[Amy Amani]

Amy’s Beat Sheet Draft 2

What I learned doing this assignment is I enjoy improving the story in passes. It is far less confusing and less overwhelming to do it bit by bit. There is still a lot of history that I have to untangle in order for the beats to be in exactly the correct order, but this is a great start.

Theme: Girl Power

Ellie discovers her power

The men and the system want her to know her place and stay in it.

The other women (her mother, Elizabeth, Margaret, Anne & Cecily) all advise Ellie in their own ways, some ways work for her, some do not.

Act 1 – Set Up and See Old Ways 25-30 pages

EXT. ST. ALBAN’S – DAY

Establishing shot of the town.

INT. INN – SAME

Ellie working in the inn. The York & Lancaster cousins gather there for a stag do. One of them flirts with her, making another jealous. A fight breaks out which escalates to the first battle of St Alban’s in the Wars of the Roses. This is the first time Ellie’s womanhood has had any effect on the world around her. She is initially caught off guard, and then thrilled by what she’s done.

EXT. INN – SAME

Arthur & Harold put the finishing touches on the score board and change the score to York 1 Lancaster 0.

INT. INN – LIVING QUARTERS – DAY

Ellie’s parents admonish her for her reckless behavior, but Ellie is empowered by the fact that her actions caused boys to fight over her (thus altering the course of history.) Ellie’s father explains to her that she has a place in the family and the world, and she must obey those social laws. He comes from a simple place of “this is how it is, this is how it has always been, this is how it will always be” not a cruel place. Ellie’s mother confides in her that the reality is that women rule the family (and the world) but have to do it covertly (meekly?) and don’t get any of the credit.

INT. INN – LIVING QUARTERS – NIGHT

King Henry VI is captured by the Duke of York and coincidentally taken to Ellie’s home to hide out. Ellie and Henry become friends, which angers the Duke of York. The Duke reiterates Harold’s warning, but in an unkind way. He speaks to her as if she is worthless. This is the first time Ellie is put in her place by someone other than her parents and she does not like it.

Henry, who is a bit simple, befriends Ellie. He is also admonished by York, further belittling Ellie.

*** transition scene where Henry & York leave, while Edward arrives***

INT. INN – DAY

Edward (the Duke of York’s son & future King Edward IV) almost immediately hits on Ellie, she initially is star struck & can’t resist. Ellie’s fantasizes about being queen.

As his advances become too aggressive, she resists. Edward is used to always having his way with women. Ellie’s resistance and eventual refusal is new for him and he doesn’t know how to handle it.

(This has to happen over a period of time. Edward needs to hit on Ellie more than once in order for her to change her mind about how she responds to him. He reacts in different ways: angry, shocked, incredulous, eventually hurt.)

Elizabeth Woodeville Grey passes through looking for her philandering husband, John Grey. Edward takes this opportunity to shift his attention away from Ellie and onto Elizabeth.

At first Ellie is jealous because she has not yet shunned Edward.

Consider alternating scenes with Ellie & Elizabeth going in and out. Edward flirts with them both equally. Create a pattern where he expects one and then the other. Break the pattern by having one of the women come back twice in a row. This throws him and messes up. This can be where he offers to make Ellie queen when he actually meant it for Elizabeth. Elizabeth enters & hears his proposal.

Both women become aware of his sleazy moves and shift alliances to each other. Ellie handles the situation poorly (crying?)

Ellie witnesses a stronger woman standing her ground against a man. Elizabeth needs to handle this situation with quite a bit of finesse.

Edward leaves. Why? He tries to leave because he’s in a sticky situation with the two women. Finally called away for some historical reason.

Ellie’s parents offer Ellie to Elizabeth as her servant. They essentially sell her off.

LOCATION (on the way to Elizabeth Grey’s home)

Ellie encounters Queen Margaret and Edward, Prince of Wales. She sees what being Queen can do to a person (what are the events?? Margaret is a nasty piece of work). A mirror scene to the one with Elizabeth in that Margaret interacts with a man in power. Who?? Ellie witnesses a woman who is actually in a position of power and Margaret does not wield that power with any subtly. Ellie has an opportunity to behave like Margaret. To who?? The interaction does not go well & Ellie decides she doesn’t actually want that for herself. Ellie chooses to emulate Elizabeth.

LOCATION

News that Margaret wins the Battle of Ludlow and the score is now York 1 Lancaster 1. In spite of Ellie choosing not to be like Margaret, she can’t deny that her power won the day(battle).

Act II – Challenge the Old Ways 20-30 pages

INT. ELIZABETH’S QUARTERS AT COURT – DAY

Ellie moves into a room in Elizabeth’s quarters and becomes her protégé and servant. A number of scenes where Ellie is initially resentful to be there, then has a wonderful time, but then, as she witnesses the pettiness and capriciousness of the court, she misses the down-to-earth ways of her family. These scenes should include incidents where women are treated poorly by men, and others where they quietly wield power.

INT/EXT. INN – DAY

Ellie goes home. She is at the very beginning of her transformation into a higher class lady. Her family (except Arthur) and impressed & proud of her. Arthur is the voice of honesty – he tells Ellie that she looks silly, acts silly, etc. He is not impressed. He plants doubt in Ellie’s self confidence.

Another set or two of important players in the wars pass through her home, she tries again and again to stay out of their business, but only manages to influence them more and more. Showing a progression of her self confidence and investment in the people and events of the wars.

Yorkists win the Battle at Northampton (York 2 Lancaster 1).

Lancastrian victory at Battle of Wakefield (York 2 Lancaster 2).

Battle at Mortimer’s Cross (York 3 Lancaster 2).

Turning Point 2: King Henry, who has been Ellie’s ally, is overthrown by the Duke of York who claims the throne. Henry’s wife, Margaret and son, Edward Prince of Wales are exiled to Scotland. All seems lost for the Lancastrians. This hits Ellie very hard.

** Ellie needs to do something here that kicks off the Second Battle of St Alban’s** Something in reaction to the turning point 2 events. Also something in association with John Grey.

EXT. ST ALBAN’S – DAY

Second Battle of St Alban’s (York 3 Lancaster 3).

Act III – With Midpoint change, Profound moments that give us new ways
20-30 pages

INT/EXT. INN – DAY

John Grey is killed at the Second Battle of St Alban’s.<div>

Ellie gets in over her head when she discovers that her actions have actually lead to lives being lost. She returns home despondent. Her mother mothers her, her father is glad that she is finished trying to be something she’s not.

<div>

John Grey’s widow Elizabeth Woodeville, a very practical woman comes to
fetch Ellie and tells her to get over it. People die. We didn’t die, they did.
We need to carry on. For Elizabeth that means finding a new husband. </div><div>

Edward is now back in the picture as a potential husband candidate.

INT. INN – DAY

Ellie befriends the Neville sisters. How???

INT. NEVILLE HOME – DAY

The Neville sisters are closer in age to Ellie and they are more
superficial than Elizabeth. They believ that the way for a woman to wield her
power is in the way she looks. Montage of Ellie being made to look like nobility. A Middle Ages make-over!

