[doug Johnson]

What I learned doing this assignment is that it’s an excellent exercise for identifying where conflicts not only can but should come up between characters. I’ll be doing this for every single relationship.

LESSON 6, ASSIGNMENT 1

RELATIONSHIP MAPS: BIG LITTLE LIES

MADELINE/CELESTE:

Surface: Best friends

Common Ground: Kids in same class, stay-at-home moms

Conflict: Envy, dishonesty

History: Superficial friendship

Subtext: M is envious of C’s perfect/passionate life

Relationship Arc: Superficial to intimate friendship

MADELINE/JANE:

Surface: New friends

Common Ground: Two against Renata

Conflict: Forget the past vs confront the past

History: Met when Jane came to Madeline’s aid

Subtext: M wants J to have the “Fresh Start” she longs for, and is one of M’s “causes”

Relationship Arc: From big sis/little sis to new (unclear) ground

MADELINE/RENATA:

Surface: Adversaries

Common Ground: Kids in same class

Conflict: Renata’s petition to cancel play

History: Alphas clashing

Subtext: They are alike in many ways

Relationship Arc: Adversaries to conspirators

LESSON 6, ASSIGNMENT 2

RELATIONSHIP MAPS: TIN MEN

JOHN/DANA:

Surface: Brother/sister

Common Ground: Toxic family upbringing

Conflict: Mutual resentment

History: Dana ran, John picked up slack

Subtext: Dana actually sacrificed more

Relationship Arc: Estranged to bonded

JOHN/KEIRA:

Surface: Husband/wife

Common Ground: Their kids

Conflict: Financial & parenting struggles, Stale marriage

History: Married out of obligation

Subtext: Marriage was a mistake and held them both back

Relationship Arc: Partners to adversaries to true partners

KEIRA/DANA:

Surface: Sisters-in-law

Common Ground: John

Conflict: Competition over niece/daughter

History: Were friends before Keira and John got together

Subtext: Mutual jealousy

Relationship Arc: Competition to acceptance to betrayal

[doug Johnson]

Lesson 5, Assignment 1:

Depth of Emotion: Big Little Lies

MADELINE:

HOPE/FEAR: Greater fullfillment/Being average

WANT/NEED: To be the person she thought she would/To be content with who she is

EMOTION/MASK: Inadequacy/Bulldog

WEAKNESS: Cares what people think of her

TRIGGERS: People fucking with her efforts to be more

COPING MECH: Trash-talking those she feels threatened by

CELESTE:

HOPE/FEAR: Family unit/Splitting up

WANT/NEED: Perry to be the man she thought he was/To escape Perry

EMOTION/MASK: Things are broken/Things are perfect

WEAKNESS: Won’t advocate for herself

TRIGGERS: Abuse

COPING MECH: Toxic sex

JANE:

HOPE/FEAR: Normal life/Abnormal life

WANT/NEED: Better life for her and Ziggy/Closure

EMOTION/MASK: Helplessness/Fierce defender in control

WEAKNESS: Can’t move on

TRIGGERS: Ziggy’s problems at school, memories of her rape

COPING MECH: Running

RENATA:

HOPE/FEAR: Strength/Being put in positions of weakness

WANT/NEED: Protect her daughter/Raise a daughter who can protect herself

EMOTION/MASK: Weakness/Bulldog

WEAKNESS: Temper, Self-esteem

TRIGGERS: Daughter being bullied

COPING MECH: Rage

Lesson 5, Assignment 2:

Depth of Emotion: Tin Men

JOHN:

HOPE/FEAR: Life choices will lead to success/Life choices doomed him to failure

WANT/NEED: Success/To achieve all he is capable of

EMOTION/MASK: Inadequacy/Responsible Dad & Husband

WEAKNESS: Jealousy, Blind dedication, Too reserved, Fear of risk

TRIGGERS: Watching others succeed far beyond him

COPING MECH: Taking extended jobs away from home

DANA:

HOPE/FEAR: Avoid pain of self-awareness/Fear that she is a bad person

WANT/NEED: “The Prize” that will fix everything/To commit to something real

EMOTION/MASK: Letting people down/Fuck up who doesn’t care what people think

WEAKNESS: Soft heart

TRIGGERS: People being treated unkindly, especially kids

COPING MECH: Self-destructive behavior

GARY:

HOPE/FEAR: Fulfilling life/Wasted life

WANT/NEED: Provide for family/Self-expression

EMOTION/MASK: Untapped potential/Average Joe

WEAKNESS: Poor judgment makes bad situations worse

TRIGGERS: Government over-reach, Catch 22 of work/pay, Art

COPING MECH: Temper, Unconventional artistic outlets

CHICK:

