[Chris Spizuoco]

From a character development through conflict POV the conflict between the Terminator, Kyle Reese, and Sarah Connor provides opportunities for character development. Showcasing the characters’ reactions, choices, and growth in the face of adversity can deepen their complexity and make them more relatable to readers.

[Chris Spizuoco]

The most amazing element was a young actor’s ability to write and act in an intellectual brilliance, emotional depth, and personal growth that makes his character so compelling.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Hi! I’ve been taking Hal’s classes for over a decade. My one question: @Sandeep, are you an AI bot that I’ve already added as my protagonist/antagonist for upcoming screenplay?

• This reply was modified 2 years ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

I agree to the terms of this release form.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Unique Action!

What I learned is to think outside the “box” (pun intended) for my finale big action scene inside a big box store

A. What if…?

While the Villain is using our Hero’s PTSD against him, our hero leverages his allies to help expose the Villain’s own psychopath “playbook” rules against him

B. Take to an extreme.

Weapon: the grand finale is in a Home Depot like warehouse where the are potential weapons on every aisle.

Mission: it looks like potentially no one will escape the box store alive.

C. Specific to character or environment.

Environment: A Home Depot like box store filled with mercenary henchmen and our hero with one big bullseye on his back.

D. Shocking or Surprising.

Environment: our hero takes them all down in a unique way no one has ever witnessed.

E. Go opposite.

Opposite: while all the potential hardware pieces seem obvious as potential weapons, there is a larger weapon no one else has thought of except…

Villain: anticipates the hero’s move and narrowly escapes the catastrophe.

F. What haven’t we seen?

Mission: this type of action sequence in big box store.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s level 3 Action Emotions

What I learned is using these techniques consistently should significantly raise the level of interest in our stories.

EXT. WOODS – DAY

Our Hero stands several paces behind a small forest opening with hands up. He’s clearly surrounded and surrendering to 2 MERCENARY HENCHMEN. They methodically move toward him in military fashion. As they close the gap our Hero DIVE ROLLS behind a larger boulder and they give chase…the forest floor CRASHES beneath them. It’s the same well opening that our Hero had fallen in!

Mercenary 1 falls to the bottom with a THUD while the second manages to grab the same root that saved our hero. As the Mercenary pulls himself to safety our hero lunges toward him, snatches his compact semi-auto sniper rifle and KICKS him down the hole. His fall is softened by the first Mercenary, but it’s still a sickening THUD.

Our Hero quickly spots more Henchmen in pursuit through the rifle scope and turns in retreat.

EXT. EDGE OF THE WOODS – CONTINUOUS

In full parkour fashion, our Hero is now hotly chased by 3 of the Henchmen. He leaps boulders, flies over brush, and dodges trees with amazing agility. The Henchmen follow with equal skill. Our hero ducks back near the edge of the woods near a 30 foot vertical rock wall ledge. On top of the rock is SNIPER HENCHMAN and he’s got our hero is his sights.

Hero slides beneath a thick fallen pine and catches a reflection off the Sniper’s scope. They both take aim at each other….CRACK! Sniper falls within a few feet of 2 Henchmen at the foot of the ledge; they quickly move for cover behind trees.

One tree barely provides cover and CRACK! Our hero’s shot SPLINTERS through the narrow spruce and DROPS the Henchman.

Behind our Hero we see a dozen more well armed MERCENARIES flanking his position from below.

The Henchman by the ledge is well covered behind a hardwood. Hero shifts his site on the ledge and…CRACK. The rock SHATTERS; as rock shrapnel blinds the Henchmen, he takes a knee, clearing his eyes. Our Hero finished him off CRACK, CRACK, with precision shots.

He’s back on the run with a small ARMY hot on his trail.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Level 2 Action Emotions

What I’m learning is key structure and techniques required for any decent action/thriller.

Surprise: the helicopter swoops into the scene.

Shock: sees the Villain then falling into an abandoned well.

Suspense: last second grab; barely about to climb back to safety.

EXT. SLOPE SIDE WOODS – DAY

Our Hero stops running and doubles over; catching his breath. All is quiet. He takes off uphill following a stream to hide his scent. He spots a clearing ahead and sprints towards it, hoping for a hiding spot.

Suddenly, a helicopter BLADES WHIRR above him, and he drops to the ground, flattening himself against the earth. The helicopter circles overhead, searching…Hero waits until the helicopter is out of sight, then takes off again towards the woods.

He breaks off onto a flat open area, carefully avoiding twigs and leaves; stops to listen for any sounds of pursuit, but just the sound of a RUSHING stream. he spots movement ahead, and ducks behind a large rock; peeks out and sees the Villain, scanning the area with binoculars.

Hero doubles back, away from both the helicopter and Villain, using the trees as cover. He moves slowly and quietly, avoiding any twigs or leaves. Just as he rounds a large boulder, he spots the Villain’s HENCHMEN ahead, armed with rifles. They spot him and are now in pursuit.

EXT. THICK WOODS – CONTINUOUS

Hero creeps along slowly, quietly…patiently. He stops to listen for any sounds of pursuit, but just hears is the sound of his own heartbeat. Suddenly, FOOTSTEPS approaching as he ducks behind a tree.

The henchmen close in, and Hero knows he needs to act fast. He takes off his shirt and wraps it around a nearby branch, making it look like he’s still running in that direction. Then, he takes off in the opposite direction, hoping to throw them off his trail.

He runs through the woods in Rambo-style avoiding trees and boulders. Just as he’s about to reach the edge of the woods, he CRASHES into a boarded-up abandoned deep well, the boards BREAKING under his weight.

He scrambles to grab anything to keep him near ground level, but the boards continue to SNAP. As he grabs for the last board, it CRACKS. Falling, he manages to latch onto a root that barely supports his weight. Covered in dirt, he pulls himself out. Exhausted, rolls onto his back, catching his breath.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Level 1 Action Emotions

What I learned doing this assignment: great way to add emotion in a structural and strategic way.

EXT. APPROACHING DEVIL’S SLIDE CA ON HIGHWAY 1 – DUSK

Our HERO (30 something) hugs the curves driving his mid size sedan; nervously checks his rear view and side mirrors.

In an instant – SMASH; our VILLAIN (age unknown) SLAMS him from behind in an SUV; almost forcing the Hero through the cliff’s protective guard rail. Our Hero’s PTSD kicks in.

FLASHBACK

Our hero on a dusty elevated mountain road in Afghanistan; fish tails while being chased by multiple enemy forces…automatic MACHINE GUN FIRE from behind; bullet SMASHES rear view mirror as he approaches sharp turn…half the front tire off the road…

BACK TO SCENE

Our Hero with pursed lips and a death grip on the steering wheel. Sweat beads down his forehead. As he approaches Devil’s Slide…difficulty keep all 4 wheels on the ground. The Villain is now locked on the sedan’s back and accelerating both vehicles. He SNAPS the headlights on illuminating our Hero’s sedan and blinding him off the rearview mirror; hero RIPS the rearview off the windshield and beams the light back to the Villain.

As they approach the cliff, a 3rd vehicle SLAMS the Villain’s SUV from an angle SMASHING it off the road and SLAMS down the cliff. As the STRANGER moves slowly by we get the shadow of a women’s head.

The SUV forms a crushed recycled wreck as it settles 200 feet below on the rocks with waves CRASHING to shore.

INT. HERO’S SEDAN – CONTINUOUS

Our Hero’s head rests on the steering wheel as he turns the car off; the mystery STRANGER continues down the road.

HERO

(exhales)

What the fuck….??

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Action Structure

What I learned doing this assignment is scene writing will become much easier with proper structure in place.

OPENING: the opening shows our Hero, a special ops military veteran, returning home and struggling with PTSD. He’s being followed by a mysterious figure in a car, and when he tries to confront them, they drive away. This sets up the question of who is following him and why.

THE INCITING INCIDENT: our Hero’s billionaire father is hospitalized and our hero is accused of attempted murder. This forces him to clear his name and find the true assassin.

END OF ACT ONE (first turning point): our Hero discovers that he’s being framed for his father’s near-death and must go on the run to evade the authorities.

MIDPOINT: our Hero discovers new information (changes the meaning) as he learns that his father’s business partner may be behind the assassination attempt.