*** at some point she has to learn how to behave more lady-like. This
can start with Elizabeth but must continue at some point to lead to her final
transformation.***

Intercut with the make-over, and showing the passage of time, (battle?)
York 6 Lancaster 4. Edward captured at the Battle of Edgecote (York 6 Lancaster
5). Clarence & Warwick take London (York 6 Lancaster 6)

LOCATION

Ellie crosses paths with Margaret and the Prince of Wales again. How???
Why?? Where?? This can be where Margaret insults her by saying that even though
she looks the part, she still acts like a peasant.

Ellie introduces the Price of Wales to Anne Neville (?) they fall in
love.

The Prince of Wales is killed in battle. (Which battle? Does it change
the score?)

Anne openly mourns, the way Elizabeth did not. Ellie is not equipped to
console her. Anne takes her sorrow out on Ellie and sends her away.

LOCATION

Ellie, saddened by the death of the prince and the effect on Anne, goes home. She tries to fit back into her previous life of serving men and not meddling in their business. But she is so much more clever than the idiots around her that she can’t help herself.

Events that lead to York 7 Lancaster 6 & how Ellie caused those
events to happen. </div>

Act IV: Test the change in this character! Prove New Ways! 25 pages

LOCATION

Ellie’s mother tells her to pull it together and get on with it. Very
much like Elizabeth did earlier. Ellie is shocked by her mother’s forcefulness,
which she has never displayed before.

Ellie receives an invitation to Elizabeth & Edward IV’s wedding!

INT. PALACE – DAY

Wedding day. At the reception Elizabeth credits Ellie for introducing
her to Edward. She bestows the nickname “The Queen Maker” on Ellie.

Ellie takes her new nick name to heart and emboldened by it, she
reconciles with Anne Neville and introduces her to Richard Duke of Gloucester
(the future King Richard III).

***York 8 Lancaster 6. What causes this score change and how does it
fit in with the happy events? ***

Ellie finally realizes her new, new way is not to be in power, but to
be the power behind the crown. She councils a younger woman in the court (who?)

Resolution: Ellie lives happily ever after as the court matchmaker and
mentor to the younger girls on how to find their power in spite of the world
they live in, and a bit about effecting positive change.

Her family refuse to move closer to her, but do accept her help and
they make over their inn and prosper. Some sort of ironic end for Arthur. Maybe
Ellie finds him a wife and she is the dominant personality in the family.

</div>

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s High Speed Beat Sheet

What I learned doing this assignment is I very much do tend to get caught up in perfectionism. I know that’s not the way to do it, and I know everything will improve with each draft/pass. Now I have to put the knowledge to the test and actually do it! And that’s why I’m taking this course.

I am going to use these High Speed Writing Rules to get my script done at record speed.

Act 1 – Set Up and See Old Ways 25-30 pages

EXT. ST. ALBAN’S – DAY

Establishing shot of the town.

INT. INN – SAME

Ellie working in the inn. The York & Lancaster cousins gather there for a stag do. One of them flirts with her, making another jealous. A fight breaks out which escalates to the first battle of St Alban’s in the Wars of the Roses.

EXT. INN – SAME

Arthur & Harold put the finishing touches on the score board and change the score to York 1 Lancaster 0.

INT. INN – LIVING QUARTERS – DAY

Ellie’s parents admonish her for her reckless behavior, but Ellie is empowered by the fact that her actions caused boys to fight over her (thus altering the course of history.)

INT. INN – LIVING QUARTERS – NIGHT

King Henry VI is captured by the Duke of York and coincidentally taken to Ellie’s home to hide out. Ellie and Henry become friends, which angers the Duke of York.

INT. INN – DAY

Edward (the Duke of York’s son & future King Edward IV) hits on Ellie, she initially is star struck & can’t resist. But then realizes that she can (and does) say no.

ANOTHER LOCATION

Ellie and Elizabeth Grey bond over Edward also hitting on Elizabeth. Initially, there is conflict between them. Ellie’s fantasizes about being queen. (Consider Ellie’s parents “sell” her off to Elizabeth)

LOCATION

Ellie encounters Queen Margaret and Edward, Prince of Wales. She sees what being Queen can do to a person (Margaret is a nasty piece of work) and decides she doesn’t actually want that for herself. (this may come later)

EXT. INN – DAY

News that Margaret wins the Battle of Ludlow and the score is now York 1 Lancaster 1.

Act II – Challenge the Old Ways 20-30 pages

INT. ELIZABETH’S QUARTERS AT COURT – DAY

Ellie moves into a room in Elizabeth’s quarters and becomes her protégé. Arc of her resentful to be there, then has a wonderful time, but then, as she witnesses the pettiness and capriciousness of the court, she misses the down-to-earth ways of her family. (This arc over a couple of acts)

INT/EXT. INN – DAY

Ellie goes home. She is at the very beginning of her transformation into a higher class lady. Her family (except Arthur) and impressed & proud of her.

Another set or two of important players in the wars pass through her home, she tries again and again to stay out of their business, but only manages to influence them more and more.

Yorkists win the Battle at Northampton (York 2 Lancaster 1).

Lancastrian victory at Battle of Wakefield (York 2 Lancaster 2).

Battle at Mortimer’s Cross (York 3 Lancaster 2).

Turning Point 2: King Henry, who has been Ellie’s ally, is overthrown by the Duke of York who claims the throne. Henry’s wife, Margaret and son, Edward Prince of Wales are exiled to Scotland. All seems lost for the Lancastrians. This hits Ellie very hard.

** Ellie needs to do something here that kicks off the Second Battle of St Alban’s**

EXT. ST ALBAN’S – DAY

Second Battle of St Alban’s (York 3 Lancaster 3).

Act III – With Midpoint change, Profound moments that give us new ways
20-30 pages

INT/EXT. INN – DAY

Ellie gets in over her head when she discovers that her actions have actually lead to lives being lost.

John Grey is killed at the Second Battle of St Alban’s.

His widow Elizabeth Woodeville, a very practical woman, begins looking
for a new husband. Ellie offers to help.

INT. INN – DAY

Ellie befriends the Neville sisters.

INT. NEVILLE HOME – DAY

Montage of Ellie learning how to behave & look like nobility. A Middle Ages make-over!

Intercut with the make-over, and showing the passage of time, (battle?)
York 6 Lancaster 4. Edward captured at the Battle of Edgecote (York 6 Lancaster
5). Clarence & Warwick take London (York 6 Lancaster 6)

LOCATION

Ellie introduces the Price of Wales to Anne Neville (?) they fall in love.

The Prince of Wales is killed in battle.

Anne openly mourns, the way Elizabeth did not.

LOCATION

Ellie, saddened by the death of the prince and the effect on Anne, goes home. She tries to fit back into her previous life of serving men and not meddling in their business. But she is so much more clever than the idiots around her that she can’t help herself.

Events that lead to York 7 Lancaster 6 & how Ellie caused those
events to happen.

