[Andrew Foerster]

1. Name? Drew Foerster
2. How many scripts you’ve written? 15. Three of them are optioned and in various stages of production.
3. What you hope to get out of the class? I have written rom coms before but I hope to really crack the code and write the best rom com I’ve ever written! And of course, sell it!
4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? My day job is to write and direct 1-hour educational films. In the last 10 years I’ve produced 42 of them and just started writing number 43.

• This reply was modified 10 months ago by  Andrew Foerster.
• This reply was modified 10 months ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

I, Drew Foerster, AGREE to the terms of t his release form, as outlined below:

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 reply was modified 10 months ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew’s Character Structure
My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.
What I learned from doing this assignment is… I learned that finding the arc for both of the main characters give both of them a deeper meaning and will add more realistic actions and dialog.
Protagonist: Emma
• Beginning: Emma works in Chicago at a marketing firm (what’s a more interesting job?). She’s excellent at her job and vying for a promotion to VP. He has a casual boyfriend who cheats on her. She is haunted by strange dreams.

• Inciting Incident: She wakes up in a field, almost naked. Lying next to Matthew. Touching three fingers. They have no idea how they got there.

• Turning Point 1: Emma feels she needs to find Matthew. She flies to Portland. She finds out that he’s flown to Chicago to find her.

• Act 2: (fun and games) Emma finds Matthew and they agree to meet in Las Vegas at a UFO convention where they meet all kinds of odd people.

• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: The MIB are after them. The escape and kiss. They find out they can trust no one.

• Act 3: Emma finds out that they both have been abducted since they were children. And Matthew remembers her. They discover that they are in love because the Aliens programmed them to be. Emma begs to be abducted again. She doesn’t want “fake love.”

• Turning Point 3: They have their chips removed and Emma finds herself in a field, all alone. Emma goes back to her original life. When she gets back to Chicago, she quits her job. (what idea does Emma need to look at and discard?) Matthew has been wiped from her mind.

• Act 4 Climax: Emma has an urge to move to the northwest. She sees Matthew and approaches him because she thinks she knows him. He doesn’t know her but feels attraction. Then for a mysterious reason they raise three fingers and touch them together, the memories flood back.

• Resolution: Six months later they get married out in the middle of the field where they were first dropped.

Antagonist: Matthew
• Beginning: Matt has been abducted since he was a kid. He remembers only bits and has bad dreams. He is engaged to Sydney who is controlling.

• Inciting Incident: Matt is abducted and then dropped into a field with Emma.

• Turning Point 1: He searches for Emma. Finds out she lives in Chicago and flies to find her.

• Act 2: Emma finds Matthew and they agree to meet in Las Vegas at a UFO convention where they meet all kinds of odd people.

• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: The MIB are after them. The escape and kiss. They find out they can trust no one.

• Act 3: Matt tells Emma that they both have been abducted since they were children and the aliens made them a match to study human relationships. And he remembers her. Emma doesn’t want “fake love” and begs to be abducted again. Matt begs her to stay connected to him.

• Turning Point 3: They have their chips removed and Matt finds himself in a field, all alone. Matt goes back to Portland. No longer remembers Emma (how does it get erased in his friend’s mind?)

• Act 4 Climax: Matthew moves forward with his wedding. At his wedding shower party Emma stumbles in. She doesn’t know why she’s been directed to that place. He doesn’t know her but feels attraction. Then for a mysterious reason they raise three fingers and touch them together, the memories flood back.

• Resolution: Six months later they get married out in the middle of the field where they were first dropped.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew’s Supporting Characters

My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.

What I learned from doing this assignment is… I’ve never thought of supporting characters in this way so this has helped in finding a strong purpose for each character that shows up in the script.

Tell us your supporting and background characters.

• Supporting Characters: Rylee and Josh and Shelby (Matt’s fiancée)
• Background Characters: Aliens, Men in Black (Government Agents), Matt’s boss, Emma’s co-workers and clients, Alien Con speakers and attendants.

Supporting Character 1:
• Name: Rylee
• Role: Emma’s best friend and co-worker. Also an alien who has watched over Emma since the first time she was abducted in her teens.
• Main purpose: To protect Emma and distract her from figuring out the alien connection.
• Value: To add conflict

Supporting Character 2:
• Name: Josh
• Role: Matt’s best friend and confidant.
• Main purpose: To be a cheerleader and sounding board for his friend.
• Value: He is a romantic just like Matt so he gives Matt the strength to make good decisions.

Supporting Character 3:
• Name: Shelby
• Role: Matt’s fiancée
• Main purpose: Conflict. To get Matt to question his current relationship and to yearn for more.
• Value: To help show

• This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew’s Character Profiles Part 2

My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.

What I learned from doing this assignment is… Even the simplest traits made the characters so much more dimensional.

Character: Emma
The High Concept: A couple meets after they were abducted by aliens and discover they share a unique psychic connection which pulls them to each other no matter how they fight it.
This Character’s Journey: From cynical about relationships to believing in true love.
The Actor Attractors for this Character: Emma is a complex character. She is serious and talented. She starts tough-as-nails boss but through the story we begin to see layers of vulnerability and self-doubt.
Character Subtext: Withholding. She withholds her true feelings and vulnerabilities from those around her, fearing that showing weakness will undermine her professional image.
Character Intrigue: Unspoken Wound. She had very cold parents, so she doesn’t have an example of what love is. She’s never felt it or seen it first-hand.
Flaw: Overdoing things. She is a workaholic who demands perfection from herself and from others.
Values: Being your best and Loyalty
Character Dilemma: Love vs. Success

Character: Matthew
The High Concept: A couple meets after they were abducted by aliens and discover they share a unique psychic connection which pulls them to each other no matter how they fight it.
This Character’s Journey: From submissive to confident
The Actor Attractors for this Character: Matthew is a loveable loser who is wicked smart and a bit nerdy. He is a multi-dimensional character that allows for both comedic and dramatic performances. It combines humor, heart, and social commentary. He’s a genuinely kind and empathetic man who is searching for meaning and connection. It’s a chance to play a character who is both humorous and deeply emotional.
Character Subtext: Hiding something. Matthew is hiding his true dissatisfaction with his current life and relationship, feeling unfulfilled and out of place.
Character Intrigue: Secrets. He remembers being abducted as a kid bud doesn’t tell Emma or anyone else.
Flaw: Undervalues themselves
Values: True Love
Character Dilemma: Please others versus be independent.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by  Andrew Foerster.
• This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew’s Character Profiles Part 1

My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.
What I learned from doing this assignment is… That answering these simple questions make my characters so much more dimensional. I am learning things about them that I hadn’t realized.