END OF ACT TWO: our Hero’s plan to catch the real assassin has failed, and the villain seems unbeatable. Our Hero realizes that he needs to use himself as bait to lure out the villain and confront him directly.

CRISIS/DILEMMA: our Hero is faced with a tough decision – risk his own life to catch the villain and clear his name, or to give up and go into hiding (choose between his goal and need for self-preservation)

CLIMAX: the final conflict occurs when our Hero confronts the villain in a shootout. Using his unique skill set, our Hero is able to outsmart the villain and capture him.

RESOLUTION: shows our Hero clearing his name and being exonerated. He reconciles with his father and comes to terms with his conflicted feelings about power and money. The villain is brought to justice and our Hero is able to move on with his life.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Action Track

What I learned doing this assignment is: it’s difficult creating new scenes we haven’t seen hundreds of times before.

Select the types of action:

Chase/Pursuit: The hero, on the run from the authorities, races through the city streets on foot while being chased by police cars.

Fight: The hero battles a group of henchmen in a warehouse, using his military expertise to take them down one by one.

Escape/Evade: The hero must outrun a pursuing helicopter as he makes his way through thick woods/brush.

Dangerous Situations: The hero must navigate a treacherous mountain pass in order to catch the villains before they escape.

Shootout: The hero engages in a gunfight with the mercenaries, exchanging bullets and ducking for cover.

Interrogation: The hero finds himself on the receiving end of a brutal interrogation by the villains, who are trying to get information from him

Torture: The hero has flashbacks to illegal torture he witnessed at Gitmo.

Rescue: The hero swoops in to save a group of innocent civilians who are caught in the crossfire.

Competition: The hero must engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the villain as they compete to see who can outsmart the other.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Villain Track

What I learned doing this assignment is: this is a complex writing project!

Ask the Villain Track questions to discover your Villain’s plan, decisions, and actions.

A. What might be the Villain’s plan to accomplish an evil outcome or to annihilate the hero? The plan could be pre-existing or created on the spot.

It is preplanned as the Villain uses our hero’s PTSD as “kryptonite” against him. The Villain is also disciplined and follows his Psychopath playbook to a T.

B. How many ways can the Villain attack or destroy the hero?

He takes another hit at the dying father making his condition worse.

He kills the hero’s military friends that have recently returned from battle.

He cripples the hero’s ability to move freely when all media and social media have the story and his image.

He out maneuvers our hero with a tactical advantage.

He is faster and stronger than our hero.

He has a better understanding of technology and weaponry that our hero.

C. What advantage does the Villain have and how can they exploit that in this movie?

He is superior in every way: no guilt or conscience to hold him back and he is faster, stronger, smarter.

D. What would be a “fitting end” for this Villain where they pay for what they’ve done?

Our hero ultimately prevails as he uses the Psychopath’s playbook against him.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Hero’s Mission Track

What I learned doing this assignment is: I like where this is going…

Use the Mission Steps to outline the mission.

Clear Mission

Motivation: wrongly accused and struggling with PTSD our hero must find the killer before he is taken into custody for his billionaire father’s attempted murder.

Inciting Incident: the accusation of attempted murder forces the war hero into action, as he attempts to clear his name and catch the real killer

First Action: the attempted assassination of our hero’s father.

Obstacle: while being chased by the authorities, the real killer manages to stay one or two steps ahead.

Escalation: he faces various challenges, finds allies who help, and encounters enemies who try to stop him.

Overwhelming Odds: the real killer is nothing he’s ever encountered in his military special ops position.

New Plan: our hero seeks “special training” to deal with this new threat.

Full out Attack: our hero has to offer himself up as bait to catch the brilliant psychopath killer.

Success: he captures the killer, clearing his name and restoring the relationship with his father.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Hero and Villain

What I learned doing this assignment is the 2^nd iteration combined with the first added more detail toward fleshing this out re Outline.

Concept: A war hero arrives home with PTSD and finds himself accused of putting his billionaire father on his death bed.

Hero Morally Right: find the true assassin.

Villain Morally Wrong: attempted murder based on greed and power.

Hero

A. Unique Skill Set: special ops military; repressed and understated until provoked.

B. Motivation: to clear his name, find the killer, and maintain the family dynasty set up for good of the people.

C. Secret or Wound: PTSD and strained relationship with his father; conflict over power and money.

Villain

A. Unbeatable: ability to stay a few steps ahead of our hero as a disciplined psychopath.

B. Plan/Goal: follow the psychopath “playbook” to get rid of the son and giving him direct control of billions fit for evil.

C. What they lose if Hero survives: their freedom and ultimate power/control, and wealth.

Impossible Mission

A. Puts Hero in Action: after being framed for his father’s near-death, attempts to allude authorities while going after known mercenaries that must be responsible.

B. Demands They Go Beyond Their Best: must arm himself with new skills in this new type of battle while fighting PTSD.

C. Destroy the Villain: using his new techniques and himself as bait to lure them out for capture/kill.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Conventions!

What I learned doing this assignment is: it can be a challenge to come up with new/novel ideas for this genre.

Concept: Retired Army Ranger in a race against time to save his billionaire father must skirt the law and psychopath who’s trying to kill them both.

Conventions

Hero: a retired Army Ranger returns home scarred both physically and mentally.

Demand For Action: whomever has attempted to kill his billionaire father is now after him.

Mission: save his dying father while keeping a long arm from the law and suspected killers.

Antagonist: there’s a short list of dark and evil psychopaths he has to uncover and expose.

Escalating Action: the closer he gets to saving his father, the closer he gets to losing his life

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Horror Plot

What I learned doing this assignment is…I need to pick up the pace on the assignments

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: evil character doing unspeakable things to small animals and children.<div>

Connect with the characters: a snapshot into the lives of each of the 7 deadly sinners

The characters are warned not to do it: at the storage locker auction comes the warning.

Denial of Horror: he hesitates, walks away; only to get another call from a collection agency.

Safety taken away: the storage locker is purchased.

Monster: The nature of the beast. The beast awakens! To learn his storage locker has been sold.

ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN

Isolated / Trapped / Abducted. The first sinner (lust) is spun through the roof at an indoor skydiving facility…And tossed a quarter mile to his death.

MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!

Full pursuit by the killer. He picks up the first clue which leads to the second sinner</div><div>

Terrorized. And now Envy is dead.

ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR

Fight to the death. Our hero gets caught during the final sinner death and narrowly escapes</div>

Hysteria. Now the killer knows his identity it’s cat & mouse to stay alive.

The thrilling escape from death. Our hero uses technology to trick the killer and buy some time.

Death returns to take one or more. The hero hides in a crowd and it’s full-on collateral damage.

Resolution. The killer barely avoids getting killed with his last storage locker prized possession and drags himself off into the woods.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Characters for Horror

What I learned doing this is: fun!

1. Tell us your Concept and the Group you have chosen: SINNERS. Comprised of the 7 deadly sins and true a holes of the day.

2. Tell us the Dying Pattern of this movie: Killed off one by one.

3. Give us an Identity and a sentence for each character that makes up your group:

Pride: corrupt cop will be tied down and smashed with a battering ram; starting with his shins.

Envy: eyes are sewn shut then they are slowly waded into freezing water.

Gluttony: slowly force-fed a buffet of rabid rats; then poisonous toads and saw-scaled viper snakes (the most toxic)

Lust: set on fire then walked into a man made tornado (wind tunnel); tossed hundreds of feet to their death.

Wrath/Anger: they are forced to self-mutilate.

Greed: they withdraw all their cash then burned at the stake with the money.

Sloth: zip tied and tossed into a pit filled with mildly poisonous long fanged snakes.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Terrifying Monster

What I learned doing this assignment is…enjoy the freedom to create and make the characters/rules world up as we go.

1. Tell us what or who your monster is. A seemingly hyper intelligent sociopath shapeshifter that befriends you only to leverage your biggest internal wound (and fear); then leverages that to destroy you.

2. Give us a few sentences for each of the following for your monster:

Their Terror: leverages your biggest wound and fear against you.

Their Mystery: where are they getting their intel?