HOPE/FEAR: Freedom/Trapped

WANT/NEED: Highs/Roots

EMOTION/MASK: Fear/Daredevil

WEAKNESS: Unreliable, reckless

TRIGGERS: Responsibilities

COPING MECH: Dangerous stunts

KEIRA:

HOPE/FEAR: Recognition/Not being special

WANT/NEED: To be a public hero/To be a private hero

EMOTION/MASK: Failing as mother/Protector

WEAKNESS: Self-absorbed

TRIGGERS: Seeing others get the glory

COPING MECH: Sabatoge

[doug Johnson]

Lesson 4, Assignment 1:

Layers of Character Intrigue: Big Little Lies

A. Hidden Agendas:

Madeline: Assuage her feelings of jealousy and abandonment

Celeste: To be free of Perry’s abuse

Jane: Revenge against her rapist

Renata: Unsure – She seems to make her agendas very clear

B. Competition

Madeline: Constantly comparing herself to Bonnie, who seems perfect

Celeste: With Perry for kids’ love and loyalty

Jane: With other school moms to stand her ground with Ziggy

Renata: To be the fiercest mom

C. Conspiracy:

Madeline: Recruits whoever will listen to support her cause

Celeste: Sees counselor behind Perry’s back to discuss escape

Jane: With Madeline to confront her rapist in San Luis Obispo

Renata: Unsure – She seems more like a lone crusader

D. Secrets

Madeline: Did/will she have an affair with the theater director?

Celeste: The abuse she suffers

Jane: She wants to escape Ziggy and her pain, suicidal

Renata: Don’t see one yet

E. Deception

Madeline: Unhealthy feelings for other men she keeps from Ed

Celeste: Presents image of perfect life despite dark truths

Jane: Conceal’s the truth about Ziggy’s dad from him

Renata: She is not a stone cold bitch at heart

F. Wound

Madeline: Divorce, Regret about her life choices/path

Celeste: Abuse, compromise

Jane: Rape

Renata: Wants to be liked/desired

G. Secret Identity

Madeline: Unsure

Celeste: Badass lawyer

Jane: Unsure

Renata: Fun/spontaneous person

Lesson 4, Assignment 2:

Layers of Character Intrigue: Tin Men

A. Hidden Agendas:

John, Dana, Gary, Chick: To pull off an elaborate crime and get rich

Keira: To be a hero

B. Competition:

John: With rich boss and other parents who give their kids better lives

Dana: With John & Keira for Ivy’s adoration

Gary: Jealous of people who followed artistic pursuits

Chick: To outdo himself and others with his daredevil stunts

C. Conspiracy:

John, Dana, Gary, Chick: With the crew to pull off the crime

Keira: Negotiating National Park job that would require relocating

D. Secrets:

John: They’re broke

Dana: Who/whatever she’s running/hiding from

Gary: Wife has racked up crippling gambling debt

Chick: Has a secret family

E. Deception:

John: Hiding financial and criminal activity from family

Dana: Must lie to family to protect herself

Gary: Uses his students to do his dirty work

Chick: Every action is a reaction to his deep fears

Keira: Sets up crimes to thwart them

F. Wound:

John: Feels he missed out on the best years of his life caring for parents

Dana: Toxic relationship with mother who died young

Gary: Gave up his dreams

Chick: Abandoned his wife and kids due to fears

Keira: Never got her due and now pursues recognition

G. Secret Identity:

John: Reckless side dreams of being like Chick

Dana: Nurturer

Gary: Artist

Chick: Family man dreams of being like John

Keira: Pyromaniac

[doug Johnson]

I’m confused by the Day numbers vs Lesson numbers – 11 Lessons and 12 Days. So is Day 1 the Pre-course, then Days 2-12 are Lessons 1-11? Should what I just posted here for Lesson 3 be on Day 4? Does it matter? Is Pi involved in this math?

[doug Johnson]

Lesson 3, Assignment 1:

Engaging Characters: Big Little Lies

A. Role in the show

Madeline: Affluent housewife/mother/bulldog, confident exterior masking self-doubt

Celeste: Affluent housewife/mother who gave up a successful career for an abusive husband

Jane: Unemployed single mother with trauma in her past

Renata: Powerful career woman and fierce mother

B. Unique purpose/expertise

Madeline: Brutal honesty, no fear of conflict

Celeste: Hiding her ugly truth

Jane: The only character in the group who doesn’t need to keep up the appearance of a perfect life. Her truth is much uglier than imperfection.

Renata: Ruthlessness

C. Intrigue

Madeline: Navigating deep regrets about her life choices while also embracing them

Celeste: Keeping the secret of her abuse

Jane: What is the ghost of her past?