CHARACTER: Emma
The High Concept: A couple meets after they were abducted by aliens and discover they share a unique psychic connection which pulls them to each other no matter how they fight it.
This character’s journey: From cynical about relationships to believing in true love.
The Actor Attractors for this character: Emma is a complex character. She is serious and talented. She starts tough-as-nails boss but through the story we begin to see layers of vulnerability and self-doubt.
Role in the Story: Protagonist / Love Interest
Age range and Description: 30s. A strong and fashionable businesswoman who is tough as nails.
Core Traits: ASSERTIVE, DEMANDING, AMBITIOUS, VULNERABLE, LOGICAL
Motivation; Want/Need: Emma wants to avoid emotional pain and protect herself from the potential hurt of failed relationships so she focuses on her career. Emma needs to confront and heal from her fear of abandonment and emotional vulnerability.
Wound: Deep cynicism and fear of emotional intimacy, largely stemming from her parents' divorce and subsequent relationships.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: Sense of humor. Great at what she does. Respected. Kind to people who deserve it. A very supportive friend.
Relatability: Extreme fear of failure. A woman in male dominated business. Family expectations to settle down. Falls in love for the first time.
Empathy: When Emma opens up about her insecurities and fears, particularly about love and trust, it creates a deep empathetic connection with Matt and the audience. A lot of pressure to succeed at work.

CHARACTER: Matthew
The High Concept: A couple meets after they were abducted by aliens and discover they share a unique psychic connection which pulls them to each other no matter how they fight it.
This character’s journey: From submissive to confident
The Actor Attractors for this character: Matthew is a loveable loser who is wicked smart and a bit nerdy. He is a multi-dimensional character that allows for both comedic and dramatic performances. It combines humor, heart, and social commentary. He’s a genuinely kind and empathetic man who is searching for meaning and connection. It’s a chance to play a character who is both humorous and deeply emotional.

Role in the Story: Protagonist / Love Interest
Age range and Description: 30s, intellectual nerd who follows his heart.
Core Traits: ROMANTIC, PERSISTANT, SKEPTICAL, CONCEALING, CHARMING
Motivation; Want/Need: Matt wants stability and normalcy. Matt needs to embrace the unpredictability and excitement of love, allowing himself to take risks and step out of his comfort zone
Wound: Was bullied by his mother and lacks self-confidence because of it.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
Likability: His self-deprecating sense of humor, particularly when he makes light of his own misfortunes, endears him to both Emma and the audience. He is also a positive thinker who is polite and kind.
Relatability: He’s not in love with his fiancée but is too afraid to tell her. He feels like life is passing him by. He falls in love and can’t stop thinking about Emma. He years for a magical love story.
Empathy: He gets bullied by his boss and by his fiancée. He struggles with his next career move. Fear he is making the wrong choice. Not knowing why, he woke up in a field. Fear he is going crazy and losing his mind.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.
What I learned from doing this assignment is… By blending these three areas you can design a character that really connects with the audience and makes them root for their success.

Character: Emma
Likability: Sense of humor. Great at what she does. Respected. Kind to people who deserve it. A very supportive friend.
Relatability: Extreme fear of failure. A woman in male dominated business. Family expectations to settle down. Falls in love for the first time.
Empathy: When Emma opens up about her insecurities and fears, particularly about love and trust, it creates a deep empathetic connection with Matt and the audience. A lot of pressure to succeed at work.

Character: Matthew
Likability: His self-deprecating sense of humor, particularly when he makes light of his own misfortunes, endears him to both Emma and the audience. He is also a positive thinker who is polite and kind.
Relatability: He’s not in love with his fiancée but is too afraid to tell her. He feels like life is passing him by. He falls in love and can’t stop thinking about Emma. He years for a magical love story.
Empathy: He gets bullied by his boss and by his fiancée. He struggles with his next career move. Fear he is making the wrong choice. Not knowing why, he woke up in a field. Fear he is going crazy and losing his mind.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew’s Character Intrigue

My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.

What I learned from doing this assignment is… These hidden agendas make the characters 1000% more interesting. They feel more and more like real people, not just cardboard cutouts like so many movie characters are.

Character Name: Emma Taylor
Role: Protagonist / Love Interest
Hidden agendas:
Competition:
Conspiracies:
Secrets: Emma pretends to be unaffected by the alien abduction, portraying herself as strong and unshaken. In reality, she is deeply disturbed and confused by the experience, which she hides to maintain her tough exterior.
Deception:
Unspoken Wound: She had very cold parents, so she doesn’t have an example of what love is. She’s never felt it or seen it first-hand.
Secret Identity: She feels that she is the goddess of doom when it comes to relationships. That every relationship she touches falls apart. Emma sees herself as a silent protector of her own heart, a self-designated role she believes prevents her from being hurt again. She imagines herself as a lone warrior in a world that constantly challenges her.

Character Name: Matthew Barnes
Role: Protagonist / Love Interest
Hidden agendas:
Competition:
Conspiracies:
Secrets: He remembers being abducted as a kid
Deception: He doesn’t tell Emma that he’s engaged
Unspoken Wound: He was given up for adoption because his mom couldn’t deal with his mental issues (really just trauma from being abducted)
Secret Identity: Matthew sees himself as a hidden hero, someone who is destined for greatness but hasn't yet found his moment. This self-assigned identity drives his actions and his belief in the extraordinary, such as standing up to the aliens.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew’s Subtext Characters
My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.
What I learned from doing this assignment is… This makes our characters so much deeper and will give us a lot more interesting and meaningful dialog.

Movie Title: THE PROPOSAL
Character Name: MARGARET TATE
Subtext Identity: "The Fearful Controller." This identity arises from her fear of losing control over her life and career, which she hides beneath a facade of strict professionalism and harshness.
Subtext Trait: "Insecurity." Despite her outward confidence and authority, she is deeply insecure about her personal relationships and her status in the company.

Subtext Logline: Margaret is a fearful controller who covers her deep-seated insecurities with strict control and harsh behavior.
Possible Areas of Subtext: Her harsh treatment of employees, masking her fear of being seen as weak or incompetent. Her desperation to maintain her career status surfaces when she insists on the marriage with Andrew to avoid deportation, indicating her fear of losing control over her professional life. During her stay with Andrew's family, Margaret's subtext is evident in her discomfort and defensiveness, masking her insecurity about fitting in and being accepted. Her subtext peaks as the wedding day approaches. Margaret’s attempts to sabotage or overly control the wedding plans reveal her internal conflict and fear of losing her professional identity.