Their Fear Provoking Appearance: Shapeshifts into what scares you the most

Their Rules: there are no rules. Think sociopath on steroids (I guess that would be a psychopath)

Their Mythology: Shapeshift

[Chris Spizuoco]

Lot 36 from Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities

What I learned doing this assignment is: I have a lot to learn about this genre.

CONVENTIONS:

Title / Concept: Lot 36: To pay off his debt, a man secures a storage unit filled with mysterious items to sell but soon finds himself in a desperate situation.<div>

Terrorize The Characters: the one book that would bring him a fortune blazes up in flames.

Isolation: alone in an old decrepit locker storage with no way out.

Death: Bones crunch as he’s devoured by the demon.

Monster/Villain: an octopus type critter in the body of a deceased woman from WWII era.

High Tension: a demon hidden in the body of a women; the trapped sister of an evil Nazi.

Departure from Reality: we see the demon hidden where her face used to be.

Moral Statement: greed and internal hate. A story of our deeds, darkness, and sins told through a key to lot 36.

My Concept: after a storage locker auction winner sells all the contents, the demonic possessed former owner traces back to him one purchased item slaughter at a time.

Terrorize The Characters: each with their own deadly sin are stalked and slaughtered by the object they had recently purchased.</div>

Isolation: the original buyer knows he’ll eventually be the final target.

Death: you’ll have to watch the movie

Monster/Villain: he’s an amalgam of almost everything that’s wrong with shitty people today.

High Tension: cat and mouse game as our reluctant hero is repeatedly set up and toyed with.

Departure from Reality: the characters killed are a caricature of today’s biggest a holes.

Moral Statement: karma – you dish it out; it will eventually come back and bite you…hard.

[Chris Spizuoco]

1. Name: Chris Spizuoco

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 5

3. What you hope to get out of the class? Terrify every small child and adult on the planet; write something so scary even the aliens (from the movie Alien) are impressed/frightened.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I’m actually from Maine and believed to be the love child of Stephen King and Marjorie Taylor Green.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris Spizuoco – I agree with the terms of this release form

[Chris Spizuoco]

Act 4 Climax – Hal and Cheryl provide great examples via the script examples for this lesson.

EXT. FARMHOUSE – DAY
A large crowd gathers in the open space between the barn and farmhouse. AUCTIONEER is in discussion with BANKER; Frank stands next to a young COUPLE with SMALL CHILD.
Banker approaches Frank.
BANKER
I’m sorry about this Frank, it has to go to auction. The only way…I’m afraid…sell us your book rights and keep the farm – for now.

To be honest, I’m not 100% sure of its value but it will buy you some time. We just can’t keep going down this path; our business terms and your ability to pay – don’t reconcile.
FRANK
A moment please…
Frank paces across the road. Admires the vast fields and woods on the other side.
DREAM SEQUENCE – EXT. FARMLAND
A series of past images flash by; from corn to wheat to alfalfa in the fields. Horses to cattle and calves to beefy bulls to sheep.
The summer turns to fall to winter, and spring.
END DREAM SEQUENCE
Frank crosses the road back and returns to face the banker.
FRANK
Take the farm – I don’t need it. I’ll go confidently in the direction of my dreams and continue to live the life I’ve imagined. The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.

Frank feels something tugging at this pant leg and looks down. It’s the small child.
SMALL CHILD
You can come stay with us Frank. I just started school. We can learn stuff together.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Act 4 First Scene

INT. FRANK’S CAR – DAY
Post funeral Frank passes Ken’s house and SLAMS the BRAKES. Backs up into Ken’s driveway.
EXT./INT. KEN’S HOUSE
He knocks twice and opens the door…Dot lays quietly on the sofa.
INSIDE THE HOUSE
She is half sleeping. Frank points to an interior door and she waves him in.
INSIDE KEN’S OFFICE
The walls are adorned with images of all the great philosophers: Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Nietzsche, Karl Marx, etc.
Interior space is that of a hoarder house with random piles of books and magazines on science, politics, social/cultural, and economics.
A corner space is dedicated to Transcendentalism with beautiful black and white photos of local nature. Frank picks up a copy of “The Maine Woods” that has sleeves of negatives bookmarking the pages.
INSIDE THE LIVING ROOM
Frank spots a machete and picks it up.
FRANK
(to Dot)
Do you mind?
She waves him on his way.
FARM HOUSE – DAY
Frank parks and exits with the machete and book; heads toward the open field.
EDGE OF THE FIELD
Cool autumn days have reduced the brush but thick overgrown alders encroach the field. Frank furiously HACKS away; pushing from field over a rock wall and into the woods.
INSIDE THE WOODS
He finds “the place”. A stump centers a towering white pine, massive sugar maple, and smaller old hickory tree. He sits and thumbs the book; holds up and examines the black and white negatives.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Act 3 Turning Point – Protagonist faces their lowest low.

EXT. UMAINE PAVILION – SUNSET
Frank and Rae where they had their first lunch. He has a hint of enthusiasm (for him) while she’s pensive.
FRANK
So our book’s publishing? How does it proceed? I surmise 10 thousand copies on our first print.
His hand moves toward hers – she withdraws.
RAE
Frank, this is your work, and…I, I mean the publisher thinks it’s just too much.
FRANK
What is this?
RAE
Your essays on the environment are amazing. Pure poetry and reason. Timeless. But your politics; and how you attack social/cultural issues…and economics…
FRANK
(amazed – for him)
And you bring this to me now? On the eve of such a momentous occasion? How dare you?
He stands up. She waves him back down.
RAE
Frank…we’ve been together how many times and you’ve never even attempted to kiss me. It seems painful for you to even touch me…
She reaches out and he peels back.
RAE
You’re aloof, cold, indifferent. I want to be with someone that wants to be with me. I mean really be with me! Not as your muse, or someone for you to observe like the birds you follow. And someone to help you get published. That’s not me. I’m sorry.
She leaves. He ponders.
EXT. KEN’S HOUSE – DAY
Frank out of sorts rambles up the driveway; approaches the front porch. Ken’s wife DOT (age unknown) sits in a chair next to the boarded over area where the bull fell through.
FRANK
Greetings Dot. Where is Ken?
She points down the hole.
FRANK
What?
He peers down and sees Ken splayed out on the basement floor on top of his shattered rocking chair. He’s not moving. Dot sits there chewing tobacco and spits.
FRANK
What happened? When did this happen? Is he OK?
DOT
Told him to nail those boards down. Guess he got excited reading one a those new engineering magazines; lost his bearings.
FRANK
When?
DOT
Last evenin’ I guess. Got no way to get down there…was thinking he’d come to like he usually does and tell me what to do.
Frank scrambles around the house and finds a step ladder. He scurries down the porch hole and minutes later back up. Head slung low.
DOT
He’s passed on hasn’t he?
FRANK
One should die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly. The living is a species of the dead; and not a very attractive one. To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly.
DOT
That’s profound. Thoreau?
FRANK
Nietzsche. Thoreau is dead for me now.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Key Scene 2: Make a new plan. I’m learning to understand my main character more; his cadence, language, behavior, etc. while plowing along…

INT. UMAINE BOOKSTORE – DAY
Frank picks through books in the “Forestry” section and methodically places them in his woven wooden basket. The basket garners a few stares.
CHECK OUT LINE
He proceeds to pay and faces CUTE GAL (25) and piles up the books.
FRANK
Can I assume you are the check out person?
RAE
(points to name tag)
Yes captain obvious. My name happens to be Rae. How will you be paying?
FRANK
I maintain the Government provides for the education of all or would they rather we grow up ignorant?
RAE
Good one Thoreau. I don’t make the rules. Cash or check?
He reluctantly hands over cash.
FRANK
That’s all I have.
RAE
My X was also a Professional Forester.
FRANK
Was he not a man of honor?
RAE
He is a man of death. Was surveying a forestry woodlot and killed by a widow maker.
FRANK
A window maker?
She has to spell it out.
RAE
W.I.D.O.W. Widowmaker. It’s what they call a tree limb that falls and kills you. Totally random.
FRANK
To affect the quality of the day is the highest art. One must live in the present, launch yourself under each tree limb, and find eternity in each moment.
RAE
That’s beautiful. Is that Thoreau?
FRANK
Of sorts. He actually said “launch on every wave”; I substituted “tree limb” as being more poetically appropriate.
She’s surprised – in a good way. Genuinely impressed.
FRANK
I normally don’t do this…uh…could I ask your hand in lunch? Uh, meaning, could we meet for lunch? I’m very curious about his forestry exploits.
RAE
I normally don’t say yes, but you are authentically weird…I like that.
They exchange numbers and shake; he kisses the top of her hand; picks up his books to leave.
RAE
Wait! How are you going to pay for lunch? With poetry?

