Christopher Blanchett
Forum Replies Created
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Chris Blanchett’s Character Structures
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment is that characters are structure.
Unwoke
After his politically incorrect rant accidentally goes viral, a timid office-worker becomes a modern day thought criminal to one half of the country and an unintentional hero to the other. Can he elude the clutches of the “woke” mob and successfully avoid sparking a second American civil war?
Tim Walters – Protagonist
Beginning: Tim Walters works as (?) at (company name), which has just been sold to larger conglomerate.
Inciting Incident: Corporate Sensitivity Trainer Rachel Donahue posts a video of Tim apparently engaging in a politically incorrect rant. The clip immediately goes viral and Tim becomes a public villain and is fired from his job.
Turning Point 1: Tim is contacted by an organization dedicated to defending victims of cancel culture who urge him to fight back. Tim posts a defense of his views on social media and receives immediate “likes”
Act 2: Tim becomes a sought after guest on a conservative-leaning cable news channel. Begins to develop a mass following.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Rachel Donahue posts on social media accusing Tim of transphobia then S/he begins regular appearances on liberal-leaning cable news network in direct opposition to Tim.
Act 3: In response to Rachel’s attacks, and egged on by the cable network and his political advisors Tim become much more militant and confrontational in his rhetoric. He is taken aback when street confrontations between his followers and Rachel’s take place.
Turning Point 3: Tim discovers that the conservative and liberal cable-networks are both owned by the same conglomerate, and it’s the same conglomerate that bought the company Tim worked at.
Act 4 Climax: With the help of the one political operative he can (now) trust, Tim confronts the owner of the conglomerate.
Resolution: Tim uses an eagerly anticipated and heavily covered rally to reveal the manipulation at play by the corporate-conglomerate. Both Tim’s and Rachel’s followers listen intently to Tim’s revelations and it appears he will sway both sides to the truth of the massive manipulation they have all been victim of…until news breaks of a controversial book being banned from a local school library, the opposing crowds resurrect their antagonism, and rush off to support or protest the book banning.
Tim is alone at the podium He catches sight of… the owner of the conglomerate who smiles, gives a friendly wave, and walks away.
Rachel Donahue – Antagonist
Beginning: After coming out as a Trans-Woman in his early forties, Rachel Donahue becomes a corporate sensitivity trainer certified by (ACRONYM), a training organization that has a very specific agenda.
Inciting Incident: Rachel is brought on as Director of Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity at Tim’s company posts a video of Tim apparently engaging in a politically incorrect rant. As planned, the clip immediately goes viral and Tim becomes a public villain and is fired from his job, all part of an organized campaign to highlight anti-trans sentiment in the corporate world.
Turning Point 1: Rachel’s apparent success is marred when Tim becomes a celebrity and ant-trans-fascism leader.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: under orders from (Acronym), Rachel goes on a liberal network and accuses Tim of transphobia.
Act 3: Rachel conspires to have “agent provocateurs” embedded in Tim’s followers at a rally which turns into a riot.
Act 4: When Tim announces a rally to make an important announcement, Rachel plots a major riot to quash his message.
Climax/Resolution: At the rally, Rachel’s is nearly persuaded listening to Tim’s revelations…until news breaks of a controversial book being banned from a local school library, she leads her followers off to protest the book banning.
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Chris Blanchett’s Supporting Characters
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment is that characters are built one step at a time.
Unwoke
After his politically incorrect rant accidentally goes viral, a timid office-worker becomes a modern day thought criminal to one half of the country and an unintentional hero to the other. Can he elude the clutches of the “woke” mob and successfully avoid sparking a second American civil war?
1. Start this assignment by empowering yourself using our State-To-Activity empowerment process.
State: I’m really great at…
Activity: …creating purpose-driven supporting characters.
2. Tell us your supporting and background characters.
Supporting Characters:
Max Williams
Howard Withers
Conrad Acosta
Arthur Ingersoll
Background Characters:
Office workers
People at rallies
Protesters
Supporters
3. Focusing on those supporting characters, fill in the basic profile for each.
Support 1:
Name: Max Williams
Role: Tim’s best friend
Main purpose: Sounding board for Tim
Value: Gives us a sense of how public is perceiving Tim and a metric for his (Tim’s) changes in attitude and behavior.
Support 2:
Name: Howard (Howie) Withers
Role: Office manager
Main purpose: Show us the oppressive impact of the new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office culture
Value: Speaks volumes when we see him cheering enthusiastically at one of Tim’s rallies after 3 acts of his (Wither’s) going along to get along.
Support 3
Name: Conrad Acosta
Role: Cable News Investigative Reporter
Main Purpose: Portray the face of media bias
Value: Comic relief and a minor villain to have an early false victory over
Support 4
Name: Arthur Ingersoll
Role: The ultimate puppet-master
Main Role: Personify the men behind the curtain generating civil unrest and conflict for fun and profit
Value: Shows us there is a manipulative method to the madness
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Chris Blanchett’s Character Profiles 2
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment is that contradictions aplenty reside in every character.
Unwoke
After his politically incorrect rant accidentally goes viral, a timid office-worker becomes a modern day thought criminal to one half of the country and an unintentional hero to the other. Can he elude the clutches of the “woke” mob and successfully avoid sparking a second American civil war?
Character Name: Tim Walters
Character journey: from timid and acquiescent office-worker to confident, powerful leader inspiring authentic and respectful human interaction.
Actor attractor: Incredibly rich emotional range
Role in the Story: Protagonist
Age range and Description: 38 years old. Would be good-looking if anyone noticed him.
Core Traits: Timid and acquiescent. Doesn’t want to rock the boat… until he does.
Motivation: Wants to return to his old life. Needs to unleash the leader within.
Wound: The world he’s always known is being taken from him
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
-Likability: smart, funny, genuinely decent human being
-Relatability: put upon by bureaucracy at work
-Empathy: put in situation where he’s forced to choose between staying true to his own values or “going along to get along” to avoid losing his job by rocking the boat.
Subtext: Hiding true thoughts, feelings, and opinions; afraid to honestly speak his mind lest he engender rejection from “the group/tribe.”
Intrigue: Secret Identity – doing best to avoid revealing “unwokeness.”
Flaw: Overly concerned with opinions of others.
Values: Ultimately, living in truth with integrity.
Internal Dilemma: Being accepted versus living in truth with integrity.
Character Name: Cassidy Perino
Character journey: From Machiavellian manipulator and operator apparently without the capability of truly connecting with others to acknowledging her own humanity and allowing herself to connect on a human level.
Actor Attractor: Intelligence, humor, an aura of mystery, and multiple layers.
Role in the Story: Triangle and Love Interest
Age range and Description: 28 years old. Radiates an alluring beauty that is enhanced by her intelligence.
Core Traits: Intelligent, creative, strategic-thinker, empathetic, but is any of it authentic, or is all an act?
Motivation: Want/Need: Wants to orchestrate a conflict that will dominate the news cycle in perpetuity. Needs to find something and someone she can truly believe in and trust.
Wound: Grew up is a perfect family and was the perfect daughter. Went to the best schools and was an excellent student. Wanted for nothing, accept genuine affection and approval from her parents. She tried to win that approval and affection by outward success. When that failed, the outward success became a substitute for genuine affection and approval.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
-Likability: Highly intelligent, extremely good at what she does, helps Tim navigate the new world of political communications
-Relatability: Balancing numerous interests in her job at times her drive to succeed and innate humanity are at odds with one another.
-Empathy: apparently torn between personal feelings for Tim and the demands of her job, which may not be in his best interest.
Subtext: Lying; her real assignment is to steer Tim into prominence (she claims she will help him negotiate his way through the maelstrom back to his old life), generate conflict, and whip up hysteria – all in the service of ratings.
Intrigue: Secret Agenda; while posing as Tim’s (supportive) political handler she is really tasked with generating controversy and conflict.
Flaw: Overly transactional; puts goal-achieving and career success ahead of personal connection and her own values.
Values: Love; unfortunately, she associates allowing herself to feel love with the pain of having her love rejected.
Internal Dilemma: Allowing self to feel and reciprocate love versus protecting self from the pain of rejection.
Character Name: Rachel Donahue
Character Journey: From uptight and woke “thought-police” to a genuine human-being who is able to admit to himself and others he’s figuring it out like everyone else and able to extend real tolerance to those who don’t agree with him rather than demanding a “tolerance” which really amounts to agreement, compliance, and bending of the philosophical knee.
Actor Attractor: The role calls for a specific physical type that imbues visual humor, but also requires absolute truth in the performance (no mugging). There is a mystery to Rachel’s true motivation and an element of contained hysteria.
Role in the Story: Antagonist
Age range and Description: 32 years old. Five-eleven or so, muscular if a bit flabby, clearly masculine features which are softened not at all by wig, make-up, lip-stick, and dresses.
Core Traits: Argumentative, acerbic, hostile, and judgmental… all in the name of tolerance.
Motivation: Want/Need: Wants to compel others to acknowledge and celebrate whatever identity he assumes. Needs to relax and realize no one is giving his gender identity much thought unless confronted by him. Needs to find something and someone she can truly believe in and trust.
Wound: Never had a core motivation, cause to champion, or strong sense of self, or a strong group/tribe related sense of belonging. Adopting a new identity as Rachel addresses all four.
Likability, Relatability, Empathy:
-Likability: competent and driven, an acerbic wit, but with nonetheless
-Relatability: Tim represents an obstacle toward fulfilling his/her job function “nothing personal (maybe), it’s strictly business…”
-Empathy: At a certain level, overworked and just trying “to get the job done…”
Subtext: Projecting; deep down, Rachel doesn’t (fully) believe trans-theory and his anger at Tim is displaced anger really directed at himself.
Intrigue: Hidden Agenda (even from himself); Rachel’s rabid anger at Tim is transference of anger he feels towards himself, both for his lack of belief in Trans-theory and his getting involved in the Trans lifestyle at all.
