Replies – Forums – Bent Hanlen – ScreenwritingClasses

Bent Hanlen

Member

December 22, 2024 at 7:04 am in reply to: Introduce yourself to the class.

Hello
my name is Bent Hanlen I’ve completed three tv scripts and 4 features.
I want to add to my current script that I’m building. adding profound to my story will help me.

Bent Hanlen

Member

December 22, 2024 at 6:54 am in reply to: Confidentiality Agreement

bent hanlen
I agree to the terms of this contract
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.

Bent Hanlen

Member

December 12, 2024 at 8:45 am in reply to: Post Day 5 Assignment Here

Bent's 4 act transformational structure.

what i learned doing this assignment is i have a damn good story. I am proud so far.

Concept – an aging Santa struggles to get through Christmas Eve while Krampus and demons attack the sleighs. Their only protection is The General who wants to increase the North Pole's profits in order to advance the community to Santa's refusal.
Main Conflict – Santa and his security The General are clashing. The General wants to open oil drilling to other countries. That way they can be a recognized nation and continent.
Old Ways – Santa doesn't want to deplete the oil stores underground. He doesn't want to advance the north pole too much and doesn't want tourists invading.
New Ways- THe General wants to increase the income of the country so they can turn themselves to a recognized nation with guns and structures.

Act 1:

Opening – An elf scout is searching for a possible exit from the earth from Krampus. A russian sub leaves what looks like the North Pole in the night.
Inciting Incident – General pushes for the continent to be advanced by opening the land for tourism and oil drilling. Santa will not allow it. Demons attack a scout and kill a reindeer
Turning Point – . A wounded scout lands at the North Pole. The sleighs take off with presents. General doesn't seem much involved in the security.
Act 2:

New plan -Santa orders all sleighs to stay close together. He tells the General to follow him.
Plan in action – The General doesn't provide the security he was asked to do.
Midpoint Turning Point – Santa and the elves are attacked. An elf is kidnapped by krampus.
Act 3: Santa is torn on saving his elf or staying on schedule and getting presents out on time.

Rethink everything – The General has no empathy for the elf and says to get everyone moving.
New plan Continue the deliveries. Santa tells one sleigh to go on the search and radio back when krampus is seen.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – Several sleds have been damaged and sent back the North Pole. Christmas is getting hopeless by the hour. Santa wants to cancel deliveries.
Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – They find Krampus and the demons and the battle begins. The General stands back for the most part and Santa notices. Eventually Krampus gets onto Santa’s sleigh. They fight. Santa is defeated and with Krampus on the sleigh they are diving to the ocean. They are saved by an elf. The general swoops down to hit Santa’s sleigh. Those demons jump to the General’s sleigh and kill him with a dive into the ocean. Half of Krampus and Santa and the young elf arrive back to the North Pole. The sleigh lands hard and Krampus slides across the tarmac over to the previous Santa.. He kills Krampus with an axe as revenge for ripping off his arm long ago.
Resolution = The previous santa is being outfitted with a new arm prosthetic. Outside a bonfire burns the body of Krampus. The Santa who almost got killed tells his wife that he is done. He grabs his coffee and takes his crutch under is shoulder. As he steps outside, he sips his coffee. He moves forward more then sips again. He looks out onto the land. His coffee cup falls out of his hand and he curses. There is a Canadian drill machine and a Russian drill with military all moving towards each other and yelling.
THE END

This reply was modified 4 months, 4 weeks ago by Bent Hanlen.

Bent Hanlen

Member

December 6, 2024 at 6:00 am in reply to: Post Day 3 Assignment Here

Bent’s character profile part 2

what i learned doing this assignment is this ………….. I am learning more about my characters and finding things of interest in them.
CURRENT SANTA
What draws us to this character? he is aged and crumbling inside. We want him to win but he is on the decline.
Traits: becoming confused. He is no longer fit to be Santa. He doesn’t have his leadership qualities anymore.
Subtext: He wants to get through this Christmas delivery and a new Santa will take over. He knows he’d old and weak.
Flaw: He is not as strong and sharp as he used to be.
Values: He is traditional and stands by old school values.
Irony: He refuses to advance the north pole to the next century.
What makes this the right character for this role? he is the santa that everyone knows in stories.

General
What draws us to this character? he wants to progress the north pole into the future and be acknwoledged by
Traits:
Subtext:
Flaw:
Values:
Irony:
What makes this the right character for this role?

Bent Hanlen

Member

December 3, 2024 at 9:02 am in reply to: Post Day 2 Assignment Here

Bent's character profiles part one

what I learned doing this assignment is this….. all of my lead characters have their own characteristics and personality. This creates he confict in my scenes.

protagonist VICTIM current Santa
antagonist PREDATOR Krampus

Supporting characters: he previous Santa Indigo, Hazela General, previous Ms Claus ,
Minor roles: previous Mrs Claus, current Mrs Claus
Background characters: elves

ACTION

current Santa
Role in the story: he struggles to be the Santa that the world knows. He's not ready to be Santa.
Age range and Description: 50's an insecure Santa in his 70’s
Internal Journey: questioning if he is ready or not when out delivering, he wants to cancel christmas deliveries because it is too dangerous.
External Journey: showing his confusion in a rough situation.
Motivation: Get through the night and return back home.
Wound: internal fear of the demons killing everyone
Mission/Agenda: deliver presents. FIght the General from exerting too much power.
Secret: he is a reluctant santa
What makes them special? he is at a learning stage. this is his first year as Santa.

This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by Bent Hanlen.

Bent Hanlen

Member

November 22, 2024 at 8:54 am in reply to: Post Day 1 Assignment Here

Bent’s transformational journey

what I learned doing this assignment was I have a Santa character who doesn’t show the strength of the previous Santa. He isn’t qualified for the job like the previous Santa was. So mistakes are made and that’s what makes this character interesting.

Current Santa

internal journey – He wants to uphold the rules of the North Pole but struggles against a defiant General who wants to move progress forward. He stands his ground despite the imminent deathly odds against him.

exterior journey – He does his best to command the situation at the North Pole and doesn’t but he survives and the General does not.

Old ways – Tells General to let it go. He is passive and soft in his rule

New ways. He is forced to be in charge when Krampus attacks. He has no choice but to save his elves and put himself last.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 31, 2024 at 8:06 pm in reply to: Lesson 11 Assignments

General when begged to save Santa from Krampus in the last battle.

OLD – He will handle his own. Continue to the escape to North Pole

NEW = The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few! Move on and let them be swallowed by the ocean.

Santa after General demands more oil drilling

OLD – We live in traditional ways that have never failed us and we will remain in this path. It hasn’t let us down.