Renata: Longs to be liked, desired, and fun

D. Moral issue

Madeline: Shows a willingness to sacrifice the well-being of children in service of her anger

Celeste: Subjects herself and her children to a violent home

Jane: Sleeps with a gun under her pillow, protective instincts trump moral decisions

Renata: Controlling and ruthless

E. Unpredictable

Madeline: Never know what she’s going to say or do, she’s always willing to engage conflict head on

Celeste: Paradoxical behavior of the violence in her marriage both damaging her and arousing her

Jane: Questionable psychological/mental state due to trauma in her past. And that gun!

Renata: Despite her need for control, will she lose control of her anger?

F. Empathetic

Madeline: Struggling with her own self-worth and her place in the life of a daughter on the verge of adulthood

Celeste: Victim of domestic violence, sacrificed her successful career

Jane: Single mom struggling to make ends meet while raising the son the man who raped her

Renata: Fiercely protective mother with a hard exterior masking the toll the pressure of her
life is taking on her

Lesson 3, Assignment 2:

Engaging Characters: Tin Men

What I learned doing this assignment is that my main characters need work.

Journey: Four Colorado sheetmetal workers stash a million dollars worth of contraband inside the ductwork of a new maximum security prison during its last month of construction.

Characters that sell this show: John and Dana (brother and sister)

A. Role in the show

John: A regular guy who gets sucked into a world of crime when his estranged sister returns with a price on her head.

Dana: Insatiable drifter, not content to live a banal existence.

Gary: John’s best friend, dreamed of being a metal sculptor but settled for life as a shop teacher.

Chick: He’s a wild card, a daredevil. The guy John wishes he could be.

Keira: John’s wife, a park ranger and born rescuer.

B. Unique purpose/expertise

John:

Expertise: Mechanical wizard and highly skilled sheet metal fabricator.

Purpose: To save his sister and live vicariously through her.

Dana:

Expertise: Understands the criminal underworld that is so foreign to John.

Purpose: Forces John to take risks.

Gary: Creativity

Chick: Fearlessness

Keira: Born rescuer

C. Intrigue: What secrets are beneath the surface?

John: Why did he suddenly quit the academy and pursue a trade instead of going into law enforcement like his father and grandfather? What’s the source of his discontent?

Dana: Who is she running form and what did she do that got her into so much trouble?

Gary: His wife (a corrections officer) has accumulated a six figure gambling debt.

Chick: He has a kid no one knows about.

Keira: I don’t know yet.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

John: He’s no criminal but will commit crimes out of loyalty to his sister while keeping dangerous secrets from his wife and kids.

Dana: Is she willing to put her brother and his family in jeopardy to save her own skin?

Gary: Recruiting his student to help carry out their crime.

Chick: He abandoned his family.

Keira: I don’t know yet.

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

John: John is happiest when his work takes him away from home for extended periods. Will he act on his thirst for freedom and adventure?

Dana: She is completely unreliable and has been known to vanish when things get hot.

Gary: Has an uncanny knack for making a bad situation worse.

Chick: Always leaps before he looks.

Keira: Can be more committed to her cause than to her family.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

John: John is loyal to his family and friends to a fault.

Dana: Her intentions are good even if her actions are bad.

Gary: He gave up his dream for the woman he loved.

Chick: He’s fun and exciting.

Keira: She’s passionate about everything she does.

[doug Johnson]

Lesson 2, Assignment 2:

Doug Johnson’s Three Character Circles: Tin Men

What I learned doing this assignment is that my anchor character isn’t the most intriguing character in my story and needs work.

Concept: Four Colorado sheetmetal workers stash a million dollars worth of contraband inside the ductwork of a new maximum security prison during its last month of construction.

A. Main Circle:

John Tampico, 40’s, second-to-none sheetmetal worker and second-to-many family man. Born leader without any desire to be one, he loyally holds it all together but wants more out of life.

Dana Tampico, 30’s, John’s little sister. Sheetmetal worker #2. Irresponsible and free, an itinerant worker who’s spent time in jail herself.

Gary Bellows, 40’s, John’s best friend. Sheetmetal worker #3. Married to a corrections officer, he dreamed of being a metal sculpture artist but settled for a steady paycheck.

Charles “Chick” Young, 30’s, Gary’s apprentice. Sheetmetal worker #4. A daredevil who leaps before he looks.

B. Connected Circle:

Keira Tampico, 40’s, a park ranger and John’s wife, a courageous, stubborn rescuer. Ivy Tampico, John and Keira teen daughter, takes after her Aunt Dana. Tyler Tampico, John and Keira’s grade-school son, thoughtful and reserved.

Frank McCormick, the asshole shop boss. Calvin Empers, a prison contraband king. Frizell, the crew’s inside man. Flo Bellows, Gary’s wife, a corrections officer. Motel manager, nosy fly on the wall.