Act IV: Test the change in this character! Prove New Ways! 25 pages

LOCATION

Elizabeth marries Edward IV. Ellie takes the credit for introducing
them. She gains the nickname “The Queen Maker.”

Ellie takes her new nick name to heart and hooks up Anne Neville and
Richard Duke of Gloucester (the future King Richard III).

York 8 Lancaster 6.

She finally realizes new new way is not to be in power, but to be the
power behind the crown.

Resolution: Ellie lives happily ever after as the court matchmaker. Her
family refuse to move closer to her, but do accept her help and they make over
their inn and prosper. Some sort of ironic end for Arthur.

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s Transformational Events

What I learned doing this assignment is I actually have more to figure out, but here it is for the purposes of this assignment. Ellie’s events are not all struggles. She has a number of victories, growing in size, with defeats mixed in. These will all become stronger as I figure out more details. The history is so confusing and full of characters, it’s a lot to wrap my head around & a lot to strip down to fit into a 90-110 page comedy!

Character Arc: Ellie’s internal journey goes from felling like she has no control over her life and the things that happen to her, to not only taking back that control but using it to steer the course of British history.

Her external journey sees her living in a tiny hovel with her parents and brother. As a woman in Medieval Britain, she has few options and fewer rights. When she sees a tiny opportunity to change her own lot in life, she grabs it and goes on a fantastic journey up the social ladder – dragging all of Britain’s aristocracy with her.

Ellie’s Old Ways

· Feeling she has no control over her own life

· Living in squalor, sharing a room with her bratty little brother

· Working her family’s farm/inn

· Feeling like the ugly duckling

Ellie’s New Ways

· Takes control of the events of her own life and the lives of the nobles

· Leaves the family home, but returns frequently to visit

· Not only able to support herself, but her family, as well

· Is the most beautiful, envied and powerful woman at court. She is the Queen Maker.

Transformational Changes:

· The nobles fight over her in the inn, which kicks off the Wars of the Roses

· Ellie befriends the captured King Henry VI

· Edward (the Duke of York’s son & future King Edward IV) hits on her, she initially is star struck & can’t resist. But then realizes that she can (and does) say no.

· Ellie and Elizabeth Grey bond over Edward also hitting on Elizabeth. Initially, there is conflict between them.

· Ellie encounters Queen Margaret and Edward, Prince of Wales. She sees what being Queen can do to a person and decides she doesn’t actually want that for herself.

· Edward York goes to Ellie for comfort after losing the battle at Wakefield. Ellie seizes the opportunity to use the wiles she learned from Elizabeth on Edward.

· After Lord Grey is killed at the second Battle of St Alban’s, Ellie hatches a plan to get Elizabeth & Edward together. This is her first match making success.

· Ellie tries the same tricks on the Duke of Clarence that worked so well on Edward, and fails.

· Isabella Neville is betrothed to Clarence, but wants to call it off because she catches Ellie trying to seduce him. In a reversal of roles, Edward forbids Clarence from marrying Isabella. Ellie learns a new trick – reverse psychology.

· Ellie finds herself coaching the Price of Wales and Anne Neville about the ways of love. A bit ironic, since Ellie is a virgin herself. Getting these two kids together is very fulfilling, and Ellie is now certain she has found her place in the world – as a royal matchmaker.

· Ellie hits her lowest point when she realizes that her actions have led to the death of King Henry VI – the only one of the nobles who truly liked her for who she was.

· Ellie saves the fugitive King Edward IV, which puts her forever in his debt. She cashes in that debt by making Edward allow Clarence to marry Isabella, and by vowing to take care of her family for the rest of their days.

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s Character Interviews

What I learned doing this assignment is – this was great fun! I had a tricky time with the antagonist because it’s a system of government rather than an individual. And even when that system of government is represented by an individual, it changes as the wars progress. So, I anthropomorphised the system.

Ellie

Tell me about yourself.

Oh, you don’t want to hear about me. I’m nobody. OK – um – my name is Ellie. That’s short for Eleanor. I’m 18. I live with my parents and stupid brother, Arthur, near St. Albans. We have a little farm hold/run an inn. My family are way into the battles. They take sides and keep score. My mother knits red or white scarves so fast – it’s really impressive! That’s it, really.

Why do you think you were
called to this journey? Why you?

That’s easy – because for my whole life I’ve been told that I can’t. I can’t go to school; I can’t marry above my station; I can’t wish for more than I have. I think I can. And anyway, I can’t bear sharing a room with smelly Arthur for another minute!

You are up against the
entire British nobility and the establishment. What is it about them that
makes this journey even more difficult for you?

They’re the ones who want to me to stay in my place. But that’s only because they don’t know me. I’m super clever and ambitious, even if I am a girl. I learned something recently. I can get men to do what I want. It’s not magic, like my father says. It’s because I’m a girl and know how to use that to my advantage.

In order to survive or
accomplish this, you are going to have to step way outside of your box.
What changes do you expect to make and which of them will be the most
difficult?

I think that as I go higher and higher up the noble ladder I will have to change tact. Getting what I want out of the lesser nobles will be easy. As I get closer to the King it will become more difficult. Also, I’ll have to leave my family behind. As much as I complain, I really do love them. Even Arthur.

What habits or ways of
thinking do you think will be the most difficult to let go of?

I have to learn to look different, to talk differently, to think like they do. My father and brother will try to keep me here, my mother will encourage me, but the changes in me will scare her. So making my own decisions, knowing some of them may hurt my family, will be very difficult. Also, some of my decisions will alter the course of history.

What fears, insecurities and
wounds have held you back?

Fear of failure. Fear of success. If I fail, I return to my old life. If I succeed then I enter a world that I know nothing about.

What skills, background or
expertise makes you well-suited to face this conflict or antagonist?

I’m quite good at reading people. Working in the service industry I’ve picked up the ability to know what someone wants. I just need to translate that skill from knowing what they want to drink to knowing what their political allegiances are, who they are willing to kill in battle, that sort of thing. Also, I’m super cute. That goes a long, long way.

What are you hiding from the
other characters? What don’t you want them to know?

Obviously I don’t want them to know that I am actually just a peasant. I need them to believe that I’m worth their time and affection. I also don’t really want them to know that I aspire to reach the very top of their hierarchy. I’ll have to keep my motivations very close.

What do you think of the
King?

Henry? He’s lovely, but not a good ruler. His wife, Margaret is one to watch out for. She could ruin everything. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to be Henry’s mistress! I don’t think he will fare well over the next few year, and his son, Edward, is too young and silly. It’s one of the Yorkists who I will set my sights on: either Edward Earl of March or Richard. We’ll see how it goes.

Tell me your side of this
whole conflict / story.