Flaw: Seeks revenge stemming from an empty life of isolation.
Value: Love and connection; entire life has been an unsuccessful quest for just that.
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Chris Blanchett’s Character Profiles 1
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment is that contradictions aplenty reside in every character.
Unwoke
After his politically incorrect rant accidentally goes viral, a timid office-worker becomes a modern day thought criminal to one half of the country and an unintentional hero to the other. Can he elude the clutches of the “woke” mob and successfully avoid sparking a second American civil war?
Character Name: Tim Walters
Character journey: from timid and acquiescent office-worker to confident, powerful leader inspiring authentic and respectful human interaction.
Actor attractor: Incredibly rich emotional range
Role in the Story: Protagonist <div>
Age range and Description: 38 years
old. Would be good-looking if
anyone noticed him.
Core Traits: Timid and
acquiescent. Doesn’t want to rock
the boat… until he does.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Motivation Want/Need: Wants to
return to his old life. Needs to
unleash the leader within.Wound: The world
he’s always known is being taken from himLikability, Relatability,
Empathy:Likability: smart,
funny, genuinely decent human beingRelatability: put upon
by bureaucracy at workEmpathy: put in
situation where he’s forced to choose between staying true to his own
values or “going along to get along” to avoid losing his job by rocking
the boat.<div>
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Character Name: Cassidy Perino
Character journey: From Machiavellian manipulator and operator apparently without the capability of truly connecting with others to acknowledging her own humanity and allowing herself to connect on a human level.
Actor attractor: Ambiguity and mystery combined with strength and intelligence.
Role in the Story: Triangle
and Love Interest </div>Age range and Description: 28 years
old. Radiates an alluring beauty
that is enhanced by her intelligence.Core Traits:
Intelligent, creative, strategic-thinker, empathetic, but is any of it
authentic, or is all an act?Motivation Want/Need: Wants to orchestrate a conflict that will dominate the news cycle in
perpetuity. Needs to find something
and someone she can truly believe in and trust.Wound: Grew up is
a perfect family and was the perfect daughter. Went to the best schools and was an
excellent student. Wanted for nothing, accept genuine affection and
approval from her parents. She
tried to win that approval and affection by outward success. When that failed, the outward success
became a substitute for genuine affection and approval.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Likability, Relatability,
Empathy:<div>
Likability: Highly intelligent, extremely good at what she does, helps Tim navigate the new world of political communications
Relatability: Balancing numerous interests in her job at times her drive to succeed and innate humanity are at odds with one another.
Empathy: apparently torn between personal feelings for Tim and the demands of her job, which may not be in his best interest.
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Character Name: Rachel Donahue
Character Journey: From uptight and woke “thought-police” to a genuine human-being who is able to admit to himself and others he’s figuring it out like everyone else and able to extend real tolerance to those who don’t agree with him rather than demanding a “tolerance” which really amounts to agreement, compliance, and bending of the philosophical knee.
Actor attractor: A scene-stealing, scenery-chewing, over the top villain; one many have met in real-life.
Role in the Story: Antagonist </div>
Age range and Description: 32 years
old. Five-eleven or so, muscular if
a bit flabby, clearly masculine features which are softened not at all by
wig, make-up, lip-stick, and dresses.
Core Traits: Argumentative,
acerbic, hostile, and judgmental… all in the name of tolerance.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Motivation Want/Need: Wants to compel others to acknowledge and celebrate whatever identity he
assumes. Needs to relax and realize
no one is giving his gender identity much thought unless confronted by
him.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Wound: Never had a
core motivation, cause to champion, or strong sense of self. Adopting a new identity as Rachel
addresses all three.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Likability, Relatability,
Empathy:<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Likability: competent
and driven, an acerbic wit, but with nonetheless<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Relatability: Tim
represents an obstacle toward fulfilling his/her job function “nothing
personal (maybe), it’s strictly business…”<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Empathy: At a certain
level, overworked and just trying “to get the job done…” Obviously attempting to fill a need deep in his psyche…</div>
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Chris Blanchett’s Likability, Relatability, & Empathy
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment is there are at least two-sides to every character.
Unwoke
Character Name: Tim Walters
Role: Protagonist <div>
Likability: smart,
funny, genuinely decent human beingRelatability: put upon
by bureaucracy at workEmpathy: put in
situation where he’s forced to choose between staying true to his own
values or “going along to get along” to avoid losing his job by rocking
the boat.Character Name: Cassidy Perino
Role: Triangle
and Love Interest </div><b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Likability: Highly
intelligent, extremely good at what she does, helps Tim navigate the new
world of political communications<div>
Relatability: balancing numerous
interests in her jobEmpathy: apparently
torn between personal feelings for Tim and the demands of her job, which
may not be in his best interest.Character Name: Rachel Donahue
Role: Antagonist </div>
Likability: competent
and driven, an acerbic wit, but with nonethelessRelatability: Tim
represents an obstacle toward fulfilling his/her job function “nothing
personal (maybe), it’s strictly business…”Empathy: At a certain
level, overworked and just trying “to get the job done…”. -
Chris Blanchett’s Character Intrigue
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment is don’t love your characters so much you make them bland and boring.
Unwoke
Character Name: Tim Walters
Role: Protagonist <div>
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Hidden agendas: Use his
accidental notoriety to fulfill his sense of deserved grandeur
Competition:<div>
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Conspiracies: Believes
the woke phenomenon is a massive conspiracy<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Secrets: Actually believes
western civilization and white males are intrinsically superior<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Deception: Claims this
is all happening to him by accident… in actuality he posted his
politically incorrect rant on purpose…<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Unspoken Wound: Opinions
as a child dismissed by parents, teachers, and authority figures
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Secret Identity: A reactionary
revolutionaryCharacter Name: Cassidy Perino
Role: Triangle
and Love Interest </div>Hidden agendas: Heighten
culture wars to increase her own financial opportunities
Competition:Conspiracies: She is
working both sides of every issueSecrets: She has no
allegiance to either side, craves the chaos she decriesDeception: Simultaneously
the political handler for both Tim and (his nemesis) Rachel DonahueUnspoken Wound: Raised by
nannies and elite boarding schools.
Never received parental love in her formative years.Secret Identity: Master
manipulator<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Character Name: Rachel Donahue
Role: Antagonist
Hidden agendas: Antagonize
Tim to motivate him to lead woke-backlashCompetition:
Conspiracies: Rachel
realizes trans-identity is nonsense, wants cover to admit it.Secrets: Hopes Tim
is so convincing in his anti-woke crusade that s/he can shed her trans
personaDeception: Continues
to attack Tim and advocate for Trans-rights to cover his/her true
motivation.Unspoken Wound: Gifted
athlete who hated sports.
Trans-identity was an escape.
Was also chance to spend quality time with women (that’s why s/he
never took hormones or had surgery).Secret Identity: Traitor to his true beliefs; Traitor to her adopted cause.
</div>
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Chris Blanchett’s Subtext Characters
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment: A very useful template for creating more complex characters.
With your example movie, give us the following answers for the character with the most subtext:
Movie Title: Network
Character Name: Howard
BealeSubtext Identity: Lost Soul
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Subtext Trait: Is
bewildered by the changes to the world in general and the news industry in
particular.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Subtext Logline: Howard
Beale is a lost soul who is bewildered by the changes to the world in
general and the news industry in particular<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Possible Areas of Subtext: On-air
rants, assumes the role of prophet, assumes role of teacher to try to
learn what is going on, He becomes leader to the masses but is easily led
himselfFor your two leads, brainstorm these answers:
Movie Title: Unwoke
Character Name: Tim Walters
(protagonist)Subtext Identity: Stuck
behind enemy linesSubtext Trait: Conceals
his real thoughts and feelingsSubtext Logline: Tim Walters
feels like he is stuck behind enemy lines and is compelled to hide his
real thoughts and feeling, but when he is backed into a corner they emerge
with an explosive power he didn’t know he possessed.Possible Areas of Subtext: Attempting
to negotiate office culture without ruffling feathers, noncommittal answers,
enduring corporate sensitivity training that are akin to Maoist struggle sessions,
when pushed to his limits verbally crushing his opponents, tapping into an
inner strength that draws people to his cause.Character Name: Alyssa
Perino (Triangle)
Subtext
Identity: The Double Agent
Subtext
Trait: Continually playing both sides of every situation
Subtext
Logline: Alyssa Perino operates in her work and life like a double-agent,
playing both sides of every situation, keeping people in her life at
arms-length.
Possible
Areas of Subtext: Highly manipulative with ultimate subtlety, mysterious, fear
of committing. She and Tim
initially have a lot in common, the difference being Tim is pushed into
stating his true identity, Alyssa isn’t sure she has one. -
Chris Blanchett’s Actor Attractors
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment: A very useful check list to assist in building great characters.
ACTOR
ATTRACTOR TEMPLATELead Character Name: Tim Walters
Role: Protagonist
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
Opportunity to display vast emotional range.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
Goes from extreme of timid victim to borderline potential fascist dictator ultimately finds an empowered center,
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
Reverse expectations. Instead of apologizing for his perceived political incorrectness he wears it as a badge of honor.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
We open with him walking down a corridor to his office. The short walk is an obstacle course of non-stop situations/accusations requiring extreme diplomacy and walking on egg-shells to avoid a politically incorrect transgression. He gets to his office. Closes the door behind him and exhales a sigh of relief. Then a warning of some kind via computer or cell phone.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
From timid victim to hero of the masses.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
How much is an act how much is real?
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
The political operative assigned to his case is a beautiful woman. Is there a true mutual attraction or is it part of her keeping him on-track with the media strategy?
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
Contrasted between private conversation and public speeches and media events.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
He is remade by circumstances then reinvents himself consciously.
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Chris Blanchett’s Actor Attractors for NETWORK
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment: A very useful check list to assist in building great characters.
