[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

PP 10- Aurora’s Target Market

I learned that with IMDB pro it is easy to get the contact info on all these producers. To my surprise there were so many that I tried to pick from only the highest rated series and films. I was also surprised to see that in many cases different producers were used in various episodes of the series, creating more opportunity for contact with producers of similar experience.

Five+ Similar Faith-Based Historical Drama TV miniseries and feature films

Risen (2016)

The Passion of Christ (2004)

Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018)

The Bible Miniseries (2013)

AD The Bible Continues Miniseries (2015)

Eyewitness Bible series (2018)

The Bible Collection (1998-1999)

The Chosen Series (2018- )

Potential Producers for my project

Bruce Davey (I), Mel Gibson, Steve McEvrety –Producers of The Passion

Patrick Aiello (II), Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon- Producers of Risen

LightWorkers Media (Roma Downey)- Exec Producer of The Bible (2013)

Sean Daniel, Duncan Henderson, Joni Levin- Producers of Ben Hur (2016)

Gina Cronk, Jonathan Curling, Roma Downey (12 episodes) AD The Bible Continues (2015)

Matilde Bernabei, Lorenzo Minoli producers of The Bible Collection films (1998)

Chosen Series: Dallas Jenkins Executive Producer, (showrunner), Earl Seals Co-Executive Producer, Co-Producer, Derral Eves Executive Producer, Chad Gundersen Producer, Co-Executive Producer, Ryan Swanson Executive Producer, Chris Juen Producer, Co-Executive Producer,

Ricky Ray Butler Co-Exec Producer, Tyler Thompson Exec Producer, Adam Drake Associate Producer, Co-Producer,
Kerri Navarro Co-Producer, Line Producer, Jamie Elliott Co-Producer, Ralph E. Portillo Co-Producer, Justen Overlander Associate Producer, Mark Sourian Supervising Producer, Justin Tolley Producer, Brad Pelo Executive Producer, Matthew Faraci Executive Producer, Carl Bechtold Co-Associate Producer, Darrel Bonner Associate Producer, William Clapp Co-Associate Producer, David Eisenbrandt Co-Associate Producer, Steve Emerson Co-Associate Producer, Christopher Garabedian Co-Executive
Producer, Everett Hellmuth Associate Producer, Brian Herrman Co-Associate Producer, Jerry Jenkins Associate Producer, Matthew James Leader Co-Associate Producer,
Connie Nofziger Associate Producer, Kurt Nofziger Associate Producer, Troy Rubright Co-Associate Producer, Ryan Shay Associate Producer, Cynthia Smith Associate Producer, Ryan Heidemann Associate Producer, Monica Zaragoza Co-Executive Producer, Chris Juen Producer, Co-Executive Producer.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Assignment #9 Aurora’s Phone Pitch

I learned doing this assignment that even shorter is better.

1. Leading with expertise.
2. Hi, this is Aurora Harris, I’m an
   optioned screenwriter. I have a faith-based historical drama which would
   appeal to fans of the Chosen. My one hour TV miniseries is called The
   Insurrectionist. It’s about a
   Roman soldier, a loyalist, on mission to assassinate a rebel leader in Galilee,
   but when discovering everyone, including he is himself an insurrectionist,
   he switches allegiance to fulfill his divine destiny. (Pause)
3. What is the budget range?

It is low budget in the range of$200- $400 K per episode because it was written as a contained film. For example, in many of the episodes, the protagonist is under house.

4. What actors do you like for the
   lead roles?

For the lead, Theophilus the Centurion, a Joseph Fiennes type actor would be great.

For the character of Young Philip the Evangelist, a bi-racial athlete, someone like Will Smith’s son, Trey, would be a great choice.

Marcus Julius Agrippa– Herod’s grandson, could be played by an actor like Christian Rodrigo.

5. The pilot script is 71 pages.
6. A producer in Nashville has seen
   an earlier version.
7. I contacted your company because
   you have produced great faith based films and know that the first century dramatic
   series The Chosen has gained a huge following that has an appetite for more
8. The movie ends with the protagonist,
   a pagan Roman soldier name Theophilus, who values loyalty to Rome, flipping
   sides and joining the Christian underground, smuggling Luke’s Gospel to the
   seven churches in Asia.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Pitch Fest Pitch

I’m an optioned screenwriter, an MK, who is a First Century Roman history buff.

Genre: I have a faith-based historical drama which would appeal to fans of the Chosen. It is a pilot script and concept for a miniseries entitled: The Insurrectionist.

A Roman soldier, a renowned loyalist, is sent to assassinate a rebel leader in Galilee, but when discovering he is himself the Insurrectionist, he switches allegiance to follow a divine destiny.

(Pause)

What is the budget range?

It is low budget in the range of $500 K per episode because it was written as a contained film. For example, n many of the episodes, the protagonist is under house arrest at a vineyard.

What actors do you like for the lead roles?

For the lead, Theophilus the Centurion, a Joseph Fiennes type actor would be great.

For the character of Young Philip the Evangelist, a bi-racial athlete, someone like Will Smith’s son, Trey, would be a great choice.

If the role of the Candace or Ethiopian Queen were accepted by Paulette Washington, then her husband, Denzel Washington might be tempted to take on the role of The Ethiopian Eunuch. Other choices for those two roles might be BJ and Cameron Arnett.

Marcus Julius Agrippa– Herod’s grandson, could be played by Christian Rodrigo.

Luke the Apostle could be played by Neal McDonough.

Jael the fiery young Jewish refugee could be played by an actress like Rachel Zegler.

Summary of the Acts of the Series Pilot of The Insurrectionist

Cold Open

Theophilus Cato, a Roman Centurion, parades his cohort, blasting a captured barbarian battle trumpet whose terrifying bellows enthrall crowds in Rome. The recently promoted Consul, Sejanus, is jealous and plots to destroy Cato, a supporter of the retired Emperor with the help of King Herod’s cunning grandson, Marcus Julius, who is anti-Semitic. Cato loves his multi-racial troops and a family of Jewish household slaves. Cato is extremely loyal but is politically naïve.

Beginning

Cato’s beloved bi-racial Jewish slave Philip is attacked during a foot race. Cato discovers Philip has been sneaking out and has secretly collaborated with Jewish rebels, naïvely implicating Cato in the murder of a recent Sejanus appointee.

Middle

Cato refuses to guard the Emperor in retirement as Sejanus wants him there only to spy. Cato’ discovers his best soldier, a Jew, is falsely accused of rebellion, and finds him strangled and dead, thrown down the Gemonian stairs.

Cato is accused of sedition. The popular war hero now faces death before a bloody thirsty crowd on the Gemonian stairs. More anti-Semitism is created by Marcus Julius who ties a poem by Virgil which foretells of a virgin-born, warrior king bringing down Rome, with Jewish prophecies of a virgin-born, world-conquering Hebrew King.

End

Under pressure, Cato abandons his cohort and his beloved Emperor, agreeing to leave Rome on assignment to Galilee to single-handedly assassinate the foretold Jewish Insurrectionist or die. On the mission, Cato will only be aided by his household staff.

Cato is an unarmed guest at his slaves’ Passover meal, when they are attacked by anti-Semitic thugs. A shy Jewish female refugee, surprisingly skilled at wielding a pilgrims’ staff, leads in the defense.

Tag: Before leaving Rome, Cato’s Jewish cook is blackmailed into spying on her Master during their upcoming trip.

How does it end? Setup/payoff

The disloyalty of everyone is revealed. Even the loyal Cato, becomes disloyal when he has to choose between two masters, he chooses to protect his unruly Jewish slaves.

Please contact me for a copy of the Pilot Script and The Insurrectionist Series Treatment.

Bio

I’m an optioned screenwriter, who is a First Century Roman history buff and Bible student. As a third culture kid, descending from three generations of foreign missionaries, now living in the south, I have unique first-hand experience with racial tensions.

Aurora Dawn Harris, Hedgehog Hallelujah Studios

RoraHarris@aol.com 714/ 496-3069

I learned doing this assignment that I had to shorten the summary of the story even more, and remove many more extraneous details.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by  Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Assignment #7 Aurora’s Query Letter

Series Title: Insurrection! Ep 1- The Carnyx -The Series Pilot of an Historical Drama

Should a Centurion serve the anti-Semitic policies of a new regime in Rome or protect his beloved but unruly bi-racial Jewish house slaves?

Theophilus Cato, a Roman Centurion, parades his cohort, blasting a captured barbarian battle trumpet whose terrifying bellows enthrall crowds in Rome. The recently promoted Consul Sejanus is jealous and plots to destroy Cato, a loyal supporter of the retired Emperor.

Cato’s best soldier, a Jew, is falsely accused of rebellion, and strangled. Cato’s beloved Jewish slave Philip is attacked during a foot race. Cato discovers naïvely Philip has secretly collaborated with Jewish rebels, implicating Cato in the murder of a recent Sejanus appointee.

Loyalist Cato is accused of sedition, when he refuses to guard the Emperor in retirement because Sejanus wants him there to spy. The popular war hero now faces death before a bloody thirsty crowd on the Gemonian stairs.

Politicians create more anti-Semitism by mirroring a poem by Virgil foretelling a virgin-born warrior king that brings down Rome, with Jewish prophecies of a virgin-born, world-conquering, Hebrew King. Under pressure, the loyal Cato, becomes disloyal. He abandons his cohort and his beloved Emperor, agreeing to leave Rome for Galilee to find and assassinate this foretold Jewish Insurrectionist or die.

However, when Cato is unarmed at a Passover meal hosted by his house slaves, they are attacked by anti-Semitic thugs. A shy Jewish female refugee, surprisingly skilled wielding a pilgrims’ staff, leads in the defense. Before leaving Rome, Cato’s cook is blackmailed into spying on her Master during their upcoming trip.

Please contact me for copies of this Pilot Script and The Insurrection Series Treatment.

Bio

As a third culture kid, descending from three generations of foreign missionaries, Aurora Dawn Harris, is an avid bible student and Roman history buff. Now retired from the practice of law, she is an optioned screenwriter of faith infused stories.

Aurora Dawn Harris, Hedgehog Hallelujah Studios

RoraHarris@aol.com 714/ 496-3069

I learned doing this assignment that I had to shorten the summary of the story even more, and remove many more extraneous details.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Assignment #6 Aurora’s Synopsis Hooks

A. My Synopsis.

A Roman cohort parades the Carnyx, a unique barbarian battle trumpet in Rome. It was captured by Theophilus Cato, a Centurion, who is a popular war hero from the Sacrovir Rebellion. Cato’s popularity is troublesome to Sejanus, an ambitious Praetorian whom the Emperor puts in charge and plots are formed against Cato as be is loyal to Emperor. A trusted new friend and mentor begins working against Cato.

Cato’s Jewish slave Philip is attacked during a foot race. Cato discovers Philip secretly collaborated with Jewish rebels in Rome, and has naively implicated Cato in a murder. Cato’s best soldier, a Jew, is strangled and tossed down the Gemonian steps, accused of rebellion. Should Cato serve the anti-Semitic policies of Sejanus’ regime or protect his beloved family of unruly Jewish slaves?

Despite being a loyalist, Cato is accused of sedition, as he refuses a new assignment to guard his beloved Emperor in retirement because it involves spying for Sejanus. The popular war hero that had entertained crowds by parading the Carnyx, now faces a crowd pleasing death as a rebel on the Gemonian stairs.

Sejanus has a nightmare based upon a poem written by Roman poet Virgil foretelling a virgin-born warrior king that brings down the Roman Empire. This matches with Jewish prophecies of a virgin born Messiah who is a world conquering King.

Despite the fact Cato loves and understands Jews, he volunteers to travel uncover with his household on a mission to find and assassinate this Jewish Insurrectionist in Galilee, thus abandoning his cohort and his beloved Emperor. Cato, the man who values loyalty is disloyal.

Cato and his slaves are attacked at his Villa during the slaves’ Seder meal, catching Cato unarmed.

A shy young Jewish girl, a guest at the meal, is a trained fighter, and with Philip’s clever defenses, the two frighten off a gang of anti-Semitic thugs.

Cato’s cook, Hannah, Philip’s mother, is blackmailed into promising to spy on her Master during his mission.

B. Original list of hooks from Assignment #4

1. Centurion Theophilus Cato parades the Carnyx, a very unique and creepy sounding captured barbarian battle trumpet (think the sounds made by the aliens in the most recent War of the Worlds) that very few people know about because only recently was one reconstructed and someone learned to play it.

2. Loyalist Cato’s dilemma- does he serve the anti-Semitic policies of a new Roman regime or protect his beloved family of unruly Jewish slaves?

3. The surprising execution of Cato’s favorite Jewish soldier, by spectacularly tossing him down the Gemonian steps.

4. The violent attacks on Cato’s slave Philip during his foot race.

5. Slave Philip is secretly collaborating with Jewish rebels.

6. An anti-Semitic attack on Cato and his household during a Seder at Cato’s villa.

7. A young Jewish female refugee, presenting as passive and vulnerable, is really a trained and vicious fighter able to defend Cato’s household from attackers and in the process also kill a man posing as her uncle, but who is in fact her captor.

8. Cato refuses to guard his beloved Emperor Tiberius because the new assignment involves spying for Sejanus on the Emperor

9.Roman poet Virgil wrote a poem about a virgin born warrior king, son of the sun-god that brings down the Roman Empire.

10. Cato, who loves and understands Jews, agrees to ferret out and kill a Jewish Insurrectionist.

C. I learned doing this assignment that the prior list made making the synopsis easy. However many of the points had to be reworded and many elements were also not necessary to telling the story in shortened form.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Assignment #5 Aurora’s High Concept/Elevator Pitch

High Concept Pitches:

1. A loyal Centurion becomes the Insurrectionist he was sent to kill.

2. Telling it as:

· Dilemma- What does a warrior who prides himself on loyalty do when he realizes he is drawn to join the enemy camp?

· Main Conflict- What happens when the assassin joins the opposing side?

· High stakes-Who can defend the Empire from a powerful Insurrectionist when even its most loyal Centurion is persuaded to join the other side?

· Goal/Unique Opposition-Can the Roman Empire survive when even its most uniquely qualified defender is persuaded to join the Insurrection?

3. Elevator Pitch: I’m working on a series about a loyal Centurion who is betrayed and falsely accused of rebellion against the Roman Empire, so switches allegiance to the Insurrectionist he was sent to assassinate.

4. I learned there are so many different ways to pitch the same story, and shorter versions are crisper, more palatable and make people want to hear more.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Assignment #4 Aurora’s Ten Most Interesting Things

1. My projects has these specific hooks:

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[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

I’m posting lesson 2 here because I can’t do it in the right spot.

Assignment #2 Aurora’s Marketable Components

1. Concept/Logline:

When a loyal Centurion on mission to assassinate an Insurrectionist prophesied to bring down the Empires, is falsely charged with sedition, he becomes the rebel he was sent to kill.

2. I feel it is a unique story with a great title.

3. In brainstorming this I was really inspired to take it up a notch (headed for ultimate extreme in final episode) and make the Centurion more proactive in his journey toward full on rebellion against Rome. I ‘ll also be adding much more physical action, revealing more action in his responses (beside frustration) with the continued false accusations, and manipulations of others. I want to make it a more timely parallel to the January 6 “Insurrection” and add more “Ray Epps” entrapment manipulations by the antagonist. I also think it may be the first (for my intended Evangelical audience) in depicting first century Jewish-Christians as “insurrectionists”, as this battle- hardened Centurion is really going to embrace that role.

4. I learned so much with this one! I feel I had a break through with my tough series. Just visualizing the project from a producer’s perspective was very helpful. New scenes and a new ending just popped up. So I plan to rewrite the ending, by adding an adventuresome and dangerous trip for Theophilus, smuggling Lucas’ writings and fighting his way through ”enemy Roman lines”. I feel this slight tweak to reveal his change of mission will really cap the story and leave my audience satisfied. I don’t feel my main character has not been proactive enough since he hates political wrangling and deception, but I then I realize that all that disloyalty and falsity is what drives him to trust in a God, who out of loyalty and love, dies for his people. So different from the antagonist, the grasping, violent and self-centered grandson of Herod the Great. I just need to plot out step by step their story arcs through the now 14 episodes.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Project and Market

1.My series is a first century historical drama called Insurrection!

Concept/Logline:

Renown for loyalty, a Roman Centurion sent to Galilee to find a prophesied Insurrectionist, struggles with rebellion in Jews and Romans, slaves and politicians, realizing he is himself an insurrectionist.

2. The attractive part: The story depicts the fictitious backstories of a number of lesser known mysterious historical/biblical personalities, revealing their character journeys. Quite a fan base loves all things Roman, and the personal life and history of this Roman soldier is especially unique and intriguing as he discovers he is half Jewish and related to his beloved but unruly household slaves. The story examines racial tensions, between Romans, Jews and Cushites (Africans) and long term close relationships between masters and slaves. Since the theme is both loyalty and insurrection, the story is not only about love, submission, forgiveness, but fraught with continual conflicts, deceptions, manipulations and betrayals. Finally it is ironic that the protagonist discovers, that despite being proud of his own loyalty, he is as rebellious as the Insurrectionist he is sent to capture.

3. I plan to target producers who have already successfully produced a film that is a faith based historical drama. Such a person would already have experience with the existing market of potential investors and know already exists an audience for such a project.

4. I learned today it is hard to quickly and succintly summarize high points of a thirteen part series. But its crucial to be able to do so. Good to be prepared in advance.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Hi Everyone, Glad to get to join you although about 10 days late.

I’ve written a TV Pilot for a series and outlined all the episodes and written four other feature scripts, a stage play and about 14 short stories.

I hoping to get some ideas about where to market as well as motivation to pitch my series which I’ve just copyrighted.

