[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

MOD 1 LESSON 4

SUCCESSION LAYERS OF CHARACTER INTRIGUE

LOGAN

Role: Patriarch and owner of Waystar, multi-media and entertainment empire.

Hidden Agenda: To come back and run the company. Test all his children to see who comes out on top.

Competition: He is in competition with his children and especially Kendall. His enemy which happens to support Stewy. In competition with Stewy as well.

Conspiracy: He conspired with his wife to show up at the Royco Wreckingball party and announce he’s back.

Secrets: Borrowed $4 billion against the company. The creditors are able to collect when Waystar stock goes under $130. He is physically weakened after the brain hemorrhage.

Deception: Tells the world how he cares and has worked all his life for his children. How one must support children. He says it to hide that he pits his children against each other.

Wound: Hates to be worthless and not in charge. “Retire me and shoot me like a dog in the street? Fuck you.” He must present a strong self when he is physically very weak.

Secret Identity: He became weak after the brain hemorrhage. He is also a cutthroat asshole but to the world he is a caring business and major philanthropist.

KENDALL

Role: Son and potential heir to the empire.

Hidden Agenda: Wants to take over the company on his terms, like saving the company from bankruptcy by bringing in private equity from his best friend Stewy.

Competition: He’s in competition with his father and all his siblings and from those vying for a piece of the company.

Conspiracy: Calls ATN news as some guy close to the source to leak info of Logan’s illness.

Secrets: His druggy past. Sill in love with his wife who is separated from him. He relies on her for advice and support.

Deception: Lies about caring for his Dad when in fact he loathes him.

Wound: Wants his father’s approval. A failed marriage.

Secret Identity: He actually tries to conspire against his Dad who called him out at the Wrecking ball party.

ROMAN

Role: Son and potential heir to the empire

Hidden Agenda: Wants to be CEO

Competition: In competition with all the siblings

Conspiracy: He tells Logan that Kendall is not up to the job of CEO

Secrets: Is overwhelmed by the amount of info as the incoming COO and jerks in front of his high-rise office window.

Deception: He lies to Kendall and siblings but turns around and tells Logan their secrets ad weaknesses.

Wound: He was treated like shit in Los Angeles.

Secret Identity: He is power hungry.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

SUCCESSION ENGAGING MAIN CHARACTERS

LOGAN:

Role: Patriarch of family and successful media mogul.

Unique Purpose/ expertise: Runs Waystar, a media and entertainment empire.

Intrigue: Is recovering from a brain hemorrhage. Will he recover all his faculties? Or will he have a damaged brain? Or will he die soon?

Moral Issue: He is scrupulous and has no morals. Willing to betray, humiliate and destroy people even if they are family and friends.

Unpredictable: He changes direction or his mind whenever it fits his purpose. Willing to put people in sink or swim situations- or throw them to the lion’s den. In Episode 3 he even grabbed his daughter’s hand and tried to put it over his penis. This is the unpredictable behavior resulting from the brain hemorrhage. He has the image of full control but we find out he has borrowed billions that are on a call option, potentially bankrupting the empire.

Empathetic: Everyone is after his money- from the kids to his arch enemy.

KENDALL:

Role: Son of Logan and potential heir/CEO of Waystar empire.

Unique Purpose/expertise: Heir to Waystar. Wants to be CEO of Waystar. Can leverage childhood friendships to save company from a take-over due to default payment. Heir to a Scottish heritage. He has been trained and groomed all his life to take over his Dad’s position.

Intrigue: He hides his weakness from most: Needs support behind the scenes despite his wannabe tough surface appearance.. Calls ex-wife for advice how to handle people- be the Hulk or Bruce Banner?

Moral Issue: Willing to lie and betray his own Dad.

Unpredictable: He is passive aggressive. On the flip of a dime, he can be nice and caring to foul mouthed asshole. He tries so hard to do everyting right . He might really crack and cross the line one day.

Empathy: He is under pressure to save the company from bankruptcy and collapse. He is desperate to be his own man yet he wants so much the approval of his father. He lives under the shadow of his domineering father. He is still in love with his wife who is separated from him.

ROMAN:

Role: Son of Logan and COO of Waystar

Unique Purpose/expertise: Wants to eventually be CEO of Waystar but wiling to work his way up starting at COO.

Intrigue: He acts like the most unpredictable with his radical behavior. He e believes in sage burning and such things. He says what he thinks without hesitation. In the end he is trying to be like his father.

Moral Issue: He lies when he feels the need to get what he wants. He’s willing to betray his own family. Not sure if he has any morals. The type most similar to his Dad.

Unpredictable: Jerks in front of his high-rise office window.

Empathetic: He faces pressure of the COO job he never realized when he opens up a daunting slew of unending emails. He is the son who really is loyal to his Dad.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

SUCCESSION CIRCLE OF CHARACTERS

What I learned is that the focus is indeed on the four main character’s journey and the connecting characters are the people who they interact with in their journey and help shape it. The environment characters lend credibility to the world our characters inhabit. By separating them into 3 different categories, we can focus on the main characters and not get bogged down by a whole cast of characters.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

Logan

Kendall

Roman

Siobhan/Shiv

CONNECTED CHARACTERS

Conner

Greg

Marcy

Tom

Rava

Lawrence Yee

Marianne

Gerri

Eva

Karl

Colin

Carolina

Dewi

Allessandro – one dealing lawyer

Sophie

Iverson

Roman’s wife or girlfriend and child

ENVIRONMENT CHARACTERS

EPISODE 1

Maid scrubbing floor

Waiters for Logan’s party – man and woman

Logan’s man servant vacuuming

Lawrence Yee’s lawyers @ Vaulter x2

Kendall and Frank’s lawyers x 4

Theme Park employees

Theme park employee leader

Theme park kids

Theme park mascots

Roman’s sage burner

Office employees

Gardener, wife and child and garner’s help

Helicopter pilots

Hospital personnel

ICU nurse

ICU Doctor

Doorman

Logan’s maid

Kendall’s driver

Jess

Logan’s driver

Logan’s 2 x body guards

EPISODE 2

ICU Personnel

MRI Personnel

Hospital Personnel

Taxi Driver

Move-in crew in hospital war room

Move-out crew in hospital war room

ICU Doctor

Doorman

Logan’s maid

Kendall’s driver

Jess

Logan’s driver

Logan’s 2 x body guards

ASSIGNMENT #2: MY CHARACTERS

What I. learned is that I can use the three circles to help build not only characters but the world in which the characters inhabit. And each layer requires a specific amount of layers and detail to make them stand out from the others. Systematically identifying them helps keep the writing focused and not chaotic and overwhelming.

1. Ethan Harlow

– Unique Role: Unsuspecting Data Analyst

– Secret or Intrigue: Discovers that he possesses a unique ability to resist memory erasure, a fact unknown even to himself.