For my Romantic Comedy:
Character Name: EMMA TAYLOR
Subtext Identity: She’s a fiercely independent and driven marketing executive who secretly fears vulnerability and rejection.
Subtext Trait: She masks her fear of emotional intimacy with a tough, no-nonsense exterior, which leads her to take covert actions to avoid genuine connections.
Subtext Logline: Emma is a high-powered marketing executive who hides her fear of vulnerability by maintaining a tough exterior and keeping everyone at arm’s length.
Possible Areas of Subtext:
• Hiding something: Emma is hiding her deep-seated fear of being hurt again after a past betrayal.
• Afraid to say: She is afraid to admit her true feelings for Matthew, fearing that opening up will lead to rejection.
• Secret: Her casual relationship with her boyfriend is a facade to avoid confronting her loneliness and desire for a meaningful connection.
• Lying: Emma often pretends to be fine and unaffected, even when she feels deeply hurt or insecure.
• Withholding: She withholds her true feelings and vulnerabilities from those around her, fearing that showing weakness will undermine her professional image.

Character Name: Matthew Isaac Barnes

Subtext Identity: Matthew is a kind-hearted, loyal software engineer who feels like an outsider searching for acceptance and genuine connection.
Subtext Trait: His self-doubt and feeling of inadequacy cause him to take covert actions to gain acceptance and prove his worth.
Subtext Logline: Matthew is a talented software engineer who hides his self-doubt and longing for acceptance behind a quirky sense of humor and acts of kindness.
Possible Areas of Subtext:
• Hiding something: Matthew is hiding his true dissatisfaction with his current life and relationship, feeling unfulfilled and out of place.
• Afraid to say: He is afraid to confront Shelby about their incompatible visions for the future and his desire for a more meaningful connection.
• Secret: Matthew secretly longs to break free from societal expectations and pursue a life that aligns with his values and dreams.
• Lying: He often downplays his accomplishments and capabilities, fearing that he doesn’t measure up to others’ expectations.
• Plotting: Matthew is silently planning how to assert his own identity and pursue his dreams, even if it means challenging those around him.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s Actor attractors!
My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.
What I learned from doing this assignment is… Researching great characters and how they show these traits really helped me shape how I thought about my characters and the possibilities of who they could be.
Lead Character Name: Emma Taylor
Role: Protagonist / Love Interest
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? – Emma is a complex character. She is serious and talented. She starts tough-as-nails boss but through the story we begin to see layers of vulnerability and self-doubt.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? – Her transformation from a seemingly heartless and ambitious professional to a vulnerable and emotionally connected individual adds depth and intrigue to the character. Her journey allows for exploration of themes such as love, identity, and personal growth.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? – She could confront her own fears and insecurities as she realizes her true feelings for Matthew and learns more about her abduction. And her boldness can pay off at the end when tough decisions need to be made to save their relationship.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? – Showing what a bad-ass Emma is from the get go but that there is also a human side. She’s damaged and scared and covers it with a tough exterior. We meet Emma in a high-stakes business meeting where she effortlessly dismantles her opponents' arguments with sharp wit and intelligence, only to reveal her vulnerability in a quiet moment afterward, hinting at her inner struggles.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range –
Her emotional range spans from icy determination and sarcasm to vulnerability, love, and self-discovery. She experiences moments of anger, sadness, joy, and everything in between as she navigates the complexities of her relationships and her own desires.
6. What subtext can the actor play? – Beneath Emma's tough exterior lies a deep-seated fear of rejection and loneliness, stemming from her troubled past (being abducted by aliens as a child).
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? – The relationship between Emma and Matthew, is central to the story. Their dynamic evolves from being abducted together to a complex romantic entanglement, fraught with tension, humor, and genuine affection. With her casual boyfriend: A dynamic showcasing her fear of commitment and the eventual realization of her worth. With a female colleague: A potential friendship that highlights her professional struggles and personal growth.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? – Emma’s unique voice is characterized by sharp wit, confidence, and a commanding presence. However, as the story progresses, her voice softens, revealing vulnerability and sincerity.
9. What could make this character special and unique? – Emma stands out as a strong, independent woman in a male-dominated corporate world. Her journey of self-discovery and transformation sets her apart. And because of her intellect, she is able to outsmart the aliens to get to her final goal. Emma’s psychic connection with Matthew makes her special and unique. This connection forces her to confront her vulnerabilities and opens her up to the possibility of genuine emotional intimacy, which she has been avoiding for years.