I’m a retired lawyer, refugee from Southern California, happily living in Middle Tennessee on a 24 acre farm with chickens, mini horse, donkey, 3 barn cats, 2 rescued Tree Walker Coon hounds, 700 + peach and apple trees and lots of wonderful neighbors. It’s a great life!

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Hi, I’m Aurora Dawn Harris. I agree to the following terms:

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.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Hi fellow writers- I’m Aurora Dawn Harris and tomorrow afternoon July 7th, I would be ready to exchange my outline of the pilot episode for a series with someone. The genre is a faith-based drama set in first century AD that explores the meaning of “Insurrection.” If you have interest please PM me or send an email to RoraHarris@aol.com. Thanks!

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Outline – Part 2

I learned that moving the same incidents around in order to properly structure the story, helps greatly with telling the story in the most interesting and meaningful way.

· Series Concept: A Praetorian Centurion, naïvely loyal to Emperor Tiberius, is sidelined by Sejanus, his newly promoted boss, and loyally he goes on a bootless errand to find a mythical Jewish rebel. In Palestine, he is placed under house arrest in a remote luxury hostelry, full of spies, and intrigue, and while he struggles with his out of control slaves, he discovers he himself is an insurrectionist.

· Main Conflict in Episode One: Centurion Theophilus Cato struggles to maintain his loyalties to the Roman Empire while protecting his beloved Jewish household slaves from a new wave of anti- Semitism in Rome.

Cold Open: EXT – VILLA IN CAESAREA MARITIMA-DAY 40 AD. Philip reads to Theo a letter from Lucas which addresses Theo as the Excellent Theophilus, reporting Lucas’ research about the Messiah’s life is complete and he will soon forward that account, but he’s been very busy write the second part as the story is on-going. Their old nemesis Agrippa has turned against his uncle Herod Antipas, accusing him of rebellion against Rome. Was he aware that Caligula is trying to reinstate Emperor worship?

Act 1:

Opening: EXT- A RAVINE IN THE
FOOTHILLS OUT OF ROME -DAY 26 AD
Theo rewards a Jewish soldier in his cohort for loyalty and bravery
and chides his soldiers for complaining that he is being reassigned.
Swears by Mercury, Roman God of loyalty.

Inciting Incident: EXT- HILLSIDE
IN ROME-DAY At his slave, Philip’s foot race, the Romans are jealous of
Philip’s running success. Theo discovers from Senator Atticus (whose son
Dominic is a competitor) there is a
new wave of anti Semitic policies coming with the rise of Lucius Sejanus.
Theo naively reveals where he and Philip live. Theo sees the prejudice manifested
against Philip by the race official, who is a recent appointee of Sejanus.
Philip is silent in the face of it. Along the race course Theo ambushes the
official to stop further retaliation against Philip , then conceals he did
it. In discussion with Philip afterward he asserts loyalty is key, so
don’t get caught being disloyal. Philip stutters out a psalm about a prophesied Jewish
warrior overthrowing with an iron rod.
Turning Point– EXT- STREET OUTSIDE
THE BATHS IN ROME-NIGHT Theo learns
from Atticus that the race official was murdered, stabbed with a military
issued Iberian dagger left at the scene. Atticus reveals their new boss Sejanus
thinks its convenient to blame the Jews. Theo begins to suspect he himself
or Philip is responsible for the death of the official.

Act 2:

New plan-.INT- THEO’S VILLA IN
ROME- Morning. Theo notices his own
Iberian dagger is missing. Theo is
going to investigate/ cover up. Constantinius
his retainer informs him that Philip had left early the prior day and
again is no where to be found. When
he approaches his slave Hannah, he discovers she has taken in Jael &
Josiah, Jewish refugees and Theo is furious. She complains she was
Mistress of the household before they left Alexandria, questioning why she
can’t make decisions to benefit the running the household. He confronts
Hannah bout her son Philip but is reassured of his slaves’ loyalty and
love of him. Hannah invites Theo and Constatinius to their Seder but the
retainer begs off since going to a banquet with his old buddies that night.
Theo discovers Philip is again lying about his whereabouts.
Plan in action– EXT- STREET SCENE
ROME- DAY Theo spots Philip and follows him, learning Philip had taken Theo’s dagger to the rebels but
is unable to get it back. The rebels accuse him of not being Jewish and
throw him out. When Theo confronts Philip about this- and his
insurrectionist scripture, Philip reveals these are the Synagogue of
Freedmen. He also responds with a parallel prophecy from a Roman source, Virgil
about a child warrior born of virgin breaking the Roman rod of iron and
shattering pots of clay. Theo prevails on Philip to take no more action
and trust him to handle it.
Midpoint Turning Point-EXT BOTTOM
OF GEMONIAN STAIRS- Afternoon- On his way to meet Sejanus, Theo finds his Jewish
soldier murdered on the Gemonian stairs and his reward stolen. Theo pays an
old priestess to guard the body but
suspiciously she has the red wallet
that Theo gave the Jewish soldier with the prize money. She foretells that
Theo is a betrayer who will be betrayed as he serves the wrong gods.

Act 3:

Rethink everything-INT- MAMERTINE
PRISON- DAY Theo goes to Capitoline
Hill see Sejanus to discuss his reassignment but is met by Atticus’ at Mamertine
prison. On the way in Theo assists in the apprehension of a man escaping
from the prison with gold coins. Atticus suggests that Theo spy on
Tiberius, switching his loyalty to Sejanus, telling him to forget Mercury,
follow the god of War. You create your own truth, so grab control of your
destiny.
New plan: Theo declines the offer,
saying he will retire before being disloyal to Tiberius. Then Theo slips
out of the prison courtyard.
Turning Point: EXT- STREET SCENE
ROME- Noon Huge failure / Major shift Theo is dragged before Sejanus.

Act 4:

Final plan– EXT TOP OF GEMONIAN
STAIRS- Night Sejanus threatens Theo and calls on the same priestess to
condemn him, but Theo reverses the accusation and gets the priestess
arrested for theft. Then Theo reveals to Sejanus his plan to go to
Palestine undercover to find the Jewish rebel leader foretold in the Jewish
and Roman prophecies. Reveal: Theo
is not very literate, and relies on smart Jews to write his military
reports. Sejanus agrees on his play
but will send him as an emissary of the Empire, but Theo must succeed in
finding the Insurrectionist within two years or die.
Climax/Ultimate expression of the
conflict-INT/EXT SLAVES
QUARTERS AT THEO’S VILLA- NIGHT Philip splashes blood on the doorway in
prep for the Seder and leaves a large bowl of it outside. Thugs attack at the
slave quarters during a Seder on the day Theo’s home guard is off duty and
has left the gate open. In the
dark, Jael uses a Passover pilgrim’s staff to help Theo fight the attackers.
The thugs are frightened off by the amount of blood they see on the door
frames. But Josiah has been killed.
Jael quickly begins prepping his body for burial, by wrapping his head in
her head scarf.
Resolution– INT SLAVES QUARTERS AT
THEO’S VILLA- NIGHT Jael conspires
with Hannah saying Theo would be upset to discover he had killed Josiah by
mistake during the attack. .
Reveal: Jael hides the bloody rag with which she wiped her staff by
mopping up the spilt blood at the doorway. Hannah manipulates Theo into
taking them all, including Jael ,
on his mission to Palestine.

TAG

EXT- ALLEYWAY IN ROME- DAY Hannah is blackmailed by an unknown assailant to secretly report on Theo’s investigation, under threats to expose her son Philip as a rebel.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Outline – Part 1

I learned that adding elements to your story in a logical progression is extremely helpful to the creative process.

· Series Concept: A Praetorian Centurion, naïvely loyal to Emperor Tiberius, is sidelined by Sejanus, his newly promoted boss, and loyally he goes on a bootless errand to find a mythical Jewish rebel. In Palestine, he is placed under house arrest in a remote luxury hostelry, full of spies, and intrigue, and while he struggles with his out of control slaves, he discovers he himself is an insurrectionist.

· Main Conflict in Episode One: Centurion Theophilus Cato struggles to maintain his loyalties to the Roman Empire while protecting his beloved Jewish household slaves from a new wave of anti- Semitism in Rome.

Cold Open: EXT – VILLA IN CAESAREA MARITIMA-DAY 40 AD. Philip reads to Theo a letter from Lucas which addresses Theo as the Excellent Theophilus, reporting Lucas’ research about the Messiah’s life is complete and he will soon forward that account, but he’s been very busy write the second part as the story is on-going. Their old nemesis Agrippa has turned against his uncle Herod Antipas, accusing him of rebellion against Rome. Was he aware that Caligula is trying to reinstate Emperor worship?

Act 1:

Opening: EXT- A RAVINE IN THE FOOTHILLS
OUT OF ROME -DAY 26 AD
Theo rewards a Jewish soldier in his cohort for loyalty and bravery
and chides his soldiers for complaining that he is being reassigned.
Swears by Mercury, Roman God of loyalty.

Inciting Incident: EXT- HILLSIDE IN
ROME-DAY At his slave, Philip’s foot race, Theo discovers from Atticus
there is a new wave of anti Semitism coming. Theo sees it manifest against Philip by
the race official. Along the race course Theo ambushes the official to
stop further retaliation against Philip but hides conceals it. In
discussion with Philip afterward he asserts loyalty is key, so don’t get
caught being disloyal.
Turning Point– EXT- STREET OUTSIDE
THE BATHS IN ROME-NIGHT Theo learns
from Atticus that the race official was murdered, stabbed with a military
issued Iberian dagger left at the scene. Atticus reveals their new boss Sejanus
thinks its convenient to blame the Jews. Theo begins to suspect he himself
or Philip is responsible for the death of the official.

Act 2:

New plan-.INT- THEO’S VILLA IN ROME-
DAY Theo notices his own Iberian dagger
is missing. Theo is going to
investigate/ cover up. Constantinius
his retainer informs him that Philip has left early. Slave Hannah has
taken in Jael & Josiah, Jewish refugees and Theo is furious. He
confronts her, about her son Philip but is reassured of his slaves’
loyalty and love of him. Hannah invites Theo to their Seder. Theo discovers
Philip was lying about his whereabouts. When Theo confronts, Philip
recites a psalm about a prophesied Jewish warrior overthrowing with an
iron rod. Philip also quotes Virgil.
Plan in action– EXT- STREET SCENE ROME-
DAY He follows Philip and learns he had taken Theo’s dagger to the rebels
but is unable to get it back. Theo
prevails on him to take no more action and trust Theo to handle it.
Midpoint Turning Point-EXT BOTTOM OF
GEMONIAN STAIRS- DAY- Theo finds his Jewish soldier murdered on the
Gemonian stairs and his reward stolen.

Act 3:

Rethink everything-INT- MAMERTINE PRISON-
DAY Theo meets Atticus’ at Mamertine
prison to discuss his reassignment.
Atticus suggests that Theo spy on Tiberius, switching his loyalty to
Sejanus. Follow the god of War.
New plan: He declines the offer,
he will retire and slips out of the prison.
Turning Point: EXT- STREET SCENE ROME-
DAY Huge failure / Major shift Theo is dragged before Sejanus.

Act 4:

Final plan– EXT TOP OF GEMONIAN STAIRS-
DAY Sejanus threatens him and Theo reveals his plan to go to Palestine
undercover to find the Jewish rebel leader. Sejanus agrees but will send him as an
emissary of the Empire, but he must succeed in finding the Insurrectionist
within two years or die.
Climax/Ultimate expression of the
conflict-INT/EXT SLAVES QUARTERS
AT THEO’S VILLA- NIGHT Thugs attack
at Theo’s home during a Seder on the day his home guard is off duty. In
the dark, Jael helps Theo fend off the attackers.
Resolution– INT SLAVES QUARTERS AT
THEO’S VILLA- NIGHT Jael conspires
with Hannah to conceal that Josiah was killed by Theo during the attack,
because he would be upset. Reveal: Jael hides the bloody rag with which
she wiped her staff. Theo decides
all of them, including Jael are going to Palestine.

TAG

EXT- ALLEYWAY IN ROME- DAY Hannah is blackmailed to secret report on Theo’s investigation, with threats to expose her son Philip.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora Writes for a Budget

I learned that writers’ imaginations can unreasonably explode a film budget but clever rewriting can quickly reduce expenses.

1. How many ways might I be able decrease the budget for my project if required?

Decrease budget by using the same or variations of same costumes. (Note that period costumes was NOT on the list of added expense items but needs to be. ) Reuse some of same background actors, ie use Dominick’s fellow runners or some of the prison guards as some of the nighttime assailants. Instead of using a child, use a young adult as the shepherd boy. Have sound of sheep instead of actual sheep, don’t show Theo on horseback, but just the head of his horse as he is dismounted or eliminate horse all together. Use green screen instead of using a location with a view. Shorten the number of locations by reusing some outdoor area nearby a villa. Shoot more outdoors to limit lighting issues. Use different ends of the same cobblestone street for the two street scenes. Get re- enactors to bring their own Roman uniforms.

MAIN VARIABLES

Number
of Locations -12
Expensive
locations- establishing shots of the ancient temples of Rome
Number
of characters 21
Special
effects- none
Number
of pages- 52
Crowd
scenes- 3
Stunts,
Chase scenes, and Fight scenes- falling while running, kicking a man
sprawling, soldiers dragging
Special
sets-steep flight of stone steps to replicate Gemonian stairs, top and
bottom.

SECONDARY VARIABLES

Rights
to music, brands, books, etc -none.
Explosions
and Firearm- none but crowd scene with soldiers requires swords and Roman
armament
Kids
— shorter work days, tutor on the set- child in field
Animals
– need a wrangler, more time to shoot, Humane Society- horse ridden by
Theo, sheep
Weather
— Rain, snow, wind, tornados.- none
Water
and underwater scenes-none
Night
scenes- yes, the torch light attack during the Seder meal
Helicopters,
aircraft, drone shots- none
Green
screen work- yes, establishing shots from the top of the Gemonian steps.
Extensive
Make-up- dead soldier on the Gemonian steps, blood on doorway at Seder
Archival
Footage- establishing shots of Rome
Anything
else dangerous that increases preparation time and/or Insurance.- Roman
clothing, soldiers’ costumes

2. What I might add if my budget was quadrupled.

Better actors. Fancier uniforms. CGI views of city of Rome and its Temples. Larger group of soldiers practicing maneuvers. Use an exterior shot of the baths.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora Writes Great Hope/Fear

I learned that this was an easier assignment that what I first imagined it to be. Funny has fear of difficulties causes me to procrastinate. This exercise helped me to focus on the audience reaction to the story and helped me nuance it better.

· Series Concept: A Praetorian Centurion, naïvely loyal to Emperor Tiberius, is sidelined by Sejanus, his newly promoted boss, and sent on a bootless errand to find a mythical Jewish rebel. In Palestine, he is placed under house arrest in a remote luxury hostelry, full of spies, and intrigue, and while he struggles with his out of control subordinates, he discovers he himself is an insurrectionist.

· Main Conflict in Episode One: Centurion Theophilus Cato struggles to maintain his loyalties to the Roman Empire while protecting his beloved Jewish household slaves from a new wave of anti- Semitism in Rome.

Cold Open: 50 AD. An Older Lucas (a character the Older Theophilus has met in the past in Palestine) writes, letting Theo know that the fanatic Saul has ceased his persecutions but their old nemesis Agrippa has succeeded in his power play and is in a position of enforcing Emperor worship.

HOPE/FEAR

Hope that Lucas can finish his books , but fear these two will be martyred.

Act 1:

26 AD Opening: Younger Theo to rewards a Jewish
soldier in his cohort for loyalty and bravery and announces he’s being
reassigned.
Inciting
Incident: At his slave, Philip’s race, Theo discovers from Atticus there
is a new wave of anti Semitism coming. Theo sees it carried out against
Philip by the race official. During the race Theo follows the official and
retaliates against him.
Turning
Point- He learns from Atticus that the race official was murdered, stabbed
with a military issued Iberian dagger left at the scene and Sejanus thinks
its convenient to blame the Jews.

HOPE/FEAR

Hope that Theo can protect his Jewish slaves. Fear of a new wave of persecution of Jews in Rome.

Act 2:

New
plan- Theo notices his own Iberian dagger is missing. He confronts Hanna, Philip’s mother and
is reassured of his slaves’ loyalty but finds out Philip was lying about his
whereabouts. Theo is going to investigate.
Plan
in action- He follows Philip and learns he had taken Theo’s dagger to the
rebels but is unable to get it back. When confronted, Philip recites a poem
about a a prophesied Jewish warrior overthrowing with an iron rod. Philip
also quotes Virgil.
Midpoint
Turning Point- Theo finds his Jewish soldier killed and his reward stolen.

HOPE/FEAR

Hope that Theo’s slaves are loyal and do trust him and serve him out of love, but fearful that Philip is rebelliously taking matters into his own hands.

Act 3:

Rethink
everything-He rejects Atticus’ suggestion that he spy on Tiberius.
New
plan: He tells Atticus his new
plan, he will retire, and to go to Jerusalem to find the insurrectionist.
Turning
Point: Huge failure / Major shift He is dragged before Sejanus.

HOPE/FEAR

Hope Theo he can outsmart his superiors, but fear that his divided loyalties will be uncovered.

Act 4:

Final
plan- Sejanus will send him as an emissary of the Emperor to Palestine to
conduct the investigation, but he must succeed in finding the rebel leader
within two years or die.
Climax/Ultimate
expression of the conflict- attack at his home during a Seder on the day
his home guard is off duty.
Resolution-
Theo decides all of them are going to Palestine

HOPE/FEAR

Hope Theo can escape Rome and start a new life with his slaves in Palestine. Since unbeknownst to Theo, he has been set up to fail his mission, fear he and his slaves will be killed.

TAG

Hannah is blackmailed to secret report on Theo’s investigation, with threats to expose her son Philip.