2. Dr. Lila Vale (Elijah’s Mother)

– Unique Role: Ethan’s Mother

– Secret or Intrigue: Lila is not only Elijah’s long-lost mother but also the leader of a secret society within the neural network challenging the algorithm.

3. Agent Kai Sterling

– Unique Role: Enigmatic Operative

– Secret or Intrigue: Kai works for a covert government agency that monitors and enforces the algorithm. However, a personal connection to Elijah’s mother raises doubts about the system’s true nature, leading Kai to secretly aid Elijah in his quest.

4. Zara Nova

– Unique Role: Underground Hacker

– Secret or Intrigue: Zara is a brilliant hacker operating within the Void Market. She becomes Elijah’s ally, revealing hidden layers of the network and helping him navigate the dangerous digital underworld.

B. Connected Characters:

1. Silas Kane

– A former slave who escaped the system, Silas becomes Elijah’s guide in the Void Market. His experiences provide valuable insights into the harsh reality of the algorithm-controlled society.

2. Professor Felix Mercer

– Ethan’s former professor and a sympathizer of the rebellion, providing guidance and historical context.

3. Sylvia Frost

– A fellow data analyst who inadvertently becomes Ethan’s confidante, unaware of the larger conspiracy.

4. Cyrus Locke

– A high-ranking official within the algorithm’s governing body, torn between loyalty and a desire for truth.

5. Jasmine Wynter

– A renowned neuroethicist who becomes an unexpected ally, advocating for free will within the neural network.

6. The Broker

– An enigmatic figure within the Void Market, facilitating identity exchanges and revealing key information to Ethan.

C. Environment Characters:

1. Memory Technicians

2. Algorithm Enforcers

3. Identity Merchants

4. Neural Network Maintenance Crew

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by  Elizabeth Wang-Lee.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

SUCCESSION – 5 STAR BINGEWORTHY MODEL ANALYSIS

THE BIG PICTURE HOOK

1. The title: Succession. (Who will succeed in taking over the Roy media empire?)

2. High Concept: A ruthless, aging and ailing mogul relishes his last days of power by playing off his family, close associates and friends against each other in a cutthroat game of “survival of the fittest” to determine the rightful heir to his media empire.

3. An heir to a dinosaur media conglomerate is ready to step up when his father tells him that he’s not ready to hand over the reins. Instead, he’s coming back and adds his wife and wants his other children back in the business.

INTRIGUING CHARACTER

1. Father- Logan

– has health issues from brain hemorrhage to confusion and loss of words

– is ruthless to his own children as a father, patriarch and to his friends and long-time loyal associates. Treats them all like crap.

-Is a man who built a media conglomerate empire from scratch.

– Is a man who controls his world with an iron fist.

– Business is losing leverage but he still operates like he owns the world

– He wants to hand over his business one of his children. He tested his son Kendall and after all the publicity and announcements and Forbes cover story, he decides to not give it to him because he’s weak.

– He pits all his kids against each other demanding they sign a new agreement letting his wife Marcy have 2 votes instead of one.

-At beginning he seems to look like he’s losing it with him waking up not knowing where he is and ready to hand over the business to son Kendall… by the end of the pilot, he is back in control and takes it all back.

2. Son Kendall- Ready to take over a media empire from his dad but must pump himself up in order to be tough like his dad to make negotiations.

– He wants to show everyone he can do business better than his dad. Therefore, the new deal with IP company is important. Once the deal goes south, he freaks out and threatens everyone their existence.

-He needs to prove to his dad; he can do it.

-By end of pilot, while his deal goes through at a very high price, he has lost the crown and is ready to cry. His Dad calls him out on crying, and he fights hard to not do it.

3. Son Roman- Starts off being the outsider never wanting back into the business because he was poorly treated in his Los Angles stint in his father’s company. By the end of the pilot, he forces his dad to kick out his longest and oldest friend and CFO and gets the CFO job himself.

4. Daughter Shiv (Siobhan) – Starts off being busy with politics and not wanting to be in her father’s business. By end of pilot, she’s thinking of taking an important position in the business because her dad wants her back. Or she always wanted it but was waiting for the right moment. We’ll find out which when we continue watching.

5. Wife Marcy- The quiet demure gracious host and wife. By end of the pilot she is about to get the two votes on the board of directors in the media empire. And she knows it and is ready.

6. Son Conner- Will do anything his sister and brother Roman will do. He’s not interested in the business. This makes Kendall more isolated.

7. Nephew Greg- A loser who cannot even keep his job as a mascot in a theme park. His mother sends him to his uncle’s 80^th birthday party to beg for help at the theme park which he owns. The only problem is, Logan will only help if his brother asks for help on behalf of Greg. This of course is not possible. By end of pilot, Greg is brokering the board of directors vote of his grandfather, Logan’s brother, who does not talk to Logan to get a management training job at the theme park.

8. Son-in law Tom- Shiv’s passive-aggressive boyfriend who shivers and crumbles in Logan’s presence, is desperate to be accepted by him and the family but knows he’s never going to be. He is also the second man at the theme park but not the main manager. He hopes to move up with the help of Shiv. By the end of the pilot, he tries to befriend and mentor Greg to possibly secure his position in the family.

DEEP EMPATHY/DEEP STRESS

1. Kendall is under so much pressure he must drink power drinks and pump himself up to do anything from making deals to confronting his super dominant father. He’s scared stiff of his father, and everyone mocks him about it. He tries to be a good father and has already failed as a husband. He’s recovering from a cocaine overdose where he had to go to rehab 2 years ago. He can’t live it down. He wants so much to please his dad that he even signs a contract that basically destroys him by giving Marcy two votes, without even vetting it. He thinks he has the support of his siblings but when push comes to shove, he gets isolated from them.

2. Logan wanted to give his son the reins but see that his son is weak. He must pit his children against each other just to find out who is stronger and more deserving of his inheritance.

3. Frank who lovingly toasts Logan on his 80^th birthday celebration ends up being kicked out of the business completely, to be replaced by Logan’s son Roman.

4. Greg who couldn’t even hold a job is trying to ask for help from the most powerful man in the country, his own Uncle who is ruthless.

5. Tom, Shiv’s boyfriend is always seen as the unwanted future son-in-law. He tries so hard to please Logan by buying a watch which Logan dumps to a Mexican family to pay them off to shut up. Tom tells Greg to look him up if he needs help. Instead, we see Greg already able to take care of himself, unlike Tom who must have the protection of his girlfriend Shiv.

6. Logan gets a brain hemorrhage at end of pilot. Will he make it or will everything fall apart? Or will Kendall make it?

LAYERS/OPEN LOOPS

1. Will Kendall ever become CEO of his father’s media empire or is he out? Will he be able to face the world at this point. Will he make it in the end?