Lead Character Name: Matthew Barnes
Role: Protagonist / Love Interest
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? – Matthew is a loveable loser who is wicked smart and a bit nerdy. He is a multi-dimensional character that allows for both comedic and dramatic performances. It combines humor, heart, and social commentary. He’s a genuinely kind and empathetic man who is searching for meaning and connection. It’s a chance to play a character who is both humorous and deeply emotional.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? – Matthew undervalues himself but has a strong moral compass, which often puts him at odds with the people around him. His journey from an underdog to a self-assured romantic partner creates a compelling narrative arc full of personal growth.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? – He could quit his job on principle. He travels across the country to show his love. He never loses faith in true love. He stands up to aliens.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? –He is faced with a moral crisis at work and he stands up for what’s right and gets fired.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range – His range spans from self doubt to sardonic humor and sharp indignation to tender vulnerability and deep introspection. He experiences frustration, hope, love, and a sense of purpose, requiring an actor to navigate a spectrum of emotions seamlessly.
6. What subtext can the actor play? – subtext revolves around Matthew’s internal struggles of self-doubt and impostor syndrome. His humor often masks a deep-seated fear of inadequacy and a longing for validation, both personally and professionally.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? – With Emma, who he has been romantically connected to by the aliens. With his buddy Marc: A friendship that provides comic relief and grounding but also highlights Matthew's struggle between his dream and societal expectations. With Shelby his fiancée: A relationship that challenges his sense of self and ultimately helps him realize what he truly wants.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? – sharp, irreverent humor and insightful observations. His dialogue is peppered with witty repartee and earnest, heartfelt moments, reflecting his complex personality and his journey towards self-acceptance and understanding of the strange situation our leads are in.
9. What could make this character special and unique? – He embodies the archetype of the principled underdog who believe in true love. His unique combination of humor, intelligence, and vulnerability makes him relatable and endearing. His unwavering commitment to his values, despite the personal cost, sets him apart as a character with depth and authenticity.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew’s Actor attractors for Sleepless in Seattle
My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.
What I learned from doing this assignment is… Seeing what makes a great role great, step by step, helps me think of ways to develop my own characters into the best they can be.
Movie Title: SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE
Lead Character Name: Sam Baldwin
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? – The role offers a nuanced portrayal of a widower navigating grief, love, and fatherhood. It provides an opportunity for the actor to showcase emotional depth and vulnerability, which can be appealing for performers seeking roles that resonate with audiences on a profound level.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? – Sam is one of the most interesting characters in the movie because he undergoes a significant emotional journey following the loss of his wife.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? – His decision to open up about his feelings on a radio show. His reluctance to move on from his late wife. His struggle to cope with grief while also balancing his responsibilities as a father. And his final decision to pursue love despite his fears and reservations.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? – A Funeral. Standing there with his son. Struggling to move on after the death of his wife.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? – The character’s range spans from deep sorrow and grief over the loss of his wife to moments of tentative hope and burgeoning romance as he opens his heart to the possibility of love again. He also experiences moments of frustration, vulnerability, and ultimately, joy as he navigates his journey throughout the film.
6. What subtext can the actor play? – He is very sarcastic, so he jokes a lot to cover the immense grief he feels at losing his wife. He is guarded because he fears that if he loves again, he may lose again.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? – It is with his young son, Jonah. Their bond is heartwarming and their connection helps Sam learn to open his heart again.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? – Through his introspective and heartfelt monologues on the radio, where he candidly shares his thoughts and feelings about the love of his life and losing her. He is vulnerable, sincere, and funny, which adds depth and authenticity to his character.
9. What makes this character special and unique? – He is a flawed yet deeply empathetic individual who grapples with universal themes of love, loss, and second chances. His journey from grief to healing resonates with audiences, making him a memorable and beloved protagonist in "Sleepless in Seattle."
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The scene near the beginning where Sam is on the radio show talking about his dead wife and he says, “and after a while I won’t have to think about how I had it great and perfect for a while.” And Dr. Marsha says, “Tell me what was so special about your wife.” Sam replies, “It was a million tiny little things. And when you add them all up it just meant that we were supposed to be together. And I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home. Only to no home that I’d ever known. I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car. And I knew it. It was like…” Annie and Sam say it at the same time, “Magic.”

• This reply was modified 12 months ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew’s Genre Conventions
My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.
What I learned from doing this assignment is… Knowing the rules of the game for each genre gives a great framework to brainstorm the best possible ideas for your characters and story, keeping you on track to develop a script that is successful within it genre.
Title: STAR CROSSED
Concept: Two strangers (Matthew and Emma) meet after they are abducted by aliens and dumped into a field in the middle of nowhere after the aliens are done with them. They try to go back to their old lives on opposite sides of the country but discover they share a unique psychic connection which pulls them towards each other no matter how they fight it.
Genre: ROM COM (with Sci-Fi elements)
CONVENTIONS

PURPOSE: To have the audience experience falling in love again.

THE JOURNEY OF LOVE: Two people go from their “cute-meet” to denial of love to overwhelming attraction to breaking up over differences to finally reuniting and experiencing the love of their life. The journey of love take them all over from a field in Kansas, to the desert in AZ to Las Vegas for a UFO convention to an alien spacecraft in outerspace.

RELATIONSHIP SET-UP: From the moment of the “cute-meet." we see the romantic future for the couple, even if they refuse to believe it. The couple wakes up next together touching three of their fingers together. The finish each other’s sentences. They know what the other is thinking. They are physically attracted to each other right from the start.

ISSUES: Each person has an internal personal issue that must be resolved for them to truly be together. This requires personal growth for them to become a couple. Trust issues. Finding someone they feel comfortable with. Emma needs to believe in true love and find someone she feels safe with (she feels a weird sense of safety around Matthew). Matthew needs to feel worthy of love and self-confidence (something he instantly feels when he’s with Emma.

SEPARATION: Either physically or because of a specific situation, something keeps this couple apart. It is this separation that causes the audience to yearn for them to come together. They live in Portland and Chicago so geographically they are apart. They are kept apart by their respective lovers. At one point one of them is abducted again and disappears for a few days. Their fears of blowing up their old life keeps them apart.

COMEDY: Relationship and personal issues are dealt with through humor. As we laugh at the embarrassing moments on the screen, the audience feels better about their relationships. The fact that they know what each other is thinking causes funny issues. The fact they have similar dreams at night can be funny. What if your spouse or lover knew what you were thinking all the time? What if you felt the same things your lover feels. How would you act if you were in a meeting and your lover stubbed their toe or got sick to their stomach or farted??
4-ACT STRUCTURE
Act 1:
• Opening – Matthew works in IT in Portland and is engaged to a woman who isn’t right for him. Emma works in advertising in Chicago and has a casual boyfriend who she doesn’t trust.
• Inciting Incident – Emma and Matthew are abducted and then dropped in a field in the middle of nowhere in Kansas and that’s where they first meet. They have no idea how they got there. And when people suggest that they were abducted, they both deny it. As they attempt to return to their ordinary lives, they discover the inexplicable bond that draws them together.
• Turning Point – They feel a mind connection and often think the same things and feel what the other is feeling even though they are a half a country apart. They start experiencing vivid dreams of a mysterious location they've never been to. Unknown to the other, they both take a trip to this place in the desert and find each other there.
Act 2:
• New plan – Denying the significance of this encounter, Emma and Matthew try to resume their old lives. However, news of similar abductions worldwide and their growing online relationship challenge their skepticism.
• Plan in action – As they delve deeper into understanding their psychic connection. They agree to meet at a UFO convention.
• Midpoint Turning Point – Matt and Emma fall for each other instantly and kiss. But they find out that they were an experiment in bonding humans through alien psychic energy and have been abducted since they were kids.
Act 3:

• Rethink everything – This leads to doubts about their feelings and the authenticity of their love.
• New plan – They try to ignore their love and go back to their lives. But they just can’t they have to know the truth. They beg the aliens to abduct them again.
• Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – They are abducted.
Act 4:
• Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – The aliens remove their chip and take away their psychic bond and drop them back on earth. They discover they are still in love.
• Resolution – Six month later they get married in the same field in the middle of a crop circle.

