Carmen Mosley
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Carmen’s Horror Outline Version 1 – Lesson 15
What I learned doing this assignment is how much of this was already done. It still needs some work, but I like how it flowed and the Horror Elements were there and it wasn’t too hard to incorporate and label the emotions, release, etc. as I went through the outline.
INT. DON BRUNO’S CASINO OFFICE – DAY
DON BRUNO, who wants to run Vegas makes a deal with the devil for power and money. He gets what he wants, but at a price!
INT. SALVATORE BEDROOM – NIGHT
THE DON comes home to discover FREDO and CECILIA in bed.
He kicks FREDO out.
INT. FREDO’S CASINO OFFICE – DAY
Fredo and Luca conspired to kill THE DON. He can take over as Don and he promised Luca the right hand.
FREDO is summoned to the DON’S office.
INT. DON BRUNO’S CASINO OFFICE – DAY
FEAR: They argue, FREDO pulls a gun. He shoots both bodyguards before they can kill him. He tells THE DON and CECILIA begged for him. She said that DON BRUNO was a horrible lover. DON BRUNO is enraged!
SHOCK: FREDO SHOOTS DON BRUNO
SUSPENSE: THE DON curses him and threatens he will be back for vengeance! Will he? How?
FREDO and LUCA clean out the safe.
EXT. DESERT – MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
FREDO and LUCA bury the body and hide the money in a box in the same grave. They plan to come back after everything dies down.
FREDO tells the family that THE DON is on a trip to the motherland. Suspicions arise – but no proof.
FLASHBACK: DON BRUNO and CECILIA, the kids and the whole family at an anniversary party for them. Dancing and having fun.
At the party GRANDMOTHER SOFIA tells them of The DON “Curse”. How every Don generation has made a deal with the Devil for wealth and power and subsequently the entire family or the Don’s “old team” dies to fulfill his pact. The group laughs at her story – the Don especially – in his own denial since he has already made the pact a few years before.
SUSPENSE: FREDO gets a call from GRANDMOTHER SOFIA – warning him. He pays no credence. Will DON BRUNO come back?
INT. SALVATORE HOME – NIGHT
FREDO and CECILIA are in bed.
FREDO gets up to go to the bathroom. CECILIA grabs some cream out of her nightstand.
She feels something on my shoulder. She swats it away.
FEAR: She feels it again, but now there is pressure. She gets up to look in the large mirror.
SUSPENSE: It is a large handprint on her shoulder. She tries to rub it off. She SCRUBS harder and HARDER.
INT. OWNER’S BATHROOM – NIGHT
CECILIA comes in and grabs a washcloth. She puts soap on it. She tries to “wash” it.
It gets worse. FREDO comes up behind her, KISSING her neck.
She is standing in front of the mirror and he raises his head.
FREDO shakes his head.
SHOCK: CECILIA turns to show him and her face is melting off.
SURPRISE: FREDO falls back onto the tile floor.
RELEASE: She turns back around. All is normal.
INT. OWNER’S SUITE – MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
A storm has picked up. THUNDER CRACKS.
FEAR: FREDO sits up in bed. He hears a loud GUNSHOT.
On the bedside is his gun, it is smoking as if someone just shot it.
CECILIA is out cold.
APPREHENSION: FREDO trembles as he reaches his hand out to touch the gun.
TERROR: The image of his young son, Antonio appears at the foot of the bed. He is mangled, his skin half torn off. He is WEEPING.
Weeks pass – Fredo begins to take over for the Don
EXT. DESERT – MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
SCARE: FREDO and LUCA dig up DON BRUNO’S grave. A small desert tornado brushes by them and then envelopes both of them for several beats.
FREDO is standing near him, holding a flashlight.
LUCA rubs sands from his eyes and SHAKES his hair.
FREDO shakes the sand from his clothes, nothing can get in his way.
LUCA keeps digging. He hits the box. There’s a SCREAM in the distance.
FEAR: LUCA stops digging.
LUCA jumps into the large hole. He uses a crowbar to PRY open the small box on top of the coffin.
It is filled with cash.
RELEASE: He looks up at FREDO, they share a greedy smile and LAUGH.
LUCA pauses. FREDO is still holding the gun to his head.
LUCA finally PRIES the box open.
SHOCK: The DON’S body doesn’t look very decomposed.
FREDO holsters his gun. He jumps into the hole next to LUCA.
CREEPY MOMENT/MONSTER REVEAL: FREDO ignores LUCA and SPITS on DON BRUNO’S corpse. It looks like his eyes come to life.
INT. FREDO HOME – DAY
They fortify the family home. CECILIA is in denial.
DREAD: FREDO and LUCA are forced to watch the DON kill his oldest son, DANTE SALVATORE (Fredo’s Son). He is the next who would take over the Family.
HORROR: His Soul is sucked out and it’s the first portions of “skin” THE DON puts on his face
FREDO then tries to hide his twin teens from DON BRUNO.
SUSPENSE: They realize they are trapped. Due to water shortages, all state borders are closed and planes grounded. It becomes clear that it doesn’t matter where they go – Don Bruno can get to them.
FREDO takes over DON BRUNO’S office
INT. FREDO’S NEW OFFICE – DAY
RELEASE: Fredo enlists the help of his brother, LEONARDO, who lives out of state and left the family “business” to do other things. He agrees.
PANIC: DON BRUNO comes to FREDO in a dream promising him that he will see everyone he loves die before he dies his own horrible death.
HORROR: CECILIA gets tortured – DON BRUNO stalks her on the Las Vegas Strip tearing and slashing at her before cornering her and sucking her soul dry and breaking all of her bones. Takes some of her skin for himself.
RELEASE: Try to solve it – They go to Grandmother Sofia for answers.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
DON BRUNO stalks his victims – torturing them not knowing who is next
FREDO’S OFFICE – NIGHT
APPREHENSION: FREDO, LEONARDO, SASHA, AND BIANCA are all sitting in a circle. BIANCA pours some salt into a pile in the middle. She LIGHTS the circle around it. Will it work?
They are all sitting, legs crossed in a circle.
The wind is WAILING outside. THUNDER CRACKS.
FEAR: THUNDER CRACKS again.
FREDO tries to get up.
SURPRISE: LEONARDO is cut off. FREDO’S desk is thrown across the room.
SUSPENSE: Then, the walls start moving. There’s a LOUD BANGING.
FEAR: The picture of the whole family on the wall behind the desk is lifted, the glass is BROKEN. It is suspended mid-air.
HORROR: FREDO’S face getting scratched out from an unforeseen force. Then the rest of the family’s eyes bleed, one child’s head is cut off, and SASHA’S throat in the picture is cut.
DREAD: The picture starts to drip with real blood. The picture bursts into flames along with the desk. The three run out.
SUSPENSE: The spell didn’t work! How will they get away from Don Bruno?
They Flee – LEONARDO and BIANCA keep looking for answers. It is chaos.
FREDO’S HOME – DAY
RELEASE: The family is eating, trying to have some normalcy.
HORROR: ANTONIO SALVATORE (Fredo’s young twin boy) is killed. The Don makes Fredo watch again and to show the ferocity of THE DON’S anger. There are off-Screen, screams and begging to be spared – soul-sucking and bones crunching
RELEASE: LUCA bails – he goes to hide at his girlfriend’s house. He feels safe, for now.
Because he helped FREDO cover up the affair with CECILIA, although not in the bloodline – he is collateral damage and punctuates THE DON’S rage directed at FREDO’S actions
INT. FAMILY BUNKER/UNDER THE STRIP – Day
RELEASE: FREDO and his family head to the family bunker – it is extensive with many tunnels and rooms. They are able to get some rest.
