Alan Peterson
Forum Replies Created
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What impressed me most from the video:
80% of producers are accessible
When changes need to be made or producers are under pressure about the script, the writer can be the calm in the eye of the storm.
I want to tackle two big projects
A monster movie called “Chimera” for which I have a completed script (still needs some polishing but it’s done). $60-100 million
Concept I want to develop is a period drama called “Wretch” that is big budget episodic.
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I agree to the terms of this release form
A Peterson
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My name’s Alan Peterson. This is my second Screenwriting U class. I’m a writer, producer, director. I’ve written 6 feature screenplays and 1 episodic pilot. I’m looking to learn how to more professionally present myself as a writer and to be better prepared to contact producers. Something unique. Both times I’ve signed up for an SU class, within a few days, I’ve been hired to write a project.
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Alan Peterson’s Hero and Villain
Yeah… it’s a Taken rip-off.
Concept:
Hero Morally Right:
Fighting to save her husband and his daughter from a cartel of sex-traffickers and drug dealers. AND must fight to free the townspeople from the crushing tyranny of the cartel and local politicians on the take.
Villain Morally Wrong:
Drug kingpin murdered her husband’s close friend, kidnapped husband’s daughter, and terrorizes the townspeople.
Hero
A. Unique Skill Set:
Skilled outdoorswoman, excellent shot, hunter. Taught by her father.
B. Motivation:
Love; save husband. Deliver town from cartel, prove to themselves they aren’t a failure.
C. Secret or Wound:
Blames herself for her father’s death on a hunting trip.
Villain
A. Unbeatable:
Has money, power, trained para-military soldiers at his command, political protection
B. Plan/Goal:
Sell-off prized victims, continue to grow empire by diversifying and adding sex-trafficking. Prove he can beat out competing cartels.
C. What they lose if Hero survives:
Organization exposed, business destroyed, killed
Impossible Mission
A. Puts Hero in Action:
Husband goes missing. No one else seems willing to dig deep enough to find answers. She must go to Mexico in person and put herself at risk.
B. Demands They Go Beyond Their Best:
Have never faced this level of challenge in their life. Must use all her skills. Must allow herself to be captured to know where husband is then, must escape.
C. Destroy the Villain:
She finds her husband and escapes but realizes that the cartel leader will never quit trying to find them and will take out his rage on the innocent townspeople. So, they must kill the cartel leader and his political protectors to be free of them.
4. Answer the question, “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.
The consequence/failure for the Villain must be at least as serious as the consequence of failure for the hero.
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Alan Peterson
I agree to the terms of this release form
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First, very cool to read everyone’s concepts. Some very well thought out ideas that were very interesting. I did development for a film company and got log lines all the time. I would’ve asked to see everyone of these scripts. I’m looking forward to seeing these in the theaters.
What I learned: Really appreciated the idea that first drafts are supposed to be bad. That if we keep going, we’ll find the solution to our writing/dramatic problems. Having confidence that if we don’t quit and keep brain storming, we’ll find something extraordinary.
Highly Skilled Hero: Hunter, former Army, speaks Spanish
Demand for Action: Has to rescue his granddaughter from human traffickers
Mission: Go to Mexico, rescue granddaughter from traffickers before they sell her
Antagonist: Cartel leader, Epstein-type overlord
Escalating Action: Becomes more desperate as the clock ticks, as he gets closer, the cartel leader sends more and more thugs at him, kidnaps wife, forces him to choose
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Howdy! Alan Peterson. I’m an old-timer in the biz. Mostly as a producer and director (small stuff-nothing you’ve heard of). I’ve written several screenplays. I’ve produced and directed one of them. I just had a film greenlit from a short story and now have to turn it into a screenplay quickly. Knew that I’d need some help and thought this would be a good way to force myself to get it done and would help me do a much better job. Unique thing about me; I’m probably the oldest one in the class (pushing 60) and I love tarantulas.