• This reply was modified 12 months ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s 4 Act Transformational Structure
My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.
What I learned from doing this assignment is… I can see the structure start to develop and this allows me to work out the bugs in the possible story before I waste too much time writing.
Concept – Two strangers (Matthew and Emma) meet after they are abducted by aliens and dumped into a field in the middle of nowhere after the aliens are done with them. They try to go back to their old lives on opposite sides of the country but discover they share a unique psychic connection which pulls them towards each other no matter how they fight it.
Main Conflict – Will they be able to resist the otherworldly attraction that pulls them together? Romantic comedies are all about keeping two people apart who really belong together.
Old Ways –
EMMA
Arc Beginning: Love is a business decision not left to fate or chance.
Old Ways:
• Doesn’t believe in true love or soulmates
• Everything has a logical reason
• There is no such thing as aliens or UFOs
• Hyper-focused on career
MATTHEW
Arc Beginning: Stuck in a cold engagement with a superficial woman he doesn’t really love but has resigned that he should get married. “don’t should all over yourself”
Old Ways:
• Submissive
• Low self esteem
• Low-level programmer
• Never questions his boss
New Ways – EMMA
Arc Ending: True love really exists, and you can’t plan for it.
New Ways:
• Believes in true love
• Understands that you can over-think when it comes to love
• Believes in Aliens
• Willing to take risks with her career and put love before business
MATTHEW
Arc Ending: He breaks up with his fiancé to be with his perfect match.
New Ways:
• Confident
• Feels worthy of finding true love
• Starts his own company
• Stands up to his boss and quits his job

3. Fill in each of these with the answers you have right now.
Act 1:
• Opening – Matthew works in IT in Portland and is engaged to a woman who isn’t right for him. Emma works in advertising in Chicago and has a casual boyfriend who she doesn’t trust.
• Inciting Incident – Emma and Matthew are abducted and then dropped in a field in the middle of nowhere in Kansas and that’s where they first meet. They have no idea how they got there. And when people suggest that they were abducted, they both deny it. As they attempt to return to their ordinary lives, they discover the inexplicable bond that draws them together.
• Turning Point – They feel a mind connection and often think the same things and feel what the other is feeling even though they are a half a country apart. They start experiencing vivid dreams of a mysterious location they've never been to. Unknown to the other, they both take a trip to this place in the desert and find each other there.
Act 2:
• New plan – Denying the significance of this encounter, Emma and Matthew try to resume their old lives. However, news of similar abductions worldwide and their growing online relationship challenge their skepticism.
• Plan in action – As they delve deeper into understanding their psychic connection. They agree to meet at a UFO convention.
• Midpoint Turning Point – Matt and Emma fall for each other instantly and kiss. But they find out that they were an experiment in bonding humans through alien psychic energy and have been abducted since they were kids.
Act 3:

• Rethink everything – This leads to doubts about their feelings and the authenticity of their love.
• New plan – They try to ignore their love and go back to their lives. But they just can’t they have to know the truth. They beg the aliens to abduct them again.
• Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – They are abducted.
Act 4:
• Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – The aliens remove their chip and take away their psychic bond and drop them back on earth. They discover they are still in love.
• Resolution – Six month later they get married in the same field in the middle of a crop circle.

• This reply was modified 12 months ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s Subtext Plot

My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.

What I learned from doing this assignment is… What’s under the surface is what makes the story interesting and gives it heart.

High Concept: Two strangers meet after they are abducted by aliens and discover they share a unique psychic connection which pulls them to each other no matter how they fight it.

Superior Position: The audience is privy to Emma and Matthew's Alien created psychic connection, witnessing their unspoken thoughts and emotions even as they attempt to conceal them from each other. They are continually drawn to locations and into situa-tions with each other even though they live on opposite sides of the country. Seemingly attracted to each other like magnets for reasons they can’t comprehend.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s Transformational Journey

My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.

What I learned from doing this assignment is… thinking this through not only helps you identify the arc for your characters, it also gives you ideas of what other major things can happen in the story.

EMMA
Arc Beginning: Love is a business decision not left to fate or chance.
Arc Ending: True love really exists, and you can’t plan for it.
Internal Journey: From doubtful about love to open hearted.
External Journey: Only making “logical” relationship decisions to taking a “chance” on love at first sight.
Old Ways:
• Doesn’t believe in true love or soulmates
• Everything has a logical reason
• There is no such thing as aliens or UFOs
• Hyper-focused on career
New Ways:
• Believes in true love
• Understands that you can over-think when it comes to love
• Believes in Aliens
• Willing to take risks with her career and put love before business

MATTHEW
Arc Beginning: Stuck in a cold engagement with a superficial woman he doesn’t really love but has resigned that he should get married. “don’t should all over yourself”
Arc Ending: He breaks up with his fiancé to be with his perfect match.
Internal Journey: Meek and doesn’t believe he should be happy to knowing he is worth loving.
External Journey: Was submissive in his relationship to being willing to stand up for himself and his desires and leaving his fiancée.
Old Ways:
• Submissive
• Low self esteem
• Low-level programmer
• Never questions his boss
New Ways:
• Confident
• Feels worthy of finding true love
• Starts his own company
• Stands up to his boss and quits his job

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Subject Line: Drew Foerster’s Intentional Lead Characters

My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.

What I learned from doing this assignment is… How important it is that your character is meant for this story and not any other story. They are the perfect fit to tell this tale.

Character: Matthew

Logline: Matthew lives on the west coast and owns a tech start-up. He believes in love at first sight but is super loyal to his fiancée even though he is psychically connected to Emma.

Unique: Matthew claims he saw a UFO when he was little and loves watching UFO and Alien documentaries.

Character: Emma

Logline: Emma is an accountant. She doesn’t believe in soul mates. She’s logical and believes everything has a logical balance but cannot shake her psychic connection to Matthew even though it’s not a logical choice.

Unique: Emma had an invisible friend when she was younger.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster Title, Concept, and Character Structure!

My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.

What I learned from doing this assignment is… The importance of outlining and how it can save weeks and maybe even months in the writing process.

Title: STAR CROSSED

Concept: Two strangers meet after they are abducted by aliens and discover they share a unique psychic connection which pulls them to each other no matter how they fight it.

Character Structure: #2 Rom-Com, Two characters owning the story.

[Andrew Foerster]

DREW FOERSTER

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 reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

I’ve learned that using these incredible empowerment techniques will not only help me in screenwriting but will help me in my work and personal life as well. This is not only a class designed to improve my writing but it can improve EVERYTHING I do!

[Andrew Foerster]

1. Name? Drew Foerster

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 15

3. What you hope to get out of the class? I hope to write the best script I’ve ever written and to learn how to make using AI help me become more creative!

