[Bob Gebert]

<div>Buried in Blickwood</div>

Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? What happened to the sheriff’s daughter and why her?Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie? The sheriff’s daughter inadvertently awakened the entities. They have been hibernating waiting for humanity to be ready technologically to communicate.Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? The closer the sheriff comes to saving her daughter, the more the entities retaliate.

2. Tell us the Intriguing World you have selected for this story.

Blickwood is a small town with big secrets. The town is famous for legends and lore… ghosts, earthquakes, strange fireflies… even rumors of a lake monster. But the townies all know something else hangs in the air…the intense desire to be one’s best self. And yet no one is. It is a town made up of disappointed people. As if, the town is searching for the next King Arthur who can figuratively pull the sword from the stone. All try and when they fail, they are left to blend in with others, living bland non-eventful lives in a town known for its magic.

Characters:

Hero: Sheriff Nancy Branter

Mystery: How does she find her missing daughter?

Intrigue: The sheriff brought her young daughter to the town to escape her high-tech past. She shunned all technology and now attempts to live an uneventful life.

Suspense: Will she find her daughter and save the town amidst the awakening of long hibernating ancient beings?

Villain: The Ancients

Mystery: What are these beings?

Intrigue: Prior to her disappearance, the sheriff’s daughter had posted numerous videos about the ancients awakening and the danger that brought to the town.

Suspense: As the seemingly random appearances escalate, will they lead to the destruction of the town?

Red Herring: Fading high school football star – Curtis “Kicker” Taggart

Mystery: Is he the one who has kidnapped the sheriff’s daughter as he has threatened to do?

Intrigue: Kicker is on a quest to find the sheriff’s daughter first and publicly take out his revenge.

Suspense: How over the top will he go to get his revenge on the sheriff’s daughter?

[Bob Gebert]

Bob Gebert’s Big M.I.S.

Buried in Blickwood

Logline: A brilliant, modern-day sheriff must move past her technophobia to find her missing daughter by studying the origins of the video blogs she posted about the legends of beings that threaten to awaken and destroy their beloved small California town.

1. What are the conventions of your story?

Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: A technophobic sheriff

Dangerous Villain: Long-hibernating entities awakening under the town

High stakes: Sheriff’s daughter is missing

Life and death situations: The mysterious entities are indiscriminate and unfeeling about life and death as they explore the current state of humanity in the small town of Blickwood.

This story is thrilling because? The town’s past legends begin to manifest in horrifying ways.

2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?

Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? What happened to the sheriff’s daughter and why her?

Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie? The sheriff’s daughter inadvertently awakened the entities. They have been hibernating waiting for humanity to be technologically <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>ready <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>to communicate.

Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>The closer the sheriff comes to her saving her daughter, the more the entities retaliate.

[Bob Gebert]

SE7EN by Andrew Kevin Walker

5. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?”

There is so much about SE7EN to love. I had seen it multiple times since it was released in 1995, and though a few scenes stuck in my mind, there was much I didn’t remember. I was concerned that the nature of piece (two protagonists and coming into the scenes AFTER the murders take place) might not make it fit into the classic thriller mold and therefore might not be right for this assignment.

Instead, every thriller element seemed to be there–just some were approached in unique ways. Which might be one of the reasons it towers among the crowd (in addition to the powerhouse directing, acting, and design, of course.)

So, I guess what I really learned is–lean into the thriller elements but turning one or two on their heads might help make it stand out.

Unwitting but Resourceful Hero:

Maybe a bit unconventional because of the (all but) dual protagonists. I think an argument could be made for either being the actual protagonist. But Sumerset actually changes the most—starting as apathetic and ending truly caring about what happens to Mills after the movie ends and probably not retiring after all. Though Mills’ life is totally upended, he doesn’t really change. His last act is just an extreme manifestation of where we meet him… which is how John Doe manipulates him so well.

· Detective Sumerset is done. He’s retiring in seven days. Brilliant and methodical (just like the villain), yet does not research Mills before he arrives. He is THAT done.

· Detective Mills is brand new on the job and asked to be transferred to the dangerous city beat because, “I thought I could do some good.” But deep down, it’s probably rooted in vengeance of watching his cop friend being shot dead in his previous position. He lives with his young (secretly pregnant) wife in a shitty apartment. They come from the suburbs. Considers himself Serpico. Impulsive. Writes in a journal (just like villain will do.) Both protagonists have traits that will become signature traits of the villain.

Dangerous Villain: John Doe. Committing murders of the seven deadly sins. Absolutely brilliant, patient and insane. Most terrifying because of how normal he appears and acts.

High stakes: How will each murder manifest? And can Sumerset and Mills solve the case before he kills again.

Life and death situations: In addition to the series of horrific murders, the closer they get to solving it, the more personal it comes putting their own lives and loved ones in jeopardy.

This movie is thrilling because?

The detectives must muck through the afterbirth of murder. We never see any of the murders yet they’re all gory and terrifying. The inherent ticking clock of the seven deadly sins.

What is the BIG Mystery, Intrigue, and Suspense of this story?

Big Mystery: Who is committing the murders of the seven deadly sins.

Big Intrigue: How will the seven deadly sins manifest in murder?

Big Suspense: Will Sumerset and Mills find and stop the killer before the last murder is complete? Or will they be left wondering what’s in the box?

4. Anything else you’d like to say about what made this movie a great thriller?

Obviously, the mood and atmosphere that is baked into it. Every scene has creepy elements. The ending is one of the most memorable in thriller history.

[Bob Gebert]

Hi,

Bob Gebert.

I’m a WGA screenwriter with a feature sale to a studio and an award-winning low budget indie feature that was on Netflix a few years ago. Between plays, features, and pilots I’ve written dozens–a number of them placed well in major contests.

But now…I’m writing novels. My first two were based on unsold scripts I had written in the past, I hope to use this class to develop a brand new story that I haven’t fully explored before.

As an actor, I have played small speaking roles in a number of big shows. I was lucky enough to guest star in a memorable episode of THE OFFICE. And even thirteen years later, I often have people come up to me with confused looks on their faces asking if we used to work together.

I’m also a professional magician and regularly perform at The Magic Castle in Hollywood which is the world where this new story takes place.

[Bob Gebert]

Bob Gebert I agree to the terms of this 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.