HORROR: In the early morning hours, one of Fredo’s twins is savagely killed off-screen.
ACT III
INT. FAMILY BUNKER – NIGHT
FEAR: FREDO and his wife are fighting – she knows he did this – the affair, his narcissism, and power grab. FREDO fails to protect them or calm anyone down – everyone is scared.
HORROR: Fredo’s wife, SASHA is killed in front of him.
MONSTER REVEAL: DON BRUNO is patchworking the skin of his victims onto his face and arms. He is even gruesome and scarier now!
DREAD: FREDO is held against the wall and his eyes forcibly opened to watch DON BRUNO skin her alive and eat her flesh then cut a section and stick it on his neck.
PANIC: FREDO tries to appeal to DON BRUNO’S human side. He weeps and yells. He rushes away with CATERINA before DON BRUNO comes back.
INT. FAMILY BUNKER – LATER
RELEASE: Fredo and his only family member are left in the bunker, his daughter CATERINA. They are trying to hide from the DON. They think it is safe.
SURPRISE: LIGHTS FLASH and a SCREECH RINGS out. A light bulb POPS behind FREDO’S head. He jumps.
RELEASE: CATERINA looks behind him and it’s a bird. They both SIGH.
HORROR/SHOCK: DON BRUNO appears and SLITS CATERINA’S throat right in front of FREDO.
SURPRISE: The door SLAMS on its own and is locked.
FREDO crawls over to her body. She is still breathing, barely.
Blood is spurting all over his face and shirt. She coughs blood, for the last time.
DREAD: FREDO is frozen. DON BRUNO raises her body in the air. He PEELS FREDO’S eyelids open and forces them to stay that way. DON BRUNO crushes her bones to dust.
LEO and BIANCA join them in the BUNKER.
INT. FAMILY BUNKER – LATER
LEONARDO, BIANCA, AND FREDO are cornered in the bunker. Just as LEO thinks they should leave, the DON is back, all but full force!
SUSPENSE: FREDO tries to hide under a couple of the dead bodies, but DON BRUNO finds him.
HORROR: FREDO’S soul is sucked out and he is skinned and DON BRUNO takes his flesh to wear on his face. It’s the final blow to the bloodline
DREAD/HYSTERIA: DON BRUNO makes FREDO eat one of the pieces of flesh from his mangled/disgusting face. Then he skins him alive and eats his entrails.
RELEASE: LEONARDO and BIANCA try to devise one last attempt to escape. LEONARDO appeals to DON BRUNO’S human side – what’s left and strikes a deal.
FINALE: LEONARDO becomes the new Don – DON BRUNO’S debt is paid and he is at rest. LEONARDO and BIANCA leave the bunker. LEONARDO on the phone sets a meeting with his second cousin – ready to start giving souls for power and money.
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Carmen’s Scary as Hell Scene
What I learned doing this assignment was how effective each step was and how guided the scene so well. So much of HORROR is build-up and response in a cycle. This Horror Map did that well and made it more simple to have a guide to make an effective and Scary as Hell Scene!
INT. FAMILY BUNKER – LATER
Fredo and Caterina are in the bunker, the only ones in his bloodline left. They are trying to hide from the Don. They think it is safe now.
They hear MOANING.
FREDO
You’ve done enough!
LIGHTS FLASH and a SCREECH RINGS out. A light bulb POPS behind FREDO’S head. He jumps.
CATERINA looks behind him and it’s a bird. They both SIGH.
CATERINA
It’s a bird, Dad.
FREDO
Must’ve made it in when we first got here.
CATERINA
You should’ve seen your face.
They both CHUCKLE.
Then DON BRUNO appears and SLITS CATERINA’S throat right in front of FREDO.
FREDO
Oh, God, NO!!!
The door SLAMS on its own and is locked.
FREDO crawls over to her body. She is still breathing, barely.
FREDO
It’s okay, it’s okay, baby. I’m here.
Blood is spurting all over his face and shirt. She coughs blood, for the last time.
DON BRUNO
This was to be, Fredo.
FREDO is frozen. DON BRUNO raises her body in the air. He PEELS FREDO’S eyelids open and forces them to stay that way. DON BRUNO crushes her bones to dust.
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Carmen’s Scares, Releases, and Scary Moments
What I learned doing this assignment is the small nuisances mean a lot to build scares and keep the tension and the audience guessing. It was not as difficult as the more intense scenes – but building on those made this assignment fun to write!
EXT. DESERT – MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
FREDO and LUCA dig up DON BRUNO’S grave. A small desert tornado brushes by them and then envelopes both of them for several beats. (SCARE).
FREDO is standing near him, holding a flashlight.
LUCA rubs sands from his eyes and SHAKES his hair.
LUCA
What the hell was that?
FREDO shakes the sand from his clothes. But he is undeterred. Nothing can get in his way.
FREDO
Jesus, Luca, just get it open.
LUCA
I don’t like this.
FREDO
Just get it open. We need that cash.
Beat.
LUCA keeps digging. He hits the box. There’s a SCREAM in the distance.
LUCA stops digging.
LUCA
Why don’t you take a turn?
FREDO
Do you think he ever dug any kind of hole in his life, ever?
FREDO points to DON BRUNO’S grave.
LUCA
Well, you’re not him.
FREDO
Just get it open, Luca!
LUCA jumps into the large hole. He uses a crowbar to PRY open the small box on top of the coffin.
It is filled with cash.
He looks up at FREDO, they share a greedy smile and LAUGH. (RELEASE)
FREDO
Fuck me, there it is. That’s going to start my new casino.
Beat.
FREDO (CONTINUED)
Now, open his box.
LUCA looks up at him.
LUCA
Shit, no. You fucking open it if you want.
FREDO pulls his handgun and aims it at LUCA.
FREDO
I’m the new goddamn Don. Open the fucking box, Luca.
LUCA tries several times to PRY open the box.
LUCA
It’s stuck, man.
FREDO is still holding the gun.
FREDO
Fucking open it.
LUCA
We have the money, Fredo.
FREDO
Don, Don Fredo.
LUCA pauses. FREDO is still holding the gun to his head.
LUCA
Don Fredo.
LUCA finally PRIES the box open.
The DON’S body doesn’t look very decomposed.
LUCA
Shit, he’s, he’s.
FREDO
He’s nothing!
FREDO holsters his gun. He jumps into the hole next to LUCA.
FREDO
He’s nothing. He’s fucking dead. I just wanted to see his rotting flesh and bones.
LUCA
But, he’s not..
FREDO ignores LUCA and SPITS on DON BRUNO’S corpse. It looks like his eyes come to life. (CREEPY MOMENT)
GHOST VOICE OF DON BRUNO
FREDO! FREDO!
LUCA
How the fuck are we going to get out of this hole?
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Carmen’s Level Three Horror Emotions
What I learned doing this assignment was how intense this scene became once I added these elements and made sure I really adhered to the tenets of each emotion. This process is showing me how brutal and terrifying Don Bruno has become!
INT. FAMILY BUNKER – LATER
FREDO and CATERINA are hiding in a secret room.
FREDO
It’ll be okay.
CATERINA
But, Mom! Why Dad? What did you do?
FREDO
Oh, honey…. I
FREDO is cut off. CATERINA is suddenly pulled out of the hiding spot by one leg by an unforeseen force.
FREDO
Let her go!
She is thrown up against the wall. She is being strangled. Her eyes are popping out and FREDO is paralyzed, the DON using his supernatural powers to keep his head up and eyes watching.
Then the DON SUCKS out her soul and CRUSHES her bones. He uses a long sharp nail to cut some of her skin and it melts into his face. (ANGUISH).
FREDO
Nooo! Not my baby. Not her, NOT HER!!