If by conflict you mean the Wars of the Roses, I’m not really involved. OK, that’s not entirely accurate. I don’t really care, at this point, who wins. It’s not my fault that some of the choices I make influence either a Lancastrian or Yorkist win at any given time. If, on the other hand, you mean the abysmal way peasants and especially peasant women are treated in the Middle Ages, then I have a whole lot to say! Since the beginning of time men have clomped around this Earth taking whatever they want regardless of consequences. If a woman steps up and does the same she’s called a bitch or pushy or other nasty names. Why? We’re obviously more clever than men. That’s proven time and again by the power wielded from behind a man. I want some of that. If I can’t break the system entirely, then I at least want to break out of here and cause as much trouble as I can!

What does it do for your
life if you succeed here?

If I succeed, I get to live in a palace. I get to give my family a leg up. I get to wear fabulous gowns and eat every day. Mostly, I get to rule an entire country – albeit hidden behind the King’s crown.

Ask any other questions
about their character profile that will help you.

British Socio-political System

Tell me about yourself.

We are the patriarchal system with God on our side. We are unchangeable and all-powerful.

Having to do with this
journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses?

We are only strength. How dare you imply otherwise! But, if we’re being honest, We do love the ladies – just not ladies in positions of power.

Why are you committed to
making the Protagonist fail?

It goes against all that is Britain to have a peasant girl be anything other than what she was born as. Besides, think how embarrassing it would be if she succeeds!

What do you get out of
winning this fight / succeeding in your plan / taking down your
competition?

Maintaining the status quo. Keeping the oppressed, um, oppressed. And power. Always power. And money. Power, money and loyalty. And the allegiance of my former foes. You get the picture.

What drives you toward your
mission / agenda, even in the face of danger, ruin, or death?

The will of God and the people. (What do you mean not all the people? Lower classes? They don’t count.) The will of God and the people with money and station.

What secrets must you keep
to succeed? What other secrets do you keep out of fear / insecurity?

We don’t actually know what we’re doing.

Compared to other people
like you, what makes you special?

We are the British Empire. That alone puts Us above the rest. There are no others ‘like me.’

What do you think of Ellie?

Who? Oh, her. We don’t think of her.

Tell me your side of this
whole conflict / story.

From what We’ve been told, there is an insignificant farm girl from Hertfordshire causing a bit of a stir. She seems to be able to insinuate herself into the lives of other, far more important people. If my lesser nobles are so foolish as to be coerced by such an inconsequential child, then let them pay the price for their impudence. She will never be more then a flea on the hide of a lion.

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s 4 Act Transformational Structure

What I learned doing this assignment is that in order to figure out the antagonists’ move throughout I have to figure out more story beats. At the moment, the picture is so big, and the history so complicated that I will have to come back and fill in those bits later.

Concept: In an alternate reality, Ellie, a peasant girl in the Middle Ages, unhappy with her lot in life instigates the Wars of the Roses and eventually becomes the King’s mistress, while her family watch the battles like a sporting event – even keeping a scoreboard.

Ellie’s Old Ways

· Feeling she has no control over her own life

· Living in squalor, sharing a room with her bratty little brother

· Working her family’s farm & a second job at a near-by inn

· Feeling like the ugly duckling

Ellie’s New Ways

· Takes control of the events of her own life and the lives of the nobles

· Leaves the family home, but returns frequently to visit

· Not only able to support herself, but her family, as well

· Is the most beautiful and envied woman at court.

Main Conflict: All of the British nobility wants to maintain the status quo – that men, men of wealthy & property specifically – are in charge. Ellie wants to break the mould; the ‘system’ doesn’t want to be broken.

Act 1 – Set Up and See Old Ways 25-30 pages

Opening: Ellie working in the inn. The York & Lancaster cousins gather there for a stag do. One of them flirts with her, making another jealous. A fight breaks out which escalates to the first battle of St Alban’s in the Wars of the Roses. (York 1 Lancaster 0)

Inciting Incident: Ellie’s parents admonish her for her reckless behavior, but Ellie is empowered by the fact that her actions caused boys to fight over her (thus altering the course of history.)

Lock in the Journey: King Henry VI is captured by the Duke of York and coincidentally taken to Ellie’s home to hide out. Ellie and Henry become friends, which angers firs the Duke of York and later Queen Margaret.

Other key events of Act I – Margaret wins the Battle of Ludlow (York 1 Lancaster 1). Edward and Elizabeth meet for the first time. Edward makes moves on both Ellie and Elizabeth. The seeds of Ellie & Elizabeth’s future alliance are sown.

Act II – Challenge the Old Ways 20-30 pages

Reaction: Ellie gets in a bit over her head when she discovers that her actions have actually lead to lives being lost. Her family, unaware of that Ellie is essentially the puppet master, view the war as a sporting event and build a score board. As Ellie moves deeper into the world of nobility, she Misses her family.

The Plan: Ellie tries to return to her previous life of serving men and not meddling in their business. But she is so much more clever than the idiots around her that she can’t help herself. As the important players in the wars pass through her home, she tries again and again to stay out of their business, but only manages to influence them more and more.

Turning Point 2: King Henry, who has been Ellie’s ally, is overthrown by the Duke of York who claims the throne. Henry’s wife, Margaret and son, Edward Prince of Wales are exiled to Scotland. All seems lost for the Lancastrians.

Other key event sin Act II – Yorkists win the Battle at Northampton (York 2 Lancaster 1). Lancastrian victory at Battle of Wakefield (York 2 Lancaster 2). Battle at Mortimer’s Cross (York 3 Lancaster 2). Second Battle of St Alban’s (York 3 Lancaster 3).

Act III – With Midpoint change, Profound moments that give us new ways
20-30 pages

New Plan: Ellie accepts that she is in over her head. She accepts help
from either Queen Margaret or Elizabeth Woodeville (maybe even one of the
Neville sisters). Montage of Ellie learning how to behave & look like
nobility. A Middle Ages make-over!

Turning Point: this plan doesn’t work, but I don’t yet know why. The
Prince of Wales is killed in battle.

Other key events in Act III – skip ahead to York 6 Lancaster 4. Edward
captured at the Battle of Edgecote (York 6 Lancaster 5). Clarence & Warwick
take London (York 6 Lancaster 6)

Act IV: Test the change in this character! Prove New Ways! 25 pages

New New Way: Ellie hooks up Anne Neville and Richard Duke of Gloucester
(the future King Richard III). She finally considers giving Edward IV the time
of day. The new new way is not to be in power, but to be the power behind the
crown.

Climax: The Second Battle of St Alban’s. (While this is nicely
circular, it is not historically correct. So I have to decide which way to go
here.) John Grey is killed, his widow Elizabeth Woodeville then marries Edward
IV.

Resolution: One of two things: take the story to its historical end,
which is actually with Richard III being crowned. Or end with Ellie on top of
the world as Edward’s mistress and hint at a darker future for them both. Also
consider Ellie & Elizabeth forming an alliance.

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s Character Profile Part 2

What I learned doing this assignment is that it’s interesting that as I work out the character profile ideas come to me for the story beats. Also, I’m not going to do an antagonist profile just yet, because the antagonist is more of a ‘thing’ than a ‘who.’ If, while continuing to work, I discover that there is one particular antagonist, then I will go back and work out a profile.