2. Will Roman and Shiv become the next CEO because they are ruthless like their Dad?

3. Will Greg become Tom’s boss one day at the rate he is going?

4. Logan’s only problem is really his health – will he beat it?

INVITING OBSESSION

1. Logan’s children are all the result of his upbringing and dominance. You want to know how each one of them will survive or be shredded by Logan. And you’re curious how far the children will go to take over the empire. And you’re curious how bad humans can be despite flesh, blood, and loyalty.

WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT

I learned to have a truly bingeworthy TV series, the high concept hook is not enough to draw you in. You must have characters that suffer tremendously. Empathy through distress is far more important than if the character is likeable.

In fact, all the characters in Succession are unlikeable because they all show their dark side without hindrance. This makes their good side seem superficial. Their dark side makes them have bravado which the audience can vicariously live it out through them.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by  Elizabeth Wang-Lee.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by  Elizabeth Wang-Lee.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

My name is Elizabeth Wang-Lee, I agree to the terms of this release form.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

1. Elizabeth Wang-Lee

2.I’ve written 3 scripts and many rewrites on scripts originally authored by other writers. I just finished the second draft of my latest script which has been 3 years in the making. I am on the 3rd draft and hope to complete in the next couple months.

3. I want to write amazing binge worthy tv series. I’m thinking of adapting an age old script and turning it into something new. I feel learning it with AI will help me not only improve my writing leaps and bounds but speed up my writing. I am very slow when it comes to writing.

4. My life was headed for the stars when I was in high school. I wanted to an astronaut. But after three fateful twists in my life, the last one could have resulted me being blasted to kingdom come, I realized the universe had something else in mind for me. So I studied and became an architect and worked on some fascinating buildings, which I still keep my hand in on small projects. I also studied film and then became a production executive in hollywood. I shepherded and made happen a very successful film franchise. While I was an executive, writers (even a few big ones) loved my notes because they were always very clear and constructive. So it was natural for me to turn to writing for myself. What a huge surprise when I found out how difficult it was to translate notes and ideas into a really good script. I have taken a zillion courses and my writing only started to improve when I took my first course here at Screenwriting U.

5. I was in Proseries 72, Binge TV 7, and Writing Incredible Movies 1.

Here’s wishing you all good luck! I look forward to working with y’all.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by  Elizabeth Wang-Lee.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Beat Sheet Draft 1

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by systematically adding components of what we learned about character and genre information such as intrigue and subtext, we create the initial beats of the story.

ACT 1: Rizzo’s brother is missing.

· Beginning:

Rizzo must make a presentation to the University of her memory recall system which she and her brother developed or risk losing all funding.

Deeper Layer: She feels she can’t do it without her brother and he’s been missing for months.

PJ: At the end of the presentation, Rizzo is sedated and kidnapped.

Deeper Layer: Rizzo has agoraphobia.

· Inciting Incident: Rizzo is led to her missing brother Marcus who was injured and suffering from PTSD after a secret mission .

PJ: Rizzo is asked to join in a secret assignment . She refuses high hell until the Commander dangles her brother’s name Marcus.

Deeper Layer: She does not know that it’s not just “any mission” that her brother took on.

PJ: Rizzo is happily reunited with an injured Marcus (Marcus Doppler).

AJ: Marcus Doppler must pass Rizzo’s scrutiny.

Deeper Layer: She does not know that her brother is not her brother. She never wants to lose her brother again and she will do anything to make sure it won’t happen

· Turning Point 1: After Rizzo enters Marcus’ memory to review, it ‘appears’ Marcus has killed his squad leader BECKER in the last mission.

PJ: Rizzo goes into Marcus’ memory and discovers the secret mission that Marcus went on.

Deeper Layer: Rizzo does not know the Marcus in front of her is an imposter- Marcus Doppler.

In the Memory:

3^rd J: Marcus encounters strange impossible and scary situations. .

AJ: Marcus Doppler attacks Marcus from behind.

Deeper Layer AJ: Marcus Doppler is able to suppress/hide his memory.

AJ: After the battle Marcus Doppler walks over to check out what looks like a dead Becker.

Meanwhile, Everyone watching the Memory: It appears Marcus killed Becker.

Deeper Layer: And Marcus Doppelganger is able to hide parts of his actual memory but not everything.

AJ: The Commander puts Marcus Doppler under house arrest after seeing what looks like Marcus Doppler killing Becker.

PJ:: Rizzo is shocked and vows to defend Marcus Doppler and prove his innocence. Nurse promises she’ll take care of Marcus Doppler.

· Act 2: Rizzo dives into Marcus’ memory and discovers that his memory cannot go further back than 1^stand 2^nd mission. She thinks it is amnesia induced by PTSD.

PJ: Rizzo meets Frank who was on the last mission. He doesn’t like her. Thinks she is meddling in men’s business. But there is some kind of sexual attraction between the two.

Deeper Layer: Rizzo does not know Frank had a row with Marcus over Marcus’s past.

PJ: Rizzo meets the nurse who introduces Rizzo to Sara and Billy who were rescued in the last mission.

Deeper Layer: Rizzo and everyone at HQ does not know Billy is not who they think he is.

PJ: Rizzo is introduced to HQ Control room and the rest of the team. She visits every aspect of the control room.

Deeper Layer: Rizzo suss’ out the layout and the likelihood of her leaving with Marcus Doppler.

PJ: Rizzo is back inside Marcus Doppler’s memory, reviewing it. She encounters some blocks- dead ends (which we saw in the first play thru). The power goes out.

Miller J: Miller the assistant works to bring the generator back on.

PJ: -She catches a glimpse of a silhouette behind a wall after Marcus Doppler and Marcus have their fight. She moves towards it and it disappears. She jumps out of the memory. She wants another pass could reap more memories

Deeper Layer AJ: When the power is out Marcus Doppler is able to knock out the guard.

· Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Sara who was saved in the last mission is mysteriously killed and her boy Billy survives, and Marcus is the first suspect.

PJ: Rizzo and Miller have been asked to sick bay where the nurse and Sara’s bloody and ravaged bodies lie. Billy is shuddering in the corner. Who is the killer? Marcus Doppler? How can he get out of his room. He has a 24 hr guard.

Frank: Frank tells everyone that ever since Rizzo arrived, there has been nothing but bad things happening.

The Commander: The Commander sounds high security alert.

PJ: Rizzo tells Commander she needs more time with Marcus and must do another memory recall to reap deeper memory cells. At first the Commander refuses, but then acquiesce

AJ: Rizzo tells Marcus Doppler she wants another memory recall. Marcus Doppler doesn’t like to have his memory tampered with. He gets angry and chokes Rizzo.

PJ: Rizzo jabs Marcus Doppler sedating him.

PJ: After entering Marcus Doppler’s memory and searching out clues… She’s able to peer deeper due to the sedation.

PJ: Rizzo tells Miller she surmises he might be an imposter and her brother is still in Black Time.

AJ: Marcus Doppler tells her he wasn’t too thrilled about being jabbed and asks her what she is looking for.