HOPE/FEAR

Hope Hannah is clever enough not to report anything
that would betray her master, fear she will.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Four Act Structure for Pilot Episode of Insurrection.

I learned I already had the elements for the structure but they were stacked in the wrong order. I think following the proven structure will make the story stronger since it meets audience and producer expectations better.

1.

Series Concept: A Praetorian Centurion, naïvely loyal to Emperor Tiberius, is sidelined by Sejanus, his newly promoted boss, and sent on a bootless errand to find a mythical Jewish rebel. In Palestine, he is placed under house arrest in a remote luxury hostelry, full of spies, and intrigue, and while he struggles with his out of control subordinates, he discovers he himself is an insurrectionist.

Main Conflict in Episode One: Centurion Theophilus Cato struggles to maintain his loyalties to the Roman Empire while protecting his beloved Jewish household slaves from a new wave of anti- Semitism in Rome.

2.

Cold Open: Older Luke (character he will meet in the future in Palestine) writes to an Older Theophilus, causing him to reminisce.

Act 1:

Opening:
Theo rewards a Jewish soldier in his cohort for loyalty and bravery and
announces he’s being reassigned.

Inciting
Incident: At his slave, Philip’s race, Theo discovers from Atticus there
is a new wave of anti Semitism coming. Theo sees it carried out against
Philip by the race official. During the race Theo follows the official and
retaliates against him.
Turning
Point- He learns from Atticus that the race official was murdered, stabbed
with a military issued Iberian dagger left at the scene and Sejanus thinks
its convenient to blame the Jews.

Act 2:

New
plan- Theo notices his own Iberian dagger is missing. He confronts Hannah, Philip’s mother and finds
out Philip was lying about his whereabouts. Theo is going to investigate.

Plan
in action- He follows Philip and learns he had taken Theo’s dagger to the
rebels but is unable to get it back. When confronted, Philip recites a poem
about a a prophesied Jewish warrior overthrowing with an iron rod. Philip
also quotes Virgil.

Midpoint
Turning Point- Theo finds his Jewish soldier killed and his reward stolen.

Act 3:

Rethink
everything-He rejects Atticus’ suggestion that he spy on Tiberius.

New
plan: He tells Tiberius his new plan, he will retire, and to go to
Jerusalem to find the insurrectionist.

Turning
Point: Huge failure / Major shift He is dragged before Sejanus.

Act 4:

Final
plan- Sejanus wants to send him as an emissary of the Emperor to Palestine
to conduct the investigation.

Climax/Ultimate
expression of the conflict-Thugs attack during a Seder at Theo’s home on the day
his home guard is off duty.

Resolution-
Theo decides all of them are going to Palestine

TAG

Hannah is blackmailed into making secret reports on Theo’s
investigation, by threats to expose her son Philip’s involvement with Jewish rebels.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Delivering Multiple Layers.

I learned that not only people and plots but locations can have deeper meanings.

Plot
layers.

A. Who killed Sejanus’ newly appointed Official during Philip’s foot race around the Acropolis? Suspicion is cast on Theo and Philip, as Philip, a slave has been the victim of racial abuse, including by the race Official.

Major
scheme revealed:
Sejanus & Atticus plan a purge of Tiberius loyalists (like Theo), and
find it convenient to blame the Jews for various murders.
Mystery
revealed: The murder weapon found at the scene was
an Iberian dagger, a defunct weapon previously issued to ranking Roman
soldiers. Theo had inherited one from his father, but it is now
missing.
Thought
it was one thing, but it is another:
Theo discovers Philip had “loaned” his dagger to Jewish rebels in
Rome, and suspiciously they are
refusing to return it to him.
Major
shift in Meaning:
Once Theo gets to Palestine to
begin his assignment investigating Jewish rebels, he is placed under house
in a remote area, away from the big cities. He then suspects that Sejanus really just
wanted him out of Rome, and did not really want to locate a specific Jewish rebel
Hidden
history:
Theo is technically Jewish since his mother was secretly Jewish. He
definitely sympathizes with his Jewish household slaves, yet because he is
loyal to Tiberius he is put in charge of a mission to uncover a mysterious
Jewish rebel leader prophecize to .
Hidden
plan:
Constantinious, Theo’s
“loyal”retainer, a “Causarius” discharged for wounds, is jealous of Philip’s
relationship with Theo and wants him out of the way.

Character
layers.

B. JACOB BAR ABBAS- a Levite, who is a wealthy Temple Merchant

Secret
identity–
he’s a violent robber, thief and rebel organizer
Intrigue
layers–
Jacob befriends Theo and pretends to “help” him in his investigation,
directing him into HEROD ANTIPAS jurisdiction in Galillee and away from
Jerusalem.
Hidden
relationships and conspiracies– He’s a cousin of JUDAS ISCARIOT ,
and SIMON, his sidekick, is JUDAS’ dad.
He is an associate of HEROD ANTIPAS and was instrumental in getting
Theo placed under house arrest. He attempts to subvert Philip and poison
that give Philip as “medicine”, is taken by Philip instead and Philip
almost dies. He attacks Theo in a remote area and leaves him for dead.
Hidden
Character history– He is
related to Judas of Galillee, and those relatives were all killed by
Romans for rebellious activities.

C. MARCUS JULIUS AGRIPPA- a penurious but entitled, young Jewish prince

Secret identity- he’s a pretender to the throne of his grandfather HEROD THE GREAT. He is jealous
of his sister’s husband and his
uncle HEROD ANTIPAS who is ruler of
a third of the territory.

Intrigue layers – He encourages ANTIPAS to kill John the Baptist with
the pretense it will squash opposition, but the populace is angered since John was
popular. He encourages ANTIPAS to take excessive military action in
Samaria, destroying Mt. Gerizim and killing many people, an action that
stirs up the Samaritans and later gets ANTIPAS removed from this position
by the Romans.

Hidden relationships and
conspiracies- He has many friends back in
Rome where he grew up in the Imperial court before falling from grace with
Tiberius after Tiberius’ son was killed. He learns of Sejanus’ treachery
from Theo and passes it on to
Antonia, the sister in law of Tiberius, who has been isolated on Capri by
Sejanus.

Hidden Character history : he learned to be ruthless from his grandfather HEROD
THE GREAT, who murdered Marcus’ grandmother, father and then mother. HEROD sent Marcus and his siblings to
Rome to be educated and they were taken into the Imperial court. Kicked
out following the death of his friend, Drusus, (Tiberius son) he racked up
a lot of debt in Palestine, attempting to “keep up his lifestyle”. He was embittered and entitled and filled
with rage.

3. Location layers. The large “resort” villa in Galilee where Theo is kept under house arrest.

Hidden
operation-it
was set up by the Sanhedrin as a place to spy 1) on the religious scholars
(Pharisees) of Jerusalem when they went on retreat 2) Roman officials
visiting the area.
Deeper
meaning–
Luke, a Greek who runs the hostelry, has his own agenda, he is angry about
the pressure from his father to practice medicine and seeks to do his own
research there into religions.
Beneath
that– the villa and grounds were once a
vineyard run by disloyal tenants who killed landowner’s son when he came
to collect the rent.
Trap
to draw prey–
it is a remote vacation spot, off grid.
Unique
sub-world–
travelers, scholars, spies and rebels come there to let their hair down.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Characters’ Journeys.

I learned that when writing a series, following various main characters over a number of different episodes, has more room for different turning points and climaxes. In other words, a particular person’s turning point may be in a totally different part of the entire story than another person. Also events are more or less significant or climatic to a given character depending on who they are as it may affect them entirely differently.

1.THEOPHILUS CATO– A battle hardened Centurion

Beginning: He is proud of his loyalty to Tiberius, and also loyalty to his family of Jewish slaves, although doesn’t believe in their god.

Turning Point: He discovers Jews are not safe in Rome and he may be required to spy on Tiberius so accepts assignment to Palestine to find an insurrectionist that’s been prophesied to overthrown the Roman empire.

Midpoint: in Galilee, he is surrounded by rebellion, but he is placed under house. His beloved slave Philip is poisoned but healed by an itinerant Jewish teacher. He discovers the slaves are his relatives, and he makes Philip his heir.

Dilemma: He begins to think this gentle loving healer is the prophesized Jewish messiah, especially as contrasted with the disgusting power hungry people he meets, but can’t bring himself to turn him in since he saved Philip.

Turning Point Two: He goes undercover to escape his house arrest to go to Jerusalem and report on the healer, but is attacked and left for dead by a Levite (Jacob Bar Abbas) that he thought was a close friend.

3^rd Act Climax: He is rescued by a Samaritan. He survives to get Bar Abbas arrested as a rebel leader, but is unsuccessful turning himself in as an insurrectionist.

Ending: Corrupt Local leaders play havoc with the rules and release Bar Abbas, killing instead the healer, who is resurrected.

2.PHILIP-an openly rebellious slave.

Beginning: A talented runner, he is frustrated by discrimination in Rome against Jews, so sides with Jewish rebels

Turning Point: His family Seder is attacked, so his master is taking them to Palestine.

Midpoint: In Palestine he discovers the Jews don’t accept him because he is mixed race. He meets Daniel, a depressed Ethiopian official Jewish, also a slave who struggles with some of the same questions about having a life of significance.

Turning Point Two: He barely survives a poisoning and decides to follow his healer to Jerusalem, where he sees him crucified and then resurrected.

Dilemma: What is a life of significance? Is it better to serve or be served? Philip works like a slave to help the widows in the church.

3^rd Act Climax: Philip becomes an evangelist and meets up with the Samaritan that saved Theo’s life.

Ending- Philip runs along the road to catch up with Daniel’s chariot, to show him that the prophesized messiah was a suffering servant, just like themselves.

3. HANNAH– overbearingly but loyal Jewish slave

Beginning: Hannah is very controlling and tightly wound about her son situation but has a big heart.

Turning Point: Attack at the Seder. Theo takes all of the slaves to Palestine.

Midpoint: Her son is poisoned and healed. She confesses her secret about being a relative of Cato.

Turning Point Two: Cato is attacked by a friend and almost dies.

Dilemma: Should she tell Cato about the blackmail or not?

3^rd Act Climax: She confesses her guilty secret over Cato’s deathbed and prays for healing. Miraculously he is healed.

Ending: She is in Caesarea with four grand daughters.

4. JAEL-a Jewish refugee fleeing from the murder of her parents,. Her weapon is surprise attack , as she is intuitive, prophetic and can fight like a wildcat.

Beginning: Jael a refugee is rescued by Hannah along with her “Uncle” Josiah.

Turning Point: She secretly kills a “Josiah” who is attempting to enslave her.

Midpoint: She is thrilled to enjoy the freedom of Galilee.

Turning Point Two: Exploiting her freedoms, she is captured by slave traders, who have also two young female slaves

Dilemma: Should she save herself or save the children?

3^rd Act Climax: She escapes with two young girls.

Ending She marries Philip and they adopt the children

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Characters Depth

I’ve learned that the complexities of the characters create a lot of opportunities for open loops in the story of a series.

1.THEOPHILUS CATO– prides himself on being a loyalist, but is guilty, compromised by his secret racial identity. A battle hardened Centurion, talented in military strategy, he is naïve about political conspiracies.

Internal Character Depth

Motivation: want to achieve military honor/ Need to overcome his guilt

Secret: He is a Roman but his mother was Jewish

Wound: guilt about accidentally killing his little brother, also for causing his beloved slave to take the punishment for it.

Subtext: speaks Aramaic. Interested and knowledgeable about Jewish customs

Layers: he discovers he is related to the family of Jewish slaves living in his household.

Character to Character

Conflict: He loves his slaves, but is frustrated by their rebelliousness

Hidden Agenda: He is planning to make his slave Philip his heir.

Conspiracy: He conspires with the slaves to conceal that he owns the Iberian dagger used to murder a Roman official

Intrigue: He conceals things from ProConsul Sejanus.

Character Situation

Dilemma: He is sent to find an insurrectionist but is surrounded by rebellion

Secret Identity: He is Jewish.

2.PHILIP-an openly rebellious slave, who naïvely covets a life of significance. Ironically, he finds meaning and wealth in serving others. He is bi-racial as his Jewish father was half Ethiopian.

Internal Character Depth

Motivation: He wants to be a free man, he has a need for a life of significance.

Secret: he was associated with Jewish rebels in Rome, and “loaned” them his master’s Iberian dagger.

Wound: he was publicly humiliated as child while reciting in a Synagogue, called out for being a slave

Subtext: insecurity, he stutters

Layers: he becomes an accomplished orator

Character to Character

Conflict: he clashes with his master Theo, although loves him like a father.

Hidden Agenda: He wants to find his meaning in organized rebellion

Conspiracy: He conspires with his mother Hannah, and with Jacob to hide things from Theo

Intrigue: What conspiracy has followed him from Rome to Palestine? Did he kill the Roman Official?

Character Situation

Dilemma: In serving others he finds freedom and meaning. He is enslaved by his desires.

Secret Identity: a messenger for the rebels

3. HANNAH– outwardly and overbearingly she presents as a loyal Jewish slave, although she is the mistress of manipulation. Ironically she finds herself manipulated by fear into betraying her master.

Internal Character Depth

Motivation: to protect her son, her family to be restored

Secret: She knows that her master is her cousin, and he doesn’t know it. Theo’s mother Lydia was Hannah’s Aunt, who married into the Cato family in Alexandria, secretly bringing along as part of her dowry, her brother Joshua, as a slave, in order to save the family fortune and Joshua’s life following the fall of Anthony and Cleopatra.

Wound: She has guilt about surviving the poisoning of Theo’s father, Theo’s wife and baby daughter, and her own husband while Theo and Joshua were away on campaign. She didn’t do it, but pregnant with Philip and not eating at the time.

Subtext: fearful about Philip’s clandestine activities, concerned about being suspected again as a poisoner.

Layers: she becomes a mother to Jael, and matriarch in a restored family

Character to Character

Conflict: she thinks she knows better than her master.

Hidden Agenda: to restore her family

Conspiracy: she is being blackmailed to report to an unknown enemy about Theo’s investigation.

Intrigue: She helps Philip and Jael cover-up their rebellions

Character Situation

Dilemma: Should she tell her master she is his cousin? Should she betray a beloved master in order to protect her son?

Secret Identity: Two faced. She is a disloyal yes-man.

4. JAEL-a Jewish refugee fleeing from the murder of her parents, she appears defenseless, silent and complicit. Her weapon is surprise attack , as she is intuitive, prophetic and can fight like a wildcat. She secretly kills a “relative” attempting to enslave her.

Internal Character Depth

Motivation: she wants protection, but her need is to protect others.

Secret: Josiah, the old man posing as her uncle, was not her relative but someone trying to enslave her. So she killed him.

Wound: Her parents who were Jewish refugees were killed. Next a stranger attempted to enslave her.

Subtext: she is guarded, fearful, but also quite prophetic

Layers: She investigates a child trafficker and is again kidnapped but escapes with two of the enslaved little girls. Theo and his slaves protect her and the children. She marries Philip, and he adopts the girls.

Character to Character

Conflict: She fights with Philip, jealous over his privileged position with Theo and Hannah.

Hidden Agenda: She wants to snatch children back from the slave trade.

Conspiracy: Hannah helps her hide the fact she killed Josiah.

Intrigue: Is she trying to run away? Will she succeed?

Character Situation

Dilemma: Is this new family trying to take advantage of her? Or do they need her protection?

Secret Identity: she is a fierce warrior, trained in warfare by her deceased rebel parents.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

I’ve learned that I could make every player in my series be a variant of an Insurrectionist.

Main Characters of Insurrection:

Theophilus- prides himself on being a loyalist, but is guilty, compromised by his secret racial identity. A battle hardened Centurion, talented in military strategy, he is naïve about political conspiracies.

Philip-an openly rebellious slave, who naïvely covets a life of significance. Ironically, he finds meaning and wealth in serving others.

Hannah- outwardly and overbearingly she presents as a loyal slave, although she is the mistress of manipulation. Ironically she finds herself manipulated by fear into betraying her master.

Jael-a refugee fleeing from the murder of her parents, she appears defenseless, silent and complicit. Her weapon is surprise attack , as she is intuitive, prophetic and can fight like a wildcat. She secretly kills a “relative” attempting to enslave her.

Supporting:

Luke: -a young Greek who rebels against the father that financed him through medical school, conspires to spy for a price for all takers on the guests who visit the hostel at the Villa in Capernaum.

Saul: – a zealously religious scholar, who seeks not to really know God and His Will but worships an image of God he created in his own mind, willfully doing everything his own way.

Villains:

Sejanus: dissatisfied with just being Emperor Tiberius’s right hand man, he plots to take the throne.

Marcus Julius Agrippa: grandson of Herod the Great, and also descended from the Hasmonean dynasty, as a child miraculously survives Herod’s killing sprees in which his grandmother, mother, and father were murdered, but now as an adult wants to be great, just like Herod, and despite being lazy & profligate will do whatever it takes, including attacking close relatives, to become ruler of the old Herodian kingdom.

Jacob Bar Abbas: a Levite, who masks him as a wealthy Temple merchant, is secretly a violent thief, and rebel agitator, who is very persuasive and popular with the crowd.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

I’ve learned that a concept can always become more interesting by examining its elements, and switching them up to create more conflict, intrigue, mystery, unique villains, interesting settings, layers, urgency and impossibility,

My current pick:<div>

Intriguing Contained
Setting: Theo is under house arrest
at beautiful villa on the Sea of Tiberius (Galilee)

Unique Device: Theo’s
mission to find a clandestine rebel prophesied to take down the Roman
Empire. Alternatively an Iberian dagger,
left to Theo by his late father which is the weapon used in a murder for which
Theo is blamed.

Unique Villain: Lucius
Sejanus, (an historical figure) an ambitious and ruthless politician that
Tiberius left in charge, when the Emperor stepped down from political life
and retired to the Isle of Capri.