NEW – Oil is the blood of the earth. It is not infinite like people may think. Do not drain it all or the earth has nothing and we will no longer survive on this land. It is harsh enough and we can’t make it worse.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 31, 2024 at 8:03 am in reply to: Lesson 10 Assignments

1. Opening The elves discover that Krampus is going to be active on Christmas Eve. An elf scout finds where Krampus is located.
2. Inciting Incident – Krampus attacks the elf scout. The elf scout returns to North Pole close to death. General demands Santa agree to growing the North Pole by selling more oil from under the continent. Santa refuses to budge on that. Inside an elf home a girl named Hazela wants to go deliver presents with the other elves but she is not old enough. Her family tries to curb her itch for adventure.
3. By page 10, you know what the movie is about. – The General has questionable motives. He wants to open more drilling for the income. Hazela plans her escape and will stow away
4. First turning point at end of Act 1 – Hazela the elf girl stows away on a sleigh in pursuit of adventure. Her brother Indigo searches for her and falls into a sleigh as it takes off.
5. Mid-Point – Parents search for their children. The General refuses to help as the deliveries are commencing. Indigo is learning what the outside world is like and what delivering presents is like.
6. Second turning point at end of Act 2 – Santa and elves are attacked by the demons but without Krampus and they fight them off. Indigo sees from a distance. Hazela is kidnapped by Krampus.
7. Crisis – Indigo wants to find his sister. General refuses saying the presents are what are important.
8. Climax – Kids in the sack are rescued and the battle begins. Krampus attacks Santa. The General refuses to help saying the elves must be protected. Indigo is forced to help Santa and Save him. The General is attacked by demons and brought down to a deadly crash.
9. Resolution – Indigo is reunited with his sister. Santa’s sleigh crash lands on the tarmac with half of Krampus attached. Indigo’s father gets his revenge and axes Krampus in the arms then the head.
Next day, Krampus’ legs wash up on a beach and the demons find those. Santa who is wounded steps out of his home with coffee. He’s relaxed. He drops the cup and looks in the distance to see drilling equipment from Russia and Canada entering from two different sides.

This reply was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by Bent Hanlen.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 30, 2024 at 6:52 am in reply to: Lesson 9 Assignments

. Brainstorm an introduction that will accomplish all 3 Keys to a Great Character Ad.

2. Write the character’s name and answer these three questions.
Santa Claus
a. What is the Interesting Situation? Defending the North Pole from the General’s personal interest.
b. What is the Insight about this character? He is new to the Santa role and knows what he knows based on the training of the previous Santa.
c. What Action and Description will sell this character? He is fighting his weakness and self doubt. He is frustrated over not knowing what to do in challenging situations.

3. Write the scene to highlight the best part of this character.
The scene is when the elves and Santa regroup after an attack from the demons and Krampus.

. Brainstorm an introduction that will accomplish all 3 Keys to a Great Character Ad.

2. Write the character’s name and answer these three questions.
The General
a. What is the Interesting Situation? The General sits idly by as Krampus and the demons attack the elves.
b. What is the Insight about this character? he is
c. What Action and Description will sell this character?

3. Write the scene to highlight the best part of this character.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 29, 2024 at 1:26 am in reply to: Lesson 8 Assignments

Lead Character Name:

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

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

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

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

5. What is this character’s emotional range?

6. What subtext can the actor play?

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

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

9. What makes this character special and unique?

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 28, 2024 at 8:37 am in reply to: Lesson 7 Assignments

what i learned is this. ………… I am finding traits and they make this character interesting. I had imagined these characteristics and came up with more through this exercise.

Lead Character Name: The General

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He is what the North Pole and Santa are not.

2. What makes this character one of the most
interesting characters in the movie? He wants to exploit the North Pole for its resources to make more money for the infrastructure.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He arranges a secret agreement with countries to let them drill for more oil. He doesn’t expect Santa to live and does nothing to save him. He lacks empathy.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He approaches Santa to agree on drilling and this is before the presents are delivered. It’s Santas last chance to agree or else;

5. What is this character’s emotional range? He’s serious and without happiness. He’s a expansionist in his heart.

6. What subtext can the actor play? His actions always show he’s conniving in his mind. He knows Krampus will attack and takes his time to respond.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? WIth Santa he is argumentative. He isn’t kind to the elves other than those loyal to him.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He dresses the part of military. At the beginning of the movie a deal has taken place with Russia.

9. What makes this character special and unique? He is not what we expect from Santa’s workshop. His desire for power surpasses the power of Santa. We learn about the continent through this General.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 28, 2024 at 8:09 am in reply to: Lesson 6 Assignments

Santa Claus

He is not what we imagine Santa to be. He’s disorganized and not remembering his protocols. He’s against progress.

The General

He is nothing that represents the kindness of Santa’s Workshop. He wants to sell more oil which Santa is against.. He arranges a deal anyway with Canada and Russia whichwe learn at the very end.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 26, 2024 at 9:11 pm in reply to: Lesson 5 Assignments

Lead Character Name: Santa Claus

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He isn’t the Santa we as children imagine. He is filled with self doubt and leads his elves into the danger known as Krampus.

2. What makes this character one of the most
interesting characters in the movie? The previous Santa who was wounded wants his job back and this Santa knows he has to prove his worth. He’s struggling with making himself clear to a demanding General below him in the rankings.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? he fails in protecting his elves from Krampus. Singlehandedly he knows he will be blamed for ruining christmas ..

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He is reluctant to take the General’s suggestions on how to improve the North Pole. He is full of weakness and reluctance. He’s not the ideal mold to be Santa.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? He is filled with fear and wanting to get things done right. Self deprecating.

6. What subtext can the actor play? There is obvious doubt in his actions.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? He and the General butt heads. The General wants expansion and this Santa is against it. He stands his ground but is slowly disintegrating.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He tries to be a bold Santa

9. What makes this character special and unique? He isn’t the reflection of an ideal Santa who is reassuring.

Lead Character Name: The General

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He is everything that the North Pole is not. He is a believer in upgrading the continent. He wants progress.

2. What makes this character one of the most
interesting characters in the movie? He doesn’t care about the kids. He sees presents as a mere job. He is military and wants to turn North Pole into a recognized continent.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? he secretly sells more oil to the other countries. He writes a contract behind Santa’s back.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? His first scene is working on Santa to open up for oil drilling to other countries.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? Angry to condescending.

6. What subtext can the actor play? facial expressions showing lack of care. or knowledge that they got one over Santa.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? He butts heads with the previous Santa who lost his arm to Krampus. And he was the best Santa.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He exerts his authority over the elves.

9. What makes this character special and unique? he is anti North Pole. He is not a good person.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 26, 2024 at 8:06 am in reply to: Lesson 4 Assignments

Movie Title: Forrest Gump

Lead Character Name: Forrest Gump

Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? He influenced iconic history in the narrative. Yet it is nothing to this character. He only cares about the woman he loves and can’t have in his life.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He forms the styles of historic figures throughout his life.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He influences the highest people in the government. All the way down to the smallest.
How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He is a simple thinking man who accomplishes incredible things.
What is this character’s emotional range? quiet yet you can read the emotions in the face.
What subtext can the actor play? When he is interacting with famous people it means nothing to him but around the woman he loves, he is more animated.
What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? He cares for one woman and doesn’t look at others.
How is this character’s unique voice presented? through stories of his adventures in life. They don’t form him, its other way around.
What makes this character special and unique? his heart is genuine and as an adult he still exudes innocence in his heart.
(Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The scene of saving his soldiers and remaining calm under fire. He receives a medal and it isn’t lighting him up like the woman he loves does..

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 25, 2024 at 10:01 pm in reply to: Lesson 3 Assignment

The new Santa
trait – Trying to establish himself as the right santa for the job but is failing and without support from his staff

subtext – He second guesses himself as the demons attack =. Mistakes are made.

need – to be the Santa he was hired to be and do the job. To protect the elves from Krampus.