Fill in Part 2 of the character Profile for your two lead characters.

What draws us to this
character? Ellie is a young girl with big dreams. She’s uneducated and
mostly unskilled, but she knows what she wants, and she uses her wit and innate
cleverness to get it.
Traits: ambitious, funny, quick-witted,
and resilient
Subtext: afraid of failure, equally
afraid of success
Flaw: naïve and mostly
ignorant about the ways of the world she aspires to be a part of
Values: hard-working, family
is very important (even her annoying little brother), true love
Irony: she believes in true love
but knows she will have to fake it to make it.
What makes this the right
character for this role? Everyone else is where they belong on the social
ladder. And if they are not exactly in the right place, they are waging
war to get there. Ellie uses subtler means to climb the ladder and makes
it to the top without any bloodshed.

[Amy Amani]

Amy Amani’s Character Profiles Part 1

What I learned doing this assignment is that taking the time to really break down a character is a skill that I have pushed to the background. But it really makes it so much easier when figuring out the character’s motivations.

2. Protagonist’s role: Dreamer. Ellie dreams of a better life for herself and her family. She spends the entire story chasing, and finally achieving, that dream.

3. Antagonist’s Role: Authority. The antagonist is really the System. The System is personified by Ellie’s parents and the nobility. (there will be sympathetic characters, but I have no idea who they are yet).

4. Other characters: Ellie’s family and certain key players in the Wars of the Roses will be supporting characters. Minor roles go to other historical figures from the era. Background characters will probably be soldiers, courtiers, etc.

5. Genre: Historical comedy

6. a. Role in the story: Ellie is the protagonist. She is a peasant girl in 15^th Century England. She works her family’s farm hold and/or inn.

b. Age Range & Description: She is in her late teens. Because of the norms of the time, this is marrying age. At the beginning, we can see that she is an attractive girl, but plain and underwhelming. By the end she is glamorous, envied for her beauty and commands the room.

c. Internal Journey: Ellie is expected to stay in her place, don’t speak unless spoken to, mind her parents, and be loyal to the King. She starts off doing all those things. By the end, she far exceeds her station, she wuses her clever wit to manipulate the outcome of one of the most important series of battles in British history, she becomes a king maker. She still minds her parents – she’s not a monster.

d. External Journey: She lives in squalor, shares a room with her horrible little brother, wears rags and works too hard. By the end, she lives in a palace, has her own servants, wears magnificent clothes, and is the most (quietly) powerful person in the kingdom.

e. Ellie’s Want: to better herself and rise above her station. Her Need: to be heard and seen.

f. Wound: still working on this one.

g. Mission/Agenda: Outwardly it is to make a better life for herself and her family. More covertly, even to herself, it’s to break the chains of oppression against women and the lower class.

h. Secret: Ellie will have to hide her true identity from quite a number of other people as she rises through the ranks.

i. What make Ellie special: in a time when women were uneducated and had no rights, when they were considered the property of their fathers then husbands, Ellie can see a world beyond the constraints. Naturally clever and witty, she uses her smarts and (begrudgingly) her wiles to manipulate the men in power all the way up to the King.

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s Transformational Journey

What I learned doing this assignment is this: I have had the rights to adapt a play called ‘York 8 Lancaster 6’ for a number of months now. I directed the play over 20 years ago & remember it as very funny. However, once I re-read it, I realized that it is only a series of funny events, not a story. So I’ve been stuck for a while trying to figure out what the story is. Working through Ellie’s journey has helped clear that path.

My hero is Ellie. Her internal journey goes from felling like she has no control over her life and the things that happen to her, to not only taking back that control but using it to steer the course of British history.

Her external journey sees her living in a tiny hovel with her parents and brother. As a woman in Medieval Britain, she has few options and fewer rights. When she sees a tiny opportunity to change her own lot in life, she grabs it and goes on a fantastic journey up the social ladder – dragging all of Britain’s aristocracy with her.

Ellie’s Old Ways

· Feeling she has no control over her own life

· Living in squalor, sharing a room with her bratty little brother

· Working her family’s farm & a second job at a near-by inn

· Feeling like the ugly duckling

Ellie’s New Ways

· Takes control of the events of her own life and the lives of the nobles

· Leaves the family home, but returns frequently to visit

· Not only able to support herself, but her family, as well

· Is the most beautiful and envied woman at court.

[Amy Amani]

1. Name – Amy Amani

2. How many scripts you’ve written – about 7 decent ones, and loads of crappy ones. Additional two in draft form as of the posting of this comment.

3. What you hope to get out of the class – I’m a terrible procrastinator with lots of ideas. I hope to learn some skills to get out of my own way and get those ideas out of my head & onto paper.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you – I’ve lived all over the world, attended 18 schools, and have landed in Oxford, UK.

[Amy Amani]

Amy Amani

I agree to the terms of this release form.

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, 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, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, 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.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by  Amy Amani.

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s Synopsis for Producer Interview

Title: The Dominant Jean
Genre: Comedy
Logline: A small group of single mums have the opportunity to live in an old manor house with their children under the caveat that they repair the house. Unable to afford the repairs they strike up a bartering arrangement with local builders and become dominatrices.
Synopsis: Jean, a widow with a tween daughter, and her friend Birdie, an Earth Mother raising her two small grandchildren, struggle to make ends meet. Through their realtor friend, Sue, they meet Lola – the eccentric octogenarian who lives in the decrepit manor house just outside the village. Lola, unable to sell the house, offers it to Jean with two caveats: that she fix it up and restore it to its former glory; and that Lola will continue to live out her days in her family home. Jean, her daughter Mitzi, Birdie, her grandchildren, and Mitzi’s pregnant best friend, India happily move into the house and begin trying to make the repairs on their own.

Meanwhile, Jean’s younger, perfect, wealthy sister, Rebel is going through some troubles of her own. It turns out her perfect life isn’t as perfect as she thought it was. Rather than confront her asshole of a husband, she acts out the way she always has – by lashing out at her big sister.

Jean soon discovers that there are local builders with similar penchants – they like to be submissive. So shares this bit of news with Birdie & Sue and they decide to go for it. They become dominatrices and barter their services for repairs. Unfortunately for them, being a dom is not something you can just pick up. They make plenty of mistakes as they stumble through learning their new trade. Fortunately for them, a mentor steps in to help. Estelle, the new parish secretary, is more than a mild-mannered 60-year-old. She is also a retired dom. She teaches Jean and her friends the ropes (so to speak) and when she feels like they deserve it, hands over her old client list.

Mitzi, angry with her mother for “ruining her life” tells Rebel about the goings on at Knowle Hall and Rebel sets about trying to shut her sister’s new business venture down. Rebel’s first win is to have India sent back home to her own parents (who want nothing to do with her since she became pregnant), and much to Mitzi’s dismay. Then she gets the church involved by declaring the house an unfit environment for the children. The church, in turn, has the local authorities remove the children.

Jean reaches out to Estelle for help, but Estelle refuses. Her refusal is actually a ploy on her part to teach Jean to be more dominant in everyday situations.