INT. FAMILY BUNKER – LATER
FREDO is sitting next to CATERINA’S lifeless body, WEEPING.
Beat.
Then he gets up and paces the floor. He loads a couple of guns from a special safe nearby. He starts to shoot at the walls, the ceiling. (PANIC)
FREDO
Bring her back, god damn it, BRING HER BACK!!!
INT. FAMILY BUNKER – LATER
There is a LOUD BANGING at the door.
FREDO in a state of shock ignores it.
Beat.
LOUD BANGING CONTINUES.
FREDO
Go away! Leave me the fuck alone!
FREDO looks up at the outside cameras.
It is LEONARDO and BIANCA.
LEONARDO motions on the camera for him to open the door.
FREDO OPENS the door. They walk down two corridors to find FREDO.
LEONARDO and BIANCA see CATERINA. BIANCA drops to her knees. She is shaking as she grabs her bloodied body and holds her close. (HORROR)
BIANCA
Oh Caterina, oh baby. Oh God, no, no no!
BIANCA slumps into a corner.
LEONARDO
Fredo! Fredo.
FREDO is still in a daze.
LEONARDO
We need to go, brother. We have to go!
FREDO shakes his head.
FREDO
I’m staying. They’re all dead.
BIANCA
I know, but we need to leave!
BIANCA finds a sheet and puts it over Caterina.
LEONARDO
He will come back. He’s not done, you know. We have to get out of here.
FREDO
Leave me here with them. Where the hell would we go anyway? He can always get to us.
LEONARDO
Maybe not.
The lights go out. There’s a LOUD BANGING.
BIANCA
Let’s go!
FREDO goes his own way, LEONARDO turns on the flashlight on his phone.
LEONARDO
FREDO! FREDO!
They start running. There are endless hallways in the BUNKER.
The BANGING continues.
DON BRUNO
Fredo! Fredo! I will find you.
FREDO lights a match from a small matchbook in his pocket.
He goes into the room where SASHA was killed. He sets her up against him and gets into a ball. He blows out the match.
DON BRUNO
Fredo! Fredo! I hear you. I can hear your blood pumping.
LEONARDO and BIANCA find a bathroom. BIANCA hides in the cabinet.
BIANCA (WHISPERING)
Where are you going?
LEONARDO (WHISPERING)
I have to find Fredo
BIANCA (WHISPERING)
Please, please.
LEONARDO
I have to. I’ll come back.
FREDO is shaking and breathing heavily under SASHA’S body. The blood is running all over him.
DON BRUNO
I’m close, I smell your blood now!
FREDO loses control of his facilities.
DON BRUNO
Now, now, I’ve found you!
SASHA’S body is flipped off him and thrown to the other side of the room like a rag doll.
FREDO is lifted up as he still tries to fight. He kicks and flails around and is WAILING at the top of his lungs. (HYSTERIA).
DON BRUNO turns FREDO around to face him.
FREDO
Don, Don Bruno. I’m sorry, I’m sorry! It wasn’t, it wasn’t…
The DON makes FREDO eat one of the pieces of flesh from his mangled/disgusting face. Then he skins him alive and eats his entrails.
Then while FREDO still has a bit of life left, the DON sucks out FREDO’S remaining essence.
The DON is ultimately powerful now!
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Carmen’s Level 2 Horror Emotion Scene
What I learned doing this assignment was how important each action, word, and reaction is to ensure the most amount of fear, suspense, and dread. This one was more difficult and more nuanced than Level One. But, I like the intensity and impact of the scene!
FREDO’S OFFICE – NIGHT
FREDO, LEONARDO, SASHA, AND BIANCA are all sitting in a circle. BIANCA pours some salt into a pile in the middle. She LIGHTS the circle around it.
They are all sitting, legs crossed in a circle. A picture of DON BRUNO is in the middle with a cross hanging on it. (FEAR)
FREDO
This has to work! Are you doing it just like Grandmother Sofia told you?
BIANCA
Let the curse be lifted. Let the sins be forgiven. Let Don Bruno rest in peace.
Silence.
FREDO
Did it work?
BIANCA
Shhh….
FREDO
Did it?
Beat.
Beat.
LEONARDO
I think it did.
BIANCA
Shhh.
The wind is WAILING outside. THUNDER CRACKS.
FREDO
It worked, didn’t it?
THUNDER CRACKS again.
FREDO tries to get up.
BIANCA
No, don’t break the circle.
Beat.
Beat.
Beat.
(SUSPENSE)
FREDO
It worked! The Fucker is gone!
LEONARDO
Don’t, Fre….
LEONARDO is cut off. Fredo’s desk is thrown across the room.
FREDO
Now, what the fuck do we do? He’s going to come for us all, you know? The bloodline.
Then, the walls start moving. There’s a LOUD BANGING.
FREDO
Stop! Stop!
The picture of the whole family on the wall behind the desk is lifted, the glass is BROKEN. It is suspended mid-air.
FREDO’S face getting scratched out from an unforeseen force. Then the rest of the family’s eyes bleed, one child’s head is cut off, and SASHA’S throat in the picture is cut. The picture starts to drip with real blood. The picture bursts into flames along with the desk. The three run out of the office. (DREAD)
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Carmen’s Level 1 Horror Scene
What I learned doing this assignment was that having the specific elements to target made this scene – although short, effective and establishes horror and shows of the horrors that are to come. What we have done up to this point, made this specific assignment so much easier than starting from scratch!
INT. SALVATORE HOME – NIGHT
Fredo and Cecilia are in bed.
FREDO
Feels weird here.
CECILIA
I am not fucking in your bed.
FREDO
You did before.
CECILIA
He wasn’t gone then.
FREDO
They wouldn’t it be easier to do it at my place, then?
CECILIA
No. And, I don’t want to smell like her.
FREDO
You miss him, is that it?
CECILIA
What if I did?
Fredo gets up to go to the bathroom. Cecilia grabs some cream out of her nightstand.
She feels something on my shoulder. She swats it away. (Apprehension)
Beat.
She feels it again, but now there is pressure. She gets up to look in the large mirror.
There’s a large handprint on her shoulder. She tries to rub it off.
INT. OWNER’S BATHROOM – MOMENTS LATER
CECILIA comes in and grabs a washcloth. She puts soap on it. She tries to “wash” it. She SCRUBS harder and harder.
It gets worse. Fredo comes up behind her, KISSING her neck.
FREDO
Let’s go back to bed.
She looks at him, disgusted.
CECILIA
Don’t you see it?
She is standing in front of the mirror and he raises his head.
FREDO shakes his head.
CECILIA turns to show him and her face is melting off. (SURPRISE)
FREDO falls back onto the tile floor.
FREDO
Christ, Cecilia!
She turns back around. All is normal.
CECILIA
What? What?
FREDO stands up. He turns her around. She looks normal.
CECILIA
What did you see?
FREDO
Nothing, it must’ve been the light or something.
CECILIA
Well, you looked pretty damn scared.
FREDO
I’m sure I just need to sleep.
FREDO grabs her hand and they walk back to the bedroom.
INT. OWNER’S SUITE – MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
A storm has picked up.
THUNDER CRACKS.
FREDO sits up in bed. He hears a loud GUNSHOT.
On the bedside is his gun, it is smoking as if someone just shot it.
CECILIA is out cold.
FREDO trembles as he reaches his hand out to touch the gun.
The image of his young son, Antonio appears at the foot of the bed. He is mangled, his skin half torn off. He is WEEPING. (SHOCK)
ANTONIO
You did this, father. It has begun!
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Carmen’s Horror Outline Version – 1 – Assignment 9
What I learned doing this is how easy it was to change the labels and tags and directions into my first outline. I enjoyed this process to see how it’ll all fit, although it is the first draft – I love seeing the potential being revealed!