Movie Title: Network
Lead Character Name: Howard Beale
Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
The role of Howard Beale literally (not figuratively) requires a tour de force performance.
What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
His journey from down and out news-anchor to mad-prophet of the airwaves.
What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
His messianic on-air diatribes to the country.
How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
In a sequence that takes him from being told by his boss and best friend that he is being fired to announcing during the evening news his intention to kill himself on-air.
What is this character’s emotional range?
As wide-ranging as any in the history of film. From down and out to maniacally passionate.
What subtext can the actor play?
Is he really crazy or playing a role?
What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Probably the relationship he has with the unseen television audience. They are his flock and the emotional tie he feels for them is palpable.
How is this character’s unique voice presented?
A good and decent man who has been driven mad trying to make sense of a senseless world.
What makes this character special and unique?
His ability to create meaning for his life. His passionate desire to tell the truth.
(Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!
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Chris Blanchett’s Genre Conventions
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment the broad-strokes overview of where the comedy lies.
Unwoke
Concept: After his politically incorrect rant accidentally goes viral, a timid office-worker becomes a modern day thought criminal to one half of the country and an unintentional hero to the other. Can he elude the clutches of the “woke” mob and successfully avoid sparking a second American civil war?
Genre: Comedy
Act 1:
Opening: Tim is compliant, go-along-to-get-along employee, keeps head down. Careful to comply with dominant woke corporate culture. Over the top nature of the “woke” corporation played for laughs. More funny than threatening.
Inciting Incident: During a corporate sensitivity training session, Tim does not adequately affirm to trans-sensitivity Trainer Rachel Donahue that he/she (Rachel) is in fact a “real” woman. Again, the exercises and content of the sensitivity workshop are fodder for comedy. Rachel will likely be a 250 lb linebacker type with perpetual five o clock shadow and a deep, bellowing, eminently masculine voice.
The vindictive Rachel takes video recordings of the training session, edits together statements by Tim, making him look like an angry “trans-phobe and bigot” and posts the video to social media. It goes viral and the attention-averse Tim gains instant on-line infamy. Tim’s slow realization that he is a trending story played for laughs.
Turning Point: Struggling hyper-liberal news network (name) decides to own the story to drive ratings and Tim’s new-found negative notoriety is amplified via mass media into the popular culture. Running joke: they are on the verge of bankruptcy – running out of office supplies, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, technical equipment falling apart and in disrepair etc.
Act 2:
New plan: out of a job and under severe monetary strain (mortgage payment due – something big and compelling) and on the lam from the “woke” mob, Tim takes up an offer from struggling hyper-conservative news network (name) to help him get his side of the story told and hopefully get his old job (and life) back. Counterpoint to liberal station – will get names in opposition – saying the same buzz phrases but the photo negative version of what the liberal station says. Similar lack of basic necessities
Plan in action: Tim gives interviews to a number of hosts who passionately advocate on his behalf and champion his “cause” – despite Tim’s insistence he doesn’t have a cause. He is now more in the public eye than ever, and no closer to getting his old job (and life) back. “Interviews” consist of hosts putting words in Tim’s mouth obviously bent on ginning up controversy.
Midpoint Turning Point: Tim is invited to attend a rally on his behalf. He is reluctant, but when rally organizers reveal a Go-Fund-Me type account they have set up on his behalf which has more than enough money to handle his financial challenges. He agree to attend. Humor in Tim’s protestations that he need to be true to his convictions and not overhype his situation and turning on a dime when the money is offered that will alleviate his financial struggles.
Act 3:
Rethink everything: Tim is a huge hit at the rally and is swept up by the adulation of the crowd. Humor in Tim’s tentative acceptance of the crowd’s adulation which grows into full-fledged megalomania. The liberal network starts promoting Rachel Donahue (the trans-sensitivity instructor who posted the video of Tim) to counter Tim’s popularity. Rachel’s supporters (publically) set up a Go-Fund-Me type account to support Rachel, which is mocked and denigrated by Tim’s supporters and angrily defended by Rachel’s.
New plan: Tim becomes more aggressive in his on-air and public appearances and his fame and power reaches a crescendo… until the liberal network exposes the go-fund me account and paints Tim as a gold-digging hypocrite. Tim schedules a hotly anticipated public appearance to be covered by all major media – cable, broadcast, and online. Humor in hypocrisy: Tim’s detractors turn on a dime to defend Tim’s Go-Fund-Me type account and Rachel’s supporters/defenders turn on a dime to attack it.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – Tim discovers both the liberal network and the conservative networks are owned by the same person and information is being shared and events are being orchestrated purely to feed ratings. Humor flipping back and forth with the networks being inverse mirror images of one another.
Act 4:
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Tim confronts the owner of the two networks and learns the game being played isn’t just about ratings; there is a conscious strategy to generate meaningless controversies to keep people at one another’s throats, keeping them oblivious to the puppet-masters pulling the strings. Humor in confrontation scene Tim alone in a dark room talking with a disembodied voice… subtle implication the puppet-masters are AI…?
Resolution: Tim uses his hotly anticipated public appearance to reveal the truth he has learned to the masses… and is met with stony silence. Just then a video of parents at a school board meeting denouncing drag queen story hour goes viral, commanding the attention of the media and arousing the ire of the audience who depart in an impromptu protest march. Tim is alone on the stage at the microphone. Humor in those who claim they are defenders of the truth – on both sides – not wanting to hear it when Tim tells them the truth. Humor in a set up running gag with Tim using metaphors no one gets culminating with him telling the crowd “we need to stop salivating when they ring a bell” crowd turns to one another, mystified by the statement “huh? What did he say?”
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Chris Blanchett’s 4 Act Transformational Structure
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment the broad-strokes overview of my protagonist’s journey.
Unwoke
Concept: After his politically incorrect rant accidentally goes viral, a timid office-worker becomes a modern day thought criminal to one half of the country and an unintentional hero to the other. Can he elude the clutches of the “woke” mob and successfully avoid sparking a second American civil war?
Main Conflict: After being viciously vilified by the relentlessly negative coverage of a hyper-liberal cable news network, our attention-averse hero, Tim Walters, feels compelled to seek positive coverage from a hyper-conservative rival network.
Old Ways
· Walking on eggshells
· Scared of saying/doing the wrong thing
· Apologetic
· Hides true feelings and opinions
New Ways
· Speaks mind freely
· Confident
· Happy to point out the Emperor has no clothes
· Treats others with respect without being subservient
Internal journey: From timid and acquiescent to powerful and confident.
External journey: From nebbish office-worker to confident leader inspiring authentic and respectful human interaction.
Act 1:
Opening: Tim is compliant, go-along-to-get-along employee, keeps head down. Careful to comply with dominant woke corporate culture.
Inciting Incident: During a corporate sensitivity training session, Tim does not adequately affirm to trans-sensitivity Trainer Rachel Donahue that he/she (Rachel) is in fact a “real” woman. The vindictive Rachel takes video recordings of the training session, edits together statements by Tim, making him look like an angry “trans-phobe and bigot” and posts the video to social media. It goes viral and the attention-averse Tim gains instant on-line infamy.
Turning Point: Struggling hyper-liberal news network (name) decides to own the story to drive ratings and Tim’s new-found negative notoriety is amplified via mass media into the popular culture.
Act 2:
New plan: out of a job and under severe monetary strain (mortgage payment due – something big and compelling) and on the lam from the “woke” mob, Tim takes up an offer from struggling hyper-conservative news network (name) to help him get his side of the story told and hopefully get his old job (and life) back
Plan in action: Tim gives interviews to a number of hosts who passionately advocate on his behalf and champion his “cause” – despite Tim’s insistence he doesn’t have a cause. He is now more in the public eye than ever, and no closer to getting his old job (and life) back.
Midpoint Turning Point: Tim is invited to attend a rally on his behalf. He is reluctant, but when rally organizers reveal a Go-Fund-Me type account they have set up on his behalf which has more than enough money to handle his financial challenges. He agree to attend.
Act 3:
Rethink everything: Tim is a huge hit at the rally and is swept up by the adulation of the crowd.
New plan: Tim becomes more aggressive in his on-air and public appearances and his fame and power reaches a crescendo… until the liberal network exposes the go-fund me account and paints Tim as a gold-digging hypocrite. Tim schedules a hotly anticipated public appearance to be covered by all major media – cable, broadcast, and online.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift – Tim discovers both the liberal network and the conservative network are owned by the same person and information is being shared and events are being orchestrated purely to feed ratings.
Act 4:
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Tim confronts the owner of the two networks and learns the game being played isn’t just about ratings; there is a conscious strategy to generate meaningless controversies to keep people at one another’s throats, keeping them oblivious to the puppet-masters pulling the strings.
Resolution: Tim uses his hotly anticipated public appearance to reveal the truth he has learned to the masses… and is met with stony silence. Just then a video of parents at a school board meeting denouncing drag queen story hour goes viral, commanding the attention of the media and arousing the ire of the audience who depart in an impromptu protest march. Tim is alone on the stage at the microphone.
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Chris Blanchett’s Subtext Plots
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment is some useful handles for conceiving subplots and developing character and plot depth.
Unwoke
After his politically incorrect rant accidentally goes viral, a timid office-worker becomes a modern day thought criminal to one half of the country and an unintentional hero to the other. Can he elude the clutches of the “woke” mob and successfully avoid sparking a second American civil war?
Subtext Plot 1 – Fish Out Of Water
Tim is shy, retiring, and attention adverse. His inadvertent notoriety/infamy thrusts him into the public eye and makes him a sought after media figure.
Subtext Plot 2 – Competitive Agendas
Tim is a hero to one half of the country a villain to the other half. Political leaders and media-figures on both sides are using him to forward their own agendas.
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Chris Blanchett’s Transformational Journey
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment is the value of big-picture character development.