Throughout all of this, Jean begins a new romance with Jason, a builder who is not one of her clients. Jean struggles with her relationship with Mitzi, and how to break it to Jason that working as a riding instructor is only her “day job.”

India quietly turns 16 and immediately leaves per parents’ house and returns to Knowle Hall.

Jean, aware of Rebel’s home situation and fed up with her juvenile, vindictive behavior, goes to Rebel’s house, packs up her things against her will. Jean tells her to shut up, she is her sister, and she’s going to help, like it or not. Rebel and her kids need a safe, loving environment and Jean needs money. Rebel says money won’t get her out of trouble with the church, she will have to get Estelle to intervene. Jean uses the same “won’t take no for an answer” tact on Estelle that Estelle used on her previously. Pleased, Estelle does everything in her power to make it right for Jean, Birdie and the children.

Just as the children are returned home, Rebel’s husband finds his home empty. In a fury, he goes to the manor house looking for his family. When he arrived, India points him out to the police saying “that’s him.” He’s arrested for having sex with a minor.

Jason does something romantic and lovely, but Jean does not change her new life for him. Rebel has her first dom experience and loves it.

The story ends with India coming home from the hospital with her new baby, embraced by this unusual, but very loving family.

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s Fantasy Comedy Writing Sample Plan

What I learned doing this assignment is that I really don’t need to write one or two full paragraphs to set up these pages. All of the set up for the entire series is here. I wonder if more set up would make the read more or less interesting? I mean, if the producer knows exactly who Cardea is and when she is doing in this place, does that diminish from the set up in script which reveals those very things? I don’t know the answer.

These are the opening pages of the pilot for When in Rome, a half hour sitcom aimed at a tween audience.

COLD OPEN

INT. TYPICAL HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY – DAY

Banks of lockers, separated by classroom doors. Hand painted posters vie for attention. Kids mill around.

CARDEA (14) saunters down the busy hallway. She wears up-to-the-minute fashion and carries the very latest model of cell phone and accessories. She is VERY popular. She carries herself with an air of casual superiority. The other kids look at her with deep admiration.

Except for NATALIE, YVONNE and CHIARA (all 16), the “Borgias,” the Heathers/Plastics of our story.

Natalie, the head of the serpent, and co-captain of the cheerleading squad, is even more perfectly perfect. She is a queen bee in training and (almost) everyone fears her.

Yvonne is gorgeous and dumb as a box of hair. She has honed her vacuous personality to an art. Granted, that art is as refined as finger painting, but she does it perfectly.

Chiara is Italian and speaks little English. Her withering gaze and biting remarks transcend language.

They glare at Cardea with a disdain that barely conceals burning envy. All three of these girls are always perfectly made up & dressed.

Cardea speaks directly to the camera throughout this scene.

CARDEA

Hi, my name is Cardea. It’s September and I am just about to start 9th grade in a brand new school. I’d really like to tell you that this is what I look like, but actually – I’m kind of a dork.

In a puff of smoke, her clothes and hairstyle change to those of a significantly less stylish kid.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

Dang.

The other kids don’t look at her at all now. Her posture and demeanor droop with the new look.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

The best thing about going to a new school is no one knows who you were before. You can adjust, fit in, and no one will know that you’re actually just faking it. And boy am I faking it!

She looks around at the other kids and at her own clothes.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

This still isn’t quite right. Oh! I forgot to mention, it’s September 1982!

Everybody’s clothes change to 1982 styles.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

Did you know that 60 years ago the word “teenager” was coined? It’s true. (beat) By the way, this is a Catholic school.

The kids’ clothes change to Catholic school uniforms.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

An all-girls Catholic school.

Boom – all the boys vanish.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

An all-girls Catholic boarding school.

Metal bars slam down over windows. Double doors at the front of the school CLANG shut like jail cell doors.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

(re the bars & doors)

That’s exactly why I was sent here: maximum security. At least we don’t actually wear these awful uniforms.

Clothes go back to 1982 street clothes. Cardea walks toward the outer doors in jeans and a plain t-shirt.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

There’s just one more detail I forgot to mention. My school…

She puts her hands on the doors. Cardea flings the school doors open and steps outside.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

… is in Rome!

EXT. SAMI CAMPUS – DAY

Italian sunlight warms and colors everything. The campus is lush, with an umbrella pine-lined road running uphill from the main gate to a picturesque old villa. On one side of the road a tennis/basketball court breaks up the greenery at the bottom of the hill. The dorm & school buildings are on the other side.

CARDEA

Welcome to Saint Agnes of Montepulciano International, SAMI for short. Pretty nice, right? Classes are up there, dorm here. My room is number 48.

She points to a window on the second floor, second from the end.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

I have two roommates, but I haven’t met them yet.

She walks onto a large patio in front of the dorm building. Other girls and their parents lug suitcases in. Upperclassmen hug and chatter about their summer adventures.

A ‘Welcome to SAMI’ table is set up on the patio, manned by Natalie, Yvonne and Chiara. They welcome incoming freshmen girls and their parents. All three of them are pictures of courtesy and cheerfulness.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

I bet you’re thinking what a bunch of spoiled rich girls populate this place. And you’d be right – about some of them. The rest? Well, most of their parents work overseas, and because of that, girls have been coming here since the 60s. That’s Sue, her father works for the Canadian embassy.

SUE (14) crouches behind a bush taking pictures of the other students with an impressively large camera.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

That group over there are military brats.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

That’s Francesca, like most of the girls here her father works in Saudi Arabia. Unlike any other girl here, she’s captain of the cheerleading squad… so basically… Queen Bee;

FRANCESCA (17), surrounded by groupies, demonstrates a high kick. Her adoring crowd applaud her superior skill, then try and fail to kick as high.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

Rachel is Australian, but she came here from Lebanon. There are girls here from all over the globe. Point is, not a single one of these girls comes from where I come from. And that makes me unique. Too bad “unique” is a adolescent’s word for “wrong.” Anyway, here we are. A bunch of teen-aged girls away from parental supervision for the first time. Totally exciting! And a bit scary.

Another girl, TERRI (14), cries and hugs her parents.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

That’s one of my roommates. I haven’t met her yet, but I know who she is because I’m the omniscient narrator. How cool is that?

At the Welcome to SAMI table, Yvonne hands a new student a welcome packet and recites an over-rehearsed speech…

YVONNE

Welcome to SAMI! Here’s a map of the campus, a short list of helpful Italian phrases, dress code, and all sorts of other helpful hints to make you feel at home.

… while Natalie checks her name off a list in a note book and Chiara makes a note next to the girl’s name “brutta, ma con potenziale.”

NATALIE

You’re in room 40. Just go in these doors, up one flight and half way down the hall. You can’t miss it.

As soon as the new girl walks away, Natalie reads the note.

NATALIE (CONT’D)

I agree, “ugly, but with potential.”

(to the next girl)

Hi! Welcome to SAMI!