Mystery: How is Theo going to complete his fool’s errand and save his life while
under house arrest?
Impossible goal/unsolvable problem: Theo’s
assignment was designed to fail, he is surrounded by treachery and
intrigue he doesn’t understand.

Unique Layers: Theo
doesn’t know that his mission was concocted as part of a plot to get
loyalist to Tiberius, like himself, out of Rome as Jews are to become the
scapegoat for killings under a rebellion against Tiberius led by Sejanus,
the Emperor’s right hand man. Theo has successful concealed that his
mother was Jewish. But unbeknownst
to him, he is related to his own family slaves which constantly foment
rebellion against him.

Having to do with “Sword &
Sandals” films, what haven’t we seen before?

We haven’t previously been shown the wicked scheming & plotting by the power hungry in both Rome and Roman occupied Palestine shown in contrast to the love and life of service demonstrated by Yeshua, Son of God.

</div>

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

I’ve learned that a little thinking during rewrite could save thousands in unnecessary expense and get your script sold.

Part 1: Selecting my project

I’ve figured out my TV series “Insurrection” can be done as a contained story by making the majority of the episodes occur while the protagonist is under house arrest. The pilot episode is going to be more difficult to modify, however I had already written it with an eye to avoid big expensive vistas of ancient Rome. The next rewrite will make more action occur at fewer locations and will limit the number of exterior scenes.

Logline: A politically naïve but loyal Centurion, relegated to Palestine to quash a rumored rebellion, struggles with his headstrong multicultural slaves, yet he continues investigating despite house arrest, only to discover he himself is an insurrectionist.

An old story can be retold uniquely through the eyes of a flawed man and his family slaves, all of whom are loaded down with willfulness, secrets and emotional baggage.

Part 2 Adjusting a Produced Movie to Covid Guidelines

Title: CASABLANCA

AS THEY DID IT:

People: Leads: Rick, Ilse,
Laszlo, Renault. Supporting: Sam, Ugarte,
Strasser
Stunts: piano playing, roulette
wheel, shootings, airplanes landing & taking off, police chase
Extras: Bar customers,
refugees, crowds in the street, police and German military
Wardrobe: police uniforms,
German Nazi uniforms, period
European gentry, Moroccan native dress of market sellers, waiters/ staff, European
or Mediterranean period clothing in
variety of refugees
Make-up /Hair: focus on female
lead, also likely some skin coloration, Moroccan hairdos, period European hairdos,

Kids & Animals: yes, in
street scenes
Quarantine: none

COVID GUIDELINE VERSION

TITLE: CASABLANCA CONCENTRATION CAMP- Rick is a “trustee,” a trusty inmate working the transit portion of a concentration camp and making money bootlegging booze and contraband.

People: Leads: Rick, Ilse,
Laszlo, Renault. Supporting: Sam, Ugarte,
Strasser
Stunts: harmonica playing,
gambling with dice, knifings, sound of airplanes landing & taking off,
sound of police chase
Extras: Bar customers,
refugees, crowds in the street, police and German military
Wardrobe: police uniforms,
German Nazi uniforms, single style,
ill-fitting concentration inmate uniforms
Make-up /Hair: mussed up and
certainly do it yourself.
Kids & Animals: none
Quarantine: all scenes in concentration
camp All the action and dialogue occurs one on one between two or three people
max in the confines of the camp’s empty canteen, showers, hallways, cells ,
admin offices or an escape tunnel.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

I, Aurora Dawn Harris agree to the terms of the below release

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.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

I’m Aurora Dawn Harris. I’ve written three feature length scripts, one pilot and outlined the series, and a handful of short scripts, one of which I’ve filmed as executive producer. I hope to get into a writing routine again and disciplined by the assignments. But here I am late to the party already (I was traveling.) I am a lawyer, now retired from Santa Clarita, CA and enjoying the good life on a farm in Middle Tennessee, south of Nashville. Lots of good people and writing and filming going on around here. So loving it all. Seems I’m busier than I’ve ever been.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Scene Ratings

What I learned: I discovered a pile of exposition in many long beats right in the middle of the story that needed to be broken up into different scenes and action added. I evaluated all of them, but the ones most needing change are listed below.

23. E-6- too long, need to break up

24. E-6- break up

27. E-5- too long

29. E-8 too long

Logline for Book of Trouble: Fortune turns suddenly for a wildly successful entrepeneur, and when betrayed by friends and kidnapped by an unseen evil, he is forced to re evaluate his reliance on a God who is silent.

ACT ONE

1 .EXT. RANCH IN PALM DESERT-DAY

Tall, handsome red haired Scotsman, JOHN MACFARLANE (55) is cool and collected, effortlessly succeeding in business, at fundraising, on the polo field, in his wife Barbara’s Jenga game, and dealing with LENA(9) a willful orphan. He is given Keys to the Kingdom, a Humanitarian Award from the Coachella Valley Galilee Center for his philanthropy to the homeless. In acceptance, he says all will know God loves them by what he provides.

2. INT. LARGE TV SCREEN – DAY

John and his wife and children are on depicted on screen as he lines up his large family of adult children on stage for a press photo, handing off Lena to Lucien his protege.

OS voices express hatred of John and interest in Lena.”Won’t be long.”

3.EXT GUESTHOUSE ABOVE JOHN’S SON’S HOME- NIGHT

Up on the hillside on the veranda of his son’s guest home, overlooking a boisterous party at his son’s lavish home, John prays, watching party goers, then sees his son’s home explode in a ball of flames. His wife comes out and falls to pieces, followed by Lena and a group of smaller children of various ethnicities.

4.EXT. PARKING LOT E. WALKER RANCH PARK –DAY

A Smoky the Bear sign warns “Fire Alert HIGH”. Next to it an Aston Martin DB11 convertible is parked in the shade of an oak, its top down. JOHN MACFARLANE sits inside the car, staring ahead. Park Ranger advises park closes at sunset, be aware homeless vagrants in the area, report any fires. John hides the car in the brush and stays overnight, praying Howls emit from figures rustling in the bush.. Overnight its hub caps stolen, roof ripped, and a wheel removed, His phone taken. He is impassive, slumped, mouthing prayers as a wrecker tows away the car’s graffiti covered shell.

5.EXT. E WALKER RANCH –NIGHT

John sleeps in stone pillars of the burnt out Walker homestead. He is attacked by a gang of IMPS, and even his clothing stolen along with the nugget. He stumbles naked in the dark, putting on rags shed by the gang. Naked I came into the world, naked I shall return. The Lord gives and takes away. He finds a small gold nugget as he drinks from a stream and momentarily brightens.

6.INT- GUEST HOUSE -DAY

LENA (9) peers out through grubby lace curtains and watches two men and a woman exit a Jeep parked below. She runs upstairs and climbs out a window onto the roof, hiding.

7.EXT –BACKYARD GROUP HOME-DAY

BARBARA dejectedly sits out back on swing holding a dark skinned baby. Kids run frenetically about the yard. HARRY(60) fidgets nearby. Heavily made up MERCEDES (48) holds the chain to the swing and leans into Barbara’s face inquiring about John. Barbara explains he’s abandoned her, left the night of the fire in his car saying wanted to pray and sort things out, hasn’t heard from him since. She needs help with the orphans left by their employees. Mercedes starts pandering.Impatiently Harry interjects that John’s been found. Barbara scowls but then her face brightens when she sees LUCIEN (36), come around the corner with a folder. Lucien kisses Barbara and she cries, saying the government has seized all the family’s assets, including what’s left of this house. Why are they calling this a crime scene? Harry interjects again- Tell her how you found him. Lucien explains a park ranger reported his license plate on the shell of his car at Walker Ranch, near Santa Clarita. Barbara cries in earnest, We used to hike there when our kids were young. I can’t believe they are all gone. Lucien: John’s had a breakdown, homeless now living in the bush. Mamacita, he needs help. We found a good rescue mission to rehab him. Produces paperwork, he’s a changed man. he might harm himself. Mercedes: The company had a key man insurance policy long enough on John that the lawyers say it will pay even in the event of his suicide. Barbara: Why would John want to kill himself? Mercedes: Avoid prison. Harry: What a thing to say. We are so sorry this new grief is heaped on top of all the rest. A process server arrives to throw legal papers at Barbara. Harry angrily chases him off.

8.EXT . E WALKER RANCH-DAY

BARBARA (50) finds John filthy, unshaven, his body covered with sores, wearing baggy pants that are too wide and too short and a greasy dark hooded coat, on his knees mumbling in prayer. She is accompanied a social worker and a van full of young children of various nationalities, including LENA. Barbara shows John a stack of legal papers explaining the whole enterprise has collapsed. He moans.

9.EXT. PARKING LOT E WALKER RANCH-DAY

MICHAEL, (20S, autistic) and JOSHUA (30s, mute veteran) lift John onto a small seedy New Eden Rescue Mission bus. BARBARA pleads with JOHN for help with the orphan children but he is non responsive. BARBARA curses him for being self absorbed.. LENA hands Barbara an oversized crying toddler, complaining about carrying the “big baby”. BARBARA angrily shoves a duffle bag and a wad of legal papers at LENA and propels her also onto the bus.

10.INT.BUS-AFTERNOON

As the bus pulls out Michael rocks and begins fluidly reciting scriptures from memory, with the accent of a radio preacher. Joshua drives the bus. John lays on his side on a bench across the back, moaning, oblivious to a tract in his hand. It reads “Trouble? Jesus Christ a very present help.” Lena chats to Michael, but he doesn’t look at her. She explains she is learning piano, and that Papi JOHN is a very rich Yanqui ganadero with a big ranch in Rosario, Argentina who gives gifts every Christmas to all the orphans like her. But now he’s “cursed” ever since the fire. His son Samuel’s house burned down. Papi JOHN won’t eat, won’t wash. He is very sad and sleeps with his eyes open, down in the bushes. “I asked Papi for a piano, but he told me, “Not today”. The only other passenger is a hefty middle-aged tattooed character, CHUPACABRA, wearing Draco dragon Sunglasses. He listens to this conversation, but is talking on his IPhone.

INCITING INCIDENT

11.EXT. BUS-DAY

The bus suddenly brakes and comes to a complete stop due a downed motorcycle blocking the otherwise empty roadway. Several other motorcycles have stopped and a group stand around a rider lying in the road. One of the men holds a long lance. Various ones are wearing John’svest, shirt, pants, and motoring hat.

12.INT. BUS- DAY

John shakes. He tells the bus driver, Joshua to use his radio to call the police. Joshua shakes his head no, and makes a motion like cutting the throat, revealing a large scar on his neck. JOHN retreats to the back of the bus. Chupa give orders and several IMPs rummage through John’s bag. One drives the bus and the rest circle it on motorcycles hooting and hollering. One with a lance catches a rabbit along the road and they all shriek. Chupa laughs and shows him a rope with a hangman’s noose and tells him he is betrayed by a friend. Up ahead a road block, the police are preventing traffic from going into an evacuated area, but Chupa points, directing how to circumvent the road block

13.EXT. BUS DRIVING -day

The bus enters a sandy construction road, crossing the dry Santa Clara riverbed to sneak into the fire evacuation area. Bus goes up mountainous pass in evacuated area, passing and residents with loaded horse trailers going the other way. It drives into the open gate of an abandoned movie ranch in a remote mountainous area above the Santa Clarita valley.

14.EXT. FRONT OF DOUBLE CROSS MOVIE RANCH

The gates are all open and livestock and wild animals wander about, let out of their pens. Chupa has no cell phone signal.

15.INT. CAGE HOUSE at MOVIE RANCH

John, Lena, Joshua and Michael are locked in an empty lion’s cage at the movie ranch. John rebuffs Lena and tells her not to call him Papi John. John is frightened to see rattle snake inside the cage. The snake isn’t real, but mechanized. Michael reveals he can open locks. When the rest aren’t paying attention, John slips out alone.

16.EXT. ACCESS ROAD

The sole access road is blocked by the violent IMP gang, who have parked the mission bus across the road. They see JOHN, pursue him on a motor cycle, using a lance to pin him through his long dirty coat to the ground, and drag him back, bloodied, to the cage. The Imps are hired contractors, but threat him for a separate ransom paid directly to them- “skins for skin”, if he hopes to survive. John explains he “lost it all.” But the Imps ask about the gold he has found. Imp:“Your children will pay a ransom for papa”. John: “All died in an accident”. Imp: “El Quemado– you lie. Your fault, you will burn forever.”

17.EXT. CAGE-DAY

The other hostages are now outside the cage too, Michael pretends the cage door was left unlocked.

18.INT. CAGE- DAY

Joshua carries John back inside and the other hostages share water and a stash of food they found. Lena tells John about a white horse Joshua enticed back into the stable. Joshua washes John’s stubbed toe and tends to John’s wound and the sores on his skin by putting ash on them. He gives John his boots. A real rattle snake is found in the cage. Joshua wordlessly stomps barefoot, killing the snake.

SECOND ACT

19.EXT. CAGE -EARLY MORNING

John slips out of the cage bars alone again to escape.

20.EXT. CORRAL-CONT.

He finds the white horse but it throws him and runs off.

21.INT. MOTORHOME

LUCIEN HUGO ( 38, Cuban man wears large black framed glasses), MERCEDES RINCON (55) & HARRY FARGO (60) are meeting inside Harry’s motorhome. They discuss their interests in John’s companies. Harry asks for a financial report. Lucien says the US government and the Argentine government have seized not only all of John’s personal assets but all assets of his corporations. The accounts are all blocked. Lucien says that John probably has some precious metals or old coins stashed away somewhere. MERCEDES asks why all properties were seized? Was John running drugs or what? HARRY & LUCIEN don’t have all the facts of what happened but investigators have been contacting them too. LUCIEN explains the company’s key man insurance policy would pay out in the event of JOHN’s suicide. “Who knows, it could be that his conscience will get the better of him and he will end his life. They have a limited time to get the truth out of John.

22.EXT. MOTORHOME

On his way back to the cage, JOHN sees and recognizes HARRY’s motor home and LUCIEN’s Jeep parked at the ranch.

23. aINT. MOTORHOME

JOHN walks in on Lucien, Mercedes & Harry. He thinks he is being rescued. They greet him coldly, claiming they are at the ranch for “an Intervention”, since he ran off and had a breakdown. JOHN has no idea what’s been going on with the company. Mercedes reacts negatively to his filthy condition. JOHN’s friends hostilely accuse him of secret wrongdoing. JOHN learns the FBI is looking for him. Mercedes argues bad things don’t happen to good people, and Harry takes it up too. They accuse him of being an evil criminal deserving of the tragedies, imply the world would be better without him. JOHN becomes indignant and argues his innocence, emphasizing that he had encouraged and helped each of one. They are repeating the creed John had taught them from Deuteronomy, “whom God loves, He blesses”.

Lucien placates JOHN, shows clips of home movies of John’s (now deceased) adult children and the family’s former opulent life in Argentina.. All of the Interveners, and Lena were in the footage, enjoying happier days. Lucien makes a snide remark about Samuel, John’s eldest son, indicating jealousy.

MERCEDES asks JOHN if there was any update on how the fire at his Samuel’s house started? Had he heard anything from the Arson Investigator? JOHN is startled to hear arson is suspected. HARRY is sarcastic.“In addition to the deaths of your ten adult children at least eight more people died in a fire at a party, you don’t think there would be an investigation? John gets emotional and begins rants about wanting to die.

MICHAEL knocks on the door with a “message”. LENA is looking for JOHN. The Interveners look at each other in amazement and ask: Lena’s here too? LUCIEN asks JOHN if the trafficked orphan girl is here with him? MERCEDES (incredulously) What do you mean trafficked?

24.INT. LODGE-DAY

The Interveners immediately go with JOHN to locate LENA who is with the other hostages in the lodge. LENA is closely watching Michael playing the piano and sing “Yes, I will”. MERCEDES interrupts, grabs Lena by the hair. Chews her out for running away. LENA tells her story, explains taken by Senora RINCON (MERCEDES) to a “new home” with Senor Monos in Rosario with promise of piano lessons. However, the big house didn’t have a piano. Mean lady slapped her, demanding she change clothes, so she climbed out a window, and walked back to the orphanage, ran into neighbor women and they were shocked when she told them what happened. Senora Rincon, was worried and the two of them started out that night on a bus headed for California. JOHN tells Mercedes to let go of her hair. Asks if anyone had hurt her. “No Papi, not really”, she cries, “I know I have to just keep waiting for a piano.”

JOHN asks MERCEDES “how could you not know more about the MONOS “family” that owned the house where LENA was taken? Mercedes accuses John of using her like a pawn. And why did you bring her illegally into the United States? HARRY interjects this was your idea, JOHN. JOHN denies it. Lucien produces copy of deposit by Monos to John’s personal account. LUCIEN wonders aloud if JOHN ‘s eldest son, SAMUEL, orchestrated the sale of the child. Mercedes says, “ Perhaps he deserved to die in any case, since he was the one that caused the explosion and fire.”

Chupa wrestles John to the ground. Whispers in his ear that he is an undercover cop but unable to get cell signal to call for help. Chupa threatens John: “Tomorrow it will all be over.” An Imp walks by with a snake. John warns him that some are real. The Imp laughs and pretends to eat it- it bites his face. Chupa and other IMPs haul him away.

Lucien reveals The police found parts of a drug lab after the explosion but the arson reports are still out LUCIEN states that in addition to arson investigators, the DEA is also looking for JOHN. Preliminary evidence indicates a drug lab exploded in the basement of the son’s home killing everyone in the house, including some company employees.