Tim Walters (Unwoke)
· Arc beginning: Shy and retiring office-worker oppressed by woke corporate culture.
· Arc ending: Confident leader & influencer encouraging folks to deal with one another compassionately as individuals, not other as members of tribes pitted against one another.
· Internal journey: From timid an acquiescent to powerful and confident.
· External journey: From nebbish office-worker to confident leader inspiring authentic and respectful human interaction.
Old Ways
· Walking on eggshells
· Scared of saying/doing the wrong thing
· Apologetic
· Hides true feelings and opinions
New Ways
· Speaks mind freely
· Confident
· Happy to point out the Emperor has no clothes
· Treats others with respect without being subservient
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Chris Blanchett’s Intentional Lead Characters.
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers.
What I learned from this assignment is the initial outline of my main characters.
Main Characters for Unwoke
Tim Walters (Protagonist)
Shy and retiring office-worker thrust into the public eye against his will who learns assertiveness, gains confidence, and seizes control of his life and destiny.
Unique Element: Overtly sympathetic portrayal of a character type currently far out-of-favor in Hollywood films – a middle-aged white male who finds “woke” culture nonsensical, rife with internal illogic, and ludicrous.
Rachel Donahue (Antagonist)
Dictatorial Head of HR at the company Tim works for. Rabidly attuned to any lack of sensitivity (real or imagined) or displays of privilege (likewise). “Their” posting of out-of-context and heavily edited statements by Tim starts the firestorm.
Unique Element: Overtly unsympathetic portrayal of a character-type currently firmly in-favor in Hollywood films – an “intersectional poster-person” clearly using critical-theory as a means of obtaining power and asserting control.
Brett Madden (Dramatic Triangle)
Would-be media mogul who owns two struggling and on-the-verge-of bankruptcy (cable? internet? youtube?) news networks; one overtly liberal, the other overtly conservative. He seizes on the controversy surrounding Tim’s notoriety/infamy and fans the flames on both sides of the aisle, significantly raising the stakes – along with his ratings and influence.
Unique Element: I suppose I could point to the fact he owns both a liberal and a conservative news outlet. But in all honesty, a manipulative media mogul is not unique. Actually, it’s something of a cliché. But some clichés are clichés because they ring so true, work so well, and are so eminently useful.
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Chris Blanchett’s Title, Concept, and Character Structure!
I am a brilliant, massively successful, professional screenwriter who writes incredible movies in a wide variety of genres which become instant-classics. I am respected by my professional peers and bring genuine, thought-provoking entertainment and uplifting emotions to hundreds of millions of movie-goers/watchers.
What I learned from this assignment is my (working) character structure.
Unwoke
After his politically incorrect rant accidentally goes viral, a timid office-worker becomes a modern day thought criminal to one half of the country and an unintentional hero to the other. Can he elude the clutches of the “woke” mob and successfully avoid sparking a second American civil war?
Character Structure: Protagonist versus Antagonist or Dramatic Triangle.
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Hi, I’m Chris Blanchett.
I’ve written 8 screenplays (unproduced), co-written a stage play (produced), and a slew of comedy sketches (some of each).
Looking to improve my screenwriting and write a script that can be fully realized with the resources I have access to.
I work at a film school in Seattle and do marketing work with an LA-based production/distribution company.
Look forward to working with you all!
cb
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I, Chris Blanchett, agree to the terms of this release form.
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I learned some simple, effective tools for using NLP techniques to enhance motivation and attach positive emotions to writing. The insights into the structure of the program and the thinking behind it was very useful.
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Chris Blanchett’s High Speed Beat Sheet.
Ironically enough, I commit to the group to use the high-speed writing method as we move forward.
What I learned from this lesson is loss of momentum equals death (metaphorically speaking).
Act 1:
INT. RYAN’S OFFICE – DAY
Ryan and his assistant Alex review commercial spot in advance of meeting. Creative Director Don stops by to let Ryan know meeting is delayed. At Alex’s suggestion Ryan takes opportunity to pick up suit at dry cleaners.
EXT. STREET – DAY
On his way to dry cleaner Ryan helps (stranger) Meg Gilmore get her car started so she can make a grad school mid-term.
INT. DRY CLEANERS – DAY
Ryan gets call from Alex. Meeting in conference room is back on to original time.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
Ryan arrives late for meeting. Don is presenting Ryan’s spot as primarily his (Don’s) work. Agency CEO Andrew Sterling compliments Don on quality of spot. Announces client has decided they want to change (agreed upon) direction of the campaign. A new script will be needed by Monday.
Transformational Event 1 – Ryan agrees, under duress, to write the new script over the weekend, which means forgoing his high school reunion which he had been looking forward to.
INT. RYAN’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Ryan is working on new script. Gets call from his ex-wife KAY, about a silver picture frame that is hers. Ryan says he will try to locate it, even though it is on his desk containing a picture from Ryan and Kay’s wedding. Ryan’s attention is drawn to a self-help infomercial.
Transformational Event 2 – Ryan downloads free trial copy of life-coach-in-a-box app onto his phone.
The download is interrupted by incoming call from his friends CLAYTON and ART who try to convince him to at least attend the opening reception of reunion weekend that evening. Ryan refuses, using deadline as reason. Clayton informs Ryan that his (Ryan’s) high school sweetheart, Lindsey, will be at the reception.
Transformational Event 3 – Ryan decides to attend reunion reception.
Act 2
INT. LAKESHORE HIGH SCHOOL REFECTORY
Ryan is regaling Reunion Attendees with stories of high school antics and is upstaged by his high school nemesis PAUL STILES, now a massively successful high-tech tycoon.
Ryan crosses paths with high school sweetheart LINDSEY. It is apparent from their conversation that their high-school romance ended badly and that a spark still exists between them. Their conversation is interrupted by…
A welcoming ceremony by the spry, elderly, and distinguished EDWIN GODLING, Alumni Board President, who enjoys a near mythic status and is known to be a business mentor to Paul Stiles.
We establish part of the following day’s festivities will include a presentation and dedication of two custom-designed, ornate, and extremely expensive urns which Stiles is donating to grace the entrance way to the school.
We are introduced to Godling’s grand-nephew BART, who – still in college – is in attendance as the youngest member of the alumni board. We also learn Lindsey and Stiles are married.
INT. ART’S MINIVAN – NIGHT
Plot-point – Ryan’s phone has been on the fritz since the interrupted download of the self-help app.
Ryan is torn as to whether he should finish the script over the weekend as planned or attend the upcoming reunion events in order to see Lindsey. Art wants to call it a night. Clayton suggests they maintain the reunion spirit and spend the remainder of the evening as they would if still in high school.
EXT./INT. EMERALD BUD CANNABIS EMPORIUM
Art and Clayton speak with owner and fellow alum NAME while Ryan purchases a goodly supply of pot. The sales-person is Meg Gilmore, who Ryan had helped earlier getting her car started. Clayton watches as Ryan and Meg engage in easy banter.
INT. ART’S MINIVAN – NIGHT
Clayton chides Ryan for not getting Meg’s number, then informs Ryan and Art that the owner of the Emerald Bud (who we met at the reunion reception?) had supplied something even better than pot, hallucinogenic mushrooms. Ryan is leery of the prospect, Art objects outright, saying he’s not even sure he wants to smoke pot, let alone trip on mushrooms. Clayton suggests they go somewhere quiet to discuss the options and he knows just the place…
INT. STRIP CLUB
After heated discussion (periodically interrupted by Strippers offering lap-dances, Art agrees to determine whether or not they do mushrooms via a ro-sham-bo (rock, paper, scissors) contest with Clayton. Clayton wins and the die is cast.
Our heroes get in an altercation with Bart Godling (who we met at the reunion reception), who is at the strip club with some of his collegiate friends. The altercation results in Bart and his friends being kicked out of the strip club – they threaten our heroes as they depart.
EXT. ARBORETUM PARK – NIGHT
Our heroes go to a large park to take the mushrooms. The road leading into the park is blocked with a closed gate. Clayton goads Art into “off-roading” around the gate and onto the road.
EXT. PARK CLEARING – NIGHT
Our heroes choke down the mushrooms and wait for them to take effect. We learn from Art that the urns Stiles is donating to Lakeshore High will be taking the place of some statues of Lions (the school’s mascot) that had graced the entrance-way to the school for years but had been stolen by a local fraternity decades ago. Ryan goes to take a leak.
EXT. PARK UNDERBRUSH – NIGHT
As Ryan relieves himself the half-downloaded self-help app on his phone crackles to life with positive-thinking homilies and advice that takes on the appearance of an actual conversation with Ryan which (along with the hallucinogenic effect of the mushrooms) convinces Ryan that by re-connecting with Lindsey and making amends for their break up it will symbolically put to rest the mistakes of his past and give him a fresh start going forward.
Transformational event 4 – Ryan makes active decision to improve quality of his life by re-connecting with Lindsey.
EXT. PARK CLEARING – NIGHT
Ryan returns to the now tripping Art and Clayton (who are arguing over the merits of commitment, monogamy, and fidelity – Art is pro all three, Clayton less than convinced). Ryan announces his intention to see Lindsey that night. A spotlight beams down on them. Police tell them to come out of the clearing with their hands up.
A hilarious field sobriety test ensues with Ryan, Clayton, and Art – now fully tripping – performing their tasks with super-human efficiency. The mystified police – who are having a professional spat as one of them (a younger woman) recently passed the detective (?) test which the other (older grizzled male) did not pass – and this is their last night as partners. Ultimately the cops give them a warning for being in the park after-hours and tell them to take off and keep their noses clean.
INT. MINIVAN – NIGHT
Ryan plots out elaborate plan to connect with Lindsey at her Hotel. Clayton sees Bart and his frat-pack friends getting out of a car and entering another strip club.