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? My day job is to write and direct 1-hour educational films and in the last 10 years I’ve produced 42 of them.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew’s Subtext Characters

MY VISION IS (living as if it is already fact): I am an award-winning produced Hollywood screenwriter with an excellent reputation that is represented by an outstanding manager and whose life is filled with creativity!

What I learned from doing this assignment is… seeing the process subtext being used to build character in a produced film helps develop ideas for my characters.

2. With your example movie, give us the following answers for the character with the most subtext:

Movie Title: INHERITENCE
Character Name: Lauren Monroe
Subtext Identity: Attorney and daughter of an ultra-rich businessman who recently died. She inherits his old problem… a man that is being held prisoner in a bunker on their property.
Subtext Trait: Cunning, Calculated, Ethical
Subtext Logline: Lauren is an ethical attorney who must do unethical things to protect an old family secret.
Possible Areas of Subtext: Suspicious of the prisoner. Struggles with whether she should keep her father’s secret or do what she knows is right. Investigates the prisoners background while hiding her actions from her husband and her mother.

3. For your two leads, brainstorm these answers:

Character Name: Marc
Subtext Identity: Former military. Now works a dead-end security job. Suffers from PTSD.
Subtext Trait: Lacks drive, untrusting, secretive
Subtext Logline: Marc is an ex-military man desperately searching for his daughter.
Possible Areas of Subtext: Hides that he was abducted as a child. Doesn’t trust authorities. Doesn’t trust his wife. Comes alive again with the thrill of hunting his daughter’s kidnapers.

Character Name: Jordan
Subtext Identity: Agent who needs to crack the case of Tyme’s kidnapping.
Subtext Trait: Commanding, Smarter than everyone else, Hunter
Subtext Logline: FBI Agent who is out to find Marc and his daughter. Will stop at nothing.
Possible Areas of Subtext: Always out thinking everyone in the room. Barks orders. Needs to solve this case or will be demoted and transferred. Has a strained relationship with her daughter.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s Actor attractors!

MY VISION IS (living as if it is already fact): I am an award-winning produced Hollywood screenwriter with an excellent reputation that is represented by an outstanding manager and whose life is filled with creativity!

What I learned from doing this assignment is…slowly the characters are forming and becoming three dimensional people.

Lead Character Name: Marc

Role: (Protagonist or Antagonist) Protagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? He is a hero—he saves his daughter, he kills aliens, he finds the truth.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? He is an underdog. We feel sorry for him. He’s a very good dad who loves his daughter. We connect with his unending fight to rescue his child.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? He will go on the run from the police. He will break into a secret government facility. He sneaks on a top-secret flight. He disguises himself. He uses his mental powers to defeat aliens. He hangs out with the smartest tech nerds in the world.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? We first meet Marc in the dessert. Explosions go off around him. He hides and a bright light falls from the sky. He instantly awakes and we see him standing in traffic in his pajamas.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range? He is distraught that his daughter is missing. He’s shocked that his wife thinks he did something to her. He is terrified when he is hunted by the police and the FBI. He is determined to find his daughter. He is elated when he rescues her.

6. What subtext can the actor play? He hides that he’s wanted for murder. He was abducted as a child. He hears static and strange gibberish voices in his head.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? With his daughter. And with Lilly, a UFO/Alien Abduction expert who he befriends.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? He’s focused on one thing… FINDING HIS DAUGHTER.

9. What could make this character special and unique? He discovers he has telepathic powers. He was in the military and knows how to fight.

Lead Character Name: Jordan (female)

Role: (Protagonist or Antagonist) Antagonist

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? She’s a bad ass who’s great at her job.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? She commands a room. People listen when she speaks. She’s born leader. Expert at thinking like a criminal and hunting them down.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script? Digs up a dead body. Car chase. Helicopter chase. A race through a UFO convention. She can access any security camera in the country. She (her team) can access any camera on any phone or computer.

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? She arrives at Marc’s house after Tyme’s disappearance and puts a couple local cops in their place. She takes over the investigation and discovers some interesting clues right off the bat.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range? Serious and focused on catching a criminal to empathy and helpfulness once she discovers that Marc didn’t do it.

6. What subtext can the actor play? When she speaks she’s always thinking five steps ahead. She acts like a therapist, always digging deeper into her targets mind and thought process.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? Her relationship to Marc. She can’t quite figure him out like she’s usually able to do.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? She seems kind but is really treating those around her like children. She never asks a question she doesn’t already know the answer to.

9. What could make this character special and unique? She has fought her way to the top and sacrificed everything. She works harder than everyone else. She has a photographic memory.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s Actor attractors for The Fugitive

MY VISION IS (living as if it is already fact): I am an award-winning produced Hollywood screenwriter with an excellent reputation that is represented by an outstanding manager and whose life is filled with creativity!

What I learned from doing this assignment is… if you can hit all the actor attractors with your story, it will greatly increase the chances that your project will attract attention from big name actors.

Movie Title: THE FUGITIVE

Lead Character Name: Dr. Richard Kimble

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He’s a bad ass doctor who has everything against him, but gets revenge on the system and the people responsible for his wife’s death.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
He’s a rich doctor who is great at surgery. He’s framed for murder but escapes prison and uses his high intelligence and medical knowledge to solve the mystery of who really killed his wife.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He saves people’s lives. He escapes a crashed bus before it’s hit by a train. He jumps off a dam and survives. He hunts down his wife’s killer. He solves the mystery of who killed his wife. He discovers that a pharma company faked test studies and stops their production and sale.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? We first see him covered in blood. His wife is dead on their bedroom floor. Cops everywhere. At this point everything is a mystery. Is he the killer? Why is he covered in blood?

5. What is this character’s emotional range? From the depths of sorrow from losing his wife. To the deepest hopelessness after being convicted of her murder. To pure fear the many times he is almost killed– like the bus crash, the train crash, diving off a dam, being shot at, fighting on a rooftop. Pure anger when he discovers who killed his wife. Even happiness when he comes home before he discovers his wife is dead.

6. What subtext can the actor play? He’s an escaped convicted murderer that people he meets on the run don’t know. He often jokes around to cover his sadness. He has one goal in mind… find the one armed man.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? The tug of war with the Marshall. They both fear and respect each other.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He uses medical jargon. Has a sense of humor. Super intelligent.

9. What makes this character special and unique? He saves lives, even when his at risk. He’s incredibly brave and intelligent.

10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character)

INT. TUNNEL – DAY

Gerard feels in the water for his firearm. Doctor Kimble stands in the shadows, holds the Marshall’s gun.

Kimble: I didn’t kill my wife!