CARDEA

My goal is to learn how to blend in. To become just like them… Cardea makes a sweeping gesture taking in all of the girls around her.

CARDEA (CONT’D)

… without becoming like them!

She indicates the Borgias.

Sue approaches their table, camera clicking away. The Borgias pose and smile. Sue snaps a couple of pics then moves on.

The Borgias are so caught up with posing, they do not immediately notice that Sue has gone. They discreetly glance around to make sure no one sees them looking foolish. Especially Francesca.

MISS HILLS,(30s) a very proper English lady and the housemother, leads Terri and her parents to the Welcome table.

MISS HILLS

Ladies, this is Teresa Brennan. Can you help her get settled, please?

The Borgias exchange looks of exaggerated sympathy about Terri’s obvious distress, entirely for Miss Hills’ benefit.

NATALIE

Of course.

Yvonne recites her speech even more cheerfully, but just as stiff and unnaturally. Consequently – louder.

YVONNE

Welcome to SAMI! Here’s a map! Of the campus! A short list of helpful! Italian phrases! Dress code! And all sorts of other helpful hints! To make you feel! At home!

Natalie checks her name off the list.

NATALIE

Teresa —

TERRI

— It’s Terri.

NATALIE

Terri. You’re in room 48. Go in these doors, up one flight. It’s the second from the end. You can’t miss it.

MISS HILLS

Thank you, ladies. You’ve been very helpful.

NATALIE

(sycophantically)

Our pleasure.

As Terri walks away, accompanied by Miss Hills and her parents, Chiara writes her comment in the note book.

CHIARA

(shakes her head)

Nessuna speranza.

NATALIE

(correctly translating)

No hope at all.

YVONNE

(totally wrong)

Like, totally ugly shoes.

Chiara and Natalie grimace at Yvonne.

CARDEA

(to camera)

Come on, let’s go upstairs.

Cardea goes in through the patio double doors.

INT. DORM OFFICE – DAY

SISTER JOSEPHINE is a formidable presence – tall and imposing, uncertain age but not old, wears a very smart designer suit as opposed to a habit.

Miss Hills knocks on the open door.

SR JOSEPHINE

Come in, Miss Hill.

MISS HILLS

Hills.

SR JOSEPHINE

I’m sorry?

MISS HILLS

Hills – plural. Like the Seven Hills of Rome.

SR JOSEPHINE

Noted, and very apropos. Come in, please.

Miss Hills takes her place in one of the two chairs opposite the utilitarian desk where SR JOSEPHINE sits.

SR JOSEPHINE (CONT’D)

This is the dormitory office. Your office. You must be available here for the girls every morning and afternoon, and all day on the weekends. During school hours you are free to go about your own business.

MISS HILLS

Thank you, Sister. This will do nicely.

SR JOSEPHINE

As this is your first posting as a housemother, I must warn you. These girls are very… shall we say… Machiavellian. They will find any weakness you possess and exploit it to their own advantage.

MISS HILLS

Machiavellian? But they’re just young girls. Surely that’s a tad extreme.

SR JOSEPHINE

The education we provide here at Saint Agnes of Montepulciano is top notch, Miss Hills.

MISS HILLS

I don’t doubt it.

SR JOSEPHINE

I haven’t finished. These young women arrive here already more worldly than most people twice their age. Combine that with the fact that they are walking bags of hormones confined, for the most part, to this campus and you will be surprised at what they can accomplish. And with surprising finesse.

MISS HILLS

Thank you, Sister. I’ve looked after young people for many years. I can’t imagine any situation I can not handle.

SR JOSEPHINE

It’s exactly the situations you can’t imagine that should worry you.

INT. DORM – ROOM 48 – DAY

A fairly spartan room at this point – three of everything: single beds, small bedside cupboards, wooden desks and chairs fill the space. Brick walls, tile floors.

At one end of the room is a large window with shutters that slide open. Opposite the window is the door and three lockable closets.

One bed is piled high with clothes and shoes, empty suitcases lie on the floor.

One bed is perfectly made, covered with a frilly bedspread and a tidy array of stuffed animals.

On the wall behind this bed hang posters: adorable puppies and kittens with cutesy captions; Ziggy; Miss Piggy; various Tiger Beat one-sheets: Rick Springfield, Matt Dillon, Christopher Atkins.

Cardea looks down at her own bare bed. She sizes up her roommates’ beds then nods at her own bed. It’s made!

Sumptuous gold fabric drapes the bed while piles of pillows in a variety of gem-tones with gold thread accents crown it.

CARDEA

(to camera)

Let me explain —

At that moment the door flies open. In bounces BONNIE (14), full of confidence in a Rush t-shirt. She flops down on her bed, on top of all the clothes.

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s Key Business Decisions

What I learned doing this assignment is I made a bit of a breakthrough just by writing out the Journey/Character Arc. I realized my main character is not as different from her mortal roommates as she should be. However, that’s not really a business decision/realization. Changes in budget and casting are the two biggies.

– Genre: fantasy comedy
– Title: When in Rome
– Concept: It is 1982, Cardi is 15 and just starting at a new school: an all<text direction=”ltr” height=”3.3599853515625″ lengthadjust=”spacingAndGlyphs” textlength=”2.85601806640625″ x=”437.557983398438″ y=”-660.549987792969″ data-test=”textbox”>-</text><text direction=”ltr” height=”8.15997314453125″ lengthadjust=”spacingAndGlyphs” textlength=”61.6079711914062″ x=”441.06201171875″ y=”-660.549987792969″ data-test=”textbox”>girls Catholic boarding school in Rome. But Cardi’s situation is unique; she’s been sent here for a different kind of education; she is a Roman goddess who needs to learn what it is to be a</text><text direction=”ltr” height=”8.15997314453125″ lengthadjust=”spacingAndGlyphs” textlength=”55.6679992675781″ x=”228.779998779297″ y=”-616.549987792969″ data-test=”textbox”>mortal teen</text><text direction=”ltr” height=”3.3599853515625″ lengthadjust=”spacingAndGlyphs” textlength=”2.85601806640625″ x=”285.907989501953″ y=”-616.549987792969″ data-test=”textbox”>-</text><text direction=”ltr” height=”8.2080078125″ lengthadjust=”spacingAndGlyphs” textlength=”177.359985351562″ x=”289.640014648438″ y=”-616.549987792969″ data-test=”textbox”>ager or risk expulsion from Olympus</text>.
– Audience: tween girls
– Budget: £3-9m/episode
– Lead Characters: Cardea, Terri, Bonnie (all 14-15 years old)
– Journey / Character Arc: the journey of season one is Cardi coming to not only accept living among humans, but learning to appreciate, admire and love them. She begins by wanting to get her assignment completed (to learn what it is to be a human teen) and return to her life on Olympus. She ends by thinking she needs to spend more time with her new human friends (eventually, she will be faced with the decision of going back to Olympus or renouncing her immortality and becoming human.)
– Opening / Ending: The opening scene of the pilot is Cardi breaking the fourth wall and introducing the audience to her new surroundings. The pilot closes with her breaking the fourth wall in order to find out her roommate’s name in the closing credits.