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Act 3 Reaction to Midpoint. What I learned is the first half really
serves as a “set up” re external motivation where the 2nd half should solve for the inner motivation of our hero.

EXT. KEN’S HOUSE – DAY

Frank pulls into the driveway; head sloops low. His wife Babs stays in the car.

Ken sits on his porch scratching his scraggy grey beard; sitting on the previous bull hole now covered with unnailed board scraps. He precariously holds them down in his rocking chair.

FRANK

You are not going to believe this…

KEN

Industrial farming taking over?

FRANK

How did you…? Of course you knew…

Ken stares at the giant tree in front of him.

KEN

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.

Frank attempts to process this; stares blankly at the tree.

FRANK

It’s just that…follow your dreams? Be independent? Choose the occupation you love and you’ll never work in your life? A life filled with purpose? There’s more bullshit on the end of the back slab gutter cleaner than in this life.

Ken and his crooked stroke smile steadies a poker face.

KEN

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.

FRANK

OK I understand the tree metaphors. I know Thoreau said “nothing stands up more free from blame than a pine tree”. I’m attempting not to blame.

KEN

Son. Our lives are as short as we make them. We have free will. Things happen to us as a reason. As a challenge. Dream of your future.

Frank stares at Ken waiting for more words of wisdom…a look that says “a little more help please?”

KEN

The possibility of the dream gives strength. Every person has two educations; one which he receives from others and one he gives to himself. It’s great to do what you love but greater with the great team.

EXT./INT. FRANK’S CAR – CONTINUOUS

Frank’s proud stride is back on. He marches to the car and SLAMS the door.

BABS

What did he say?

FRANK

I’m getting my Forestry Degree and will start coaching again next week.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Act 2 TP – Midpoint; drawing a line in the sand along our heroes journey

EXT./INT. SUPERMARKET – DAY

Frank and his wife BABS enter their small town supermarket. Approaching the back dairy section he stops quickly; mouth agape. He picks up a gallon of milk with flashy packaging. He stares at the dull bland local dairy products section. Then back to the bigger display of new products.

FRANK

Friendly Farms Inc.? What the hell is this? Is this some kind of joke?

Babs does a price compare.

BABS

Oh look – it’s a dollar less. Isn’t that good?

Frank dumbfounded; looking around for management.

FRANK

Yea, that’s just great…great…great. Where the hell is the store manager?

MANAGER rolls a cart of beef out of the walk-in cooler. Frank is immediately in his face with the milk.

FRANK

Is this some sort of trial thing? Bringing in outside products? Do you have any idea what this will do to the local farmers? Their families? This town? and You?

Manager takes a step back as Babs grabs a steak off the tray.

MANAGER

Hey buddy – I get it. This was corporate’s call. Better prices, good products…cheap shipping from out west. I dunno…guess the world is changing.

FRANK

Changing my ass! This is industrial farming garbage! Illegal herbicides, pesticides, GMO, poisonous toxins. Dirty diesel spewing environmental killing trucks! Do you have any idea what you have done?

Babs ignores him holds up the steak; examining the price.

BABS

Wonderful price on these T-bones…can we try one?

[Chris Spizuoco]

Act II middle scene:

EXT. CROOKED HOBBIT HOUSE – DAY

Frank pulls into KEN’s driveway and gets out. Ken (age unknown) is a short white bearded man who slumps to one side when he walks and speaks with a twisted stroke smile. He greets Frank with a quiet finger tipped handshake.

KEN

Welcome young man.

Frank approaches the house noticing some cow dung and obvious hole in the porch. He peers down and sees nothing but black; stares back at Ken.

KEN

Bull…shit.

FRANK

I can see that. What’s in the hole?

Ken’s tractor in nearby and he twists it’s mirror to reflect the sun’s light into the porch hole. It’s a bull staring back at them.

KEN

If we’re going to have animals around we all have to be concerned about them and take care of them.

FRANK

By keeping them in your basement?

Ken wraps a hemp rope around his tractor bucket and drops the other end down the hole. Points down.

KEN

Go.

Frank scrambles down a step ladder and nervously faces the bull.

KEN

He could crush you to death, but does not know it. Grab his ring and rope the horns.

FRANK

We’re pulling him out by the horns?

Frank wraps the horns and steadies the bull by its nose ring. Ken fires up the tractor and slowly lifts the bull out of the basement hole and places next to the porch. Once released the bull saunters down the field, joining the cows.

KEN

Animals, like children, need to know their boundaries and once they do, they often are happier knowing what is acceptable and, what is not…and trust your instincts. Intuition doesn’t lie.

EXT. FARM – DAY

Frank rolls into driveway with 3 WRESTLING TEAM members in the back of his truck. His drunk FATHER IN LAW has tipped over his tractor over with the engine still running; still in gear with tire KICKING MUD in all directions…they race over to the rescue.

[Chris Spizuoco]

ACT II

INT./EXT. HOUSE – NOON

Frank SLAMS through front door; his WIFE is there to greet him with CRYING BABY in tow.

WIFE

Something wrong?

He grabs a drink of water, ignores the question.

WIFE

What is it Frank – why are you home so early?

He exits and returns with a note pad.

FRANK

School assholes let me go.

WIFE

What happened?

FRANK

You know what I did? I was decisive and took the initiative to help my team. They get treated like the lepers of society…shitty equipment, stinky wrestling mat, and shitty condescending stares from the other students. I’m not backing down for doing the right thing.

WIFE

What about the farm? There’s always work out there.

FRANK

Not sure I’m ready for that kind of shit…

Frank dials the phone and has a brief conversation; mostly agreeable and hangs up.

FRANK

Done, done and done. I go in tomorrow. The new shoe shop has a manager’s position. Pretty sure I can get in there until we figure it out.

WIFE

Are you sure? You know how those factory jobs are…

INT. SHOE SHOP – MORNING

SHOP BOSS escorts Frank around; new tech equipment GRINDS AWAY as sheets of leather move from station to station forming shoes.

SHOP BOSS

So we’ll start you on 2nd shift and you’ll manage this side (pointing) of the floor. The leather comes in here, gets trimmed and station by station until it’s ready for the soul and heel. Punch cards there on the wall. Zero tolerance policy for coming on late.

Shop Boss pulls Frank away from the noisy equipment.

SHOP BOSS

(whispers)

Now look. I know your an educated man from the city. And you have options. These people do not. Out side these walls they have little choice but to take our pay and make our shoes. It’s hard work, but pays the bills; and managers here do VERY well. Half these fellas will end up at the bar down the street right after shift ends. So that keeps ‘em pretty motivated.

DREAM SEQUENCE INT. SHOE SHOP – CONTINUOUS

Frank RIPS the punch card machine off the wall and SLAMS it through an office door.

IN THE OFFICE

GREEDY MANAGERS are stacking up and counting bills. Frank SLIDES them out onto manufacturing floor and they pile up like cordwood.

MANUFACTURING FLOOR

He tosses them into the individual slicing, trimming, and heel press machines as the OPERATORS back off in pleasant shock. Frank hands out stacks of cash to the operators.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Finished Act 1 – what I learned is it’s better to go with Hal’s no wordsmith and 20% rule and keep up in order to stay on pace with the classes; it also helps gauge where one is in terms of overall page count/act length.

INT. CATHOLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOM – DAY

NUN (age unknown) dressed in her nun clothes; nothing discernable except for her pasty white muscular man calves.

FRANK (8) sits in the back amongst the back of 30 or so uniformed cleanly dressed little suburbanites.

Nun holds a large framed photo of a smiling Pope and opulent St. Peter’s Basilica in the background.

NUN

…as we continue our study of the Roman Catholic Church. Next up…

She points to the back with a long arthritic finger.

NUN

Frank.

Frank strides forth, stands tall and confident; clears his throat, and begins.

