[Dwayne]

Breaking Bad 5Star Model

I learned from this assignment the importance of creating fully-formed characters. Characters with complexity, depth, and dimension are far more engaging than flat, one-note characters. Also, an unpredictable, fast-moving central plot line filled with suspense, intrigue, and mystery makes a show hard to stop watching.

1. Big Picture Hook: A chemistry teacher (Walter White) is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He decides to spend the little time he has left on Earth cooking meth to earn money to leave for his wife and son.

2. Amazing and Intriguing Character: What makes Walter White so intriguing is seeing his transformation from a shy chemistry teacher into a ruthless drug lord over the course of the pilot episode. Walter White is a complex character with many dimensions.

3. Empath / Distress: We can empathize with Walter White because he is a man who is unhappy with what he has accomplished so far in his life, only to discover that his life will soon end due to a terminal illness diagnosis.

4. Layers / Open Loops: The pilot episode leaves several important questions unanswered that can only be resolved by watching the full season or series. Will Walter eventually tell his wife about his criminal activities? How long will it be before law enforcement catches on to Walter? How much will Walter accomplish before his life ends?

5. Inviting Obsession: The premise of Breaking Bad and the structure of the pilot episode create a strong sense of intrigue. As viewers, we are left wanting to see the consequences of Walter’s choices and how this will affect his relationships in the limited time he has remaining.

[Dwayne]

Dwayne L.

I agree to the terms of this release form:

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Dwayne]

Hello, my name is Dwayne. I have written three comedy scripts and now I am looking to use some of the tools I learned in this class to write my first one-hour drama. One unusual fact about me is that I include my houseplants in the house meetings.