C. Environment Circle:

Rival construction trades, Building inspectors, Metalworkers union, Prisoners and CO’s, Local police and officials, Prison spouses, Halfway houses, Town residents and business owners, gangs and organized crime on the outside with connections on the inside, Ivy and Tyler’s teachers, friends, classmates.

[doug Johnson]

Lesson 2, Assignment 1:

Three Character Circles: Big Little Lies

A. Main Characters Circle:

Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata

B. Connected Circle:

Madeline’s husband Ed, Madeline’s ex-husband Nathan, Nathan’s new wife Bonnie, Celeste’s husband Perry, Renata’s husband

Madeline and Nathan’s daughter Abigail (High School), Madeline and Ed’s daughter Chloe (1st Grade), Celeste and Perry’s twin sons (1st Grade), Renata’s daughter Ammabelle (1st Grade), Nathan and Bonnie’s daughter Skye (1st Grade), Jane’s son Ziggy (1st Grade)

School principal, Detective

C. Environment Circle:

Teachers, Students, Other mothers at school, Yoga instructor & class, Celeste and Renata’s nannies, Renata’s staff, Abigail’s friends, Theater director, Barista, Police press conference background players

[doug Johnson]

Big Little Lies

WHAT DID I LEARN FROM THIS EXERCISE?

That David E. Kelley can use all the “tell don’t show” he wants and still have it work. His characters repeatedly verbalize themes, emotions, and plot elements but he still manages to keep it moving forward rather than let lack of action kill the momentum. There’s very little action, which makes a violent act (not the murder) in the final 10 minutes even more shocking.

The main thing that struck me with this show is how Kelley is fully able to create unlikable characters that warrant our empathy without making it feel inauthentic or convenient. He does it by making their unlikability a product of the very thing that makes them empathetic. It’s a cause and effect, and for that reason feels real. I also really noticed the effective use of kids as mirrors for adults, while still being fleshed out characters in their own right.

BIG PICTURE HOOKS

The setup of this show is well-worn territory. We start off with a flash-forward murder, not knowing who’s dead or who the murderer is. So, we’re left to spend the remainder of the episode trying to figure out the answers to both of those questions while being introduced to the story world and the characters who inhabit it, wondering which one of them is going to die and which one of them is going to kill. That world might be the biggest hook of this show, very rich and very beautiful Californians in a breathtaking setting (Monterey.) These are privileged people whose lives look perfect from the outside, so to see that those lives are anything but perfect is a bit of schadenfreude. We’ve also got non-linear storytelling throughout the episode in the form of a slew of police interview snippets from less privileged witnesses who serve as narrators, delivering character insights that border on gossip at times, but are juicy nonetheless, and add layer upon layer to our leads. The perfect façade has cracks and we already know it’s gonna end badly.

AMAZING AND INTRIGUING CHARACTER

These characters are intriguing right off the bat because as a culture we have a fascination with wealth and lifestyle that comes with it. We equate it with success and happiness to a large extent. But these rich, beautiful people are dealing with serious personal and emotional issues, and clearly want those layers to remain hidden. Each of the leads wears an emotional mask publicly, and some even privately. That’s a stressful existence. Now add the element of the group/community dynamic and it gets real complicated real fast. Everyone is judging everyone from the start, which can be a lot less painful than self-reflection.

EMPATHY/DISTRESS

This is definitely an ensemble cast, but Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) is established as the primary POV in this episode. She’s basically introduced as a “Karen,” and David Kelley makes no attempt to make her likable at first. But he also slowly shows us her vulnerability, and by the end of the episode we absolutely feel empathy for her. She’s navigating the potential loss of her teen daughter to a younger, cooler step-mom, the loss of a theater production that could be an outlet for her feelings of emptiness, and her very clear regret that her life didn’t turn out the way she wanted is pretty universal. “She grew up wanting to be Betty Grable and grew up Betty Crocker” is how one witness puts it.

LAYERS/OPEN LOOPS

This pilot is just loaded with layers and open loops. Every major character is set up with mysteries and/or secrets. David Kelley uses police interviews, child characters as reflections, and glimpses into their daily seemingly perfect but sadly flawed lives to hint at those secrets and layers in a really effective way. Jane’s got some serious darkness in her past, brewing in the form of some dreams that give us absolutely nothing but mystery and dread. The primary open loop is in the title of the episode itself, “Someone’s Dead.” We don’t know who or why, and those answers are withheld to get us back for Episode 2.

INVITING OBSESSION

Every character is set up with mysteries and secrets that they want to keep hidden. The biggest mystery of course, is who will murder and who will be murdered. The police announce at a press conference that they don’t have suspects yet, but the simple fact that ALL the witnesses are talking about is our lead characters says otherwise. The episode denies us the answers we want, and we do want to see which one of these privileged moms breaks first.

[doug Johnson]

Doug Johnson

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