HARRY: So, at the time of the fire, Lucien you were there? Lucien: We were ALL there. Harry & Mercedes deny it. MERCEDES admits she took LENA to SAMUEL’s guesthouse, as the girl was babysitting the employee’s little kids. MERCEDES asks Lena how she got together with JOHN now and how was he treating her.LENA says she loves Papi JOHN. Admits she ran away from MERCEDES after the fire, not wanting to go back to Argentina, going instead with BARBARA, JOHN’s wife,

MERCEDES admits she had brought LENA illegally into California, in the back of a truck. LENA says she was told to carrying a small silver suitcase which was locked. MERCEDES explained she received message from JOHN with the suitcase, and was told it was a birthday present and to bring it, along with LENA to the party Samuel’s house at the El Dorado polo club in Palm Springs, CA. She just thought there might be a problem if people knew the orphans were running away.

JOHNdenies he was in Argentina at the time. MERCEDES does not have JOHN’s note. She admits that there were not one but two locked suitcases, and she carried the other one. She does not recall where she got the money for the trip, but it was cash. JOHN questioned about his whereabouts during the fire. JOHN is accused of cover up and secret “sin”.

Harry is touchy about FMD (foot & mouth disease) showing up on their sheep ranch in central valley.The sheep have been seized and surprisingly several people have died. He was grilled by govmt agents about his recent trip with John to Cuba. They took his passport, are looking for John. John asks Harry to help him get off the movie ranch—Harry says will think about it.

25.EXT. LODGE- AFTERNOON

An IMP walks by with a baby rattlesnake. JOHNwarn hims it is the baby rattle snake is the most dangerous. The IMP says a prop snake. When he pretends to eat it, the snake bites the IMP in the face. Other IMPs rush to haul him away .

CHUPACABRA tells JOHN that the IMPs are hired drug addicts, cannibals and arsonists, and like their meat lightly roasted. He tells the hostages the IMPS call JOHN “El Quemado” the “burnt one”. He warns JOHN if he’s arrested for trafficking children, he’ll get killed in prison. CHUPA grabs JOHN in a headlock and twists him to the ground, whispering he’s an undercover cop and he’s trying to call in their location on his cell phone but can’t get signal.JOHN doesn’t believe CHUPA, and tells MERCEDES of CHUPA’s statement.

MIDPOINT

26.EXT. DISTANT HILLSIDE -AFTERNOON

The fire is closer. Super scoopers and fire fighting helicopters are seen on the distant hills dropping water & clouds of red Phos-Chek.

27.EXT. LODGE PORCH

JOHNadmits he was in Palm Springs however he was not there at Samuel’s birthday party. He claims his habit to pray when they partied, he was in a nearby chapel at the time of the explosion and fire. None of his children were involved with drugs, they did not need to sell drugs, were never engaged in illegal activity but he prayed for them, “just in case” they might be tempted.

All three Interveners were in Palm Springs at the time. LUCIEN said he refused cocaine offered by JOHN’s son and was out in the stables to checking on the polo ponies, when the explosion occurred. LENA was in the guest cottage, babysitting.

MERCEDES claims she was at her motel and went to bed early that night. Coincidentally HARRY was staying at the same motel and claimed he was drinking… tea in the bar. HARRY saw the light on in MERCEDES room and her walking about inside. Then had a coffee with her. Lucien is skeptical.

LUCIEN shows evidence of a deposit by the Monos Cartel into JOHN’s personal bank account on the day that Lena was taken to Monos home. JOHN denies receiving the money. HARRY challenges LUCIEN—“I thought your records were unavailable”. LUCIEN replies they got burned up in the fire- all except this one that I got later directly from the bank in Rosario. MERCEDES: Why did you take financial paperwork to Palm Springs?

Lucien: Samuel told me he suspected his father, wanted to documentation of my audit.

28.EXT. GALLOWS-DAY

Lucien points out a gallows on the side of the property. LENA says it’s a “movie ranch” gallows and the rope is rubber.

29.EXT. LODGE PORCH -DAY

HARRY notices sores on JOHNarms, reminds everyone he is a geneticist. HARRY reveals he was interviewed by US DA investigators, because there has been an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) in JOHN’s sheep flock in California. While FMD is always zoonotic (transmittable to humans) this new strain is even more virulent and has killed several employees. JOHN’s ranches are now quarantined and all of JOHNs US livestock herds have been impounded and likely to be destroyed. What to keep quiet—the whole of US cattle & sheep exports are threatened, since FMD had been thought eradicated from US since the 1920s. Mercedes recalls Harry and Johnwent to Cuba recently (a locale of FMD) . LENA pipes up that when the suitcase she carried dripped a bloody juice, she assumed by the weight and odor it was a sheep’s head, or Rostro Asado– “Roasted Face”—a BolivJohnsheep’s head dish, something they sometimes ate at the orphanage.

MERCEDES nervously explains getting a message from JOHN about the suitcases, but can’t recall the details. She gave the suitcases to Lucien when she arrived in Palm Spring. LUCIEN said he took the suitcases to the party and left them downstairs in the basement party room and forgot about them. He said he did not see any drug equipment, but he wasn’t looking for it

HARRY accused JOHN of picking up the virus the week before the party on a trip to a farm in Cuba to discuss livestock purchases. LUCIEN claims the FBI told him a package was mailed from CUBA to SAMUEL’s home in Palm Springs during the time that JOHNand HARRY were in CUBA. One of the things that the FBI is looking for is JOHN’s passport. HARRY: Yeah they already took mine.

CHUPA returns to tell them three of the IMPS are covered in painful sores and feeling very poorly. CHUPACABRA suggests the Almighty is likely to strike Johnwith lightening CHUP warns JOHN they electrified the fence and gate—so no more escape attempts. LUCIEN asks CHUPA if the IMPS have a spare can of gasoline, as he needs some for his Jeep.

The Interveners shrink back from JOHN, but keep accusing him of covering up his crimes, and imply JOHN should kill himself, hinting at various methods.

30.EXT. MOTORHOME- AFTERNOON

JOHNbegs HARRY to give him a ride back down the hill. HARRY refuses

31.EXT. TOP OF CLIFF- AFTERNOON

LUCIEN walks JOHN to a nearby cliff, Chupa offers hallucinogenic drugs, but JOHN refuses them,. Chupa promises he will give the drugs instead to the IMPs .At the top of the cliff, LUCIEN discusses with JOHNthe merits of jumping—at first JOHN leans over it, but then shrinks back from the edge. LUCIEN accuses JOHN of being full of pride like Satan. Miguel and Michael appear to lead him back to the cage.

.

THIRD ACT

32.INT. CAGE-EVENING

LENA comes back to the cage with a thermos full of wine that Chupa gave her, and says she has been invited to a hot tub party. John warns her to stick with him. Lena tells John the horse bucked him off because he smells funny. Joshua uses the wine to celebrate Eucharist with the other hostages. John prays again for insight. Joshua mimes while Michael translates about putting on the whole armor of God. Michael opens the locked door once again.

33.EXT. HOT TUB- DUSK

Chupa, Lucien and Harry are drinking in the hot tub. Lucien has a large multi-headed sea monster tattooed on his shoulder. Harry asks, “ So where’sMercedes? Lucien, “Mercedes headed back to Argentina. She’s very angry at Johnbut blaming me. Something about me not seeing the payments. HARRY: Payments? I thought it was just one? Lucien: One kid. She’s mad at you too. HARRY: How’s that? Lucien: Oh women. HARRY : Whatever became of that young actress from Santa Clarita that you were dating? LUCIEN- probably buried in these hills somewhere. He laughs.

34.EXT –OTHER SIDE OF THE POOL FENCE-DUSK

Joshua and Johnlisten from behind the pool fence. They overhear Chupa give a drugged-induced supernatural explanation why the disasters all fell on John. Harry scoffs, saying How would you know? Chupa: “ My boss told me.” Lucien interjects, “undoubtedly it was an eye witness account.”

35.EXT. POOLSIDE-NIGHT

JOSHUA motions and Johnfollows him to the garden shed. Josh mimes putting on the whole armor of God. While Johnguesses his actions. JOSHUA begins cutting off his own dirty braids with a pair of garden snippers. JOHN also cuts his hair and the two men wade into the swimming pool. Wordlessly, JOSHUA forces JOHN’s head underwater. JOHN struggles, fearful he’s being drowned. As he gasps for the surface, JOSHUA forms the cross. JOHN whispers: “oh-a baptism.”

36.EXT. PORCH OF LODGE- JOHN changes into clean white clothing and JOHN leaves his long dirty black coat and hat airing on the porch. JOSHUA wears just white shorts. His body is very scarred.

MICHAEL and Lena arrive. JOHN asks JOSHUA why he didn’t explain himself. But JOSHUA ignores him and starts playing a mournful tune on a pan pipe. MICHAEL tells JOHN that JOSHUA can’t speak, due to having his throat slashed, when fighting to save a group of children from a fire in Iraq. Ironically one of the children he rescued, cut his throat.

37.EXT.VIEW OF HILLS – NIGHT

The wild fire is glowing brightly in the night on the neighboring mountain peak. Coming closer.

CRISIS

38.INT –CAGE- MORNING

JOHN wakes the others. The electricity is off. It is very smoky.

39.EXT. LODGE-MORNING

The Jeep and the Motorhome are gone. CHUPA is found hanged on gallows.

As they walk to the lodge, the IMPS are heard shrieking and yelling and revving motorcycles. JOSHUA throws on John’s old coat and hat. Two IMPs on motorcycle with a lance attack. Joshua is stabbed and dragged off in John’splace. One IMP yells they are coming back for the girl. Lena has twisted her leg.

40.EXT –MOUNTAINSIDE ABOVE THE RANCH

JOHN carries Lena piggy back, and Michael follows to escape up the mountain. They see ostriches and other exotic animals. Michael recites God’s response from the Book of Job. They are chased by a single IMP on a motorcycle carrying the lance. The three hide rather unconvincunder a camouflage blanket. The IMP drawn away from them when seeing JOSHUA who reappears alive, but dripping blood, and galloping on the white horse toward a different ridge.

41.EXT. CLEFT IN MOUNTAINSIDE BOULDERS- DAY

The hostages take shelter in a cave-like rock formation, where Lena makes characoal drawings and Miguel recites about the Leviathan. Johnrepents of his pride. They hear Lucien’s Jeep, and come out thinking they are being rescued.

CLIMAX

42.EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE CAVE- DAY

Lucien is below them next to his jeep in the dry brush which covers the hillside. JOHNexpresses how much LUCIEN had been like a son to him. LUCIEN is wearing CHUPA’s Draco sunglasses. Lucien reacts revealing jealousy and insecurity, admits SAMUEL was preparing to tell his father about LUCIEN’s drug use, interest in young girls and LUCIEN’s trips to Cuba with Monos, so LUCIEN planned to cover up killing Samuel and take over as the heir., even if it meant killing JOHN too. After all BARBARA always trusted him and he could end up “managing” JOHN’s wealth.

JOHN says he doesn’t know all Lucien’s done but he could be forgiven, its still not too late to stop going down this self destructive path . He offers to pray for Lucien.

Lucien demands “Skin for your Skin”, save yourself, give me the girl. He sloshes gasoline from a gas can onto the hillside below their hideout and threatens to set it alight. John replies: I will not engage in child sacrifice. Lucien: Give up, your God has abandoned you. John replies, Though he slay me, I will still trust Him. Lucien: Empty your pockets. Michael pulls out a bunch of keys on a ring. “What’s that? Faith-“the key of David”. Michael cites Rev 3-7-8 . A door to the underworld. Toss it here: Michael lobs the keys underhand.

LUCIEN laughs and steps back, the keys hit the ground, sparking a fire that runs up into his gas can, blowing himself up and the explosion ignites the dry hillside. JOHN gathers MICHAEL and LENA in his arms as the fire rushes uphill toward them. ­­

RESOLUTION

43.EXT. RIDGELINE ABOVE THE CAVE-DAY

A super scooper lumbers over the ridge and blankets them all with red Fos-chek. LUCIEN’s fire is extinguished.

A forest service helicopter lands and HARRY steps off with firefighters he had summoned. Harry had come to his senses. Harry had received news that the supposed variant FMD was not in fact a disease but a chemical that was sprayed on the animals, likely by Lucien, causing sores that mimicked the disease. John: Then what were those sores on the IMPs? Harry: I suspect you have shingles and those of them that were unvaccinated contracted measles from your shingles He asks John to help him go back on the wagon.

44.INT. COVERED VERANDA OF LUXIOUS ESTATE:

Its an adoption celebration with all the orphans and Joshua , Michael , Harry and other friends. Lena plays the piano & all the little kids sing for John and Barbara. As they finish the recital, the children are gathered up into the arms of their new adoptive parents.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Character Intro Beats-

What I learned: is that I have to remember to start off with a strong character intro. This caused me to revaluate (or better understand?) my protagonist and go back and work with his profile. I decided he had the renaissance quality known as “sprezzatura” which is an innate (or in some cases a studied) nonchalance that makes a difficult tasks look easy.

The Book of Trouble Logline: The CEO of an international ranching conglomerate, struggling to understand the sudden deaths of all his adult children and collapse of his enterprise, is kidnapped by remaining board members to pressure him to admit he is culpable.

Opening Beats:

It’s a festive and crowded party on the MacFarlane estate in Rosario, Argentina. The mayor, followed by the local press, is arriving. Red headed, JOHN MACFARLANE (55) sits stalwart and deep in the saddle in the middle of a polo game, as his mount lunges, bucking wildly. The crazed polo pony kicks the wooden polo ball out of the air and in for a winning goal. Effortlessly dismounting, his sweaty horse snatched away by a groom, adoration on the lucky goal swirls around John. His teammates, two red haired sons (30’s) and a red haired daughter(28) are still mounted and breathing hard, as they tap knuckles with him, as he coolly saunters on . SAMUEL, eldest son: “Pops, told you not to buy that horse”. John smiles, “…my new favorite.” John stops briefly to kiss his wife, BARBARA sitting with a lively group sitting on the veranda, around a Jenga game of towering wooden bricks. Barbara, “Help me, John. LUCIEN, your clever protégé, has stolen all the easy options and boxed me in. Impossible for me to win, now. John plucks out an improbable game piece, the wooden tower sways but is superhumanly suspended. Once touched by Lucien, the tower CRASHES, amid merry laughter.

John opens a heavy wooden door marked “Private” and slips a “Do not Disturb – Papi in Prayer” sign on the handle. In his wood and leather study, boldly, he stands, feet apart, his face tilted up and hands tucked behind his waist.He prays, thanking God and asking for guidance in his acceptance speech. Lena (9) from the orphanage, interrupts from the shadows. She has disheveled blonde hair and a smudged uniform. He graciously entertains her. “Does God love you? (She speaks stilted English with a Spanish accent). “Why certainly?” “How can you know?” “Look around, I am so blessed with all He provides, including a new friend in you.” He takes her hand and leads her out. Come, lets meet the Mayor. Senora Mercedes will be looking for us.

EXT- DAIS under trees- John and Lena with the small town local mayor, with a backdrop of a silent band in stylized gaucho pants. John speaks in English with sub-titles in Spanish on the screen. John thanks the mayor for the key to city, and acknowledges its all been just another blessing to him from God to have the orphanage. He says : “Lena, this little girl from the orphanage was specially sent to tell him to remind everyone that God loves and will bless them.”

INT BAR- TV SCREEN-DAY

A shadow figure sits in a leather chair before a TV, watching John and Lena on screen. “ I am going to destroy that man. And what a beautiful child, I must have that girl. See to it”. Juan Carlo: Yes, boss”.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

PR -5 Character Story Beats

Aurora’s Character Story Beats- The Book of Trouble

What I learned: I realized half way through this exercise that the board members (antagonist and supporters) needed to appear earlier in the story, closer to the beginning, to make the conflict and players clearer upfront. Below is the draft in making those changes.

Logline: The CEO of an international ranching conglomerate, struggling to understand the sudden deaths of all his adult children and collapse of his enterprise, is kidnapped by remaining board members to pressure him to admit he did it.

#1 Ian Chamberlain- protagonist

Beginning: Experienced only in success, Ian reels from sudden devastating loss. He turns inward questioning “Why God, why me?” Depressed and vulnerable, he is victimized, by a gang of druggies. Learns someone among his friends is a betrayer, and masterminded a plan to kidnap and torture him so he will take the rap for the losses and kill himself.

Middle: Ian ignores fellow hostages and tries repeatedly to escape on his own. Personally accused of crime and immorality, his defense is self righteous anger, as he tries to determine who his betrayer is. His theology is shaken. When Ian reaches his limits, he repents and prays, receiving insight.

End: Jolted by hostage Joshua’s self-sacrifice to save him, Ian turns outward to save others.

Beats:

After the deaths of all of his adult children, Ian drives his expensive sports car to a remote park (the kids’ favorite) to sort things out and to ask God “why?”The car is attacked by the IMP gang, battered and broken down, finally towed away. Tow driver tells him there is “hell to pay”, a deficiency due on his lease. Homeless, Ian is also attacked, battered and broken down, even his clothing stolen, along with a small gold nugget he had found in the park. With help of his board members, his wife locates him and has him “towed away” to a rescue mission. Believing Ian is somehow hiding gold assets, she curses him.

Enroute to the mission, Ian is kidnapped by the IMP gang. The gang leader reveals Ian is betrayed by a friend, and physically demonstrates how Ian will be pushed to the end of his rope, and hang himself.

Ian is locked with three others in an empty lion cage at a movie ranch that has been evacuated due to wildfire. Ian rebuffs Lena and tells her not to call him “Papi Ian”. Michael manages to open the lock. Ignoring other three other hostages, Ian repeatedly tries to escape alone and is caught by the IMPS and beaten more. They ask where is the rest of the gold? Joshua washes Ian’s stubbed toe and tends his wounds.He gives Ian his boots.