Set-piece: American Graffiti homage – Clayton sets chain around back axel of frat pack car. Ryan goes into strip club – taunts and flips off Bart and the frat pack. They give chase, Ryan allows them to see him get in Minivan which takes off. Frat pack jumps in their car and floor it, which results in their rear axle being torn off and their damaged car sitting in the parking lot.
EXT. HOTEL – NIGHT
Ryan, Clayton, and Art have to make their way through throngs of Self-Help enthusiasts to enter the hotel. Tommy Nelson Thomas, the self-help speaker who created the app Ryan downloaded is holding a seminar.
INT. HOTEL LOBBY – NIGHT
Ryan, Clayton, and Art perform Ryan’s incredibly elaborate and intricately timed plan to absolute perfection… and it proves completely ineffective. Guided by the cryptic messages of the self-help app Ryan runs into Lindsey – apparently completely by chance. Unfortunately she is with the distinguished Edwin Godling, who regards Ryan and his subtle hallucinogenic idiosyncrasies warily. Ryan is completely ineffective; fortunately Lindsey manages to slip Ryan a note telling him to meet her later that night (or morning) at the Lakeshore High campus.
Ryan messes up the self-help seminar fire-walk. Millennials char their feet.
EXT. LAKESHORE HIGH ATHLETIC TRACK – NIGHT
Ryan and Lindsey meet at high school campus and walk the athletic track as they did when dating in high school. Ryan apologizes for infidelity which caused their break-up. Lindsey forgives him. Confides that Stiles recently confessed to an affair and their marriage is in a precarious spot. Ryan is genuinely sympathetic. Lindsey Is taken by his empathy and openness, somewhat jokingly asks if he’s drunk. Ryan assures her he’s completely sincere, not drunk…doesn’t mention mushrooms. Lindsey kisses Ryan on the cheek, says she often wonders what might have been, leaves.
ACT 3
Note – we can flesh out Art and Clayton’s subplots in next assignment
INT. MINIVAN – NIGHT
Ryan is confident “the curse is lifted.” Having reconciled with Lindsay he has earned his second bite at the apple.
INT. HOTEL – NIGHT
Lindsay and Stiles argue about Stiles’ affair and Lindsey meeting Ryan that night.
INT. MINIVAN – NIGHT
The conversation turns to how Ryan and Lindsey broke up in high school, specifically, how did Lindsey find out about Ryan’s cheating? All Ryan knows is Lindsey received an anonymous note informing her and when Ryan lied about it, she confronted the girl in question, who confessed.
Art changes the subject back to the curse being lifted. Just then Clayton inadvertently kicks a (previously set up) flare from Art’s safety kit, which ignites and fills the van with smoke and attracts the attention of a…
EXT. ROAD – NIGHT.
…Police cruiser which turns on its lights and pulls over the Minivan.
INT. HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT
Stiles informs Lindsey that Art let it slip that Ryan and his friends are on mushrooms.
EXT. ROADSIDE – NIGHT
The two (still feuding) police we met at the park when our heroes had just taken the shrooms now have our heroes lined up outside the Van. It appears they are going to take our heroes in and book them when…
Meg Gilmore, the clerk at the pot shop who Ryan had helped start her car, calls from her car to the police saying a naked man armed with a gun (or umbrella – she’s not quite sure) is walking in the middle of the street a few blocks away.
The cops tell our heroes to call it a night and stay off the roads. And get in their car.
Meg winks to Ryan and drives off.
INT. MINIVAN – NIGHT
Ryan says the happy ending confirms that the curse is indeed lifted.
Overcome by guilt, Art blurts out a confession that back in high school he let it slip to Stiles that Ryan cheated on Lindsey. Ryan, is overcome by the implication: Stiles had used the information to break him and Lindsey up so he could go out with her.
Art is extremely apologetic. Ryan, magnanimous in his belief that the curse is removed, forgives Art. Tells him not to worry about it. At least he has put things right with Lindsay.
At that moment, Ryan receives from Lindsey who is irate Ryan had lied to her (by omission) about being on mushrooms. As Ryan tries to explain she hangs up, angrier at him than ever before.
Ryan glumly announces the curse is back. Clayton insists that’s ridiculous, there is no curse, then notices…
Bart and the frat pack are in a car next to them. Ryan says the curse is back. Clayton tells Art to take a left turn…
INT VAN/EXT ROAD – NIGHT
Our Heroes appear to have eluded the Frat Pack who are unable to take the left turn from their lane. Clayton declares their escape as proof “the curse” does not exist. At that moment the car lurches to one side. Art pulls the Minivan over.
Upon examination, one of the Minivan’s tires is completely blown out. Despite the fact we have established that Art is hyper-prepared for any possible contingency to an almost ridiculous degree… turns out he doesn’t have a spare tire.
In the far distance the Frat Pack car is visible, circling back to take the turn they missed.
With no other choice, our Heroes begin pushing the minivan to get it off the road. Ryan spots a car dealership ahead and directs their efforts to get the minivan to the dealership parking lot.
Once in the lot, Art immediately drawn to a section of the lot filled displaying a selection of Land Rovers (we have already established his fascination with Land Rovers) and is joined by the dealership owner, a smooth talking… well… used car salesman.
Ryan & Clayton use the Minivan’s car-jack and tools to remove the flat tire. Ryan spots the Frat Pack car in the distance heading in their direction. Ryan has Clayton take the car-jack & tools and wheel the flat tire to a similar Minivan which is part of the dealership inventory. Clayton jacks up the other minivan and begins removing a tire.
As the Frat Pack car nears, Ryan grabs a price sign off a nearby car (a clunker) and puts it on the front window of the Minivan to disguise it as part of the dealership inventory. The low price immediately attracts the attention of passing pedestrians. As the Frat Pack car bears down on the dealership, Ryan assumes the persona of a salesman and engages in a hard-sell of the Minivan, attracting a CROWD of shoppers. The Crowd prevents the Frat Pack from getting a clear view of the Minivan or Ryan, and they pass the dealership and continue on their way.
Clayton wheels the new tire to the minivan and gets it attached as Ryan disperses the Crowd of potential shoppers. (joke opportunity – the crowd’s buying desire is aroused, metaphorically battling off aroused suitors). Clayton grabs Art (much to the chagrin of the owner/salesman), they get in the Minivan WITH RYAN NOW DRIVING, and take off in the opposite direction as the Frat Pack had gone.
INT. MINIVAN – NIGHT
As our heroes drive off, the self-help app on Ryan’s phone sputters a series of unrelated self-help homilies and “dies.” Art is sympathetic to Ryan’s loss. Clayton cynically points out that it’s not a loss. It’s an app that can be re-downloaded. Ryan interprets the app’s last utterances as having given him the means of re-removing the curse: upstage Stiles at the next day’s dedication of the urns. Clayton asks how. Ryan turns to Art and asks “which frat was it?” a reference to the conversation they had in the park about the urns being placed in spot that decades earlier had been occupied by caste-iron lions – this is Transformational Event 5 – Ryan taking control of events..
ACT 4
INT./EXT. FRATERNITY HOUSE – NIGHT
Our Heroes approach the Frat House which Art identifies as the one which stole the ions from Lakeshore High decades ago. According to Art the Lions are in the secret pledge initiation room in the attic of the frat house.
Reaching the Frat House and peering in through the window our Heroes discover Bart and is friends in the living room drinking beer and playing video games. Ryan comes up with a plan – this is Transformational Event 6.
.Ryan knocks on the door, insults and enrages Bart and the frat pack, and runs off with Bart and the Frat Pack in hot pursuit, allowing Art and Clayton to slip into the frat house.
EXT. STREET/INT. FRAT HOUSE – NIGHT
Intercut:
Ryan being chased by the frat pack with Art and Ryan making their way through the frat house and discovering the Lions in the Attic.
EXT. STREET – NIGHT
Self-Help guru Tommy Nelson Thomas is out for a (PREVIOUSLY SET UP) jog, working off some of the frustration from the evening’s disasterous seminar.
EXT. STREET/INT. FRAT HOUSE – NIGHT
Intercut:
The frat pack closing on Ryan with Art and Clayton unbolting the Lions discovering they are far too heavy to budge.
Art comes up with a plan…
INT./EXT. FRAT HOUSE/EXT STREET – NIGHT
INTERCUT
Art parking the Van at the Foot of the Frat House.
Clayton and Art using a rope to pull the Minivan’s winch cable up and over a (sturdy structure) then attach to the lion.
Art using the winch to pull the Lions out of the frat house attic window then using the (sturdy structure) as a fulcrum to slowly lower the Lions toward the ground.
With
The frat pack cornering Ryan.
Tommy Nelson Thomas arriving.
Frat pack insulting Tommy and putting him over the edge.
Tommy Nelson Thomas using Tae Kwan Do skills to beat up the frat pack as Bart and Ryan look on.
Ryan and Bart turning toward one another. Ryan decking Bart – – this is Transformational Event 6 .
INTERCUT
The cable gets jammed and Art just manages to escape as the Minivan is pulled up off the ground. The Lions and the minivan reach equilibrium hovering some 20 feet off the ground.
Art getting on the frat house front-porch-roof, bolt-cutter in hand, intent on cutting the cable to free the Lions even if it means sacrificing the van
With
Ryan and Tommy Nelson Thomas running back to the frat house.
EXT. FRAT HOUSE – NIGHT
Ryan and Tommy Nelson Thomas arrive in time to see…
Art stumbling off the front porch roof and managing to get a grip on the winch-cable as he inadvertently cuts it.
The Van crashing down onto the ground and crumpling.
Art being pulled up and through the attic window.
The Lions landing on the Lawn unscathed.
Tommy Thomas making a phone call.
EXT. FRAT HOUSE – NIGHT
Ryan and Clayton help the dazed but okay Art out of the Frat House. Our heroes wonder what to do. Tommy Nelson Thomas assures them everything is handled. A semi-truck, adorned with Tommy Nelson Thomas’s smiling countenance pulls up and two burly Teamsters get out.