FRANK

The church had been placed in charge of a “treasury of merits” of all the good deeds the saints had done. For those trapped by their own sinfulness, the church could write a certificate transferring the sinner some of those saints’ merits. And fortunately for the church, these “indulgences” had a price tag.

Classroom KIDs fidget with curiosity as Nun’s brow furrows.

FRANK

So became the Ninety-five Theses. Albert of Maine authorized the campaign. The cliff notes: because love grows by works of love, man becomes better. Man does not, however, become better by means of indulgences but is merely freed from penalties.

The Nun begins to twitch; as though she is about to have an exorcist moment. The kids lean forward.

NUN

(stern)

The simple believes everything, but the prudent give thought to his steps.

FRANK

Away then with those prophets who say to Christ’s people, “peace, peace” where there is no peace. Hail, hail to all those prophets who say to Christ’s people, “The cross, the cross,” where there is no cross…(voice raising) And let them be more confident of entering heaven through many tribulations rather than through a false assurance of peace!

The furious Nun approaches Frank; he pulls a match out of his uniform and STRIKES IT off the wood desk as he crumples up his papers to burn.

FRANK

And here’s to you and your merits Pope…disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves!

The Nun bends Frank over and blazes his ass with the stick. Facing his classmates – he’s content.

SUPERIMPOSE: “LEVITTOWN LONG ISLAND”

INT. FRANK’S HOUSE – DAY

Frank is fighting his attempt to put on Catholic School uniform. Argues with his MOTHER and SMACKS her wrist with a ruler; his FATHER does nothing in his easy chair.

INT. HORSE RIDING STABLE – DAY

Frank (16) shows a sense of peace, calm, and maturity around the horses.

MONTAGE – LEVITTOWN HIGH SCHOOL – DAY

– Football Frank bull rushes the quarterback THUD knocks him out.

– History class Frank. Wild APPLAUSE as he completes his presentation on Henry David Thoreau.

– Wrestling Frank. Arches back with his gripped opponent flying over him and down HARD; shoulder blades squarely on the matt. Ref’s hand SLAPS the mat. Pinned!

END MONTAGE

EXT./INT. WRESTLING COACHES OFFICE – DAY

Frank (18) strides into MR. EARL’S office and stands to attention. The walls are adorned with trophy shelves, plaques, and awards.

MR. EARL

Have a seat Frank.

Mr. Earl pulls the contents of an envelope and hands it to Frank.

MR. EARL

Full scholarship to Rutgers University. For wrestling. And the opportunity to play football if you like.

FRANK

I’d rather focus on academics then try to play 2 sports sir.

MR. EARL

Then pick one.

Frank stares at a golden trophy and drifts off dream like; he is now the golden boy trophy with hand held high in victory – then back to reality.

FRANK

Wrestling.

Mr. Earl rises to shake Frank’s hand.

MR. EARL

Fine choice and congratulations. I’ll let the school know of your intentions and you’ll receive the offer letter in the mail. You’ve worked hard son. I’m proud of you.

FRANK

Thank you sir.

EXT. HORSE RIDING STABLES – DAY

Frank pulls up in his black 54 Ford and approaches the grounds where the riding stables were. It’s now a massive construction site for new Levittown affordable housing. Fat, DUMPY CONSTRUCTION MAN is getting ready to pour a concrete slab. He’s the Joe six pack kind of guy who sits around watching reruns of Gunsmoke and Rawhide when not working.

FRANK

What’s going on? What happened to the horse stables?

The man throws his cigarette on the ground and eyeballs Frank, who’s wearing his leather riding gear.

DUMPY

Heya…Rowdy. New affordable housing…it’s called progress.

FRANK

What happened to the horses? (looking around) and all the potato fields?

DUMPY

Horses in the country. Get your potatoes at the store…the feds approved all this so that’s the law of the land, so to speak.

FRANK

It also appears to be a law that simple men who lead lives of quiet desperation cannot have any sympathy with both man and nature.

DUMPY

Guess so Bub…have a good day. I gotta slab to pour…

Frank stares in disbelief – looking at a hundred acres where the stables, fields, and woods once stood no longer than a few week ago. He SLAMS the car door and peels off.

EXT. FRANK’S HOUSE – DAY

Frank BARRELS into the driveway and STORMS into the house; leaves the car running.

BASEMENT

Frank lumbers down and grabs 2 large suitcases and heads up the stairs

GROUND FLOOR

Frank’s Father sits in the easy chair watching the Jet’s lose another football game. Frank bolts upstairs with his mother in tow.

MOTHER

Frank? Frank what are you….

FRANK’S BEDROOM

He frantically jams whatever clothes are within arms reach. He pulls wrestling medals off the wall and thinks of packing them. His mother walks in holding some papers.

MOTHER

What’s wrong Frank? Where are you going?

FRANK

To the woods. I’m done here.

MOTHER

These papers just came in the mail. It says you have a full wrestling scholarship to Rutgers University. You can stay here with your friends and get your degree.

Frank stops packing and squares to his mother. He SLAMS his hand on the dresser.

FRANK

Friends? I knock on earth for my friend and no friend appears. By myself I can live and thrive, but in this society of incompatible people I just starve. I once thought I loved my friends but find it of little use to go see them. Their kind intent is nothing more than a cover or mask of deadly intentions.

He completes packing and marches down the steps.

LIVING ROOM

Frank’s father he calls POPS is now up out of his chair. His mother joins them as she fidgets with her rosary beads.

POPS

You’re leaving us?

FRANK

I’m going to Maine Pops. I’ll work in town while I get my degree…and play football.

Pops shuffles over to a fishbowl and pulls out some singles and five dollar bills; they are mixed with other paper pieces that appear to be IOUs.

POPS

Butcher Shop isn’t doing the business that it used to…but here some gas money to help get you there.

They hug as Mother examines the papers.

MOTHER

(to Pops)

How many people still owe you money? How are we going to survive if you keep giving our meat away for free?

POPS

They’ll pay when they can. They’re good people – they’ll pay…

OUTSIDE THE HOUSE

Both parents outside watching Frank load the car. Mother tries one more time.

MOTHER

Frank, please reconsider. I may not always show it, but I care deeply for you. And your father does as well.

Frank pulls his mother out of ear shot from his father.

FRANK

This so-called family has no more virtues than pigs in a litter who lie close to stay warm. Living here is a total surrender to myself in your self-interest prison. I’m going to Maine to live on my terms. Being alone in nature far exceeds the spiritual oneness that fools get drunk on going to church in prayer. Songs you sing in that overindulgent building built on blood and tears of the poor and ignorant; and the songs of no more meaning than a blind wolf barking at a street lamp…

(whispers)

And you start treating Pops like the man that he is. Or I will come back with much less tolerance in mind…

Frank gives Pops a final wave and drives off.

EXT. UMAINE FOOTBALL – DAY

Frank bulling once again as a UMaine linebacker. He kneels over coughing and hacking after a vicious hit.

INT. DOCS OFFICE DAY

Frank is diagnosed with asthma and prescribed inhalers. DOCTER tells him to “stay away from dust”.

EXT. FARM – DAY

Frank is throwing massive hay bales from a truck onto a conveyor with hay chaff drifting in the daylight.

INT. HIGHSCHOOL – DAY

Frank is lectured on why the basketball team needs new supplies while his wrestling team has to “make due” with their tattered equipment.

INT. BOOSTERS OFFICE – DAY

Frank pulls cash from the Boosters money box and buys his wrestling team new equipment.

INT. SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE – DAY

Frank (25) enters and stands broadly in front of the Superintendent of Schools (50’s). There are several boxes piled up in the corner.

SUPER

Sit down Frank.

Frank resists initially, then finds his seat. He sits up proud and firm. He stares briefly at the boxes.

SUPER

Frank, I’ve got to admit – you’ve done an amazing job with the wrestling team this year. You’ve brought leadership and discipline to a team, that honestly had no direction. Having said that (pointing) what’s in these boxes?

Frank flips the box top open revealing brand new wrestling gear including uniforms, ear guards, and shoes.

FRANK

New equipment for the team. The basketball team gets new gear every year, why would the wrestling team be any different?

SUPER

We’ve already had this conversation. The basketball team sells tickets. The wrestling team is a school expense. We just don’t have the budget this year.