ACT 1
INT. DON BRUNO’S CASINO OFFICE – DAY
Don Bruno makes a deal with the devil for power and money.
INT. SALVATORE BEDROOM – NIGHT
The Don comes home to discover Fredo and Cecilia in bed.
He kicks Fredo out.
INT. FREDO’S CASINO OFFICE – DAY
Fredo and Luca conspired to kill the Don. He can take over as Don and he promised Luca the right hand.
Fredo is summoned to the Don’s office.
INT. DON BRUNO’S CASINO OFFICE – DAY
They argue Fredo pulls a gun. He shoots both bodyguards before they can kill him. He tells the Don that Cecelia begged for him and that the Don was no lover.
The Don curses him and threatens he will be back for vengeance!
Fredo and Luca clean out the safe.
EXT. DESERT – MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
Fredo and Luca bury the body and hide the money in a box in the same grave. Plans to come back after everything dies down.
Fredo tells the family that the Don is on a trip to the motherland. Suspicions arise – but no proof.
FLASHBACK: Don Bruno and Cecilia, the kids, and the whole family at an anniversary party for them. Dancing and having fun.
At the party Grandmother Sofia tells them of the Don “curse”. How every Don generation has made a deal with the Devil for wealth and power and subsequently the entire family or the Don’s “old team” dies to fulfill his pact. The group laughs at her story – the Don especially – in his own denial since he has already made the pact a few years before
Fredo gets a call from Grandmother Sofia – warning him. He pays no credence.
INT. SALVATORE HOME – NIGHT
Fredo and Cecelia are in bed. She asks about Don Bruno. Fredo said he did it for them. They argue – she knows it was for money and power.
Weeks pass – Fredo begins to take over for the Don
EXT. DESERT – MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
Fredo and Luca dig up the Don’s grave. The Don’s spirit is released. He is not yet strong enough to kill anyone, but they know he is coming for them. The Don is targeting the family!
They fortify the family home. Cecilia is in denial.
Fredo and Luca are forced to watch the Don kill his oldest son, Dante Salvatore (Fredo’s Son). He is the next who would take over the Family. His Soul is sucked out and it’s the first portions of “skin” the Don puts on his face
Fredo then tries to hide his twin teens from Don Bruno.
They realize they are trapped. Due to water shortages, all state borders are closed and planes grounded. It becomes clear that it doesn’t matter where they go – Don Bruno can get to them.
Fredo takes over Don Bruno’s office
INT. FREDO’S NEW OFFICE – DAY
Fredo enlists the help of his brother, Leonardo, who lives out of state and left the family “business” to do other things.
Don Bruno comes to Fredo in a dream promising him that he will see everyone he loves die before he dies his own horrible death.
Cecilia gets tortured – Don Bruno stalks her on the Las Vegas Strip tearing and slashing at her before cornering her and sucking her soul dry and breaking all of her bones. Takes some of her skin for himself
Try to solve it – They go to Grandmother Sofia for answers.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
The Don stalks his victims – torturing them not knowing who is next
Reaction:
The spell doesn’t work! They start to hear strange noises.
They Flee – Leonardo and Bianca keep looking for answers. It is chaos.
FREDO’S HOME – DAY
Antonio Salvatore (Fredo’s young twin boy) is killed. The Don makes Fredo watch again and to show the ferocity of the Don’s anger. There are off-Screen, screams and begging to be spared – soul-sucking and bones crunching
Luca bails – he goes to hide at his girlfriend’s house. Because he helped Fredo cover up the affair with Cecilia, although not in the bloodline – he is collateral damage and punctuates the Don’s rage directed at Fredo’s actions
INT. FAMILY BUNKER/UNDER THE STRIP – Day
Don Bruno follows Fredo and his family to a bunker. One of Fredo’s twins is savely killed.
ACT III
INT. BUNKER – NIGHT
Fredo and his wife are fighting – she knows he did this – the affair, his narcissism, and power grab. Fredo fails to protect them or calm anyone down – everyone is scared
Fredo’s wife, Sasha is killed in front of him. Don Bruno is patchworking the skin of his victims onto his face and arms. He is even scarier now!
Fredo is held against the wall and his eyes are forcibly opened to watch the Don skin her alive and each her flesh then cut a section and stick it on his neck.
Fredo tries to appeal to Don Bruno’s human side. He weeps and yells.
Don Bruno slits Fredo’s daughter’s throat- Caterina Salvatore (Fredo’s young twin daughter) for revenge – to further torture Fredo – makes him watch. Although off-screen the soul-sucking and bone-crunching are heard. He spares her by taking any skin.
LEO and BIANCA join them in the BUNKER
INT. FAMILY BUNKER – LATER
Leonardo and Bianca and Fredo are cornered in the bunker. Just as Leo thinks they should leave, the Don is back, all but full force!
Fredo tries to hide under a couple of dead bodies, but Don Bruno finds him. Fredo’s soul is sucked out and he is skinned and Don Bruno takes his flesh to wear on his face. It’s the final blow to the bloodline
Fredo is in such a state of dread and hysteria that he begs. The Don makes Fredo eat one of the pieces of flesh from his mangled/disgusting face. Then he skins him alive and eats his entrails.
Leonardo and Bianca are trapped in the bunker. Leonardo appeals to Don Bruno’s human side and strikes a deal.
FINALE: Leonardo becomes the new Don – Don Bruno’s debt is paid and he is at rest. Leonardo and Bianca leave the bunker. Leonardo on the phone setting a meeting with his second cousin – ready to start giving souls for power and money
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Carmen’s Character Journey Track w/ working outline
What I learned doing this assignment was that I could really focus on the characters, motivations, etc and how that will work into my outline. It is bringing it all into focus and I am loved finding out who everyone is! Working it properly into the outline was the biggest challenge, but I know the next assignment will help clear up and make it more precise.
ACT 1
Atmosphere of Evil established: Don Bruno makes a deal with the devil for power and money.
Horror Situation: Doing something forbidden – Fredo and Cecilia have an affair – The Don finds out.
FREDO SALVATORE
Role: Instigator/Newest Don
Traits: Power-hungry, selfish, desperate, impatient, cunning
Fears: Death, being alone
Wants/Needs: Wants to be respected and have power. Needs validation from younger women, other family members
Likability / Rooting factors: He is slimy, no one really likes him. He is always driven by power and money. But he does love his children.
How they react under stress: He cowers – cannot meet head-on. He always reverts to his right-hand man – Luca- to deal with problems.
Relationship with other characters: They put up with him as the new Don, but he has struggled to earn their respect.
CECILIA SALVATORE
Role: Helps to humanize the Don; shows his true pain at the betrayal
Traits: Self-serving, Insecure, Greedy, Vain, Brave, Fun-loving
Fears: Poverty, Va, Wants/Needs: Wants people to think she is a good mother, wants financial security/Needs a powerful man, attention from men
Likability / Rooting factors: She is a shallow, greedy woman , but likes a good time. She does care for Fredo, tries to be a good mother
How they react under stress: She never panics or is affected much; as long as she looks good.
Relationship with other characters: Because she is fun she has a lot of friends – but her closest family sees her ugly underbelly
Reaction – Fight: Fredo and Don Bruno argue – it escalates and Fredo shoots the Don and bury him in the desert south of town.
CECILIA’S CHARACTER JOURNEY
Denial: She doesn’t lay any credence to the Don coming back from the grave – she thinks he wouldn’t take the time or wonders “what’s in it for him”?