Gerard: I don’t care!

Kimble rushes away down the tunnel. Gerard pulls out a spare gun. Catches up to the doctor.

Gerard: Put that gun down! Put that gun down! Now!

Kimble continues to back up. Gets close to an edge of an opening. He looks—he’s at the top of a very tall damn.

Gerard: Hands up!

Kimble puts hands up.

Gerard: Over your head!

The doctor raises them higher.

Gerard: Turn around!

Richard hesitates.

Gerard: Richard, do you want to get shot?

Richard looks over his shoulder at the rushing water beneath him.

Gerard: Pay attention! Get down on your knees! Right now!

Kimble turns and starts to lower to his knees and then… HE JUMPS.

Lead Character Name: Marshall Samuel Gerard

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He’s cool and strong. In charge and a master of his domain.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He is cool, calm and collected. He takes charge of every situation. He is great at his job which is to hunt down people.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? Car chases, helicopter chase, chase through a hotel, chase through the tunnels of the dam. Organizing many people to hunt down Dr. Kimble. He shoots a man who took one of his men hostage.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? The Marshall comes to the site of the train/bus crash. He takes control. He quickly gets the truth out of the prison guard. He takes over the investigation from the local authorities.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? He is firm, driven and determined to caring and helpful.

6. What subtext can the actor play? He will do anything to get the job done.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? His relationship with his prey, Dr. Kimble.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He is dry and direct. Often humorous but sometimes scary. Super intelligent. Uses law enforcement terms. Barks orders.

9. What makes this character special and unique? He is great at his job, hunting criminals.

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

INT. TUNNEL – DAY

Gerard feels in the water for his firearm. Doctor Kimble stands in the shadows, holds the Marshall’s gun.

Kimble: I didn’t kill my wife!

Gerard: I don’t care!

Kimble rushes away down the tunnel. Gerard pulls out a spare gun. Catches up to the doctor.

Gerard: Put that gun down! Put that gun down! Now!

Kimble continues to back up. Gets close to an edge of an opening. He looks—he’s at the top of a very tall damn.

Gerard: Hands up!

Kimble puts hands up.

Gerard: Over your head!

The doctor raises them higher.

Gerard: Turn around!

Richard hesitates.

Gerard: Richard, do you want to get shot?

Richard looks over his shoulder at the rushing water beneath him.

Gerard: Pay attention! Get down on your knees! Right now!

Kimble turns and starts to lower to his knees and then… HE JUMPS.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s Genre Conventions

MY VISION IS (living as if it is already fact): I am an award-winning produced Hollywood screenwriter with an excellent reputation that is represented by an outstanding manager and whose life is filled with creativity!

What I learned from doing this assignment is…specifically focusing on ideas that fit the genre help add interest

Title: MISSING TYME

Concept: When a FATHER becomes a suspect in his daughter TYME’S (10) disappearance, he goes on the run through the dark underbelly of online alien abduction chat rooms, conspiracy theory groups, and secret abduction survivor clubs, convinced that she was abducted by aliens… But is this a fantasy created by his mental illness or is there truly something darker and otherworldly going on?

Genre: Sci-Fi / Action

Sci-Fi Conventions:

Purpose: Explore technology, Think beyond our own world – Aliens. UFOs. Abductions.
Fantastic Worlds: Underground government bases and alien technology
Science: Things that are alien to us (actual aliens)
Incredible Visuals: Spacecraft, hybrid and cloning technology, underground bases, Las Vegas UFO/Alien conventions, abductions
Social Commentary: UFO subculture, underground government, conspiracy theories, dirty cops
Sub-Genre: Add action and thriller elements

OUTLINE

Act 1:

Opening – Open with something alien based. Like a dream of an abduction. We meet Marc standing in the middle of a busy road, in his pajamas. Soon after, he’s in a therapist’s office talking about his “episodes” and how he used to hear a voice when he was younger, and it’s back now. Sounds like gibberish or a different language. Inciting Incident – Marc hears his daughter, Tyme, calling for him. When he reaches her room there is a blinding light and strange electronic sounds outside and when it’s gone, so is Tyme. Turning Point – Marc works with the cops. But during a search of his home, overhears them talking to the FBI that he is a suspect.

Act 2:

New plan – Marc goes on the run. Mysterious Men in Black are watching. Plan in action – He makes a video for social media. Changes his appearance. Meets Lilly who helps him search the underbelly of the UFO conspiracy world. Midpoint Turning Point – He plans to meet with his wife but discovers that it’s a trap. She goes on TV saying she thinks he took their daughter and that he’s mentally unstable and his therapist backs it up. The audience finds out the Lilly is the daughter of the FBI agent that is trying to catch Marc. Mysterious Men in Black start following Marc.

Act 3:

Rethink everything – After discovering new evidence, he now thinks that Tyme has been taken by aliens. A hacker shows him alien technology and surgically removes the chip Marc’s been implanted with. New plan – Go deeper down the rabbit hole in the Alien Abduction world. Full tin foil hat. Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – The Men in Black call in a tip. The FBI finds Tyme’s body buried in Marc’s backyard. Lilly tells him that she’s the daughter of the FBI agent but that she believes he’s innocent and wants to help.

Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – With help from a conspiracy theorist that Lilly gets him to, they hunt down someone who works at area 51 and helps Marc disguise himself to look like the man. With this he is able to sneak into Area 51. There he finds many children in an alien tech laboratory are being used by the U.S. government as test subjects to create hybrid humans. Marc helps an alien that is imprisoned and with their help, he is able to free all the kids.

Resolution – Marc mind is wiped. So is his daughter’s. The go back to living their “normal” life. But Lilly shows up and with a few words and the use of a device, the memories come flooding back.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s 4 Act Transformational Structure

MY VISION IS (living as if it is already fact): I am an award-winning produced Hollywood screenwriter with an excellent reputation that is represented by an outstanding manager and whose life is filled with creativity!

What I learned from doing this assignment is…The biggest thing is to just get some ideas down. You can develop them later but once you have a basic framework, it’s so much easier to move forward.

Give us the following:

Concept – When a FATHER becomes a suspect in his daughter TYME’S (10) disappearance, he goes on the run through the dark underbelly of online alien abduction chat rooms, conspiracy theory groups, and secret abduction survivor clubs, convinced that she was abducted by aliens… But is this a fantasy created by his mental illness or is there truly something darker and otherworldly going on?

Main Conflict – Marc against the U.S. Government and Aliens.