To make this script more marketable I would re-write the pilot to make Cardi more detached from her human roommates. At the moment she is a bit clueless. I think she needs to be more arrogant and above them.

Also, there are a lot of special effects. Often times more money is given to a pilot and it is not unusual to have more SFX, but it would need to be clear that subsequent episodes would be less expensive.

It would probably be a good idea to have some boys be more regular characters. Not necessarily to bring boys into the audience, but to make it even more enticing for the young girls.

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s Speciality – Fantasy/supernatural

What I learned doing this assignment is pinning down my specialty is difficult. I don’t want to put just ‘comedy’ because there are lots of kinds of comedy that I do not specialize in. I can’t see myself doing a multi-camera sitcom, for instance. No gross-out comedy. And sometimes my work is more dramatic – but always with magic of some sort.

Tell us your speciality. Fantasy/supernatural comedy

Do a quick Google search for “top (genre) movies.” Select two of the top movies in your genre to watch. Ghostbusters (for supernatural), Stardust (for fantasy)

For each movie, tell us the following:

Genre: Fantasy (sub genres: adventure, family)
Title: Stardust
How it delivered on the genre conventions: magic, myth, wonder, escapism, and the extraordinary. In fantasy films, the hero often undergoes some kind of mystical experience, and must ask for aid from powerful, superhuman forces on the outside. (per a site called filmsite.org/fantasyfilms.html). Stardust hits every mark with unsurpassed skill.
Outline of the movie, highlighting the parts that fulfil the genre: A young man falls in love with a girl outside his reach. He goes on a quest to bring back a fallen star and win her love. What he doesn’t know is that his mother was a magical creature or that the fallen star is a girl. He crosses through a hole in a wall separating his normal world from the magical one. Once in the magical world he encounters all sorts of magical, wonderful beings. He finally finds the fallen star and captures her. Eventually, of course, he releases her and they travel together as equals. Meanwhile, a trio of witches also want the star in order to regain their youth. The star is also pursued by the sons of the dead king who need her to determine who will be the next king. The young man gets aid from a variety of individuals, including a sky pirate, a chained up bird (which is actually his mother under an enchantment), and others. In the end, he is transformed in that he realizes the girl he loved is actually an awful person and the fallen star is his true love.

Genre: Supernatural (sub genres comedy & action)
Title: Ghostbusters
How it delivered on the genre conventions: (per thescriptlab.com) ghosts, gods, goddesses, and miracles. Supernatural films deal with the unknown questions of life; therefore, they tend to incorporate religious elements into the plot. Since they emphasize the unknown, Supernatural films are considered quite suspenseful. Ghostbusters may actually be a comedy first but would be nothing without the supernatural element: ghosts. The religious element is the worshiping of the ancient Hittite god, Gozer. There is actually loads of suspense, especially at the end during the big showdown.
Outline of the movie, highlighting the parts that fulfil the genre: Four guys bring their unique skills together to start a ghost busting company in NYC. Good timing, as the vengeful Hittite god, Gozer, is being released into the world but a crazed worshiper. Small ghosts are released and the group build their credibility by capturing them. However, the EPA believe they are actually causing the “hauntings” and have them thrown in jail. Throw in a bit of romance and lots of green goo and the Ghostbusters save the day and the world.

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s Credibility is Going Up!

What I learned doing this assignment is my credibility is OK, and there is plenty I can do to make it better. My biggest hurdle will be getting over the unease I feel about tooting my own horn.

How to increase my credibility: finish my current writing assignment so it may be produced. I just added all entertainment contacts from Northwestern & the Groundlings (until I reached my daily limit) in LinkedIn. I’ll add more over the coming days. I recently added all the scripts I’ve written onto IMDb. Now I will spend time adding the awards won by each.

Credibility Checklist

1. Your Writing Sample – When in Rome
– ‘Recommend’ from Coverage from Stage 32
– Delivers on the genre in a strong way – very
– Delivers on the business decisions (I don’t know what this means)
2. Screenwriting Accomplishments
– Contest wins – loads
– Smaller deals (options, sales, writing assignments) – 3 options, 3 writing assignments, 1 development
– Larger deals – not yet
– Movies produced – short in post-production
3. The Google factor
Google your name. How many of items on the first page show you as a professional screenwriter? 6/9
4. Your Network
How many producers are in your network? 129
How many Connections do you have who are connected to producers? 700+
5. Education specific to screenwriting
– Degree in film or screenwriting – Theater Degree from Northwestern
– Master Screenwriter Certificate program at ScreenwritingU – ProSeries, etc
6. Borrowed Credibility
– Represented by an agent or manager – Agent
– Working with a producer
– Connected to a star – several from Northwestern & the Groundlings
– Connected to a funding source

7. IMDB CREDITS
Go to [url=”http://imdb.com/“]http:/<wbr>/IMDB.com[/url] and search your name. What credits show up there for you? https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm3035891/credits 9 credits, 7 for writing

8. Other forms of credibility that is related to screenwriting:
– Novels published – none
– Producer or director experience – lie theater
– Experience working with agencies, production companies, film festivals, etc.. – 4 years at New Regency Productions

[Amy Amani]

Amy’s LinkedIn Profile is Amazing!

What I learned doing this assignment is that I thought I had already made my profile writer-specific. But there is always more to do to make constant improvements.

I sent connection requests to all the Entertainment industry people who went to my same school, and who worked at the Groundlings (where I also worked). I’ve reached my daily limit of connections, but I will continue to add people from the Groundlings & from New Regency Productions.

I added a few of the things from the lesson to my profile.

[Amy Amani]

Amy Amani’s Projects and Insights

The completed project I’ll use for the budgeting exercise is called Dazzleland. It’s an hour-long supernatural drama pilot. The second idea that I would like to create is a comedy feature called The Dominant Jean. As for the budgets for each – I honestly haven’t a clue except that I know Dazzleland will be much higher because of the SFX and fantasy setting (maybe $1-5m per episode). Dominant Jean is more grounded and set in reality (so maybe $1-5m in total)

What I learned from the opening teleconference: I am a person who really likes order, so it makes me happy and relieved that we will be going through these processes in a step-by-step way. I’ve done a writing assignment before (which is now in post production) and am doing another one with the same producer now. I’m really struggling with this one and I hope to learn skills in this class that will help me get through this assignment. I guess I didn’t learn that from the teleconference, but it’s what I hope to get out of the class.

[Amy Amani]

1. Name? Amy Amani

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 7+ that were any good. Many more that were crap!

3. What you hope to get out of the class? I have asked my agent to help me get writer for hire gigs. I think I can only benefit myself, and her, by going into a gig like that knowing as much about it as possible.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I’ve lived all over the world. In fact, I attended 20 schools (K-college grad) and have lived in 7 countries & 8 States. Now I am in Oxford, UK and recently became a dual US/British citizen.

[Amy Amani]

Amy Amani.

I agree to the terms of this release form.