PJ: Scared, Rizzo hides her knowledge. Tells Marcus Doppler that she is just recalling the moment of him not killing Becker so that he can be free of the accusation. Just doing it for him.

AJ: Meanwhile. Marcus Doppler kills Miller.

PJ: Rizzo comes out of the memory to face Marcus Doppler choking her! A life and death Battle ensues between Rizzo and Marcus Doppler. A guard fights Marcus Doppler. Marcus Doppler kills the guard and hears people coming. He escapes.

· End of Act 2: Suddenly Miller is killed. This shocks everyone. Marcus Doppler is on the loose.

· Change in Reality: He’s the killer.

· Act 3: Rizzo figures she must go to Black Time to find the real Marcus. She focusses her efforts to get to Black Time.

PJ: Rizzo tells the Commander her findings and that her real brother is trapped in Black Time. She wants to go into Black Time to search for him.

The Commander: The Commander refuses her request. Says Frank can lead a small, short mission.

The Commander: The commander prepares Frank for a search and rescue mission.

PJ: Rizzo sneeks in with the group.

· Turning Point 3: Huge failure / Major shift: Rizzo arrives in Black Time. There she confronts her own doppleganger.

PJ: Rizzo wakes up confronted by her own Doppler.

Deeper Layer: Rizzo confronts her doppler. Knowing now that there are dopplers confirms her actions.

Frank: Frank is pissed that it’s Rizzo. He leaves her. She follows along.

PJ: She tells Frank only she knows where to search since she reviewed the memory and Frank wasn’t there. Frank acquiesce to her logic..

PJ: They discover a seriously injured Marcus alive!

3^rd J: Marcus knew she would come for him. He looks a wreck. Black Time is deteriorating him. Becker and Billy are alive too.

PJ: Protects Marcus as they battle thru the onslaught of Dopplers.

· Act 4 Climax: When they are back, Marcus Doppler and Billy Doppler stand in their way in front of HQ. A huge clash and battle. Marcus and Rizzo work together to save each other.

PJ: Rizzo and everyone walk into the control room. It looks a little quiet. They discover everyone sitting on the floor, held hostage.

AJ: Marcus Doppler and Billy Doppler are watching guard. They tell them they can’t let them back in because they want to stay in this world. They want this life here.

PJ: Rizzo and the team battled the Dopplers. Both Marcus Doppler and Billy Doppler die.

· Resolution – the new world: Marcus Doppler and Billy Doppler are dead. Rizzo thwarted a potential portal opening for other dopplers.

PJ: Rizzo is sitting with Frank. Oscar is with her.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Deeper Layers

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by systematically adding layers of information such as intrigue and subtext, we create a story with deeper layers.

Surface: A memory scientist searches for her missing brother and is suddenly reunited with him.

Deep Layer: Not knowing he’s an imposter and the real one could be still alive.

Major Reveal: Rizzo realizes that Marcus Doppler’s short sporadic memory is not from amnesia but is from being a copy/doppelganger. She sees in the memory that the real Marcus is not dead and still breathing.

Influences Surface Story: Marcus Doppler tries to cover up his lack of memory and tries to hide specific details of real memory but Rizzo is able to uncover it.

Hints: Marcus Doppler’s character is an asshole while the real Marcus is not. .

Changes Reality: Discovering Marcus Doppler is an imposter, we are afraid for Rizzo.

Deeper Layer Structure

· Beginning: Rizzo must make a presentation to the University of her memory recall system which she and her brother developed or risk losing all funding.

· Surface: Rizzo needs her brother but he is missing and all her search for him has come up empty. She is kidnapped in the middle of the presentation.

· Inciting Incident: Rizzo is led to her missing brother Marcus who was injured and suffering from PTSD after a secret mission .

· Turning Point 1: After Rizzo enters Marcus’ memory to review, it ‘appears’ Marcus has killed his squad leader in the last mission.

· Deeper layer: Rizzo works with Marcus’ memory to explain why her brother is not a killer. She doesn’t know he is an imposter.

· Act 2: Rizzo dives into Marcus’ memory and discovers that his memory cannot go further back than 1^st and 2^ndmission. She thinks it is amnesia. Which makes her more driven to take him home to help him heal.

· Influence the story: Without Rizzo’s knowledge Marcus Doppler has have been able to hide it from her peering eyes.

· Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Sara who was saved in the last mission is mysteriously killed and her boy Billy survives, and Marcus is the first suspect.

· After entering Marcus Doppler’s memory and searching out clues…

Hint: Several clues in memory and other activities point to anomalies with Marcus Doppler.

Major reveal: She sees in Marcus Doppler’s memory the final clue, that her real brother is not dead but could be alive! Rizzo concludes Marcus Doppler is an imposter.

· End of Act 2: Suddenly Miller is killed. This shocks everyone.

· Change in Reality: Marcus Doppler is indeed the killer or could have helped in killing Miller and Sara.

· Act 3: Rizzo figures She must go to Black Time to find the real Marcus. She focusses her efforts to get to Black Time.

· Turning Point 3: Huge failure / Major shift: Rizzo arrives in Black Time. There she confronts her own doppleganger.

· Change in Reality: Rizzo confronts her doppler who shocks her into remembering her own memory and must deal with it. This new revelation galvanizes her desperate need to find her brother alive.

· She discovers the parallel universe and finds Marcus alive! She brings him back so he can get quick medical attention.

· Act 4 Climax: When they are back, Marcus Doppler and Billy Doppler stand in their way in front of HQ. A huge clash and battle. Marcus and Rizzo work together to save each other.

· Resolution: Marcus Doppler and Billy Doppler are dead. Rizzo thwarted a potential portal opening for other dopplers.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Character Structures

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by plotting each character structure, you can create a logical sequence of scenes by just filling in the basic blanks.

Protagonist: RIZZO

Beginning: Rizzo must make a presentation to the University of her memory recall system which she and her brother developed or risk losing all funding. She is kidnapped in the middle of the presentation.

Inciting Incident: Rizzo is led to her missing brother Marcus who was injured and suffering from PTSD after a secret mission .

Turning Point 1: After Rizzo enters Marcus’ memory to review, it ‘appears’ Marcus has killed his squad leader in the last mission.

Act 2: Rizzo dives into Marcus’ memory and discovers that his memory cannot go further back than the mission (appears to be amnesia) which makes her more driven to take him home to help him heal.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Sara who was saved in the last mission is mysteriously killed and her boy Billy survives and Marcus is the first suspect.

After entering Marcus Doppler’s memory and searching out clues she concludes he’s an imposter.

<u style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>End of Act 2: Suddenly Miller is killed. This shocks everyone. Rizzo especially since he has been helping her to control Marcus and they were getting closer. Who is the killer?

Act 3: Rizzo figures She must go to Black Time to find the real Marcus. She focusses her efforts to get to Black Time.

