[Edith Schmidt]

Edith’s mystery sequence

What I learned is how to weave the villain and the red herring together to form a mislead.

1. The big secret that the villain is covering up? Why does he want to kill André?

2. ways to cover that secret: nobody knows who he is, he appears everywhere André is, pretending to be “just another passenger”, trying to help André, being a witness of the attacks, saving him, another man is arrested for the attacks

3. first mystery: he shows up at André’s home, watching him and his family

4. mystery sequence: who is this man following André?, what does he want?, why does he want that?, is he really threatening him? (Red Herring)

5. mystery chain:

who is this man following André? He’s acting in a strange way, he shows up everywhere André is, he is always close when “something happens”, he finally takes André hostage, his reason is revealed as they meet André’s father.

what does he want? First he wants the Christmas present, then he seems like accidental help, in the end his true reason is revealed

why does he want that? he is insane, his hatred is aimed at André’s father, not André, his son committed suicide after being fired by André’s father

Is he really threatening him? André is accompanied by another employee of his father, he acts like the son André’s father would have liked to have.

[Edith Schmidt]

Edith’s villain has a great plan!

What I learned is that the best way to weave the threads together is to start at the end.

My story:

1. What is the end goal of my villain: he wants to hurt and kill André because he wants his father to suffer like he did when his own son died because he was fired by André’s father.

2. How can the villain accomplish that in a devious way: he follows André everywhere after bumping into him at the toy shop.

3. How can he cover it up: he merely threatens André at the beginning, first himself, later his wife and children, pretending it was something André had done, and only when he meets his father the truth is revealed.

4. Sequence it to make it as intriguing as possible: he follows André on his way home (where his wife and children live whom he wants back) and watching how they act and prepare for christmas, following him on the business trip André has to take to please his father, André is shot at but nobody is seen, even the business meeting is ruined, cutting the business short André hurries home in fear of his wife and children and is attacked many times, he is finally taken hostage and taken to his father where the reasons for the villain are revealed.

[Edith Schmidt]

Edith’s BI & SOTL Stacking Suspense

My list of what I learned through both movies:

Why are these movies thrilling?

1) Because of the characters

Basic Instinct: Nick is not an ordinary detective – he has problems. Catherine is not an ordinary woman – she uses her female attraction to manipulate and play with men.

Silence of the lambs: Clarice is still in education and yet is called into a case that is unique. Hannibal is not an ordinary serial killer, but unlike Buffalo Bill he is extremely smart.

2) Because of the case

In both cases the crime is outstanding and cries out for finding the villain.

3) Because of the timing

The clues that might (or might not) lead to the criminal are presented bit by bit, sometimes the viewer knows more than the protagonist, sometimes the protagonist knows more than the viewer. Yet every scene gives us new information, like a piece of a jigsaw so at the end we have (or in the case of BI have not) the solution and the criminal is arrested.

[Edith Schmidt]

Edth’s World and Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is that not only one character has M.I.S., but all of the main characters.

1. Concept:

Big Mystery: Will André be able to stand up to his father & get his family back?

Big Intrigue: Who is the stranger and why is he following André?

Big Suspense: Will he defeat the stranger and stay alive?

2. Intriguing World:

André has lost his wife and family, because his father intervened too much. So to achieve his goal he has to stand up to his father which is hard for him for he never managed to do that.

3. Top characters:

Hero: André

A – Mystery: Why can’t he stand up to his father?

B – Intrigue: Why is the stranger after him?

C – Suspense: Will he survive and get his family back?

Red Herring: The stranger

A – Mystery: Who is he?

B – Intrigue: What does he want?

C – Suspense: Will he get what he wants?

Villain: André’s father

A – Mystery: What are his true feeling towards his son?

B – Intrigue: Does he know the stranger and what he wants?

C – Suspense: Will he help his son and find peace with him?

[Edith Schmidt]

Edith Schmidt, Big M.I.S.

What I have learned doing this lesson: Essentiality of the premises.

Logline: André is struggling to stand up to his dominant father because he just wants to get his wife and children back when a stranger appears, following him everywhere and watching his every step.

1. Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: André, a man in his late 40s. His father just bought one of the few gold-beating companies in Schwabach, Germany, the home of gold-beating.

His wife just left him because she couldn’t stand his father’s humiliations any longer. For André getting his wife and his gorgeous children back is hin primary goal. But do achieve that he has to stand up to his father – which is too hard for him.

Then the stranger appears.

2. Dangerous villain: Actually this is André’s father who destroyed his family. A dominant man who gives a damn about others.

But also the stranger is a villain. And André is forced to find out why this stranger is after him. Here his physical life is in danger.

3. High stakes & 4. Life and death situations: First the stranger just watches André, but soon he threatens him. He watches hif wife, his children, the gold-beating company and finally André’s life and the lives of his wife and children.

5. This story is thrilling because André is already in a challenging situation (saving his family) but now is confronted with a second challenge: the stranger.

Big Mystery: Will André be able to stand up to his father & get his family back?

Big Intrigue: Who is the stranger and why is he following André?

Big Suspense: Will he defeat the stranger and stay alive?

[Edith Schmidt]

Who am I
German Movie by Baran bo Odar (Dark, Sleepless) available at Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime

What I learned doing this assignment is that if I go through the following eight questions I can set the basis for a good thriller.

2.1. Unwitting but resourceful hero: Benjamin is somebody who is “not seen” by others, but he knows how to handle a computer. And he wants to get in touch with his idol MRX.

2.2. Dangerous villain: Dyber Crime Detective Hanne Lindberg who wants to catch him.

2.3. High stakes: Benjamin and his three friends will go to jail if they are caught for their coups are getting ever more dangerous. And they are also getting the attention of MRX who is defending his throne.

2.4. Life and death situations: All their hacks, especially when their idol MRX gives a clear sign that he disapproves their actions they find themselves being chased by two fractions: MRX and the BND.

2.5. This movie is thrilling because the movie starts off with Benjamin finding his friends murdered in a hotel room followed by Benjamin sitting in an interrogation cell. There he starts telling his story what happened on his way of finding out WHO AND WHAT HE IS.

3.1. Big Mystery: Who is Benjamin and what made him who he is now in this interrogation cell.

3.2. Big Intrigue: The German Secret Service, the BND.

3.3. Big Suspense: Two: Is he able to become No. 1 and before the BND gets him.

4. One of the best German movies, also because of its ending.

[Edith Schmidt]

Edith Schmidt

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.

[Edith Schmidt]

Hi, everyone! Seems I cannot keep up with you for I have written only two scripts so far. Nevertheless I always wanted to write screenplays and now want to learn the craft of Thriller writing at the best school for learning screenwriting. How to form a plot with twists that keep the viewer hooked until the very end.
I am German, living in Germany, used to be a bank clerk but turned to learning Naturopathy and helping many people of solving the cause of their illnesses. Through my patients I learned so many different life stories and how they follow certain rules, so now I want to use this for my stories to create appropriate characters.