The General
Trait – a military man who wants to rule as a dictator

subtext – he is making secret deals with other countries to sell more oil from the North Pole. He wants Santa to be killed by Krampus so he can take over.

need – to rule the North Pole and turn it into a recognized continent including a formable military.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 18, 2024 at 12:15 am in reply to: Lesson 10

Banter
Nimfa – Come here. I want you to know about banana catsup.
Tommy – I can’t because I’m fixing your sink pipe.
Nimfa – Banana catsup is similar to tomato catsup. But much better. Do you know why
Tommy – No but I think I know why your pipe is leaking. Your seal is broken and rotten. Where is your property manager ?
Nimfa – Probably waiting to eat what I am going to feed you.

Flirting
Tommy – Are your desserts as sweet as you?
Nimfa – You finally noticed.
Tommy – I’m not always the fastest.

Expressions of Love
Nimfa – I’ve brought you dinner. I saw your text that you’ ve been non stop today.
Tommy – Dinner? Wow thank you. I am starving. The day wouldn’t let me take a break.
Nimfa – A hardworking man like you deserves a filipina wife who knows how to fill a man’s stomach.
Tommy – I understand why. This is delicious. And you made this.
Nimfa – Momma rolled the dough.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 17, 2024 at 10:30 pm in reply to: Lesson 9

Bent’s romance emotions part 2
what i learned doing this assignment is ………these emotions can result in the plot

Betrayal – Tommy’s boss doesn’t tell him that Nimfa wants to know more about him and prevents further contact.

Anger – Nimfa and her family feel hurt after Tommy doesn’t respond to her kindness

Passion – There is a moment when she corners Tommy and expresses her love for filipino food by sharing it with him.

Obsession – She can’t stop thinking about him and brings him up to her family.

Love – he finally wakes up in the end to knowing there is a woman who loves him with pure intent.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 16, 2024 at 11:18 pm in reply to: Lesson 8

Bent’s romance emotions part 1

what i learned doing this assignment is I’m finding layers and character behaviors to flesh this out. Nimfa is a jealous character so this works great with the story.

Attraction – She sees him first and wants his attention. When he comes over to her place, she keeps distracting him with food and feeds him because his hands are oily.

Desire – She notices his plumber crack and pokes it with a rose stem to get his attention. Much to his shock and he apologizes for his lack of decorum much to her laughter.

Yearning- Tommy gets Nimfa’s notes on his car window and wonders if she’s stalking him.

Doubt – Nimfa feels she can’t get it into Tommy’s head no matter how hard she tries.

Jealousy – the boss of Tommy is jealous of the attention he receives from the filipino family.
Nimfa gets jealous when she sees Tommy assisting another female.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 16, 2024 at 6:09 am in reply to: Lesson 7

Bent’s comedy situations.
what i learned doing this assignment was I’m finding funny things to make the characters appealing through humor

1. Misinterpretation – language barriers. Using hand gestures to communicate leads to confusion between Tommy and the filipinos
2. Comedic Surprise – Tommy sees something he shouldn’t. Perhaps in a changing area.
3. Wildly Inappropriate Response – Tommy’s boss thinks a dog is going to be cooked and the boss finds out it is a pet dog,
4. Forced union of incompatibles – Tommy works with Nimfa’s dad and the man tests Tommy in every way to see what kind of guy he is.
5. Embarrassment – Tommy doesn’t know how to respond to all the food coming his way.
6. Comedic tragedy – The boss tries to take Nimfa away from Tommy and it backfires against the boss.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 16, 2024 at 5:12 am in reply to: Lesson 6

Act 1:
Initial state – it is just another day for Tommy at the shop
Opening – Tommy is at the plumbing shop and is given an assignment to visit a home.
Meet Cute – he meets Nimfa upon arrival to the house.
Inciting Incident – He arrives and finds a leaking pipe that is severely flooding the basement. He calls for back up and his boss answers. The guy says he will be there to help.
Attraction flirting – she makes it known she’s interested. She keeps interrupting him. He has to adjust the bill because of the distractions.
Initial challenges – he’s all business and is too shy to acknowledge her interest.
Turning Point – Boss arrives and they both turn off the water and help drain the basement.
Separation denial – he leaves the house not thinking she has a thing for him. She’s sad over it.
Act 2: The filipino family who called in the disaster are setting up a big dinner for later. The daughter sees Tommy and flirts with him. No one flirts with his boss which creates tension.
New plan – Tommy doesn’t catch the flirting. The woman named Nimfa packs them both a lunch before they go. Tommy’s boss sees the flirtation and creepily acts like he’s the intended one.
Separation forced together – Boss tells Tommy no more going to that house. He’s banned by company decision.
Major conflict obstacle – Tommy not allowed to go where Nimfa is per the boss.
Plan in action – Nimfa visits the plumber shop. Tommy is not there. The boss receives food for Tommy and a note from Nimfa. Boss takes it to the back office.
Working through issues differences – Nimfa wonders why she doesn’t see Tommy. She takes food to him to see what is happening. Boss sadly takes the food.
Self reflection – Nimfa has self doubt over Tommy.
Midpoint Turning Point – He eats the food and crumples up the note after reading it.
Act 3:

Rethink everything – Tommy arrives back to the office. He is unaware of the delivery from Nimfa. He sees consumed food that looks familiar. Something he ate before. Now he thinks his boss loves filipino food.

New plan – he comes back from a filipino restaurant with food for his boss and shares with his team.
Self reflection – Tommy thinks he should bring more filipino food to work to appease everyone.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – nimfa arrives to look for Tommy. She sees him and his filipino feast. She wants to know who gave all this food to him. She thinks there is another woman. Tommy doesn’t understand why she’s flipping out.
Acceptance and growth – Nimfa tells him how she feels about everything.
Act 4:
Hate betrayal – Nimfa thinks he’s not the one because he’s so dense and unresponsive to her.
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – Tommy doesn’t understand why he’s been yelled at by a beautiful woman over food that has nothing to do with her. He sulks in the office. Then he looks down and sees a crumpled note in the garbage can with his name on it. it is a note from Nimfa. The note tells him to enjoy the food and she wants to ask him out. The boss walks in. Tommy asks whats this. and where is the gift of dinner she delivered. The boss replies he ate it. And we can’t be flirting with clients. Tommy grabs a wrench and cracks the boss upside the head.
Demonstrate the change = the tension comes to a head.
Love happens. – they both realize the truth and then come together permanently.
Reunion – they learn about each other and come together.
Resolution – Tommy pulls up to Nimfa’s home. He gets out and goes to the door. She opens it with family behind her. He presents the note and tells her what his boss did. He adds he would love to go out with her on a date. They hug.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 14, 2024 at 8:00 am in reply to: Lesson 2 Assignments

Lead Character 1 name: Retired Santa Claus

Role in the Story: Forced to retire because Krampus tore off his arm, he remains at the North Pole and is forced to lead at the end when chaos strikes
Age range and Description: 60’s. Beard is closer to the face and he’s a bitter man for having his joyous life stolen from him by a demon.
Core Traits: Intent on his ways. Worried for the future of the North Pole. Caring to a degree.
Character Subtext: Always plotting his revenge against the demon Krampus which makes him gradually insane. It is all internal.
Motivation; Want/Need: He wants to be Santa again but can’t without both arms to guide the sleigh, he was forced to retire.
Flaw: His pride. His ego.
What’s special about this character? despite his limitations, he knows he’s capable of doing the job.
Character Logline: A forcibly retired Santa dreams of revenge on the demon Krampus. As he makes himself mentally sick, he battles the current North Pole regime which unseated him.