Turning Point 3: Huge failure / Major shift: Rizzo arrives in Black Time There she confronts her own doppleganger. She discovers the parallel universe and finds Marcus. She brings him back so he can get quick medical attention.

Act 4 Climax: When they are back, Marcus Doppler and Billy Doppler stands in their way in front of HQ. A huge clash and battle.

Resolution: Marcus Doppler and Billy Doppler are dead. Rizzo thwarted a potential portal opening for other dopplers.

Antagonist: MARCUS DOPPLER

Beginning before the movie starts: When the real Marcus first entered Black Time. Marcus doppler is that copy and he lives in Black Time

When Marcus comes to Black Time a second time. Marcus Doppler senses it.

Inciting Incident: Marcus Doppler fights with Marcus and is able to knock Marcus out and take his place.

Marcus Doppler wakes up with a huge headache, throws up (due to the different universe pressure and gravity) and is in a daze. That’s when Rizzo arrives

Turning Point 1: Marcus Doppler meets Rizzo.

Act 2: Marcus Doppler must succumb to his memory being reviewed.

Turning Point 2/Midpoint: Marcus Doppler is put under house arrest after everyone sees his memory. He plots his way to stay in this universe forever.

He secretly meets Billy Doppler. Together they plot.

End of Act 2: Sara is mysteriously killed and Billy survives (actually BillyDoppler killed her because she can reveal his real identity since she is the real Sara). Marcus is the first suspect.

<u style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Act 3: Marcus Doppler tries to get out of jail. He “apologizes” tries to convince Rizzo he needs her more than ever.Rizzo believes him at first.

Turning Point 3: Huge failure / Major shift: Marcus Doppler kills Miller. This shocks everyone. Who is the killer. Rizzo is long gone in Black Time.

Act 4 Climax: Marcus Doppler and Billy Doppler take over HQ while Rizzo and Frank are in Black Time. When Rizzo brings back the real Marcus, Marcus Doppler needs to capture him alive!

Resolution: Marcus Doppler is dead.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Character Profiles Pt 1

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by giving actors traits, motivations, journeys, you can make their characters 3-dimensional which guide the storyline and the actor.

PROTAGONIST – Rizzo

A. Character’s Role in The High Concept.

When an agoraphobic memory recall scientist is reunited with her missing twin brother only to discover he is an imposter, she must race to save the real one who was hijacked into a mirror dimension while the doppelganger rages in our world to invade.

B. This character’s journey. Rizzo must go from afraid of change and losing anything or anyone- an agoraphobic memory recall scientist who lives an isolated life- connecting to the world only virtually to being a woman who saves her brother who is trapped in a mirror dimension and stopping the invasion of her brother’s and other doppelgangers.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. – The actor would be known to be able to exercise a full range of emotions and motivations from being closed and holding on to open and letting go. From paralyzed to kicking ass.

1. Role in the Story: protagonist – A memory recall scientist, she and her brother invented the tech. She must find her brother.

2. Age range and Description:25-30

3. Core Traits: controlling/smothering, denialist, insecure, paranoid, afraid.risk-adverse, haunted.

4. Motivation:

Want: To save her brother and bring him home.

Need: To have her brother forgive her. To have herself forgive herself for causing the deaths of their parents.

5. Wound: She caused the crash of her parents. Both she and her brother survived.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

· Likability: she’s suffering from funds running out for her research and virtual cocoon existence Her brother has been missing. She refuses to believe he’s dead.

· Relatability: She struggles with her love/hate relationship with her brother due to their shared memory.

· Empathy: It’s sad to watch her miss her brother. She suffers from agoraphobia because of her past trauma which makes her afraid of change.

TRIANGLE CHARACTER – Marcus

A. Character’s Role in The High Concept. A mission goes wrong and an injured Marcus ends up trapped by his doppelganger in the mirror dimension.

B. This character’s journey. He goes from escaping from his sister to avoid being smothered to needing and accepting her help.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. – The actor would act in a role about a person who needs redemption himself but gets to play amazing action sequences.

1. Role in the Story: Triangle Character- Marcus is an ex- astronaut and twin brother of “Rizzo”

2. Age range and Description:25-30

3. Core Traits: humorous, explorer/adventurer, problem solver, nerd

4. Motivation:

Want: To save Rizzo and to save himself and Becker.

Need- Rizzo to let him go. Need to forgive Rizzo.

5. Wound: His parents died in a car accident and he secretly harbors resentment to Rizzo for causing it.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

· Likability: He cares for his sister. He helps her. He cares for his crew and saves them.

· Relatability: He feels smothered by his sister. He can’t win any argument with her.

· Empathy: He suffered PTSD when traveling in Black Time.

ANTAGONIST – Marcus Doppler

A. Character’s Role in The High Concept. Marcus Doppler is Marcus’ Doppelgänger

B. This character’s journey. He goes from suddenly appearing and living only the time that real Marcus is in the dimension to finding a possibility of living in another world with a new outlook on life.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. – The actor for Marcus would act as his own doppelgänger with opposite traits.

1. Role in the Story: Antagonist: Marcus doppler is a mirror copy of the real Marcus

2. Age range and Description:25-30

3. Core Traits: Secretive, manipulative, scheming, concealing, angry, disinterested, unempathetic

4. Motivation:

Want: Want to live in our world. Want to control the portal so that his host (Marcus) is kept in the mirror world. And so that other doppelgängers can come and live in this world.

Need: To feel human. To live a long life .

5. Wound: He feels he got the shot end of the stick in the scope of the universe.

6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy:

· Likability: He’s cares for the cat.

· Relatability: He has a limited life and he wants more.

· Empathy: He suffered PTSD when traveling in Black Time.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by giving actor likability, relatability and empathy traits, you can give characters more depth that connect with the audience’s emotional side.

Protagonist through each of these:

Rizzo

Likability: she’s suffering from funds running out for her research or go to go to the free market where it’s sharktank. Relatability: She struggles with her love/hate relationship with her brother due to their shared memory. She’s trying to deny it. Run away from it. Empathy: It’s sad to watch her miss her brother. She’s afraid of something.<div>

Triangle protagonist could be presented through each of these:

Marcus

Likability: He cares for his sister. He cares for his crew and saves them.Relatability: He feels smothered by his sister. He can’t win any argument with her. Empathy: He suffered PTSD when traveling in Black Time.</div><div>

Antagonist could be presented through each of these:

Marcus Doppelganger

Likability: He’s cares for the cat. Relatability: His life was originally predestined to be miserable. Empathy: He suffered PTSD when traveling in Black Time. </div>

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Intrigue Characters

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by giving actor intrigue traits, you can give characters more depth as well as interesting scenes and situations to play in.