As the Teamsters load the Lions into the truck with a fork lift, Art reports his van as having been stolen… gives the police a description of the thieves matching the frat pack.
EXT. STREET – NIGHT.
Our Heroes are in the cab of the Semi as it drives down the street, passing…
The battered and bedraggled Bart and the Frat Pack as they make their way back to the…
Frat House, the crumpled Van on the lawn.
EXT. LAKE SHORE SCHOOL COURTYARD – DAY
The Reunion Festivities continue with the planned unveiling of the urns. After Stiles makes his address he lifts the curtain of the urns, revealing the Lions.
Stiles is flabbergasted.
Edwin Godling, alumni board president, demands to know who is responsible. Ryan steps forward. Godling grabs his hand and shakes it enthusiastically. Godling had been a student the year the Lions were stolen. Has long advocated for their return.
Linsdsey and Ryan make their peace. Ryan has opportunity to reveal Stiles’ duplicity to Lindsey. Stiles’ is (need to set up) aware Ryan could essentially end his (Stiles’) relationship with Lindsey. Ryan doesn’t tell Lindsey – – this is Transformational Event 7 – Ryan taking control of events..
. They (Lindsey and Ryan) part on good terms. Stiles raises a glass toward Ryan in a gesture of thanks.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
Ryan is expected to present the new ad direction but instead makes an impassioned plea to show the original ad to the client, winning the support of agency CEO Andrew Sterling – who is especially gratified when Ryan announces he had landed two new: one of Edwin Godling’s company and one with self-help guru Tommy Neslson Thomas. This sequence is Transformational Event 8.
INT. JEWELRY STORE – DAY
Clayton buys an engagement ring. Starts to flirt with salesgirl. Stops himself.
EXT. KAY’S HOUSE – DAY
Ryan hands Kay the silver frame, the wedding picture still in it. They hug. Ryan departs.
EXT. USED CAR LOT – DAY
Art is with the Used Car Salesman admiring the Land Rover he just bought… which is his wife’s favorite color (set up).
INT. EMERALD BUD POT SHOP – DAY
Ryan asks Meg Gilmore out. She accepts.
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Chris Blanchett’s Transformational Events
What I learned doing thus assignment is a new way of approaching character arcs/journeys: develop them organically step-by-step, then distribute them strategically throughout the script.
Character Arc
Internally, Goes from wallowing in the past, risk-averse, compliant, and victimized to embracing the future, adventurous, assertive, and self-directed. Externally, goes from being a victim of office-politics who allows others to take credit for his work to a master of the game whose insights, talents, and major contributions are recognized and appreciated.
Old
WaysRyan is overworked and underappreciated at work.
Allows others to take credit for his work.
Victim of office politics.
Fails to champion his ideas and insights.
Hasn’t gotten over his divorce, wallowing in the past.
New
WaysRyan is dynamic and valued contributor.
Gets full credit for his contributions.
Deftly handles political challenges.
Successfully champions his ideas and insights.
Focused on the present and future.
Steps Necessary for Change
1) Admit he’s unhappy with the way things are (the way he is).
2) Take baby-steps out of comfort zone.
3) Break old pattern of thinking and behaving.
4) Set a goal that causes him to expand.
5) Take action on the goal.
6) Endure and rebound from setbacks and failure.
7) Achieve a win that would have been beyond his old way self.
8) Translate the victory into a new (way) self-definition and act on it.
Events Leading to the Changes
1) Downloads self-help app
2) Goes to reunion instead of working/approaches Lindsey
3) Eats mushrooms with friends
4) Has to see Lindsey tonight
5) Hotel plot to distract her husband (Stiles)/sees Lindsey on campus
6) In face of Lindsey’s rejection he devises plan to upstage stiles
7) Against all odds, kidnaps the Lions and upstages Stiles at dedication ceremony
8) Manifests new self-definition with a big win at the office and asking girl out
Events Incorporated into Four Act Structure
Act 1:
Opening
Agency creative director takes credit for a spot Ryan created. Client wants to go in a new direction. Ryan needs to work all weekend on new approach; can’t attend high-school reunion weekend events as he had planned.
Event 1 – Downloads self-help app
Inciting
IncidentRyan’s friends convince Ryan to forego work and attend the reunion opening night reception.
Event 2) Goes to reunion instead of working/approaches Lindsey
Turning
PointAt the reunion-reception Ryan talks with his old girlfriend Lindsey for first time since they broke up junior year. Lindsey is married to mega-tycoon Paul Stiles, Ryan’s high-school nemesis. Spark between Ryan and Lindsey still there.
Plot-point: We establish there will be a ceremony the next day where two extremely ornate and expensive handcrafted Italian urns – donated to the school by Paul Stiles – will be unveiled in their new home gracing the entranceway to the school.
Act 2:
New
planAfter the reception Ryan and friends eat mushrooms (old times sake) and Ryan has the hallucinogen-fueled revelation that achieve rapprochement with Lindsey will symbolically represent rectifying all the mistakes of his past and give him a fresh start.
Event 3) Eats mushrooms with friends
Event 4) Sets goal to see Lindsey tonight
Plot-point: We establish Lindsey cannot abide dishonesty. We learn the urns Stiles donated to the school are replacing two cast-iron Lions stolen from campus decades ago by local fraternity.
Plan
in actionRyan and his friends go to swank hotel where Lindsey and Stiles are staying. Ryan’s friends keep Stiles occupied. Ryan surreptitiously makes plan to meet Lindsey on high school campus later.
Plot-point: Stiles learns they are on mushrooms.
Event 5) Hotel plot to distract her husband (Stiles)/sees Lindsey on campus
Midpoint
Turning PointRyan and Lindsey meet at high school campus and walk the athletic track as they did when dating in high school. Ryan apologizes for infidelity which caused their break-up. Lindsey forgives him. Confides that Stiles recently confessed to an affair and their marriage is in a precarious spot. Ryan is genuinely sympathetic. Lindsey Is taken by his empathy and openness, somewhat jokingly asks if he’s drunk. Ryan assures her he’s completely sincere, not drunk…doesn’t mention mushrooms. Lindsey kisses Ryan on the cheek, says she often wonders what might have been, leaves.
Act 3:
Rethink
everythingRyan learns from one of his friends that back in high school Stiles had written the anonymous note letting Lindsey know about Ryan’s infidelity.
New
planRyan knows that given Stiles’ recent affair, and Lindsey’s intolerance of duplicity, if Lindsey learned Stiles wrote the anonymous letter, it would mean the end their marriage.
Turning
Point: Huge failure / Major shiftStiles revealed to Lindsey that Ryan and his friends were on mushrooms. Lindsey calls Ryan. The fact he was again duplicitous negates any rapprochement. They are more estranged than ever. Ryan decides if nothing else, for once he is going to best Stiles by upstaging the next day’s urn dedication ceremony. Ryan and his friends drive to the frat which stole the Lions decades ago.
Event 6) In face of Lindsey’s rejection Ryan devises plan to upstage Stiles
Act 4:
Climax/Ultimate
expression of the conflictRyan takes charge of the situation and he and his friends distract the fraternity brothers and steal the lions. The next day the lions are unveiled in place of the urns. Alum and board members are delighted. Ryan has (finally) upstaged Stiles. Lindsey says she overreacted to mushroom news – that she has to learn to be more forgiving, referring both to Ryan and Stiles. Ryan has opportunity to let Lindsey know Stiles wrote the letter, but chooses not to. Stiles realizes the ramifications of Ryan not telling Lindsey and thanks Ryan privately.
Event 7) Against all odds, Ryan kidnaps the Lions and upstages Stiles at dedication ceremony
Resolution
Monday at work Ryan convinces the client that the original spot is the way to go. The client is impressed with Ryan’s assertiveness and puts him in sole charge of the account. Ryan also wins new business from one of Stiles’ companies. And he pursues a new romantic interest.
Event 8) Manifests new self-definition with a big win at the office and asking girl out
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Chris Blanchett’s Four-Act Transformational Structure
What I learned from this assignment is the necessity of having a strong enough grasp of your story to be able to convey the key turning points in a few word. Spoiler alert… I’m not there yet… ; )
Concept
Jaded advertising executive Ryan Frederics reverts to adolescent antics in attempts to rekindle a romance with his high-school sweetheart (Lindsey) the night of their reunion. Essentially, a classic teen-sex comedy with all middle-aged characters.
Main Conflict
Ryan is convinced rectifying his relationship with Lindsey will symbolically represent rectifying all the mistakes of his past and give him a fresh start. Paul Stiles, Lindsey’s mega tycoon husband and Ryan’s high school nemesis, wants to thwart Ryan’s attempts to achieve rapprochement with Lindsey.
Old Ways
Ryan is overworked and underappreciated at work. Allows others to take credit for his work. Victim of office politics. Fails to champion his ideas and insights. Hasn’t gotten over his divorce, wallowing in the past.
New Ways
Ryan is dynamic and valued contributor. Gets full credit for his contributions. Deftly handles political challenges. Successfully champions his ideas and insights. Focused on the present and future.
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Act 1:
Opening
Agency creative director takes credit for a spot Ryan created. Client wants to go in a new direction. Ryan needs to work all weekend on new approach; can’t attend high-school reunion weekend events as he had planned.
Inciting Incident
Ryan’s friends convince Ryan to forego work and attend the reunion opening night reception.
Turning Point
At the reunion-reception Ryan talks with his old girlfriend Lindsey for first time since they broke up junior year. Lindsey is married to mega-tycoon Paul Stiles, Ryan’s high-school nemesis. Spark between Ryan and Lindsey still there.
Plot-point: We establish there will be a ceremony the next day where two extremely ornate and expensive handcrafted Italian urns – donated to the school by Paul Stiles – will be unveiled in their new home gracing the entranceway to the school.