Character Arc: He is a bitter man who lost his arm to Krampus and lost his job. He points out everything that is going wrong with the North Pole. The General only worsens the anger. At the end, he gets revenge on Krampus.
Fear/Wound: Hurt pride a missing arm.
Mission/Agenda: to right what is wrong with the North Pole. to get his job back.
Secret: he feels everything is against him.
Values: he’s old fashioned and set in his ways
Attitude: angry and bitter
The defining event in their life: losing the arm.
Motto they live by: do not get away from old tradition
Main issues in life: not able to live the life he was intent on.
Most proud of: killing Krampus at the end.
Paradox (warring elements): the desire to get out there when Krampus is attacking the sleighs … yet he can’t steer a sleigh.
What can’t they face: the other elves who worked with him and miss him
Anything else you think important:

Lead Character 2 name: The General

Role in the Story: The military part of the North Pole. He anticipates becoming the next Santa and wants to change North Pole for the better.
Age range and Description: 50’s. Angry man with an unkind face. A dictator style.
Core Traits: Firm, stubborn, dictator
Character Subtext: planning a coup
Motivation; Want/Need: he wants to be the head of the country of North Pole. He wants to sell oil to countries willing to pay.
Flaw: over his head.
What’s special about this character? he is what Santa is not about. the opposite
Character Logline: The leader of the military belonging to North Pole has chosen to change Santa’s Workshop into a dictatorship and North Pole will not be the same.

Character Arc: secret meeting with other countries to sell oil to when Santa is attacked by Krampus and General does nothing
Fear/Wound: Not getting control of North Pole. He wanted to be the next Santa but by vote he lost.
Mission/Agenda: to sell more oil from below the continent and use the money to be a nation he will rule.
Secret: he doesn’t care about children
Values: being feared
Attitude: very serious
The defining event in their life: gaining knowledge of technology that will benefit north pole
Motto they live by: lure the countries in with the threat of taking away from kids happiness
Main issues in life: wants power too much
Most proud of: being in charge of the military
Paradox (warring elements): in a world of children he wants to form a threatening nation and advance it.
What can’t they face: the bitter Santa as he’s seen as a failure to him
Anything else you think important:

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 14, 2024 at 2:29 am in reply to: Lesson 1 Assignments

Bent’s two lead characters

Lead Character 1 name: Retired Santa Claus

Role in the Story: Forced to retire because Krampus tore off his arm, he remains at the North Pole and is forced to lead at the end when chaos strikes
Age range and Description: 60’s. Beard is closer to the face and he’s a bitter man for having his joyous life stolen from him by a demon.
Core Traits: Intent on his ways. Worried for the future of the North Pole. Caring to a degree.
Character Subtext: Always plotting his revenge against the demon Krampus which makes him gradually insane. It is all internal.
Motivation; Want/Need: He wants to be Santa again but can’t without both arms to guide the sleigh, he was forced to retire.
Flaw: His pride. His ego.
What’s special about this character? despite his limitations, he knows he’s capable of doing the job.
Character Logline: A forcibly retired Santa dreams of revenge on the demon Krampus. As he makes himself mentally sick, he battles the current North Pole regime which unseated him.

Lead Character 2 name: The General

Role in the Story: The military part of the North Pole. He anticipates becoming the next Santa and wants to change North Pole for the better.
Age range and Description: 50’s. Angry man with an unkind face. A dictator style.
Core Traits:
Character Subtext:
Motivation; Want/Need:
Flaw:
What’s special about this character?
Character Logline:

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 13, 2024 at 7:01 am in reply to: Introduce Yourself to the Group

Hello
My name is Bent Hanlen. I I have been a student with this program since I think 2017. I have 3 television scripts and 5 features. One of those features being a high concept. For this class I want to elevate my MSC script with the knowledge I’m about to learn.

Bent Hanlen

Member

October 13, 2024 at 6:25 am in reply to: Confidentiality Agreement

Bent Hanlen
I agree to the terms of this release form.

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

Bent Hanlen

Member

September 28, 2024 at 8:05 am in reply to: Lesson 5

Bent’s his her journey
what i learned doing this assignment is this ……… I’m finding the differences that create conflict. And I’m developing more of them as I create this list.

Tommy
1. Initial state: He used to be in a relationship and it failed so he has shut down inside.
2. Meet-Cute moment: Tommy helps Nimfa’s family in a time of need and gets squirted with water by a leaking pipe. She wipes him down.
3. Initial challenges: He is blind to her advances
4. Major conflict / Obstacle: Nimfa has another man chasing her who prefers her as a submissive. Tommy doesn’t like that as he sees women as equals. So he remains professional and leaves when the work is done.
5. Self-Reflection: Tommy wonders if he should have stood up for Nimfa.
6. Acceptance and Growth: He returns to the house to fix something else. He tells the other guy going after Nimfa to talk to her with respect.
7. Demonstrate the change: He stands up for her. He tells off his boss who ate the gift of food.
8. Reunion: Tommy opens his heart to Nimfa and finds work elsewhere .

Bent Hanlen

Member

September 25, 2024 at 4:08 am in reply to: Lesson 4

Bent’s 7 stages of love
what I learned doing this is I’m finding nuances in the characters. The story is getting fleshed out because these are happenings in the story. The result of the moments in my story leads to many scenes. What is created must be worked out.

The 7 Stages of Love:

1. Meet-Cute – Nimfa and Tommy meet when he arrives at the door. He gets tongue tied and she leads him to the kitchen to fix the issue.
2. Attraction/Flirting – as he’s working, she’s flirting with him. When he gets squirted in the face by a leaking pipe, she cleans him up.
3. Denial – he leaves the house remaining professional and not returning the flirtation. She feels let down by it all.
4. Separation/Forced Together – A second incident happens and Nimfa requests Tommy but plumber shop sends a different guy. That guy is a fail in his skills. Tommy shows up to help the guy. Nimfa is cold to Tommy and he tries to warm up to her by mentioning how much he loved the food.
5. Working through Issues/Differences – Nimfa’s aunty pulls Tommy aside to inform him Nimfa likes him. Tommy says he didn’t know.
6. Hate/Betrayal/All Hope is Lost – – she delivers filipino food to the plumber shop. Tommy is not there. the Boss is. He reads the note and crumples it and tosses it. He smells his hand and it is perfumy now. He wipes his hand on his shirt. He eats all the food. Tommy arrives later and is checking out from work He smells her perfume. His nose goes to garbage can. There is beautiful stationary all crumpled. He reads it and wonders who did it. Next day the boss admits eating everything and tossing the note. Tommy is pissed and quits.
7. Love Happens – Tommy goes to Nimfa’s house. He explains what happened at work. Tommy gets a job at a filipino plumber shop.

Bent Hanlen

Member

September 23, 2024 at 6:06 pm in reply to: Lesson 3

Bent’s bigger story
what i learned doing this assignment is ……….. i might be able to write a Hallmark movie or Lifetime movie. My focus is on the arc and the characters. I’m not thinking about special effects in this story. What I learned is I can write plot driven work.

Act 1:

Opening – Tommy is at the plumbing shop and is given an assignment to visit a home.
Inciting Incident – He arrives and finds a leaking pipe that is severely flooding the basement. He calls for back up and his boss answers. The guy says he will be there to help.
Turning Point – Boss arrives and they both turn off the water and help drain the basement.
Act 2: The filipino family who called in the disaster are setting up a big dinner for later. The daughter sees Tommy and flirts with him. No one flirts with his boss which creates tension.