Character Name: Rizzo

Role: ProtagonistHidden agendas: Rizzo wants to take her brother home Competition: Rizzo is sometimes in competition with her own brother?Conspiracies: ?Secrets: She is attracted to Frank even if they don’t like each other. Deception: Once Rizzo is aware she must save her real brother, she summons courage to trick everyone so that she can go into Black Time. She covers up her agoraphobia by trying to stay in her room. Unspoken Wound: She feels guilty for causing the car accident that killed her and Marcus’ parents.Secret Identity: She is more courageous when she is inside someone’s memory than when she is herself.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Rizzo wants to get Marcus off the secret facility so she can nurse him back to health and smother him. Rizzo wants everything to be the way it was.

Character Name: Marcus

Role: Protagonist’s twin brother.Hidden agendas: He wants to get away from his sister because she smothers him.Competition: He feels he has to compete with her.Conspiracies: ?Secrets: He had a row with Frank because he was able to lead the team although Frank had time seniority. Or the row can be from a previous mission gone wrong.Deception: He uses his job as an excuse to escape from his sister. Unspoken Wound: He secretly hates his sister for causing the car accident that killed their parents.Secret Identity: He works at a secret facility.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Marcus tries his best to be the loving brother who can take everything but underneath she throws at him, but he resents his sister.

Character Name: Marcus Doppler

Role: Protagonist’s twin brother’s doppelgangerHidden agendas: He wants to create his own community of doppelgangers in our world and eventually larger.Competition: He is competing with the real Marcus for the right to live on our world.Conspiracies: He will help other doppelgangers to come over.Secrets: Deception: He tries to take control of the facility to stop Marcus from coming back but also allow his fellow dopplers to come over to our world. Unspoken Wound: He wants to live a full life and not suffer in a lifeless (metaphorically) parallel world. Secret Identity: He is Marcus’ doppelganger.

Give us an idea of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie.

Marcus doppelganger must hide his real identity and his limited memory from Rizzo and the crew.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Subtext Characters

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by giving actor subtext identity and traits, you can give characters depth as well as interesting scenes and situations to play in.

SAMPLE Movie Title: Arrival

· Character Name: Louise Banks

· Subtext Identity: A language /linguist expert who is resolved confident insightful,compassionate, resourceful

· Subtext Trait: vulnerable, complex, maternal, assertive, melancholic, secretive

· Subtext Logline: Louise Banks, a linguist expert surrounded by only men with authority, must stand for herself and at the same time must wrestle with learning about her tragic future in the present in order save the world.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: When she is surrounded by men and need to give her opinion and stand on her own; when she experiences her flash forwards while not appearing like she’s a crazy amongst the ever critical men around her, when she must remain maternal despite the demand for her to act like a man.

MY Movie Title: Black Time

· Character Name: Janiece Rizzo – “Rizzo”

· Subtext Identity: A memory recall scientist who is agoraphobic and demanding.

· Subtext Trait: controlling/smothering, insecure, afraid.

· Subtext Logline: Rizzo is a memory recall scientist who is haunted by her own memories and tries to hide it by recalling and entering other people’s memories to “help” them.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Must stand for herself and her work as an expert in her field, must work with others, must be courageous

· Character Name: Marcus Rizzo

· Subtext Identity: Marcus is an ex- astronaut and twin brother of “Rizzo”, who is humorous, explorer, helper

· Subtext Trait: Compulsive, escapist

· Subtext Logline: Marcus is an ex astronaut who wants to escape but feels tethered to his sister even when they are half way across the country from each other.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: A dispute with his sister, leading his men, fighting.

·

· Character Name: Marcus Rizzo doppler

· Subtext Identity: Marcus doppler is only a copy of the real Marcus. A doppelgänger.

· Subtext Trait: Secretive, manipulative, scheming, concealing

· Subtext Logline:Marcus Doppler is a mirror copy of the real Marcus who wants to take over his life on earth while the real one is trapped in a mirrored dimension.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Confronting his sister whom he has never really met, hiding his real identity the whole time.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Subtext Characters

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by giving actor subtext identity and traits, you can give characters depth as well as interesting scenes and situations to play in.

SAMPLE Movie Title: Arrival

· Character Name: Louise Banks

· Subtext Identity: A language /linguist expert who is resolved confident insightful,compassionate, resourceful

· Subtext Trait: vulnerable, complex, maternal, assertive, melancholic, secretive

· Subtext Logline: Louise Banks, a linguist expert surrounded by only men with authority, must stand for herself and at the same time must wrestle with learning about her tragic future in the present in order save the world.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: When she is surrounded by men and need to give her opinion and stand on her own; when she experiences her flash forwards while not appearing like she’s a crazy amongst the ever critical men around her, when she must remain maternal despite the demand for her to act like a man.

MY Movie Title: Black Time

· Character Name: Janiece Rizzo – “Rizzo”

· Subtext Identity: A memory recall scientist who is agoraphobic and demanding.

· Subtext Trait: controlling/smothering, denialist

· Subtext Logline: Rizzo is a memory recall scientist who is haunted by her own memories and tries to hide it by recalling and entering other people’s memories to “help” them.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: When she must stand for herself and her work as an expert in her field, must work with others, must be courageous, must be able to tell when she is in a memory and when she is in reality.

· Character Name: Marcus Rizzo

· Subtext Identity: Marcus is an ex- astronaut and twin brother of “Rizzo”, who is humorous, explorer, helper

· Subtext Trait: Compulsive, escapist

· Subtext Logline: Marcus is an ex astronaut who wants to escape but feels tethered to his sister even when they are half way across the country from each other.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: A dispute with his sister, leading his men.

· Character Name: Marcus Rizzo doppler

· Subtext Identity: Marcus doppler is only a mirror copy of the real Marcus

· Subtext Trait: Secretive, manipulative, concealing

· Subtext Logline:Marcus Doppler is a mirror copy of the real Marcus who wants to take over his life on earth while the real one is trapped in a mirrored dimension.

· Possible Areas of Subtext: Confronting his sister whom he has never really met, hiding his real identity the whole time.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Own Actor Attractors

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by sgiving actor attractors, you can give them interesting character traits as well as interesting scenes and situations to play in.

Lead Character Name: Janiece Rizzo “Rizzo”

Role: Memory Scientist- Recall specialist

What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

This is a memory scientist who was traumatized by her own memory. So she studied and specialized in memory and recalling memories. She’s more interested in who you were than who you are.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?

She’s emotionally all over the place. You can’t believe someone like her can exist with society.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?

The opening scene when we see her at her most vulnerable and then shortly thereafter is kidnapped. Action that she must take in order to come out of her shell

4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?

She’s actually at the top of her field but has huge insecurities which she tries to suppress.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range.

From insecure and vulnerable to risk taking and leading.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

From the beginning she’s hiding her own insecurity to showing true security.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?

With her brother’s doppelganger who she pays a cat and mouse game.

With Frank the Maaster Sargeant who she has some attraction to but he hates her brother and is naturally extended to her.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through the contrast of insecurity and vulnerability and pretending she’s strong.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

She never gives up.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Actor Attractors

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by studying actor attractors, you can give them interesting character traits as well as interesting scenes and situations to play in.