Act 2:
New plan
After the reception Ryan and friends eat mushrooms (old times sake) and Ryan has the hallucinogen-fueled revelation that achieve rapprochement with Lindsey will symbolically represent rectifying all the mistakes of his past and give him a fresh start.
Plot-point: We establish Lindsey cannot abide dishonesty. We learn the urns Stiles donated to the school are replacing two cast-iron Lions stolen from campus decades ago by local fraternity.
Plan in action
Ryan and his friends go to swank hotel where Lindsey and Stiles are staying. Ryan’s friends keep Stiles occupied. Ryan surreptitiously makes plan to meet Lindsey on high school campus later.
Plot-point: Stiles learns they are on mushrooms.
Midpoint Turning Point
Ryan and Lindsey meet at high school campus and walk the athletic track as they did when dating in high school. Ryan apologizes for infidelity which caused their break-up. Lindsey forgives him. Confides that Stiles recently confessed to an affair and their marriage is in a precarious spot. Ryan is genuinely sympathetic. Lindsey Is taken by his empathy and openness, somewhat jokingly asks if he’s drunk. Ryan assures her he’s completely sincere, not drunk…doesn’t mention mushrooms. Lindsey kisses Ryan on the cheek, says she often wonders what might have been, leaves.
Act 3:
Rethink everything
Ryan learns from one of his friends that back in high school Stiles had written the anonymous note letting Lindsey know about Ryan’s infidelity.
New plan
Ryan knows that given Stiles’ recent affair, and Lindsey’s intolerance of duplicity, if Lindsey learned Stiles wrote the anonymous letter, it would mean the end their marriage.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift
Stiles revealed to Lindsey that Ryan and his friends were on mushrooms. Lindsey calls Ryan. The fact he was again duplicitous negates any rapprochement. They are more estranged than ever. Ryan decides if nothing else, for once he is going to best Stiles by upstaging the next day’s urn dedication ceremony. Ryan and his friends drive to the frat which stole the Lions decades ago.
Act 4:
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict
Ryan takes charge of the situation and he and his friends distract the fraternity brothers and steal the lions. The next day the lions are unveiled in place of the urns. Alum and board members are delighted. Ryan has (finally) upstaged Stiles. Lindsey says she overreacted to mushroom news – that she has to learn to be more forgiving, referring both to Ryan and Stiles. Ryan has opportunity to let Lindsey know Stiles wrote the letter, but chooses not to. Stiles realizes the ramifications of Ryan not telling Lindsey and thanks Ryan privately.
Resolution
Monday at work Ryan convinces the client that the original spot is the way to go. The client is impressed with Ryan’s assertiveness and puts him in sole charge of the account. Ryan also wins new business from one of Stiles’ companies. And he pursues a new romantic interest.
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Chris Blanchett’s Character Interviews
What I learned from this assignment is the necessity (and difficulty) of opening up my brain and interacting with my characters as real people.
Ryan Frederics – Protagonist
Role in the Story: Victim/Dreamer – Ryan has lost touch with his ambitions and dreams and allowed himself to become a doormat to his co-workers. The events of the story – which take place primarily at his high school reunion – reawaken his self-confidence and ability to fend for himself.
Age range: early 40’s (possibly older, depending on marketing/casting strategy) still relatively youthful, but grey hair is beginning to appear…
Internal Journey: Goes from wallowing in the past, risk-averse, compliant, and victimized to embracing the future, adventurous, assertive, and self-directed.
External Journey: Goes from being a victim of office-politics who allows others to take credit for his work to a master of the game whose insights, talents, and major contributions are recognized and appreciated.
Motivation: Locate the moment where his life took a wrong-turn
Wound: Failure of his marriage; loss of love.
Mission/Agenda: Reconnect with Lindsay
Secret: The marriage ended because he had an affair
What makes him special: Genuinely talented and excellent at what he does, even if deficient at self-promoting which keeps him from fully benefitting from his accomplishments.
What draws us to this character?
Ryan is good at what he does professionally. He’s funny. Idealistic and ultimately, still has a romantic vision of life – however hidden. He is kindhearted (perhaps to a fault?). His good nature is taken advantage of by more unscrupulous co-workers (sympathy vote).
Traits: Funny, intelligent, schemer, creative problem solver.
Subtext: Uses humor to convey unpleasant truths.
Flaw: A well-concealed streak of narcissism. Defines (to himself) character flaws (allowing others to claim credit for his work) as strengths (office politics are below me).
Values: Do the right thing. Love. Achievement (credited or otherwise). Humor.
Irony: his grandiose plans and ambitions conflict with his (subconscious) sense of undeserving-ness.
What makes this the right character for this role?
Ryan has behavior patterns from the past controlling his present. Good fit for a character in a story about regressing to past personas.
Ryan Frederics (Protagonist) Insights from Interview
Ryan was born and raised in Seattle. Growing up he wanted to be the next F Scott Fitzgerald. After graduating college he pursued novel writing for 2 years, then took a job writing advertising copy. He got married in his late thirties, was divorced by his early forties. No kids.
Ryan is called on this journey to metaphorically retrace his steps and determine when he took a wrong turn in his life with the intent of getting things back on track.
Back in high school, Ryan had always considered Paul Stiles his nemesis. While Ryan was good at everything, Stiles was great at everything. It was ironically fitting that Stiles ended up with Lindsey, but ultimately Ryan had no one to blame but himself for that…
Ryan is going to have to free himself from the self-imposed straight jacket of belief that engaging in any behavior that could be interpreted as manipulative or underhanded is unacceptable. This belief keeps him from effectively competing in office politics and puts him at a disadvantage in competing with Stiles who has no such self-restrictions.
It’s less a matter of what ways of thinking Ryan has to let go of and more a matter of the ways of thinking he has to recapture. Ryan yearns for his youthful persona; alive with dreams and ambitions, and not engaging in continual self-doubt and self-censorship.
The essential fears, insecurities and wounds that hold Ryan back are a streak of narcissism he can barely admit to himself (and which causes him to spend an enormous amount of energy hiding from everyone else) and the failure of his marriage, for which he secretly blames himself (and not without reason).
Ryan is smart, funny, and charming. He operates most effectively as an underdog. His belief that re-discovering the Ryan who existed before his break up with Lindsey back in high school will provide him the key to turning his life around instills in him motivation sufficient to do whatever it takes.
Ryan is hiding the fact that his divorce – which he has yet to fully get over – was his fault. He had an affair.
From Ryan’s standpoint, Paul Stiles has everything Ryan wants: wealth, massive recognizable success, and (especially), Lindsey.
Ryan and Lindsey were going out junior year of high school. There was an amazingly genuine connection between the two of them. From their high school perspective, they were truly and passionately in love. Lindsey studied abroad spring quarter. While she was gone, Ryan had an ongoing tryst with one of her best friends. Lindsey found out. When she confronted Ryan, he lied about the affair. Unfortunately for Ryan, Lindsey’s friend confessed. Due to (her father’s affair?) Lindsey considered duplicity to be the one unforgiveable sin. To Lindsey, Ryan’s attempted cover-up of the affair was worse than the original crime. She ended their relationship. By senior year, Lindsey and Paul Stiles had started going out. They stayed together after high school. After graduating from college Lindsey and Paul Stiles got married.
Ryan believes if he can succeed in winning Lindsey back, even temporarily, he can get a second chance at everything.
Paul Stiles – Antagonist
Role in the Story: Villain – Despite his perfect-man persona, mega-tycoon Paul Stiles has a manipulative side which decades ago resulted in Ryan breaking up with his high-school sweetheart Lindsay, who is now Stiles’ wife. Stiles is dedicated to again pulling whatever strings are necessary to prevent Ryan and Lindsay from reconnecting.
Age range: like Ryan early 40’s, the creeping effects of middle-age are perhaps less apparent due to whatever cutting edge anti-aging treatments a mega-tycoon can afford.
Internal journey: goes from being manipulative and obsessed with appearing good to more humble and authentically good.
External journey: Goes from being in a position to pull the strings in his relationship to Ryan one where Ryan has the upper hand.
Motivation: Maintain his perfect-man persona.
Wound: The knowledge he’s secretly a fraud.
Mission/Agenda: To keep Ryan and Lindsay from reconnecting.
Secret: He’s the one that wrote the note that ended Ryan’s relationship with Lindsay in high school.
What makes him special: Genuinely talented and excellent at what he does, has a particular genius for self-promotion which ensures he fully benefits from his accomplishments.
What draws us to this character?
An “aw shucks” charm coupled with massive business success and power.
Traits: Ernest, intelligent, visionary.
Subtext: Poster-boy for passive-aggression.
Flaw: An acute case of impostor syndrome
Values: Success. Authority. Keeping up his “perfect-man” persona.
Irony: He lives in mortal fear the edifice of his success is built on a foundation of lies.
What makes this the right character for this role?
Stiles is the inverse version of Ryan.
Paul Stiles (Antagonist) Insights from Interview
Paul was a closet-computer-nerd in High School, which presented a continual inner conflict with his desire to be one of the “cool-kids.” Graduating in the early 80’s, the geek-side of his personality positioned him well to break into the high-tech industry at the tail end of the initial PC wave. He developed a (software?) company (the first of many) and when it went public he made his first hundred million before the age of 28.
In terms of strengths, Paul is highly intelligent, highly disciplined, and as ruthless as he needs to be. What he lacks and secretly covets is Ryan’s easy charm and humor.
Paul is committed to making Ryan fail because Ryan’s goal is to win Paul’s wife. Paul is in a particularly precarious position with Lindsey because he did the one thing he thought he never would: he had an affair, and she (recently) found out. They’re still together (for now) but the marriage is in an extremely precarious place, and Paul is in an extremely vulnerable state. From his standpoint, Paul has to prevent Ryan from re-connecting with Lindsey because he thinks there’s a real chance any nudge could motivate Lindsey to leave him (Paul). Lindsey is the only person in Paul’s life that he truly and unconditionally loves.