New plan – Tommy doesn’t catch the flirting. The woman named Nimfa packs them both a lunch before they go. Tommy’s boss sees the flirtation and creepily acts like he’s the intended one.
Plan in action – Nimfa visits the plumber shop. Tommy is not there. The boss receives food for Tommy and a note from Nimfa. Boss takes it to the back office.
Midpoint Turning Point – He eats the food and crumples up the note after reading it.
Act 3:

Rethink everything – Tommy arrives back to the office. He is unaware of the delivery from Nimfa. He sees consumed food that looks familiar. Something he ate before. Now he thinks his boss loves filipino food.
New plan – he comes back from a filipino restaurant with food for his boss and shares with his team.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – nimfa arrives to look for Tommy. She sees him and his filipino feast. She wants to know who gave all this food to him. She thinks there is another woman. Tommy doesn’t understand why she’s flipping out.
Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – Tommy doesn’t understand why he’s been yelled at by a beautiful woman over food that has nothing to do with her. He sulks in the office. Then he looks down and sees a crumpled note in the garbage can with his name on it. it is a note from Nimfa. The note tells him to enjoy the food and she wants to ask him out. The boss walks in. Tommy asks whats this. and where is the gift of dinner she delivered. The boss replies he ate it. And we can’t be flirting with clients. Tommy grabs a wrench and cracks the boss upside the head.
Resolution – Tommy pulls up to Nimfa’s home. He gets out and goes to the door. She opens it with family behind her. He presents the note and tells her what his boss did. He adds he would love to go out with her on a date. They hug.

Bent Hanlen

Member

September 23, 2024 at 6:05 pm in reply to: Lesson 3: Track 1: The Bigger Story

Bent’s bigger story
what i learned doing this assignment is ……….. i might be able to write a Hallmark movie or Lifetime movie. My focus is on the arc and the characters. I’m not thinking about special effects in this story. What I learned is I can write plot driven work.

Act 1:

Opening – Tommy is at the plumbing shop and is given an assignment to visit a home.
Inciting Incident – He arrives and finds a leaking pipe that is severely flooding the basement. He calls for back up and his boss answers. The guy says he will be there to help.
Turning Point – Boss arrives and they both turn off the water and help drain the basement.
Act 2: The filipino family who called in the disaster are setting up a big dinner for later. The daughter sees Tommy and flirts with him. No one flirts with his boss which creates tension.

New plan – Tommy doesn’t catch the flirting. The woman named Nimfa packs them both a lunch before they go. Tommy’s boss sees the flirtation and creepily acts like he’s the intended one.
Plan in action – Nimfa visits the plumber shop. Tommy is not there. The boss receives food for Tommy and a note from Nimfa. Boss takes it to the back office.
Midpoint Turning Point – He eats the food and crumples up the note after reading it.
Act 3:

Rethink everything – Tommy arrives back to the office. He is unaware of the delivery from Nimfa. He sees consumed food that looks familiar. Something he ate before. Now he thinks his boss loves filipino food.
New plan – he comes back from a filipino restaurant with food for his boss and shares with his team.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – nimfa arrives to look for Tommy. She sees him and his filipino feast. She wants to know who gave all this food to him. She thinks there is another woman. Tommy doesn’t understand why she’s flipping out.
Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – Tommy doesn’t understand why he’s been yelled at by a beautiful woman over food that has nothing to do with her. He sulks in the office. Then he looks down and sees a crumpled note in the garbage can with his name on it. it is a note from Nimfa. The note tells him to enjoy the food and she wants to ask him out. The boss walks in. Tommy asks whats this. and where is the gift of dinner she delivered. The boss replies he ate it. And we can’t be flirting with clients. Tommy grabs a wrench and cracks the boss upside the head.
Resolution – Tommy pulls up to Nimfa’s home. He gets out and goes to the door. She opens it with family behind her. He presents the note and tells her what his boss did. He adds he would love to go out with her on a date. They hug.

Bent Hanlen

Member

September 3, 2024 at 1:25 am in reply to: Lesson 2: Key Decisions for Characters

Bents rom com project

what i learned doing this project is i see where their motivations clash and how empty they both are yet each could provide what the other needs if they are able to break through the defenses they both have built up

Who is She? she is a broken hearted woman whose spouse left her for another woman and has found comfort in her family.
Who is He? he is a plumber who has defenses set up. he loves to help people yet keeps his guard up at all times.
What makes them lovable? They are both kind hearted but previous pains have made them careful.
What attracts them to each other? they both are aware of their wounds so they both enter this carefully. He can fix things. Her ex created problems. She gives him the attention he likes and then takes an inch out of his defenses. To where she is working on getting inside to him.
What needs does each fulfill for the other? He is a provider and she loves the traditional role. She is loving and he gravitates to the attention she provides.

Bent Hanlen

Member

September 2, 2024 at 9:33 pm in reply to: Lesson 1

Bent’s Rom com project
what i learned doing this assignment is I have created challenges to people coming together for the same reason. Love. And in the end it works out after the impediments have been conquered.

Two People Who Belong Together: She’s a filipina who values her family. His family is fractured and he suffers for it.
What Forces Them together: A fiipino family gathering happens and he is a plumber who is called because the water is not working.
Issues to be Resolved: he wants to learn more about the love of a family yet he has the fear of disappointment which keeps him distanced.
On Their Journey of Love: he ends up doing work on various houses within that family and learns from each one what love is through a cast of crazy characters. They heal him to where he becomes open to the woman in the family who he’s attracted to.

Experience of Falling In Love: She offers him food after he fixes the problem. He ends up staying and eating and playing with the numerous kids. He’s immersed in the culture and falls for all of them.
The Journey of Love: Through her and her family, she heals him and helps him unlearn what he thinks he knows about family.
Relationship Set-up: he is invited over again after showing what his character truly is after helping others in the family.
Issues each must Resolve: she is jealous and when she finds him being flirtatious at his office, everything built between them crumbles apart.
Separation: she doesn’t want to talk to him after experiencing jealousy over the attention he receives from other females.
How will Comedy be Expressed: through the relatives on her side. and the horrible family on his side when both sides meet.

Bent Hanlen

Member

August 27, 2024 at 8:05 am in reply to: Introduce Yourself to the Group

My name is Bent Hanlen ….. I’ve taken classes from screenwritingU since 2017 I think it is. The number of scripts written is three television scripts and 3 feature length scripts. What i want to get out of this class is to incorporate a romantic B story in one of my features. Who knows, i might write a full length rom com.
my joy is writing comedy. outside of scriptwriting i perform stand up.

Bent Hanlen

Member

August 26, 2024 at 6:47 am in reply to: Confidentiality Agreement

I. Bent Hanlen, agree to the terms and conditions of this agreement.
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.

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 6, 2024 at 9:10 pm in reply to: Lesson 14

bent has finished act 4
…………. my vision for this is to be empoloyed in the television writers industry and sell this screenplay
………….what i learned doing this assignment was nothing will stop me but me so i don’t listen to my negative side… that side is flushed down.

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 6, 2024 at 7:35 am in reply to: Lesson 13

Bent started act 4

my vision for me is to complete this script and keep writing drafts until it is the best thing ever.

what i learned doing this assignment was i am wanting a balance of action and progressing the plot. I want it to be balanced.

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 6, 2024 at 5:50 am in reply to: Lesson 12

Bent’s finishing act 3
…….. my vision for my success is to be a screenwriter who makes enough money to buy a house.
….. what i learned doing this assignment was i have the skills and i don’t have to sit on a script for what seems like forever. I can do this. I can write. i am successful in what i do.