Movie Title: The Arrival

Lead Character Name: Louise Banks

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? This role shows a strong willed, linguistic expert with a broad horizon and a great deal of empathy. She can connect with alien creatures on an honest and authentical level which contrasts from the people around her. She can play from loving mother who gives birth and sees the death of her child to capturing the trust of aliens through genuineness. The range of emotional and physical states demonstrates a huge character arc and acting skills.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? She is the only one who can connect on a deep level with the aliens using her intuition and instinct, while others use science and power and primal concepts of fight or flight.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? She is able to be calm and live aa a mother to riding helicopters and playing in weightlessness. There are explosions and confrontation with alienspecies as well as standing up to Colonel’s and idiot government people.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? She starts as a loving mother giving birth to crying at the loss of her daughter to cancer. She is also a professor at a university who teaches the unique subject of language and linguistics.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? Huge!

6. What subtext can the actor play? She shows everything on the surface. All her emotions lay bare. This one is interesting because she is experiencing time shifts where she is able to see her future which may perplex her actions but also guide them today. Therefore she knows what’s going to happen in her future and because of this she uses it to inform her just as the aliens have informed her.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? The relationship with the aliens- heptapods.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Throught voice over and flashbacks. She also speaks from fragility and strength all at once. She accepts the future as it comes but is prepared to change it when she can.

9. What makes this character special and unique? She is able to speak many languages and is able to connect with aliens through her own ability to determine their language. She has flash forwards.

10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)

Louise steps onto the lift with Ian and Col Weber to enter the spaceship. Through this experience, they constantly refer to her opinion. She also experiences flashforward loving moments with her daughter.

Lead Character Name: Ian Donnelly

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? This role shows a rational theoretical physicist. He sees everything through facts based on science.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He starts off as the hard core mathematics type of man and ends up understanding that there are non-explicable ways to operate in a world or communicate with aliens.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? He’s in an explosion. He gets to work with weightlessness.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He walks in like a typical macho who has to show his stick is bigger than everyone’s including Louise’s. He quotes her and then verbally knocks its essence down.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? Good range from Macho to father.

6. What subtext can the actor play? His character hides all his thoughts and emotions underneath just like a macho man. But when he’s given the worst news of all, his daughter’s imminent death from cancer, he collapses and runs away from the family.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? The relationship with the aliens- heptapods and his relationship with Louise. He starts of as a macho with her and ends up marrying her.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He is an expert just like Louise. Both at eye level. At first he doesn’t accept it but then he defers to her.

9. What makes this character special and unique? He is a mathematician who later figures out the riddle of the language based on a physicists protocol.

10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)

His opening scene when he shows his stick is bigger than Lousie’s.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Genre Conventions

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that by layering genre conventions into the 4 act transformational structure, I can build in story points that strengthen the story and the genre.

Title: Black Time

Concept: An memory scientist is reunited with her missing twin brother only to discover he is an imposter and the real one was hijacked into a mirror dimension.

Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller

Act 1:

1. Opening –Rizzo must make a presentation at the University of her memory system which she and her brother developed or risk losing the whole thing. But he brother has been missing for months and presumably dead.

2. Inciting Incident- Rizzo is kidnapped by secret government personnel and is led to her missing brother Marcus who is injured and suffering from PTSD after a secret mission. She has been asked to use her memory recall system to figure out what happened.

3. Turning Point- After reviewing Marcus’ memory it ‘appears’ Marcus has killed his squad leader in the last mission. Everyone is shocked including Rizzo who refuses to believe her brother is capable of murder. Is Marcus the killer? He is under house arrest.

Act 2:

4. Reaction: Rizzo resigns to the situation. She is allowed to visit Marcus to spend some quality time with him. She tells him she’s going to find a way to bring him home. She’ll figure out an escape plan.

5. New Plan: Meanwhile Rizzo pretends to be interested in the facility to figure out the lay of the place. She learns about the mirrored world. She meets Sara and Billy (victims saved in last mission). She looks at Marcus’ memory footage. Power goes out. Sara is killed. Billy her son remains unscathed. This puts the whole crew and facility in lock down mode.

6. Midpoint Turning Point: Marcus is the first suspect. Now they really lock him in jail. Chances of Rizzo getting him out is zero. This freaks Marcus who nearly chokes Rizzo to death in a swing of moods, revealing a dark side of him she’s never seen before.

Act 3:

7. Rethink everything: Rizzo does some more research into Marcus’ memory. She cannot reach further back than the mission with her methods- there is a block. She also tries telepathy and is not able to connect with him. She realizes this person is not the Marcus she knows. She sees in the memory the final clue that shows he’s an imposter. The real Marcus is trapped in Black Time, calling out her name.

8. New plan: She must go to Black Time to find Marcus because he called out for her. The General doesn’t allow it – says she’s crazy and not trained.

9. Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift: Suddenly Marcus is killed. This shocks everyone. Who is the killer? Several people including Rizzo are nearly killed. Billy is now missing in the facility. The General cracks down on all security.

Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Rizzo decides to battle her agoraphobic self and train for the journey whether the general allows it or not. She tricks her way in going into Black time. There she finds Marcus who is gravely injured and is able to stop an invasion.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s 4 Act Transformational Structure

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that 4 act transformational journey helps set the milestones of the entire story in 4 acts. It makes the writing easier and frankly my head became clearer. I did get some new insight that helped break thru the barrier.

Character: Rizzo (protagonist) is a memory scientist

Arc Beginning: Isolated and anti-social and can’t forget and let go

Arc End: Can lead a team to save her brother and stop and invasion.

Internal Journey (mind and emotion): afraid of stepping out and letting go to fearless and actually letting go

External Journey (action and experience): Forced to interact with people when she hates to willing to be a team player and ends up stopping a doppleganger invasion.

Old ways

· Thinks she can’t do anything without her twin brother

· Afraid of leaving her secure apartment

· Doesn’t socialize.

· Egocentric

· Holds on to people and things. Afraid of letting go

New Ways

· Can tell that Marcus is an imposter

· Willing to overcome her agoraphobia and travel to the parallel world to find the real Marcus

· Courageous

· Willing to let go

Act 1:

Opening –Rizzo must make a presentation at the University of her memory system which she and her brother developed or risk losing the whole thing. But he brother has been missing for months and presumably dead.<div>

Inciting Incident- Rizzo is kidnapped by secret government personnel and is led to her missing brother Marcus who is injured and suffering from PTSD after a secret mission. She has been asked to use her memory recall system to figure out what happened. <font face=”inherit”>Turning Point- After reviewing Marcus’ memory it ‘appears’ Marcus has killed his squad leader in the last mission. Everyone is shocked including Rizzo who refuses to believe her brother is capable of murder. </font>Marcus<font face=”inherit”> is under house arrest.</font>

Act 2:

Reaction: Rizzo resigns. She is allowed to visit Marcus to spend some quality time with him. She tells him she’s going to find a way to bring him home. She’ll figure out an escape plan. </div><div>

New Plan: Meanwhile Rizzo pretends to be interested in the facility to figure out the lay of the place. She meets Sara and Billy (victims saved in last mission). She looks at the memory footage. Power goes out. Sara is killed. Billy her son remains unscathed. This puts the whole crew and facility in lock down mode.