Old Ways – A selfish, under-achieving security guard who hears voices in his head

New Ways – Risks his life to become the hero he needs to be to save his daughter

Fill in each of these with the answers you have right now.

Act 1:

1. Opening – We meet Marc standing in the middle of a busy road, in his pajamas. Soon after, he’s in a therapist’s office talking about his “episodes.”

2. Inciting Incident – Marc hears his daughter, Tyme, calling for him. When he reaches her room there is a blinding light outside and when it’s gone, so is Tyme.

3. Turning Point – Marc calls the cops. But overhears them talking to the FBI that he is a suspect.

Act 2:

4. New plan – Marc goes on the run.

5. Plan in action – He makes a video for social media. Changes his appearance. Meets Lilly who helps him search the underbelly of the UFO conspiracy world.

6. Midpoint Turning Point – He plans to meet with his wife but discovers that it’s a trap. She goes on TV saying she thinks he took their daughter and that he’s mentally unstable. The audience finds out the Lilly is the daughter of the FBI agent that is trying to catch Marc.

Act 3:

7. Rethink everything – After discovering new evidence, he now thinks that Tyme has been taken by aliens.

8. New plan – Go deeper down the rabbit hole in the Alien Abduction world. Full tin foil hat.

9. Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – The FBI says they have found Tyme’s body buried in Marc’s backyard. Lilly tells him that she’s the daughter of the FBI agent but that she believes he’s innocent and wants to help.

Act 4:

10. Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – With help from a conspiracy theorist that Lilly gets him to, he is able to sneak into Area 51. There he finds many children are being used by the U.S. government as test subjects to create hybrid humans. Marc helps an alien that is imprisoned and with their help, he is able to free all the kids.

Resolution – Marc mind is wiped. So is his daughter’s. The go back to living their “normal” life. But Lilly shows up and with a few words, the memories come flooding back.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s Subtext Plot

MY VISION IS (living as if it is already fact): I am an award-winning produced Hollywood screenwriter with an excellent reputation that is represented by an outstanding manager and whose life is filled with creativity!

What I learned from doing this assignment is…

LOGLINE:<s> </s>When a FATHER becomes a suspect in his daughter TYME’S (10) disappearance, he goes on the run through the dark underbelly of online alien abduction chat rooms, conspiracy theory groups, and secret abduction survivor clubs, convinced that she was abducted by aliens… But is this a fantasy created by his mental illness or is there truly something darker and otherworldly going on?<s></s>

Short pitch: THE FUGITIVE meets UFOs

Scheme and Investigation – Marc is trying to find his daughter and solve the mystery of her disappearance. The government is trying to frame him and cover up her kidnapping.

Layering

Someone Hides Who They Are

The Fish Out of Water Marc doesn’t believe in aliens but needs to find answers in the world of alien conferences and conspiracy theorists

Superior Position – We learn early on that the person helping is the daughter of the FBI Agent who is trying to hunt him down.

A Major Cover Up

Competitive Agendas

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s Transformational Journey

MY VISION IS (living as if it is already fact): I am an award-winning produced Hollywood screenwriter with an excellent reputation that is represented by an outstanding manager and whose life is filled with creativity!

What I learned from doing this assignment is…Made me think about my lead in new and different ways that makes him more three dimensional.

MARC (protag)

Tell us the Character Arc for your Protagonist:

· Arc Beginning: A selfish, under-achieving security guard who hears voices in his head.

· Arc Ending: Risks his life to become the hero he needs to be to save his daughter

Give us their Internal/External Journey:

· Internal Journey: Crippled by fear and inaction to strong and mindful

· External Journey: From loser with his life in chaos to the hero that saves a bunch of children

Tell us their Old Ways at the beginning of the movie and their New Ways at the end:

· Old Ways: Selfish. Got kicked out of the military. Jumps from job to job. Doesn’t believe in himself. Afraid of everything. Living in an unemotional state

· New Ways: Finding his sense of self. Finding purpose. Using his talents to solve a mystery. Fighting to save his daughter. Finding his courage.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s Intentional Lead Characters

MY VISION IS (living as if it is already fact): I am an award-winning produced Hollywood screenwriter with an excellent reputation that is represented by an outstanding manager and whose life is filled with creativity!

What I learned from doing this assignment is… it was feeing to be able to just work with broad strokes to build the characters, not worrying about specifics and details just yet. Makes it easier to play with components without being locked in. My antagonist changed a couple times until they felt right.

Character: MARC (protagonist) 30s

Logline: A security guard who is the father of a missing 10-year old girl.

Unique: He’s former military and now works security. He hears strange voices in his head.

Character: VINCENT (antagonist) 50s

Logline: An FBI agent investigating the disappearance of Marc’s daughter.

Unique: Also former military. Highly decorated Soldier and FBI Agent.

Character: LILLYANNE (Triangle) 20s

Logline: The daughter of the FBI Agent who is into UFOs and helps Marc.

Unique: She knows everything about alien abduction and believes that she was abducted as a child.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster’s Title, Concept, and Character Structure!

MY VISION IS (living as if it is already fact): I am an award-winning produced Hollywood screenwriter with an excellent reputation that is represented by an outstanding manager and whose life is filled with creativity!

What I learned from doing this assignment is…I can write this movie! Focusing on the Character Structure has already helped me to discover some ideas. I’m excited to start developing the characters.

Title: MISSING TYME
Genre: SCI-FI/THRILLER

Logline: When a FATHER becomes a suspect in his daughter TYME’S (10) disappearance, he goes on the run through the dark underbelly of online alien abduction chat rooms, conspiracy theory groups, and secret abduction survivor clubs, convinced that she was abducted by aliens… But is this a fantasy created by his mental illness or is there truly something darker and otherworldly going on?<s></s>

Short pitch: THE FUGITIVE meets UFOs

Tell us the Character Structure you’ve chosen: PROTAGONIST vs. ANTAGONIST

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Andrew Foerster]

KEEP MOVING FORWARD NO MATTER WHAT! And three steps to becoming a STAR!

[Andrew Foerster]

1. Drew Foerster

2. 15+ scripts written

3. I’ve taken the ProSeries, Master Screenwriting Certificate and most of the other smaller classes like the Horror, Thriller, Contained Movie and Comedy classes.

4. To write a script that sells, get representation and double the quality of my writing

5. For my day job I write and direct 1-hour long educational films and we have just wrapped post production on our 36th film.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew Foerster

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.

[Andrew Foerster]

Awwww shucks. Thanks Missy : )

[Andrew Foerster]

Hi Karen! I hope you are well and I’m glad to see you in this class 🙂