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 6, 2024 at 5:10 am in reply to: Lesson 11

bent finishing act 3 ……………..
my vision is to be a great screenwriter and sell this for big money.
………. what i learned doing this assignment is this…. i think about the end of each act because i want to twist and turn to get there. I think what will keep the audience watching.

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 5, 2024 at 7:08 am in reply to: Lesson 10

bent’s continuing act 3
………. my vision for myself is this …… i want to be a great feature film writer who knows his shit.
………….. what i learned doing this assignment is this… i am getting improved every day that i write.

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 5, 2024 at 6:51 am in reply to: Lesson 9

Bent began act 3
my vision for this is ……… i want to sell this feature and be successful as a feature film writer.
….. what i learned doing this assignment was …… as i progress i know i am unstoppable. i refuse to listen to bad words and incoherent thoughts. never ever. I got this.. i was my own critic and i learned my mind is my friend and my mind is my enemy.

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 5, 2024 at 6:10 am in reply to: Lesson 8

Bents completed act 2
my vision is to finish this script and sell it for big money
what i learned doing this assignment is this …………. i can do it.

i am finding my story to be coming together and it makes sense ….. i am happy for this…….. i have progressed.

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 4, 2024 at 7:52 am in reply to: Lesson 7

Bent’s continiung act 2

my vision for myself is i want to write for television and sell this screenplay

what i learned doing this assignment is this…… I can do this successfully without the perfection garbage. i am making progress.

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 3, 2024 at 7:26 am in reply to: Lesson 6

Bent’s continuing act 2
my vision for this is i want to be a television writer and sell this feature for big dollars. I want a career in this industry.
what i learned doing this assignment is this ……… act two came to me faster than years ago when i tried to write this script then gave up. I am victorious over the fact i don’t feel bad when NOT accomplishing something perfect right away.

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 3, 2024 at 6:48 am in reply to: Lesson 5

Bent’s finished act 1

my vision is this ….. i want to be a television writer and sell this feature for big money!!!!

by following these lessons i have completed the work and am very happy with myself and my end product. I keep having breakthroughs small but mighty. I am happy to get this from my mind to the screen and the steps of completing this made my head not explode.

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 3, 2024 at 6:28 am in reply to: Lesson 4

Bents next act one scenes !!!

my vision for this program is to become a television writer and sell this feature for a big payday
what i learned doing this assignment is this …………… I am feeling confident in my writing my story is unfolding and i am very happy with the results. i am finding my little darlings to kill off for the purpose of manipulating the emotions of my audience and that is a good thing. they will want to see the demise of my antagonist as a result

Bent Hanlen

Member

May 3, 2024 at 5:59 am in reply to: Lesson 3

bents act one first draft part one

my vision is to be a television writer and sell this screenplay.

what i learned doing this assignment was i feel more confident in my writing. One step at a time and it takes away my compulsion to be a perfectionist. i feel like I am done with that bullshit… so I have progressed.

Bent Hanlen

Member

April 30, 2024 at 8:04 pm in reply to: Lesson 2

bent’s high speed writing rules

my vision for myself is this…. i want to work in a writer’s room on television and sell my feature film i am writing in this class.
what i learned doing this assignment was i am holding myself back with perfection bullshit. I feel like i am over that hump now.

i think i overwhelm myself when i write. following these rules gives me the relief to keep on going and continue without breaking down. and giving up..

Bent Hanlen

Member

April 24, 2024 at 6:14 am in reply to: Lesson 1

bent’s first scene !!!
my vision for this is to become a television writer and sell my features on the side.
what I learned doing this assignment was this. …… i have a first scene completed and i did it. and i can do it again.
the process was helpful because i had my guidance and was within a frame. staying within the frame keeps me from being discouraged and losing my attention. this is successful.
thank you

Bent Hanlen

Member

April 16, 2024 at 8:00 am in reply to: Lesson 10

BENT’S FASCINATING SCENE OUTLINES!

MY VISION FOR ALL OF THIS IS TO LEAD ME TO A JOB IN A WRITER’S ROOM AND WORKING ON A TELEVISION SHOW.

WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS THIS. I FOUND MORE TENSION BY WRITING THIS MAP DOWN. I FOUND MORE TWISTS AND CONFLICT. THIS IS SO AWESOME.

ACT ONE

Scene Arc:
Essence:
Conflict:
Subtext:
Hope/fear:

Bent Hanlen

Member

April 13, 2024 at 7:31 am in reply to: Lesson 9

BENT’S SCENE REQUIREMENTS

MY VISION IS THIS ….. I WANT TO BE A RESPECTED SCREENWRITER AND WORK IN A TELEVISION WRITING ROOM.

WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS I HAVE SOMETHING TANGIBLE TO PITCH TO PRODUCERS. I AM BELIEVING IN THIS STORY MORE AND MORE

SANTA VS KRAMPUS

ACTION ADVENTURE

ACT ONE

INT. SANTA’S OFFICE

THE GENERAL TRIES TO PLEAD HIS CASE FOR OPENING UP MORE OIL DRILLING TO OTHER COUNTRIES SO THEY CAN USE THE MONEY FOR MODERNIZING SANTA’S VILLAGE

Scene Arc: THE GENERAL TRIES AND FAILS TO PERSUADE SANTA TO CHANGE HIS MIND
Essence: GENERAL WANTS TO TURN NORTH POLE INTO A FUNCTIONING CONTINENT.
Conflict: SANTA IS OLD SCHOOL AND HAS NO INTEREST IN THIS IDEA.
Subtext: GENERAL WANTS TO MILITARIZE NORTH POLE
Hope/fear: INEVITABLY THE GENERAL WANTS MORE POWER.

INT. DINING ROOM – INDIGO’S HOUSE

THE MOTHER, FATHER, AND INDIGO AND HIS SISTER HAZELA SIT AT THE TABLE.

Scene Arc: HAZELA EXPRESSES INTEREST IN GOING OUT
Essence: HAZELA IS SECRETLY PLANNING TO ESCAPE THE HOUSE
Conflict: HER FAMILY WANTS HER TO STAY HOME. NEVER DELIVERING PRESENTS BECAUSE OF THE DANGER.
Subtext: FATHER HAS A WOUND THAT HE’S HIDING.
Hope/fear: THE FAMILY FEARS HAZELA IS WANTING TO DO WHAT COULD PUT HER IN DANGER.

ACT TWO

EXT. TARMAC

INDIGO IS RUNNING AROUND TRYING TO EXPLORE THE SLEIGHS BEFORE THEY FLY OFF.

Scene Arc: INDIGO IS SEARCHING ALL OF THE SLEIGHS FOR HIS SISTER FRANTICALLY
Essence: HE IS PANICKING AS HE DOESN’T WANT HIS FAMILY SPLIT UP LIKE THIS.
Conflict: THE SLEIGHS ARE NOT WAITING FOR HIM. NO ONE EVEN KNOWS HE IS LOOKING FOR HER.
Subtext: MOTHER AND FATHER ARE DESPONDENT AND INDIGO DOESN’T WANT THEM HURT.
Hope/fear: HE IS HOPING TO BE A HERO TO HIS PARENTS AND FIND HIS SISTER.