Midpoint Turning Point: Marcus is the first suspect. Now they really lock him in jail. Chances of Rizzo getting him out is zero. This freaks Marcus who nearly chokes Rizzo to death in a swing of moods, revealing a dark side of him she’s never seen before.

Act 3:

Rethink everything: Rizzo does some more research into Marcus memory. She cannot reach further back than the mission with her methods- there is a block. She also tries telethesis and is not able to connect with him. She realizes this person is not the Marcus she knows. She sees in the memory the final clue that shows he’s an imposter. The real Marcus is in Black Time, was calling out her name.</div><div>

New plan: She must go to Black Time to find Marcus because he called out for her. The General doesn’t allow it – says she’s crazy and not trained.

Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift: Suddenly Marcus is killed. This shocks everyone. Who is the killer? Several people including Rizzo are nearly killed. Billy is now missing in the facility. The General cracks down on all security.

Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Rizzo decides to battle her agoraphobic self and train for the journey whether the general allows it or not. She tricks her way in going into Black time. There she finds Marcus who is gravely injured and is able to stop the invasion.</div>

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Subtext Plot

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that the above and below surfaces must be interwoven together create a plot/story with depth and interest.

Layering – Primary

On the Surface:

Rizzo must overcome her agoraphobia, find her real brother , save him and stop an invasion.

Below the surface:

· The fear that without her twin brother, she is nothing.

· The shock that her suspicions were right, her brother has changed. Who is he?

· Breaking through her internal resistance.

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Fish out of Water – Primary

On the Surface:

· Rizzo is an agoraphobic- scared to leave her familiar surroundings

· Rizzo is anti-social.

· Rizzo is angst over loss of her brother.

· At a secret government facility

Below the Surface:

· The fear of the unknown of being kidnapped.

· Breaking through her inner demons.

· What is her brother involved with?

· Who are her brother’s colleagues?

· Why is this facility secret?

· Fear of work failing.

Someone hides who they are – Secondary

On the Surface:

· Rizzo’s brother Marcus is acting weird and traumatized by PTSD

Below the Surface:

· Marcus hides the fact that as a doppelganger, he wants to stay in this world.

· Marcus must also hide his agenda to help open the portal for his compatriots to invade the real world.

This is a story about a woman who lives in the past. She’s afraid to deal with the world although her existence depends on it. When thrown into a new environment against her will (fish out of water) she has to navigate her way through deception and the layers of unknown by relying on and propelled at the same time by “memories” which she does in order to find and save her brother.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s The Transformational Journey

My Vision: I write kickass, creative and emotional blockbuster movies, TV series and graphic novels like my writing heroes (eg. Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Weisberg, etc.) and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that characters must fit the story. By developing characteristics that service the story helps. Also this creates the back bone to the story arc.

Character: Rizzo (protagonist) is a memory scientist

Arc Beginning: Isolated and anti-social and can’t forget and let go

Arc End: Can lead a team to save her brother and stop and invasion.

Internal Journey (mind and emotion): afraid of stepping out and letting go to fearless and actually letting go

External Journey (action and experience): Forced to interact with people when she hates it, to willing to be a team player and ends up stopping a doppler invasion.

Old ways

· Thinks she can’t do anything without her twin brother

· Afraid of leaving her secure apartment

· Doesn’t socialize.

· Egocentric

· Holds on to people and things. Afraid of letting go

New Ways

· Can tell that Marcus Doppler is an imposter

· Willing to overcome her agoraphobia and travel to the parallel world

· Courageous

· Willing to let go

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth’s Intentional Lead Characters

My Vision: I will do whatever it takes so that I can write full-time creative and emotional blockbuster movies and TV series like my writing heroes and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that characters must fit the story. By developing characteristics that service the story helps.

Character Structure: Dramatic Triangle

Character: Rizzo (protagonist) is a memory scientist

Logline: Rizzo an anti-social control freak memory scientist who won’t accept that her twin brother is dead and will do anything to find him.

Unique: She is agoraphobic and holds on to everything she loves because she’s afraid of losing them. She’s a smotherer.

Character: Marcus Doppleganger (antagonist)

Logline: Marcus Doppleganger appears to be Rizzo’s twin brother. He’s crossed over to this world in search of a better life and will do anything to stay in this world.

Unique: Marcus Doppler is a mirror ‘copy’ of the real Marcus. He is also the opposite of real Marcus in every way.

Character: Marcus (Triangle 3^rd character) is an astronaut, explorer, inventor.

Logline: Marcus is a disciplined ascetic. He will do anything for his sister but at the same time do anything to escape her smothering hold.

Unique: He feels responsible for Rizzo’s isolation but can’t help but be independent of her.

Character: Frank (other Triangle 3^rd Character) is an American Indian, physicist, Special Ops,.

Logline: Frank is an overachiever to compensate for his insecurity of not being capable.

Unique: Doesn’t trust people easily but trusts nature and animals. He and Marcus have a small history together. Marcus was chosen as Captain over him because Marcus graduated from the Air Force Academy while Frank had to slug it out through enlisted ranks despite his physics acumen.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

My Vision: I will do whatever it takes so that I can write full-time creative and emotional blockbuster movies and TV series like my writing heroes and be in constant demand.

What I learned from doing this assignment: I learned that there is a simple way to creating an outline that does not demand instant knowledge or perfection.

Title: Black Time

Concept: A memory scientist, haunted by the disappearance of her twin brother, discovers he has been hijacked to a mirror dimension, while his doppelganger rages in this world planning to unleash everyone’s shadow self.<div><div>

Genre: Sci-fi Thriller

Character Structure: Dramatic Triangle

I share credit with 2 other writers on this project.

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• This reply was modified 3 years ago by  Elizabeth Wang-Lee.
• This reply was modified 3 years ago by  Elizabeth Wang-Lee.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Hi Everyone:

My name is Elizabeth Wang-Lee. I was once a film executive. I’ve written a couple of screenplays. I’ve re-written many screenplays.

I currently live in Munich, Germany.

I was working on a sci-fi thriller but life got in the way.

I hope to jump start my writing again as well as raise my writing to a new high.

I look forward to writing the best script I’ve ever written!

Good luck to everyone.

Cheers,

Elizabeth

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Elizabeth Wang-Lee.

[Elizabeth Wang-Lee]

Elizabeth Wang-Lee

As a member of Writing Incredible Movies, 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, through social media, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, videos, 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.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Elizabeth Wang-Lee.