Their reaction at first horror: Blames too many booze or something else – does not lay credence to it
Relation to the group after the first horror: Thinks she needs to take everything more seriously and that the Don is after her too
How they fight back: She says “let him come for me, if he’s man enough”
Horror Situation: Impending doom: Fredo and Luca dig up the Don’s grave – looking for the money
LUCA COSTA
Role: Fredo’s cousin and sidekick
Traits: Slimy, loyal, short on intelligence, vulnerable,
Fears: Being irrelevant to the family
Wants/Needs: Wants to be a badass; Needs validation from the family – especially Fredo
Likability / Rooting factors: He doesn’t care who or if anyone likes him – he craves respect. Rooting factor is his loyalty, even though it gets him killed
How they react under stress: Tends to be dramatic and cannot remain calm
Relationship with other characters: Everyone think he is the biggest screw-up and that only Fredo would give him the time of day
Connect with the characters: Flashback to Don Bruno and Cecilia, the kids and the whole family at an anniversary party for them. Dancing and having fun.
The characters are warned not to do it: At the party Grandmother Sofia tells them of the Don “curse”. How every Don generation has made a deal with the Devil for wealth and power and subsequently the entire family or the Don’s “old team” dies to fulfill his pact
Denial of Horror: The group laughs at her story – the Don especially – in his own denial since he has already made the pact a few years before
Safety taken away: The Don is targeting the family!
Horror Situation: See another killed – Fredo and Luca forced to watch the Don kill his oldest son.
Character Death 1: Dante Salvatore (Fredo’s Son)
Why: He is the next who would take over the Family
How: His Soul is sucked out and it’s the first portions of “skin” the Don puts on his face
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>LUCA’S CHARACTER JOURNEY
Denial: He at first doesn’t believe in the supernatural, until they go back for the money
Their reaction at first horror: Becomes unglued, believe there is no way it is real – it must be a trick or a power play
Relation to group after first horror: They didn’t think much of him before and now looks more like a coward
How they fight back: Wants to get out of town, hide, deny what’s happening
End Point: He stuck by Fredo until it was too late.
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? The Don was willing to go outside of family bloodline if he deemed it necessary
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>FREDO’S CHARACTER JOURNEY:
Denial: Doesn’t believe in the supernatural; can’t face it
Their reaction at first horror: Scared, to protect himself and his family.
Relation to group after first horror: They look to him for answers; he has none
How they fight back: He reaches out to his brother, Leonardo for help. He knows Leonardo is smarter than him.
Reaction: Escape – Fredo tries to hide his twin teens from Don Bruno.
Horror Situation: Trapped – it becomes clear that it doesn’t matter where they go – Don Bruno can get to them.
Reaction – Fight: Fredo enlists the help of his brother, Leonardo, who lives out of state and left the family “business” to do other things.
LEONARDO SALVATORE
Role: Leader, eventual next Don –
Traits: Intelligent, fearless, clever, persistent
Fears: Losing moral compass getting involved in family business again; loosing his wife
Wants/Needs: Wants to maintain his current lifestyle – not get drug back in; Needs to eliminate the threat
Likability / Rooting factors: No nonsense, badass, charming but emotionally distant; Understands he has to put family first – even if he doesn’t want to be part of the life.
How they react under stress: Senses become sharper, acts with no hesitation headlong into danger
Relationship with other characters: The characters look up to him and respect him.
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>BIANCA SALVATORE
A. What is their Character Profile?
Role: To show another perspective on how women are in the mob; strong and not subservient or scared
Traits: Loyal, Strong, Intelligent,
Fears: Leonardo get drawn back into the family
Wants/Needs: Wants to support Leonardo regardless; Needs to know he won’t become a murderous man like the rest of the Salvatores
Likability / Rooting factors: She is kind and everyone likes her. She is analytical and strategic in everything she does
How they react under stress: Cool, calm and collected
Relationship with other characters: She is kind of like Leo’s second in command, doesn’t take crap from Fredo or anyone else in the family
Monster: The nature of the beast: Don Bruno comes to Fredo in a dream promising him that he will see everyone he loves die before he dies his own horrible death.
Horror Situation: Physically tortured – Cecilia gets tortured – he sucks her soul and uses some of her skin to put on him
Character Death 2: Cecilia Salvatore is killed (the Don’s wife)
Why: Revenge – she cheated on the Don with the nephew, Fredo
How: The Don, stalks her on the Las Vegas Strip tearing and slashing at her before cornering her and sucking her soul dry and breaking all of her bones. Takes some of her skin for himself
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>LEONARDO’S CHARACTER JOURNEY:
Denial: Calls Fredo a fool and that dead is dead
Their reaction at first horror: Able to pivot quickly and understands the threat
Relation to group after first horror: Looks to him to help solve how to get rid of the Don
How they fight back: Head-on – he makes the plans, he hides the women and children, his idea to go to the family bunker.
End Point: He sees that the only way to defeat the Don and save who is left of the family is to become the next Don – to accept the curse
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Bianca is the only main character left; she understands that the curse is real and what he must now do.
Reaction: Try to solve it – They go to Grandmother Sofia for answers.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: They try to drive to California, but the borders are closed due to water shortage. The UT border is closed as well.
Horror Situation: Mentally tortured – The Don stalks his victims – torturing them not knowing who is next
Reaction: They go back to the family home highrise and try Grandmother Sofia’s warding off spell.
Horror Situation: The spell doesn’t work! The start to hear strange noises.
BIANCA’S CHARACTER JOURNEY:
Denial: Lays no credence to Grandma Sofia’s story – she doubts anyone would want Fredo in charge/and or that he isn’t smart enough to devise any kind of plan
Their reaction at first horror: She is a realist – if she can see it – it’s real
Relation to group after first horror: Some think she can Leo should be in charge – the other woman look to her
How they fight back: Weapons and education about the curse
End Point: She decides to support Leo being the next Don – it’s better than death, and the money and power certainly doesn’t suck
What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? That the Don still did have a human side
Reaction: They Flee – Leonardo and Bianca keep looking for answers.
Character Death: Two more members of the family are brutally killed.
Character Death 3: Antonio Salvatore (Fredo’s young twin boy)
Why: Revenge – makes Fredo watch again and to show the ferocity of the Don’s anger
How: Off-Screen, screams and begging to be spared – soul-sucking and bones crunching
Character Death 4: Luca Costa – (Fredo’s cousin on his mother’s side) – his partner in crime
Why: He helped Fredo cover up the affair with Cecilia, although not in the bloodline – he is collateral damage and punctuates the Don’s rage directed at Fredo’s actions
Horror Situation: Don Bruno follows Fredo and his family to a bunker.
Character Death: One of Fredo’s twins is savagely killed.
ACT III
Horror Situation/Character Death: Fredo’s wife, Sasha is killed in front of him. Don Bruno is patchworking the skin of his victims onto his face and arms. He is even scarier now!
Character Death 5: Sasha – Fredo’s wife
Why: To ensure there will be no more Salvatore’s from Fredo’s bloodline
How: Fredo is held against the wall and eyes forcibly opened to watch the Don skin her alive and each her flesh then cut a section and stick it on his neck.
Reaction: Fredo tries to appeal to Don Bruno’s human side. He weeps and yells.
Character Death: Don Bruno slits Fredo’s daughter’s throat.
Character Death 6: Caterina Salvatore (Fredo’s young twin daughter)
Why: Revenge – to further torture Fredo – makes him watch
How: Although off-screen the soul sucking and bone crunching are heard. He spares her taking any skin
Horror Situation: Leonardo and Bianca and Fredo are cornered.
Reaction: Hide: Fredo tries to hide under a couple of the dead bodies, but Don Bruno finds him.
Character Death: Fredo’s soul is sucked out and he is skinned and Don Bruno takes his flesh to wear on his face.