FRANK

And the year before and the year before that.

SUPER

Look. Let’s set up a return order on this and I’ll make sure it’s in the budget for next year. Maybe your team can set up some fundraisers to help the cause?

FRANK

We drill, we practice, and we drill some more. That’s what makes state champions. Not fundraising.

DELIVERY GUY KNOCKS on the Super’s door and is waived in.

DELIVERY GUY

Hey ya…got this new wrestling mat delivered. Where’d ja want it? Into the basketball gym?

The Super shakes his head as Frank storms out.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Act 1 turning point. Will need to increase writing productivity in order to complete a draft in 30 days.

INT. SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE – DAY

Frank (25) enters and stands broadly in front of the Superintendent of Schools (50’s). There are several boxes piled up in the corner.

SUPER

Sit down Frank.

Frank resists initially, then finds his seat. He sits up proud and firm; stares briefly at the boxes.

SUPER

Frank, I’ve got to admit – you’ve done an amazing job with the wrestling team this year. You’ve brought leadership and discipline to a team, that honestly had no direction. Having said that (pointing) what’s in these boxes?

Frank flips the box top open revealing brand new wrestling gear including uniforms, ear guards, and shoes.

FRANK

New equipment for the team. The basketball team gets new gear every year, why would the wresting team be any different?

SUPER

We’ve already had this conversation. The basketball team sells tickets. The wrestling team is a school expense. We just don’t have the budget this year.

FRANK

And the year before and the year before that.

SUPER

Look. Let’s set up a return order on this and I’ll make sure it’s in the budget for next year. Maybe your team can set up some fund raisers to help the cause?

FRANK

We drill, we practice, and we drill some more. That’s what makes state champions. Not fund raising.

DELIVERY GUY KNOCKS on the Super’s door and is waived in.

DELIVERY GUY

Hey ya…got this new wrestling mat delivered. Where’d ja want it delivered? Into the gym?

The Super shakes his head as Frank storms out.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Act 1 Inciting Incident

What I learned is there is a lot more to write!

EXT. HORSE RIDING STABLES – DAY

Frank (18) pulls up in his black ’54 Ford and approaches the grounds where the riding stables were. It’s now a massive construction site for new Levittown affordable housing. Fat, DUMPY CONSTRUCTION MAN is getting ready to pour a concrete slab. He’s the Joe six pack kind of guy who likely sits around watching reruns of Gunsmoke and Rawhide when not working.

FRANK

What’s going on? What happened to the horse stables?

The man throws his cigarette on the ground and eyeballs Frank, who’s wearing his leather riding gear.

DUMPY

Heya…Rowdy. New affordable housing…it’s called progress.

FRANK

What happened to the horses? (looking around) and all the potato fields?

DUMPY

Horses in the country. Getcha potatoes at the store…the feds approved all this so that’s the law of the land, so to speak.

FRANK

It also appears to be a law that simple men who lead lives of quiet desperation cannot have any sympathy with both man and nature.

DUMPY

Guess so kid…have a good day. I gotta slab to pour…

Frank stares in disbelief – looking at a hundred acres where the stables, fields, and woods once stood; no longer than a few weeks ago. He SLAMS the car door and PEELS off.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Act 1: Opening Scene

What I learned is how to better connect the dots: story theme to the intention of character and obstacles.

INT. CATHOLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOM – DAY

NUN (age unknown) dressed in her nun clothes; nothing discernable except for her pasty white muscular fullback looking calves.

FRANK (8) sits in the back amongst 30 or so neatly uniformed little SUBURBANITES.

The Nun holds a large framed photo of a smiling POPE and opulent St. Peter’s Basilica in the background.

NUN

…as we continue our study of the Roman Catholic Church. Next up…

She points to the back with a stubby arthritic finger.

NUN

Frank.

Frank strides forth, standing tall and confident; clears his throat…

FRANK

And so it began. The church had been placed in charge of a “treasury of merits” – all the good deeds the saints had done. For those trapped by their own sinfulness, the church could write a certificate transferring the sinner some of those saints merits. And fortunately for the church, these “indulgences” had a price tag.

Classroom Kids fidget with interest as Nun’s brow furrows.

FRANK

So became the Ninety-five Theses. Albert of Maine authorized the campaign. Because love grows by works of love, man becomes better. Man does not become better by means of indulgences and is merely freed from penalties.

The Nun twitches and contorts; she’s about to have an exorcist moment. Classroom kids lean in.

NUN

(stern)

The simple believes everything, but the prudent give thought to his steps.

FRANK

Away then with those prophets who say to Christ’s people, “peace, peace” where there is no peace. Hail, hail to all those prophets who say to Christ’s people, “The cross, the cross,” where there is no cross…(voice raising) And let them be more confident of entering heaven through many tribulations rather than through a false assurance of peace!

The furious Nun approaches Frank; he pulls a match and STRIKES it off the wood desk; he lights up his now crumpled papers.

FRANK

And here’s to you and your merits Pope…disobedience is the true foundation of liberty! The obedient must be slaves!

The Nun bends Frank over and blazes his ass with a stick. Facing his classmates – smiling and content.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Beat Sheet and high speed writing. What I learned is to let go of trying to figure out every scene; more important to get down what you can and move on to the next assignment

EXT./INT. CATHOLIC SCHOOL – DAY
TE 1: FRANK (8) is having a power struggle with a nun. He gets the wooden stick.

SUPERIMPOSE: “LEVITTOWN LONG ISLAND”

INT. FRANK’S HOUSE – DAY
Frank fighting his attempt to put on Catholic School uniform. Argues with his MOTHER and SMACKS her wrist with a ruler; his FATHER does nothing in his easy chair.

INT. HORSE RIDING STABLE – DAY
Frank (15) shows sense of peace, calm, and maturity around the horses.

MONTAGE – LEVITTOWN HIGH SCHOOL – DAY
– Football Frank bull rushes the quarterback THUD knocks him out.
– History class Frank. Wild APPLAUSE as he completes his presentation on Henry David Thoreau.
– Wrestling Frank. Arches back with his gripped opponent flying over him and down HARD; shoulder blades squarely on the matt. Ref’s hand SLAPS the mat. Pinned!
END MONTAGE

EXT. HORSE RIDING STABLE – DAY
Large excavator SMASHES down stables making room for urban sprawl.

INT. WRESTLING COACHES OFFICE – DAY
Frank (18) turning down full boat wrestling scholarship to local Division One University.

INCITING INCIDENT – LEAVES NY FOR MAINE
EXT. FRANKS HOUSE – DAY
Frank tip of the fedora to his father and cold look for his mother; he drives away.

EXT. UMAINE FOOTBALL – DAY
Frank bulling once again as a UMaine linebacker. He kneels over coughing and hacking after a vicious hit.

INT. DOCS OFFICE DAY
Frank is diagnosed with asthma and prescribed inhalers. DOCTER tells him to “stay away from dust”.

EXT. FARM – DAY
Frank is throwing massive hay bales from truck onto a conveyer with hay chaff drifting in the daylight.

INT. HIGHSCHOOL – DAY
Frank is lectured on why the basketball team needs new supplies while his wrestling team has to “make due” with their tattered equipment.

INT. BOOSTERS OFFICE – DAY
Frank pulls cash from the Boosters money box and buys his wrestling team new equipment.

INT. SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE – DAY
TP: Frank is fired as Wrestling Coach.

Act II
INT. FARM – NIGHT
Frank agrees to full time on the farm with DRUNK FARMER; awkwardly flirts with the FARMER’S DAUGHTER.

EXT. FARM – DAY
Drunk farmer rolls his tractor over and is pinned. In a feat of strength, Frank uprights the tractor and saves Farmer.

INT. HOSPITAL – DAY
With farmer in recovery, Frank asks to marry his daughter; they all agree to a blissful farm family future.

INT. BANK – DAY
With baby now in tote, Frank and Farmer’s Daughter quite literally “buy the farm”.

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL – DAY
Frank uses his charm and charisma to recruit/con his juvenile delinquent former wrestlers to do his dirty work on the farm. He agrees to pay them with beer and cigarettes.