PART THREE

INT. HOME OF A FAMILY

INDIGO IS FORCED TO DELIVER PRESENTS AGAINST HIS WILL SO HE DOES IT. IN ONE HOME HE MEETS A LITTLE BOY WHO CAN’T FALL ASLEEP.

Scene Arc: INDIGO MEETS A LITTLE BOY AND LEARNS THEY ARE SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS.
Essence: INDIGO FINDS OUT HE HAS NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF
Conflict: HE FIGHTS HIS FEAR OF PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM HIM
Subtext: INDIGO IS OVERCOMING HIS FEAR OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD SLOWLY THROUGH LEARNING.
Hope/fear: HE FEARS THE UNKNOWN AND IS FORCED TO FACE IT.

EXT. SLEIGHS

INDIGO AND THE GENERAL ARGUE OVER FINDING HIS SISTER

Scene Arc: INDIGO PRESSES THE GENERAL TO HELP HIM SEARCH FOR HIS SISTER. AND THE GENERAL REFUSES.
Essence: THE GENERAL DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ONE ELF AND IS DETERMINED TO FINISH THE DELIVERIES ON SCHEDULE.
Conflict: INDIGO DEMANDS THEY FIND HIS SISTER AND THE LITTLE BOY WHO IS IN THE SACK OF KRAMPUS.
Subtext: GENERAL HAS NO EMPATHY.
Hope/fear: INDIGO FEARS HIS SISTER WILL BE DEAD AT THE HANDS OF KRAMPUS.

ACT 4

INDIGO SAVES SANTA FROM KRAMPUS

Scene Arc: KRAMPUS HAS KILLED SANTA’S REINDEER AND THE SLEIGH DESCENDS TO THE OCEAN. INDIGO JUMPS ONTO THE SLEIGH AND ACTIVATES THE SLEIGH’S JET ENGINES UNDERNEATH.
Essence: INDIGO’S LAST FEAR IS OVERCOME
Conflict: THE GENERAL TRIES TO STOP INDIGO FROM SAVING SANTA AND THE DEMONS ATTACH TO THE GENERAL’S SLEIGH AND TAKE HIM DOWN INTO THE OCEAN.
Subtext: INDIGO PROVES HE CAN BE A WARRIOR AND EVENTUALLY SANTA.
Hope/fear: INDIGO FEARS LOSING SANTA WILL LEAD TO NO MORE NORTH POLE SO HE TAKES ACTION.

Bent Hanlen

Member

April 12, 2024 at 6:42 am in reply to: Lesson 8

bent’s intriguing moments

my vision for success is to be the best at what i do and i’m selected as a writer for writing assignments.

what i learned doing this assignment was i added interesting moments and thought provoking incidents using these techniques. and it makes my work much better.

Intrigue
Secret
Covert agenda
Hidden identity
Conspiracy
Scheme
Superior position
Cover up
Mystery

ACT ONE

COVERT AGENDA – GENERAL TRIES TO GET THE APPROVAL FOR MORE OIL DRILLING BECAUSE GENERAL WANTS TO MILITARIZE THE NORTH POLE.

SCHEME – HAZELA PLANS TO RUN AWAY FROM HOME TO GET ON THE DELIVERY SLEIGHS.

ACT TWO –

MYSTERY – INDIGO SEARCHES FOR HIS SISTER AMONGST THE SLEIGHS AND CAN’T FIND HER.

HIDDEN IDENTITY – THE GENERAL REVEALS THAT FATHER WAS ONCE SANTA UNTIL KRAMPUS RIPPED HIS ARM OFF AND DISABLED HIM.

ACT 3

CONSPIRACY – WHEN HAZELA IS KIDNAPPED BY KRAMPUS, GENERAL REFUSES TO LOOK FOR HER BECAUSE HE MUST PROTECT THE GROUP NOT ONE PERSON.

SUPERIOR POSITION – THE GENERAL BEGINS TO ORDER THE SLEIGHS ON WHAT TO DO.

ACT 4

COVERT AGENDA – THE GENERAL LEADS SANTA INTO AN AMBUSH

Bent Hanlen

Member

April 9, 2024 at 7:19 am in reply to: Lesson 7

BENT’S EMOTIONAL MOMENTS

MY VISION IS TO WORK AS A SCRIPTWRITER! AND BE PAID.

WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS THIS….. MY STORY IS UPPED SEVERAL LEVELS BECAUSE I SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONAL POWER. THIS MEANS I HAVE TO LET SOME CHARACTERS DIE. OOF.

Positive Emotions

Surprise
Bonding
Excitement
Courage
Success/Winning
Love

Negative Emotions

Wounds
Emotional Dilemma
Betrayal
Moral issue
Hidden weakness
Distress
Sacrifice

ACT ONE

SANTA AND THE GENERAL ARGUE OVER INCREASING OIL DRILLING AND OUTPUT.

BETRAYAL – EARLIER A RUSSIAN SUB LEFT A DOCK AT SANTA’S VILLAGE.

LOVE – INDIGO SEARCHES THE SLEIGHS FOR HAZELA BECAUSE SHE IS TOO YOUNG TO GO OUT ON THE DELIVIERIES.

ACT TWO

SURPRISE – INDIGO SEES THE SKYLINE OF A HUGE CITY AND HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS.

BONDING – INDIGO MEETS AN AWAKE CHILD AND THEY LEARN A LITTLE ABOUT EACH OTHER AND FIND SIMILARITIES.

ACT THREE

MORAL ISSUE – THE GENERAL REFUSES TO SEARCH FOR HAZELA WHO WAS CAPTURED BY KRAMPUS. HE FEELS SHE IS AS GOOD AS DEAD AT THIS POINT.

SUCCESS/WINNING – THE BAG OF CHILDREN ARE SAVED AND GIVEN TO A POLICE CAR. INDIGO SAYS GOODBYE TO HIS NEW FRIEND.

ACT FOUR

EMOTIONAL DILEMMA – KRAMPUS IS CLOSE TO DEFEATING SANTA. INDIGO SEES HIS SISTER IS SAFE SO HE DECIDES TO OVERCOME HIS FEARS AND GOES TO SAVE SANTA.

COURAGE – INDIGO FINDS IT IN HIMSELF TO SAVE SANTA FROM FALLING INTO THE OCEAN IN A SLEIGH THAT HAS LOST POWER.

BETRAYAL – THE GENERAL MADE A SECRET DEAL WITH RUSSIA AND CANADA TO ALLOW MORE DRILLING WITHOUT SANTA’S CONSENT.

This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by Bent Hanlen.

Bent Hanlen

Member

April 7, 2024 at 7:41 am in reply to: Lesson 6

BENT’S REVEALS

MY VISION IS FOR THIS TO A WELL RECEIVED CHRISTMAS BLOCKBUSTER

WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT WAS …. I AM FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT MY CHARACTERS. LITTLE THINGS AND THEY BECOME BIG THINGS NOT ALWAYS IN A POSITIVE WAY. I AM FINDING WAYS TO DO CALL BACKS TO PREVIOUS ACTIONS.

ACT ONE – WE SEE A RUSSIAN SUB LEAVING AN ARCTIC POST WITH RED AND WHITE COLORING ON IT. THE BUILDING ON LAND IS COLORED RED AND WHITE SO WE KNOW THIS IS SANTA’S SPACE.

ON LAND SOMEWHERE, A SCOUT ELF SEARCHING FOR SIGNS OF KRAMPUS IS ATTACKED BY A PACK OF DEMONS AND ULTIMATELY KRAMPUS.