Character Death 7: Fredo
Why: Revenge – the final blow to the bloodline
How: Fredo is in such a state of dread and hysteria that he begs. The Don makes Fredo eat one of the pieces of flesh from his mangled/disgusting face. Then he skins him alive and eats his entrails.
Horror Situation: Leonardo and Bianca are trapped in the bunker
Reaction: Leonardo appeals to Don Bruno’s human side and strikes a deal.
FINALE: Leonardo becomes the new Don – Don Bruno’s debt is paid and he is at rest. Leonardo and Bianca leave the bunker. Leonardo on the phone setting a meeting with his second cousin – ready to start giving souls for power and money
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Assignment 7 – Carmen’s Monster Reveal Track
What I learned doing this assignment was that even though my monster is revealed and we know his motive early on, he can build the tension, by stalking and creating terror, questions, and chaos in his wake. This exercise helped me examine how he builds his strength, but also how to keep the audience engaged and scared.
ASSIGNMENT 2
A. Who is your monster and what is their terror?
My Monster is motivated by good old-fashioned revenge! He couldn’t believe anyone in his family would betray him, especially after his deal with the Devil years earlier – that deal of power and money made him feel invincible.
Powers: The power to go anywhere to seek revenge, is paranormal so can travel and appear and disappear.
Limitations: Owes the Devil his due – while still wanting to cause chaos, pain, terror, dread, and havoc. His revenge will take time.
Weaknesses: He has to pay his debt or he will perish in hell… He has to have human souls and physical matter to complete his revenge mission.
Plan/Purpose/Appetite: To seek revenge for betrayal from his nephew and wife and also to pay his debt to the Devil – which is souls
ACT 1 – Establishing the Horror
Atmosphere of Evil established: Don Bruno makes a deal with the devil for power and money.
Horror Situation: Doing something forbidden – Fredo and Cecilia have an affair – The Don finds out.
Reaction – Fight: Fredo and Don Bruno argue – it escalates and Fredo shoots the Don and bury him in the desert south of town.
MONSTER REVEAL: The Don swears vengeance!
DEMAND: Will he really come back from the grave?
Horror Situation: Impending doom: Fredo and Luca dig up the Don’s grave – looking for the money
Connect with the characters: Flashback to Don Bruno and Cecilia, the kids and the whole family at an anniversary party for them. Dancing and having fun.
The characters are warned not to do it: At the party Grandmother Sofia tells them of the Don “curse”. How every Don generation has made a deal with the Devil for wealth and power and subsequently the entire family or the Don’s “old team” dies to fulfill his pact.
MONSTER FORESHADOWING: Did Don Bruno make the same pact with the Devil?
DEMAND: Is Grandmother Sofia’s story true? Some evidence exists
Denial of Horror: The group laughs at her story – the Don especially – in his own denial since he has already made the pact a few years before
Safety taken away: The Don is targeting the family!
Horror Situation: See another killed – Fredo is forced to watch the Don kill his oldest son.
Character Death 1: Dante Salvatore (Fredo’s Son)
Why: He is the next who would take over the Family
How: His Soul is sucked out and it’s the first portions of “skin” the Don puts on his face
MONSTER REVEAL: 1ST ACT TURNING POINT: Fredo watched a semblance of the Don kill his son – the curse is true!
DEMAND: All bets are off when he is willing to kill a kid – terror is established – chaos ensues
Reaction: Escape – Fredo tries to hide his twin teens from Don Bruno.
Horror Situation: Trapped – it becomes clear that it doesn’t matter where they go – Don Bruno can get to them.
Reaction – Fight: Fredo enlists the help of his brother, Leonardo, who lives out of state and left the family “business” to do other things.
Monster: The nature of the beast: Don Bruno comes to Fredo in a dream promising him that he will see everyone he loves die before he dies his own horrible death.
Horror Situation: Physically tortured – Cecilia gets tortured – he sucks her soul and uses some of her skin to put on him
Character Death 2: Cecilia Salvatore is killed (the Don’s wife)
Why: Revenge – she cheated on the Don with the nephew, Fredo
How: The Don, stalks her on the Las Vegas Strip tearing and slashing at her before cornering her and sucking her soul dry and breaking all of her bones. Takes some of her skin for himself
Reaction: Try to solve it – They go to Grandmother Sofia for answers.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: They try to drive to California, but the borders are closed due to water shortage. The UT border is closed as well.
Horror Situation: Mentally tortured – The Don stalks his victims – torturing them not knowing who is next.
MONSTER REVEAL: MONSTER IS PRESENT, BUT HIDDEN: The Don is rejuvenated with every kill – but it takes time in between.
DEMAND: When will he come back? Can they hide? Who’s next?
Reaction: They go back to the family home highrise and try Grandmother Sofia’s warding off spell.
Horror Situation: The spell doesn’t work! The start to hear strange noises
Reaction: They Flee – Leonardo and Bianca keep looking for answers.
MONSTER REVEAL: MONSTER IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT: Grandmother Sofia’s spell didn’t work – now what?!
DEMAND: Is the Don invincible?
Character Death: Two more members of the family are brutally killed.
Character Death 3: Antonio Salvatore (Fredo’s young twin boy)
Why: Revenge – makes Fredo watch again and to show the ferocity of the Don’s anger
How: Off-Screen, screams and begging to be spared – soul sucking and bones crunching
Character Death 4: Luca Costa – (Fredo’s cousin on his mother’s side) – his partner in crime
Why: He helped Fredo cover up the affair with Cecilia, although not in the bloodline – he is collateral damage and punctuates the Don’s rage directed at Fredo’s actions
Horror Situation: Don Bruno follows Fredo and his family to a bunker.
Character Death: One of Fredo’s twins is savely killed.
MONSTER REVEAL: MONSTER PURSUING/ ATTACKING CHARACTERS, DELIVERING CLUES WITH EACH ATTACK: The Don takes pieces of each victim, leaving clues that he needs their physical matter and watched him sucks souls – needs their souls to keep his vengeful pursuit going!
DEMAND: What is the plan? Can they stop him before he rejuvenates? Maybe appeal to his human side – what’s left of it?
ACT III
Horror Situation/Character Death: Fredo’s wife, Sasha is killed in front of him. Don Bruno is patchworking the skin of his victims onto his face and arms. He is even scarier now!
Character Death 5: Sasha – Fredo’s wife
Why: To ensure there will be no more Salvatore’s from Fredo’s bloodline
How: Fredo is held against the wall and eyes forcibly opened to watch the Don skin her alive and each her flesh then cut a section and stick it on his neck.
Reaction: Fredo tries to appeal to Don Bruno’s human side. He weeps and yells.
Character Death: Don Bruno slits Fredo’s daughter’s throat.
Character Death 6: Caterina Salvatore (Fredo’s young twin daughter)
Why: Revenge – to further torture Fredo – makes him watch
How: Although off-screen the soul-sucking and bone-crunching are heard. He spares her taking any skin
Horror Situation: Leonardo and Bianca and Fredo are cornered.
Reaction: Hide: Fredo tries to hide under a couple of the dead bodies, but Don Bruno finds him.
Character Death: Fredo’s soul is sucked out and he is skinned and Don Bruno takes his flesh to wear on his face.
Character Death 7: Fredo
Why: Revenge – the final blow to the bloodline
How: Fredo is in such a state of dread and hysteria that he begs. The Don makes Fredo eat one of the pieces of flesh from his mangled/disgusting face. Then he skins him alive and eats his entrails.
Horror Situation: Leonardo and Bianca are trapped in the bunker
Reaction: Leonardo appeals to Don Bruno’s human side and strikes a deal.