Ian sees Lucien, Harry & Mercedes, his closest friends/board members and believes he is being rescued. Instead they verbally attack him in a hostile intervention. Mercedes wrinkles her nose at Ian’s filthy condition. Ian learns more about the catastrophes and that they were triggered by crime, and that FBI is looking for him. Harry starts with the “bad things don’t happen to good people” argument and the rest join in. His former friends accuse him of being an evil criminal, deserving of the tragedies he has suffered, & imply he should kill himself. He doesn’t know if all or which one of them is the betrayer.

The interveners are shocked to hear Lena is there at the movie ranch. They go looking and find her singing hymns with Michael in the Movie Ranch Saloon. Lena relates her strange adventure while Mercedes clutches Lena’s hair. Ian finally intercedes to make Mercedes let go of Lena, who promptly calls him “Papi Ian” again. Mercedes accuses Ian of using her as a pawn to traffick the child and Lucien produces evidence of the payment by Monas to Ian’s personal account. Ian dies knowledge of any of their allegations. Chupa attacks Ian, then secretly threatens him with a whispered claim he is trying to help Ian, but that “tomorrow it’ll all be over”. Ian warns the IMPS that some of the snakes are real. The “interveners” all defer when asked to help Ian escape. Joe jokes about suicide, Mercedes explicitly suggests it, while Lucien implicitly tempts him to kill himself. Ian tells Mercedes what Chupa has said.

Ian reaches the bottom and the other hostages again console him. After asking God for help, Ian accidentally overhears insider intel revealing the spiritual basis for the catastrophes. Ian joins with other hostages in readying for battle.

Ian’s friends abandon all the hostages and IMPS to the approaching wildfire. Death looms. IMPS attack to kill. Joshua is stabbed and taken in Ian’s place. Ian escapes up the mountainside, this time with the two remaining hostages. The Almighty finally begins speaks to Ian through Michael. When the last IMPs attack again, the hostages hide under Joshua’s woobie pancho, while miraculously the wounded Joshua reappears to divert the IMP In the rocks, Ian realizes he has been proud, and selfish. He repents of being disappointed by the collapse of his own theology.

Ian thinks again he is being rescued, but discovers his betrayer is Lucien, who shows up to spread gas on the dry hillside below him, demanding he turn over Lena, the child hostage to save his skin. Ian refuses, offering him instead Michael’s “key of David”. When Ian tosses it down, Lucien refuses to catch it. Hitting the stones, the key and heavy key ring spark a fireball which kills Lucien and ignites the hillside. A Phos-Chek spraying super tanker, called in by Harry saves the day.

Ian reunites with his wife and adopts all the orphans including Lena.

#2- Lucien Hugo

Beginning: Lucien takes the 2 other board members to Barbara (Ian’s Wife). Lucien kisses Barbara on both cheeks and calls her “Mamacita” and asks her about Ian’s gold reserves, that Ian was found with gold in the lining of his jacket. He takes a back seat in their efforts to get Barbara to move Alan to a rescue mission, but still somehow seems in charge.

Middle: Lucien meets with the two other board members at the abandoned Movie Ranch. As the company accountant he gives a bleak financial report since both US and Argentina have seized all in company assets. He brings up the existence of possible gold reserves and key man insurance on Alan’s life, and leaves dangling the implication they all would be better off if Ian killed himself.

Lucien warmly greets Ian when he appears and appears sympathetically, though denying Ian is captive. He plays home movie clips of them all, including Ian’s now deceased children, enjoying the opulent lifestyle they had before the calamities. Ian is devastated. Lucien uses questions to manipulate and provoke the two other board members to attack Ian, with increasing hostility trying to get him to take the rap. Lucien show deposits confirming Ian’s crimes. Lucien assures Ian he can leave when he wants to. Ian begs Lucien to take him, Lucien defers until the next day. Lucien separately walks Ian to the top of a cliff and tests Ian with questions about the lack of response from the Almighty, suggesting suicide is the way to retake control. Lucien threatens Ian, “you are just about out of time”.

In the hot tub with Chupa and Harry, Lucien again is a passive observer, but subtly the instigator. He slips, revealing Chupa is his front man, both in luring Harry off the wagon and criminal abuse of Ian. Lucien’s “jokes” reveal him as satanic. He has a large tattoo of a Leviathan on his shoulder.

End: Lucien betrays Ian and reveals himself as the mastermind behind the catastrophes. Jealous, he had killed Ian’s children. He taunts his mentor, threatening to kill all the hostages if Ian doesn’t turn over the young Lena. He is killed when refusing to take David’s key. He blows up in a fire ball.

#3 Harry Fargo

Beginning : Harry is annoyed and impatient with Mercedes in their meeting with Barbara. He apologizes for Mercedes’ insensitivity in discussing the insurance policy. He angrily chases off a process server.

Middle : Harry is practical. He brings an RV to the Intervention. Harry asks Lucien for an accounting and the news is grim. Harry is very stressed, especially since the oldest one of them all and planned to soon retire and is sarcastic. Harry reveals he has been contacted by federal authorities, and is anxious for answers/resolution. Harry begins the accusation against Ian with the argument “bad things don’t happy to good people” and bases it on his experiences as a former alcoholic. “Its always your own fault. Don’t blame others.” Throwing back at Ian what Ian had used “back in the day” to get Harry on the wagon. Harry was forced to admit spending time with Mercedes in Palm Springs, as they are each other’s alibis on the night of the fire that killed Ian’s son’s and daughters.

Harry is touchy about the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) showing up in the flocks in California, since he and Ian had recently traveled to Cuba, where the disease was still present and Harry had been grilled by the USDA about it.

When Ian asks Harry for help, Harry responds angrily that he will think about it.

Harry starts drinking again with Chupa and Lucien in the hot tub. He is shocked at some things that those two say when they get drunk.

Harry leaves alone with his motor home early the next morning as the rooster is crowing.

End Harry returns in a firefighting helicopter and with a super tanker just as Lucien sets the hill on fire.

Ian keeps Harry in business with him and they make even more money.

#4 Mercedes Rincon- third board member, head of the orphanage in Rosario

Beginning : Mercedes has an agenda. She aggressively asserts herself on Barbara, Ian’s wife, then panders in her attention to the children. Mercedes is outspoken in bringing up the subject of insurance covering suicide. Reaching back to Lucien for support.

Middle: In meeting with the 2 other board members, Mercedes questions the government seizures of company assets, bringing up the possibility of Ian involved in criminal activity. She brings up possibility of Ian having “hidden assets”.

Facing Ian, she is brusque and unfriendly. She brushes aside her obvious culpability in child trafficking and smuggling by claiming she had written messages from Ian directing her in the steps she took. She has an alibi in Harry for the night of the fire, but she is hostile toward Harry, fawning toward Lucien. She takes up and amplifies Harry’s accusation that the evidence of Ian of hiding his evil are the terrible things that have happened to him.

Mercedes is shocked Lena is there. Grabs her by the hair. She is unable to deny the story the child tells of being taken to Monos’ home In Rosario under the false pretense of piano lessons, escaping and then being smuggled out of Argentina and then into California by Mercedes, carrying 2 locked metal suitcases, one which leaked blood. Mercedes explains she did it on written instructions from Ian, but does not have the copies. She explains giving the suitcases to Lucien.

End : She asks Lucien to take her to LAX and that’s the last that’s seen of her. Lucien returns scarcely half an hour later.

#5 Joshua- mute veteran, disfigured by burn scars and healed throat wound.

Beginning : Joshua is the driver. He and Michael carry Ian onto the Mission bus. Joshua rebuffs Ian’s request to call police when the bus is being hijacked, by a motion like cutting the throat. Ian responds with fear. Joshua meekly submits to becoming a hostage in a lion cage at the movie ranch. He aids Ian by putting ash paste on his sores and wounds. Joshua kills a rattle snake with his foot. Joshua mimes that Michael has the “key of David”.

Lena relates how Joshua recaptures animals that were turned loose at the ranch when it was evacuated. Michael recounts Joshua’s backstory-a military man that burned himself saving children from a fire in Iraq, only to have one of them slash his throat.

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Middle: Joshua sits silently in the saloon listening to the interveners. He does not react when a baby rattler bites an IMP. Joshua and Michael take Ian away from Lucien, away from the edge of the precipice. Back in the cage, Ian prays for insight. Joshua mimes as he conducts communion with wine given Lena and

exhorts (with the aid of Michael and Lena interpreting his crude sign language)to put on the armor of God. They slip out of the lion cage (once again) and Joshua takes Ian down to the pool after dusk to bath, and he forcibly baptizes Ian, frightening him. Joshua cuts their hair and beard with garden shears to prepare for battle. The hostages overhear Chupa’s drunken explanation of why Ian has undergone the calamities.

End: When the Imp’s attack, Joshua quickly assumes Ian’s identity in putting on his filthy old clothes. He is stabbed and dragged off. Joshua miraculously reappears on the white horse to draw off the IMPs who are pursuing the other hostages up the mountain.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Character Profiles

I learned this process was a blast. I can tell it will help me a lot in my story/dialogue that I have taken the time to get to know and map these characters.

Logline: A wealthy international rancher grasping for the reason behind his suddenly catastrophic losses, is kidnapped by board members, who pressure him to admit criminal culpability and commit suicide.

Character #1- ALAN CHAMBERLAIN aka “El Quemado” (the burned one)

Role in the story: Protagonist. A highly successful international businessman with huge ranching operations in Argentina and California.

Core Character Traits: spiritual, caring, generous, naïve, spoiled by ease of his many successes.

Character Subtext Logline: When Alan is beset by calamity and betrayal, he begins to focus solely on himself, until he is jarred out of his selfishness by a stranger’s heroic sacrifice to save him.

Flaw: Success has been just too easy for Alan. He has been spoiled by God’s favor.

Want/Need: To succeed again/ To be understood.

Mission/Agenda: To find out WHY his life of success is falling apart.

Character Arc : Alan returns from worrying solely about himself to concern for others.

World View: God has been Alan’s personal ATM.

Life Metaphor/Identity: Alan has been like Disney comic character Gladstone Gander: always “lucky”.

Secret: When the bottom falls out, Alan secretly fears “God is not real”.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves: He is selfish.

What makes this character unique? He was so successful and spoiled, but lost it all, despite it all a fighter.

Character #2: LUCIEN HUGO

Role in the story: Antagonist. Lucien is Alan’s protégé, now the CFO on the board of Alan’s ranching conglomerate.

Core Character Traits: diffident in a passive/aggressive manner, jealous, greedy & proud.

Character Subtext Logline: Lucien schemes to get revenge on his mentor Alan, by killing his children and taking over Alan’s business enterprises.

Flaw: Disloyalty.

Want/Need: Power/ to be top dog.

Mission/Agenda: Hostile & violent take over.

Character Arc: Hostile manipulation by use of cunning questions, escalates into overt violence.

World View: Oedipus complex: After killing all of Alan’s children, Lucien seeks to kill his father figure Alan and manipulate the trust of Barbara, Alan’s wife so he can take over the business.

Life Metaphor/Identity: Judas Iscariot, (Jesus is disappointing so I’ll see if I can make some money here). Or Satan, (I’m as good as God.)

Secret: Trafficking drugs and children.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves: Lucien is successful only because Alan mentored him.

What makes this character unique? Lucien appears to be just a Catholic seminary drop-out that became a nerdy accountant. However secretly he schemes to kill his mentor and take over the enterprise.

Character #3: HARRY FARGO

Role in the story: Antagonist support, An animal geneticist, head of Alan’s ranching operations, board member.

Core Character Traits: Left brained logical scientist, emotionally naïve, lonely, alcoholic.

Character Subtext Logline: Harry is manipulated into joining attack on his mentor, then abandoning him, but is repulsed by the evil of his disloyalty and returns to rescue Alan.

Flaw: Relapse into alcoholism in time of intense stress.

Want/Need: To live in a rational world/ for others to like him.

Mission/Agenda: Harry is anxious to exonerate himself from criminal liability in the outbreak of (FMD) Foot and Mouth Disease.

Character Arc: Follows others in attacks on Alan, but relents in the betrayal of his AA sponsor and returns to rescue him.

World View: Good old boy with a doctorate degree.

Life Metaphor/Identity: Simon Peter, the temporary betrayer.

Secret: Harry has started drinking again.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves: His life is boring.

What makes this character unique? He is a geneticist, troubled by emotionalism and disorder in his universe.

Character #4: MERCEDES RINCON

Role in the story: Antagonist supporter. An Argentine businesswoman, part time charismatic preacher, head of Alan’s charitable operations, including an orphanage in Rosario, Argentina and on Alan’s board.

Core Character Traits: Flamboyant, priggish, mean.

Character Subtext Logline: Manipulated and misled by Lucien, Mercedes accuses Alan of being evil because “bad things don’t happen to good people”. Her misplaced trust leads to her downfall.

Flaw: She is close minded. She puts “God in a Box”.

Want/Need: Attention/ to be right.

Mission/Agenda: Mercedes hammers on Alan that since God is just, and terrible things have happened to Alan, then it logically follows that Alan is unrighteous and has secret sins. She hints if he kills himself, the key man life insurance will pay up.

Character Arc: Mercedes vigorously promotes her theology until she too is hit with a tsunami of evil.

World View: Pre-tribulation rapture, Prosperity Gospel.

Life Metaphor/Identity: “Name it, Claim-it gospel.”

Secret: She has sold young girls “for adoption” to the Monos Family Cartel.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves: She is sexually attracted to Lucien and allows herself to be manipulated by it.

What makes this character unique? She is a “holy roller” charismatic pastor/business woman.

Character #5: JOSHUA aka “Wordy”.

Role in the story: Protagonist support. He is a fellow hostage, a disabled vet, a bus driver for New Eden Rescue Mission.

Core Character Traits: Stoic, self sacrificial, attentive of other’s needs, self controlled.

Character Subtext Logline: Whatever life he still has left, he continues to lay down to protect others.

Flaw: He is mute and has become hideously scarred by his protection of others.

Want/Need: To teach by example/ to be loved.

Mission/Agenda: To protect the weak from the powerful.

Character Arc: From inability to communicate, to unspoken communication with Alan.

World View: Love: be the Word.

Life Metaphor/Identity: Christ-like. He is the Shepherd, or gatekeeper to the sheep fold.

Secret: He was grievously wounded by a child whose life he had saved.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves: Others must watch him closely and listen with the heart to hear him communicate.

What makes this character unique? He is mute, communicates with action. Has a way with sheep and other animals.

Character # 6: Michael, aka “Key”

Role in the story: Protagonist support. Another disabled Rescue mission worker who is an Evangelist and a fellow hostage with Alan.

Core Character Traits: Autistic, savant (loves & memorized vast swaths of the Bible), shy, awkward.

Character Subtext Logline: Michael keeps the conversation real by interjecting weird scriptures at inopportune moments.

Flaw: cross-eyed, trouble gauging distance.

Want/Need: To be left alone/ to pipe up with scripture at odd moments

Mission/Agenda: To keep conversation scripturally correct.

Character Arc: Lonely lad finds a family.

Life Metaphor/Identity: The Word was with God.

Secret: He has the key of David and can pick locks.

Something they don’t want to admit about themselves: He rocks.

What makes this character unique? Autistic misfit works for the rescue mission as an Evangelist.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Story Beats

I learned it’s a struggle dealing with all the detail, when I still should be looking at the essence. Its very time consuming cutting out the fat. Needs more work but I’m anxious to get caught up with the class and get a critique partner interested in this story.

Logline for Book of Trouble : A wealthy international rancher grasping for the reason behind his suddenly catastrophic losses, is kidnapped by his board members, who pressure him to admit criminal culpability and commit suicide.

ACT ONE

EXT. PARKING LOT E. WALKER RANCH PARK –DAY

A Smoky the Bear sign warns “Fire Alert HIGH”. Next to it an Aston Martin DB11 convertible is parked in the shade of an oak, its top down. Tall, handsome Englishman, ALAN CHAMBERLAIN(55) dapper in a dark suit, leans against the door, on a cell phone. Park Ranger advises park closes at sunset, be aware homeless vagrants in the area, report any fires. Alan hides the car in the brush. Coupe is seen in increasing decline over time as he moves it from place to place: first emblems, then hub caps stolen, roof ripped, wheels taken amid howls of figures rustling in the bush. Finally a wrecker tows away car’s graffiti covered shell.

EXT. E WALKER RANCH –NIGHT

Alan sleeps in stone pillars of the burnt out Walker homestead. He is attacked by a gang of IMPS, and even his clothing stolen. He stumbles naked in the dark, putting on rags shed by the gang.

EXT. E WALKER RANCH-DAY

Alan’s wife, BARBARA (50) finds him filthy, unshaven, his body covered with sores, wearing too short pants and a greasy dark hooded coat on his knees mumbling in prayer. She is accompanied by a social worker and a van full of young children of various nationalities, including the eldest LENA (11) blonde Argentine girl. Barbara asks for Alan’s help, showing him a load of legal papers. He moans.

EXT. PARKING LOT E WALKER RANCH-DAY

MICHAEL, (20S, autistic) and JOSHUA (30s, mute veteran) lift Alan onto a small seedy New Eden Rescue Mission bus. BARBARA pleads with ALAN for help with the orphan children but he is non responsive. BARBARA curses him for being self absorbed.. LENA hands Barbara an oversized crying toddler, complaining about the “big baby”. BARBARA angrily shoves a duffle bag of legal papers at LENA and propels her also onto the bus.

INT.BUS-AFTERNOON

As the bus pulls out Michael rocks and begins fluidly reciting scriptures from memory, with the accent of a radio preacher. Joshua drives the bus. Alan lays on his side on a bench across the back, moaning, oblivious to a tract in his hand. It reads “Trouble? Jesus Christ a very present help.” Lena chats to Michael, but he doesn’t look at her. She explains she is learning piano, and that Poppie ALAN is a very rich Yanqui ganadero with a big ranch in Rosario, Argentina who gives gifts every Christmas to all the orphans like her. But now he’s “cursed” ever since the fire. His son Samuel’s house burned down. Poppie ALAN won’t eat, won’t wash. He is very sad and sleeps with his eyes open, down in the bushes. “I asked Poppie for a piano, but he told me, “Not today”. The only other passenger is a hefty middle-aged tattooed character, CHUPACABRA, wearing Draco dragon Sunglasses. He listens to this conversation, but is talking on his IPhone.