SERIES OF SHOTS – JUVENILES WORKING ON THE FARM
SLAMS bucket of tractor into the barn while SQUASHING A quart of motor oil under the wheel.
Truck brakes SNAP on the hill as truck catches fire; Juvie kids bail out and truck SPLASHES into farm pond.
The kids accidently bale up a farm cat. By miracle the cat is unharmed.
Juvies furiously throw hay in the barn; Frank’s YOUNG SON – the stacker is almost buried alive.
End of the week the juveniles are paid in beer and cigarettes.

EXT. MENTOR’S HOUSE – DAY
Enter the MENTOR. He’s an odd Gnome like man with a crooked stroke smile. Frank is enamored with his practical wisdom re independent thought and creative engineering genius.
His bull falls through the front porch and into the basement. He shows Frank how to pull it out with a tractor bucket by the horns . The bull struts away unharmed.

EXT. FARM – DAY
Enter the court jester drunk FIXER. He’s rude, crude, and socially unacceptable but a brilliant and creative mechanic. Frank pays him in beer and cigarettes.

EXT. NEW SHOE FACTORY – MORNING
With farm bills piling up, Frank receives a good job offer at the new shoe factory in town. In the future/dream sequence, Frank envisions throwing his manager into a leather cutting and heel pressing machine. He does not accept the job.

INT. SUPERMARKET – DAY
Mid Point Turning Point: Browsing for staple items, Frank discovers a new display of affordable dairy products from industrial farming.

EXT. ROAD TO HOME – DAY
Frank’s Mentor has been in a nasty car crash. The jaws of life safely extract him amongst the gin bottles.

INT. FARMHOUSE – NIGHT
Frank’s wife is exasperated at the bills piling up and bill collectors calling. She threatens to get a job in town to help pay the bills. He tells her: “you working in town is the beginning of the end”.

PLACEHOLDER: rethink the sequence/events as all these negative events combined might feel more like “whiff of death” that typically happens at 2/3 point.

EXT. WOODS – SETTING SUN.
TE: On the back 40 acres Frank wanders into the woods and sits on a stump. Has a “Walden Moment” and goes back to the farm house office; thumbs through his Thoreau books looking for answers.

INT. UMAINE – OFFICE – DAY
Frank signs up for night classes to get his degree in Forestry.

EXT./INT. SUPERMARKET – DAY
Frank’s wife accepts a job in the deli; packaging industrial farming meat products.

ACT III
EXT. FARM – MORNING
As the bank leans toward foreclosure and him in divorce, he manipulates the wife into accepting a small plot of land and sign off on the whole property. Frank sells another chunk of property to friends in order to refinance. He’s able to keep her family farm and in his name.
PLACEHOLDER: lots going on here; will need to be broken up into several scenes.

EXT. UMAINE – DAY
Frank meets CUTE GAL thumbing through history books in the UMaine bookstore. She also happens to be a published author and Thoreau and Joseph Campbell expert.

EXT. MENTOR’S HOUSE – DAY
Frank fights to keep his mentor alive, but Mentor’s family appreciates his inheritance more than him; encouraging him to drink himself to death.

EXT. FUNERAL – DAY
At the funeral, the PRIEST talks about “mentor’s independent thought and all we’ve lost”; this gives Frank a book idea.

EXT. UMAINE – DAY
Frank graduates with his Forestry Degree and pitches a book idea to Cute Gal; awkward attempt asking her out/help with his book.

EXT. FARM – DAY
Now past mid life, Frank is back on the farm with a small herd or replacement cattle – a niche way to keep losing money while still farming. He moves deeper into the woods doing forestry (mapping) while being falsely gregarious around Cute Gal; attempting to market his book to publishers.
TURNING POINT – Huge failure/Major shift

EXT. BACK 40 – SUNSET.
Frank proposes to Cute Gal while fixing a fence amongst the alfalfa clovers. She says no and candidly admits his book will never get published due to his unique “personality disorder”.

INT. UNCLE BERT’S PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO – DAY
Frank gets the idea to pair his book with UNCLE BERT’S beautiful black and white photos (think Ansel Adam of Maine). Bert agrees and Frank’s book gets published.

EXT. FARM – DAY
While chasing escaped cattle, Uncle Bert and Frank discuss Joseph Campbell, mythology, and all the woes of today’s society.

EXT./INT. STATE HOUSE IN AUGUSTA MAINE – DAY
Frank meets with one of his past “Juvies made good” and talks about writing his next book addressing modern ills of politics, social/cultural, environment, and economics. This would be his grand final piece of work.

INT. UNCLE BERT’S PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO – NIGHT
Thumbing through Uncle Bert’s portfolio, Frank stumble on old black and white negatives the follow Thoreau’s
“In the Maine Woods” journey.

INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT
Uncle Bert catches covid and dies.

ACT IV
INT. FARMHOUSE – DAY
Frank thumbs through his books and comes across one titled “where have all our heroes gone?” He falls asleep at his desk.

MONTAGE – FRANK APPROACHING HIS FINAL YEARS
The last heifer gets shipped off as he’s too weak to fix fences.
He piles up his books about lost heroes, Thoreau, Uncle Bert, mythology with Joseph Campbell, and his essays on how to repair our countries woes. He puts the old black and white wilderness photos with Thoreau and gets back to work.
Having his dilapidated farmhouse finally fixed up.
Meets with lawyers and writes up last will and testament.
Works with local artist pairing up Uncle Bert’s Maine woods photos with Thoreau’s Maine Woods passages.

INT. HOSPITAL – DAY
An older Cute Gal visits Frank in his bed; admires what is most likely his last project and agrees to publish.

INT. HOSPICE CARE – NIGHT
As Frank drifts off he imagines himself, Uncle Bert, and Thoreau at the base of Mt. Katahdin. As they stare up the steep slope, Thoreau says “now comes good sailing”.

PLACEHOLDER: rushed at the end/Act IV; much required to space out/tie everything together…

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Lesson 6: Transformational Events

What I learned doing this assignment is a whole picture begins to emerge as character and plot gets fleshed out.

Act 1:

Opening: a boy born into Levittown, hating Catholic school (mean, uneducated nuns), and watching his local horse farm neighborhood carved and excavated into suburbia.

He rebels and gets the stick from the nuns.

Loses his after school job (a teen) as the horse farm gets razed.

Confront his dominant mother for making him go to Catholic school (against a passive father).

Series of shots showing him excel at Football, Wrestling, and History.

Show his wrestling coach has immense impact on him re leadership, tenacity, dedication, work ethic.

Inciting Incident: High School is out and off to central Maine!

When he leaves in his 54 Ford, tip of the fedora to his father and nothing for mother.

Turning Point: his first firing

Shows his “bull rush” in Football at U of Maine – until he gets asthma.

Ends up working on a farm and coaching wrestling and football.

Shows the basketball team favored with all the best equipment.

He uses booster money for wrestling equipment and gets fired.

Act 2:

New plan: start a farm and family. Plan in action: history genius, great coach, farmer, philosopher

Fun & games on the farm. Meets his mentor and local drunk/mechanic fixer/court jester.

Leverages his charisma to get misguided youth to do his dirty work on the farm – it doesn’t always go well.

Is offered a management job at newly founded Dexter Shoe and has flashback/dream image of throwing his manager into the leather cutter.

New dairy products begin to emerge in stores. The local town businesses start to decline.

Midpoint Turning Point: Industrial Farming is beginning of the end for him to support a small dairy farm family

Act 3:

His mentor dies as he is going through a divorce.

The farm leans toward bankruptcy and in a manipulative move gets the wife to signs off so he can keep the farm.

Rethink everything. In his “Walden” moment he shuts down the dairy farm and gets his forestry degree so he can be alone with the trees.

New plan: Put it in a book. Begins to write about “what we have lost” to sort out our local town’s decline and global shift.

Turning Point – Huge failure / Major shift: loses the “new girl” helping him with his books as his secret schizoid gets in the way (again).

He does finally get published and begins to think about what’s next and what his legacy should be on this earth.

His outer goal is to make local photographer Uncle Bert famous alongside Thoreau and his inner goal is show how to Live a Life of Purpose (from his fantasy POV).

Act 4 – Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict:

As he drifts into slumber, we see that capitalism becomes devoid of greed, local communities begin to share again and there are no more homeless.