MONSTER REVEAL: CHARACTERS SOLVE THE PUZZLE AND FIGHT BACK, APPARENTLY KILLING THE MONSTER: Leonardo and Bianca are spared because he wasn’t involved in the betrayal can appeal to the Don’s human side and they strike a deal!
DEMAND: What will happen to the Don, to them?
MONSTER RESOLUTION: SURVIVORS LIVE… BUT THE MONSTER IS SOMEHOW STILL ALIVE FOR THE SEQUEL
Leonardo becomes the new Don – Don Bruno’s debt is paid and he is at rest. Leonardo and Bianca leave the bunker. Leonardo on the phone setting a meeting with his second cousin – ready to start giving souls for power and money!
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Carmen’s Character Death Track
ASSIGNMENT 6
What I learned from this assignment was how much of the Hows and Whys were already built into my outline! But it was fun to make the order important so the max amount of angst, dread, and hysteria is delivered. This aspect of my concept/outline/story is very important to underline the Don’s rage and his ability to inflict terror and pain.
Character Death 1: Dante Salvatore is killed (Fredo’s Son)
Why: He is the next who would take over the Family
How: His Soul is sucked out and it’s the first portions of “skin” the Don puts on his face
Character Death 2: Cecilia Salvatore is killed (the Don’s wife)
Why: Revenge – she cheated on the Don with the nephew, Fredo
How: The Don, stalks her on the Las Vegas Strip tearing and slashing at her before cornering her and sucking her soul dry and breaking all of her bones. Takes some of her skin for himself
Character Death 3: Antonia Salvatore (Fredo’s young twin boy)
Why: Revenge – makes Fredo watch again and to show the ferocity of the Don’s anger
How: Off-Screen, screams and begging to be spared – soul-sucking and bones crunching
Character Death 4: Luca Costa – Fredo’s cousin on his mother’s side – his partner in crime
Why: He helped Fredo cover up the affair with Cecilia, although not in the bloodline – he is collateral damage and punctuates the Don’s rage directed at Fredo’s actions
Character Death 5: Sasha Salvatore – (Fredo’s wife)
Why: To ensure there will be no more Salvatore’s from Fredo’s bloodline
How: Fredo is held against the wall and eyes forcibly opened to watch the Don skin her alive and each her flesh then cut a section and stick it on his neck.
Character Death 6: Caterina Salvatore – (Fredo’s young twin daughter)
Why: Revenge – to further torture Fredo – makes him watch
How: Although off-screen the soul-sucking and bone-crunching are heard. He spares her taking any skin
Character Death 7: Fredo Salvatore
Why: Revenge – the final blow to the bloodline
How: Fredo is in such a state of dread and hysteria that he begs. The Don makes Fredo eat one of the pieces of flesh from his mangled/disgusting face. Then he skins him alive and eats his entrails.
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Carmen’s Horror Situation Track
What I learned doing this assignment was that I need to keep coming up with scary horror situations and amp up what my first outline offers – as this assignment really took a lot of thought! I also learned that I have a good base for my outline and adding these specifics is creating the story and characters and their arcs as I do it!
ACT 1
Atmosphere of Evil established: Don Bruno makes a deal with the devil for power and money.
Horror Situation: Doing something forbidden – Fredo and Cecilia have an affair – The Don finds out.
Reaction – Fight: Fredo and Don Bruno argue – it escalates and Fredo shoots the Don and buries him in the desert south of town.
Horror Situation: Impending doom: # 2 Fredo and Luca dig up the Don’s grave – looking for the money
Connect with the characters: Flashback to Don Bruno and Cecilia, the kids, and the whole family at an anniversary party for them. Dancing and having fun.
The characters are warned not to do it: At the party Grandmother Sofia tells them of the Don “curse”. How every Don generation has made a deal with the Devil for wealth and power and subsequently the entire family or the Don’s “old team” dies to fulfill his pact
Denial of Horror: The group laughs at her story – the Don especially – in his own denial since he has already made the pact a few years before
Safety taken away: The Don is targeting the family!
Horror Situation: See another killed – Fredo is forced to watch the Don kill his oldest son.
Reaction: Escape – Fredo tries to hide his twin teens from Don Bruno.
Horror Situation: Trapped – it becomes clear that it doesn’t matter where they go – Don Bruno can get to them.
Reaction – Fight: Fredo enlists the help of his brother, Leonardo, who lives out of state and left the family “business” to do other things.
Monster: The nature of the beast: Don Bruno comes to Fredo in a dream promising him that he will see everyone he loves die before he dies his own horrible death.
Horror Situation: Physically tortured – Cecilia gets tortured – he sucks her soul and uses some of her skin to put on him
Reaction: Try to solve it – They go to Grandmother Sofia for answers.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: They try to drive to California, but the borders are closed due to a water shortage. The UT border is closed as well.
Horror Situation: Mentally tortured – The Don stalks his victims – torturing them not knowing who is next
Reaction: They go back to the family home highrise and try grandmother Sofia’s warding off the spell.
Horror Situation: The spell doesn’t work! They start to hear strange noises
Reaction: They Flee – Leonardo and Bianca keep looking for answers.
Character Death: Two more members of the family are brutally killed.
Horror Situation: Don Bruno follows Fredo and his family to a bunker.
Character Death: One of Fredo’s twins is savagely killed.
ACT III
Horror Situation/Character Death: Fredo’s wife, Sasha is killed in front of him. Don Bruno is patchworking the skin of his victims onto his face and arms. He is even scarier now!
Reaction: Fredo tries to appeal to Don Bruno’s human side. He weeps and yells.
Character Death: Don Bruno slits Fredo’s daughter’s throat.
Horror Situation: Leonardo and Bianca and Fredo are cornered.
Reaction: Hide: Fredo tries to hide under a couple of the dead bodies, but Don Bruno finds him.
Character Death: Fredo’s soul is sucked out and he is skinned and Don Bruno takes his flesh to wear on his face.
Horror Situation: Leonardo and Bianca are trapped in the bunker
Reaction: Leonardo appeals to Don Bruno’s human side and strikes a deal.
FINALE: Leonardo becomes the new Don – Don Bruno’s debt is paid and he is at rest. Leonardo and Bianca leave the bunker. Leonardo on the phone setting a meeting with his second cousin – ready to start giving souls for power and money
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Carmen’s Horror Plot
What I learned doing this assignment is that my plot revealed through the characters and their actions made this assignment not as daunting as I first thought. I liked figuring out how it would play out and came up with an ending I had not anticipated! It was exciting to get this first outline completed.
Create your plot.
1. Knowing your concept, fill in one or two sentences for each of the plot points.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil established: The first scene – Don Bruno Salvatore is making a pact with the Devil. The former Don and his family are wiped out to make room for the new Don. Urban Legend of sorts in Italian Lore
Connect with the characters: Don Salvatore is shown as a loving husband and father. He puts family first, his nephew, Fredo is his right-hand man
The characters are warned not to do it: Fredo’s cousin on his mother’s side, Luca Costa – tells him after Fredo shoots the Don not to disturb the grave – it is bad juju. Tells him a story his mother told him about the Devil and the Mob
Denial of Horror: Bianca doesn’t believe the Don can come back, she convinces Fredo to continue running the family.
Safety taken away: The Don comes back, he is supernatural – he has no boundaries.
Monster: The nature of the beast: – The Don kills Fredo’s oldest son – showing no one is off-limits. But it takes time in between kills to regenerate again.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: Leonardo discovers who and why the Don is after the bloodline. He is drawn into the scenario – he was not part of the “family business”
One of us killed: Cecilia is killed – gruesome and personal
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Full pursuit by the killer: The ghost Don kills women and children – anyone in the bloodline.