INCITING INCIDENT

EXT. BUS-DAY

The bus suddenly brakes and comes to a complete stop due a downed motorcycle blocking the otherwise empty roadway. Several other motorcycles have stopped and a group stand around a rider lying in the road. One of the men holds a long lance. Various ones are wearing Alan’s vest, shirt, pants, and motoring hat.

INT. BUS- DAY

Alan shakes. He lurches forward to sit next to the bus driver. He tells Joshua to use his radio to call the police. Joshua shakes his head no, and makes a motion like cutting the throat, revealing a large scar on his neck. ALAN retreats to the back of the bus. Chupa give orders and several IMPs rummage through Alan’s bag. One drives the bus and the rest circle it on motorcycles hooting and hollering. One with a lance catches a rabbit along the road and they all shriek. Chupa is on the phone. Up ahead a road block, the police are preventing traffic from going into an evacuated area, but Chupa points, directing how to circumvent the road block

EXT. BUS DRIVING -day

The bus enters a sandy a construction road, crossing the dry Santa Clara riverbed to sneak into the fire evacuation area. Bus goes up mountainous pass in evacuated area, passing and residents with loaded horse trailers going the other way. It drives into the open gate of an abandoned movie ranch in a remote mountainous area above the Santa Clarita valley.

EXT. FRONT OF MOVIE RANCH

The gates are all open and livestock and wild animals wander about, let out of their pens. Chupa has no cell phone signal.

INT. JAIL HOUSE at MOVIE RANCH

Alan, Lena, Joshua and Michael are locked in a jail building at the movie ranch. Alan is frightened to see rattle snake inside the jail. The snake isn’t real, but mechanized. Alan discovers the bars on the cell are rubber. Alan squeezes out between the rubber bars and flees alone.

EXT. ACCESS ROAD

The sole access road is blocked by the violent IMP gang, who have parked the mission bus across the road. They see ALAN, pursue him on a motor cycle, using a lance to pin him through his long dirty coat to the ground, and drag him back, bloodied, to the jail. The Imps are hired contractors, but threat him for a separate ransom paid directly to them- “skins for skin”, if he hopes to survive. Alan explains he “lost it all.” The banks called all his loans and seized his houses, the Feds grabbed the rest of his US holdings, Argentina seized all the rest. Imp:“Your children will pay a ransom for papa”. Alan: “All died in a fire”. Imp: “El Quemado– you lie. You will burn forever.”

EXT. JAIL-DAY

The other hostages are now outside the jail too, Michael pretends the jail door was left unlocked to cover for Alan.

INT. JAIL- DAY

Joshua carries Alan back inside and the other hostages share water and a stash of food they found. Lena tells Alan about a white horse Joshua enticed back into the stable. Joshua tends to Alan ’s wound and the sores on his skin by putting ash on them. A real rattle snake is found in Alan’s bunk. Joshua wordlessly stomps on the snake.

SECOND ACT

EXT. JAIL CELL-EARLY MORNING

Alan slips out of the jail bars alone again to escape

EXT. CORRAL-CONT.

He finds the white horse but it throws him and runs off.

INT. MOTORHOME

LUCIEN HUGO ( 38, Cuban man wears large black framed glasses), MERCEDES RINCON (55) & HARRY FARGO (60) are meeting inside Harry’s motorhome. The three are Alan’s former friends and board members. They discuss their interests in Alan’s companies. Harry asks for a financial report. Lucien says the US government and the Argentine government have seized not only all of Alan’s personal assets but all assets of his corporations. The accounts are all cleaned out. Lucien says that Alan probably has some precious metals or old coins stashed away somewhere. MERCEDES asks why all properties were seized? Was Alan running drugs or what? HARRY & LUCIEN don’t have all the facts of what happened but investigators have been contacting them too. LUCIEN explains the company’s key man insurance policy would pay out in the event of ALAN ’s suicide. “Who knows, it could be that his conscience will get the better of him and he will end his life. they have a limited time to get the truth out of Alan.

EXT. MOTORHOME

On his way back to the jail, ALAN sees and recognizes HARRY’s motor home and LUCIEN’s Jeep parked at the ranch.

INT. MOTORHOME

ALAN walks in on Lucien, Mercedes & Harry. He thinks he is being rescued. At first they greet him warmly, claiming they are at the ranch for “an Intervention”, since he had a breakdown and disappeared. ALAN has no idea what’s been going on with the company, except the money dried up and BARBARA got served with some lawsuits, so he’s been camping in the bush while she’s taking care of the employee’s orphans. ALAN ’s friends hostilely accuse him of secret wrongdoing. ALAN learns the FBI is looking for him. They argue bad things don’t happen to good people. ALAN becomes indignant and argues his innocence, emphasizing that he had encouraged and helped each of one.

Lucien placates ALAN, shows clips of home movies of Alan’s (now deceased) adult children playing polo in Argentina and their opulent life in Argentina, the local mayor giving ALAN an award for setting up an orphanage. All of the Interveners, and Lena were in the footage, enjoying happier days.Lucien makes a snide remark about Samuel, Alan ’s eldest son, indicating jealousy.

MERCEDES asks ALAN if there was any update on how the fire at his Samuel’s house started? Had he heard anything from the Arson Investigator? ALAN is startled to hear arson is suspected. HARRY is sarcastic.“In addition to the deaths of your six adult children at least 8 more people died in a fire at a party, you don’t think there would be an investigation? Alan gets emotional and begins rants about wanting to die.

MICHAEL knocks on the door with a “message”. LENA is looking for ALAN . The Interveners look at each other in amazement and ask: Lena’s here too? LUCIEN asks ALAN if the trafficked orphan girl is here with him? MERCEDES (incredulously) What do you mean trafficked?

INT. LODGE-DAY

The Interveners immediately go with ALAN to locate LENA who is with the other hostages in the lodge. LENA plays the piano and MICHAEL sings “Yes, I will”. MERCEDES interrupts, grabs Lena by the hair. Chews her out for running away. LENA tells her story, explains taken by Senora RINCON (MERCEDES) to a “new home” with Senor Monos in Rosario with promise of piano lessons. However, the big house didn’t have a piano. Mean lady slapped her, demanding she change clothes, so she climbed out a window, and walked back to the orphanage, ran into neighbor women and they were shocked when she told them what happened. Senora Rincon, was worried and the two of them started out that night on a bus headed for California. ALAN tells Mercedes to let go of her hair. Asks if anyone had hurt her. “No Poppie, not really”, she cries, “I know I have to just keep waiting for a piano.”

ALAN asks MERCEDES “how could you not know more about the MONOS “family” that owned the house where LENA was taken? And why did you bring her illegally into the United States? HARRY interjects this was your idea, ALAN. ALAN denies it. LUCIEN wonders aloud if ALAN ‘s eldest son, SAMUEL, orchestrated the sale of the child. Mercedes says, “ Perhaps he deserved to die in any case, since he was the one that caused the explosion and fire.”

Lucien reveals The police found parts of a drug lab after the explosion but the arson reports are still out LUCIEN states that in addition to arson investigators, the DEA is also looking for ALAN . Preliminary evidence indicates a drug lab exploded in the basement of the son’s home killing everyone in the house, including some company employees.

HARRY: So, at the time of the fire, Lucien you were there? Lucien: We were ALL there. Harry & Mercedes deny it. MERCEDES admits she took LENA to SAMUEL’s home, as the girl was babysitting the employee’s little kids. MERCEDES asks her how she got together with ALAN now and how was he treating her.

LENA says she loves Poppie ALAN . Admits she ran away from MERCEDES after the fire, not wanting to go back to Argentina, going instead with BARBARA, ALAN ’s wife, who took over the care of the dead employees’ orphans, that LENA had been babysitting.

MERCEDES admits she had brought LENA illegally into California, in the back of a truck. LENA says she was told to carrying a small silver suitcase which was locked. MERCEDES explained she received message from ALAN with the suitcase, and was told it was a birthday present and to bring it, along with LENA to the party Samuel’s house at the El Dorado polo club in Palm Springs, CA. She just thought there might be a problem if people knew the orphans were running away.

ALAN denies he was in Argentina at the time. MERCEDES does not have ALAN ’s note. She admits that there were not one but two locked suitcases, and she carried the other one. She does not recall where she got the money for the trip, but it was cash. ALAN questioned about his whereabouts during the fire. ALAN is accused of cover up and secret “sin”.

EXT. LODGE- AFTERNOON

An IMP walks by with a baby rattlesnake. ALAN warn hims it is the baby rattle snake is the most dangerous. The IMP says a prop snake. When he pretends to eat it, the snake bites the IMP in the face. Other IMPs rush to haul him away .

CHUPACABRA tells ALAN that the IMPs are hired drug addicts, cannibals and arsonists, and like their meat lightly roasted. He tells the hostages the IMPS call ALAN “El Quemado” the “burnt one”. He warns ALAN if he’s arrested for trafficking children, he’ll get killed in prison. CHUPA grabs ALAN in a headlock and twists him to the ground, whispering he’s an undercover cop and he’s trying to call in their location on his cell phone but can’t get signal.ALAN doesn’t believe CHUPA, and tells MERCEDES of CHUPA’s statement.

 <b style="font-size: 1rem;">MIDPOINT

<b style="font-size: 1rem;">EXT. DISTANT HILLSIDE -AFTERNOON

The fire is closer. Super scoopers and fire fighting helicopters are seen on the distant hills dropping water & clouds of red Phos-Chek.

<b style="font-size: 1rem;">EXT. LODGE PORCH

ALAN admits he was in Palm Springs however he was not there at Samuel’s birthday party. He claims his habit to pray when they partied, he was in a nearby chapel at the time of the explosion and fire. None of his children were involved with drugs, they did not need to sell drugs, were never engaged in illegal activity but he prayed for them, “just in case” they might be tempted.

All three Interveners were in Palm Springs at the time. LUCIEN said he refused cocaine offered by ALAN ’s son and was out in the stables to checking on the polo ponies, when the explosion occurred. LENA was in the guest cottage, babysitting.

MERCEDES claims she was at her motel and went to bed early that night. Coincidentally HARRY was staying at the same motel and claimed he was drinking… tea in the bar. HARRY saw the light on in MERCEDES room and her walking about inside. Then had a coffee with her. Lucien is skeptical.

LUCIEN shows evidence of a deposit by the Monos Cartel into ALAN ’s personal bank account on the day that Lena was taken to Monos home. ALAN denies receiving the money. HARRY challenges LUCIEN—“I thought your records were unavailable”. LUCIEN replies they got burned up in the fire- all except this one that I got later directly from the bank in Rosario. MERCEDES: Why did you take financial paperwork to Palm Springs?

Lucien: Samuel told me he suspected his father, wanted to documentation of my audit.

EXT. GALLOWS-DAY

Lucien points out a gallows on the side of the property. LENA says it’s a “movie ranch” gallows and the rope is rubber.

EXT. LODGE PORCH -DAY

HARRY notices sores on ALAN arms, reminds everyone he is a geneticist. HARRY reveals he was interviewed by US DA investigators, because there has been an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) in ALAN ’s sheep flock in California. While FMD is always zoonotic (transmittable to humans) this new strain is even more virulent and has killed several employees. ALAN ’s ranches are now quarantined and all of ALAN s US livestock herds have been impounded and likely to be destroyed. What to keep quiet—the whole of US cattle & sheep exports are threatened, since FMD had been thought eradicated from US since the 1920s. Mercedes recalls Harry and Alan went to Cuba recently (a locale of FMD) . LENA pipes up that when the suitcase she carried dripped a bloody juice, she assumed by the weight and odor it was a sheep’s head, or Rostro Asado– “Roasted Face”—a Bolivian sheep’s head dish, something they sometimes ate at the orphanage.

MERCEDES nervously explains getting a message from ALAN about the suitcases, but can’t recall the details. She gave the suitcases to Lucien when she arrived in Palm Spring. LUCIEN said he took the suitcases to the party and left them downstairs in the basement party room and forgot about them. He said he did not see any drug equipment, but he wasn’t looking for it

HARRY accused ALAN of picking up the virus the week before the party on a trip to a farm in Cuba to discuss livestock purchases. LUCIEN claims the FBI told him a package was mailed from CUBA to SAMUEL’s home in Palm Springs during the time that ALAN and HARRY were in CUBA. One of the things that the FBI is looking for is ALAN ’s passport. HARRY: Yeah they already took mine.

CHUPA returns to tell them three of the IMPS are covered in painful sores and feeling very poorly. CHUPACABRA suggests the Almighty is likely to strike Alan with lightening CHUP warns ALAN they electrified the fence and gate—so no more escape attempts. LUCIEN asks CHUPA if the IMPS have a spare can of gasoline, as he needs some for his Jeep.

The Interveners shrink back from ALAN , but keep accusing him of covering up his crimes, and imply ALAN should kill himself, hinting at various methods.

EXT. TOP OF CLIFF- AFTERNOON

LUCIEN walks ALAN to a nearby cliff, Chupa offers hallucinogenic drugs, but ALAN refuses them,. Chupa promises he will give the drugs instead to the IMPs .At the top of the cliff, LUCIEN discusses with ALAN the merits of jumping—at first ALAN leans over it, but then shrinks back from the edge. LUCIEN accuses ALAN of being full of pride like Satan.

EXT. MOTORHOME- AFTERNOON

ALAN begs HARRY to give him a ride back down the hill. HARRY refuses.

THIRD ACT

INT. JAIL-EVENING

LENA comes back to the jail with a thermos full of wine that Chupa gave her, and says she has been invited to a hot tub party. Alan warns her to stick with him. Lena tells Alan the horse bucked him off because he smells funny. Joshua uses the wine to celebrate Eucharist with the other hostages.

EXT. HOT TUB- DUSK

Chupa, Lucien and Harry are drinking in the hot tub. Lucien has a large multi-headed sea monster tattooed on his shoulder. Harry asks, “ So where’s? Lucien, “Mercedes headed back to Argentina. She’s very angry at Alan but blaming me. Something about me not seeing the payments. HARRY: Payments? I thought it was just one? Lucien: One kid. She’s mad at you too. HARRY: How’s that? Lucien: Oh women. HARRY : Whatever became of that young actress from Santa Clarita that you were dating? LUCIEN- probably buried in these hills somewhere.

EXT –OTHER SIDE OF THE POOL FENCE-DUSK

Joshua and Alan listen from behind the pool fence. They overhear Chupa give a drugged-induced supernatural explanation why the disasters all fell on Alan. Harry scoffs, saying How would you know? Lucien interjects, “undoubtedly an eye witness account.”

EXT. POOLSIDE-DUSK

ALAN follows JOSHUA to the garden shed and JOSHUA begins cutting off his own dirty braids with a pair of garden snippers. ALAN also cuts his hair and the two men wade into the swimming pool. Wordlessly, JOSHUA forces ALAN ’s head underwater. ALAN struggles, fearful he’s being drowned. As he gasps for the surface, JOSHUA forms the cross. ALAN whispers: “oh-a baptism.”

EXT. PORCH OF LODGE- JOSHUA & ALAN have change into some clean white clothing and ALAN leaves his long dirty black coat and hat airing on the porch.

MICHAEL and Lena arrive. ALAN asks JOSHUA why he didn’t explain himself. But JOSHUA ignores him and starts playing a mournful tune on a pan pipe. MICHAEL tells ALAN that JOSHUA can’t speak, due to having his throat slashed, when fighting to save a group of Kurdish children from a fire in Iraq. Ironically one of the children he rescued, cut his throat.

EXT.VIEW OF HILLS – NIGHT

The wild fire is glowing brightly in the night on the neighboring mountain peak. Coming closer.

CRISIS

INT –JAIL- MORNING

ALAN wakes the others. The electricity is off. It is very smoky.

EXT. LODGE-MORNING

The Jeep and the Motorhome are gone. CHUPA is found hanged on the gallows.

As they walk to the lodge, the IMPS are heard shrieking and yelling and revving a motorcycle. JOSHUA throws on Alan ’s old coat and hat. Two IMPs on motorcycle with a lance attack. Joshua is stabbed and dragged off in Alan’s place. One IMP yells they are coming back for the girl. Lena has twisted her leg.

EXT –MOUNTAINSIDE ABOVE THE RANCH

ALAN carries Lena piggy back, and Michael follows to escape up the mountain. They see ostriches and other exotic animals. Michael recites God’s response from the Book of Job. They are chased by a single IMP on a motorcycle carrying the lance. The three hide rather unconvincingly under a camouflage blanket. The IMP drawn away from them when seeing JOSHUA who reappears alive, but dripping blood, and galloping on the white horse toward a different ridge.

EXT. CLEFT IN MOUNTAINSIDE BOULDERS- DAY

The hostages take shelter in a cave-like rock formation, where Lena makes characoal drawings and Miguel recites about the Leviathan. Alan repents of his pride. They hear Lucien’s Jeep, and come out thinking they are being rescued.

CLIMAX

EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE CAVE- DAY

Lucien is below them next to his jeep in the dry brush which covers the hillside. ALAN expresses how much LUCIEN had been like a son to him. LUCIEN is wearing CHUPA’s Draco sunglasses. Lucien reacts revealing jealousy and insecurity, admits SAMUEL was preparing to tell his father about LUCIEN’s drug use, interest in young girls and LUCIEN’s trips to Cuba with Monos, so LUCIEN planned to cover up killing Samuel and take over as the heir., even if it meant killing ALAN too. After all BARBARA always trusted him and he could end up “managing” ALAN ’s wealth.

