Catherine Cole
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Assignment 1/2: The Three Circles of Characters
November 17, 2021
What I learned during this assignment: Catching the similar traits each of the three sets of characters share with one another and how they create the pyramid foundation for the series, main characters at the top, then connected, then environment.
‘Empire’ Three Circles of Characters:
Watch the next episode of your Example Show to see how the characters fit into these three circles:
Main Circle:
Lucious Lyon- Street raised thug turned genius business entrepreneur
Cookie Lyon- Loyal, ambitious street thug, originally naive, now making up for lost time.Connected Circle:
1) Andre Lyon- No soul of his own, trying to please everyone.
2) Jamaal Lyon- Fighting for his identity in his own fashion
3) Hakeem Lyon- Entitled second generation wealthy punk, confused by his talent.
Environment Circle:
Lucious Lyon’s physician- The bad news delivery mechanism for Lucious
Kid Fo-Fo – Artist who creates revenue and controversy simultaneously
Anika- Lucious loyal lover, tagging onto Lucious IPO journey.4) Tiana- Up and comer star with mixed up morals
5) Becky- Loyal, empathetic, thick skinned, trust worthy assistant to Lucious Lyon
6) Vernon Turner – Male loyal, thick skinned, rational assistant to Lucious Lyon
7) Rhonda Lyon – Independently successful, loyal to husband Andre Lyon
8) Porsha- Loopy, do all assistant to Cookie Lyon
9) Dora- Latest boy toy lover to Jamaal Lyon
10) Bunkie- Life long alternatively loyal then backstabbing gofer for Lucious Lyon
11) Agent Carter- Law enforcement disrupter to Cookie Lyon’s goals
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Empire- Lesson One
What I learned during this assignment is: Power, greed and family have deep roots and ties, even when the family seemingly breaks apart.
Light Outline: The story of a broken, fragmented family who seeks their own piece of the business when the patriarch entrepreneur learns he has a terminal disease.
1) Big Picture Hooks: Distinct personality differences yet same goals. Family comes from desperately poor circumstances. Each member is suspicious of one another.
2)Main character (Lucious) knows he has limited time line to choose the right person to take over the business
3) Big Picture Hook of ‘Empire’ : Each main character embarking on their own journey to grab their piece of the business in the manner they want to obtain it.
4) Amazing and Intriguing Character(s) : Lucious and Cookie. Based on the pilot I want to know where they come from, how they got together and where that will take them now.
5/6) Empathy/Distress: Lucious having limited time to choose a leader for the business he built from the ground up. What situation causes us to feel both empathy and distress for this character? Lucious’ learning he has ALS. Cookie having endured 17 years incarcerated.
7) Layers/Open Loops: How Lucious and Cookie got together, what drew them to one
another in the beginning? How did they become ruthless in realizing their goals?
8) Ask this: Who will take over Lucious’ Empire business?
9) Inviting Obsession: How will this family make the business go forward or how will the
business go down in flames?
10) Ask this: How does this pilot create the need to see every single episode?
Lucious, ex-wife Cookie (mother of their three sons) view their roles in the business
differently. All want power in their own way. Lucious’ view conflicts with his three
sons, yet he has little time to preserve his legacy.
Catherine Cole Nov. 16, 2021
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Catherine Cole
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.
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Hello, I’m Catherine Cole. I have written two scripts and hope to enhance them further with the tools this class will provide. My goal is to create a lengthy journey with serial type journey of compelling characters immersed in their environment.
I am a retired commercial lender, private investor, published writer and compete in national level equestrian events.
Catherine Cole