Terrorized: He stalks and plays with his victims – until he delivers the final blow! Always gruesome
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the death: Fredo tries to go up against the Don – and he loses. Leonardo tries to appeal to his human side.
Hysteria: Leonardo and Bianca discover that the Don killed children in the family
The thrilling escape from death – Leonardo makes a deal with the Don to continue his work for the Devil. To let him Rest in Peace.
Death returns to take one or more – Luca thinks he is safe because he is not part of the Salvatore bloodline – but he is wrong – he is a conspirator and the Don executes the knarly kill!
Resolution – Leonardo takes over for the Don, making his own deal with the Devil and continuing as the next Don with his own power and money with Bianca at his side.
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Carmen’s Characters for Horror (Survivors and Victims)
What I learned doing this assignment was really thinking about each character and how they fit into the horror/dread/terror aspect of the script. I also learned how to consider each one’s motives and why they need to die or survive!
1. Tell us your Concept and the Group you have chosen.
CONCEPT: The biggest Mob Boss in Vegas is double-crossed by his nephew. But he still owes the Devil souls as payment for his wealth and power. When the nephew digs him up – he brings him back starting him on a murderous rampage for revenge.
The group I have chosen is social- Mostly Family
2. Tell us the Dying Pattern of this movie.
The Dying Pattern is Pattern A – a group of family members/bloodline all die – one or two survive
3. Give us an Identity and a sentence for each character that makes up your group.
Leader: Leonardo Salvatore – He is Fredo’s brother and the one who tries to figure out how to stop the Don
Rescuer:
Innocent: Fredo’s twin teenage son (Dante) and daughter (Caterina) – they have nothing to do with anything save they are part of the bloodline
Out of control / Obnoxious: Cecilia Salvatore was married to the Don. She can’t be trusted and can’t be calmed down once she knows he is gunning for her.
Red Herring:
Love Interest or lovers:
Complainer
Rebel / Rule Breaker
Introvert / Loner
Moral One: Bianca Salvatore – Leonardo’s wife. She keeps him grounded and married into the family. She keeps Leonardo in check.
Monster Bait
The Carrier: The one who brings the horror to the group: Fredo Salvatore. He has an affair with Ceciia Salvatore (the Don’s wife) – he also is the one who shoots the Don in the back and buries him in the desert with money from a heist. It’s his actions that bring the Don back to life.
Sacrificial Lamb: Fred Lazerus – He was Don’s most trusted Pit Boss and friend. He tries to protect Cecilia – with whom he also had an affair with. He is one of the first to go and in one of the most brutal ways
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Carmen’s Terrifying Monster.
What I learned from this assignment is I need to keep fine-tuning my monster/villain. I also learned how complex he needs to be and keep honing in on his originality and what truly makes him scary!
1. Tell us what or who your monster is.
My monster is the former biggest Mob Boss in Vegas. His nephew kills him and he comes back to seek revenge.
Their Terror: Relentlessly and mercilessly kills until everyone in his bloodline is dead! There is no escape, he is paranormal – he can go anywhere. He sucks their souls, cracks their bones, and uses their tissue, blood and organs to eat and assimilate into himself.
Their Mystery: How can he be stopped before he kills everyone in his family/bloodline
Their Fear Provoking Appearance: He looks a bit rotted after his nephew digs him up to retrieve the money buried with him – but as he kills he uses the blood, tissues, skins, etc., to add to his face and drain energy from his victims. Leaving him grotesque, disfigured, and terrifying!
Their Rules: He only kills in his bloodline – feeling everyone beginning with the nephew betrayed him – this includes women and children. He had a pact with the Devil for his power and money – and he cannot stop killing or he will go to hell himself.
Their Mythology: He made a pact with the Devil when he first came to Vegas, poor. He offered up souls as payment. Every ten years he would have almost his entire “workforce” killed to satisfy the deal and hire new ones – except family. Once his nephew and others betray him – all bets are off. Once his grave is disturbed the deal is “reactivated” and he “kills” two birds with one stone – killing for revenge and as payment.
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Carmen Mosley
Candyman (2021) Horror Conventions
What I learned from this assignment was how particular situations filled with tension and anticipation really fueled Candyman. While there were bloody deaths, the building tension is what made this a great horror example. I chose this movie because 1 – I hadn’t seen it yet and 2 – because it deals with the idea of the supernatural revenge horror mini-subgenre – which is the subgenre for my new concept.
Title / Concept: Candyman (2021). An urban legend of a black man wrongly accused of harming a little white girl comes to life goes on a murderous rampage
Terrorize The Characters: Candyman stalks his prey and plays tricks on their mind – only showing himself in the mirror
Isolation: Once summoned he can reach anyone, anywhere
Death: He kills with gleeful abandon! He uses his hooked hand to rip into them, their throat, their back, leaving serious blood in his wake.
Monster/Villain: A supernatural being with a new twist for Jordan’s Peele’s vision – Candyman is replaced every generation. He cannot be killed or stopped. He is a supernatural entity
High Tension: He comes at people who least expect it. You know he is coming but you don’t know when. He releases his carnage once his name has been said 5 times in a mirror.
Departure from Reality: In real life, urban legends are not real and you cannot summon a supernatural being from a mirror who then releases their wrath.
Moral Statement: It began in the 1890s – black men being wrongfully killed by white men and their mobs- starting with the original Candyman and continues through the decades. The gentrification of Cabrini Green in Chicago and forcing black people from their homes keeps Candyman’s legend alive. He is a judge, jury, and executioner!
3. Anything else you’d like to say about what made this movie a great horror film? I liked the twist ending and keeping continuity from the first Candyman and having the baby Helen saved become this generation’s Candyman. The timeliness of the subject matter is sadly still relevant.
4. With your concept, fill in each of these Conventions for your story.
MY CONCEPT HORROR CONVENTIONS
Concept: The right-hand man and nephew of the most prolific Vegas mob boss, Don Salvatore, seeks revenge from the grave after he is betrayed. But, the mob boss owes the Devil a debt and he must pay!
Terrorize The Characters: Don Salvatore becomes an unstoppable force. He targets anyone who has wronged him for their souls – his payment to the Devil for his wealth and power. The targets know who they are and it’s just a matter of time.
Isolation: The Las Vegas valley is trapped on the north end – an earthquake has shut off the Virgin River Valley and California has shut all its borders. Not only can Don Salvatore get his victims there is no escape. Because he is supernatural – he can go anywhere – there is no hiding from him.
Death: He sucks his victim’s souls – crushing their bones and skull and leaks out all their bodily fluids to consume.
Monster/Villain: The vengeful reincarnation of Don Salvatore hell-bent on paying revenge and paying his debt to the Devil.
High Tension: Relentless killer. No escape. The town is in hysteria from being trapped. The only water left is what is already there. This situation amps up the tension by adding another layer of dread for the characters.
Departure from Reality: In real life, no supernatural revenge killer exists and the Las Vegas valley is in hysteria from limited water.
Moral Statement: Be careful who you wrong! There are consequences for turning on the family.
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Carmen (Camie) Mosley
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.
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Hello! My name is Carmen Mosley, usually go by Camie.
I have written 5 scripts, started a 6th – but decided to pivot and take this class again as a refresh. I would like to complete this script by the end of the year.
I hope to refine and fine-tune my horror scriptwriting. With all the elevated horror in the market – it is an exciting time to be a horror writer and I always aim to do my best to elevate, entertain, frighten, and promote terror!
Usually what is unusual or strange about me is that I am a Horror Writer (I am a mother with two grown children and a teen at home). I quit corporate America last year and started my own production company in January and I am working on co-producing a film – from a Paid Writing assignment with my Mentor.
I am very excited to embark on this Horror journey with all of you!