AJ – AN ELF NAMED INDIGO WITNESSES THE GENERAL TALKING TO SANTA WHO IS DRESSING FOR HIS TRAVEL TO DELIVER.

THERE IS TENSION BETWEEN THE GENERAL AND SANTA.

PJ – THE GENERAL IS DEMANDING THAT SANTA OPEN THE NORTH POLE TO MORE OIL DRILLING TO RUSSIAN, CANADA AND USA. AND SANTA REFUSES.

SET UP – THE GENERAL PUSHES FOR MORE OIL DRILLING AT THE NORTH POLE

REVEAL – THE GENERAL WANTS TO MILITARIZE THE NORTH POLE AND MAKE IT AN EQUAL THREAT TO HOSTILE COUNTRIES.

AJ – THE SCOUT SLEIGH LANDS ROUGHLY AT THE NORTH POLE WITH DEAD REINDEER AND ONLY A FEW PULLING IT. INDIGO CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT HE SEES.

The driver of the sleigh is beaten and bloodied. He is slowly pulled out of a crashed sleigh unconscious.

PJ – THE GENERAL DEMANDS AGAIN THE NORTH POLE BE OPEN TO MORE DRILLING SO THEY CAN MILITARIZE THE CONTINENT.

he wants weapons. he wants it to be a part of the United Nations and with NATO because eventually it will be in their best interest to protect themselves from rogue nations.

DEEPER LAYER – THE GENERAL WANTS MORE POWER.

ACT TWO – TIME TO DELIVER PRESENTS.

Santa leads the sleighs to deliver to Ireland and Iceland and Greenland. Hours later he returns with the rest of the sleighs empty.

Hazela watches from her window as the sleighs land on the tarmac. Fresh reindeer are harnessed and the tired ones are herded to the back where the food is for them. She’s captivated. Indigo sees this and tells her it is boring to watch that stuff.

AJ – INDIGO’S SISTER WANTS TO SEE THE WORLD AND ASKS TO GO ON A SLEIGH. HER PARENTS REFUSE SAYING SHE’S TOO YOUNG. INDIGO TELLS HER THAT KRAMPUS IS OUT THERE AND IT IS TOO SCARY. NOT EVEN HE WANTS TO TRAVEL AND WILL STAY AT THE NORTH POLE.

DEEPER LAYER – INDIGO SUFFERS FROM A FEAR OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

AJ – THE GENERAL REFUSES TO TRAVEL WITH SANTA AND THE ELVES AS THEY GO TO CANADA TO BEGIN DELIVERIES AS HE FEELS HE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ATTACK DOWN IN UNITED STATES.

PJ – SISTER HAZELA GOES TO HER ROOM AND THEN ESCAPES FROM THEIR SECOND FLOOR AND RUNS TO THE LAUNCHING AREA. INDIGO ENTERS HER ROOM TO CALL HER TO DINNER AND FINDS HER DESCENDING DOWN THE ROOF. HE TRIES TO GO AFTER HER BUT HE’S AFRAID.

Mother and Father are sitting down ready to eat and they hear Indigo calling his sister with no response.

DEEPER LAYER – HE HAS A FEAR OF HEIGHTS.

AJ- THE GENERAL INTERROGATES THE WOUNDED SCOUT ELF ON THE WHEREABOUTS OF KRAMPUS AND DETAILS.

PJ – INDIGO RUNS TO THE TARMAC. PARENTS ARE WAY BEHIND. HE BELIEVES HE SEES HIS SISTER AROUND THE SLEIGHS SO HE IS SEARCHING THE SLEIGHS. HE LOOKS IN AS MANY AS HE CAN THEN HE FALLS INTO ONE NEAREST THE STARTING LINE. IT TAKES OFF AS HE STRUGGLES TO GET OUT BUT HE CAN’T. HE’S IN THE SKY.

AJ- THE GENERAL IS SUITING UP AS THE MOM AND DAD ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR SON AND DAUGHTER. THE GENERAL AND FATHER END UP IN A HEATED DISCUSSION. WE LEARN THE FATHER WAS PREVIOUSLY SANTA SOME YEARS AGO AND KRAMPUS RIPPED OUT HIS ARM.

DEEPER LAYER – THE FATHER IS BITTER OVER LOSING HIS ROLE AS SANTA AS IT IS COVETED.

ACT 3 – SANTA AND THE ELVES DELIVER TO NORTH AMERICA WHERE KRAMPUS IS LOCATED. HAZELA IS KIDNAPPED BY KRAMPUS AND THE DEMONDS

PJ – INDIGO LEARNS THE ART OF DELIVERING PRESENTS AT THE SAME TIME SEARCHING FOR HIS SISTER. AT ONE HOUSE HE MEETS A CHILD WHO DIDN’T FALL ASLEEP.

DEEPER LAYER – HE LEARNS FROM THIS LITTLE KID THAT THEY ARE SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS.

PJ – KRAMPUS ENTERS THE HOME AND TAKES THE BOY. IN HIS SACK IS THE SISTER. INDIGO IS FROZEN IN FEAR.

ACT 4 – FINAL BATTLE

THERE IS ALWAYS ACCOUNTING OF ELVES BEFORE THEY MOVE ON TO THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD. INDIGO COMES UP MISSING. THEY KNOW WHERE HE WAS DELIVERING. HE IS FOUND HUDDLED IN FEAR AND THEY GRAB HIM TO TAKE HIM BACK TO THE SLEIGH. THEY ALL SEE KRAMPUS ESCAPING WITH A BAG OF CHILDREN AND HAZELA INSIDE.

PJ – HE IS IN FEAR FOR HIS LIFE AND HELPLESS. THE GENERAL LANDS DOWN NEXT TO HIS SLEIGH.

AJ – THE GENERAL TAKES IN ALL THE DETAILS THAT HE CAN BY PRESSURING INDIGO FOR INFORMATION. THAT SLEIGH IS ORDERED TO TRANSFER PRESENTS TO ANOTHER FREED UP SLEIGH. AND TO TAKE INDIGO BACK TO THE NORTH POLE.

THE ELVES OBLIGE THEIR ORDER FROM THE GENERAL BUT INDIGO PROTESTS AS HE MUST GET HIS SISTER BACK.

AJ – THE GENERAL FEELS NO EMPATHY AND CONSIDERS HER A LOSS. THE SAFETY OF THE MANY OUTWEIGHS THE LIVES OF A FEW HE SAYS.

PJ- INDIGO IS IN SHOCK KNOWING HE HAS LOST HIS SISTER FOREVER.

DEEPER LAYER – THE GENERAL IS FOCUSED ON GETTING SANTA KILLED AND NOTHING ELSE.

This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by Bent Hanlen.

Bent Hanlen

Member

April 5, 2024 at 7:47 am in reply to: Lesson 5

BENT’S CHARACTER ACTION TRACKS

MY VISION IS FOR THIS TO A WELL RECEIVED CHRISTMAS BLOCKBUSTER

WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT WAS …. I AM FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT MY CHARACTERS. LITTLE THINGS AND THEY BECOME BIG THINGS NOT ALWAYS IN A POSITIVE WAY.

ACT ONE – WE SEE A RUSSIAN SUB LEAVING AN ARCTIC POST WITH RED AND WHITE COLORING ON IT. A SCOUT ELF SEARCHING FOR SIGNS OF KRAMPUS IS ATTACKED BY A PACK OF DEMONS AND ULTIMATELY KRAMPUS.