.

PROTAGONIST

ARC BEGINNING: A felon, a nobody with no education, no money, no standing in life.

ARC ENDING: The most powerful man in the county.

INTERNAL JOURNEY: Subservient to the “system”. Afraid to take action, or have the Will strong enough to challenge the most dangerous and powerful man in town.

EXTERNAL JOURNEY: From a nameless nobody tow truck driver to a local vigilante hero who has finally found civil justice for his community.

OLD WAYS:

He has the prisoner mentality- ‘go along to get along.’

Compliant with or backs down from authority.

Does as he’s told.

Accepts things as they are.

NEW WAYS:

Defiance.

Contempt.

Fury.

Accepts nothing.

Won’t back down.

Would rather die than see the Sheriff get away with these crimes.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by  Aaron Can Hoff.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Intentional Lead Characters

MY VISION: I am going to work harder than anyone to be an incredible writer who the industry seeks for projects that have consistent commercial success.

What I learned doing this assignment is it helped me be clear and shape my characters to deliver solidly on my concept and title.

CHAR: Protagonist

LOGLINE: A tow truck driver who did 5 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, seeks vengeance on the Sheriff that set him up.

UNIQUE: He tows from crime scenes and finds evidence of police wrong-doing.

CHAR: Antagonist

LOGLINE: A 30-year Sheriff who’s running for mayor, is hellbent on tracking down and eliminating the person who is uncovering the department’s secrets.

UNIQUE: He is all-knowing and all-powerful within his county.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Aaron’s Title, Concept, and Character Structure!

VISION FOR SUCCESS: By the end of this class I will have written a script that is ready for the market and will be a calling card for the type of writing I am capable of producing.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that by picking out the character structure, I am designing the major conflict of the story at a very high level.

TITLE: BLACK JESUS

CONCEPT: A black tow truck driver gets out on probation after being setup by a dirty Sheriff and begins to expose years of corruption and racist murders committed by the lawman, things he will kill to keep hidden.

CHARACTER STRUCTURE: Protagonist vs. Antagonist

[Aaron Can Hoff]

I, Aaron Van Hoff, agree to the terms of this release form.

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of Writing Incredible Movies, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, through social media, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, videos, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Aaron Can Hoff]

Hello All,

I am Aaron Van Hoff. I have written 12-13 SPs. I am hoping to increase the velocity and quality of my writing with this class and I know that Cheryl and Hal are always good for great instruction! So, I was born in Napa, CA and I don’t drink… I think that covers the unique, strange and unusual, not sure about the special.

Can’t wait to work with everyone!

AV