People get back to nature and climate change slows. Politics becomes civil once again with an end to hateful tribalism.

He introduces Henry David Thoreau to Uncle Bert at the base of Mt. Katahdin and prepare for a hike.

We hear medical beeps in the background.

With a mighty climb before them, our hero says “now comes good sailing”.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s 4 Act Transformational Structure

What I learned doing this assignment is it’s critical to “follow the process” and also let ideas percolate over time (write by day, dream by night). Our brains are built to accept story – if we do it right.

First draft of 4 Act Transformational Structure.

We follow the life of an exceptional man hell bent on “independent
thought” following the guidance of Henry David Thoreau and his own path. Real world and his world clash as his
secret schizoid personality disorder offers resistance to his persistence.

Main Conflict:
our hero v the world in terms of his POV v reality

Old Ways: Bull
and push

New Ways: getting to peace in attempt to get his 2 heroes
together

Act 1:

Opening: a boy
born into Levittown, hating Catholic school (mean, uneducated nuns), and
watching his local horse farm neighborhood carved and excavated into suburbia.

Inciting Incident:
High School is out and off to central Maine!
Turning Point:
Fired! From his first attempt
to work in the public sector.

Act 2:

New plan: start
a farm and family

Plan in action:
history genius, great coach, farmer, philosopher

Midpoint Turning Point:
his mentor dies

Act 3:

Rethink everything:
his “Walden” moment as the farm goes into bankruptcy and he
divorces in tough economic times.

New plan: Put it
in a book. Begins to write about “what
we have lost” to sort out our local and global shift

Turning Point – Huge failure / Major shift: loses the “new girl” helping him with his books as his secret
schizoid gets in the way (again)

Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: As our hero approaches a hospice state,
everything comes into focus re the environment, politics, the economy.

Resolution. As
he fades away, his heroes finally unite at the base of Mt. Katahdin and we
sense that “now comes good sailing” (Thoreau’s last words)

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Chris’s Character Profile Part 2

What I learned doing this assignment is: getting deeper into the psyche of my main character

Fill in Part 2 of the character Profile for your lead character:

What draws us to this character? Complexity of
character with some true “hero” traits and major flaw which prevents him from
reaching his full capabilities.

Traits: charismatic, intellectual, bullheaded, indifferent
to praise/criticism, socially aloof.
Subtext: uses charm and charisma to “Tom Sawyer” others
into doing his work; if you try to change his POV he would say “you are
just putting words in my mouth” and deflect.

Flaw: Skewed POV which always favors him; unwilling to
compromise or consider others POV. Quixotic as his impractical pursuit of idealistic goals.

Values: individualism, rejecting conventions of
society, philosophical idealism, historical, appreciation, honesty.

Irony: In his
Master/Slave relationships, one of his biggest Master to Master
relationships is with someone who is a pure capitalist (of which he
despises re Adam Smith’s Mistake); in his attempt to make the locally
renowned photographer famous (Ansel Adams famous) relies on aggressive Sales
and Marketing of which diametrically oppose his anti-capitalist views.

What makes this the right character for this role? Good
intentions at heart. Utilize his smarts,
awareness, pragmatic thinking, and historical understanding in attempt to
fix societal woes in a Forrest Gumpian way (re his personality disorder).

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Subject line: Chris’s Character Profiles Part 1

What I learned doing this assignment is these exercises are helping me flesh out a complex character with a multitude of story themes and plot ideas.

Pick the type of role your Protagonist will play and give us a few sentences on how they will fulfill that role.

Fighter Hero Dreamer: our hero doesn’t see the world as most
of us see it. But with his smarts, physical
strength, stamina, good looks, and distinct POV, nothing can stop him…you
are not the boss of me! Non-negotiable
without compromise.

3. Pick the type of role your Antagonist will play and give us a few sentences on how they will fulfill that role.

Authority: serves as capitalism
for all its nauseating and soul crushing attributes. Our hero also serves as his own antagonist
due to that “secret” personality disorder.
Oh, the places he could have gone…

4. What other characters might be necessary?

Supporting characters: the mentor
(lives in a semi collapsed hobbit house w/his wife Dot) and comedic
mechanic
Minor roles: the simple wife as
“you just married me for the farm”
Background characters: the farm
hands (labor) he charismatically recruits.
It’s like a reverse Minority Report. Recruits them as pre criminals as they
turn into the real thing (unintentionally as his barter system only pays
the teens in beer and cigarettes)

5. Pick your genre.

Comedy with perhaps Fantasy

6. Fill in whatever answers come to you about your lead character profiles.

Role in the story: he is the change agent of our times in attempts
to fix: politics, environment, capitalism,
racism, create independent thought, and history/future (“that is not
sustainable!” he would say)
Age range and Description: from
5 to death bed

Internal Journey: from a raging bull to peace & calm
External Journey: from NYC to small farm Maine where he
finally gets peace as his heroes meet:
Henry David Thoreau and renowned naturalist photog Uncle Bert.

Motivation: pure drive,
intellect, and resolve to live life on his terms.
Wound: passive father and
dominant mother; the 60’s race riot that turned his quiet humble father
racist.
Mission/Agenda: go to the woods
to live deliberately; front the essential facts of life so when it came time
to die discover that he had not lived.
Secret: living with a “secret”
personality disorder still not well understood today.
What makes them special? Good smarts,
good looks, charisma, own world POV

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Who is your Hero and what is their Character Arc that represents a transformation?

There are 2 Protagonists: the narrator and his father; the arc of the narrator follows the discovery of his father’s grandiose delusions which stem from a “secret” disorder.

Father’s Internal Journey: from
physical to ethereal

External Journey: A young man from NYC to central Maine

Old Ways: physical, domineering, rebellious

New: sharing, creative, at peace

What I learned doing this assignment is:

1. Creating complex characters is hard work.

2. “brevity is the soul of wit” (from Hamlet).

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Hi all – I’ve written 3 scripts, and hope to have fun (and learn/teach/learn) writing my 4th. The unique thing about me is I’ll be Hal’s first student to win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay…Ha! We’ve all got to dream…

[Chris Spizuoco]

I Chris Spizuoco agree to the terms of this release form.

[Chris Spizuoco]

ok no reply

• This reply was modified 2 years ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on character development in the story we’ve been discussing. While I appreciate your input, I have a different perspective on some of the points you raised. Allow me to provide my response and offer an alternative viewpoint.

You mentioned that the Level One/Two definitions of character development play a crucial role in creating great characters. While I agree that understanding the levels of character development can be helpful, it’s important to note that not all characters need to arrive as Level 2 from the beginning. Characters can indeed start at Level 1 and evolve throughout the story, which can be a compelling narrative technique.

Regarding JUNUH, you stated that he arrives as a Level 2 character based on your interpretation of the story’s context. However, it’s crucial to base our analysis on accurate information. I recommend revisiting the movie or reliable sources like IMDb to ensure our understanding aligns with the actual narrative.

Additionally, you mentioned Junuh’s motivations and conflicts, such as winning back the love of his life, helping his town, and dealing with survivor’s guilt and war trauma. These elements certainly contribute to his character development and provide motivation. However, it’s important to delve deeper into how these aspects are portrayed in the story and how they shape his actions and choices.

Regarding VANCE, you described him as initially unimpressive and reckless, but later reveal his careful, astute, and intelligent nature. While it’s interesting to analyze his character journey, it’s crucial to provide specific examples or scenes from the story to support your claims.

Furthermore, you mentioned the concept of breakthroughs and how they impact characters. While breakthrough moments can be powerful in character development, it would be beneficial to provide concrete examples from the story to illustrate these breakthroughs effectively.

In conclusion, I appreciate your insights, but it would be helpful to provide specific examples and evidence from the narrative to support your observations. It’s essential to base our analysis on accurate information and provide a clear connection between our interpretations and the story itself.

Thank you for your contribution to the group, and I look forward to further discussions and insights.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Ha! Hey Spike you should write a horror on/about the ferry that Pete Davidson and Colin Jost bought…horror/comedy fun…welcome aboard to ScreenwritingU!

[Chris Spizuoco]

Hi Benita – I also write in Final Draft, then copy to Notepad (removes formatting) and copy here – seems to work ok.