ALAN says he doesn’t know all Lucien’s done but he could be forgiven, its still not too late to stop going down this self destructive path .

Lucien demands “Skin for Skin”, save yourself, give me the girl. He sloshes gasoline from a gas can onto the hillside below their hideout and threatens to set it alight. Alan replies: I will not engage in child sacrifice. Lucien: Give up, your God has abandoned you. Alan replies, Though he slay me, I will still trust Him.

In contempt and over confidence, LUCIEN laughs and scuffs the ground with his foot, sparking his gas can, blowing himself up and the explosion ignites the dry hillside. ALAN gathers MICHAEL and LENA in his arms as the fire rushes uphill toward them.

RESOLUTION

EXT. RIDGELINE ABOVE THE CAVE-DAY

A super scooper lumbers over the ridge and blankets them all with red Fos-chek. LUCIEN’s fire is extinguished.

A forest service helicopter lands and HARRY steps off with firefighters he had summoned.Harry had come to his senses. Harry had received news that the supposed variant FMD was not in fact a disease but a chemical that was sprayed on the animals, likely by Lucien, causing sores that mimicked the disease. Alan : Then what were those sores on the IMPs? Harry: I suspect you have shingles and those of them that were unvaccinated contracted measles from your shingles He asks Alan to help him go back on the wagon.

INT. COVERED PORTICO OF A LUXIOUS ESTATE:

Its an adoption celebration with all the orphans and Joshua , Michael , Harry and other friends. Lena plays the piano & all the little kids sing for Alan and Barbara. As they finish the recital, the children are gathered up into the arms of their new adoptive parents.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Basic Structure Version 1 – Book of Trouble

I’ve learned to simplify a bit, getting quicker to the essence. Revising for a second pass really helped me see a more solid theme emerge from the block of marble.

Logline: A wealthy international rancher trying to discover the reason for his suddenly catastrophic losses, is kidnapped by his board members, to force him to admit criminal culpability and commit suicide.

Main Conflict:

Street level: Alan is secretly betrayed by Lucien, a beloved orphan he mentored.

Psychological level: A man risks losing even his identity when suffering betrayal and loss.

Spiritual level: Satan attempts to destroy Alan’s faith in the goodness of God.

1. Opening:

Alan, a wealthy man, quickly slides into homelessness, illness and victimization after devastating financial losses. He is even cursed by his wife, since he turns inward to doubt, his identity threatened.

2. Inciting Incident:

He is kidnapped by the Imps, a gang of druggies and taken into a wildfire zone.

3. By page 10, you know what the movie is about:

Alan struggles with God’s silence, doubting his previous worldview. He becomes so focused on self he fails to recognize he has valuable allies in a child, and two disabled men and the goodness of God they represent.

4. First turning point at end of Act 1: In a cruel “intervention”, Alan’s board members/friends want to force him to kill himself, and take responsibility for the crime associated with the catastrophes.

5. Mid-Point: The triumvirate of board members begins to fall apart. As they share information about the cascading disasters, they begin to suspect each other, as well as Alan. Autistic Miguel aids in keeping a good perspective.

6. Second turning point at end of Act 2:

Joshua and Alan cut their hair and cleanse themselves for battle. The Imp leader gets high and reveals Alan is a chest piece in spiritual warfare over his soul.

7. Crisis: The wildfire is imminent. The interveners have left. The Imps attack to kill. Joshua is stabbed in Alan’s place and hauled away. Alan turns out of his inward focus, to rescue Lena and Michael by escaping to the hills. Miguel is the instrument of Alan’s long awaited response from the Almighty.

8. Climax: A wounded Joshua miraculously reappears and draws the Imps away from the others. Alan faces off with Lucien, fearlessly protecting Lena. Lucien accidentally sets himself ablaze. Alan’s party is rescued thanks to Harry, one of the board members, who had a change of heart.

9. Resolution: Alan reunites with his wife, adopting all the orphans left by his deceased employees, including Lena. He becomes successful again and wealthier than ever.

Version Two

Logline: A wealthy international rancher grasping for the reason behind his suddenly catastrophic losses, is kidnapped by board members, who pressure him to admit criminal culpability and commit suicide.

Main Conflict:

Street level: Alan is betrayed by Lucien, a beloved protégé.

Psychological level: A man risks losing even his identity when suffering betrayal and loss.

Spiritual level: Satan attempts to destroy Alan’s faith in the goodness of God.

1. Opening:

After devastating financial losses Alan, a wealthy man, quickly slides into homelessness, illness and victimization. He is cursed by his wife, as he’s changed by the tragedies, now focused solely on himself.

2. Inciting Incident:

Alan is kidnapped by the Imps, a gang of druggies and hidden in a risky wildfire evacuation zone.

3. By page 10, you know what the movie is about:

Feeling abandoned, Alan struggles with God’s silence, doubting his previous worldview. He is so focused on saving his own skin he fails to recognize the presence of valuable allies, who reflect the goodness of God.

4. First turning point at end of Act 1: Reveal: its a cruel “intervention”, Alan’s former board /friends try to force him to take responsibility for crimes behind the catastrophes and kill himself. Autistic Miguel’s words aid in keeping perspective, but are treated like background noise.

5. Mid-Point: The triumvirate of board members begins to fall apart. As they share information about the cascading disasters, they begin to suspect each other.

6. Second turning point at end of Act 2:

The wildfire approaches, the end is imminent. The Imp leader gets high and reveals Alan is a chest piece in spiritual warfare over his soul. Joshua and Alan cut their hair and cleanse themselves for battle.

7. Crisis: All vehicles are gone. The interveners have left them to the flames. The Imps attack to kill. Joshua assumes Alan’s identity, is stabbed in his place and hauled away. Alan reverses his inward focus, to rescue Lena and Michael. As they escape up the mountain, Miguel voices for Alan the long awaited response from the Almighty. Finally, Alan is remorseful.

8. Climax: The wounded Joshua miraculously reappears and draws away the pursuing Imps. Alan faces off with Lucien, who demands “skin for skin”, Lena’s life for Alan. Alan fearlessly protects Lena; he will not sacrifice a child for his life. Lucien accidentally caught in his own snare, setting himself ablaze. Rescuers arrive, led by Harry, one of the board members, who has had a change of heart.

9. Resolution: Alan reunites with his wife, adopting all the orphans left by his deceased employees, including Lena. He becomes successful again and wealthier than ever.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Logline and One Page (revised)

What I learned: First things first. Need to get that one page foundation straight.

Script Title: Book of Trouble (Yes this is modern retelling of the Book of Job.)

Logline: A wealthy international rancher trying to discover the reason for his suddenly catastrophic losses, is kidnapped by his board members, to force him to admit crime and commit suicide.

ALAN CHAMBERLAIN (55) a wealthy businessman, hides out from criminal investigators, hoping to figure out the cause of a trio of crushing disasters, including the fiery deaths of his offspring and employees. Harassed by THE IMPS, a druggie gang, Alan descends into illness and depression. His wife, BARBARA, (50) focused on caring for the orphans of their dead employees, shows up to curse him for his lack of sympathy. She packs Alan him off to a rescue mission, accompanied by LENA (11), the oldest orphan, but the rescue mission bus is hijacked by the Imps and taken into an area evacuated due to wildfire.

Alan and Lena are jailed by the Imps at an abandoned Movie Ranch. Attempting escape, Alan is beaten, his wounds tended by two rescue mission employees, who are also hostages: JOSHUA, a mute vet and MICHAEL, an autistic savant, who also care for animals left behind in the rushed evacuation of the ranch.

It’s an intervention by Alan’s board members: his protégé, accountant LUCIEN (36), MERCEDES (48) manager of his Argentinean operations and orphanage and HARRY (65) geneticist,Alan’s ranch manager. The three blame Alan for the sudden disasters and collapse of their enterprise. Insisting bad things don’t happen to good people, they urge Alan to take the rap for underlying crimes, even kill himself so insurance can be collected. While sympathetic, Lucien reveals the FBI and Interpol are looking for Alan.

The Interveners are shocked that Lena is there. The young orphan describes how she was lured to the Monos family home with the offer of a piano, but she crawled out a window escaping from Monos, (Cartel leader in Argentina) and smuggled into the US by Mercedes. Mercedes says Alan left messages directing her in it. Lucien saw a drug lab in the home of Alan’s eldest son prior to a fire and explosion. Harry insinuates Alan’s sores are FMD (Foot & Mouth disease) from his illegal import of infected sheep.

Alan angrily defends his innocence, and demands justice on three open issues:

Who
orchestrated the sale of a child from Alan’s Argentinean orphanage to the
cartel?
Were
Alan’s adult children killed by accidental drug lab explosion or were they
murdered?
How
could his ranch get infected with a new sheep virus that also kills
humans?

The Imp gang continues to torment Alan but get sores like his. CHUPA, the Imp leader confides to Alan he is an undercover cop, Alan tells Mercedes.

At night, a wildfire is visible on nearby hills. CHUPA offers Lena wine but it is used for communion by the hostages. Alan is baptized by Joshua. Cleansed, he changes clothes. Chupa, Lucien and Harry get loaded in the hot tub. Alan over hears Chupa give a satanic explanation for his disasters.

The next day Chupa is found hanged and the three board members gone. The Imps are high and attack. Joshua puts on Alan’s old clothes and is lanced and dragged away in his stead. Alan escapes carrying injured Lena up the mountain side, with Michael reciting God’s response to Job. Imps chase on motorcycles but miraculously a bloody Joshua reappears on horseback to draw them off.

Hiding in the boulders, the three are drawn out by the sound of Lucien’s vehicle. Lucien angrily denounces Alan and his God, demanding the little girl, and splashing gasoline. Alan refuses, expressing forgiveness, and love. Joshua reappears, causing Lucien to ignite himself. As the fire races up toward them, an air tanker drops Phos-Chek. They are picked up by Harry in a police helicopter.

Alan and his wife reunite and adopt the orphans. Lena gets her piano. Alan is wealthier than ever.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora’s Logline and One Page

What I learned: It takes a lot of effort to cut out the detail and cut down a story to its essence.

Script Title: Book of Trouble

Logline: A successful international businessman accused of human trafficking, and drug smuggling, struggles with his identity when trying to figure out the cause of his sudden cascading business failures and personal losses, after he is kidnapped by his former board members who are trying to force him to take the criminal rap.

One Page: ALAN CHAMBERLAIN (55) a wealthy international businessman and philanthropist , hides out from creditors and police trying to figure out the cause of a trio of crushing disasters, including loss of his ten children and employees in a fire. Alan is harassed by the Imps, a druggie gang. His wife, BARBARA, (50) curses him for his apathy, as she is focused on the orphans of their dead employees. She sends Alan to a rescue mission on a bus, trailed by Lena (14), the oldest orphan, but the mission bus is hijacked by the Imps.

Alan and Lena are jailed at an abandoned Movie Ranch. Attempting escape, Alan is beaten, his wounds tended to by Joshua, a mute vet and autistic Michael, from the rescue mission, who are also hostages.

It’s an intervention by Alan’s three board members: his foster son/accountant LUCIEN (38), MERCEDES (48) manager of his Argentinean orphanage and HARRY (65) recovered alcoholic, head of Alan’s ranching operations. The three blame Alan for the sudden disasters and collapse of their enterprise. They arguing bad things don’t happen to good people, urging him to take the rap for underlying crimes, and implying he should kill himself so the key man insurance policy can be collected. Lucien claims not only Interpol but the FBI is looking for Alan, but claims to be sympathetic to his mentor. Lucien alleges prior to the fire Alan’s eldest son’s home, seeing a drug lab in the basement. Lena explains how she escaped from a Cartel leader in Argentina, and smuggled into the US by Mercedes. Mercedes says she received notes from Alan directing her to do it. Harry insinuates Alan has FMD (Foot & Mouth disease)from illegally importing an infected sheep. Alan raises three questions, in which any of the board could be implicated:

Who
orchestrated the sale of a child from Alan’s Argentinean orphanage to the
cartel?
Were
Alan’s adult children killed by accidental drug lab explosion or were they
murdered?
How
could his sheep ranch get infected with a new virus that also kills
humans?

The Imp gang continues to torment Alan but several of them contract sores similar to those covering Alan’s body. When the Imp leader tells Alan he is an undercover cop, Alan tells Mercedes.

The wildfire visibly approaches. At night Lucien offers Lena wine and expresses inappropriate interest in her. Lena’s wine is used for communion by the foursome in the jail and Alan is cleansed in the swimming pool and baptized by Joshua. When Lucien and Harry get high in the hot tub, Lucien makes a supernatural explanation for the cause of Alan’s disasters, which Alan overhears.

The next day the Imp leader is found hanged and the three board members gone. When the Imps attack, Joshua quickly puts on Alan’s old clothes and is lanced and dragged away in his stead. Alan attempts to escape with Lena and Michael climbing up the mountain. Imps chase on motorcycles but miraculously a bloody Joshua reappears on horseback to draws them off. Hiding in the boulders, the three are drawn out by the sound of Lucien’s vehicle. However Lucien demands the girl and splashes gasoline. Joshua reappears, causing Lucien to ignite himself. As the fire races up toward them, an air tanker drops Foschek and they are picked up by Harry in a police helicopter.

Alan & his wife reunite and adopt all the orphans. Alan becomes wealthier than ever.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

I, Aurora Harris agree to the terms of the release form pasted 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 completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Hi, I’m Aurora Harris. I’ve written three scripts and a TV series pilot. I’m in a speed contest to write a short film script this week. So if you don’t see me for a few days, you’ll know why. I hope to get pushed to make a big break through in my rewriting of my earliest script, to write efficiency and subtextually, to really GET and USE all that stuff that Hal teaches. I retired from a law practice in Santa Clarita, CA and moved to a little town about an hour south of Nashville in May 2020. I’m loving life here, the wonderful people and combining farming with writing. I plan to live to 120 or die trying!

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora Profiles People

I realized that I enjoy extreme people, and my favorites are “Creatives,” perhaps because they have some new (yet predictable) way to express their eccentricity. But they do drive me nuts with their flaws despite entertaining with their unique over-the- top attributes. Perhaps we are all drawn to people that are “larger than life.”

Person 1 Core traits

Warm & charming

Entertaining & creative

Insecure/swallowed with guilt

Narcissistic- It’s all about me, myself & I

Testing: Mr. #1 would not take my call due to extreme self interest, demands I communicate solely through his wife.

Person 2 Core Traits

Visionary entrepreneur

Self indulgent –overeater

Manic/depressive

Forceful, demanding, bull dozes over people

Testing: Mrs. #2 was taking a nap and could not be disturbed

Person 3 Core Traits

Manipulative/deceptive

Lazy/entitled

Charming/creative

Spendthrift

Mr. #3 hinted he needed to borrow money.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

CM #1 assignment

Aurora Finds the Essence in Casa Blanca

I learned the essence can be simple, despite being buried in a pile of story details.

Scene 1 page 10 in Act One

Logline: Ugarte entrusts Rick with the stolen transit papers taken from the murdered couriers.

Essence:Rick is a stone cold businessman without emotion, but has strong principles that can’t be bought.

Scene 2 page 35 – Turning point

Logline: Laszlo & Ilsa come into the Café looking for Ugarte, startling Rick. He breaks precedent by having a tense drink with the couple.

Essence:Ilsa and Rick have a strong emotional history

Scene 3page 59 Midpoint

Logline: Rick is drunk when Ilsa comes alone to explain her relationship with Laszlo.

Essence:Rick was and is still emotionally devastated by being jilted by Ilsa.

Scene 4 page 99 end of Act Two

Logline: Ilsa returns alone to Rick’s room to beg, threatened and break his heart

Essence, Ilsa still loves Rick, but returned to her husband Laszlo out of duty, when she discovered he was not dead.

Scene 5 page 121 , Resolution of Act Three

Logline: Rick forces Renault to sign the transit papers, and insists, over Ilsa’s objection, that she go with her husband Laszlo on the flight to freedom

Essence:Rick makes the principled decision that the lovers will sacrifice their selfish desires for the greater good, satisfying themselves with their memories together in Paris.

Discussion:. Ilsa took a principled stand when she “jilted” Rick, despite loving him more than Lazslo, when she discovered her husband was not dead but still alive and had survived a concentration camp. Rick recovers from his cold hearted state with the solace that Isla did love him and still loves him. This allows Rick’s nobler principles to resurface. Both he and Ilsa know that Ilsa should stay with Laszlo the famous freedom fighter and support him in that work, that their lives are not as important as the cause Laszlo represents. So even though Ilsa is swept away with emotions in seeing Rick again, Rick knows that someday she will regret not being principled and honoring her marriage vows.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Aurora Dawn Harris

I agree to the terms of the 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.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Hi, I’m Aurora Harris, and you guessed correctly that I’m female.

I’ve written three spec scripts and one TV pilot. I’ve optioned the TV pilot and am contracted to provide additional episodes in the faith based series according to a treatment I developed.

I’m a refugee from Santa Clarita, in Los Angeles County, now happily transplanted to a hobby farm about an hour south of Nashville, TN. Actually that’s not that unique anymore, since an extraordinary number of people from California are moving to Tennessee.

I hope to learn how to become successful in finding more paid writing gigs and in serving those that hire me. I want to learn more about the nitty gritty of contractual writing relationships and how to match my output with the expectations of the hirer.

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

I, Aurora Harris, agree to the terms of the release .

[Aurora AURORA Harris HARRIS]

Hey Jeff Reynolds- your story about the toupee is hilarious! I’ve finally (almost) caught up with the assignments as I was otherwise engaged in the first ten days . I checked out your story and would like to follow it. Interested in commenting on my modern re-telling of Job? Please let me know as I haven’t partnered up yet.

Aurora