Another risk for Paul is that, back in high school, Paul wrote an anonymous letter to Lindsey telling her of Ryan’s affair, with the intent of ending Lindsey’s relationship with Ryan, at which he succeeded. No one knows it was Paul who wrote the letter – including Lindsey. As discerned in the Ryan interview, Lindsey considers duplicity the one unforgivable sin. Given the strain his affair has had on their relationship, Paul is convinced that if Lindsey were to discover he wrote the letter it could cause Lindsey to reevaluate their entire relationship in a new light, and very likely leave him.
Deep down Paul feels special and attributes his ability to excel to his possessing the almost robotic analytical intelligence of a techie while also simultaneously possessing a core of humanity (he believes) typical techies lack.
Paul always secretly looked up to Ryan in high school, and in many ways consciously modeled himself after Ryan. He always envied Ryan’s easy charm and humor while aspiring to it. Paul had been in love with Lindsey since freshman year, long before she and Ryan started going out. For his secret idol to win the girl he was secretly in love with was traumatic for Paul. He subconsciously justified his actions designed to break Ryan and Lindsey up with the childish justification “I saw her first.”
Other Necessary Characters
Supporting characters: Lindsay (love interest), Meg (another love interest), Ryan’s two best friends from high school (Clayton and Art), Ryan’s boss, Ryan’s office nemesis, Ryan’s duplicitous assistant, Stiles’ business mentor, and a self-help guru.
Minor roles: Evil Fraternity brothers, reunion attendees.
Background characters: non-speaking office staff, non-speaking reunion attendees.
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Chris Blanchett’s Character Profile Part 2
What I learned from this assignment is the necessity of clearing defining your protagonist and antagonist and their complementarily conflicting character traits.
Ryan Frederics – Protagonist
What draws us to this character?
Ryan is good at what he does professionally. He’s funny. Idealistic and ultimately, still has a romantic vision of life – however hidden. He is kindhearted (perhaps to a fault?). His good nature is taken advantage of by more unscrupulous co-workers (sympathy vote).
Traits: Funny, intelligent, schemer, creative problem solver.
Subtext: Uses humor to convey unpleasant truths.
Flaw: A well-concealed streak of narcissism. Defines (to himself) character flaws (allowing others to claim credit for his work) as strengths (office politics are below me).
Values: Do the right thing. Love. Achievement (credited or otherwise). Humor.
Irony: his grandiose plans and ambitions conflict with his (subconscious) sense of undeserving-ness.
What makes this the right character for this role?
Ryan has behavior patterns from the past controlling his present. Good fit for a character in a story about regressing to past personas.
Paul Stiles – Antagonist
What draws us to this character?
An “aw shucks” charm coupled with massive business success and power.
Traits: Ernest, intelligent, visionary.
Subtext: Poster-boy for passive-aggression.
Flaw: An acute case of impostor syndrome
Values: Success. Authority. Keeping up his “perfect-man” persona.
Irony: He lives in mortal fear the edifice of his success is built on a foundation of lies.
What makes this the right character for this role?
Stiles is the inverse version of Ryan.
Elements from Character Profile Part 1:
Ryan Frederics – Protagonist
Role in the Story: Victim/Dreamer – Ryan has lost touch with his ambitions and dreams and allowed himself to become a doormat to his co-workers. The events of the story – which take place primarily at his high school reunion – reawaken his self-confidence and ability to fend for himself.
Age range: early 40’s (possibly older, depending on marketing/casting strategy) still relatively youthful, but grey hair is beginning to appear…
Internal Journey: Goes from wallowing in the past, risk-averse, compliant, and victimized to embracing the future, adventurous, assertive, and self-directed.
External Journey: Goes from being a victim of office-politics who allows others to take credit for his work to a master of the game whose insights, talents, and major contributions are recognized and appreciated.
Motivation: Locate the moment where his life took a wrong-turn
Wound: Failure of his marriage; loss of love.
Mission/Agenda: Reconnect with Lindsay
Secret: The marriage ended because he had an affair
What makes him special: Genuinely talented and excellent at what he does, even if deficient at self-promoting which keeps him from fully benefitting from his accomplishments.
Paul Stiles – Antagonist
Role in the Story: Villain – Despite his perfect-man persona, mega-tycoon Paul Stiles has a manipulative side which decades ago resulted in Ryan breaking up with his high-school sweetheart Lindsay, who is now Stiles’ wife. Stiles is dedicated to again pulling whatever strings are necessary to prevent Ryan and Lindsay from reconnecting.
Age range: like Ryan early 40’s, the creeping effects of middle-age are perhaps less apparent due to whatever cutting edge anti-aging treatments a mega-tycoon can afford.
Internal journey: goes from being manipulative and obsessed with appearing good to more humble and authentically good.
External journey: Goes from being in a position to pull the strings in his relationship to Ryan one where Ryan has the upper hand.
Motivation: Maintain his perfect-man persona.
Wound: The knowledge he’s secretly a fraud.
Mission/Agenda: To keep Ryan and Lindsay from reconnecting.
Secret: He’s the one that wrote the note that ended Ryan’s relationship with Lindsay in high school.
What makes him special: Genuinely talented and excellent at what he does, has a particular genius for self-promotion which ensures he fully benefits from his accomplishments.
Other Necessary Characters
Supporting characters: Lindsay (love interest), Meg (another love interest), Ryan’s two best friends from high school (Clayton and Art), Ryan’s boss, Ryan’s office nemesis, Ryan’s duplicitous assistant, Stiles’ business mentor, and a self-help guru.
Minor roles: Evil Fraternity brothers, reunion attendees.
Background characters: non-speaking office staff, non-speaking reunion attendees
Genre
Comedy
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Chris Blanchett’s Character Profiles – Part 1
What I learned from this assignment is how important it is to not hold back in giving your protagonist stark shortcomings simply because you like them. Also the importance of establishing diametrically opposed agendas for your protagonist and antagonist.
Ryan Frederics – Protagonist
Role in the Story: Victim/Dreamer – Ryan has lost touch with his ambitions and dreams and allowed himself to become a doormat to his co-workers. The events of the story – which take place primarily at his high school reunion – reawaken his self-confidence and ability to fend for himself.
Age range: early 40’s (possibly older, depending on marketing/casting strategy) still relatively youthful, but grey hair is beginning to appear…
Internal Journey: Goes from wallowing in the past, risk-averse, compliant, and victimized to embracing the future, adventurous, assertive, and self-directed.
External Journey: Goes from being a victim of office-politics who allows others to take credit for his work to a master of the game whose insights, talents, and major contributions are recognized and appreciated.
Motivation: Locate the moment where his life took a wrong-turn
Wound: Failure of his marriage; loss of love.
Mission/Agenda: Reconnect with Lindsay
Secret: The marriage ended because he had an affair
What makes him special: Genuinely talented and excellent at what he does, even if deficient at self-promoting which keeps him from fully benefitting from his accomplishments.
Paul Stiles – Antagonist
Role in the Story: Villain – Despite his perfect-man persona, mega-tycoon Paul Stiles has a manipulative side which decades ago resulted in Ryan breaking up with his high-school sweetheart Lindsay, who is now Stiles’ wife. Stiles is dedicated to again pulling whatever strings are necessary to prevent Ryan and Lindsay from reconnecting.
Age range: like Ryan early 40’s, the creeping effects of middle-age are perhaps less apparent due to whatever cutting edge anti-aging treatments a mega-tycoon can afford.
Internal journey: goes from being manipulative and obsessed with appearing good to more humble and authentically good.
External journey: Goes from being in a position to pull the strings in his relationship to Ryan one where Ryan has the upper hand.
Motivation: Maintain his perfect-man persona.
Wound: The knowledge he’s secretly a fraud.
Mission/Agenda: To keep Ryan and Lindsay from reconnecting.
Secret: He’s the one that wrote the note that ended Ryan’s relationship with Lindsay in high school.
What makes him special: Genuinely talented and excellent at what he does, has a particular genius for self-promotion which ensures he fully benefits from his accomplishments.
Other Necessary Characters
Supporting characters: Lindsay (love interest), Meg (another love interest), Ryan’s two best friends from high school (Clayton and Art), Ryan’s boss, Ryan’s office nemesis, Ryan’s duplicitous assistant, Stiles’ business mentor, and a self-help guru.
Minor roles: Evil Fraternity brothers, reunion attendees.
Background characters: non-speaking office staff, non-speaking reunion attendees
Genre
Comedy
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Chris Blanchett’s Transformational Journey
What I learned from doing this assignment is the usefulness of defining your character’s arc/journey right upfront with an almost completely symmetrical specificity, rather than carrying it around in your head as vague and unformed impressions.
My main character is Ryan Frederics, a jaded advertising executive who has completely lost the dreams and ambitions of his youth.
Internal Journey: Goes from wallowing in the past, risk-averse, compliant, and victimized to embracing the future, adventurous, assertive, and self-directed.
External Journey: Goes from being a victim of office-politics who allows others to take credit for his work to a master of the game whose insights, talents, and major contributions are recognized and appreciated.
Old Ways
Considers office-politics beneath him, and therefore consistently loses at them.
Has not moved on from his divorce which was years in the past.
Puts the needs of others above his own.
Overworked and under-appreciated.
New Ways
Plays the game when necessary – and wins.
Actively pursues a new romantic relationship.
Approaches professional interactions with the goal of mutually beneficial results.
An enthusiastic top producer whose contributions are recognized and appreciated.
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Chris Blanchett
I agree to the terms of this release form.
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:
1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by Christopher Blanchett.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by
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Hi. I’m Chris Blanchett. I’ve written eight screenplays. I’m looking to use this class as the kick in the motivation I need to complete my next script. As to something unique, special, strange, and unusual about me… I like writing screenplays.
: )
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by Christopher Blanchett.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by
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Primarily general marketing support and press/pr for films being released theatrically… yes, it still happens! ; )